001Good evening ladies and gentlemen. Welcome to the family billions free school district meeting June 4th 2045 on holding the meeting order after currently in attendance at the meeting is myself president Mr. Johnson our superintendent Dr. Talbert, first vice president Carol Seabbook, second vice president Megan Mesman, trustees Canestro and Caroline Fanning, as well as Les. Um, it is anticipated that trustee Juan Leon will be coming in as well. Also present here is our assistant superintendent for curricular instruction, Miss Gary Stevens. Also um our student superintendent our interimm assistant superintendent for not interim our consultant for assistant superendent for finance operation Mr. Snider is anticipated that our assistant superintendent for human resources Dr. Bridget Wayne who will be joining us later. Also in attendance is our legal counsel Greg. Wait, I mean John. Oh my god. John,
002I'm sorry. Close. Sorry. Um, at this time at 5:35 p.m. I have a motion to enter into executive session for advice from council regarding particular person's employment history as well as interview for assisting superintendent for human resources and matters and other particular matters as well. Yes. Okay. I don't know who you first. Okay. Arrol and Megan Nesman. All those in favor? I. Motion carries 6. We'll resume open at 7:30. We thank you for joining us. Board of Education meeting is now 7:39 and we are resuming open session at this time. Can you kindly please take your seats? At this point in time, can you please stand and join the board of education the pledge of allegiance? At this point in time, if you have not done so already, please kindly silence your cell phones and
003please make a note of where the emergency exits are located. At this point in time, I'm going to turn the meeting over to Dr. Talbert. Good evening. At this time, Dr. Wait. Good evening, President Johnson, Superintendent Dr. Talbert, and Board of Education. Welcome to this special evening where we come together to honor the incredible dedication, hard work, and passion of our esteemed staff members. This evening is a special occasion where we not only celebrate years of service, but we also bid farewell to valued members of our team. Firstly, let me express my deepest gratitude to each and everyone who has reached the significant milestones in their career. Your commitment to education and to the success of your students is truly inspiring. You're the foundation upon which our district stands and it is your unwavering dedication
004that shapes the future of the Amityville community. Now we turn to our retirees. The moment is bittersweet. As we celebrate your remarkable careers, we also acknowledge that your presence will be dearly missed. Over the years, you have touched countless lives, imparting knowledge, wisdom, and a love of learning. Your legacy will live on in the hearts and minds of your students and colleagues. I wish you all the best as you embark on the new chapter in your life. May your life be filled with joy, relaxation, and the fulfillment of all your dreams. Please be reminded that your work is not just a job, it's a calling. And all of you have answered that call with dedication and excellence. I applaud you. So at this time I would like to thank Mariel and Danielle for their work
005and putting together helping me with this presentation and I would like to invite Dr. Talbert to say a few words. So good evening. It is indeed a pleasure to be a part of tonight's significant recognition. The success of the Amityville School District is becoming even greater because you've been the cornerstone. You've been the anchor and you have been the main stay. So you get to sleep late. For those who are celebrating 20, 25, and 30 years, your dedication is incredible. To get up every morning and say yes to children, to saying yes to making a difference and bringing that energy full throttle to make the difference in your respective departments and classrooms is simply commendable. And on behalf of the board of education, myself and all of our administrative team, we want to give you
006a big rousing warm applause and say thank you, thank you, and thank you again. Well, we are going to begin the program by honoring a retiree Melissa Asbel. one up and speaking on her behalf is Gerald Asbel. Good evening everyone. Good evening board and good evening everyone out here. Um, I'm going to be brief but thorough because when you're talking about someone's career, that just speaks volumes. And 32 years at anything, let alone your job has, you know, has its ups and downs, I would imagine. Can you come right here where I can see you're pretty face? All right, there you go. Motivation. All right. Um 32 years ago, a young lady fresh out of Buffalo State decided that she wanted to work in the district that raised her from kindergarten to high school. And
007she was fortunate enough to have that opportunity come true as she was hired here and has been here for 32 years. Can we get a round of applause for that? I'm quite accustomed speaking on the microphone, but I'm not accustomed speaking about my wife in public like this. So, if I get a little emotional, please forgive me. Blame it on my head and not my heart. Melissa, you are a phenomenal person. You are an amazing mother, but most importantly, you are a outstanding teacher. You have entrusted the children of Amityville in your care for 32 years, and you did not disappoint. Whenever I go out, I always run into somebody that says, "Hey, Mr. Asel, how's your wife doing? I had her in kindergarten." That means something. That means something. That means you touch that
008person. Uh so for that I say bravo. Job well done and I love you. So, I want to um mention some other teachers who are also returning but could not make it this evening. We have Miss Margaret Brooks, Adah Hernandez Far, Emily Nadler, Barbara Perez, and Jennifer Trotman. Our next retiree is teaching assistant Antha Gail Davis and speaking on her behalf is Lisa Randolph. We're going to keep it together. Good evening, ladies and gentlemen. Everyone, let me get my paper. Let me get my paper out. How long do I have? Sorry. So, let me get started. All right. So, here we are at a very bittersweet moment. I am truly honored to be able to speak on behalf of Gail Davis. I am happy that she is retiring, but sad at the same time. Gail
009is truly a terrific person and an even better friend. She freely gives of her time, talent, and love. She is such a great blessing. Wow, I made it to the fourth sentence. She leads with kindness. She values the relationship she has with me and others. She's trustworthy and gives grace to people, even those who have wronged her. Her giving them grace gives them an opportunity to write their wrongs. I thank God each and every day for making our paths cross. Gail has such amazing work ethics which she has demonstrated throughout the years we have worked together. She is dedicated. Often she comes in early and leaves late to make sure things are done in a timely manner. And I have to tell you, even though she was being honored tonight, she stayed late because she
010knew Father's Day picnic is coming up this Friday. I left before Gail because you know how to tarp and get home. But anyway, this is how dedicated she is. Um, she works hard, plans ahead, and keeps me on my toes. Uh, just for future reference, the next teaching assistant that works in my classroom has big shoes to fill. Um, Gail has been my rock every day at work. She encourages not only me, but also the students. Don't you do it, girl. But also the students and other adults in the building. To me, she's a pillar of grace and strength. She is one of my prayer warriors. She always knows when something is off with me, even when I try to hide it or tell her I'm fine. At that point, she will take my hands
011and pray for and with me no matter where we are. We also, of course, laugh a lot and plenty of times we cry together, too. I am not the only one who has this great love for Gail. The students do as well. Gail is the first person out of the two of us to greet the students in the morning upon their arrival to school. As they gather in the arrival area, otherwise known as the gym, they race to her to give her hugs while saying, "Good morning, Mrs. Davis. I have been a witness to see um the times where they almost knocked her over because of course there has to be a group hug. When she is absent from work and I go to greet the students in the gym to bring them to the
012classroom, that's when the interrogation begins. As the students questions the life out of me as to why Mrs. Davis is absent. No. Good morning, Mrs. Randolph. Uh, it's where is Mrs. Davis? I do answer them to let them know that she is absent for the day. Of course, they follow up with but why? They will ask me this question, the same exact question throughout the day as if they didn't believe me the first 10 times they asked. Her rapport with them makes them love, respect, adore, and care deeply for her as she does them. She spends a lot of time with them in small groups as well as onetoone. She helps to build their confidence and encourages independence. Um, as I said before, Gail is a pillar of strength. I remembered a few years ago
013when her mother had passed away, she had to then face us having the Mother's Day tea at Northeast the following school year. It being the first Mother's Day without her mom. And not even a year after her mother's passing, as we had to prepare the class for that day to come, Gail made sure the children saw this day as a very happy occasion, even though she was hurting. It takes strength and courage to do such a great thing for others. Of course, this was another one of the times we cried and prayed together. Outside of work, Gail is the first lady of Amityville Community Church that is pastored by her wonderful husband of 38 years, Mr. John Davis. I just have to point out that Mr. John Davis is a little jealous that he doesn't
014work at Northeast, but anyway, um she she is also a Bible study teacher. She also spends time with people who are in nursing homes to uplift their spirits through prayer and conversation and activities. Um, Gail is an avid fan of basketball, tennis, and football. Go Dallas Cowboys. This is the only time I'm going to say that. Um, during football season, it's on between Gail and I, as she is a Dallas Cowboys fan, and I'm all about the New York Giants. However, being who Gail is, she actually wore a New York Giants shirt to school on one of our spirit days. See, folks, she loves me. Don't get jealous. Um, I'm almost done. Good thing you guys didn't set a timer. Um, I simply don't know what I'm going to do without her presence in the
015building each day. She is my rock, my advisor, my reminder of the upcoming events and everyone's birthdays. Even though Eevee, the principal secretary, gives us a monthly calendar with this information on it. Don't judge me, people. Anyway, I don't know when I come to work each day who's going to say, "Hey, Randolph girl, child, come get your peoples." I don't know who will oversee my use of glitter, who will be doing all of the amazing crafts she does with the students for each holiday or event. And by the way, I have asked Gail to save all of her samples of projects she has done with the children over this past year, especially so that I can try my best to duplicate it in the years ahead. But you guys will have to pray for me
016on that. I did tell her I'm going to need her to come in to do the Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer and the Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. draw pause and draw with the children. Um, don't you guys I'm coming. I'm Look, I got to finish this up. She's worth it. Um, now do not get me started on the fact this last two last two. I'm right here. Right here. Now, don't get me started on the fact that she's also a great event planner and decorator extraordinaire. Through watching Gail put a space together with decoration centerpieces for any event, it has made the staff at Northeast up their decorating game. Of course, we seek Gail's guidance to make sure things look fabulous for every occasion. Even though I won't have Gail here at work every day,
017we have built a great friendship where we will see and speak to each other often outside of work. I wish her all the best and God's greatest blessings in this new chapter in her life. Happy retirement, Gail. Make it pop. I love you. Thank you for indulging me. At this time, I'd like to acknowledge Special Education 1218, David Joiner. He's not here with us tonight, but I wanted to give him a round of applause. Last but not least is our lovely lovely Ely Aloe Vera. Speaking on her behalf is Dr. Collins. Boy, this is going to be very very hard because there is there are not enough words to speak about Eevee tonight. And um so I tried to uh put it in words so I could stay on script and um but the northeast
018staff is standing um because um Eevee has been a big part of our lives and what we do and um like I said um there aren't enough words. So good evening everyone. Um, it's an honor. Today I have the privilege and the bittersweet task of honoring someone who has been an extraordinary part of our school for nearly 14 years. Mrs. Olivera, affectionately known to all of us as Eevee, has not only served as my building principal secretary, but has been a part of our the heart of our office and a pillar, one of the pillars of our school. Nearly 14 years ago, a rather unique candidate applied for the position of building principal secretary. I say unique because not because she lacked experience. In fact, she was highly accomplished, but because she had been out
019of the workforce for almost 19 years. Still, something about her and her resume and even more about when I met her um gave me pause in the very best way. I was intrigued and I remained open-minded and I forwarded her to the central office for an interview. uh for recommendation. Um soon after that I received a call from the assistant super of HR at the time. He had completed her reference check and he said the words I'll never forget. You're getting someone exceptional. He explained that Eevee had served as the executive secretary to not one but two top level executives who resided in two different countries. And even though 19 years had passed, both of her former bosses employers remi remembered her very clearly and with great admiration. It was then that I knew with
020certainty I had made the right decision. And what a decision it was. She walked into a very chaotic office with very little processes um in place and um the task was set ahead of her. Evie brought with her an executive skill set sharpened in the corporate world and she used that expertise to refine and elevate every aspect of her office operations. The district um may not be aware but the permanent records that you look at now and the quality of of what they are now is attributed to Eevee. EV came in and she looked at the permanent records which started at Northeast and she said no this is not professional. This is this is terrible. We have to do better. And she started 14 years ago a new design for the permanent records which we
021would count the years to figure out which building is it is it reaching and now I know it's um 14 years it's all the way through uh to the high school. She streamlined our processes, establishing systems that improved our day-to-day functioning and raised the office to a very high level of efficiency, which benefited everyone, myself, the staff, the families. Her attention to detail, ability to anticipate challenges, and unwavering professionalism transformed our front office into a welloiled machine and made all of our lives at Northeast better. Teachers were able to get what they need. Communication was flowing quickly. They get, you know, get all their resources that they need in a timely manner. For nearly 14 years, Evie has been the calm in the storm, the one who made sure things happened quietly and efficiently with
022grace and compassion. She anticipated my needs before they were spoken. She managed complex details without ever making them seem complicated. And in a building where there is no assistant principal, she was my assistant principal. She understood the way I think. She understood the how I make decisions and was able even in my absence to make sure that things continued the way that she know that I would like it to be. Together we have weathered many storms. We we've cried together, laughed until we couldn't breathe, and we've prayed together through life's many challenges. And one day last morning, I was thinking about losing her. And I was reminded of a powerful truth. My loss is less than my gain. Because what I have gained in Eevee is far more than a trusted colleague. I have gained
023a lifetime friend, a confidant, and a sister. To the Olivera family, thank you. Thank you for sharing your incredible wife, mother, and grandmother with us for these 14 treasured years. We know it meant time away, long hours, and endless sacrifice, and we are deeply grateful. Eevee, may God bless your retirement with continued health, good health, peace, contentment, and joy. You have given us your very best. Now it's your turn to rest, reflect, and to fully embrace this new and beautiful chapter. You will forever be a cherished member of the Northeast family and always, always a part of my heart. Congratulations on your welldeserved retirement. And of course, we're representing because she is very proud of her heritage. So we that's why we have the Puerto Rican flags today. I would like to acknowledge some of
024our recipients of the 20 years of service pin. Um, some of them may not be here, but I will mention their name. We have John Buckley, Kathleen Crowley, teaching assistant, Linda Damrose, teacher. Christine Gaffano, teacher. Batima, Nurse, teaching assistant. McKenzie Reen, teacher. Eric Thompson, chief custodian, Park Avenue. Heather Tortarici, teacher, and Gonn Twalling. for 25 years of service. We have Carara Bow Ringer, teacher, Patty Deak. Come on up, Patty. Kelly Gilman, Maryanne Guglieri, Jason McGawan supposed to be here, Jamie Pelgro, Richard Pellegrino, Jeffrey Picarilli, Arty Shaw, and Brian Hi. our 30 years of service. We have David Becker, maintenance crew, Jane Dy, and Sykes Reese. Thank you all so much. I'll turn it over to President Johnson. At this point in time, we're going to take a a little break and have a reception out
025in the hallway. roughly about maybe 15 minutes or so. Thank you. Megan's coming. Dr. Taba, I'm going to give the meeting back to you. Thank you so much. Good evening once again. It's that time where we have been reviewing the district-wide safety plan. Alara's consulting group has been an integral part of that. And tonight to present to the board of education is Thomas J. Danahghue of Alarus Consulting Group who will give an overview of the district-wide safety plan. Good evening everyone. Uh my name is Tom Donnu and we wanted to talk tonight about the changes that the districtwide safety plan is going to have in it for the 2025 2026 uh school year. This is where some of the changes come from. It comes from New York State Education and also uh legislation that is
026passed in Albany. The changes that are uh things we want going to talk about tonight are they changed the language to shell a little bit. We're going to talk about that. They added an afterchool annex, a maximum temperatures in school annex. They talk about staff development and training. And they also renamed a few of the annexes. The biggest change is we're used to using shell, which stands for shelter in place, hold in place, evacuation, lockout, and lockdown. That is what the state's been using now for a long time. They're changing the language a little bit. Uh shelter in place is going to be known as shelter. Hold in place will be known as hold. Evacuation is now going to be known as evacue. Lockout will now be known as secure lockout and lockdown has not
027changed. The meaning of any of those terms has not changed at all. I think what the state really wanted to do is differentiate between lockout and lockdown because most parents do not know the difference between the two and they use them interchangeably and they are different. So, we want our educators and all of our school buildings to realize that come September, if they were to hear the principal put the building into a secure lockout, what that would mean. Basically, it's all our doors and windows to the exterior are closed and locked. Um, there will be a single point of entry, and it would be up to the principal to decide whether or not staff and staff only will would be allowed to enter and leave the building. All uh students who are outside would come
028inside. all doors and windows to the exterior would be locked. We would use the strength of the building to protect us. But we want them to know because the first time they hear that, they're going to say, "Well, I'm familiar with lockout, but what is secure lockout? Is that something extra? Do I have to do do anything different?" And the answer to that is no. It is just a language change, but it means the exact same thing. That's one of the biggest changes, and you'll see that throughout the district-wide safety plan as well as the building plans. We've already made all of those changes for you. So, as you read through it, you'll understand um because you're going to see it in a few different places. This is piggybacking off of something the state talked
029about last year. It's that the conduct of required evacuation and lockdown drills should be done in a traumainformed, developmentally, and age appropriate manner. that does not include props, actors, simulations, or other tactics intended to mimic a school shooting or other act of violence or emergency in all district buildings. Basically, what the state wants us to do is they want us to conduct drills, but they don't want us to conduct full-on exercises. If we're going to do that, and we're going to talk about that later in tonight's presentation, there is a difference between a drill and an exercise. The drill is just to let the students and staff know what to do in case there is an emergency. We're not trying to ramp up the tension. We're not trying to make it more dramatic. We're not
030trying to cause anxiety in any of our students. We want them to know just what to do. The state for a while wrestled with this because some parents were saying that their children were traumatized by the drills. Upstate New York was doing a lot of things that downstate w wasn't doing. They were actually having people come to buildings. They were actors, uh, dressed in dark clothing, try to get into school buildings in windows and doors, but they did not tell the staff and students that those were actors. So you can imagine that that could cause a little bit of anxiety. Down state wasn't doing that. Um this is just a drill. So for a while the state talked about getting rid of drills entirely or letting students opt out. We didn't think that was a
031good idea for a number of reasons. The number one reason is imagine if we have a student that is now a ninth grader or a tth grader and has never heard a fire alarm and then a fire alarm goes off. They would have no idea what to do. All of us in this room have been doing fire drills since we were very small. We take that for granted that we know what to do. So, we want the students to know how to drill and that it's just a drill. The state's just reiterating and piggybacking off their language from last year. Obviously, uh trauma-informed and developmentally appropriate means we're not going to talk about drills to our first and second graders in the same manner we're going to talk to our Juniors and seniors in high
032school are obviously a lot more uh they're a lot older. They can digest a lot more information. We're going to talk to them about it very differently. But the idea is the state doesn't want us to scare anyone and we want to do this as smoothly as possible. It's just a drill. We are not trying to stress inoculate our staff or our students. And we're going to talk about that a little bit later. This is something new. The building level emergency response plans will be supplied to the appropriate law enforcement agency and the state police by October 1st. We're always giving them to the state police. Now, they want us to give it to the local police as well, which I think is a good idea because it'll have important phone numbers in there of
033people inside the building and it'll also give them building schematics. The state talks here about threat assessment teams and they'll say threat behavioral assessment teams. For those that are in special education, behavioral assessment does not mean threat assessment. It means something completely different. But the state uses that term interchangeably, threat, behavioral assessment. So when we see that, think threat assessment. That's what the state means by that. New York State does not mandate threat assessment teams. Uh some states do, New Jersey, Virginia do. We think eventually the state's going to move towards that. But basically what the state is telling us now is that if we do have a threat assessment team, they want us to mention it in the districtwide plan and they want us to put it in the building level emergency plans. This
034is something brand new. is an after-school annex and it says the district has established a comprehensive afterchool annex to safely manage after school events including athletic events and and programs ensuring a secure and welcoming environment for all attendees. These guidelines outline protocols for visitor management, crowd control, emergency preparedness and coordination with law enforcement as needed. This detailed annex can be found in the individual uh building level plans. What they mean by this is at the beginning of any type of afterchool event where we're inviting people into the building that don't go to school there, don't work there, they want someone, the language states the principal or their designate will stand up at the beginning of the event and give a quick safety briefing much like we did tonight. Someone would say the fire exits are
035to my left and to my right. They would talk about if an alarm went off, what would happen? You would you would have to follow directions of the staff. They want it to be brief, but they want us to do it much like when you get on an airplane before the plane takes off. The flight attendants will stand in the aisle. They'll go over briefly safety. They want us to do that as well because we're inviting people into our building that don't drill with us that are unfamiliar probably with the building. They don't go to school here and they're not students here. I get a lot of questions from coaches about this and they've said, "Well, is this for every single afterchool practice?" The answer to that is no. If the if it's an afterchool
036team and the students are from here and the teacher is the coach, they don't have to do this. But if you're having a basketball game in a gym and you're inviting a team in and the parents, you have to do it. And it's every single time. So if you're doing a play at night in the evening and you're inviting parents in and let's say the play is going to be on a Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday night, you would have to do it for each and every performance at the beginning. Someone would stand up. What a lot of schools are doing is they're doing it right after either the pledge of allegiance or the national anthem. And then someone will just make some uh brief comments as to uh safety in case of fire in case
037we had to lock down. Um the state doesn't dictate how we do it. You can make a PA announcement. You can have someone do it at the microphone. You can have a banner on the wall when you go inside the gym. You can hand out a leaflet if you'd like. If it's a basketball game, you have an electronic ticker underneath the basketball game. It can run on that electronic ticker. So the good thing is they didn't limit how we do it. They just want to make sure that we do it. And again, it's only for when we have people inside the building that are not students and that don't work here. So I I have a quick question. Sure. Um you covered a lot of different areas. What h like for example, we have people
038who use our facilities? Yes. So we're not there. So is it now does now become their responsibility to inform the group that's using the facilities what to do in case of emergency? Yes. What happens is even though it's not our group, we might have the Boy Scouts come in or the Girl Scouts or we might have a CIO basketball team come in. What a lot of schools are doing is they're putting it right on their building use form. This way they've been notified that this is something that is mandated and that we'd like you to do this. A lot of times too, what what some of the schools are doing is they're writing like a brief script because you have to remember a lot of times it might not be the principal that's reading this.
039A lot of times it might be uh the person that is running the music department because it's a musical or it's a play or it's a coach and the principal it says the principal or their designate. Obviously we know the principal will attend as many after school events as they can but they're not going to be able to make every single one. So a lot of times to make it easier what schools have done is written as a small script. This way it can be read out and a lot of times we want we've told people to put it right on your building use form. This way it's right there. Thank you. You're welcome. Can I ask a question on this topic, too? Sure. Um, so you said you've made the updates to the districtwide
040health and safety plan. Yes. And the building level, this is this this has been added. It is a required annex. We've already added this to the plans for the 25 26 school year. So, what did you say like how are we do? Are we doing in a combination of all the above? It is really up to the district because what happens is when we put in we'll put in that uh uh PA announcement leaflet handout and you just have to go in and pretty much choose the one that you're going to do. We give you the option and then whichever ones we're not going to do we'll just take out. Okay. So then we as the district just have to ensure that the building level administration is implementing it at all events. Correct. And then
041in our facility use policy, we would be building in this requirement in the paperwork. Okay. Thank you. I didn't realize I was asking questions as we go. If I on the on a page back with the threat assessment team. So I recall this from our presentation earlier this year that do we have a threat assessment team? You have threat assessment teams at each of the buildings. Okay. Uh that training was done at the building level and that's the way we recommend it to be done. This way it's the team is easier to assemble and they're more familiar with the students. You can do it at the district level as well, but the way we recommend it is do it at the building level and then that paperwork is submitted to the district, the district will
042review it to make sure that they're happy with it and then um when that student graduates from, let's say, elementary school, goes to middle school, that paperwork would follow them as well to the middle school and then from the middle school to the high school. Okay. So if there was questionable behavior, this threat assessment team would be involved with the the decision of how to discipline threat assortment is really a small part of threat assessment. Basically with threat assessment, the question you're asking is does the student pose a threat? Discipline is something that really will be up to Yeah. really falls more under the line of administration, not not so much the threat assessment team, but the administration. I mean I Okay, but there's a gray line there, right? So it I would inv envision
043that they would have to work hand in hand together. Yes. Thank you. And again, this just talks about the different ways that you can do it. Uh the state was was gracious enough that they did not mandate just one way. Again, could be announcements, handouts, digital displays, a lot of different ways to do this. This is also a brand new annex. This is a maximum temperatures in school annex. And it's basically saying when the school hits 88 degrees that they want you to address those heat conditions. Um, now this can be done a variety of ways. If we have an air conditioning unit, we're going to turn it on. We can open a door. We can open a window, turn on a fan. We might move students from one side of the building to another
044side of the building. If we know that in the afternoon, uh, maybe the south side of the building gets very warm and the north side is in shade, we can move students from one side of the building to another, the state doesn't say that once it hits 88 degrees, you have to close school or anything like that. That was originally in this and they backed off of that. I think what happened was they got a lot of push back from directors of facilities and superintendents that said, "Listen, you know, this goes into effect July 1st. It's not enough time. We just don't have enough time." And it comes down to more than just buying uh portable wall units and plugging them in because your power grid more than likely will not hold if you plugged
045in a 100 air conditioners into a building. So they they understood that. So they kind of backed off of it. What they want you to do is they want you to be aware of it and they want you to do the best you can to mitigate the heat as best as possible. Um I have a question on this. Sure. Um with the heat And I know you're saying the different scenarios to move around or whatever. What a what at what point would it be student pickup? Because if you can't if it's a 95 degree day, which they've been 97 degrees, I don't think moving from one side to the other might accomplish, you know, relieving that they it's it's a recommendation. They did not say that you have to dismiss at any temperature. They said
046they want you to do everything that you possibly can to address it. Um, and when you read through it, it'll say the district will address medical needs, transportation, emergency notifications, but it doesn't say anything about at a certain temperature, you will dismiss, right? Except for that like then it becomes a health issue for staff and kids fatigue and all those other things. I think the state's trying to move us towards as a state probably air conditioning buildings, but that is for a lot of districts. That's that's a big expense like Amityville. It's it's and you know what, Amityville isn't alone. There are a lot of districts that don't have it. Um yeah, I think most of of us in this room when we went to school, we did not have it. I think they would
047like us to have it, but it is I think the state's recognizing that it it's not it's not that easy. What what I had done in a different district is we we airond conditioned a general purpose room in each building so that if we needed to move a lot of kids at a time, we did that. And then if it became a certain temperature, we actually had the parents pick up the kids because we had a lot of pregnant staff at the time and we had them fainting. And some schools do have certain rooms uh air conditioning and some schools don't. Like a lot of schools don't have big areas like gymnasiums, auditoriums, cafeterias. They don't have them air conditioned, but they do have classrooms air conditioned. So I think I think that's the the
048direction that the state's moving in. Yeah. or maybe it's the board at some point can maybe down the line consider a bigger room in each building at least to try to mitigate it. So, if I can uh jump in real quick, part part of that uh bond, the referendum that we did, the $69.9 million specified that we would air condition one large um area of each building and that was either a cafeteria or an auditorium. So my my son's in the high school and I know that for a fact last year a couple days when it got very very hot they moved the students into the auditorium for when it was very hot. So or the cafeteria the so it's air conditioning. There's one general big space in each building that's which is good. That
049gives our staff the option to to use. Thank you. Thank you for this talks about going back to drills again and it says students will be instructed in the procedure to be followed in the event that a fire occurs during a lunch period or an assembly. This instruction may be waved if a drill is held during regular school lunch periods or assemblies. Last year, the state told us that they want us to stop doing drills on only one day of the week. What happened was the state recognized some schools were doing every single drill on a Tuesday at 9:00. And the reason why was because that was a good time for them. There was no lunch period. There was no recess. Uh there was no auditoriums. There was nothing going on at that time. So
050they want us to break out of that habit. They want us to do more no more than one drill per day. That was as per last year. They want us to mix our drills up different times of the day and different days of the week. So now this year they're following up with that and saying if you are not doing drills during lunch periods and assemblies, you have to instruct the students on what to do during those periods. If you are doing drills during those periods, then there's no reason for instruction because you've actually conducted drills during those time periods. So they want us to be cognizant of that. Um, every school should be trying to vary their drills different days of the week and different times of the day so that it does not
051become routine and this is this is just a followup to last year. This is talking about staff development and training. They want us to make sure that we're training our staff on uh shelter, hold, evacuation, secure lockout, lockdown. They also want to make sure that we're letting our staff uh we're starting to instruct our staff on incident command system procedures and that we have a continuity of command so that in case the principal wasn't there, someone in the building would step up, they would be in charge. Um they want to make sure that we're training our staff. It's unfair of us to ask our staff to be able to conduct drills if we haven't spoken to them about it. If we haven't met about it, if we haven't gone over things about it and the
052state recognized that. So, they want to make sure that we are conducting training and that we're also conducting training in violence prevention and mental health aspects. They want us to make sure that our team is trained and that they're meeting together a few times a year and they're getting trained. This is something that is new. They combine a few annexes. They look familiar because they were in here before, but they were separate. They combined abduction and kidnapping together into one annex. And a lot of times I get the question, well, isn't it the same thing? And I say, well, it's very similar, but there is a little bit of a difference. The difference between an abduction and a kidnapping is an abduction is when a child is taken by a person that knows them. It
053could be a friend of the family. It could be a family member. The child knows that person. The person knows the child, but they do not have custodial rights to that child. That's an abduction. Whereas a kidnapping is someone who takes a child that is not known to them. So it is similar but it is a little bit different but the state decided to combine those into one annex. The other one that they decided to combine together was missing child and alopement. We put alopment into the plan last year because we thought it was important. The state liked it so they had now combined it with missing childopment is all in one annex. Last year it was optional. If you liked it you could keep it. If you didn't like it you could take it
054out. This year it is not optional. So, please do not take that out. It is already in uh your building plan. And I always say with an elopement, if I have a high school senior that is driving out and taking off the last period of the day, that's not really an alopement. That is cutting. But when I have a first grader that says he needs to go to the bathroom and instead of going to the bathroom, walks out a door and leaves the building, that is an alopment. We The reason why we wanted to put that in there, we think it's important is because some schools do have students that alope on a regular basis. And this way there's a way of dealing with that quickly. The team can assemble and we have a plan.
055Um, and part of that plan includes if we do have a student that does a lope and they're known to do that. One of the things that we always recommend is soon as they come in for the day, have either the classroom teacher or an aid write down what they're wearing because some I I spent many many years in the police department. Sometimes even when we would call a parent uh to get a description of a child, they might have a few children. they might not even know. They don't remember what the child was wearing that morning. So, we want to write that down immediately because the faster we call the police and we give the description, the easier it will be to find that child. So, that is one of the recommendations in the
056alopment annex. Also, too, we want to divide the building up so that this way we can quickly cover the building. If we do have an alopement, we can put that over the PA system. Everyone knows what door or what side of the building they're going to go to. We want to quickly monitor our cameras and we want to uh call the police as fast as possible so that we can secure that child. Thank you. I'm just going to jump in for a second because it brought up a thought that came up in the health and safety committee meeting that I don't think I ever spoke about here with the board. There was discussion about having photo IDs for all the students. So that just crossed my mind because you know how does we're assuming that
057the teacher is going to know which child has a tendency to alope and maybe maybe we do know um but we're not going to know 100% of the time. So if we did have a photo saved in the database on a computer system you know that might tie in nicely with our ability to respond. So I'm just throwing that thought out there. Um the last change that the state made is excuse me Tom one moment. Oh I'm sorry. In the um infinite campus our student database there is a photograph of each student uploaded and associated with their demographic information. Thank you. Thank you for saying that. I I have seen my students pictures in there. Thank you. Um the last change that the state made for the year was it it says procedures for contacting
058parents, guardians, and persons in parental relation to students in the event of a violent incident or an early dismissal or an emergency closure are detailed in each building level plan. Um I think the state just felt as though that was important to put in there because there's a very uh good chance we would have an early dismissal or an emergency closure before we would have a violent event. They just want to make sure that we can contact parents that we have a way of getting that message out quickly. In case we were to come into school, emergency closure could be we come in after a break and there's no power in the building or there's no running water in the building or there's no heat in the building. Obviously, we're going to have to contact
059parents to let them know either that we're changing our location, we're going to another building, or we're going to have an early dismissal that we would need parents to pick up. Um I know you have that already, but that that was the language that the state put in there. I just want to remind everyone that the district plan is a public facing document. You can let members of the public see it. It will be posted on the website for 30 days. Anyone can make a comment on it. But the building level plans are confidential. We there's phone numbers in there uh with people's names, people's personal cell phone numbers and names. There is also building schematics in there. There are also aerial photos of the buildings and the grounds. There's things in there that we
060don't really want to be made public. If you do have someone request that, just tell them, "Listen, I cannot show it to you. It is confidential. You're allowed to see the district-wide safety plan. It is published every single year for a 30-day period on the website." Districtwide safety plan is usually about 40 to 50 pages. Building plans are about 130 to 150 pages. They're very detailed. Anything that you see in the district-wide safety plan is expanded upon in the building level safety plan. Um, the other thing I just ask, uh, when usually when I speak to principles at this time of year, I say to them, listen, over the summertime, please review the plans. Um, update any name changes. If you had any retirements, if you have anyone get promoted, if you have anyone move
061on, we want to make sure that the names are correct. If you don't know the name of, let's say, the school nurse because she retired or he retired and you're not sure who it's going to be in September, just take the name out and put down to be determined. It is a living, breathing document. We can always add that once we know um the building level plans have to be approved by the board, but they are not posted for the 30-day comment period and they must be uploaded into the beds po portal uh by October 1st. Can I jump in with the question? Um and I don't know who this is for, but if this document is updated annually or the plan is updated annually, why not leave one year's plan up for the full
062year? Like you mentioned 30 days? Well, the the state requires 30 days for the for the for the districtwide safety plan. They require you to post it publicly for 30 days. Okay. On the website. On the website. But there's nothing to stop us from leaving it for a year. Correct. No, it's a hearing. It's just for It's for public comments for a hearing. Okay. But once once it's finalized, it's posted so that anyone can find it. That I I answer your question. I'm sorry. I understand your question. Yeah, you you understand that. I just want to make sure there's someone randomly who I want to see the plan. I'm like, oh, sorry. It's not the 30-day window. You can't see it now. That's not the case. Okay. Okay. That's what I want to understand. Thank
063you. Um I'm not too sure. Is it up right now? Do we know it's So, we have to double check. I'm not sure if it's up at present. However, the one we're discussing tonight is scheduled to go up tomorrow for 30-day period so we can get the approval prior to the deadline date. So then after if there's any input, if there's any changes, anything like once it's finalized, then we can make it a living document on on the website. I think that's I think that's the question that you're asking. That is the question. So now let me just to make sure I'm we're completely on the same page that the previous plan is it accessible on the website? Yeah, I just I'm going to double check. Okay, thank you. Can I'm sorry. Can I jump
064in with a question? Sure. So, you you touched upon a little bit about the building plans and things like that. Have you ever heard of a school district uh going to Google and getting that building blurred out? Okay. So, so for instance, let me let me Oh, you mean like a Google Earth, right? Right. Because Right. So, I was just on Google Earth. I can see the building. I can see everything. I can see the entrances, walkways, all that stuff. there there is a certain avenue that individuals, private individuals can pursue to have their address blurred out. Have you ever heard of a school district doing that? And would you recommend something like that? I've never seen a school district do it. I don't know if you can. I know private individuals have done that
065um to have it removed, but I've never seen a school district do it. That's actually the first time it's ever come up. Um I don't I don't think it's I don't think it's a bad idea. I just don't know if you if you can. Okay. So you're just saying you can't see the building on Google Earth is what you're saying. So So I know individuals that have blurred out their residence. So if you type in their residence, 150 Park Avenue, all you see is a blur. Okay. That's it. Right. But when you type in, for instance, I just typed in Park Avenue, the building that we're in, it's it's not blurred. Yeah. And you can like zoom in and you you would think with your law law enforcement experience that this is probably something that
066uh if someone wanted to do harm or enter a building, they would very well use this resource. It it has been used before um when people have conducted swatting incidents. I just I'd have to check and get back to you. I just don't know if you can. It's the first time I've ever heard of it. I've ever heard it come up. I have seen it with private individuals before. I just don't know if you're able to. Okay. Very good. Thank you. Um can I ask something too? Um Dr. Talba, can you email that to the board? The one that's going up tomorrow. Um the district-wide safety plan. Sure. It's it was sent home in transmitt a couple of weeks ago as well as hard copies were delivered. Okay. I would have to go back in.
067Okay. I'll go back and look. Um I did want to ask you something. I I don't think they have it here in Amityville. If I'm wrong, please correct me. Um the police having cameras in the hallway having access something you recommend? That's really a decision that the board would have to come down to whether or not they would want to grant that access. Um, it's not something that every school district just does automatically. It would definitely be something that you would have to talk about and there's always pros and cons to everything. Okay. Thank you. Dr. Talbert, um, are we set up for the training of our staff for procedures and responsibilities as of July 2025? for the training, you know, for the drills. And yes, our staff has been trained in the drills and
068we will continue with the violence prevention um mental health training over the summer as well. Thank you. And also staff up to date with changes in language. There's a decent amount of changes in language. So that would have to be part of the new professional development. Yes. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you so much. All right. We're going to um take any community input regarding board agenda items at this time. So, committee input regarding board agenda items. So, it'll be for the June 4th as well as the June 18th agenda. Good evening, Chris Naring. Um, couple comments. I believe a few months ago there was some agreement with Suffet County Police accessing cameras in the building. That rings any bells? I don't think Yeah, I don't It's not ring. It may there may
069have been discussion, but I'm not sure if it was approved. I thought we had we got received some kind of a agreement. Why don't you um I I will certainly follow up. I was making note of that as well. Um it's with the No, the hot shot was one aspect to put the um alarm systems near the schools. That's what it was. But I remember asking if we were going to do a similar agreement with the village police and I don't remember anything happening after that. I just remember having that conversation at some point. I think it was Yeah, I think it was the what Dr. Talba and when you're saying it's it's I don't think it was it was something that was a program that the that the Suffach County had but it wasn't
070cameras. We had to give them authority. I think that's right. Yeah, we gave them authority to do that, but I think it was tied to the hot shot, but Yeah, but it was not inside the building. I just the roofs and things like that. Yeah. So, it wasn't it wasn't it was inside the school. Okay. Uh and Okay. So for the contracting professional services in the third paragraph from the bottom, the district will periodically but not less frequently than every 3 years or five years. Does that mean that No. Can I just I'll just jump in. We the policy committee put it in there for the board to decide tonight. What do you want to do? We've always had three. You know, Dr. Talbert said perhaps five. So the board should decide tonight which one
071we want to do. So we put both to remind us to ask the board. Okay. My question was just it was it a range between No, that was a good question. Okay. And my last questions for the transportation committee charge um the membership to parent representatives. Is there any parameters for how many parents that we're trying to get or a certain group that we're looking for? We're trying to get private school, public school, parents of special students with special needs. I don't think there was any criteria that was that was placed on it, but it those are some good suggestions to get um the diversity of public, private, and whatnot. But Dr. Talbert, you know, go ahead. So the co the committee would include board of education, district administration, coordinator of transportation, a representative from
072the district's contracted transportation provider, community emergency services personnel, and parent and guardian representatives. And so at the pleasure of the board, there will be discussion as to the numbers perhaps or the structure of where they would like them to be represented. Okay. So I think we should at least categorize certain things like you have at least one public school, one private school, one special needs, and then any other category. I know it might be hard to require those because you got to have volunteers for it, but at least have those listed so we could try to seek them out. Uh, and then dates for the meetings. I would think they should both be prior to the um transportation application deadline. So, it's not after the fact where we're having discussions on how transportation should be
073for the following year. That's all my suggestions. Thank you. Thank Thank you. Hi, Margaret Chuff Amityville. Uh, just a couple things. It's great to see all these retirees and these teachers and all the accolades and the wonderful words about all these staff and teachers in the community, but I don't think it would cost too much. wouldn't be cost effective if you could change the venue for the when you do that evening and have it in the auditorium. Make it better than a folding chair for the families who are watching and just change the venue, have the meeting after, have it in the high school auditorium, make it a little more special than just a regular meeting in this particular surrounding. That's number one. And number two, the um the gentleman who came from the uh
074the consultant was excellent. Uh that was a great presentation. But my question is with the training for the staff to do all these measures, how often is the training? Is it annual? Are there brushup situations? Are they documented? Are they checked that they're taken and done and completed? Like is what's the checks and balances for that? How often did the training happen? And if someone retires or someone leaves and is it replaced? All of those little aspects. Do you have to report to whom that has been taken care of? So, the trainings do vary. Sometimes it's over the summer when there's the new teacher orientation. Some of the trainings are done at that time. Uh, some of them are done at superintendent conference meetings. The buildings keep a running record, okay, of who is trained
075in what. Um the HR office keeps a running record of other mandatory trainings. One he mentioned tonight, violence prevention in the workplace. So there's a checklisted and there's a deadline and when it should be completed and so on and so forth. Excellent. Okay. And the next uh thing that I have is regarding uh agenda point 2C1, the transportation, excuse me, transportation committee. And I'm really perplexed as to why you would need a transportation committee at this juncture. The reason for the transportation depart we have a transportation department and it should be adequate. And now with a leader who was in place who has seemed to have had a good grasp of the role and was quite helpful with all the chaos of the bus situation this year. They're finally getting that in order. So I
076ask with to never happen again the situation that we encountered this year with the last minute RFP only one vendor being summoned basically incorrect information that was a conversation that was ridiculous and just hoping that that never happens again. So I don't understand why we need a transportation committee when in fact that owner What's the matter? No, I just heard something open up behind me. So, I'm like, oh, I'm like, what's behind me? It's not you. Okay. Uh, now I lost my spot. Um, uh, so basically the transportation, it it's your job to do the transportation. It's the administration to take care of the administration. It's the board to oversee what the administration does. I don't understand how you need a committee because basically you've already proven ineffectively that you tried to do a committee
077with the budget committee that was I mean thankful that people stepped up and everything else but it really proved inefficient because nothing ever really came of it. The materials were for forthcoming. It was not timely. No recommendations came out of it. So to sit there and spin your wheels, I mean, you can spin your wheels and do a, you know, look that every, you know, the superintendent cares because we're we're bringing up to the people about transportation, but it's really the job of this school to deal with buses have been running since day since day one forever for years and without committees. So, I don't understand why you're putting all this emphasis on wondering about the community, which is great in many aspects, but this one you don't need. It's like spinning wheels for no
078reason. It's if if it's for appearances that you care, it's not really going to hit the mark. I really don't think you need it. Thank you. Are you addressing that to me? Pretty much. Right. And and quite frankly, if if you you do have this committee, I think basically the only thing that they could possibly unearth is the fact that the preschool buses don't have booster seats. That you sat there from that microphone in that seat and professed that the preschool buses do have booster seats when in fact investigation proved otherwise. If they are four years old, up to four years old, they require safety seats. But I just want you to be the aware that the transportation committee is a board committee. It's not a committee being brought by the superintendent. Still the job
079of the administration to deal with the busing and everything else and then the board can approve it. Winston Brown Cook and question regarding health and safety. Do we have a relationship with sorry do we have a relationship with Suffach County Boseies? Does the district western and Suffach Boseies? Yes. someone who handles who are experts in health and safety. How come we don't coordinate with them and work with them as opposed to paying an outside agency? Great presentation, but I can't tell you I learned anything new because being a member of Nassau County Schools and working with Peter Luca, who's Nassau County Bosey's health and safety person for many years did not cost my district anything. And the presentation that was done tonight, I don't know how much we paid for it or paid for the
080work, but we are a district in financial crisis. So I would like to suggest that we coordinate with Suffach County Health and Safety Bosey's program and have them work with us to improve our plans on a yearly basis. And this is money we can take out of the budget. Thank you very much. So I think it's out of the budget. We do we do uh work with Western Suffach Bosey's health and safety department and the representative does come in district. He does inspections and walkthroughs. He attends the health and safety committee meetings. So we are in partnership with them. Okay. Thank you. So why are we paying an outside agency? Yeah, this service is no longer in the budget for next year, but it's a little different because it's more security based with health and
081safety. This is more this was health and safety and which includes security. I'm very very wellversed in health and safety. It's my pet peeve and I've done a lot of work on it. So what this gentleman presented tonight other than the new stuff that the state came down and I have to say I have to give a shout out to NICET. We were on the I was part of NISET which is a state union teachers union for many years where we fought for uh temperature and I'm very happy that it was passed this year and that's because of the work that NICET did. Thank you very much. Thank you. Thank you. At this point in time, I'm going to go to the um agenda. So, we'll going to go down to agenda item 2B one
082and two. Lisa, can I I'd like to make a comment about the um contracting for professional services sitting on the policy committee. Yeah, I was going to do Oh, you're going to do Lisa. Go ahead. Go ahead with that one. Oh, um, we had quite a few policies. Um, we're waiting for council review, so not all of them made it to this agenda, but we're hoping that they'll make it, um, on the 18th. But specifically, um, the policy committee is asking the board if they wanted to do three to fiveyear RFPs. Um, the board, um, Amityville has had three years all this time. Um, we just went out for the RFPs. It's, you know, a best practice. Um, I think that the state was five years, but it's dependent on the district. Um, so that's
083the first thing I just wanted to bring up to let the board know we have to decide that on on how we want to move forward. So, um, you you summarize well, I mean, not well, you summarize the point that we had for that particular one. And so the board just needs to decide if currently the policy is three years and as Wendy said, do you want to go to five or leave it at three? That's all. I'm fine with three. I'm okay with three. Three. I I am two. So where did five come from? We just in a policy committee. We came up that Oh, just an idea. Yeah. Okay. Not an idea, but that that it says that you can do five years lower. Okay. I think three is good. Okay. All right.
084So, we're leaving it at S3. Okay. Um, as far as the AI, um, Okay. Oh, can we stay on the RFPs for a second? Yeah. Okay. Oh, go ahead. Go ahead. Okay. Um, I don't think Did you want to call a motion through? I don't know. No, this there's no because we're just we're just reviewing the policy. So, there were um So, okay. We're just updating you in terms of what was discussed at the policy committee meeting. And so this was a policy that has already gone gone to legal legal made recommendations already and so so we were just we're bringing back to you. Okay. Um wait are Megan are you saying do you want to adopt it now rather than a second reading? Is that what we want or we just No no that's
085okay. Thank you. No so like for example um we add on here published in district district approved newspapers. That was one thing that was added number four on page one. Um and then we Wendy brought up about whether we wanted three or five years. Um then we added in here and it's under the points one two three four five six the it says then we may conduct interviews as far the RSB process. So those are l those are things that we had added in and legal had looked at it. So that those are some of the things that have been changed. Oh, and to send it electronically with the addendum. Can I make a request? What's for an addition and amendments if apply apply? That when an RFP it does go out that the board
086gets a copy electronically. Yeah, that's what we that's in there. Um, sorry. Can I see it? I I missed it. Hold on. Yeah. So the district will um review period like but not less than three years issue um professional RPs and addendums if applicable both electronically and hard copy. So we added in electronically and hard copy. Caroline saying to add the language that the board will also see receive an electronic copy of the RFP. Is that what I'm understanding? Yeah. Rather than have to request it. Okay. because it hasn't been the reason I ask is that throughout the time I've been on here, it hasn't been clear to me how many times we go out for RFP. So if we don't if it is dozens of times throughout the year and it's pretty standard, doesn't
087mean we necessarily have to read them all, but I just would like to understand how frequently it happens. Also, because this is one of the things that was flagged by the internal audit as being, you know, a point of concern. So, just to be able to see, okay, there's another RFP going out. Seems like it's fine, but I just want to have a sense of the volume of them. Um, so that is the language okay to say all RFPs shall be provided to the board electronically. Is is that language? So, if that's that's even if RFPs that that were not possible for interviewing. So, we're saying any RFP that goes out for the district. Just speaking to the mic. Sorry. So, that that's at the board's discretion. If you want to receive the RFP documents
088when they're when they're transmitted out by the business office, you can receive it. I don't know. what that volume looks like. I mean, if it ends up looking like spam, then you just delete delete it like spam. Want to receive notification of it and then you can follow up with the request? Well, can can I can I ask this? Is it possible to to I'm sorry. Is it possible to upload those documents into Now I'm drawing a blank. What do we docs docs? Is that a possibility? And we just created a folder for RFPs just recently. Right. So that's that's a nice little neat way to get to it and it doesn't get in the way of other things. Right. Okay. So every RFP is on board docs which we all have access to. And
089then I don't know if it's been created yet, but I did ask for that. Yeah, it was in the process. I believe the folder is created, but the uploads were not quite okay. Thank you. We want to amend that language then or um we should probably amend that. Say all RFP shall be uploaded to board docs. Each RFP shall be uploaded. Oh, I'm sorry. Each RFP shall be uploaded to board docs. Just say all. Okay. Can I jump in with some comments now? Yeah, I just wouldn't use board docs. That's you know there's a electronic platform. Yeah, sure. Sure. Okay, go ahead. So I saw that number four was a different tone in my gray scale here, but does it actually fit in that? because it's saying the board is directing the super finance to
090take measures to ensure highly qualified professionals. So that's by reviewing you know sort of their background like their trade journals, their professional listings, their inquiries with other districts they work with. But I see like why we want to say publish in district approved newspapers, but is that more to get a wider reach on the response and maybe that belongs under a different heading? Um, so maybe you need another little paragraph to speak to how we're getting a wider reach and the response and we do want to include that just so you approve newspapers. Um, I I think I'm missing your point because why would you want it to be there? because if it's saying that the person is going to make sure that um that a highly qualified professional secured through through prudent and economic
091use of public money which may include these following things. So, we're just adding to that in our discussion that we had in the policy committee um about publishing in district approved newspaper because I think that's something that did come up this time around that we were not putting it in a published district approved newspaper. So, we just added to the list that was a we just Yeah, sense in that you're saying it doesn't make sense that makes sense in that bulleted list. like it's you're like re you're saying like we're saying we want to ensure that it's a qualified professional that's responding but then we're saying we want to publish in an approved newspaper. So it it maybe just reread it again as a policy committee. Why can't we put it in the paragraph where
092we're saying all RFP shall be uploaded to the district approved electronic platform and published in district approved newspapers. Why not just add it to that? Okay. Okay, thank you. That's yeah um I want to see how we can incorporate that we want to be in ensure that the RFP is not written in such a way to exclude multiple professional services contractors from being able to comply with the requirements of the RFP. So i.e. we're not soul sourcing. So, you know, I recognize that this is going to have to go back to the policy committee to think about the language, but I want to look at making sure that RFPs are not written in such a way that only one entity can respond to it and comply with the requirements. Um, there's a subheader there that
093says in reviewing the RFPs, the district will consider blah blah blah, but I think that's supposed to say in reviewing the response to the RFPs. Um it's the next above the next set of numbers. Okay. Um three years I agree. Um I crossed out and may conduct interviews. Yeah, it it is crossed out. Oh, you crossed that out. It should. Yeah. Electronic transmitters shall include read receipts. The district shall obtain responses from all vendors documenting why they chose not to participate. So this kind of goes to the motion that I called when we got one one response to the transportation RFP. So to incorporate language in this policy. I have another scribble down here. District staff shall provide low participation evaluation memorandum when only one entity responds. Yeah. Well, I can give you these these
094these markups and my the concept is that if you only have one response that we're doing our due diligence to reach out to those entities that received the RFP and we're understanding why we only have one response and we're documenting it. Right. It's the same exercise that we went through with the transportation RFP. Can you just forward those comments to to the policy committee so therefore we can merge it all together because that that's that's what we need to do because it's going to take time for us to merge it and bring it back to the entire board. Okay, understood. I those Okay. Is that it on the um on those on the on the professional services? All right. Um yeah, now we're going to the AI. the AI. We just adopted the NISBA sample
095policy to implement something. Okay. Anyone have anything for the AI? Um, yes. I mean, I didn't have it as a hard copy here, so I don't have all my thoughts, but um I did jot down here. My my concern is the sighting of the use of AI and I think that it needs a little bit more consideration as to how that's going to be implemented. Um I actually, you know, kind of going off of what the community member just said about the transportation committee, you know, this might warrant a committee, right? like the use of AI because we're, you know, this is brand new and we need to get a group of professionals together to look at what are we sort of piloting in our initial year of having an AI policy and how can
096we ensure that we're moving and growing and we're addressing um this you know uh sort of it's taking over, right? And it's going to have to move and develop and grow with us as we learn. And you know, we might need to consider as a board that maybe that's somewhere that it's a committee makes more sense. So that because like Wendy just said, we're we're just taking, okay, NISBA said here, here's a starting point, but we need to network with other districts, see what they're doing. we need to see how this implements in the classroom and we need to be able to come back and be flexible and make changes as we need. So you bring up a very good point. Um this this right now is just a policy. So from this point there
097would be a regulation that would take place and it may be something that may be slightly different from maybe something that may happen at the high school versus that's happening at at the low level. So you're making you know a very good point. At work last week, I was in a retreat where um we had someone come in to talk to us about AI and all the different um venues that you can go through that I didn't even know about. But also the university is also looking at how can one as faculty educate yourself about AI, seeing whether or not there's anything where someone's, you know, plagiarizing. That's number one. And then also number two, how can you make it a teachable moment for the student? Um so therefore that you're not looking for the
098student to say write me a paper about cystic fibrosis and cite it. But if someone writes a paper does the citations then how do you put it how do you teach that student to put it in to make it a learning moment. So I do agree with you. So this this is just one step. We have an AI policy. Now the next step is what's the next step right? So the next step is the regulation. So the regulation what happens the caliber and and the building administrators right so the so the AI just just to catch up to speed with what we thought is we we should implement something which is an AI policy. You're right we adopted the NISPA policy as a starting point. A regulation goes into more specifics. Exactly. So ex what
099you just said that's different buildings and maybe building upon it maybe the superintendent um you know and maybe one of her meetings uh with staff or or admins can work to make recommendations for regulation look into other districts on that because we will need a regulation on this. Yeah. All right. So these are just the first readings for these two the other policies that were were sent home and I had hoped that they were going to go home highlighted so therefore you guys could see what the actual changes were. So what I'm going to go back is highlight them so therefore you can see what the changes were for the other policies. Some things were just crossed out other things were added but those policies are now um with legal and legal may come back
100and say what we recommended we can't have in there. So yeah when I did it I highlighted. Yeah your m highlighted as well but when it was sent out it was not highlighted. Right. Um so just one question I wanted to ask council. So, we have we had a bunch of policies to we were hoping to get on this agenda. Um, but they were under review. Um, how do you think that we'll have the other um policies by 618 to be able to get them on the agenda? So, we I believe we receive these policies on 529. Yeah. Um, and there there is and we have reviewed them. uh there are some discussions uh that I think are sort of legal slash you know looking for clarification on some of the language in some of
101the policies uh certainly the the policy with respect to display of the plan yes we just got that uh we have a memo on that u all of the policies will be will be prepared and ready to go on the 18th they're ready now but there's some questions we're looking for clarification Yeah, if it's possible to not get it on the 18th, but maybe get it on the Monday, like you know, something. So, I I'll look for clarification before then. So, so we could review put it up. Okay, great. Thank you so much. Thank you. And then we'll keep you updated for those different policies. So, I um I guess I was I know that the cell phone policy isn't here obviously, but we need the cell phone policy on the June 18th meeting as
102a first read, right? I guess we talked about the importance of the timeline of having it here that the board is talking about it that the public's aware of the draft that you know we have first second third meeting maybe a presentation I know you want to say something but let me just finish my thought and then that way we can okay and that we have it approved by August 1st right so um I don't see it it's not on obviously not on the draft agenda for the 18th but can we is that the goal to at least have a first reading. So, I'll start and then Dr. Talbbert or Wendy can jump in. We when we looked at the cell phone policy and Dr. T will provide us with information from different locations, whatnot,
103it was more, how do you want to say, detailed, more of a conversation that needed to take place, more resources that we needed to get before we felt we could bring something to you. We do understand that there is a time fra time frame that it has to be done and we're very mindful of it and I think we did get something else in regards to the we did get something else in regards to cell phone policy after um after we have met but Dr. Tala gave us a couple of things. So we felt we were not comfortable with bringing any type of cell phone policy to to you guys at this point in time. We do understand that it has to be in place. We also felt like there needed to be more of
104a communication that occurred with um the building administrators, the teachers, the staff, the parents. We felt there was more conversation that need to take a need to take place before we actually really looked on implementing policy. So, we're we're moving on it. Can can I just jump in a minute on this? Go ahead. So, the cell phone policy has come up several times at the policy committee meeting. I want the board to be aware that we are diligent with this and in looking at the options for the cell phone policy that it was just updated by NISBO to give to us. There are some issues that have been identified and I'll just give an example. So they say the parents may get in touch with their child through and there's different different options. However, sitting
105through meetings for a few years, it presents a problem because if they say, "Call the office." How many times do parents say, "They don't get back to me. Nobody calls me." If they send an email, they go, "Nobody gets back to me." There are issues that have to be addressed because the policy won't be successful. If we implement it, I mean, then they'll be in violation of the policy, right? But like, we want it to be successful. the the district has to implement what um how are we going to store them? Um I mean I I think that we're going to talk about this later on, but there was a potential survey going on. I did not agree with it personally as a trustee because the survey that was to go out was do you
106agree with this? Do you do you think that it's a problem? Like I don't know why we're asking these questions. This is the law. We have to follow the law and it's up to us, right? The superintendents, the leader of the schools and we are elected officials and we are decision makers and we are elected to make these decisions and we have to be leaders in this like asking hundreds of people, what do you think of this? What if they all say this is awful? Guess what? It's still the law. Like what are we doing? It's almost like we're going to have a ri you know it's a potential rising up. I don't I don't agree with that approach. But I do want trustees to know that there are just some things that have to
107be worked through to make it successful. I I do know that we have to we are all cognizant that we it has to come down soon, but there are several issues with it. Can I jump in with a question comment? We I had said at the last meeting um as far as there being first, second, third readings, why don't we consider those as the opportunities to engage the public in lie of a survey um and to demonstrate that this is not an easy policy to nail down and like like Wendy, you're saying to the other trustees who are not in the policy committee, we are working very hard. So, you know, not that you're saying you need to trust us, but please understand we're working hard. The hearings or the readings would be an opportunity
108for both the other trustees and the public to see the work that's being done and to understand how Yeah. There are certain things that we can't, you know, we may want it to be one way, but the law says it has to be another way. So, our hands are all tied and then together, collectively, we have to move forward. So, so what you're saying is bring it forward with the best with our best suggestions and the board could take a look at it. And by the way, anytime there's a reading, that is for an opportunity for the public to come up and say anything. You know, that is that that is the exact purpose of first and second readings. So, I understand what you're saying. This reminds me of, you know, um concerns or complaints
109we had previously with regards to status appropriations reports. We wanted them and we were frequently told, "Well, they're not finished yet. They're not finalized yet. Um, and we kept saying it's okay. We can handle something in its working document, rough draft, unfinalized form. It would be better to do that than to wait for it to be perfect at the last minute when suddenly you're up against a deadline and there has not been the opportunity for community input, board input. Point well taken. Thank you. Thank you. That's where I was driving at that I would hope that we're going to have our first reading on 618 because July then you have a reorg meeting with a robust agenda and you know a second meeting and that's it. We have to adopt by August 1. Can can
110the pol uh Tisa and Dr. Taba can we meet one time next week to try and wrap this up? Then be before we before we talk about a meeting date, I just want to um respond in terms of the survey that because we all as a board receive a copy of the survey and it clearly states that the purpose of the survey that New York State is going to implement a statewide ban on student use and possession of cell phones and internet enabled devices in elementary schools. We're collecting input to guide local procedures and enforcement practices. So, it's just asking what school that that they're at. um what position are they in? You know, are they an employee? What type of employee are they? Are they parent or guardian? And it just asks the question,
111how supportive are you of it? To what extent do you believe that access to cell phones and internet um interferes with learning? So, it's just to me it's just a generalized survey that will be going out. We yes, we still have to do the policy. It doesn't make a difference. I let me phrase it. We still have to implement the policy. I look at as that we're just collecting some information from individuals and we can say from that point that on this particular date we can start we're going to start the discussion on a cell phone policy. We have some information back and it could be also be be utilized as a source to say that we got a lot of information back from parents that stated that hypothetically they're not in support of the
112cell phone policy. All right. Which let me finish. So, but when we get that information back, when we get information back, we just it's then that's when we know we have to communicate more with the with the parents to say that we don't have a choice in this matter that it's a law that has come from the from the governor of New York State and this is a policy that we're going to have to inter implement. So, we can start out with the policy. We have the information. We can also maybe even publicize. Maybe it needs to be a separate meeting that we talk about the policy commit. We talk about the cell phone policy because that's going to take time and we can say to parents, we're going to be meeting on several different
113dates to discuss the cell phone policy, the implementation and whatnot. So therefore, they may feel as if they're they're part of the process. That that was the only thing I was going to say. So can I can I ask a question about this survey? So for instance, question number one, name of school. Why does it only name three schools? Because it goes K through five. Oh, okay. Okay. So it doesn't apply to high school. There's there's there's another one that's 6 to 12. There's two different. Oh, I Okay. So let let me ask you this. I mean, what what purpose does this question serve? Number three, how supportive are you of the education law? ban banning student possession of cell phones and internet enabled personnel devices like for instance just so I understand if I
114it says mark only one oval I'm going to mark I strongly oppose if you have 90% of the people say I strongly oppose what do we do with this totally agree may I respond just we just we just know that people are upset so it's very important that this is a major your policy. New York State is a vanguard in this process. So the messaging and the engagement with community, with parents, with staff is vitally important. We have staff who are going to have to enforce the policy that is written. Therefore, it is very important that they have an opportunity to weigh in. Now some of the questions in the beginning are general perception questions. As a leader of the district, it's important for me to know what is the mindset of my teachers, my
115administrators, my parents, my staff in implementing this policy. That tells me the area of training that is needed. It also tells me the type of communication that's needed. So it's very important that we get a assessment of the general perception. Um in the K5 schools they're banned altogether. Phones are not to be brought to school at all. In 6 through 12 the educational law differs that they can be brought to school and yet restricted. So what does that mean for us as educators who are in the classroom? I want to hear teachers. Are you looking to you utilize phones for educational purposes? How are we looking to utilize phones for 504 for IEPs? Are we looking to align this with our goals? So there are questions around climate engagement and academics. Um also the uh
116clerical staff will be responsible for intaking many of the calls if parents have to contact the school. So there's a question on the survey that asks should we call the main office? Should we go through the district communication pol um procedure with parent square? We need to hear from those persons who will be carrying out and enforcing the policy. We have taken the opportunity to meet with security to get their take on the survey. They thought it was a great idea. They even gave some um recommendations in the language. We have also met with the um teachers union who gave feedback on the survey. We've also met with the CSEA2 who represents the monitors who will have to enforce and the teaching assistants and the TAs. and they all um are looking forward to the
117results from the survey to help us implement the policy. Unders understood. Um I have another question and I might um ask legal to weigh in on this also. It's a learning moment for me and it's and it is for everyone because this is a brand new law regarding cell phones. But what discretion does the school board have? I have read some articles where some school districts will ask uh students to keep the cell phones in their locker the entire day. I know that some school districts will have the pouches that we mentioned. What kind of discretion or wiggle room do school districts have? Yeah. Well, besides that, it does say in the policy that was one of the things that we were talking about and again point well taken just to show you guys is
118we have the discretion of what to do. What what is our plan? we come up with that plan of what we want to do. We did speak about pouches. I think they were exploring pouches. My opinion of pouches is they at first they said they're they were the kids were going to go home with it. I go, "Well, we're never going to see it again." They'll say they forgot it. It was destroyed. I mean, that's money walking right out the door, so I don't think that's a viable option. So, we do we do have discretion over it. Um, I know that it said that the kids can't be suspended over this if they access the internet. And the only other point that I want to bring up, I know we're saying, you know, the staff
119has to implement this, right? Because they're going to be the watchd dogss of this, but there is feedback from students that teachers are on the phone sometimes. So the teachers have to model the behavior that we want from children. So that has to be, you know, a big part of it. Is is there anything that legal would like to weigh in regarding this discussion or this policy? So, so the so NISBA uh provided uh the policy um and there is discretion in terms of uh the time frames uh for use uh what's going to happen where they'll be stored there. There are a lot of operational uh issues that have to be um you know especially for those uh where it's not a total prohibition but they are permitted during certain times of day. um
120and they would be stored in certain places. So there is there is a the policy is more of a framework, right? Uh and it's a lot of fill in the blanks, right? In terms of what do you do uh when when are they permitted, when are they not permitted? Um and where are they going to be stored when they're not permitted? Right? And that that was a big part of our conversation that we had in the policy committee. I'm sorry. that we had in the policy committee that when we looked at all the fill in the blanks, we discussed it for a period of time, but we realized we were we were not able to really provide a clear answer. That's why we kind of pull back. I guess I I guess we should bring
121it up, Lisa, so the board could decide on that just like we did with the three to five years. Let the board decide the route that we want to go. Yeah, we just have to put things in and just bring it back to the board. So can So just on a survey um with your response, Dr. Talbert, it sounds to me that the survey could be tailored to address the staff and not the same question go out to the parents, right? I think my concern when I saw this draft survey was why are we asking the parents this? And you know, maybe instead the board considers a district statement advising parents who may not be aware yet of what's to come, right? That there's a cell phone ban and Xgrades and just some specifics of
122what's to come. and the board is working through developing a policy for this pilot year. And please show up on June 16th and whatever other day we're going to do our first and second readings and weigh in on it and just just put it out there uh to see and get some involvement. And I it kind of goes back to my comments on the AI like I just jotted down disruptive technology committee. Disruptive technology, right? I mean obviously cell phones are a huge detriment to attention span and you know AI is right there in there and you know kids nowadays are just going to go to chat GBT and get the answers that they need. I I see it in my career with junior engineers. Oh, I'll just ask Chad GBT. So it's you know
123maybe again I just said it again. Maybe that's a committee that we want to foster for next year of just to see how is it going because it's not going to go exactly right this first year and we're going to need to figure it out kind of as we go. So to Dr. Talbert and Lisa, can we meet one day next week to so that we could get it on the 18th? So, it doesn't help me to say something. Um, to Megan's point, like question number 11, which classroom storage options would be most useful to manage devices and it lists those options. So, in order for the board to really develop a robust policy, you need data, you need information back from those who will be implementing it. So the purpose of this survey is
124to provide you with the data so that you can fill in the many blanks that are required in the policy. And so if we're looking at the 18th, um the intention is to release the survey no later than tomorrow so that information can be provided for you because there are blanks that must be filled in unless the board is just going to fill that in. So two So just can just quick I'll be quick but I so I just said like should this just go to stair and then we did carry in the budget for this year the cost for pouches. So we sort of set a baseline. Well that was what everyone was assuming that would be the best way to perhaps store them but there are so many options that the policy allows
125the district to choose. So, we have to choose. And on the elementary level, you're not choosing because they're banned. They're not supposed to be brought. But if one is brought, then what is the procedure to store it until parent pick it up? Does kid get it at the end of the day? What are those procedures that we need to walk out? and our staff need to have input in that so that you can make informed decisions about what the policy would look like and sound like. So maybe go ahead. Go ahead, Caroline. Um, so several things. One, I I read through the survey a few days ago quickly so I don't call everything, but it seems like, you know, a mixture of how do you feel about the law questions, but also fill-in-theblank questions as
126we actually have to implement the policies. So to that I would say a survey that just focuses on the fill-in-theblank questions that would give us data. I would completely support that. Um all districts are going through this. So I don't think it's going the burden is going to be exclusively Amityville's to explain to you know the community we have to now come into compliance like a lot of that work is just going to be done in general among society. Um the work of disagregating the data of surveys is a lot and we had spoken briefly uh a long time ago. We don't have a subscription service do we like to survey monkey see we've been putting out so many surveys this year with good intentions but I I feel like it it's getting into the
127realm would it be cost effective to have a subscription to say okay because this is going to take a lot of work on admin. So I I I do like the idea of maybe just sending it to to the staff and just holding off for the parents at this point in time. Um and if we do send it to the parents and maybe just make only select questions to the parents maybe slightly different that what what the parents get versus what the what the employees of the district get. So several staff and I went through it and ensure that the verbiage was good for parents and staff. Um there will be several messages that are going to have to go out to parents. This is just one of them to ensure that they completely understand.
128So we'll be doing building based messaging, district-wide messaging um on a continual basis to make sure everyone's clear and understand, but we're just trying to get some baseline data so that we can know how to forge ahead to make some wise decisions. Um, but just to jump on that, you know, we have some some trustees saying just to send it to staff. So maybe we should I don't know if you want to do roll calls, Lisa, just to determine what direction we want the superintendent to do. Do we want two separate surveys, one for parents, one for staff, just for staff, and a notification like an announcement to parents? So can we go through that so that there's clear direction? So what does the board want to do? Do you want it just to go
129to employees of the district and remove the parents scoring? I'm good with the surveys going out to both. Um, that's one. Yeah, I I second I second that, Wendy. Um, I I think it's okay if it goes to parents, but I I don't I mean, I think there has to be separate question. I mean, separate questions. I agree with separate questions. Megan, well, the way it's written, I would This is seems like a staff survey. Comfortable with it going out to both. I think it's an excellent tool to get a pulse on the situation so we know how to move forward. I would also like to see this go through our shared decisionmaking teams. I think that's an excellent um source within the buildings to discuss roll out and um you know get input from
130administration as well as our teachers. Caroline Caroline I guess it's fine going on to both again if it's just the questions are pertinent to things we actually have to the fill in the blanks. Yeah, I'm okay with those. All right. So, is it just taking where where the board is? I have gone for both, but are are are they are the questions going to be different? That's as there was going from there were two going for both as is then a third going for both as is then there were different questions right that like going for both but different questions so I just this side right now we'd have to go through them all do you you do you want to have different questions going I I would want different questions this this one I
131agree does seem more for staff I think at this point I I'll just So is there a motion a motion? My suggestion is to have a motion and a second and a decision. Can I make a motion? I'll make the motion to have the survey be sent out the way that it is. I We'll do that first. Have mo motion to send the survey out the way that it is. So to both to both. We'll do that first. Have a motion for that. Second. So LJ's first. Carol Seahhoff is second. Do I have to amend the agenda to add this? Right. All those in favor of sending out the survey as is. That's what the vote is for right now. Sending out the survey as is. No. Hold on. I I got So, um, Carol's
132Yes. Who said no? Wendy. Wendy. No. Yes. For me. Leslie Cretz. Yes. Who else? Juan. No. One. No. No. No. No. All right. So, the survey is not going to go out the way that it is. All right. So, can I make a motion that this goes out to just staff? That's that's what I'm getting ready to do next. Okay. So can I can I just um elaborate on something? When you say as is, that means with the questions asis, everything presented the way it is. Right. Exactly. I I think a little more thought has to go into the questions. I I don't mind it going to staff as well as parents. Um I just think the questions need to be a little bit more thought out. All right. Can I All right. So, we
133can still discuss this on the 18th, have a first reading of whatever policy is working its way through the pipeline and also send a survey out to teachers and parents after that first reading, which would allow the board to have more time to review the questions so that they're more targeted. I don't I don't agree that the survey has to go out before like by the end of the week so that we get the feedback before the 18th. So, the the survey is not going to go out. So, it's going to go back to Dr. Talbot and then she has to look at making any revisions. So, the hope was to get the feedback from staff before they leave. So, going back to revise it, you won't likely have the information that you would like
134need to have by the 18th. I understand and I'm okay with that. Um, I would like to have it eventually, but I I think it's it's too tight a time frame. Well, also what's going to happen is going to affect us as a policy committee as well a little bit. But I don't I don't I don't think it will agree with that. I don't think it Okay. Can Can we So So I just If it's as is to staff and fill in the blanks to parents, I need more time to come back and read this. This kind of like came at the last minute. A lot of other stuff and I don't want to sign off on it without giving it more. So we're going to move along. Wait a second. I I asked if
135the policy committee can meet next week to do the cell phone policy. just look at my my calendar. Yeah, I don't have my calendar. Okay, I can email you. Let me know. Okay, great. Thank you so much. Okay. All right. Yes. So, I'm going to move away from the policy committee and I'm going to agenda item 2C1. Have a motion for agenda item 2C1, please. Leslie Quzs. Can I get second? Megan Westman is second. Any discussion on this item? Um, I would like to say something. So, this transpired because there was a lot of chaos over transportation around the budget season. And I think that it came out of a good place because there were a lot of upset parents. There was a lot of misinformation going out, not accurate information going out. So, I
136I think it's started in a good place. However, it's been resolved, right? So, Mr. Spence has proven to be an excellent director of transportation. Um, he has communicated with parents. He's very responsive to parents. I am not in favor of this anymore being that everything was resolved. Um, I think that that the board shouldn't abdicate its authority to the community. While I understand you want to engage in the community, I don't think that they could really make informed decisions as there might be confidential information that comes into play. Maybe you know thing things with students um incidents with students or with staff busing monitors and so forth. So, I don't know that fully informed decisions will come out of this. It might give the appearance that we're trying to engage, but ultimately it might not
137be what we want it to be. And I think the budget committee was a good example of that just to echo what the speaker said is at the end of the day, the budget committee wanted transparency and to get more information sooner. I mean, that seems to be the trend, which is a good trend. So I don't find this to be necessary. So I am not in favor of this. Any other comments on this item? Yes. Can I just ask what is what is the board's hope to get out of this? It was it was an idea that came I I think Wendy brought it up as having it was to it was to get the community to buy in like to get the community to be part of it because I don't know if
138you are following but it was chaotic and people were very upset. So we were trying to say okay like what what should we do here? How do we get people involved so they feel like their voices are heard? But now it's been resolved. We had a proposition that passed people were heard and it's been solved. Right. I I just I just wasn't sure if the hope or if basically the charge would be to find more efficient routes or to uh you know this bus we like this bus service better than the other as an opinion. If this has been resolved then it's not needed. It's been resolved. I agree. I don't mind. It's been resolved. It's I don't you want to say something? Well yeah I I could see if we in five years when
139we're up for another contract if there's another question that would be the time to have a committee. Um, I guess I just want to um throw some love to the budget committee because people said good. Well, I I appreciate the work they did and the fact that we have to approve a budget every year, I I don't think we should just I think they should stay. I I agree with that. I think the budget committee should stay and just because the first year it was like a pilot year. You didn't get everything you wanted as fast as you wanted, but that was acknowledged and I hope that every year the budget committee gets better. um as an annual committee that continues to meet. But for transportation, it's a lot of work to meet with committees
140and you know, keep them going. So, I'm not a fan of adding more work if you don't have to. Um so, yeah, I don't think we need the transportation committee either, but I do think we need the budget committee, right? Although, I just I j I jotted down that we need the transportation policy updated, but I also agree it's not necessary, but the Thank you. Um Mr. Spence had created a draft policy. I had asked for it to be brought to the policy committee, but it wasn't. So hopefully if we do meet next week, maybe we could add that to that. Okay. All those in favor in favor of what? Why don't we? We're still in 2C1. So in favor of adopting the committee. Exactly. So no no no. It fails. Well, no. So, you
141just have to make sure that you record all our names as as not. Can I have a motion for agenda item 2C2, please? Motion. Second. So, Megan is first, Carol Seahhore is second. Any discussion on this item? Yes. Um I've never seen this on the agenda before. If this is the law, um New York State Archives do this. Why is this a board item for the board to approve? It automatically has to be done to comply with the law. Why? Why is it a board item? It's never been on the agenda before. Never seen this. There is a provision in the law that provides for a board resolution to destroy the ballots. I went back through our resolutions. I didn't see it on previous years. I don't know why it wasn't put in previous years,
142but it's pursuant to the education law. There's a board resolution to destroy the ballots that the LGS U provides the retention period of a year. Uh but the education law provides for the board resolution. So this was not bought up brought up by a board member. Yeah, this is not the board did not recommend this. The superintendent recommended this because it's under No, she did not recommend who recommended this. It says recommended by the board, but it it came from this did not come from the superintendent. It says recommended by the board of education. So, who recommended this? The clerk consultant. Yes, she did. She she was just saying that it had had not she was the one who brought it up. Okay. So it should be so the point is it wasn't done in
143the past but now that it's been done we should know that this has to be done every year correct okay thank you what's the the retention doesn't seem it's six months what there was different retentions noted in the resolution the retention is a year so that the there slight inconsistency between the education law it says uh it's destroyed six months after board resolution um which has been interpreted to mean that after the after the the election the board passes a resolution and then the ballots are destroyed six months from that time but we recommend waiting the entire year period under the retention. Okay, I have a I have one more question. This the last line here says that the board of education hereby orders unsealing and opening of the ballot boxes. And so it's just
144the ballot boxes. We're not doing anything with the actual ballots. I just want to make sure you're going to open the box. How are you destroying these, by the way? Like, is it going through a shredder? They're shred. Well, they should be shredded. They're shred in house at the I don't know. I I don't take care of Oh, Dr. Talbert. Each summer there is a shredder truck that comes to the district. Okay. to shred all confidential information. So, I think she's trying to meet the deadline to have these shredded when the truck arrives. Okay. Thank you. Any other discussion or all those in favor? I I I Motion carries 70. We're going to go to the June 18th agenda. and then we're going to come back. So, we're just going to go to June 18
145agenda and I'll start with um any questions on the 1C 1 through 3. I don't have any questions on these, but I I would like to request a curriculum presentation be included. Um a curriculum presentation. I don't know how I would state it, but I'm thinking of, you know, I'd like to have an understanding of the gaps that were identified this year and the plan to close the gaps. Um, you know, we've had discussions over this past year in particular on like the social emotional curriculum ruler and replacing that. I truly don't know what the plan is. um you know so I don't think that these recognitions would take all that long so I I would like to request that we include a curriculum presentation Dr. Tal she me was requesting a curriculum presentation for
146June 18th so so what I was saying Dr. Salad is like to have an understanding of what was learned this year as your teams are reviewing the gaps in in you know educational performance student achievement and you know what is the plan to close that gap. How are we addressing that moving forward? You know there is a shift in the in the science coming into Park Avenue next year just to have like more of a comprehensive presentation and understanding of the plan for next school year. Um and we also had those ruler surveys sent out and you know I am not in understanding of what the proposed recommendation is for next year in particular on the social emotional curriculum. U so just be aware that the seal of literacy we have about 30 students who
147will be recognized and then for the national French exam is not as many. Um normally four presentations is not um received well. So that is why we left it to three. If it is the pleasure of the board to want an end of the year curriculum presentation, we can provide that. Is it just to give out certificates? Um it's to acknowledge them for the work they've done and to present them with certificates. Okay. So, does the board want this presentation at the next at the meeting here? I support that. I think it would be a good idea. I mean, we really don't talk about academics that much. I think it's a good idea. And I I understand in July, for example, there's already other presentations, right? I I mean, we have the professional development plan
148presentation. I mean, obviously you have the reorg meeting, then you have other presentations already planned for the second July meeting, and then do we only meet once in August? So, it's kind of the end of the year. What did we achieve? What did we see? What did we learn? What are we going to do differently? Is is there room on the on the July agenda at the second meeting? Maybe you should do it as an end of the year thing with the curriculum. just asking is is there room on a July agenda to do it there? I don't know audience participation in that Mary. I know that's a very broad topic to just label something a curriculum presentation. Do you feel that that should be broken? Well, I think I think it go ahead. It
149should be broken down into several different presentations because the board is asking not only for curriculum but asking for how we closing gaps, achievement, what's being learned. I mean, we're talking about a lot of different topics right here. So, I understand that we're asking what the learnings were this year from the assessments that we've done. and I would be able to address that and talk about what our plans are moving forward to close any gaps that we've identified. Um, I would be able to do that in broad strokes for each of the curricular areas and then if we needed more detail, those would have to be more specific presentations. So maybe we start with that one and then if the board identifies they want moving forward. So is the board okay with the presentation of
150the jury? Yes, fine with that. If I can also say that hold on a second. I just want to make sure everyone um I Carol and Caroline I I said yes. Yes. Sure. Just just something um a suggestion from my end. I wouldn't mind having um a presentation not only on academics but also also the state of our finances in you know and in an increment basically um you know going into this new school year you know maybe not finance because we do that leading up to the budget but academics what are the you know I think we kind of do it already what are the goals what were some of our shortfalls what do we hope to accomplish and then maybe even a midyear followup you know if that's if that's worth it, if
151that's possible and also midyear followup um presentation from our finance department might be worth it just to touch base on a couple things in public. Just just a suggestion. Thank you. I like the suggestion about the finance. We still don't have a date for RSA rooms to come in yet, do we? Uh yes, it has not been confirmed, but it has been requested for the July 16th meeting and actually Mr. Snder had a financial presentation that he wanted to present on tonight, but we knew we had a lot going on as well, so we can incorporate that soon. RS Abrams, the hope is for July 16th. Yes. Okay, got it. Thank you. All right. So, going on to reviewing the agenda because um so for for the minutes, I did receive an email today from
152Eileen with three, four, six, like almost eight different sets of minutes. So, what I'm going to ask is if there's anyone that would like to assist and maybe I can send like two sets of minutes to different board members to I'm happy to help. Okay. Because they we haven't had since April, right? So, they probably go back to April. Yeah. So, if so, okay, I'll send I'll send like two send it. Can you just send all of them? Um, I think it'll probably be a little bit easier if if there's just one person coming back with information. That's just my recommendation. It makes it easier for for Eileen and for Lynn just to hear because if you make something, I make something, Wendy, if there's four different people, what what do they change? So, if
153you I was just saying I was I was looking for help. So if I send out two to three per per person, then we can knock them out and get back. Did you volunteer? Sure. I sure I'm happier if you correct. All right. Thank you. We can done quicker. Okay. Um we I think we kind of went through the policies. the policies. I wanted to comment like so I think that we have to have on here public use of facilities first reading agenda first reading minutes first reading flag first reading then contracting professional services second reading artificial intelligence second reading and then the last two first reading those have to just be listed out okay I'm making a note here all right um for the student ex official board education members I do want to
154say that NISBA does have um some information on the website that I can download and I can ask them to put into board doc. So therefore the the board members can have access to the information that they do have and I have reached out to um two other districts um and ask them if they'll be willing to share what they have put together previously. So once I get that information I can upload it into board doc so therefore we can determine what we want to give to our students who are coming in. that that's the first meeting they'll be with us like that in statement. Um yes, but I was going to meet with them prior just to give them information from NISBA. They did have the webinar the other day, but also give them
155that there there's a NISBA student um handbook and it hasn't come out yet. It was supposed to be coming out this week that comes available. I will give them that one as well. Thank you. Um, any questions on 2E1 and two? And then I'll jump to 3B1 through 83. Any questions on any any of these items? Um, I would like to request that the appointments for personnel for the summer program are are the teachers that are actually going to be working in the summer program and not just like the pool of teachers. Um, sometimes we end up appointing a lot of people and then the next day they find out actually who gets the position. So, I'd rather just have the list of teachers that are getting the summer appointments. Is that possible to do?
156That should be all year round. Dr. T. Yeah. Um, for the rec program, I can definitely tell you that those who are on the agenda are the ones that we intend to have working. It's much more difficult at the high school when we don't know um for sure what courses students are going to fail. Um, so the determination of what's offered depends on how their regions go. So, it's easier just to go ahead and put them down and appoint them. we don't need them that they they're not utilized. Nothing that we're not we do have conversations with them about that as well with the teachers that are have applied who will be on the agenda that it is and don't get confirmation until the end of the year and they can't get another summer position.
157Correct. I have a question. on the summer positions. Are those recommendations made on a building level and then brought to central? Yes. Okay. Thank you. All right. Any questions under 3C 1 through 4? Um, for 3D1, I do have a few things, Mrs. Side, but I'll I'll send it to you. It's just on there a couple things in the report that were negative. If I can find my little sheet here. Oh, I wanted to know if we could also have an updated appropriation status report. We did. It It didn't come. I don't know that I did either. I don't It It came in an email. Oh, can I can it be sent home hard copy on a Friday? I mean, I like to have like the finances. Yeah, I printed it out. Um, we did
158get it. It goes up into May 30th. So, I just I'll highlighted the different things. There's a number of things that are negative. So, I just need some clarification. So, like there's like a whole list so I I'll give it to you. I'll give you my copy. You can make a copy and give it back to me. It is that something that we could get hard copy before the next meeting, the appropriation status report and up to date in real time. Okay. Thank you. All right. And anything on 3 E1 A through L and then we and then the 3 F1. So, all right. I'm gonna come back to the main agenda, right? Can I have a motion to table? We're back to June 4th agenda. Can have a motion to table for now agenda
159item 2C4 for further discussion in executive session. Second. Carol Seahhoff is first. Winnie Kestro is second. All those in favor? I motion carries 70. Can I have a motion for Lisa? I have a motion. Finish it. Okay. Oh, you're under you're talking about under 2C under board action. Okay. Go ahead. Be it resolved, the board of education hereby directs the superintendent or her designate to immediately issue a RFP seeking construction management services for the duration of the um middle school capital project with such proposals to be received by the business office no later than 10:00 a.m. on July 10th. Second, do you have a copy of this resolution that we can all see? No, but I can describe it again. So the the res the motion that's on the table is Can you read it
160again, please? Sure. That just reading. Read it slowly. Thank you. That an RFP seeking construction management services. Hold on. Requesting an RFP. I And I can email this to you. You don't have to jot it down. It's an RFP for construction management services. But I want to know what I'm voting on. That's what it is. Okay. Yeah. for the duration of the middle school capital project with proposals to be received no later than 10:00 a.m. on July 10th. So I'm calling this motion um we had extensive discussion about how we were awarding the job. We decided not to include the ad alternate. there was, you know, discussion from community members and the board members as well with concern of not having a construction manager. Um, I recognize that I'm saying the RFP will be due
161by July 10th and the kickoff meeting with the contractor is this Friday, I believe. Um, but it's a two-year project and having a CM is critical to ensuring the quality of the work is in compliance with the contract documents and it helps to protect the interests of the district by ensuring the contractors remain on budget and on schedule. I recognize that the engineer said that they were going to be stopping by twice a week, but I am an engineer and I know what it means to stop by twice a week. So, they're not overseeing every day all of the daily tasks that the contractor is going to be implementing. um and that it's a lot for you know buildings and grounds to take on uh on top of their or their works load already. Um
162I'm also not aware of a backup plan should the we have procurement delays with you know unknown tariffs should we have unknowns in our you know existing conditions. So having a construction management there manager there all of the time to drive the project and to be the eyes and the ears for the district is the art the the motion that I'm calling so that we issue an RFP and from there we can decide. Um but we also have you know the potential that or it's in the state budget that $2 million a one-time gift of $2 million is coming to the district. So, this is not a tremendous lift. Um, and in the long run, it could save the district a lot of money uh due to construction delays. So, um, thank you, Megan, for
163u bringing that resolution forward. It really would be nice if because you put a lot of thought into that resolution. you did an excellent explanation on that resolution, but it really would have been nice if you provided to the board ahead of time. So therefore, we can see it, we can ask any additional questions because yes, it was something that was discussed at at the last meeting, something that I said kind of makes sense. So, it really would be nice just to let us know you're you're at the agenda setting meeting that took place last week and at that meeting that I was not able to attend, but you were there with with um Carol Seahhoff and Dr. Talbert, you could have just brought this forward if you thought about it last night. You could
164have So, I did I Well, actually, what happens is I go back through my notes because I jot down what community members say and I'm preparing for the meeting and this came up. I you know I said you know should we consider should we be trying to figure out how to do this and you know the timing is not great because we're already going to the kickoff meeting. Um as far as you had opportunity you had you had the opportunity to type it up. So if you had opportunity to type it up you could have sent it out to the entire board. So therefore at least last night we had an opportunity to look at it. Even even going forward, I can try. I mean, I did do this today. I think I think that
165I'm I'm just saying this and not that I oppose oppose what you're doing, but I I feel as if it's that if I typed up a resolution and I brought it to the table right here and now and I did not share it with the entire board that many people would be upset. And I'm just asking for the same courtesy to give us the you know the resolution ahead of time. That that's all I'm asking. Even if you you type it up and you make a quick copy and it and we we get it as we're walking to executive session. So therefore we know then we then we know before I come out this way there'll be a motion to amend the agenda to add something to to the agenda. That that's all I'm asking.
166That's all. Okay. I I can do that. I did do it today. um you know and I do understand from Robert's rules that a trustee it does have equal like we do have the opportunity to call a motion so I I can appreciate your request and when I was in agenda setting I actually did ask for the EPC settlement that wasn't on there so I just didn't have it at that time you know it's an hour meeting during my workday that I go and I do agenda setting and I go through the agenda two long agendas um and I didn't so but Yes, Lisa. I can, you know, going forward. Um, but I try to do my due diligence in preparing for a meeting just like I would a work meeting. And I went back
167through my own notes and this was just so I'm not doing it to, you know, upset anybody. It's just a motion. I'm not I'm not upset. I'm just requesting. I'm just requesting. Okay. So, I just I do have one question, John, because I want to make sure that it's being done the right way because we do have to do a motion to amend the agenda to add this to the agenda. Correct? That's correct. All right. So, let's just go back one step. And I have a motion to amend the agenda to add agenda item 2 C5, which is a request for RFP for construction manager. Move it. Second. Motion. Hold on. Wendy Canestro Caroline Fanning motion to amend. You getting this Lynn as well to add resolution. Um I just want to introd that that
168language to the district clerk then that would be helpful as well. the when there have been walk-on items they are supposed to be uploaded to the agenda um and they haven't been even after the fact was I had gone on the website and check so all those in favor of a motion to minimize air this item I I motion carry 70 now have a motion for agenda item do C5. Will it uh hold on Wendy? Motion. No, I I had to the agenda to to add in. So, if you want to go ahead. So, that was Wendy and then was it Wendy and Caroline or Caroline? Wendy, I think I went first. Okay. Wendy and Caroline. So, all those in favor of this. So just in terms of your architect's contract, I believe your architect's
169contract is is without a CM. So you have to have a contract with a CM. Okay. And is this coming out of the the budget for the project, capital project? That's a question on the table. And I know we had previously talked about the impact of a CM altering the architect's um agreement that we have with them. And so if this is a viable way that the board would like to go, there are some preliminary changes that should be considered before we say yes. In addition, there were some preliminary conversations. I'm not sure, Snyder, have you been in on those conversations? some of it with Galina trying to get this project covered. Could you elaborate on that at all? You just got to speak close lot closer to the next. Thank you. One of the
170things we looked at based on the um the board vote at the last agenda to table some of that casework which was a wise decision. We have to now try and find some of that casework hopefully at a discounted price because I think we believe we need to do it and hopefully with some of the savings on that case work because it wouldn't be subject to the markups through competitive bidding. It wouldn't have markups for architecture. We would buy it directly off of state and county contract. So if there is some savings to be realized there, we would have to see if we have enough money to afford a construction manager. If there isn't enough savings for it, then we have to get a construction manager anyway. Then some of the case work might not
171happen. So we're still trying to research that by looking at county contracts for that. Okay. So we're saying that the construction manager course has to come out of capital. Yes. Okay. Um and why are you referencing the H2M agreement? like why couldn't it go out to a different just a CM? So the so the AR there are two different versions of the AIA agreement for architects. There's a AIA agreement with with a CM or AIA agreement without the CM. If there are if a CSM is involved then the CM will be doing uh the pencil markup of uh the of the contractor's invoices then making the recommendations to architect architect's going to have the final sign off. So the the agreements are different okay responsibilities between with a CM or without a CM. So you
172just have to make sure that right now the middle and whether this is a I'm assuming it's a without a CM contract. We just have to make the the changes to the architect's contract. So there's a coordination between the CM and the architect. Okay, that that's that's so it's those you know that's potent that's possible to do, but you'd have to just being letting you be aware of the operational issues involved in getting a CM or not getting a CM. You'd have to change your architect's contract um and have a revised contract with your architect to include the CM version. Okay. Just because Yeah. I I I don't know if it's going to delay. I don't know if you're if you're put out an RFP for a new architect. Well, there's it's going to it's
173going to have the architect of record is going is the architect that's on this project now. So, you you can't change architect mid midway. Um, and so if you're going to change the contract, you got to, you know, CM, you've got to change the contract. So ju just for my my my clarification, does the communication have to occur with a check firm first before we can go for a resolution for RFP, Duke. And so I I I like the idea of a construction manager. I don't want you to think I don't want it, but I just want to make sure that we're going about it the right way because if we voted yes to do this RFP to get a construction manager, but we have not spoken with the the firm, does that put us
174in an awkward position? Does it put any legal position? Does it make any issues? Anything like that? Because if it has to come out of the capital project fund and that's just my my question. So in terms of doing an RFP and as you said you can do the RFP get the responses and then decide whether they add or not right and so you can go for the RFP and then make these other changes and see if you have the money and see what's going on with the contract. So you can do a two different tracks. That's what I want to point out. Okay. So I just but I'm just being aware of the operational issues if you go forward. I just I just want a clarity on that. Okay, thank you. Any other questions
175on this? So, all those in favor of RFP for construction manager? I I I I I I motion carries 70. Any other resolutions before I go on? Yes. Um motion for to amend the agenda to add item 2 C6. Yes. Um cost for a first floor bathroom. What's it again? The cost for the first floor bathroom. Which cost for all cost or all the first floor? Cost for middle school first floor bathrooms. So all the bathrooms on the first floor. There's one on the map, but I think they were doing they were doing all the bathrooms. No, not on the not on the first floor. There's just one, but I think there's one by the one's by the gym and there's it's by it's by the gym. There's one on the first floor that's not
176being done. Yeah. By the cafeteria. Yes. Yes. So, was a course I'm adding an agenda. Do you want me to call the motion? I was I wasing the agenda. We We got the motion. I'm just trying to understand. Can I do you mean to Yeah, go ahead and read what? Okay. So, be it resolved that the board directs the superintendent to obtain a cost to renovate the first floor girls bathroom and provide to the board prior to June 18th, 2025. So, course of renovation of the bathrooms near the gym because there's it's it's outside the cafeteria, right, by the locker room. Yes. There's one girls and one boys bathroom on the first floor that are not part of the contracts. It's like a bathroom upgrades project and we didn't that those bathrooms are probably the
177most used, most visible. It was embedded in a different ad alternate that included for some reason the the stairwells and the hallways on the third floor. The hallway on the third floor. and it was not an ed alternate that could be afforded, you know. And again, you know, I'm not trying to throw anybody for a loop here, but I go back through my notes and I jot it down. Community member asks, "Why the heck aren't you renovating the first four bathrooms?" And so you know this resolution is just to obtain what is the cost for just that scope because it's embedded right now in a larger ad alternate then you can't extrapolate just the cost to clean up and renovate the first floor girls and boys bathroom. I just want to clarify the first floor
178girls and boys bathroom back to back near the gym and outside the cafeteria because the other first first floor bathroom Yeah, but I'm just I'm making it clear for for the public. Okay. Thank you. You're just asking for the cost. It's just the cost. Did I just ask a question? Why don't you just send send the request? I know you have to tell me. I'm just asking. Anyway, all those in favor of motion to amend the agenda to add this item. Motion to amend the agenda to add this item. Second. Uh, Caroline W. All those in favor? I I. All those in favor of agenda item 2 C6. I I I Oh, I'm sorry. Can I have a motion for agenda item? Motion. Second. All those in favor? I I I. Any other resolutions? Next
179one. 237. um selection process for interim assistant superintendent of finance and operation. So the motion to edit in item 2C7 motion what was what was the title of it again? Selection process for interim assistant superintendent of finance and operations. Read the resolution. Be it resolved that the superintendent shall provide the board with any and all documentation in connection with the interview process conducted by the selection committee for the interim assistant superintendent of finance and operations. This documentation shall be inclusive of names of all members of the selection committee, standards for moving candidates forward, all resumes and documents reviewed and utilized by the selection committee as well as individual and final ratings of all candidates. This documentation shall be provided to the board no later than close of business on Friday, June 6th. So, um I
180did mention this resolution. I told you in executive session I'm going to ask this resolution again. I called it on election night and you know we didn't have seven people there. So I'm asking again for the documentation of the selection process for an understanding of how that unfolded and just for transparency. Can I have a first and a second please for this? I'll move it. Second. All those in favor? I I Caroline Carol. No. Um, Megan, yes. Wendy, yes. Warren, yes. All those in favor of this motion. I thought we just said that. No, no, we just we were just an amend. We we just amended the agenda to add the item. That's all we did. Oh yeah. Wait. So that was just the amending. That was just that was just a motion to amend
181the agenda. Yes, that's all it was. And then she read the resolution. That was So wait, are you're a yes for the amending the agenda? Just noting the motion. I'm a yes for the motion. Okay. So wait, I I got to get first. Do you want to redo that again? because I think they were confused about just So all I'm getting all I'm just getting is because the motion was to amend the agenda to add this particular resolution. She read the the resolution. We the first and second was Wendy and and Caroline. So we're just adding it. That's what we're doing right now is adding it. Okay. So for adding it, it was Yes. right now. So Leslie is saying yes now for adding. I'm saying I'm okay for adding. All right. So, Carol, you
182okay with adding or no for adding it? Okay. All right. So, it's 61 for adding. Now, we're going to have a motion for agenda item 2C7. We'll do a roll call. I'm I'm I need a motion. Motion second. Second. Okay. Caroline Fanning, Winnie Keshra. So, it's a motion for agenda item 2C7. Right. So, let's go with the yes first. Yes. Yes. Who was that? Who was that? Wendy. Okay. Caroline. Carol. I'm a No. Megan. Yes. Juan. Yes. And Leslie. All right. Motion passes. Passes 43. Any other resolutions? I have one. Okay. Um motion to add agenda item 2C8. Hold on one second. I can get the page. Okay. U motion to direct the superintendent to provide the board with job descriptions for each employee shown in the administrative table of organization. We have all the
183job descriptions. If you don't have, you know, we don't we have them. If you don't have them, we can you can because it was asked before and we were all given them before. Job description you're talking about for like all the assistant soups you're talking about. This is without this is coming from the executive session discussion about I I I I think you're trying to talk about of individual. Yeah. Duties. So the duties of the positions are in the job descriptions, right? And we we all we have gotten the job description. I have a actually have a folder on my on my computer where we where we request the job descriptions and we got we have them. So that's that's is Yeah, just ask for it, right? Just ask for it. I mean I mean
184I'm I'm just coming back after a year. I wouldn't mind seeing it. Can you send it to me? I have. Yeah. All right. Yeah. Okay. Okay. So then the question we have said before so uh perhaps I'm not getting my phrasing correct that has in the p I've asked for it trusty nearing when he was trusty nearing and will be has asked for it to get basically the flowchart so that we understand all the positions um both administrative secretaries so we know who's in charge of what. I I don't think we got that because I remember Chris asking for that of of the district to know how many positions were open. Uh and we just referred to this two hours ago in executive session as something that we needed. So to just I don't think
185so. That's why I think I'm getting my wording wrong here. Yeah. I don't think I'm understand your question because I I thought you I heard you say you wanted job descriptions for like the assistant super assistant superintendent positions and maybe like we we you asked for I think there was a question for job descriptions that people got but are you asking for for a table of or I'm not I've seen the table of organization I understand how that all flows but as far as you know which confidential secretaries are responsible for what how many we have. So you want the table of organization for district office or central office, right? So it's I guess it it would be the table organization including central office and the administration at the building level plus this the the
186confidential secretary is that report support staff. So, are we asking for the buildings and district office? I'm just trying to get clarity so I can provide what it is you're requesting. I I think what I want is just central office. Okay. Not the buildings, table of organization or central office. Yes. Along with along with you're asking like for example, what is the job description of the of the confidential secretaries within that building? maybe responsibilities what of the people in the um like the business secretaries. Yes, including district clerk. We have we have the um that's been forwarded to Yeah, we have the I think you're asking for everything at once though. We want everything in one thing to review. Yeah. Not like individual job descriptions in a stack like a more comprehensive flowchart so you
187can understand like a schematic of like how many we have and who what the support is for the understanding of how like responsibilities are distributed. Yeah. Okay. I'll move it. So do we do we need a do we need the resolution because we're going to get it. Well, I think well, we've been asking for it, you know, casually for months, but it hasn't it's still not there. We I I still don't have what I feel that I need to understand who's responsible for what in central administration. Okay. So, by doing it through a formal resolution formalizes the request. You'd like to do it through a resolution, you can. Often times there's lots of talk and requests along the way. If we just make it clear what you want and I'm clear on what you want,
188I can provide it. So my clarity on your request is a table of organization flowchart of district office, administrative, clerical support and responsibilities of each. Right. Correct. Okay. I can provide it. Thank you. All right. So, do we need the resolution for this? It's a resolution. So, let's make a motion. I make a motion. Hold on a second. We're still We're still at what's on the table right now is amending the agenda to add this. That That's what's on the table. So, yes. So, hold on. So, everyone's clear what the resolution is for amending the So, all those in I need a I didn't get a first and second. I need it. All right. All those in favor? I I I oppose. And now can I have a motion for agenda item 2 C8? Move
189it. All those in favor? I I I I I'm sorry. Wendy Kestro and Megan. All right. So, let me just go down the line. Um Caroline, you said yes. Carol, Megan, yes. Wendy, yes. Juan, yes. Lily. Motion carries. Seven bill. Any other resolutions? I have another one. Motion to amend to add agenda item 2C9. Motion. Yeah. Motion. But is there a title? What's the title? Uh motion that the board of education hereby directs the superintendent of schools to abolish the position of assistant superintendent of HR for the purpose of restructuring. superintendent or her designate shall perform the duties of the assistant superintendent of human resources. All right. So have a verse on that please. So it is the to abolish the um HR assistant super for HR position. Can I just say something? I really
190am asking my fellow board members for a professional courtesy with some of these resolutions. Carolyn just stated a resolution and even before she finished what she was saying, Megan was about to confirm the motion, which tells me that she knew about it. There has got to be a professional courtesy where everyone knows what's about to happen. There's time to think about it. It's obvious to me that there are certain board uh members that know that resolutions are going to happen. This is not the way a board should operate. Um I'm going to jump in a minute. So, Robert's rules does allow for this and we are governed by Robert's rules and certainly um there'll be times where it might happen in the middle of meeting things come up. As Megan said, I do the same
191thing. I go through notes. It should be noted that um it's not uh while a board should be able to work collaboratively together. I think it's evident uh the fracture that's in this board. there there is limited trust and um there have certainly been times when we have asked for things to go on the agenda um that have not happened and when that doesn't happen the trustee has the right to come forward and if this has been our experience being almost a year we have to be effective board members to represent the community as elected officials to get the business done we are doing everything within our elected responsibilities and roles so to say that we're not professional, we're more than professional. Um, we have stayed above board and certainly that is not always the
192case. So, I I just I just can I say something because Lisa had said it be I think it would just be just speak more to the mic. I think it would just be respectful. I think it would be respectful if we knew about the resolutions before. That's all. And I understand where you're coming from coming from the notes and this, but just not even we don't even have to discuss it, but just let us know beforehand before we come out here. You three apparently knew the resolutions. We did not. And it would be nice to just know it. Just know what's coming. That's Well, I I do understand that, Leslie, and I appreciate that. There have certainly been times where um you know we've walked into meetings where there's tons of people where some
193trustees seem to be aware of it with coordination of coming up to the microphone. So I understand what you're saying and I appreciate it. But you know to act like this is just you know us trying to do things. We're just trying to get the business of the district done. That's really what this comes down to. I would like to move the district forward. I'd like to get it done. It would certainly be easier if we made a request and the cor and and it would get on the board agenda, but I have sent emails that have gone unanswered sometimes for two weeks, for days, sometimes never answered. That is not respectful. That is not professional. I would just like to request that if if there is a request, then there's we're up to the
194ninth resolution right now. just put it put them all down in an email and say then that way you can come in and you can say look I sent a request for nine different resolutions or nine different things that that I would like this is the same way that you're writing up the resolution you're given the reason so obviously we can't have a discussion about it via an email but you can just say that this is my resolution this is my request I'm going to bring it up at the meeting I'm respecting I'm respect requesting that um we discuss it so therefore we can get this information so it doesn't have to come as as a resolution. That's all I'm asking as as we move forward. But the problem is the problem is people give
195their opinions. But when I'm not I'm not finished yet. And then I'm just going to say in regards to this particular resolution, there was some discussion that occurred in executive session that we may have to continue in executive session. But one thing I think I can say and and if John if I'm going down the wrong road then please stop me that before we abolish a position we need to know what the structure is going to be. So we're going to abolish a position not knowing not knowing who's going to be responsible for what for what. And we there's a couple things. There's been change upstairs in the HR where we had two seasoned individuals that were there that were very knowledgeable. Right? Those people retired maybe two or three years ago. We had someone
196down in the finance area that was very knowledgeable. She left. Right? So now we're in a situation where in restructuring and I think we're all okay in looking at that. It's not that we're not okay with it. I'm not um and I'm not I'm okay with looking at restructuring. I am, but I'm not okay with the Busty just voted no to sharing information that would help us make an informed decision with regards to restructuring. Let let me finish. So when we when we get we we need before we abolish a position, we need information. We we we they need to look at who's gonna cover what. And so that that's what I'm just referring to is that I once we get the information, then we can say we're not going to have this position anymore.
197But I don't support doing that without any any clear information. Um I just want to say one more thing when you said just send the email and nobody has to say anything. There's certainly been trustees who give their full opinion by email, which they're not supposed to be doing. So, we can't sit here and present to the audience that this is very simple to send an email, guys, and nothing's going to happen when there are rude, personally attacking emails that are not professional. Like, I'm sorry that this has to come out, but this is why we have to do this business like this. We are trying to move the district. All we are doing is trying to do the business of the district. And so and we all have our vote and we Carol Caroline
198just very quickly everyone wants that information for the the table. No one voted against that for the short no one voted against it. Okay. I I retract that. My apologies. The thing that I was going to say before and again I John redirect me if I'm getting off in the wrong conversation. A lot of this was we were discuss this is I didn't know I was going to put the resolution out. I was considering it, but based on how our conversation in executive session went, here I am putting it forward. We often get information not as quickly as we request with regards to resumes, interviews, whatnot. So, and and different people have different work schedules. I could take you at your word, Lisa, and come up with an idea for a resolution midnight, two nights
199before a meeting and send it out to everyone and then have a 12-h hour workday, you know, and not have be able to volley if there is any followup via email. And personally, I don't want to based on the tone of the way some of those email exchanges go. So, um, if the understanding is, okay, I'm just going to launch the resolution at midnight on Monday and first discussion is going to be either in executive session or public, I can do that. I would I would appreciate that. Okay. And I I So, I just want I just want to be clear. So, you're obligated to post on the website your resolutions prior to the meeting if they're created prior to the meeting. So, as soon as practable after the resolution is created, it it should
200be posted. So the the open meetings law doesn't require an agenda, but it does require the posting of documents that are going to be considered at a board meeting that are going to be the subject to discuss discussion including resolutions. So if you have a to take your your example, if you have a resolution that's draft drafted on on Monday, it should be to set factable posted before the meeting. So the resolution is available for the public so the board so the public is aware of what's going to be discussed at at the board of education meeting. Um, with respect to motions such as this that come out of executive session, there's no obligation to post that meeting because this is something that just came out of executive session. So, in terms of um the
201resolutions, the openings law doesn't require an agenda. The board the board policy requires an agenda and has its process for ing agenda and um posting the agenda and amending the agenda. But the openings law does require the posting of documents including resolutions that are going to be discussed at the board meeting as soon as practable after uh they are created. Um well can I say something that so thank you for providing that information and I would be in agreement with Caroline if we're going to give a resolution as long as nobody's discussing it with their snide comments and we're just giving resolutions no problem. The other thing is is that I've sat in plenty of meetings over the past five years. There have been walk-on agenda items and uh one comes to mind the renaming
202of a track. Certainly somebody must have known about that. That came on last minute that two trustees didn't know about it and you know it's coming up. You know nobody opposed it then. Nobody said don't say it then but now it's because it's you know it's us. It's coming out. We certainly can do that. If it is send it there's no comment. We'll discuss it. But these walk-on agenda items have not just been happening now. It has h been happening over the course of five years. And sometimes it might happen that you know um you know even like for appointments there wasn't always a blank where you fill it in the blank. It was walk-on items. And certainly I've been in meetings where I'm like oh here's another walk-on agenda. So I just want to
203point that out. This is nothing new to this board to have walk-on agenda items. So it's it's not it's not a matter about a walk on item, but at least we Right. So I just Right. So you you just sent to me a a policy a proposed policy to amend your agenda and part of that part of that policy revision speaks about resolutions, right? And so that's why this this issue is something that, you know, And the board, my recommendation should be addressing through policy, right? Because you have that that policy includes something about resolutions, but it also describes business items ahead that should be provided um when you're making the agenda. So um which is the issue with with that policy and that is that policy has got to be in in compliance with
204the open meetings law. while why this is this issue is um coming to the four right that policy that is been sent to my office for review has a provision that speaks about having resolutions sent prior to the meeting it said when possible right when possible but but here's the thing though John too is that you know sometimes things come up or if we can't get something on an agenda I know in the beginning I tried often asking for things to go on the agenda they never did. So, it's up to the trustee that if I want to get business done, Robert's rules allows it. If they're if they're they're obstruct obstructing it, then I have to be able to do the board of the business. Well, Robert's rules require Robert's rules permits it, but
205the open means law requires that it be posted right in public as soon as packable after it after it is brought. So, if you're if you're reviewing the agenda and you have a resolution to add to the agenda or prior a couple of work days, according to Bob Freeman, if it's a few work days, you have that resolution a few work days before the meeting, that should be posted either on the agenda or in a in in public so that the public is aware of the resolution. that are going to be brought to the board of education and reviewed and discussed at the board meeting. So you are correct that Robert's rules permits it but the open meanings law requires that it be posted. Okay. So when possible we'll we'll send it in pract when
206practical. When practable. So, right now we're at just amending the agenda to abolish this position. Move it. No, no, we already did it. I got Megan and Wendy. So, all those in favor of of abolishing the position I I I Megan Caroline Carol. I I think it's just too premature at this point and too much work has to be put into thinking about restructuring. I thought we're just doing the vote now, but go ahead. So, I am a no at this point. So, Megan, I got you. Wendy, yes. Juan, yes. Leslie, no. Have a motion for have a motion for agenda item 2C9, which is abolishing the HR position that we No, all we did was just amend the agenda. Yep. I'll move that all Hold on a second. That first vote was just to
207amend the agenda to add it. That that was it. And there was a long discussion that took place. Now we're coming back to the actual motion which is abolishing the HR position. Yes. Yes. Yes. Hold on a second. Hold because I I got to get because Lynn has to get as well. So motion to abolish HR position. So Caroline. Yes. Carol, no. Uh, Megan, yes. Wendy, yes. One, yes. Leslie, no. Motion passes. 43. Any other resolutions? Yes. Motion to add agenda item 2 C10. Hold on one second. I get more paper. Go ahead. Go ahead. Motion that the board of education schedule a date for council interviews um and that we set aside June 16th and or June 17th for such interviews. Have a motion to amend this agenda to add this item. Move it.
208Wendy is first and Megan is second. All right. So, this is just a a council interview as you said June 16th to set aside June 16th and 17th. And what happens if we're not available? Can we pick other days? I'm I'm putting this motion out there because I think It's our last the latest opportunity and the earliest opportunity to make a decision before the June 18th meeting because I think it's important that we have the new council if it is new or council our established council for the next for the reorg meeting. So June 18th is our last opportunity before the reorg meeting. So proposals are due Friday. It'll take a week for the packets to be compiled, sent to the board for us to review them, right? And then we have the Monday and
209Tuesday before our final meeting before the reorg meeting. But what I'm saying if we're not available on on email this I sent an email out. I know and I got rather um no responses because no responses. I got different responses. Um so now I'm discussing it in public through a motion. So, right now we're just a minute agenda to add this item. Go ahead. I would like to wait until our new um elected trustee is on our board before we decide on our attorneys. I agree. I think my opinion I agree. I feel that Mr. Nearing should definitely be part of this process moving forward. Even though we just appointed pages of coaches that are to be appointed for the 2526 year. Even though we just approved an agenda for the next meeting for special
210education uh contracts for the 2526 year, the inconsistency and the convenience to only do certain things, to follow certain things is astounding. I would add to that that last year there was a rush to make an appointment to fill a vacant seat before the three of us who were elected were installed. Thank you. And I must also add that Wendy, it was actually your recommendation that positions like this wait until the new board is together to make the decision. I certainly said that and wow, that's the first time Carol Seahhoff has ever agreed with me in five years. So let me say that while I do agree I do say that appointment should happen in 2526 since this board including yourself has adamantly put their foot down that this always happens this way and you
211can do this if we're going to do it because we've consistently done that with the coaches and now with the special education contracts. I'm not going to conveniently wait for you to get the majority. Let's do it while this board is is here. So right now what's on the table is a motion just to add this item. So all those Oh to add the item. We're still having discussion. All we're doing is amending the agenda. All we're doing is amending the agenda to add the item. So you can don't move it. We can keep talking about it then. Okay. Second. We already have a first and second. Okay. So we're discussion. All right. Great. So my comment is aren't we appointing council at the reorg meeting and didn't this kind of like happened last year
212when we went out to RFP again for council after the reorg meeting. We ended up having to extend the agreement so that we could do the interview process and the RFP process. So, I originally called the motion to go out to RFP for legal counsel purposefully so that we would get the responses and we would have the opportunity to interview and make a decision ahead of the reorg meeting. I I it was timed for that. Now, I understand that it's unfortunate that, you know, we're in this, you know, transition period, but that was the timing of that original motion. That was the timing of, you know, we want the responses by the state so that we would have the opportunity to review it, discuss it, and have legal counsel in place for the reorg meeting.
213So my thing is that and I was going to discuss it tonight was probably going to be an executive because there's some names that I need to utilize in terms of my my date and my availability. And that's why I did not respond in in the email because I'm not available for one of the dates. So I don't mind doing the interviews, but I I'm just not available for one of the dates. So to say the 16th or 17th, that's my problem. But you're available for one of them. For one of them. Okay. So you'll respond by email but for one of them. Okay. So motion to amend the agenda to add this item. Move it. I mean it's already there. The vote. The vote. The vote. I Caroline I'll go down the line. Um
214Carol, no. Uh Megan, yes. Wendy, yes. Juan, yes. This is should just be amended the agenda. We're just amending the agenda. Yes. Okay, that's all and I'm okay with amending it. All right. Um now it's a motion for agenda item 2 C10. Move it, Wendy. Second. Megan. Now I'm going to do the same thing. Yes and no. And the reason I'm a no is because I'm not available. So I'm a no. I'm not. You said you're available for one day. Yeah. But not but not for both because it says for the 16th and 17th. So that's why. Yeah. So that's why I'm just saying no. Go down. Do a roll call. I did. Um Leslie go the other way. Say no because I don't. Yes. Wendy. Yes, Megan. I believe so. Yes. The problem, Carol?
215No. And Caroline? Yes. The only reason I'm no is because I'm not available on the days. That That's the problem. Maybe if you're available. Can I can the district clerk send an email tomorrow with both dates and ask for everybody's availability and can the board please respond because there are times that the board trustees never respond. Yeah, because the reason I was I was going to do it tonight because I need to talk about a couple things in exact. That's why any other motions I mean resolutions. I do motion to amend agenda to add item 2 C11 district mascot. I'm asking for Right. We're up to 2C11. Yep. Yep. So, I am the first. I'm asking for a second to add it to the agenda. Motion. And Wendy, I mean Wendy second. You just read
216uh Okay, Caroline, go ahead. Go ahead and read the resolution so we know what it is. Whereas the Amityville Union Free School District, the district has historically utilized the name mascot Warriors to represent its athletic teams and school community. And whereas in accordance with the guidance issued by the New York State Education Department NYED and the requirements of the dignity of all students act and the district has undertaken the task of selecting a new name and mascot that reflects our values, history, legacy, and spirit of the Amville community. And whereas after careful consideration, the board of education has determined that the name the Crimson Tide or Tide for short best represents the district's commitment to excellence, unity, and school pride. Now, therefore, be it resolved that the board of education of Amityville Union Free School
217District hereby adopts the Tide as the official name of the district's athletic team and mascot effective June 5th, 2025. In the event that a future state or federal directive allows the district to retain the name Warriors, then the district will retain its ability to re to revert back to the Warriors. Be it further resolved that the district administration is directed to take all necessary steps to implement this transition. Athletic uniforms should not bear the name of the mascot, but rather bear the letter A or the word Amityville. Be it further resolved that the board of education expresses its appreciation to all students, staff, alumni, and community members who contributed to this important process and reaffirms its commitment to fostering an inclusive and respectful school environment. So, Madame President, we have a first and a second.
218Do we have a consensus to move this onto the agenda? Um, before we do that, just any discussion on this? Well, I think we get it on first and then we discuss. Yeah, we're up to the vote now. Before Before we vote, we have to have the discussion. I think we have to get on the agenda first. This is a vote just to get it on and then once it's on the agenda. Go ahead. Go ahead. I mean, I mean, we we've been doing it backwards anyway because all along we've been So, it's a motion, second discussion on any Right. Exactly. It's a discussion. Discussion. We've been discussing all along. Any discussion on this? Any questions on it? What you just read, Juan, was the resolution that was presented to the board a few weeks
219ago when it it is verbatim. Um, basically exchanging the word hawks for the tide. So, it's just to add it. So, adding it is fine. The newspaper that goes out to the community quarterly says the tide on it already. So, I'm yes for adding it on. Anyone else? I'll go down line. Leslie Juan is a yes. Madam President, I do have a copy of the resolution like it. Yes, that would be nice. I'm sure legal would also appreciate it. Actually, give it down. Um Yeah. And we'll give it to the clerk. I'll give it to you. Um I'm sorry, Megan. This this just to add edit to the Okay. Yes. Okay. Carol. Yes. Uh Caroline. Yes. So it carries 70. So now have a motion for agenda item 2C11. The district mascot with Juan just
220read. Motion to approve. Second. Juan Leon. Carol Seahhore. I'm going down. Go the other way. Carol Fan. We'll start with Caroline Fan. I approve. Carol, yes, Megan. I think it's the most compelling mascot for the district. There's We already have the imagery. Oh, no. Go ahead. There's the imagery of the sailboat. Wendy just noted the the newsletter is the tide. Yes. [Music] Um I agree. I mean hearing feedback about the you know the community wasn't involved in this. The community feels a lot of pride in this. Um we have a lot of the imagery already. Um I will note that the federal government I think has given the governor till June 30th about um the mascot ban to come up with something. So, we don't know if it's anything's going to happen about that, but
221to get ahead of it and to have some sort of resolution um rather than it being open-ended, I support it. Yes. One, I know you're a Yes. Yes. Lily. I'm the biggest. Yes. And I'm I'm torn be very honest. You got to vote. Yeah. I'll just I'm going to say no. I'm just torn. I I I feel that um I understand your your resolution, but I'm just going to go for no right now. 61. Any other resolutions? Yes, Madam President. I propose a motion to amend the agenda to add item 2 C12 regarding the addition and alteration uh plaque from 2020 that was removed from the high school. At the completion at the completion of the work that was done by the bond referendum, there was a plaque in 2020. It was removed and put
222in storage. I think it's a good thing to have it up there just for um continuity. You see it in every other building whenever um a construction project was done. It you can see it in Northwest, Northeast, Park Avenue, even Park Avenue, the extension. It's there and it signifies the the end of the construction and when it was built is it okay. Um can I just have a first and second on this on first? I'm asking first. Second. Okay. So I just I think I think what would be helpful is that Oh, you know what? I just want to be able to see the plaque. I don't I don't remember what's on the plaque. Would you like me to pull it up? Yeah. See? Um, if can I just ask something? If it's my understanding,
223and you could tell me if I'm wrong, because obviously plaques happen all the time, that it's a list of board of education and the administration under the bond work that created at that time. Is that correct? Correct. So, it it includes a couple things. It includes the time frame of the project when it was done. It includes the board of education. It includes the attorneys that were that were there at the time. It includes the architect and I believe those are the main components. And I believe at the time you voted to take it down. I did. Yeah, you did. I did. And you know what? If I can have a heartto-he heart with you, it's been weighing on heavy because why would we take why why would we take that down and not and
224not do that in other buildings? That's I mean I was a new board member and that's the way I felt, but it's been weighing on me heavy. So I'm proposing this motion. I'm I'm a little un I don't know the history, but do we assume this plaque is somewhere in storage or would also would be just making a replica of the plaque if you have like an image of what the plaque said in case they don't have it? Can you tell us why the plaque was taken down? What the motivation for that was? My understanding was it was political. Well, well, there there were multiple there were multiple reasons why the board at the time chose to take it down. I mean, some of you were here as well, so you remember. Um, it's all
225right. I'm going to find a photo for you so you can see it. Okay. Thank you. It's It's already amended. We just We're having the discussion. Yeah, we're it's still amended. We're in discussion. Okay. I found the photo. So, I think there was something there was there was some additional things for me. Well, well, okay. Well, one one of the points of contention was which board of education should be listed, those that were here for the bond or those that were here when it ended, when the construction ended. That was one point of discussion. I think I think one point discussion was was should it be the original board that approved the bond, right? Or the ones that you said or the ones that finished when the project was Shouldn't it be the ones that
226got it passed? Is that who did it? The ones who got it passed? I I don't even recall. No, no. I believe what's on there is the board that was in place when it was finished. When it was finished. Correct. Um, honestly, this is really super petty and I say just put the plaque up. I think I think there was a couple I think we just I think the other part, too, was just to be consistent with what was on other plaques in other buildings. I think that was the other part, too. It's very consistent. No, there's a couple things on here that typically is not on here. Like what, for instance, I don't remember. I have to look at the other plaques. I've seen the other plaques. Yeah, so have I. So, there's a
227couple things that are not consistent. So, okay. I think it's very consistent. Just All right. Can we just vote just to amend it right now? Yeah. All those in favor to amend it to approve it going back up here. No, no, no. This all we're doing is amending it to the agenda to add it to return the plaque to the to the wall. So So this is the vote. Yeah. Well, yeah. All we're doing No. All we're doing is amending to add it to the agenda. That's it. Okay. Okay. This is yes to add it to the agenda. Yes, John. Yes. So much get that was approved. No, it was not passed to No, it was not passed. All we did was there was no vote. Let's just do it again. Time out. There was
228there was no vote. Juan did the first. Wendy did a second. Then there was a discussion that occurred. All right, we did not vote. Now we're voting for it. Now we're voting. So, let's go down the line. I'm I'm okay with adding it to the agenda. Yes. Yes. Yes. One. Carol, I'm up to you now. Yes. Good. One, two, three, four, five. Who am I missing? Leslie. So that that passed 70. All right. Oh, we got to pass it back one. Now we're voting on 2C12, which is to add it back. Okay. But the question is, are are we adding back? Do we know we have it? Is it a question of if we have it, it goes back, or does it have to be I just and I don't mind it going back. I
229I just want to make sure that it's consistent with the other plaques we have in other buildings. That's all. So, I'm just asking to That's just me. Let's just So, can I have a first come first? I'll first. Okay. Now, we're going to discuss this again very quickly before midnight because we still got to go back in, ladies and gentlemen. So, I have no problem looking at this to see that language is consistent as other plaques and other buildings. And I just I think there was something that was not the same and that's I just that's all I wanted to do. So, but this is like but I believe it was already approved prior to 2020 and that's how it ended up on the wall. So, let's just vote on it. I'm Yeah, let's just
230vote on it. Can you do a roll call? Leslie. Yes. One. One. Yes. Yes. Megan? Yes. Yes. Yes. I'm the lone note because I just want to know what else is on the clock. That's all. Any other resolutions? Yes, madam president. Hold on. Need more paper. I'm holding for you. Time out. Need more paper. for tonight. Just one and I have a couple. Go ahead, Madam President. Motion to amend the agenda to add item 2C12. No, no, we're 13 now. I apologize. 2 2c13 resolution to terminate the interim assistant superintendent for finance and operations. So we're amending the agenda. Can I have a vote for this? Move it. Second. Wendy and one. Can you just We really can't discuss this in public. Correct. Just do a roll call. All those in favor? Go. Can you
231go roll call? Sure. can. Well, this is to add a This is to add. Oh, this is to add. Oh, yeah. So, I'll do roll call. Sorry. So, I'll start the other thing. Caroline, yes. Carol, no. I'm a No. Megan? Yes. Wendy? Yes. Juan? Yes. Leslie? No. Okay. Now, we're mo uh voting for agenda item 2C13. I'm going down the line. Motion to approve. Motion. I just I just need to So that's one second. And Wendy. Okay. All right. Go down the line again. Leslie, no. Juan, yes. Wendy, yes. Megan, yes. No. Carol, no. Caroline. Yes. Okay. Most both pass 4. Okay. So now number 14. Um are you done? That that completes number 14. Wait. Juan, Wendy, Megan, and Caroline. Yes. Leslie, Lisa, Carol. No. So it fails 43. I think I said 4.
232Sorry. It passes 4. Yeah. Yeah. I said 4. Next. Um, okay. I have a resolution to implement an academic gifted program. Motion. A second. Which is where? Motion to agenda. Motion to I'm tired. Motion to It's an agenda. Thank you. Yes. Number 14. Motion to amend the agenda. Number 14, resolution to implement an academic gifted program. I have a second on that, please. Someone second. Explain. Where is the Amityville School District does not currently have an established academic enrichment program? Whereas title 4A grant may be used for student support and academic enrichment programs. Now therefore, be it resolved that the board of education directs the superintendent or a designate to apply for title four funds to support the implementation of a gifted program in grades three through six to include criteria for students to qualify.
233Any discussion on this item? Um I yeah so the reason I'm doing this is um you know uh I know um student achievement isn't where we want it to be and we're very focused on raising it. So I feel like you know we're teaching to the middle the bottom but there's a lot of kids that are high achieving that actually need enrichment to keep them engaged and to provide some further enrichment and they have it in most districts. I would love to see for this to come to Amityville. I think a discussion as to criteria has to take place. Well, perhaps the superintendent or her designate can recommend it. The board could review it and and then approve it or amend it as needed. There's a mention of title four in the resolution. So you're
234saying that the grant would be able to be grant grant funded. I looked it up. It says that it that money can be used for enrichment programs. Can I So the resolution again is saying like to apply for the funding. the the resolution is to uh I guess title four money which I think we get right we already get and to apply it towards enrichment program and to establish the gifted program and then to come up with the criteria present it to the board and establish a program. I think also what would be good is that in the past we did have a gifted program here in the school. So maybe you find out what happened like what happened and why it was taken away. Not taken away. Well, I I don't I'm just I'm
235not saying I know what you're saying for history sake, but I think like what I'm just saying is like just to find out why it was taken away and and learn from it if it's going to come back again. That That's my point. Okay. So, I'm asking if we could vote on this and perhaps they could look into the history of this, but I would like to see a gifted program come to the school district for our children. So, right now we're just amending agenda. Everyone in favor of amending the agenda? Yes. Yes. Yes. I'm sorry. I have to wait on. Okay. Caroline. Carol. Yes. Uh Megan, I think you said yes. Wendy Juan. Yes. Leslie. And I'm okay with the yes right now. Now, we're going to vote on agenda item 2 C14. want
236to go down the line. I just John, do we know whether or not that the money can come from that title grant from that? And if we if we do, uh, Miss Stevens, I think we do and if we do, does it take away from some something else? So, I think we are all in agreement. Well, I can't speak for everyone, but we are certainly in agreement for enrichment programming for students. That has been um a robust conversation among instructional leaders in the district. Allocating the funding through title 4 is concerning because title four funding is already allocated toward something. We would need to discuss the shifting of that. And is there a time frame because this would be a budgetary impact based on how it would be scaled into implementation. I am asking you
237to to come back to the board of education with information to for implementation and criteria. So whatever you gather, you could bring to the board of education to say title four, this is what we have. I'm sorry, I don't I don't have it. John. So, couldn't that just be a presentation that we could do? No, I think that I think that I'm looking for action. I want things to be applied. I want it to for the students. I'm really interested in that. And what I find is being on, you know, being in the audience is different. Being here is different, but it's it's, you know, I'm trying to get action so that we could do it because what happens is we say next meeting, next meeting, we can't fit it in. Oh, we'll come back
238to that. It's very frustrating. So, I just really want to help the kids. If I could weigh in for a second, I mean, we've seen presentations upon presentations talking about the gaps and the shortfalls of our students. We never talk about those students that are doing excellent and and achieving so high. You never even think if we had a program, could they go even higher? I think that's that's one way to look at this. If we could just do a roll call. So, I'm I'm okay in looking at the information. I just want to I just want to look at the resolution again because I want to make sure No, I think I went back the other way. Can I just look at the res cuz John has is the resolution just asking for looking
239at No, it's for the implementation. So if it's for the implementation then my my concern would be is the funding for it if it comes from the title for that particular grant um how will that impact the money that may be going to another grant if depending on the program that will be implemented what will that program be who what will be the resources that we may need so please understand I am I am in support of this but I'm concerned for the language of the implementation. If we're talking about looking at getting the information for the implementation of a gifted program by like 20 for the 2026 school year when yeah 2026 27 school year then I I support that because it allows now for the budgeting of it to put it into the
240budget to make sure that it could take place. I I didn't Yeah, I didn't put a specific date because I thought that there might be time needed to gather the information and to do it. And if if Miss Stevens hasn't done it before, you know, I I did have a brief conversation uh prior meeting just asking about it that, you know, you would have to look into this. I'm not sure it could go for 25 26. I mean, I would love it, but it may not be possible. But I'm saying we need the implementation of a gifted program. So, do we need to put a a time frame on there? Because John John, what um what is your Yeah, John. Should I Is it possible to do it for 2526 or should I What is
241your should we do 26 27? I don't know. I I don't know. I I this is just No. Okay. No, I think I I think I think we need to look into it more. So, okay. So, then so we can budget for it. We can do it the right way. planning, curricul materials, but it's grant funded. I know you guys keep saying it's granted, but then getting all the getting everything in place. So, I I'm not saying I I think I So, if I could just say this, I think what my concern is is I have sat in this seat and approved a plethora of stipens under grant funds, right? And some have been added stipens, you know, these positions. This is for students. I feel like this should be a no-brainer. Like we don't
242really talk about things that directly impact students. This directly impacts students. I don't want to delay it. I don't want to change the information the the language. I want it implemented. So can I can I also weigh in for a second in the discussion? Um to me implementation doesn't have a dollar figure attached to it. Implementation could be planning as well. But that that's why I just I want to make sure that that's clear that that I want to make sure that's the clear portion of because if implementation is is the planning then I support it 150%. Because that means I mean implementation happens in phases. First you have the plan. I don't expect us to have the funding right away but at least you have a plan and that's I I just want to
243make sure that that's the clear portion of it. That's that's my key because my concern is that when you say implement and if it does not take place for this year there's no time frame on this Lisa. I just want to make sure that that's okay. That's the key. Yeah. Yeah. I mean like I said if it could happen this year great. I think that's ambitious. I don't know that it will. I think there's a lot of other things going on. So if it doesn't happen for the 25 26 year we have a resolution that has to be implemented during that time the board will be kept a breast of the implementation process right this is the information we gathered this is what we have to do so I think to one's point that that's
244the thought behind this see implementation means get get the wheels rolling that's the way I Yeah, that's my plan, John. I got it right from the state ed website. Okay. I I just don't know when it's when it's it's a it's like a flow through. It's a it's from the feds to the states and then allocations down to schools. Okay. I just don't know the fun. Okay. And and just so the board knows like this is something that, you know, I really wanted to do for a long time and I happened to be on the website, you know, getting ready for this. I just happened to go work and I I I looked on the website and it specifically said academic enrichment program, which is why I used that language that it could be used
245for that. Like I feel like I did my homework. You're the lawyer though. Yeah, it's it's something I have to look at in terms of the timing of it and when it's when it's So, let's see if it passes or not. The statewide allocation, so I don't know. Well, well, we'll see if it passes or not. If it does pass, then maybe you could provide a memo or something on it. Sure. Okay. Um Leslie, I'll start with you. I'm sorry. Yeah, because now we're going No time out to amend the agenda. No, that's already done. Okay. I just need I need a first and a second for um for the for the implementation. Yeah. Yeah. So, I need a first and second motion. All right. Uh Caroline, second. Megan, now I can do the vote.
246Leslie, yes. Juan, yes. Wendy, yes. Megan, yes. Carol, yes. Uh Caroline, yes. 70. Any other resolution? Um, I only have one more. Um, I would like to amend the agenda for item 15. Thank you. 15. Um, to provide notice to the superintendent that a contract will not be extended past our contract date of June 30th, 2026. John. because we need to discuss in the executive session or do we can we go forward with this motion? Would you like to see it? I mean, I think it has to be a public motion. Well, it has to be a public motion, but I We need to be discussion on it, too. I was just asking for the um agenda to be amended and then I was going to read it. I need a first and a second.
247I need a first motion. Second. Second. Did you want me to read it? Yes, please. Okay. Whereas the contract between the board of education at the Amityville Union Free School District, the board and the superintendent of school superintendent expires June 30th, 2026. And whereas said contract requires that the superintendent be given at least six 60 I'm sorry, at least I have a typo. at least six months notice of any determination not to extend its term beyond June 30th, 2026. Now therefore, be it resolved, the board is determined not to extend its contract with the superintendent beyond the current expiration date of June 30th, 2026, and hereby authorizes the board president or her designate to take any further action required under said contract, including providing written notice to effectuate such determination. Written notification shall be provided
248by the end of business on Friday, June 6th. We already got that. Oh, we can't have a discussion on it because it's it's a personnel issue. Let's do a roll call. Um Caroline. Yes. Carol. No. No. No. This is just to add it to the agenda. That's it. Nope. Nope. I'm a no. Megan. Yes. Wendy, yes. Juan, yes. And Carol. Now, now it's the vote. Now vote on agenda item 2 C-15. Now we're voting on it. Okay. Vote. I need a first and second. Sorry. First motion. Second. I'm a no. No. Oh, I thought we were doing a roll call. I am going to I'm just I'm starting from my side. Megan, yes. Caroline, yes. Wendy, yes. Warren, yes. And Liz, um, any other resolutions? Can I have a motion for agenda item 3B1, please?
249Motion. Second. Wendy's first. Megan second. Um, all those Any discussion on this item? All those in favor? I I I motion carry 70. Have a motion to table agenda item 3B2, please. Motion second. This was discussed in executive session. All those in favor? I motion carries. Have a motion for agenda item 3C1. Please motion. Second. Any discussion on this item? Yes, I have discussion on this. This is to get an appraisal for the rent. What the cost would be to I I want to make sure I understand this. This is an appraisal for a company to appraise how much we could get to rent out the portables in the back of Northwest. Is that correct? Okay. So, I think there's huge liability issues with this. Um, first of all, it's going to be the landlord's
250responsibility for, you know, the maintenance of things. Um, and there could be a label law claim that will come down to us. Um, there's liabilities issues. If somebody slips and falls, something in the parking lot. Um, in a lawsuit, everybody gets named for insurance. That's going to happen. Um, and even if you have a contract saying you need this insurance or your vendors need this insurance, there's not going to be a real oversight for us to know who is going in and out of there. Um, even if we require it, who's going to have interactions with the kids, even if you say there's a barrier, there are people coming in and out of the building. Um, we cannot control who's there. we can't and um let me just see and overall I I mean this
251is from a liability insurance issue obviously I'm looking at this but also we have um our students in there I think it is in a tremendous risk to have any outside organization or company come in with their people their employees their staff we don't know who they are and to have them in any proximity of the students is a terrible idea And if something were to go ary, you know, it's never a problem until it's a problem. And um I would like to mitigate this by voting no. Any other discussion on this side? I also I guess I'm I'm confused why this is the avenue that we're taking still because I it doesn't seem like the best situation like Wendy just said about liability, the age of the hallway. Um, you know, months ago, we
252talked about we requested financial analysis per building so that we could better understand the cost to operate each building so that more strategic thought processes could be developed as far as how to move forward and ensure that we're making the right decisions economically for the district. Um, so spending $3,700 to figure out how much it costs if that, you know, to decide how much it might cost to rent the hallway to find out that nobody wants to rent the hallway. I I I mean, maybe it's something that we could bring back again later if we determine like this is the only avenue to proceed, but right now it doesn't seem like the best avenue. So, can I ask um just because I probably wasn't here for previous discussions um how how did how did the
253determination how was it made that we want to do this for Northwest for a hallway? Like what was why the board didn't the board didn't decide that? I I'm saying as opposed to I'm assuming and just tell me if I'm wrong. I'm assuming this has something to do with trying to make up some funds and trying and trying to shore up the budget for the years going forward. Dr. Talbert, any anything on this? So, I'm sorry. So, my question was how is it determined northwest all? So there were avenues to explore revenue for the district and uh the kindergarten were being moved to Northeast which vacates the portable wing in Northwest and puts all of our students into a safe structure, a permanent structure. So, the wing at Northwest is deemed a portable and so
254all of our students are moved out of the portable setting at this point. Well, will be for the 2526 school year. And so to generate revenue, that wing has been explored to be leased out to um another provider who's providing services for early childhood children. Would I don't expect you to have the exact numbers, but can you tell me the approximate number of our enrollment for prek? approximate for this year. PreK is 85 students. Would that fall in Northwest be sufficient for 85 students or no? Is it possible with the Northwest students remaining or exiting? Okay. So my question is would 85 students fit? Yes. in in in the hallway that we are looking to get appraised. Yes. Okay. Something to think about. You mean what? Well, instead of instead of rent Why Why are
255we renting out one hallway in the building? It's a whole portable um It's a portable separate entrance. You walk in, you go straight. Yeah. And it's white and blue because it has the colors of the Argentinian flag. And you make a right. Yeah. I know all the teachers that are in that hallway. I get it. If you could fit prek in there, why not do that? It's not configured for Well, this is this is my learning experience. So, why why not? Tell me. Yes. The uh prek classes require bathrooms in the classroom. All right. And the portable wing is designed for early childhood but not prek. I'm just not sure why we would open ourselves up to that risk with students in the building. Yeah, that that is still an area of concern for me.
256So, okay. Any other questions or comments on on this? Okay. All those in favor? I'm a no. No. Yes. Carol's no Megan. No. No. Leslie. No. Yes. Yes. Sorry. One. No. It fails too far. All right. But but getting an appraisal comes with a price tag. It's almost $4,000. Board education. Can I just ask if we can just go back into executive session and bypass all the new business? I I just want to bring one thing up because I don't know if John would have to write a resolution for the next meeting if we agree on this. So, I'll be really brief. It's about the mileage that the proposition just passed. It was passed that we're expanding from 15 to 17 miles. And I've had many conversations with community members. I am and I think
257council said that anytime a late bus request comes in that the board of education has to review it. I am concerned for people that didn't apply that were between the 15 and 17 miles that if we deny them for any reason, maybe it's potential litigation. What I am proposing is that we have a time frame for any late bus requests for students that live between the 15 and 17 mile that apply by say July 15th that they would be automatically approved and us not have to go through all the requests. So that would require a resolution. Um, it would require a resolution directing the transportation as the initial look at the request for transportation if they're late unless they have you'd be setting that as reasonable pause to approve it, right? So, well, well, no,
258I am saying to approve it and I'm saying like a time frame. What I'm saying is I I just wanted to bring this up. I know it's late, but in case we do agree for you to write a resolution on how to do this, right? So, we need a resolution, right? But I'm saying for the next meeting, June 18th, which is why I'm bringing it up tonight. Yeah. So, I can bring a resolution. Okay. So, if if anybody wants to comment or Yeah, we could. I think for me is that just kind of not knowing what the um what the cost would be for the district um in terms of additional transportation for this particular year. So, I'm I'm okay with looking at obviously for next year, but my concern would be hypothetically if it
259was we don't know the cost. No, I I 100% I 100% understand. What I'm saying is if we deny any of these people between 15 and 17 miles because they never applied because it wouldn't have qualified. I am afraid of litigation. I'm trying to mitigate that by saying here's this time frame. if you apply, we're going to automatically approve because even though there might be a price tag to it, what would the price tag be if they're denied and they bring litigation? So, I can I can take a look at your policy whether whether it is an order whether it typically is an appeal to the board. Right. Right. If it's an if there's an initial denial, it's an appear appeal to the board and that way you can take them on case by case.
260Right. Right. But I'm trying to like bypass the case by case and just say this time frame like we'll just approve them because they I I think it puts the board in a precarious situation because they these people didn't know to apply, right? But I guess the the question is are you dealing with a per seat cost or are you talking about a whole extra bus? Well, we don't know. We don't know. We just don't know. That's the that's I think the So what are we going to do? what we should investigate. Bring that to the board. Oh, okay. So, so then what would I be asking the superintendent to what? Well, so I have it. You have it? Okay. Let me know. Okay. Send a memo. Yeah. Before before the 18th. Yep. Yep. We'll
261look into it. Okay. Thank you. And then just to end, uh, we'll send an email tomorrow about the policy committee uh for next week. Thank you. Can I have a motion to go back in executive session at 11:52 p.m. for Oh, I'm sorry. Yes. Community input on non-aggend items. Sorry. Go ahead. for a group of people that have been saying transparency, transparency, transparency to now add 11 agenda items that we the printed public agenda had 11 items and now we've added 11 more where nobody knew any of this was going on. Maybe there's a few people that are still watching online at almost 12:00 at night, but we've now made um we asked for the to find out the process of um hiring someone and then a few minutes later we then terminated somebody without
262knowing the process that they were hired for. Um we have now abolished a superintendent HR position. How is that position those all those responsibilities going to be taken care of? Um we we had a discussion about a plaque that nobody knew what really what the discussion was about. Um it's kind of uncertain on why the plaque was taken down, but we talked about it. Um and now we also made staffing decisions for the superintendent for a year from now. Um I where's the sense behind this? We all explained our votes. So but where's the transparency? The transparency is that we spoke about it that there are issues that we can't get things on the agenda. We don't get emails responded to and this is forcing the business at hand as discussed. We can share the
263resolutions beforehand if there's no comment further to that. Chris, you've been on this board and you've seen it. So, I mean, you can whatever you want to say, but you've witnessed it that uh there is stonewalling. And when there's stonewalling, you have to move the district forward. We are all elected officials. We represent the people. Every single person in this seat was elected. I represent my constituents. And I always Go ahead, Chris. It's your time at the mic. Go ahead. are and all your constituents are fine with Go ahead. Just throw it up there whenever you want. Nobody needs to know when you're talking about any of this. My constituent throw up there. My constituents want me to represent their best interests and their children's best interests. If I can't get something on the agenda
264or if I'm being ignored by email and this is a route that I can take as an elected official, I'm going to explore all possibilities to move the district forward. So, all of these propositions that were present, the resolutions that were put up tonight, they were all given in executive session or emails and No. No. And it's been explained several times. I'm sorry if you can't grasp it. They haven't, but it's been explained. So, you're saying that they they've been presented? No. And you tried to get it on the agenda. You've tried to get these on the agenda. We have explained why we went we did it this way. The discussion expanded today that if we send them earlier that they will go on the agenda. This is not that discussion happened during this meeting.
265You clearly didn't just make up all these agenda items during the meeting. Well, it does that I really don't have anything to say because it's not a back and forth, right, Lisa? you're making it back and forth right now because he he was he was he made his comment and so I wasn't saying anything so you you responded and put on the item Margaret chapel the conversation regarding the cell phone and the policy and everything else it's like everyone is way overthinking this whole entire scenario it reminds me of the busing and the and who's on first and who's on second. The fact of the matter is it's a law. You're asking parents for a survey. The law comes first. You let the parents know that the kids will be safe and the phones will
266be available if there's an emergency because I'm sure that's probably 98% of the concern on the parent side. So the phones get secure, the phones will be available if there's an emergency, a state a schoolwide a building emergency, and that the law is the law. So why are you pussy-footing around? State the claim. Say the phones will be secure during the day and that if the phone needs to be available in a situation of emergency, it's available. Period. And a sense. Thank you. Any other comment on agent items? Can I just make a suggestion that can we can the EPC conversation wait till the 18th because it's at midnight? No. There's other things on here we have to talk about. One quick thing that I was going to talk about before I had my explosion.
267Um, the Suffach County police camera access thing that I was talking about before, it was on the October 24th agenda 2024, item 3C4, remote access agreement during emergency situations for Suffach County Police Department. Thank Thank you. I I don't I don't know. She has the stuff has to look into it. I'm sorry. One more thing regarding the AI the conversation with that also crazy. The fact of the matter is is that you can have AI all you want but if you're going you need the capabilities to like the colleges do to find out plagiarism. So if you have a 10-year-old and they have to do a report on Mount Rushmore and they're going into the they go in chatb GBT or whatever they spill out a report on Mount Rushmore verbatim that's not learning that's
268copying pasting and crazy. So, as far as the age gap goes, I think I think AI should only really be able to use as a tool in high school at this point because you have to have the capabilities to find out if you if you can you can allow it, but you better have the capabilities to prove that it's plagiarism because AI is great in many aspects, but it's a fine line, a slippery slope because what happens is these kids are going to be learning by copying and pasting and reading. and not really learning and that's a slippery bad position to be in. I'm just going to I'm just going to say one thing um to your point what we've noticed that at Stone Book there are some students who actually write extremely well and
269then they put it into AI and it comes out that they it was plagiarized but it was not. So it's No, I'm I'm just saying it doesn't happen all the time but you you're right. There has to be you have to have capabilities to be able to approve it because you you'll have you'll have parents in your office day in and day out going they wrote this. I was there. I was at my kitchen table which is a big bunch of crap if you know you you know it and I know it. So you if if you're going to allow it, you better have the capabilities to prove it before that all goes into a policy. Any other input on non-aggenda items? All right. Um, we need to go back in because there is a
270couple things on here that we do have to talk about. All right. Um, can I have a motion to go back into executive session at midnight? For what purposes? There's two things on here that I can't I can't I can't No, but I think you need a proper motion, right? I'm sorry. Particular person for advice of counsel. For advice of counsel. Sorry. All right. Um, I I need I need a first and a second motion. Second. All those in favor? I I um currently who is here? Um, President Lisa Johnson, second vice president Megan Mesman, trustee Caroline Fanning, Winnie Kestro, and Juan Leon, and legal John Sheenan. Can I have a motion to adjourn at 109, please? Motion. Winnie Kestro, Caroline Fanning. All those in favor? I motion carries 5.