001Good evening, ladies and gentlemen. Welcome to the Amville Union Preschool District Board of Education meeting. Today is April 22nd, 2025, and I'm calling the meeting to order now at 5:35 p.m. President at the meeting is myself, President Lisa Johnson, um trustees Chris Narren, Caroline Fanning, and Winnie Kestro. It is anticipated that trustee Leslie Crest will be arriving as well as second vice president Megan Investment. Um Carol Seahhawk will be absent tonight. Also present at the meeting is our superintendent Dr. Gina Talbert, our assistant superintendent for finance and operations, Miss Liberty, our assistant superintendent for human resources, Dr. Bridget White, and our assistant superintendent for criminal instruction, Miss Mary Stevens. And it's also anticipated that um legal John cheating will be arriving roughly about 5:45. Um, at this time at 5:36, can I have a motion
002to go into executive session for advice from council? Um, negotiation updates and updates regarding Honeywell regarding move that second. Wendy Castro's first, Chris May second. All those in favor? I I motion carries 4 Z. Um, thank you for joining us. We'll resume open roughly around 7:30 one. Please note the emergency exit closest to you and there's no smoking on school grounds. Kindly silence your cell phones during the business of the board and join us in the pledge of allegiance. At this point in time, I'm going to turn the meeting over to Dr. Talbert. I would ask if Miss Stevens would join me here. Good evening once again to our board of education, to our colleagues, and to our community for joining us on this evening as a part of our initiative to improve the culture
003and climate throughout the district. And to give proper recognition for those who are going above and beyond, we are celebrating various student scholars and staff who have been recognized in their respective buildings as student scholar of the month and staff member of the month. We're very proud of the extra efforts that you're putting forward to help Amityville to shine brightly. At this time, Miss Stevens is going to call and recognize them by name. And when your name is called, please come forward to accept an acknowledgement from your superintendent and board of education. Thank you, Dr. Talbert. It's my pleasure to welcome and celebrate our students Claudia Poi Gutierrez, Valentina Gonzalez Garcia. Yeah. Caleb Manani, Ivana Menddees, Oliva, Tiffany Asbel, Tonight we also welcome and celebrate our staff members Charlene Wal. Margaret Brooks, Paul Dugay. William
004Reed and Noel Kalura. Everyone check your certificates because Mr. Dugay must be here somewhere. We're going to ask the board if they would come forward to take a picture with our honores on tonight and Mr. Paul Dugay. Here it is. Um, President uh Johnson, shall I continue with the report or um No, I'd have to just ask the board of education, do they want to amend the agenda to move the superintendent report up at this point in time? We're waiting until the end. So, does the board want to amend the agenda to move the superintendent report up now? I'm okay. Me, too. I mean, I think we have a lot to get through. I think I'd like to stick to the agenda. I'm inclined to stick to the agenda. Okay. I would rather stick to
005the agenda. Okay. Okay. So, at this time we are going to switch powerpoints and we're going to move to the CBAC if I'm correct. Okay. Yes. So the CBAC will be presented via Zoom through Misha and if Miss Bati would come forward and um acknowledge or is that what you want to do, Miss Ward? Oh, very good. All right. So we have Miss Ward here from the CBAC who's going to represent. Thank you. My name is Kathy Ward. I'm a member of the citizens budget advisory committee. There are other members of the committee that are here in the audience tonight. As well to the board of administr education, the administration and the community members that are here. The CBAC was created by the board of education in response to the precarious financial situation the district
006found itself in at the beginning of the year and continues to find itself in. While we were charged with making financial recommendations to the board of education, we find ourselves unable to make specific recommendations that would directly affect the 2025 2026 budget due to a lack of financial information provided, particularly regarding anticipated state aid, which made it challenging for the committee to delve into more targeted suggestions. For example, one thought was to start with the 2024 2025 approved budget amount and add to that required, excuse me, and mandated expenses such as increases in health insurance, contractual obligations, bond payments, and special education costs as well as others and compare that to the tax cap projections for 2025 2026 and determine what, if anything, was available for other items. Some of that information related to contracts
007etc is outside of our purview and other numbers were not available as the budget process was under development during our first few meetings and the fact that the state budget numbers have not as yet been approved. As such the committee has provided broader recommendations for the board of education to consider as part of the budgetary process moving forward. As a committee, we have not seen the budget that will be be presented to the board of education this evening. And therefore, our recommendations do not reflect an endorsement nor a condemnation of this evening's budget process, but an overall commentary on how the budgetary process should evolve moving forward. We would like to take this opportunity to express our thanks to Miss Vatzi and the administrative teams that she assembled to assist us providing information and clarification
008in various topic areas. We hope to continue to work with the district in future budget cycles both in enacting these larger scale goals but also to be able to contribute to budget recommendations on a lineby-line basis. Our committee co-chair Misha Ankavich will now take you through the presentation. Thank you. Hello. Sorry. I just want you to know Misha was planning to come down but unfortunately one of his prof professors decided to swap his exam day. So he's not able to join us in person from Boston. So he's right there with Northeastern University and he will be projecting from there. Yeah. Are we good? Are we good to go? Awesome. Alrighty. Well, can you hear me? All right. All good. Awesome. All righty. So, thank you all for for letting us speak to you tonight. As
009um Olivia mentioned, my name is Misha. I had the pleasure to co-chair the CEO citizen budget advisory committee this last five or six months with Olivia. And here we're going to talk to you all about the things that we found, kind of our process and and what we've been working on. So again, kind of just thinking about the presentation, how I go through it, starting with just kind of who the who we are, what we've worked on, why we are here, what we've done, and then eventually like the meat of the presentation is what are our final suggestions for the district going forward. And keeping all in mind through that process, just why we're created, which is to provide oversight and recommendations financially for the amountable board of education, um especially as it relates to
010to the budgets. So starting with us obviously met Miss Brodzy and myself. We also had a lot of help from the district's former consultant Carl Frasier as well as all the amazing members of the committee who were select who were approved by the board earlier in the year. It was also all thank you to just the sessions and info that was given to us by just many people around the district um either on Zoom or in person. We had a lot of help and just a lot of information shared between different you know again just getting people around the district administrators just telling us about their budget. So kind of on the bottom you know we met a lot starting in November obviously up until yesterday we were meeting as well. So you know kind
011of a lot of ways throughout the budget process a lot of different times we started meeting before there was even like a budget to talk about just to kind of get an understanding of you know what's happening and so we could kind of make some better recommendations. Um so again kind of the mission of the committee as defined when it was created was just to analyze a working draft of the budget for this upcoming school year. Leas with administrators from across the district in areas such as special education business office just to understand um kind of the reason behind budget line items and just the overall um like situation around us. And then ultimately recommend a plan of action for the budget and just general school policy which we kind of kept these three things
012in mind that just balances the educational needs of all the students meets expectations of residents and taxpayers and also does not exceed the district's fiscal ability. So kind of going through how we did that, you know, kind of what I meant what I said earlier, we kind of understood the situation, just did a lot of reading and talking about kind of just the broader um situation the school find us off in whether through like the previous financial audited reports, the Stonebridge report. Um just kind of again looking at a lot of different things to just again learn more about the district and the financial situation that we are in. We also looked at a lot of different um or some different drafts kind of as the 2025 2026 budget evolved uh and kind of talked
013to people around district about kind of the parts that make up that budget. Kind of tried to understand that and ultimately that allowed us to at the end and why we're here today is to just make a long-term recommendation about um the budget and just again general policies going forward. Um, as I believe Kathleen has mentioned before, before I got on, because there's just a lot of uncertainties, we're not here to tell you yes, no, about the budget in front of you, but we're here to tell you about kind of what we've what we've what we've seen, what we've talked about, and kind of the important things we think the school and the district should take in mind going forward in the budget process. And those recommendations fall into these three larger categories. And I'm
014just going to go right into the first one. So financial sustainability and efficiency naturally being a budget committee this was kind of where the lot a lot of our effort a lot of our discussions focused and it is kind of the the longest slide. Um and just kind of going down the list starting with that first one. I feel like during our and we all agree like during our discussions there was some confusion even amongst ourselves about like what was contractually mandated what was option or discretionary spending what do we have to spend and we look finally upon you know in future budget years you know to where accessible where possible by law. um just kind of sharing making it very clear about you know the difference between what is contractually obligated what is that
015more discretionary spending um we would call for that we also another kind of large thing that we discussed throughout our committee meetings is just the the large and seemingly expanding cost of transportation and obviously we don't again have the answers necessarily to this but we kind of did some preliminary investigations of just thinking about we what it would look like to have the district purchase operate and maintain an industry transportation partner rather than outsourcing it. Um, you know, again, not to say that that should be happen tomorrow and it won't, but just saying that, you know, is that an option to pursue and it would be really interesting and I think good to just have that option available um just to see the costs and benefits of it. We also believe the district should take
016a more active stance in ensuring that enrollment projections and current registrations are accurate. So whether that mean you know again kind of two parts of that is one just the projection of just kind of being um having a more accurate just projection of students coming in um what we what we expect those numbers to be year-over-year. Obviously there are you know different things that happen different events but just kind of having a better idea of that um just to you know kind of be able to fund things a little bit more efficiently and accurately. And on that same route um just having students you register every year. So every year just making sure that students um they're you know accounted for and accurately accounted for and also making sure each year that a student is
017in um and make sure that they they approve of residency and again just ensuring that obviously our goal is to make sure that all Amnville students are educated and to make sure that all of our resources can go to educating those students. kind of in that same vein of making this the most efficient use of our resources is utilizing state aid and both these aidable services basically wherever they can. If a service can or is or cannot and can be claimed through the state or through some other grant or service, it should be um like for example like anything that can be covered through Medicaid, you know, the the district should take a very active stance and just making sure that you know we are getting the money that we can the money that is
018owed to us um wherever possible. um kind of as an asterisk to that point, just making sure that you know obviously we want all the money that we can get. Making sure we use it in ways that are sustainable. Um just making sure that if it is like for example a non-recurring grant, it is not used for recurring things. Just again making sure that yes, we're using all the money we can. Yes, we're getting all the money that we can. We're also using that responsibly um as we can. And kind of what this all leads up to and just kind of the idea of like being fiscally responsible is with the goal in mind of increasing our unassigned fund balance within like kind of that 4% limit or much closer to that 4% limit rather
019than the lower 1.12% we're at currently just again for things that happen um unexpected events. So we had have more of a cushion to rely upon internally rather than having to like always or look for external aid. Um and then finally kind of again on that idea of planning ahead having that plan is every year developing an iterative infra or every 3 to 5 years having that just a infrastructure improvement plan that should be adhered to within future budgets. So kind of one way we look at this is like maybe having an annual visual inspection of the buildings just we can again kind of know everything that has to be done like in a perfect world obviously won't get done every single year but just being able to see that and know you know oh
020if we have extra at the end of the year or like kind of being able to prioritize projects you know kind of in future years just to know that um hopefully as time goes on that list will gets much shorter and just making sure that our buildings are maintained um wherever possible fiscally as the as events happen, as they degrade, rather than kind of any like larger scale things at the end. Obviously, there are unexpected events, unexpected things that break this or that, but the hope is that we can just be as on top of it as as we can. So, moving on to kind of our next of the the three big points just, you know, I think center to everything that Omnivil does as a district and as a good school should do
021as a district is just making sure that students are successful. Um, and kind of prioritizing people, programs, and student success. And naturally like the first big point is just attracting or retaining quality educational personnel should be like the top be a top priority for the district and kind of inhand with that thinking about the programs they do the programs we apply for whether it be grant money or just utilizing the budget want to make sure that those programs you know there's a data driven approach to the proposition of them and also the the evaluation of them. Um because explaining that a little bit more just like new initiatives have very clearly defined goals defined by educators whether it be you know increasing these reading scores or proficiency in something like when a program should be
022proposed with those clear metrics in mind and also a timeline for evaluating them. So obvious that's not to say like oh everything is a number but just kind of having some clearer goals and just understanding um kind of what makes a successful program is just kind of we we believe um clear and just kind of the way to make sure that um just kind of a little bit more transparency and also like just um making sure that our budget is utilized good and and and is being utilized correctly. And kind of building on that point slightly, you know, then the budgetary priority should align with annual educational goals set forth by the district and they should reflect their student population composition. Obviously, Amityville is a unique district in our composition and our demographics and, you
023know, the way that we spend our budget should reflect not only that, but also should reflect, you know, educational priorities tailored for those particular populations to make sure that everybody in our district is as successful as they can be. um you know regardless of you know anything that their out their external situations. And then moving on to our last kind of big bullet point is just transparency and community trust. A little bit outside of budget but kind of tied in there. And I think the first point is just keep doing kind of what we're doing here. I think you we all agree that you know the C the CBAC is a great step in the right direction as are the other district advisor groups whether it be transportation leg the legislation um health and safety
024and just obviously any others as they come up to be needed um are great steps in the right direction. We think especially for the CBAC, we believe that having a committee that at least partially persists over time allow us to just have more knowledge, more you know um just connection to the budgeting process as it goes on and we believe that probably stands to other committees as well. So I think keeping this up, keeping these committees kind of going throughout the year and um more integrated is very good and we love to keep see that continue to happen. We'd also love, you know, we had the opportunity and we're very thankful for the opportunity to have, you know, direct interaction with a lot of people around the district, stakeholders, administrators who explained to us like,
025oh, we're asking for this money for this reason or like this is why. And I think I can speak from my personal experience that that was very useful and very eye openening to understand, you know, the the people involved in the budget and that's what it is. It's students, it's admin, it's teachers, it's this or that. kind of having that personal understanding helped us understand the budget and it would be awesome to see the district just expand that outreach just a little a little broader as well um where they can would be would be awesome to see and kind of moving away but similar idea of just transparency of you know especially like on board of education agendas I think that taxpayers voters everyone should be very aware of you know when we make allocations
026or appointments about what is happening and like how where it's coming from like for example you know if an appointment is a new teacher or it's a or it's a reassignment where the you know what what of what budget line is it coming from we agree that you know someone should be able to see the agenda and quickly understand um both you know where it is coming from is it within our current budget and just very quickly understand kind of that and understand like where their kind of tax dollars where their budget that they vote upon is is going. Um yeah, so again kind of thinking about ending here in in a couple of minutes, but as as we mentioned, this has been four or five months in the making. We have spent a lot
027of time looking at a lot of things. Um you know, whether it be prek, special education, transportation, I'm not going to be the whole list down, but you you know, we looked at a lot of different things, talked to a lot of different people. Um and these recommendations are not in a vacuum of just things you know we really try to get a very broad understanding of just the climate that the school is in the district are in just the understanding of what our budget is in right now the factors that you know touch upon it. Um and we are looking forward to hopefully being able to use all this knowledge you know obviously for this presentation but also in in years future. Um because again this wasn't just random things we threw we threw
028at a wall. We really again got into a lot of different topics and just got a really I think holistic understanding of the budget. So in conclusion and I will leave you kind of with just these three points. You know I think we touched upon this earlier with Kathleen mentioned before I spoke that there is no one-year solution. Um obviously we are you know the district was in a difficult financial situation and you know obviously I I the committee put a lot of work a lot of hours into understanding and to making suggestions to just you know learning about the district and its financial capabilities and responsibilities but you know there's this is a longer term plan a longer term needs that have to happen. Um now we assert as a committee all of us
029the importance of an informed community especially as it relates to budget matters and that is enabled by transparency on all levels and we call upon the the district who can continue that transparency and continue to again work with obviously us as the committee but also just us as a district as people who are concerned and interested in the district and its well-being. And we look forward to the opportunities to continue to work with everyone in the district in future years to ensure the budget is effective, balanced, and that it meets the needs of all the district stakeholders, students, faculty, parents, everybody. You know, again, we are here to for the long for the long term. And we are here hoping to again turn us around a little bit, help us make more informed, equitable decisions
030as we go on into the future. But that is all that I have for you. I'm not sure how we're doing on time, but that that is all. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you so much for the the presentation. Um maybe can the committee members just stand up so we know who the committee members were? Thank you so much. Does the board have anything any we I would just like thank you so much for your your willingness to be part of this committee and I believe that it was very important and instrumental and I look forward to this committee to continue for next year as well. So, thank you for your time on being on on the committee and I'm not too sure what the process will be for next year, but maybe some of
031you guys will be able to stay on the committee for next year. Any other board members? Chris, go ahead. Uh, first, thank you to the committee for all the work that you've done. Um, I I know that you didn't get as much substance in the in the feedback as you were hoping for and I hope that the committee continues next year and we'll hopefully be able to give more insight on next year's budget. Anyone else? Um, thank you to everybody who volunteered. I know that uh it took time away from your family and you wanted to help the district and the students here in the taxpayers. So, I appreciate it. I am concerned that committee members didn't um always get the information that they requested if we Can you guys hear me? Yes, we can.
032Oh, sorry. Um I feel that if we take if we're putting a committee together and the point is to make recommendations or for you to review it um and they feel that they need more information, the information should be more readily available and in a timely response. I also find it concerning that the I I found throughout this that you didn't see the final budget, which you're the budget committee. I would think that you would have saw the final budget. On the flip side, I think you were also provided things that we weren't necessarily provided. So, there was a little bit of a disconnect there. And I think to be more collaborative and to working together that it's important that you receive the information that you need um to help you. Yeah. Um, I'm going
033to respond to this with my personal opinion. We can't hear you. I'm sorry. I'm going to respond to this with my personal opinion. I think to some extent the process itself is a little awkward in the respect that there is information that number one, I stated earlier, we're not privy to. Number two, that traditionally or organizationally, you want to be given that information prior to other people. So, let's say for example, it's January and we have a question about something, but that's not something that's been presented to the board as yet. We will not get that information in January. So I don't think it's a reluctance on anyone's part to include us or give us information. I think it's just the awkwardness of the process of the communication. Okay. Any other um comments board members?
034Uh, I also would like to thank everyone for your time and effort put into it and um, I'm sure perhaps you wanted to be able to contribute more and perhaps we at times wanted to receive more, but realistically it was like the the test run, you know, the dry run, test it out, work out the kink, see what works, what doesn't. And to your point, Miss Ward, understandable that it it might seem out of order for you to receive information before the board because then the board's wondering, well, how come they got it and not us? Um, those are things certainly to be worked out, but you got to start somewhere. So, there's a start and that's that's good and that's positive. What I always get excited about is um setting the schedule, setting the
035calendar, and ne now. Um as we hopefully complete this budget cycle, it's already time to start thinking ahead to next year. You know, do you start in September? Um do you start recruiting now? But setting a calendar now for the next 12 months so that you can see what about the scheduling is awkward or not or are we find falling behind schedule or not. Um I I think it's got to be an ongoing process and hopefully every year it gets better, but um I'm very grateful for the start of it. Thank you, Dr. Talen. I'll give it back to you. If we could divert for just a moment, I'd like to ask if Claudia Gutierrez has joined us. Claudia, we are so very proud of you. All of these important people sitting up here are
036so happy to see you tonight. And you are the student scholar of the month. You attend Northeast Elementary School and you are a shining star. You are so beautiful and we're so glad that you're helping us to reach our goals. Can we all celebrate Claudia on this evening? Yes. Is her principal here, Dr. Collins? celebrate her. All right, clap her all the way back to her seat. Thank you, Claudia. Thank you so much for bringing her out to join us on this evening. At this time, we would like to just share a few remarks with you regarding our budget presentation, which is next. Back in back in February, we presented an initial budget proposal of 124 million. Since then, once again, through thoughtful collaborations, strategic adjustments, and some difficult decisions, we have worked to align
037our spending with our priorities and fiscal realities. We are now putting forward a balanced budget totaling 120 million, which is an increase of 2.61% over last year's budget. Throughout this process, our focus has remained on preserving student programming and maintaining all mandated services. We've done our very best to protect what matters most, and that's the experience and supports our student scholars receive every day. It's important to note that the state legislative budget has not yet been finalized. As such, we are moving forward based on the information that we've been able to confirm and that which is currently available to us. We also won't have clarity on the potential $2 million in local funding assistance from our elected officials until after the state budget is closed out. As a result, the reductions required to balance the
038budget are included in tonight's proposal. These adjustments, while difficult, reflect our responsibility to put forward a balanced and sustainable financial plan under the circumstances. I want to extend my sincere thanks to everyone who has contributed to this process. our board members, our administrators, our staff, our CBAC and community members. Budget development is never easy, but your input and collaboration have been essential. We invite everyone to join us for the public budget hearing on May 7th. We look forward to sharing more and hearing from you at that time. At this point, I will turn it over to our assistant superintendent for business, Miss Olivia Buatsi, who will walk us through the details of the proposed budget. Thank you very much, Dr. Tabet. It's been a challenging process, especially when you get to this point and you
039still don't have the state aid figures. Um, state aid makes up about 40% of our budget. So, it is crucial that we get all that information. But we are not alone this year. And hopefully we wouldn't go to August. It happened years ago when Mario Ko was governor of the state of New York. We didn't get our state figures until August that year, but I hope that doesn't happen. But we went through this process judiciously. Initially, we like Dr. Tabet alluded to, we started with a budget of $124 million. Our first cut on March 26 was $2.3 million. That was followed by another $719,000. And then now we are looking at a cut of 1,46,000. At the same time that we are cutting on the expense side, you would see that we are also bringing
040in a little more revenue at all times. And in fact, if you look at the bottom of this presentation, you would see that we are applying a significant amount of money from our fund balance with the anticipation that if we receive the additional $2 million from our local elected representative, we will go back and reinstate some of the programs that were eliminated during during this process. And so what are the areas that we are looking at on the expense side and these are mainly new positions. So we do not anticipating accessing any staff at this point. We are planning on eliminating one social worker, one FTE clerical would benefit true attrition, one elementary position incoming te third third grade. We hope that if somebody leaves, we will replace it with this position over time districtwide.
041We are looking at it critically and we will cut about half of that but some of these essential services when needed will be reinstated. Instructional supplies will look at it. We have we budgeted two seats. Students who be going to Long Island High School for the arts. Right now we have only one student enrolled. So we are looking at cutting one FTE one student. Um we als we are also planning on eliminated one FTE school psychologist that also a new position and we are planning to reduce one FTE signs at the high school due to lower enrollment and cost selection. We are planning to move two FT ENL teachers to title grant. This is just a shift. And then we are planning to eliminate the fourthyear mentor program in the district. So that will give
042us a total of $1 million46,000. Again, if we get the $2 million, we'll go back to relook at all these cuts that I have identified. And then we know that at this point that we'll be getting about roughly $3.7 million in fund balance this year. What we are trying to do is to apply a total of $2.9 million. Again, it is always risky to apply a huge amount of fun balance in one year because you have to make it up the subsequent year. So, this is something that we'll look at carefully if we get the $2 million. So, next week, two weeks from now, we'll be doing the budget hearing. Hopefully at that time we will get the state aid figures and we'll get a lot of clarity on where we are going and the
043exact and the exact exact amount of money that we'll be getting from state aid. Other than that we are looking at a budgettobudget increase. Let me go back to the first screen. We are looking at a budget increase of about 2.6% increase if we take out the $2 million that we will be we hope we will get from our elected officials. If we do get the money again, we'll reinstate most of these programs. So we'll be looking more at 3.5% increase budgettobudget increase but right now we at 2.61% budgettobudget increase and that is the budget that the board of education is going to adopt tonight and that is the property tax report card that the district will also be adopting tonight. Thank you. Thank you so much for the presentation. Just for one clarification for
044the um Miss Watsi for the taking the money from the fund balance if I'm looking at it correctly, we will be left with roughly about a little under a million. Yes, at this point. Right. Does any board members have any questions? Any comments? Yes. Go ahead. Uh just want to confirm the proposed budget reduction. All those positions listed are would have been new positions. Most of them are except for the attrition. Yes. Position. So it's no one will be losing a job. Let me let me clarify that. Currently, the elementary reduction for third grade would result in someone losing a position and the full-time science from the high school would result in someone losing a position. So, there'd be two positions in this. Okay. Um the uh reducing overtime $150,000. What's the plan to make
045sure that that happens? Because that seems the least controllable out of all these um cuts. We've been looking at overtime very critically the last two years. Um some of them are unavoidable, some of them are contractual, but at the same time we will do our very best to review every overtime request. There has to be a pre-approval process to make sure that the overtime is a must and that's how we look at it on a global basis. So there's no guarantee that that 150 will be actually cut. It's just the plan to hopefully reduce it by that plan through reduce the budget. Yes. Okay. Uh my last question, the um one student for the Long Island High School for the Arts, is that just based on the demand or was that uh there was nobody
046else to take the that enrollment or we're just taking away an opportunity for someone to enroll. So currently there is one student for this year. There were no students who requested for next year. We had budgeted for two for next year. So, we left one in, but the course selections were finished. So, that one is a um in case we have a transfer student who was already enrolled. So, no one was denied an opportunity to enroll. Okay. Thank you, Leslie. Anything at all? Um Wendy or Megan? Can I go first? Is that okay? Go ahead. um just because just it's building on something that Chris asked. So, um, there was a clarification that there were no positions being cut, but I think the response was directly on the last page of the slide with the
047additional reductions for the $2 million because we already had, if you go back to the beginning of the presentation, $2.3 million worth of cuts, which does includes positions. Now, okay. So that includes all of first and second grade teachers assistants as an example. Um I had specifically spent time and put together a spreadsheet and looked at this because this is like I'm losing sleep over taking all of the teachers assistants out of first and second grade with the class size is increasing and I tried to make recommendations as to how to balance that. Um and one of them specifically was related to the network engineers. Um so and then it also became aware that maybe and you're suggesting it here um with regards to another position like a title grants. Can teachers assistance be funded
048through title one money to maintain those positions for first and second grade? And has that been considered? I would ask that Miss Stevens weigh in on that. I do want to just make mention that uh there has been a very thoughtful process around personnel and those positions that are nonmandated had to be looked at on a deeper level. And could you please elaborate on the class sizes for first and second grade going into next year as well? I don't have those numbers in front of me, but they were maintained in our plans for next year. We did not anticipate an increase in class sizes. Um, and then the uh title one, we could include some teaching assistance in a program that we would write if it supported the title one, but I don't know that
049we could include all of them. and we would have to specify their role and make sure it aligned with allowable expenses. Okay. Okay. So, I am expressing my opinion as a board trustee here that I really feel strongly that the first and second grade teachers assistants are needed although perhaps not mandated with the class sizes of 26. I think there's a absolutely a detriment to the education that's being offered for those students. Um, I will I will confirm for you, but 26 is not the class size that we anticipate for first and second grade. Okay. I believe Okay. I believe my second grader has 26 kids in his classroom right now. Um, so maybe next year's class is a little bit smaller. Um, there's also other positions that were included in that $2.3 million. Um,
050also from elementary grades. Um, so I it doesn't I feel like this budget that's being presented is cutting teachers and cutting special education services, which was also lumped into that $2.3 million. And I'm I'm sort of baffled that later on in this agenda, the board of education is being asked to approve CPSC cse recommendations. And I we can talk about it later, but it does seem relevant to this budget discussion because there's clearly cuts in services that are being recommended which are weighing in on our ability to balance the budget. So, um that's feels concerning to me as well. Um, Chris, you talked about overtime on this last slide again with the additional $2 million and we already were given overtime cuts in the initial $2.3 million savings. I don't know where all this overtime
051savings is coming from. So, I I guess what I'm trying to say is I'm concerned that we really actually can make all of these adjustments in our expenditures to balance the budget. Um, and on top of it, now we're talking about, you know, using our fund balance, a significant portion of our fund balance, which is onetime money. Um, and it's not clearly explained as to what that money is going to be used for. We just say we're going to use an additional $954,000 of our fund balance. But is it being applied for one-time use expenditures or is it being applied to maintain staff because then we're just kicking the problem down the road and next year we're going to have less fund balance and more staff to um cut or are we finally going to
052then talk about what does it cost to operate all of our buildings because we've asked over and over again to provide a financial analysis of each building so so that we can get a better handle on where um some savings in our in our operating expenses uh or can be reflected in maybe uh new you modified use of space. So um I know there's been a request in terms of um doing a assessment of utilization of of our buildings. That's something that I believe is going to be done, but it can't could not been done for this particular year. So, it's something that it's in the Dr. Cher said it's in the process. So, it's something that cannot be done for this particular year, but we could definitely look at it. It needs to be
053looked at for next year. So, therefore, we wouldn't be able to plan accordingly. And um and some of the cuts that that we were talking about when we look at from what what we did before the first time around the cuts in terms of there's limited there are positions that may be eliminated but there's not a ton of positions already too many but it's not a ton of positions. So it's something that is challenging and if we if we don't take from the fund balance then and we all know with the fund balance that when you have it you have it for that rainy day you have it. So therefore um if something happens then you are able to deal with whatever that something may be and so if we don't take from the fund
054balance that means there would be more cuts that we would have to do. So I I do understand what you're saying Megan but the concern would be that we don't take it then there's other things that we would have to another 950 that we have to take from different locations in order to to to meet the the balance of the budget. Yes. I I completely understand. What I'm saying is are we can we please be um con uh you know um reassured that that amount of money is actually being applied to one-time use expenditures and because well at the same time I want to take the one-time expenditures out of the budget rather than the teachers because we have infrastructure things in here as well that are remaining in in the budget and we're still
055looking at cutting positions. Um, uh, yeah, whatever that sound system was when you did that presentation, I wish it was for everything. That was great. Um, a couple of things with this presentation, you know, we didn't get it till yesterday afternoon. Um, I had I think it was important for the community just to say that there were cuts on March 26th or April 11th or April 22nd isn't really transparent to people that may be here for the first time or the community has a right to see all the cuts at once at the meeting. I mean, it's it's hard even for us to keep up to date. Which list are we looking at? So, I think for transparency sake that would have been beneficial. Um, we uh added a lot of stipens. I had asked
056for what how many stipen positions we added, what was the cost, what was uh the matrix to know how well they worked or not. And I would rather pull back on stipens than cut staff than cut full-time positions. Um, we uh first year mentors are the only thing that's mandated by state ed. Yet, we have second and third year mentors. we should pull back on that. Um, uh, I did speak to the controller. The controller does not want big amounts of money all at once put into the unassigned fund balance. As long as they see that you're steadily putting into it, they're happy with that. Um, as far as the LISA students, I know you said only one student went. I'd like to know, do students and parents know about this opportunity? How is that
057shared with students and staff? because I would hate to see something cut for students. The guidance department does presentations on the bisees opportunities for students. So, juniors and seniors um attend those presentations. There are open houses that are offered by bisees. Um okay. Um I have a few other things. Sorry. Um okay, let me go on to here. Um, with the NISSBA operational guidelines, it says that school boards should begin this process in October where we meet with administrators to review the district goals for the coming year. At this time, the board will invite the community to offer comments of the current budget at a regular meeting or a town hall meeting. The board will offer general parameters for what we want to see, academics, the goals, or anything that we'd like to see in
058that. That didn't happen. I feel like we've been informed of things. We haven't, you know, necessarily uh given our ideas up until I I would say maybe about January or so where there have been some of us that have consistently offered ideas, different solutions, things that we'd like to see or not see and um I feel like that wasn't fully embraced. Um, as far as budget, um, there was a padding in the budget where we said there was $2 million surplus that was going to be applied to to the tax levy to bring it down. Here's the thing, that was on the backs of our students. That was to the detriment of their education that we did that. Um, you know, it's nice to have surplus, but not when kids are doing without. So, I
059definitely had an issue with that. I didn't know that we were kind of accumulating that money for that. I would like to see students educated to the maximum. Um I just want to touch on um hold on a second. Oh, the build the the financial analysis per building. I think the uh the budget committee asked for it. I know we asked for it. If we knew that we were going to have a large uh gap this year, it should have been ahead of time. I know that I said why don't we look at Park Avenue North as an option to uh maybe have as a community center or something else that we could rent out. I know another trustee said it was structurally unsound. I actually got all the building condition surveys from New York
060State Ed for every single building. There is no building that is structurally unsound. I was really concerned with that because I thought well why do we have adults in there? It doesn't matter if it's students or adults. So my point in make making this point is that it was viable that we could have looked into it but we didn't look into it. So to Megan's point, you know, we're going to keep being in the same situation year after year unless we do something that has a big ticket item. Um lastly, I just want to talk about special education. Um Megan brought this up um about how it those those approvals later on in the budget does tie into spe special education and I have a lot of issues with the special education cuts. Um there
061are decisions that are made specifically to transportation on a promatic basis rather than individual basis. That's a big red flag to me for special ed teachers cut. I mean there are big cuts here. It looks like um northeast maybe a teacher, northwest maybe one or two teachers. I don't know these salaries if it's just one or two. Um the middle school, the high school um speech teachers at the middle school um middle school monitors onetoone aids almost $23,000. How many aids is that? This is special education students that need support. Sometimes children that have classification of disabilities might be in a general education class but might need that extra support. Um let's see what else. Um there we go I keep going back to these three students that are bringing in you know I think
062the total cost with transportation and tuition is $895,000. I don't think the K kids needs are going to go away. And if there's such high level needs, how are we bringing them back to a district that is cutting aids and cutting support where we have um for um district-wide OT, occupational therapy, physical therapy, and other supports we're cutting by $38,000. How is that in the best interests of students to bring them back here? What are we going to offer them that they they don't have now? Um $3.8 $8 million is put aside for special ed placements. Um pro proportionately we're spending more than our neighbors um when sending out of district. Um how many are these state approved schools? How many are non-state approved schools? How many are total tuition? How much is transportation? There's
063just a lot of red flags as far as special education. Um while I understand the process is difficult, I think there were other areas that could have been cut. um that would not I I know Megan and I have been extremely vocal about not wanting teachers cut or anything with uh um with instruction or the aids. And to me personally, I don't think it's a student first budget from what I could see with the special aid education cuts and the teacher cuts. Um to Megan's point in a in a previous um cut list, I think it said eight full-time positions, but we weren't told what positions. But I answered to my constituents. I don't know how I would explain that that just eight people are being cut. Um and um some you know like I
064said with the with the transportation I am concerned because if a child needs it and it's in their IEP they need it they're entitled to receive the services and I'm just giving my my reasons of why I am concerned with this. Um and let me just see if there is anything else. I think I covered a lot. Um, yeah, I don't want to get into too many specifics as not to give anything away for these uh uh, you know, protecting the privacy, but um, I would rather see, like I said, stipens pulled back than seeing um, positions cut. Thank you, Carol or Caroline. Um, I just want to be assured that the title grant can sustain all of the teachers that are presently on paid via that grant as well as the two that we're
065going to add. So there is there is additional did we get more grant money? So this would be anticipating the same level of funding because this would be for next year. So those allocations are not out yet. But if the allocations remain about the same, which we expect, then there would be enough to sustain it. Okay. Very good. And I also just wanted to make a statement. Um when the $69.9 million bond was passed by the community, there was a committee formed and I sat on that committee with many other community members, teachers, um and whatnot. And there was a study presented by the architects and the engineers who deemed the park central building not safe for students. So I just wanted to make sure that the public is aware of that. All right. Um
066I'm coming up last so a lot has already been said. I'm also concerned about Title One grants being available next year, nationwide politics being what they are. Um, I I think it's a lot to count on. I wanted to go back to the fund balance. Um, because I I think it's a little misleading to uh say that we're taking $950,000 from the fund balance. We're not taking it from the existing fund balance. Um, what the board learned at this uh March 1st, I think it was, we are projected to end this year with a $2.4 million actual surplus. So administration's initial plan was to apply all of that surplus to the fund balance and just as a refresher two years ago in 2022 2023 we had $680,000 in the unassigned fund balance. So that was
0677% of our budget and that was low enough to get us flagged as being under significant fiscal stress by the comproller. So we wanted to get out of that range. Last year, however, we ended up with um I think it was $ 1.3 million in the fund balance, bringing us up to 1.1%. So, now we're under moderate stress. If we had applied the entirety of the surplus, which we are projected to have, to the fund balance, we will be at 3%. The limit is 4%. So by that metric, it would seem like we're doing great, but we're not doing great because that recovery, the speed of that recovery is only possible because we are cutting so many programs and positions and it like you know um others have said, it's been unclear how many positions
068are being cut. Um we wanted to bring positions back because we lost so many people last year. Um, at one point I thought I counted 28 positions. It It's been hard to keep track of what's real, what's not, what's happening through attrition. Even a loss through attrition is a loss to our children because maybe that's higher um class sizes or whatever it is. But um I was concerned that if we have the surplus, we need to put it back where it serves the kids. And I spent several weeks uh just talking to CPAs, auditors, and a rep from the comprollers's office to ask, is it okay to apply more not from this fund balance, but from the surplus to this upcoming budget? And they all agree as long as your fund balance is moving in
069a positive direction. You're adding more every year. Um it's okay to have slow, steady growth. And that is what we need right now because we lost so many people last year. um to lose more people. Now I don't see a growth in the fund balance as a sign of recovery. I see more losses in the programming and the staff and I see that as an unraveling and as a parent that is very frightening. So two weeks ago I had emailed uh superintendent and the board to suggest that we apply two million from the surplus to the budget and to put 400,000 in the fund balance. Um, just last night I found out that they are choosing to put 950,000 from the surplus into the fund balance. I I think we can and should apply more
070um because there are still a lot of cuts um and we have the money even if our fund balance doesn't rebound as fast as some people would like. I I the scope of the cuts on the table is frightening to me and I would advocate for much slower growth including more of the surplus, not the fund balance, the surplus being applied into this year's budget. Thank you. Um I was just trying to get um clarification on on the number that was mentioned about individuals I mean number of positions and and I apologize because I was listening to what Caroline was saying but just confirming because some of the information that I have does is not consistent with what was mentioned earlier in terms of number of positions that were going to be lost. So I
071was just trying to clarify that number because my number is different than what was was mentioned. So that was what was happening over here as count was talking cuz what I'm what I'm looking at here I have you want to say what you say something go ahead so uh just to clarify and of course I asked the team to chime in to make sure we can clear up whatever um disparities may exist any mandated positions that have been eliminated or eliminated because there is not a mandated need. So if there is a onetoone aid listed that means there's not a child assigned to that aid for next year. The psychologist position is a new position that has not yet been filled, but that we have been carrying in the budget in hopes to be able
072to keep the position. So, there are no special ed positions that are mandated for next year that have been cut in the budget. There are minimal positions that have been cut in the budget and those positions are due to lower enrollment in terms of certificated staff. So going into um the science class, the course selections have been completed. The enrollment for that particular course is low. And when we were looking at staffing, there's not a justification to have a staff on site who does not have a full teaching load. And of course, I ask Miss Stevens or Miss Batsi to weigh in so that we can clarify um so that we'll make sure everyone has the proper understanding of what we're looking at in the budget. Can I weigh in on the Yeah, go ahead.
073Um, so Lisa, I think last time our last meeting was the first time we were presented with the proposed reduction of $2 million. There was eight full-time equivalents listed. This time around, they're not listed. It just says we're going to use $954,000 from our surplus in Caroline's terms or fund balance. So, the $2 million reduction has been updated in tonight's presentation where there are no longer eight full-time positions as was presented the uh the April 11th meeting. What is presented as the budget reduction in the 2 million is what is before you on tonight only. the $954 that we are proposing to take from the fund balance is to offset any further reductions and and so the information that we received last Friday as a board in terms of budget cuts um some total one
074came to $2.3 million which is on page two of the presentation that was just presented. There's another one that's $719,000 um which is on page two of of the presentation. And so what we're being presented with tonight are the additional what they spoke about in terms of eliminating like the social worker clerical benefits people that they were going to bring in but they're not going to. Some of them in new positions some of them as Dr. Talbot had mentioned were were being eliminated not being mean because it was a low enrollment. So that that's what I was looking at. So that's why I was a little confused when the when the number was being mentioned. So I'm looking at what we received last Friday with the 2.3 the 7 719 which is on here and
075the information that we're receiving tonight reflects those that information that's in the presentation tonight. Okay. S what would have been helpful which was previously mentioned is one comprehensive list of everything that's been cut to show exactly what's been cut so we're not going back and forth trying to figure out this was cut here now but now it's back on and now this is cut what's a new position what's an existing position where just all this information all over the place is confusing to not just the people watching in the audience, but all of us up here. But what we received last Friday was the the packet that has budget cuts that has all the information in there. So, we all received that that all that information last Friday that the community may not have it,
076but we as board members did receive all that information. But I, if I may, I would say it's not clear in that spreadsheet what was a newly proposed position that was taken back versus an existing position that was excessed. And I don't believe this was mentioned. Actually, it was in the spreadsheet. At the first line by line budget meeting, we had a very robust discussion about all the positions that were excessed last year that we really feel that we suffer for lack of and would like to bring back. The director of bilingual studies and ENL uh of tech, bringing back a full-time director of uh fine arts at um chairs, you know, department chairs for the middle school and the high school. I've spoken with teachers who say who say they really really suffer and
077their teachers suffer for lack of chairpeople. I mean, these are important positions that it's almost like we got used to not having, but a school district should have chairpeople and directors in appropriate positions. We didn't bring back deans to the middle school and the high school. So, you know, at this stage, maybe it sounds like, all right, we have a balanced budget, we're good, but we are still lacking critical staff, which is why, you know, me personally, when I think about we have this surplus, I know we want to rebuild the fund balance, but as long as critical staff are still missing, I would put more of that surplus into the budget and anticipate brace for a slower regrowth of the fund balance. So, Caroline, just just for my Go ahead. I was just that
078was a question I had. Thank you, Lisa. Um, Caroline, I think we we're already saying that we would move $2.9 million from fund balance. Is that is that am I understanding this correctly? So, we have 3.7 million. I think previously we were told we have 4.4 million. You're right about the 4.4 million. Um, if we move the 2.9, that leaves us, you know, just about a million dollars in that to add to the beginning fund balance, which is like uh trustee fun growing the fund balance much slower. It's expensive to be poor. Poor people have, you know, you know, low credit scores. you know, life is more costly, but that's where we're at. Like, I I can't feel that you, you know, can put all of your ducks in the fund balance at the expense
079of instruction for the kids. I I am okay with much slower growth of the fund balance as long as we, you know, still provide the barebones services and education to the kids. But, Caroline, also you mentioned that I think it was a couple of years back it was roughly about we had a fund balance of I want to say roughly about $700,000. I think it was. And then we went up last year to about 1.3. Mhm. And now we're up to roughly about 4 hypothetically. We are anticipating going up around three. That's before we 3.7 which would be 3%. Right. And then that's pull back. that are pulling back to do to to to bridge the gap until we know what we we will get with the two million. So ju just for clarification so
080when we have a sheet that was provided to us that said somewhere summary of primary fund balance and at the bottom it has a 3.7 correct right so but you but I you just mentioned something about 4.4 four just okay for the 2425 school year right what we are seeing as a surplus before we apply any monies from it is 4.4 on the revenue side and on the expense side. That's the projection. Okay. But okay, can I every year 2 million cycles through? It's like there's a difference between an actual surplus and a budgetary surplus. So we have a budgetary surplus of 4.44 mil for the 2425 school year, but an actual surplus of 2.4 mil. And that's what I'm saying. you know, you were going to take 900,000 of that and apply it to
081the budget. I'm advocating taking more and applying it to the budget. Not too much, but more. Yeah. But, um, it is a good idea to grow the fund balance a little slower. I got that. But this is the the issue. If you overapply, you have to be prepared to come up with the same amount of money the subsequently. And if you don't have that money to draw on, then it means you are dealing with a structural deficit. So we got to we have to do it in a methodical way. I completely understand what you're saying and I think if we were like a rock steady barge moving on a straight line, it would be hard to imagine that there would be that much beering about. But we're not that rock steady barge. There's so many
082things in flux right now that I guess I'm I'm hopeful that we can every year look slowly through the budget and find more and more opportunities for savings. For example, at one point last year, we recognized that there are second, third year, and I guess even fourth year mentor stipen positions that we weren't allowed to take out of the budget because it was part of a professional development plan that you couldn't just, you know, in an instant get rid of. You have to do it slowly. So, we identified something this year that could be a savings in the future, but not right away. So there there have been opport instances like that throughout the year where we've seen, oh, we could save money there next year. So that's why I I understand the risk in
083creating this structural deficit, but I'm hopeful that if we continue to be attentive, we can lean up a lot and not have the the deficit that you're talking about. Yeah, I I I couldn't agree with you more about paying attention and also looking for opportunities as we go along. That is critical. And I've brought a few of them to the board's attention. Medicaid, um, state aid, looking at our staff process to make sure that we are very particular about those opportunities. Any money that belong to us, we continue to explore. and and great that we've been doing that. My apologies if you weren't on that email, but I mentioned that specifically. You have said that we're doing better and better throughout the year getting more reimbursements. So that is a reason to be confident that
084we can do better and therefore but I I I you said just speak a little bit more to Mike. Yes, you said something at the beginning which caught my attention. As soon as you started talking, I also started talking about thinking about interest rate. One of the areas that we've done very well was on interest rate. We don't know how that's going to pan out. So it can be up and downs too that we have to consider. That's why I said we should go ahead. We should find opportunities. But sometimes there are drawbacks also. There are challenges when you are finding those opportunities. But it doesn't mean that we shouldn't head forward. We should continue to look for opportunity. But it's not a straight line like you said. Um, all right. So, let's just do
085the remaining comments so we could move on. Go ahead. Um, Megan or Wendy, you want to say something? Yeah. Um, I know this is very long for the people in the community, but this is really important. This is a huge budget that we have to get through and there there are some major concerns. Um, as far I I agree with Caroline that like we're not up to par with staffing. We definitely have deficits all over. I would have liked to see us bring back some staff. We've added some things along the way. Um um so something else that came up was the whole thing with the mileage with transportation and when we found the most recent um voter approved referendum that was certified, it increased um mileage for busing for the kids. There's going to
086be an additional 100 students for sixth grade that are entitled to busing. an additional 40 students for third grade that are entitled to busing now, which is an extra $200,000. However, we budgeted, and correct me if I'm wrong, um, Miss Fatio or Dr. Talbert, that we budgeted 31% for transportation when we went out for RFP and it came in at 28%. So, we have a cushion with that. and even for the um the proposition that will be on the ballot as far as increasing mileage for private schools, we'll have a cushion with that as well. Um and then the last comment that I want to make is I know we're using $924,000 towards the budget. And I do have a concern if it's used towards salaries, we're going to be in the same exact position
087we're in. It really should be for oneoffs, one-time use. Otherwise, we're just going to This is this is cyclic. we're just going to constantly be here. So, um I I agree with with Caroline using a little bit more. The controller said there there's uh no problem with not applying as much. Um and uh as far as special education, 15% of our our student population is special education. While it may not be mandated, there's a lot of things that aren't mandated but are needed. I mean, we're talking about educating our children here, our most vulnerable population. I mean, I don't want to see anything cut for them, Megan. So, um, yes, the the fund balance. So the idea of using more of the fund balance, is this something that we would have to provide, you know,
088action to the district to modify the budget to utilize more of the fund balance. So, um, if we were to if we were to use it was it was to put it to a motion to use more of the fund balance, then they would have to go back, you know, to relook at this budget and not be approved tonight. So, we can just, you provide clarification. Is that something that if if the superintendent is presenting to the board that this is the budget, if we turn around and say we want more, we make it as a motion. And if it if it passes, do they have to go back now to modify this budget and not be presented? Go ahead. Okay. You can't just change the fund balance without changing the expenditure budget. So, I
089just I I asked the question. And I I knew the answer, but I asked the question because I hear a few of us at the table considering that we're not exactly aligned with every single cut that's been presented and there's potential to utilize more of our fund balance to offset some of these cuts. So that's why I wanted to ask the question and I don't know if it's appropriate now or under board action that you know if a motion would be made to request that a new an alternative budget be produced for the board to consider. So um legal I'm just getting a little guidance here. So, does that take place when it gets down to the adoption of the budget or has it does it take place beforehand or what happens? So, you have
090you have a budget that's being presented by administration. If there's a a motion to a motion and a second, uh you can amend that budget by revising the expenditures and revising the usage of your fund balance, but you'd have to do it line by line in order to approve it tonight. But what if we wanted We can't do it tonight. Well, you could do it tonight if you had if you had the you know you had 900. You want to move from 950,000 to 1.5 million. You want to move your expenditure lines up in corresponding amounts. Well, if we wanted to give a directive to the superintendent to say we want to use more of the fund balance and to um revisit some of these cuts that a lot of us aren't in align with.
091Can we make a motion to direct her to do that and then for her to come up with it with her team? I I don't think it's a motion to direct it. So that I mean I don't think that's a specific directive to the superintendent. No, wouldn't we just not approve the presented budget? You need a budget. So you So if you if the board is the board Go ahead, Dr. Talbert. It's yours, sir. Go ahead. Yes, I'm done. Yeah. So, I mean, so you'd have it's a it's the board's budget. If if if the board if there's a majority of the board that does not want to have a cut, then you have to find the money to fund it. Okay. So, we can start with the So, thank you. Go ahead, Dr. Talbin.
092So, of course, thank you to all the board members for your feedback and your uh consideration to make the adjustments that we would all appreciate. I just want to bring us to remembrance that it wasn't so long ago that the district was in possession of 11 million in grants that funded um several positions in the district. and those positions continued to exist when the grants were no longer available. And so the district has had a longhaul back and will continue to have a longhaul forward because those positions were turned over to general fund and were not properly budgeted for. So, while some of those positions, for example, the dean at the middle school was a grant-f funded position, the dean at the middle school started out in this budget this year. We all would like
093a dean at the middle school. Throughout the process, March 26, the April 11th meeting, there were rounds of cuts that transpired. That particular position was one of them. Some of the positions that carried over from the grants were overstaffing. overstaffing because some of our classrooms and not all of them were staffed according to um COVID numbers. We had some classes that had 16, 15, 14 students in a class, not all of them. So, as we did an analysis, just as we're being asked to do a building utilization analysis, we've done an instructional analysis. And some of those positions could not be absorbed in the general fund, nor did the enrollment require that those positions continue. Now when it comes to department chairpersons, yes, we need teacher leaders who are certified in respective disciplines to provide
094leadership in those respective departments. Yes, we do. Do we aspire to get back to that? Yes, we do. Is it something that can happen in this budget? We did not foresee that being possible. That's a long-term goal. In lie of department chairpersons, there are building level leaders which are stipen positions. Can they carry out all of the responsibilities that department chairpersons carried out? No. But they are a safety net until we can get back to hiring additional staff that allow us to have department chairpersons to teach a 6 or 0.4 and have other personnel to make that possible. We're not in that position right now. We're not able to make that possible. So the items that are listed here, we are kicking lots of things down the road. Lots of cans are being kicked down
095the road and we are developing strategic and long range plans as to how we can bring back what is necessary. But everything that was cut is not necessary to bring back. And that's a tough reality that we must stare in the face. Yes, we lost some very um we lost some pivotal and essential positions that we do need to bring back. But every position, the enrollment does not require it to be brought back. So as we move forward, it's important that we keep that in mind that we must move forward and we can't reach back and bring everything that we had because much of it was pre was um COVID and now we are going back to precoid and we must operate as such as it pertains to the fund balance. We are not in
096any way trying to build a fund balance on the backs of students, but we do have the responsibility to be fiscally prudent. We originally took $2 million from the fund balance to offset the budget. To avoid further reductions, we went back and revisited that, looking at the possibilities of emergencies, looking at some of the exterior decisions that this board will have to make regarding some outstanding matters where that those expenditures will need to be pulled from an existing fund balance to cover because they're not allocated on any other line item in the budget. And so going back and ciphering this fund balance anymore may very well put us in a precarious position at the time of decision when funds will be needed for decisions that must be made. And I'm asking that we would just
097consider that as it pertains to the transportation bid which we budgeted 31%. The bid came in at 28% which left us with $200,000. That was in the two that was in the budget last two weeks ago. It had to be removed and it's removed for a good reason because as the community has expressed concern about middle school students traveling across Sunrise Great Neck and all of these major streets, we will now have closer to 100 additional middle school students who will receive bus transportation because we are honoring the last voter referendum that says they're eligible if they live 0.5 miles away from the school. This will also make close to 40 additional third graders who will now have bus transportation. And so that $200, $200,000 has been absorbed for that purpose. I just wanted to
098clear it up as best as I could and to add to the conversation in the context in which we've been having it. Thank you. Thank you, Dr. Talbert. So, the last thing I heard was the possibility of putting a a a motion on the floor in terms of taking more money from the fund balance. Right. So, if someone wants to put a motion up if we want to take more money. Well, I'll make I'll make a motion. Excuse me. Um, so it has to be done if we're going to do it has to be We have to do it now, correct? Before we get to the budget adoption. Yeah. So, are you appropriating money from this budget to next year's budget? Is that what you're doing? What What are you doing? Yeah. from from the
099projected surplus to next year's budget from the from the projected surplus from of this year. So the question are the question I have is if you're increasing the expenditures for next year's budget that is the tricky thing that I don't know how to answer because I would defer to we have expressed what we want to see funded but the exact mechanics of it in the line by line setting that would be for Dr. Talbert and Miss Stevens. But so you have to make sure your budget is uh within the levy cap. So your current budget is within the levy cap. If you increase your expenditure budget, will it be in compliance with the levy cap? So maybe what we should do, we should um go through the agenda when we get to that point and
100if the adoption of the budget does not pass then that we have to look at other options at that point in time. Just do it that way. Can I I'm sorry. Do do you know the answer to that question, John? No. No. I haven't I haven't analyzed your budget so I don't I don't know. Do do you miss Batsy? It would take more analysis. No. Um so so if we ex if we raise the expenditures the whole tax cap calculation has to be reconfigured reanaly just just speaking to okay I I have to reanalyze it we are the cap of course but it has to be reanalyed to make sure that it's it's correct. Exactly. Well I guess I'm a little confused because it would seem like it would be a wash. the whole point
101is to not not tax more but just use more of our surplus to cover the expenditures. And I did speak to other professionals and I asked a specific question and they said no it would not have any bearing on the you know tax cap but I'm not the professional. So so at this point in time maybe what we should do which is the question. Yeah. Right. Exactly. So that all has to be clarified. Maybe what we should do is when we get down to the budget adoption, if it does not pass, then we have to go from there. I I think that would probably be the best way to handle it. All right. So, at this point in time, we can take community input on agenda items only. shop. I have a quick question. Hold
102on a second. Michelle, hold on a second. Thank you. Chityville, I have a question on the overtime districtwide. Last time we talked about the budget, you were going to outdo any overtime. And then I heard you say this tonight that it's not realistic. I'd like to know what the line item for overtime is for the budget. What's that number if you're reducing it by 150,000? I have to it is by department. So I have to go through the entire budget and sort it sort the code over time. It's buildings and grounds has its own clerica has its own overtime. It's all over in the budget. So give me a ballpark figure of the total overtime. Y 317,000. So you're it's 317 and you're reducing it by 150 or it's 317 that's going to stick in
103the budget and you're it would have been four something. No, the goal is to cut it into half. So, you're going to 317 divided by two. Take 150 out of 317. Okay. And I just wanted to um make a comment which I was really h when it talked about the budget and the commentary from the board. It seems like the three new elected board members were the only one who surfaced with ideas, questions, nitpicked on each and every line that was presented here tonight on the budget. And I found it to be most informative. Someone's working, someone's thinking, and it was quite refreshing to see these three women who were elected last year to this budget to make some type of sense. And and I really applaud you. Thank you. Good evening. Uh Sydney Martin,
104Masipiqua. Uh first I'd like to say I'm in favor of keeping Northeast School open. And I just have one question with the transportation and the Catholic school distance. How did this can get kicked down the road? What can of worms like how did this get opened? Did the bus company come to the school district and ask, "Oh, we're driving two extra miles or four each day and you guys owe us money." How did this even come up? Dr. D, the uh transportation referendum um as we were researching that it was um we were reaclimated with the required mileage that all schools must adhere to and in the discovery process uh St. Martin's uh bus transportation was not compliant with the voter referendum. And so now those steps are being taken to align everyone with in
105compliance. But how did that even come about? Like through osmosis like did just one day this just opened up and said let's go check the referendum. Why was even the referendum, you know, for it seems to me that this has been grandfathered in and it has been well enough. This has been never a problem for all these years. What prompted this? I think I think it I think it may have been at a meeting that it came up. One of our meetings it was brought up about the mileage. I think it was at a meeting I think what private school not St. Martins but you talk about St. Martins or the private school. You're talking about St. Martins is a private school, but I'm talking about like the high schools, the Catholic high schools. I
106think it came out the meeting. Are you talking about going over the 15 miles? Yes. I think it came up I think it came out a meeting one time. I think I don't remember. One of the suggestions from the some of the community members was get rid of transportation almost entirely. Save it. That was the first instinct and then I think that's when we started to look into it a little bit more and finding all the Okay. I really didn't hear that that answer. No, she was saying that it came up at one point in time. Someone stated about getting rid of transportation as if we get rid of transportation. So, it just kind of evolved. So, when it came out, then the cycle just started. People started asking questions. What does that mean about
107private? But the bus company didn't have a problem. No, the bus company. No. Great. Thank you. Good evening, Chris Piling. Okay. Um, the CPAC presentation. Now, Misha, I thought he did a great job, but I think he was I think we were playing a little beat the clock because that's something we were talking about yesterday, how much time that we had. Okay. So, what I'm just just suggesting is that the um we could put a copy Olivia of this on the um on the board of education web page so that everybody kind of speak to me and then I'll direct. Go ahead. Can we put this on the board of education web page on the on the website? Okay. Yeah. So, so that anybody who wants to can read it because I think you know
108we spent a lot of time on it. It was important and it should be heard and thank you to all my colleagues all all our colleagues for their work on the uh seac. Thank you. Thank you for your work. Good afternoon. Good evening. Board of Education Juan Leon Ketchum Avenue. I have uh two issues. So, I'm going to talk about the budget and then hopefully recycle back in. But my first comment has to do with teachers on the grants. Okay. I know we have two on there, at least two. My question is, how many teachers do we know that are being paid through these grants? That's my first question. these these these grants that that are set to expire at some point. Dr. Talbert, so the grants that teachers are funded through at this point
109or title grants and they are reoccurring grants each year. They expire annually, but we're eligible for them on a continual basis. Miss Stevens, as far as the number um in title one, I would have to confirm the exact number. There's approximately nine, but they're portions of their salary. It's not full FTEES for each of those nine. And in title three, uh there's one in the title three LEP this year and one in title three immigrant. And again, those are portions, right, Miss Bati? Not full. Yes, this are not full-time FTEEs. Thank you. The reason why I bring this up is because if you were on the board like I was during COVID and we got those COVID grants that caused a lot a lot of problems for this district. And for those that may not
110recall, what had happened was we received these COVID grants. We hired staff with those with that grant money. But then the teachers that we had already being funded through the general fund were being paid towards these grants. And then we started paying new teachers through the through the general fund. And then when those grants ran out, these teachers that were getting paid through the grant money had tenure. They had seniority. they still had to go back onto the general fund which was never designed to support um to support the difference between the grant and this and that's that's one of the major reasons why we lost a lot of teachers. So I I would just advise to be very very careful with this. Can I can I respond to Oh, okay. Okay. Um, secondary, my
111question is in regards to the amount of cuts to special education. What kind of position is this school district going to be in if we receive a new student with IEPs or you receive or you have a student that has upgraded IEPs or you come across a family member or a parent that feels that this district is not meeting the students needs and then petitions the board to send them to a special school. what kind of buffer do we have in place to try to keep this very fragile budget intact? So, I'm going to go back to your original question. Um, not question but statement in regards to um, previously with CO when when we received the CO money um, there were individuals that were hired um, to come into the district. And one of
112the things that happened was that there that when they were hired, they also included the benefits in the package or or so what happens there weren't any teachers who were hired. there weren't any teachers who were being paid that were um tenured from when from the grants. These these are people that came into into the district. That's one. And then two, the title one grants, those those are those are grants that we get on an annual basis and we also get the funding back from it. Um you asked you pose a good question in terms of um as you shared in terms of your concern if if we cut back on certain areas and I think Dr. Tabot already spoke about the fact that there were in terms of not as many cuts to special
113ed as as was mentioned. Um but that is that is a concern that if we do cut and we have more people coming in that need services, the question is where the money is going to come from. So I'm not sure if Megan wanted to say something as well. Oh, thank you. Yeah, I just wanted to say because I did mention Title One grants when I was talking about the teachers assistance. So, I was actually just like grasping to try to see if the teachers exist. And so, and I I understand the concern, but I understand I also understand that title one is like an annual thing. And maybe we could look to expand and make sure that we're taking like the most benefit possible in being eligible for the title one money to try
114to maintain th that support staff. So, that's where my thought process was. Um, can I just say something too? Um, I think if I'm not mistaken with the the grant money, they didn't figure in the benefits or something. Was that correct? Right. So, so we paid these teachers, they didn't figure out the benefits and it was a big hit to the budget. Um, as far as special education and and pulling back on all things that aren't mandated, to your point, then they go through due process. Then if they win, they go they go out of district placement and we have to pay their legal fees on top of our legal fees. So, yep. So, if their their kids being pulled now back to the district, I'm not sure where they are in the process or
115if they've been notified, but if they aren't and they're going through due process and they happen to win, we now have the you know, this affects our budget, too. Can can the financial office give a percentage as what is the cushion in this budget line item? Dr. Talbert, is that something that could in the special ed budget line item? Which line item are you? Special ed. Okay, that's a lot of line items and it's very broad. All right. Well, how how about this? All right. How about this? We don't have to go. Is that your question? I'll simplify my question. How much buffer is built in to each block? Like for instance, number one expense, teacher salaries. Number two, special ed. Number three, well, we already discussed busing. How much of a buffer did you
116build into this in anticipation of additional costs that may come up throughout the year? I think I can answer your question effectively if I explain to you how the special education budget is developed in the first place. We look at kids specific. We count every kid and we went through this process at least four times with the special education department. And let me finish it. I'm talking about the children that are not here, not the ones that are count. Yes. Okay. But when you are building a special education budget, you have to also anticipate. you have to build in one or two safety based on your past history of the enrollment pattern in the special education department. So all those factors are taken into consideration when you are budgeting special education. Not only do you
117budget kid specific, but you also have to anticipate any safety for any inc enrollment increases or enrollment changes in the special education budget. That is also and we've done that effectively the last two years in the last two years budgets. Perfect. What percentage of that budget is buffer? It is specific. You build a specific number into the budget based on the program cost. Very good. Thank you. Hi, Reynolds Hawkins. Um, my talk will be about this mascot and it's just going to be for a short minute, but I have some things I want to say about this. Um, one is and let me introduce myself formally to people who may not know me. My name is Reynolds Hawkins. I'm a licensed clinical social worker. Um, I am the founder of Positive Conscious Counseling Service since
1181995 and a proud Amniville graduate. I've been associated with Amniville since 1967. That's about 58 years. That's as a student, employee, coach, creator of the Amnivil Sports Hall of Fame and the historically black college tour. There was no one in this room more a warrior than me. More years, yes. Equally dedicated, yes. but not more. This school helped define and cultivated my talents and ability to think out the box. But there are more important issues that this district is challenged with. Budget, keeping Northeast open, and the continuation of strengthening and cultivating each student to become the best version of themselves. For for whatever the reasons, we are emphasizing too much on getting petitions signed to overturn the the distin the decisions that the students have made that we all knew two years this was a
119possibility as adults and as warriors. Our days have passed. Once a warrior, always a warrior. So it was important to put your egos to the side and say it's no longer your time. So in ending two questions are we upset that we have to change our mascot or are we upset that the students chose chose to call something other than Tide? But let me be clear, Tide was never an athletic or district approved mascot. Tide has no significant to the entire Ammonville community. Students chose. So please, please don't devalue them. When we know better, we do better. Thank you. Hi, good evening everyone. Maline Quintine Mcconeyani. Pleasure to be back here with you all this evening. Um I'm just wanted to um thank Miss Watsi for her hard work and everything that she's done on
120this budget. Thank you, Miss Matsi. I appreciate everything that you are doing. Um it is not easy putting a budget together and doing what you're doing. I hope that you guys will move forward and try to pass this budget and let's move forward and try to get it done. I also um wanted to make sure that I continue to say that the community is still in full force with Northeast School and we want to make sure that it stays in the budget and stays where it is at. It is an icon in the community and I just wanted to make sure that I continue to bring that forth. I'm not going to stop saying it. I'm going to continue to say it until we get everything said and done. Northeast School is a valuable com
121in the community, not only for the building's sake or because it's a a a statue for whatever reasons that everybody thinks that it is. The children, the children, they're young. That's the impressionable. And that's where they start to learn and move forward. and they are the most preionable ones on this planet. So, let Northeast live and be done. Thank you very much and good to see you all this evening. Thank you. Good evening, Reverend Alexia Burgess, Amityville. And I just want to also I don't I don't want to mess up your last name, but Mr. Le, thank you for your work on the budget. As a resident of Amityville and an alumnest of the Amityville public schools from elementary to high school and a retired elementary level grades K to6 educator of the New York
122City public schools, the hour is late. So, I'm just going to make this comment. I am in support of Northeast School staying open, staying in the budget. Thank you. Good evening. My name is Reverend Dr. Patricia Rickenbacher. I am a resident of uh East Master Peekqua, 10 Sentinel Place, Masipua. I have been a resident of Amnyville and East Massipur for over 55 years. Uh I graduated three children from here, two grandchildren. I was guidance counselor here in high school. Retired from Ammonville, card card member of the ATA. Uh I am pastor of Living Hope Fellowship Baptist Church in East Masipa for 34 years and a founding member of the ministerial alliance of North Amniville and vicinity. I want to say good evening to the superintendent, the members of the board and the members of the
123community. And I think it's important for me to say that because the last time I tried to get up, I had a gentleman tell me uh I didn't belong here. So I just wanted to clarify that. But um tonight I'm not I'm not just a concerned voice, but a hopeful one. I'm hopeful that in the face of pressure, uncertainty, and competing interests, that you as a board will remain firm in your commitment to keep our historic Northeast Elementary School open. It's a school that stands, but it's not just a building like some people think, but it's a beacon in the heart of the North Amnville community. Northeast School has anchored generations. has done more than teach reading and math. It has built resilience, nurtured culture, and strengthened families in a part of town that has
124too often been overlooked and underresourced and underestimated. Now, closing the school would not just be a policy change for you. It would be a fracture in the fiber of our community in North Amnivville. It would signal to families that geography determines worth and some voices are louder than others and that equity is a word but it's not a practice in the Amnneyville school district. But tonight, I want to urge you to continue to reject that path because the truth is what strengthens one part of the district actually strengthens all of us. And we can't afford to think only in terms of north, south, east, massipa, as if we're separate and competing entities. That is not who we are. That's not who we can afford to be. If we stop thinking of our own self-interest groups
125more highly than we ought to, we might just discover some powerfulness that together we're going to be able to do what we can't do alone. And so saving Northwest Northeast School is our chance to score, and this is my word, a trifecta for equity, for unity, and for the future of all our children. not for some, not just for those who live closer to one school or benefit from their resources, but that every single student from every block, every zip code and background will benefit. So, I thank you for your courage. I urge you to hold the line because our unity is our strength and our children are worth it and we will continue to fight for that school as long as there's breath in our body. Thank you so much. Thank you. Good evening,
126Juan Leon, Ketchum Avenue. At the last meeting, I presented you with a petition with 100 signatures in support of the Amityville Tide as our new mascot name. Tonight, I am again presenting you with the same petition, except it doesn't have 100 signatures. It has over 360 signatures from students, alumni, community members, and teachers in support of the Amniable Tide as our new mascot name. My position is very clear. If we are unable to keep the name Warriors, then we should be the Amityville Tide. At the last board meeting, the board heard from three brave female students that told you exactly why many of the boys had picked the Hawks. It's a sexual joke and I refuse to allow our children or my son or my daughter to be ridiculed on the field or on the
127court when they play other teams. And I would hope that the board of education would take the same position. To quote those female students that pleaded their case to the board, they said this, "Please, anything but the hawks. If the name Amityville Tide has been our unofficial name for decades, then why would we spend all of this time and all of this effort to rebrand ourselves as something totally irrelevant, such as the Hawks? This to me seems like an easy call to make. It didn't have to be this complicated. Again, if we are unable to maintain, if we are unable to continue to be the warriors, over 360 residents, community members, teachers, and students would like to see the tide. And I would like to leave the clerk with a copy of this petition. Thank
128you. Thank you. Um, board education, are we okay just extending it just another like 10 minutes? I see there's there's two students that that came up. Yeah. vote the three go and then we we'll close it at the after the last one. Yes. Yes. Good evening members of the board education. My name is Jesus Burios and I have the privilege of serving as vice president of student council and as a member of the mascot task force. I stand before you tonight not to advocate my own views but to speak on behalf of all the students across our district whose voices deserve to be heard and whose votes demand respect from the very start. This process was designed to be democratic. We formed a task force. We created thoughtful surveys. We held focus groups. And finally,
129we invited every student in the district to take part in the final vote. In doing so, we set aside our own preferences. We pledge ourselves to a simple principle. Whatever the students chose, we would honor. The principle is at the heart of our community. We always uphold unity, integrity, and respect for the process. We tell our students that democracy matters, that every vote counts, that their ideas shape our shared future. And so, they come out in large numbers to vote, and they made their choice clear. They want the Hawks. The decision was far more than just a mascot. It was about identity, pride, and the right of each of the new generation to claim its own story. It was a moment for us students to determine who we are today and who we want to
130be tomorrow. By voting Hawks, they express their hopes, their energy, and the eagerness to build something new together. Yeah, tonight um there's the opportunity for the tie to override the vote. And we want to say that doing so would send a very dangerous message to our students that their voices don't matter, that their voices can be erased, and that tradition is better than progress. If we overturn this vote, what lesson are we teaching our students? That democracy is a nice idea until it produces results we don't like. that students are not capable of making decisions for themselves. Is that the legacy we wish to leave here? I deeply value our history in Emityville. I respect the tide's place in our heritage. Um, speaking to many alumni, they cherish your time with that name. But I
131also believe that honoring history should be about not locking ourselves to it. The past generation created its own identity and they celebrated it. Why should we deny our students the same chance to find theirs? By standing here for Hawks, I stand not for the Hawks alone, but for the principle that the students voices matter, that their actions speak louder than words, and that making a choice and then changing it makes students powerless. If we tell them that their vote doesn't count, we contradict every lesson we teach about leadership, citizenship, and self-worthiness. I know the board's intentions are sincere. I know you love this community as much as we do. You wish to preserve tradition, to celebrate school pride, and to honor alumni. But please remember that Keep going. You just finished. Go ahead. Um please
132remember that um we pay tradition to carry the spirit forward. We do we do not that by holding on to our past, but allowing the new generation to shape its own. So tonight, I ask you to consider whose voices matter the most. Our students, the very people who walk these halls every day and represent AMville's future. If we say that students are our number one priority, that tonight we have a chance to prove it. If you choose the Hawks, you will send a message to of trust that you believe in our intelligence, our passion, and our commitment to the school. You will show that you stand by the principles of fairness and democracy. You will inspire generations of students to engage, to speak up, and know that their actions can lead to meaningful change. I
133know this decision weighs heavily on you. I know there are bigger challenges facing the school. But today, it's about trust. It's about respect. It's about giving students the chance to write their own chapter in Emville story. If you override the vote, you send a dangerous message to our students that their voices are secondary, that their votes are optional, and that their capacity to lead is in question. It implies that student opinion is not a priority, that we can't be heard only when our voices align with established authority. Yet, we are told year after year that students are the center of every policy and program. Tonight, I remind you that actions speak louder than words and that true student centered leadership means honoring the vote, even when it was different from our expectations. So, I urge
134the board to honor the vote and the victory of the Hawks. Stand with us in affirming that student voice is not just a slogan but a guiding principle. Show us that you believe in our generation, that you will stand by the choices we make. Because we are competent, we are capable. We are thoughtful. We care deeply about this school and each other. We've earned the right to be heard, not just as students, but as people who are ready to shape the future. So tonight, we ask that you stand with us and show us that you believe in our vision, our voice, and our right to choose our own future. Thank you so much. Thank you for taking the time to come out and speak to us tonight. Thank you. Hello, Winston Brown Cook. I just
135wanted to comment on all that I've heard tonight about the budget. I was a member of the audit committee and as you heard we did a lot of work. We learned a lot also you know and that old saying Rome was not built in a in a in a day. This district has been in financial disarray for a very very long time. There is no way under the sun we are going to correct it in one year. And that is why we put proposal that this the committee has to continue. I don't think anybody is in disagreement with that. However, cuts happen and I think we have to be realistic. Yes, we put our students first. I'm not just a community member. I'm a retired school social worker, 34 years in the district from inside
136out. I've been in districts where there have been cuts. I've also been a union officer for many years where I fought for teachers. So I understand that there is no right or answer and there's no easy answer. So I think it's important for us to work together to realize that we're at the beginning of making changes. This is not the end. And we can criticize as much as we want each other. But the bottom line is we have to stand together and realize that we must continue this process and it's not going to be solved with this budget. You know, I hear from both sides, it's students first. But, you know, as that young man just said, our students really put first? You know, I've heard that my whole career. And the bottom line is
137it's dollars and cents. So, let us be honest and be real and say a mess has happened financially in this district for years and we're looking to do something about it. We can cast stones and we can blame all whom we want but the bottom line is we have a group who is willing to do the work and we have started that process. So, let us continue it and stop throwing stones at each other. Thank you very much. Thank you. Good evening. My name is Alicia Marks. I'm the owner operator of Marks of Excellence Childc Care Center in Amityville. I may not be a resident here, but I have a second home which is Amityville. 27 years ago, close to 28 years ago, I started as a young entrepreneur strapped with no money trying to
138survive. I unlike my counterparts who were franchises in the tutor time world would tag on a late a fee for parents who came to pick up their children after 3:00. I chose, although I was strapped financially, not to do that because I was serving a community of working families. In other affluent communities where tutor time was usually existing, they knew that those were the affluent families that would bring their children solely to socialize. I knew that the working families needed one tuition, not a an addendum added on to their tuition, which was already expensive. When you make a decision to serve a community of working families, you know that transportation is essential. They can do not have options. They do not have the the flexibility to take off from work and say there's no transportation
139for my child. There's no after-school program. I need to leave. As a member of the governor's task force for child care, as a member of the Suffach County Board of Child Care Council, I've been advocating for children and families and my staff for higher wages because the bottom line is food on the table and a roof over your head. If we cannot offer transportation for families, then what I've been advocating for a thriving environment, a a thriving economy, thriving families, is non-existent. Then my work is going to be in vain because you cannot possibly work a full-time job without transportation. So the lifeline is transportation. I heard two different scenarios. I'm not sure where you stand in the transportation issue or what the real bottom line is, but I say this, in order to make
140New York thrive, we need child care. And in order to have child care, you need children bus to the child care center or to the afterchool program. We don't have the option here in Amityville. So I'm here to support that. Thank you. Thank you. All right. Um for agenda item 2A1. Can I make a motion to amend the agenda, agenda item 2A1 to remove on page 8, which is the last page of the minutes. It has on there it says motion to approve 100 black woman mentor organization program made by um myself. Going to strike that out and just leave in see the discussion and the time of 2 hours and 47 minutes and 35 seconds. So can I have a motion for that to remove that wording? Motion second. Chris Ner is first. Megan
141Mess is s second. All those in favor I I motion carries 70. Can I now do them all together for agenda item 2 A1 to 2 A3. Please have a motion for 2 A1 2 A3. Caroline Fanning. Second. Megan, I mean Winnie Kestro. Any discussion on remaining items? All those in favor? I motion carry 70. Um for agenda items 3B 1 through five. These are first readings on these um policies. Any questions or comments on these first readings? Yes. Go ahead, Chris. Uh for 3B2, correspondence to the board of education. Um far as correspondence will be acknowledged as received within 48 hours, are we going to have safety nets like put in place or would it have to be in the policy? Like who's going to respond? Is it going to go to a central
142email address that we all monitor? Um, if not, is the board president the one that gets it? Are they they go on vacation, do they have to still be expected to check their email if they're on a tropical vacation or we going to have things set in place for them to so we're not out of compliance with this policy? So, I I think you know go I think it's just he's just making a general comment. I think it's something that we do. Um, as as you're bringing up, I didn't think about that aspect because I was there at the meeting. I say, "Oh, yeah, that makes sense 48 hours." You know what I mean? Yeah. But as we're as we're doing that, as I'm thinking about it now, you bring it up, it's a good
143question. How do we make sure that is it is it a general email that it goes to that there's an automatic response? Do we want to put a time constraint on it? Um, and that that I think it's just something that we I think we just need to take a look at and revisit. I don't I didn't think about that that that aspect of it. Yeah, I think I I was on the budget committee, too. Three of us were the policy. I mean the policy committee. I'm sorry it's late. Um yeah, I think 48 hours is a reasonable time to get back to people. People write to the board and want to be heard from. I would think that the board president responds and if the board president is not available or is away on
144vacation, they would let their vice presidents know. Um, I think I think we just need to re look at it again and just make sure that if we're going to do it that maybe it's a generic email. Let's just say let's it's a first reading so we're not voting on it tonight but when we go back to policy committee let's just look at it again. Can I make a comment? Yeah, go ahead. Um, same sentence or the one before. All matters referred to the superintendent andor board shall be in writing. Um can we or can I suggest that we add to that? They should be signed with the um senator's address. So we can make a note of it and then we can look at it at the policy committee meeting. Okay. Thank you. So
145have the address included in it. A name and an address. Yeah. Just so we know who's emailing. I think um I think that's a good suggestion because I was I kind of looked at this and said like how can we incorporate not responding to anonymous emails. So if maybe that's a way to identify an anonymous email if we're actually saying that the sender should put their name and that they reside in the district. I don't I don't think they have to reside in the district to to communicate with us. Okay. Then just address the just the name and address that just so we could identify. So we'll look at it again at the policy committee, but also in the policy, wouldn't you want to say anonymous not be answered? Period. Yes. Thank you. Um I
146don't know if we're done with that, but I have um on the student awards and scholarships, I have a couple of comments. Um so this is uh 5800. this one line. I was first I thought that we added the um scholarships will be available in the guidance office and the main office but I don't see that in here right didn't we talk about that because we were like where would the scholarships be found but that that's not in here so that needs to be added and the other thing um it says scholarships to high school graduates will be rewarded on the basis of the students academic achievement his or her potential for success at an instant tution of higher learning and financial need. I don't uh I would like to see that revised to scholarships
147to high school graduates will be reward be rewarded on the basis if the student meets the criteria. It's actually discriminatory if we say you know if it's only on a financial need. So I think it just has to be they have to meet the criteria. All right. So we let's go I'm just making a note and then we have policy committee. I have the notes here too. Um, so I agree with that. I actually um put in parentheses the part about his her potential for success and financial need and thought that that was arbitrary. So I think that the suggestion to say like just meet the criteria of the scholarship makes sense. I um is there should we have a timeline for when the scholarships would be received and then is the scholarship sent directly
148to the school that the student is going to be enrolled at? I think each scholarship it it it varies each scholarship varies depending what the scholarship is. I think that's why we said criteria written on the we actually talked about that saying that the criteria should be on the actual scholarship so the student would know as far as a timeline as far as any criteria to meet it. Um, I know there have been in the past where a student didn't know there was a criteria. Um, but I don't know if Miss Stevens might know. Is there a timeline for this? Are they available at in March, in April, March 1st, they're available? Maybe. I think I think what we should do is that when we go back to the policy committee meeting, um, we we're
149asking to find out about is there, you know, is there a timeline? Is there information? That way we can discuss it at the policy committee meeting. Okay. And just so everybody knows, we have a meeting on the 28th, right? Um you said timeline, but to clarify my question, I'm I'm also just the timeline to receive the scholarship, right? But I think and I think the deadline to make sure that they're actually getting the scholarship, right? And then, you know, I actually am sit on a different board and when we issue scholarships, we actually found that sending a payment directly to the school that the student is registered at might be a better way to ensure that the money actually goes. I think I think it goes back to the criteria and that's where we can
150get more information. I think some of the criteria is basically some criteria sends it directly to the college or to wherever they're going to. Other criteria that the student gets it. So, I think we just need to take a look at that and and just revise it. Okay. I just think it could be a district policy. That's I'm just bringing it up for the policy committee to consider. Yeah. But that it's a good way to ensure what the money is being used for. But but you know what? Sometimes kids um use it for their dorm room or hide things. They use it for different things. So, if you're going to send it to the school, that would exclude them for using it for those things that they might need it. Right. Exactly. And I think
151that's I don't think we should I don't think in the policy we should we should define that it has to be sent to a school. I think it they should just follow the criteria of that scholarship. So if the criteria of a scholarship says the person can get $200 that they can use to buy books or get the things that they need for college then that that could be the choice. So I think as a policy committee we'll just we we will look at it. We hear we've heard the opinions that's been provided. One more for that in the first paragraph. Should we add gender identity and sexual orientation on that long list of Yes. So we we will Oh, regardless of Yeah. Okay. gender identity. All right. So, we will reook at this again
152and at the policy committee. I'm just making notes notes on here. Okay. Any other notes for the first reading or any other policies? And I think we also do need to add for the board self-evaluation there is a actually an an example of what can be used. So that needs to be provided to the board as well. I have um yep I think I have on 2160 school district officer and employee code of ethics. Uh, in reading this, I wondered if there was a way to address um participation on social media. At this la at our last meeting, we had a community member come up and speak at the podium about bullying that's occurring on social media that, you know, an employee and sitting board member might have been involved with. So, I wondered if
153there was a way to She didn't say an employee. Right. So, um, so I thought I heard that, but I Okay, it says, "Can we address social media?" So, so my question is, can we somehow address social media officer and employee board of ethics on social media? Yes. I I apologize if I heard something differently that you heard, but I thought I heard that. Um, all right. So, we we have Go ahead, John. Okay, that would have um first amendment concerns. Uh I don't know of any authority for the board of education to regulate generally social media. So I think I think what we need to do is that these suggestions that are being provided if you can email some of them to the to the policy committee we can look at them as we
154discuss in the policies. Um if and therefore we can make sure that we can adequately address any concerns that you any questions you have. And I just need to correct now I'm remembering she did reference an employee. So that's okay. Any other suggestions for policies? Not at this time. So if anyone if you have any additional um suggestions, please feel free just to email it to the policy committee and we'll be meeting on the 28th to um review some of the first readings that are here and some additional policies. Going down to agenda item 2 C1. Motion. Second. Commestro is first. Leslie Cretz is second. So the board of education and annual union free school district vote to approve the 2526 administrative budget for the board of um cooperative education services secondary supervisor district of
155Suffach County Western Suffach Boseies. All those in favor I I I I did I hear everyone? Yes. Motion carries 70. Kevin, can I do agenda item 2 C, A, B, and C all together? Does anyone need them to be done separately? Yes. I do them all together. Yes. Have a motion for agenda item 2 A, B, and C, please. Motion. Second. Wendy Kesto is first. Carol Seahhoff is second. Um, all those in favor? I I the motion carries 70. Can I have a motion for agenda item 2C3? Motion. Chris Neran is first. Second. Megan Meman is second. All those in favor? I have I have discussion. Sorry. Discussion. Um may I speak? Okay. Go ahead. Um, you know, when when the last meeting I was pretty conflicted over this because I understand the history and
156the pride people felt and it's un you know and now it's coming on districts that we have to do this but I also felt compelled to listen to students and have them feel empowered and um I was worried about anything going against that. Since then, um, a trustee had asked some questions and I think more of this process was revealed which reveals that it was flawed process. We probably should have done parameters of this mascot committee just as we did the budget committee. Um, so here are my concerns about the mascot and how this went down. that the task force was put together for various stakeholder groups including faculty, staff, students, parents with nominations solicited through the union reps and student leadership. Each was invited by the super to have their union organization represented on
157the task force and then we had a list of the task force. Two of them are to be determined so I guess they weren't on there. Two are students. There are nine adults. Seven of the nine adults don't live here. They don't live in Amityville and they're directing this. So, that's an issue for me. Like, you know, if if they're Amityville residents, they have the history. I I would wonder why. I mean, I I would wonder why the historical society wasn't asked, why a village rep wasn't asked, why somebody from the chamber wasn't asked, why somebody from the Rotary wasn't asked, why an alumni wasn't asked, because these are vested stakeholders in Amityville who have lived here, who have felt the pride. And when you have non-AMDville residents, they just aren't that invested in the
158name, right? They go home to their communities. On top of that, um I mean there is an issue that it went to Newsuesday without the board even discussing or voting on this. When the community did the survey, the top four picks were the Tide, Warriors, Crimson Tide, and the Eagles. Hawks had four votes, Storm had three votes, and Cardinals had no votes. Then they went on to ask, "What are your top three what what are your top three suggestions for the new mascot?" The top three suggestions were eagle, lion, and wave. Hawks had eight, storm had zero, cardinal had zero. You're probably following along why this is flawed. Then they had focus groups and and I really appreciated what the students said because in their eyes they did everything right. Right. They're asked to do
159these things. They had the focus groups. They were asked to weigh in. But this is flawed. So what are the top six mascots that they came back with? And they want to scale back to four. Well, here were the top six mascot names. eagle, lion, wave, shark, tide and wolf. So there was no hawk, there was no cardinal and there was no storm. Um then after the board the these these three students did come up to speak as somebody um had mentioned and they stated why they these names were picked and what was behind it. I think I could speak for myself and maybe some other board members felt the same. I was like, "Oh my goodness, I didn't think of that." But it was some sexual connotation and I certainly know kids are kids
160and kids could be cruel and the last thing you want is other teams doing this to our children. So in having said all this um right after that meeting and concerns from the board there was the students were asked to vote on the imagery of the hawks even though there were concerns from the board of education and not all of us were on board now because these concerns were raised. All of this information like I just read I I didn't have all this information. This information came about last week. Um, I can't in good faith vote for Hawks because of the concerns that were made and because of the process was flawed because it wasn't even in these lists. I mean, so we're going to pick names that weren't even in this list. So, is
161this directed in a way? I'm not sure. I'm not accusing anybody, but I am saying it is strange that Hawks came out on top and it wasn't in any of these surveys. So, we're left I don't know. I know the board will have to discuss what we want to do, but I do know that the entire process was flawed. I do have serious concerns that the students were asked to vote on imagery after this arose at the last meeting the very next day on Thursday and Friday with the board's cons concerns. It's almost like we're steamrolling ahead. Um, and there has to be consideration for the community at large. The community Amityville gets to decide this. Amityville does and East Maspi, East Maspa and Amityville, but the Amityville school district decides this, not people that
162don't live here. Thank you, Leslie. Anything you want to say? Thank you, Wendy. You said a lot of great things. I I just had a lot of questions about it. Also, the last meeting Wendy had said has said mostly everything. I um last meeting the three young ladies came up and with the connotations the negative connotation and I went home and it just broke my heart. I just felt horrible and I'm thinking back if I when I was in high school and and then they came up with other issues that that the boys had voted for the Hawks on purpose and this and that. When you look at the amount of kids that did vote versus the amount of kids that didn't vote, there weren't many kids that voted. I would say a third maybe
163if I'm correct but not not more than half um I commend the students both the young men and the women uh young ladies that came up and I in my heart cannot vote for the Hawks um that's my opinion and I I I can't dev I don't want to devalue the students pick but I think it was a flaw flawed system also so thank Caroline, um I also am grateful for the seniors who were part of the task force and no fault of yours that you didn't understand everything else that was at play. But similar to Leslie, I I was all for letting the students decide until I learned the reason of. Um my high school daughter was horrified. My middle school son thought it was funny. Um, so yeah, everything that they say about,
164you know, the story behind the Hawks is true. Um, so I I can't support the Hawks either. I will say this, in addition to that, it's so unfortunate how this has become yet another polarizing issue. You know, you pick Tide, you're going to, you know, upset one group. You pick Hawks, you're going to upset another group. And at this point in thinking, what do we do? I'm reminded of when my daughter who's on the cheer team came home uh so excited with her brand new cheer uniform last fall and I didn't know they were getting uniforms and I was horrified thinking oh no what's going to I was expecting it to be warrior I thought they spent you know hundreds of thousands of dollars on warriors and all she pulled out was a uniform that
165had a big red A on it and I thought oh thank goodness. So I would advocate for now while pensions are very high around this subject the one thing that unites everyone here is Amityville. So maybe we can just be Amityville for few more years till we figure out what's not a divisive mascot and um take it from there. Carol, yes and I agree that there should definitely be a more inclusive community process in consideration at this point. Um, Chris. So, and it's it's hard for me to go against either of those students that went up to speak, the ones today, the ones at the last meeting. They both had excellent points to kind of put their reasoning for for or against it. Um, like Caroline, I have a student in the high school and
166the middle school. both acknowledge the uh connotation of the what motivated many of the students to to vote Hawks and I I couldn't picture myself sending my kids out on the field or to another school knowing that they're going to have that reference thrown at them. Um, it's it's hard for me to go against all the work that the um Jesus and did with the um the committee to come up with this this mascot, but it's it's hard for me to to vote for it. So, I I don't see how we can go forward with it either. Megan. Um, thank you. I I'm listening to all my fellow trustees here. I um I actually asked all those follow-up questions on the mascot after the last meeting in hopes that the process would just present. How
167did we get to the hawks? And I can just say, cool. Hawks are cool. I like them. tremendous animal great mascot. But, you know, unfortunately the way that the the name shook out in the survey, I just it I just left with that additional information and had more questions. Um, and ultimately as a represent of an elected representative for the community, the last thing I want is a divided community. And right now we have a divided community and I um so the something needs to be done. Um I don't know if we're going to present a resolution to reconsider the approach. Um but I I too am torn because I want to support the students. I'm embarrassed that the students voted, embarrassed that it was announced and it went to the newspaper and now here
168we are and we're like uh like you know how did we get here? Um so I think for for me there's a couple of things. Um, one is is that if the board does recall that we did receive information back and I think roughly either October, November and we did receive information almost on a on a monthly basis of what was the update in regards to um the mascot and it came back it came in our news and notes. Um, we did receive the update on the survey results and whatnot. So when um sometimes we say we did not receive or we were not part of the process as a board no we were not part of the process but information was provided to us information was on on our website it was in the
169newspaper it was in the the the tide newsletter it was on our social media for um for the community to do the survey and whatnot. Um, and yes, I know that I think Tide came back at first, like Wendy said, Crimson Tide. I think Hawk was down on the bottom. There's a task force that was put together. And um, I think for clarific they're employees, but they don't live in the district, but they are employees. They are employees within our district and they work with our kids on a daily basis. So they may not live here, but they are are employed here and they work with our our children. So I I think to say that it was completely floored, I don't believe it was completely floored. Maybe there were things that could have been
170done better, but it was not completely floored. That's just my my own personal opinion. Each board member can have their opinion. I think at this point in time, we've reached a point where um we just need to to vote on it and then from that point, depending on how it goes, we need to decide as a board how we're going to move forward. I I felt like the the the student who came before us tonight, he said it perfectly. We asked for the input of our students. We asked to hear what they what what their opinion is. And I feel it's really unfortunate that we've asked for their opinion, but now we're saying thank you so much for this democratic process that you guys did, but now we want to do it differently. And so
171once again, that's just my opinion. Each person has their own opinion. So let's wrap the discussion up and let's just make a vote on this. And then from that point, we ask we have to decide where we're going to go. So the question is all those in favor of the adoption of the new name in mask. Wait, can I say something else while it's discussion, please? I just said I was closing out the discussion, but go ahead. We're about to take a vote. Okay, so um yet yes um just because you referenced me. I I the pe the people um the seven the seven people that don't live here are employees, but it specifically says like so it's union and like union representation, but that's not Amityville representation, right? That's the for the school employees.
172So, we we just have to get back to the community. I know we're going to vote on this. I would We did get the results at late at night at one meeting. A board member should also be on here. I know I mentioned all these other groups, but the board I mean, we're elected from our community. Um, I know we're going to vote on this and I don't think that this our vote should hinder the removal of anything else that we need because I know we have to be in compliance. So if the rock has to be painted or the um what is it the bleaches remember you pulled that thing off the those things can still happen. We don't have to replace it right now but th we can move forward with those things
173just removing it maybe not replacing it. And my only suggestion is before we vote is if we have another process with um different uh representation uh from the community and that it has board approval. I think this is a really big lesson for the board in all of this is that we weren't part of this, but we were part of the budget committee parameters where it was sent to us and we and each board member was able to give feedback of what we wanted to see here. We were just completely out of the loop and then this happened. I feel like all of a sudden it happened and um and even more concerning, Megan did ask those questions which unraveled a whole onion here. Um thank you. Go ahead, Dr. Thank you so much for
174your feedback. I do want to just reiterate that um this did not come out of the blue. Um as a board of education, I did keep you aware of the process. In November, you were informed that following the suit that was pulled back that we would begin the process. You were also presented with a transitional threemonth timeline um broken into four phases and what the ch the final checkpoint would entail. In January, you were provided with the results from the initial survey. And then following the initial survey, we held an open forum which was open to each and everyone to attend. At the open forum, we did introduce the mascot task force. We once again presented the initial feedback from the community and at that time the task the uh community members who live in
175Amityville responded with an overwhelming response that student voice should have the weight and premier responsibility in selecting the mascot. We moved forward in the fall newsletter. We also had a QR code where the community could vote. It was published in the Herald. It was published in the patch. It was on social media. It was in the high school newsletter. It was in the newsletter that is mailed to every resident in the Amityville community. And so the students at that point went to work forming focus groups from music to honor society to athletics to get a whole spectrum of students involved. And the students took the information from the initial survey that the community and everyone participated in and they took those six top and it was narrowed down to four. and those four were then
176presented um to the rest of the student body to be voted on. So, I just would like everyone to be informed that there was communication ongoing throughout the process and um based on the board's decision tonight, um I do want to just echo the sentiments of the students. Um it it is a very uh tight position to be put in to not you know honor the work and the voice of the students in this process. And I would like to say the process was not a flawed process. It was a followth through process and any way we can improve it moving forward we're open to that. Dr. Which vote was the was Hawks the top four that it moved down to that it advanced the students. So in the initial survey Hawks were not one
177of the top five from the community. Correct. But the students took the top responses from the community and they spoke to the focus groups about the top responses, the the feedback, the input that the community provided and from that the four top were provided and the hawks moved up through that process. That's not what the email says that was sent to us. Well, and the results here do not do not echo that. the that the the top six were eagle, lion, wave, shark, tide, and wolf from the students. And you said the top four advanced. I did not say the top four advanced. I'll repeat myself so you can clearly understand what I'm saying. The surveys read, "What were the results of the initial survey? I provided the board with the 50 responses. I provided
178the board with the entire survey in January results, but the top six for the district name were Tide, Warriors, Crimson Tide, Eagles, Sharks, and Lions. For the district mascot, the top were eagle, lion, wave, shark, and tide. From that initial feedback from the community, the students formed focus groups led by Jesus and Michael from the SGAA. And as they talk with the students, there were four that they moved to the top and Hawks was one of those four. That's the process that was followed. It was student driven. Okay. So let's let's let's bring the discussion to to a close at this point in time. All those in in favor of adoption of the new name and mascot. I'm going to go yes. All those opposed opposed. Opposed. Opposed. Opposed. Opposed. All right. So, it's Caroline
179Fannon, Carol Seahorf, Megan Mesman, Wendy Canestro, um Chris Naring, and Leslie Cretz. The motion fails 16. I'm moving on to the adoption of agenda item 2C4, the adoption of the 2025 budget. So moved. Carol Sehoff first. Leslie Cretz is second. We've had a discussion on it already. I have to do um a roll call on this on this particular vote. So, I'll start at the top with with myself. Um Lisa Johnson. Yes. Then it goes Carol Seahhoff. Yes. Megan Mesman. Wendy Canestro. Um I don't believe this is a student first a um budget. So my yes and no. It's a no. Um Caroline Fanning, I'm a no. And I don't say this lightly. No. Yes. Christophering. Yes. Megan Mesman. I I I don't not support the budget. I don't want that to look like that.
180I don't support how we get to the balance budgets. Yes or no? No. Motion carries 43. Um have a motion for agenda item 2C5, please. Oh, I'm have a motion for agenda item 2C5, please. Yeah, a motion. Second. Megan Mesman, Chris Naring. Everyone has the property tax cap property tax report card. Yeah, we we just got it right before we came here. I haven't had an opportunity to review it. All right. So, I'm going to move forward with the vote. If you don't want to vote for it, then don't vote for it. All those in favor of ab adopt from the property tax report card. We didn't even have a chance to look at it. So once again, so if if you don't want to vote for it, then it's then you don't vote for
181it. Can I make a motion to table it? Table it when we have to bring it back to vote on it. We need to vote on it. We have to vote on it. Tax I mean it's so legal. When do we need to vote on this by So you have to file your property tax report card the day after you you approve your budget. Oh, so it has to go tomorrow. Yeah. So yes for me. Yes. Yes. Yes. Yes. I'm abstaining. I didn't even have a chance to read it. That's a no then. No for No, that's not a no. That's an abstensive. So that's Leslie, Chris, Carol, and Megan. Yes, Caroline. Yes. Motion passes. 5-0. I just want to make sure that you I have abstain. I have six. Yes. Can I have a
182Can I do can I do agenda items 3B? President, I um I'd like to bring a motion while we're under board action for what? Um, I'd like to bring a motion um that the board receive from the superintendent of schools any and all resumeumés andor applications for employments submitted by candidates for the position of assistant superintendent of finance and operations to our next regular meeting at which time the board shall then determine whether to conduct an executive session for the purpose of examining such records. I'll move it. No. So all those in favor of that that that's the role of the superintendent and and the cabinet to review all the resumeumés of for for particular positions. When it's time for the board of education to interview these candidates then that's when we receive those resumes
183or those CVs for those candidates for those particular positions. That is the role of the superintendent and their cabinet to go through the vetting process that is in our policy of how they should how it should take place. So I'm I'm a no. So I just to explain um I had requested the resumeumés by email and it ended up becoming a dialogue and there were more than the majority that were interested by email. So I wanted to bring the action to public for formal discussion. So this is why I'm bringing the action to public because we are in a position where we are have posted for the assistant superintendent of finance at a higher salary. We've been advised that there were many applicants but none were worthy of interview and now we have posted for
184an interim appointment. So, it's going to end up, you know, costing more or here in a budget meeting talking about how we're not in great financial health. And I was interested in seeing this not as overstepping. I wanted to see the caliber of the candidates because I really didn't get an understanding of that from just being told that there was nobody in the pile worth interviewing. So that's why I just wanted to formally ask the board to vote, bring it to public session. I understand with Robert's rules, any board trustee can bring a motion to the table, and that's what I've done. No, you're you're absolutely right. And and not to be repetitive, I just believe that that's why you hire the superintendent and that's why you have the cabinet and that's why the policy
185there's a policy in the whole process for hiring someone. And then it's the board's role to meet the top candidates when when they come in. And when they do come in for an interview, that is when we get their resumes or the CVs to review those individual candidates to to vote for. And so that's why for me I'm not in in support of it. If we're looking if board members want to have a better idea of what the roles and responsibilities would be for this particular position, then let's get generic information to say, okay, when when you're hiring for this position, whatever that position may be, these are the qualification. These are the things that you should be looking for. And we all we typically do get sort of a we do get the hiring
186posting that goes up. But if we're looking for more information, if we're looking for the job description that that individual would have, then let's look at that particular information. So therefore, when we're looking at the CVs, when it's time for us to look at the candidates, then that's what's important. There's no one that can be hired without the recommendation of the superintendent. If the superintendent does not recommend a person for a position in the in if the board reviews the CVs, brings them in for an interview, we still cannot hire that particular person. So, we have a process in place and that's why we have a process in place. So, each person Can I can I make a comment? Um Um No, because I'm not finished. So I think I think it's important for us
187to remember that that's why we have policies that's why we have a process for the policy the hiring and it's it's not a policy it's actually a regulation it's a very detailed regulation on the hiring process so now we want to circumvent the regulation connecting to the hiring process because we feel whatever reason that we feel about it I think we need to stay in our role as a as as a school board member and do what we need to do as a school board member. And then when it's time for us to interview the candidates that are being recommended by the superintendent, then that's when we receive the CVs to look at the the candidates for that particular position, whatever that position may be. And when you speak about the fact that we're going
188to be spending more money, the goal is just to be a short-term interim until we can get a full-time person for the position and that is it. Miss Bat's last day is May 30th. We need someone else back in here. If we get someone in for two months, then we get someone in for two months, but we can still go back out to do a posting for a full-time position for this particular position. Wendy, um, yeah, thank you. Um, uh, I support this, uh, motion and I will tell you that I'm looking at the regulation and for non-instructional personnel, it speaks of all these things and and it really is about more like clerical, a custodial. It says for all other vacancies, the assistant super and building administrator will review the list of available candidates.
189It really doesn't speak to cabinet positions. Um it is silent on the issue if um board members can review resumeumés. Um it does not exclude the board. It doesn't say anywhere on here that the board is excluded. I have it right in front of me. And we had very it was a five-minute conversation. you know, there wasn't anybody mentioning of two or three just one sentence for each person. It's not enough information that the board of education um for me as a trustee for the board of education, I need to I want to see the caliber and I want to see the resumes. Um and really what we're doing is we're governance and we're oversight. So if we're not satisfied with what's coming before us and we're saying hold on, we have all these resumes
190but not one person is viable. I mean, that causes pause. So, yes, you're correct that you can't hire anybody without the recommendation of the superintendent. I think that there's been tremendous push back for us to even see these, which is a huge red flag to me that what why would that be an issue? Um, if the board asks for resumes, I have experience on other boards of education. You see the resumes, it's not really a big deal. The minute it becomes a big deal, you have to ask why is it a big deal? Why is it a big deal? It certainly is a big deal. So, let's see the resumes. I support it. And so, every time every time there's a push back, there's always an allegation that it's a big deal. There's something that's
191more there. And that's not the case. The only situation that I'm stating is the fact that we have a policy, a regulation in place and and that's it. I'm not opposed to the board education seeing the resume of candidates that that that the superintendent is going to recommend. I have no problem with that whatsoever. So, let's get that clear. It's just that why are we going to take the time to see resumes of candidates that the superintendent is not going to recommend? I shared before that I've been down that road. We did that one time. We actually said let's see the resumes. We said we brought people in and the superintendent at that time, not this one, but years ago, we brought people in. We interviewed and still the superintendent said, "I do not recommend
192those candidates for that position." Right? So it was it was a process that made us feel better because we were able to see the resumes and meet the candidates, but that was about it. So So I just I just feel as if Go ahead, Chris. So I was one of those in the emails that requested the resumes because just to follow Megan's point, we have three board members who've never hired for a superintendent of finance and operations. So, uh, for experience purposes, we asked to look at them and then there was a little bit of back and forth. Legal chimed in and made their suggestion to follow the policy, to not review the uh, resumes that were not going forward. So, I don't think I chimed in after that, but I'm fine with not seeing
193the resumes, but it doesn't say we can't see the resumes. It's silent on that. So, we were told that it excludes the the board. You're free to read it right here. It doesn't say anywhere. That it says it excludes the board and that we're not privy to it. Doesn't say it anywhere. Um, Dr. Talbert wants to say something. We're going to move this. We're going to bring this to a vote after this. Go ahead, Dr. Talbert. Okay. Thank you, Madam President. Um, I'd just like to express that um there's no withholding of information from the board of education. The request to view resumeéumés came over the break. We were limited in personnel because disseminating personal information, we redact their names. I mean, we redact their personal identifiable information before we circulate résumés. And furthermore, it's
194not a good practice to electronically circulate résumés. it has not been a past practice. Um, secondly, these candidates went through the process and I hope they are not listening because I did not use the verbiage they are not worthy to be interviewed. I stated that they had gone through the process and when they made it to my desk, I interviewed them along with cabinet and determined that their their depth of experience lacked taking on the job that this particular job requires for an assistant superintendent of finance and operations. There were there were limited experience. No one had actually served as an assistant superintendent for finance and operations for any length of time that would equip them to come into a district that's dealing with a fragile budget and a complex fiscal situation. So no, there
195were no candidates that I could stand behind fully and vet that and recommend them to take the position. I had a conversation with the board. I presented three scenarios as to how an interim could be paid. We selected the the um PDM rate which actually saves $30,000. It does not cost more. And so because of that, I am looking for someone experienced, seasoned, who can come in and pick up the work that Miss Buazi has put in place and lead us to a more fiscally solvent situation. So I I I I regret that you're suspect on the process or my reasoning. There's nothing to hide and we will continue to move forward with someone who can bring the depth of experience that we need to Amityville. Dr. Talbert, I I just want to clarify that
196I'm not suspect of the process. I asked the question by email. It became a whole back and forth. I wanted to bring the question to public to just have the board vote on it in public because I my impression was I was being told no because we weren't in public. That was the answer I got. I didn't get no because I don't want to send it electronically. So, I'm asking the question in public for the board to consider and if everyone wants to say no, that's fine. I wanted to ask the question in public. I wanted here. Oh, go ahead. because I was the one who made the point via email that as a new board member facing one of the most important hires that we would have to consider, I felt that it was
197very important to get as much information as possible to make a more educated decision, not to overstep the superintendent's role or prerogative, but just to become a more informed board member. So, just like Megan said, it didn't come from a place of suspicion, just a desire to do a better job. And it's unfortunate that like so many things this turned into another polarizing moment, but it wasn't meant that way. I'm calling for a vote. All those in favor for the motion that was mentioned, I I I All those opposed, no. No. No. So Megan, Wendy, Caroline, yes. Um, no. Lisa, Leslie, Chris, and Carol Seahhoff. The motion fails. Don't give a copy to Lynn. Right. That's why that's why I have it right here. I have another motion. I'd like to make a motion that
198the board direct the interim assistant superintendent for finance, I'm sorry, the assistant superintendent for finance and operations or her designate to issue a request for proposals seeking legal services including general legal counsel and labor council for the 2526 school year with such proposals to be received by the business office no later than 10:00 a.m. on June 11th, 2025. Can I just have that one motion? Second. This is something we discussed before just as a routine. So Megan, who's first discussion? Who was first? Was motion? I I heard Caroline say. So Megan, Caroline Fanning. All right. So all those in favor. Can I just explain I just quickly I'm just going to explain um that last August September, we discussed going out again at the end of this year. We were in the middle of the
199ATA negotiations and we decided to continue with Garcio at the time. We again are in the crux of budgets where we just adopted the budget and things are not great and I think it's our due diligence to go out as we agreed at the beginning of the year that we would go out again um and in bringing this this um motion. uh it's just a matter of time so that we can through the process and get the proposals in and just make sure that we're proceeding um the most financially sound way. Thank you. So when we we did go out we did go out for RFP for legal and um we ended up staying with Gerson and Gersio and so now the with this prop was with this coming forward so with this resolution so
200the question is do we want to go out again? So we went out we we were it was for three years so we can always go out for RFP every single year if we want. So, the question is, do we want to go out for another RFP? Me personally, I don't. Um, we have so many changes taking place already and I just think moving legal at this point in time, I'm not in support of that, but anyone else can speak up. Um, council is appointed annually. It's nothing personal to council. I think it's our due diligence. Um, we had discussed this as a board and everybody was in agreement at that time. So I mean people are free to change their minds but um I think it's doing our due diligence and we have an
201obligation to the taxpayers to get the best price possible. That's what we are here to do. This is our responsibility. We have responsibility to the taxpayers and we have to uphold the New York State Constitution. Thank you. Anyone else? All those in favor of going out for the RFP for legal I I I I So that's that's Caroline Banning, Leslie Cretz, Chris Naring, Wendy Castro, Megan Messen, Carol, were you yes or no? Yes. And I'm the only one. Motion carries 61. Thank you. I don't have any items. Can I have a mo Can I do agenda items 3B one through five together? Motion. Um, can you do one through four because I have questions on the Will it make a decision would make an impact on your vote or do I need to do it
202separately or is it No, I'm saying can you do one through four because then I have a question for five through wise 39. Okay. Have a motion for agenda item 3B 1 through 4. So moved. Second. Any discussion on these items? All those in favor? I I motion carries 70. Um can I have a motion for agenda item 3B5? Have a motion for agenda item. Yeah. first naring when any discussion on this item. Yes, I did ask um just kind of speaking to you Mike Moore. I did ask an executive uh session last year and previous years we've not had a region's review administrators in the high school or the middle school. Um and um it was clarified to me that um for gathering data for the title one uh it maintains to keep the
203grant and also um if I'm right parent contact and emergencies anything and also on Saturdays right they do work on Saturdays. Okay thank after school and Saturdays. Yes. Um I had a couple questions on this regions review should be happening in the classroom. Is it Regions review does spiral in the lessons in the class and is supported through after school intervention and Saturdays. Okay. So then my next question is we provide extra help to students. Why isn't regent review part of that extra help? Why are we paying a stipen for regions review if we already have extra help? So these positions are funded by title one and the intent of the title one program is to provide extra support for students who are struggling. So our schools are identified as title one schools because the
204students are struggling. So the program aligns with that. So we do provide those interventions. They're tiered support. Um the interventions in the classroom where we spiral support for the regions exam are the tier one support the extra help that we provide tier 2 support and then the regions review would be our tier three support. I I don't think I'm understanding if if the kids are coming to extra help for regions review. We're already providing extra help. I understand what title one funding is. If we're already have extra help, why are we paying stipens for regent review for after school when there's extra school help? It's the ability to provide indepth support. Um, so the extra help is limited to the short period once a week that teachers are able to offer. Is it is it
205different than extra help? Is it is it in addition to extra help? It's in addition to extra help. So, so the regions review this is just something on its own separate extra. I'm just trying to understand. Correct. So, you'll have whatever extra help Monday, Wednesday, Friday, and then regions is like a Tuesday and Thursday. Is that what you're saying? Well, so each teacher um in the high school and the middle school provides one day of extra help a week. Okay. And then the extra help sessions that are part of their regions is a different day. They are different days. Yes. For sure. Now, I thought that I read something that the title one money you're also using for grading the regions. Is that correct or that's not correct? That's not correct. Not correct. We're not
206using title one money to pay for grading. No. Okay. Okay. That's it then. Thanks. Any other discussion on this item? All those in favor? I I I motion carries 70. Can I have a motion to pull agenda items 3B6 and 3B7, please? Motion. Second. Chris Nan is first. Caroline Fanning is second. Um, any Oh, all those in favor? I I motion carries 70. Can I do 3B8 all the way down to 3B48 alto together or does anyone need anything done separately? So 3B8 to 3B48. Can I do them all together or does anyone need anything done separately? That's fine. All together. Okay. I have a motion for agenda item 3B8 to 3B48, please. So moved. Second. Carol Seahhore. Megan Mesman. Any discussion on any of these items? No. All those in favor? I. My motion
207carries 70. Can I have a motion to amend the agenda items 3B49 to 51 to change the backup information? The annual salary for each agenda item should read 1650 per hour. Motion second. Chris Naran is first. Megan Mesman is second. Um, all those in favor for this amendment of the agenda, I I I I motion carries. 70. Can I have a motion for agenda items 3B 49 to 51? Motion. Winnie Kestro, Megan Meman. All those in favor? I I motion carries 70. Can I do 3B52 to 3B60 alto together? Motion second. I think I heard Caroline Fanning for 3B 52 to 3B 60. That was Caroline and Chris. Any discussion on any of these agenda items? Hearing seeing none. All those in favor? I motion carries 70. Can I do agenda items 3 C one
208and two together? Motion second. Wait, I thought you were taking Megan Mman Leslie Cretz. Any discussion on any of these items? Seeing here. Just say that the change order is a deduct. It's a deduct. I just want to say the change order is a deduct, right? Yeah. All those in favor? I I motion carries 70. Can I have a motion to pull agenda item 3C3, please? Motion. Second. Winnie Kestro, Megan Mess. All those in favor? I I motion carry 70. Can I have a motion for agenda items 3C4 to 3C6, please? Can we take six separate? Can I have a motion for agenda item 3C4 to 3C5? Second. Carol Seahhore. Winnie Kestro. Any discussion on these two agenda items. All those in favor? I. I. Motion carries 70. Have a motion for agenda item 3C6.
209Please. Motion. Second. Caroline Fanning. Chris Ner. Any discussion on this item? Can I make a motion to table this? We Caroline had brought up about the audit committee which is us convening so that we could speak to the internal auditor that we haven't even reviewed their letter to us or their report to us and this is a correction corrective action plan. So, I think it would benefit the board of education, especially in light of the budget, to have a conversation with them to understand what their findings were um rather than just kind of rubber stamp a corrective action plan without taking that step, which I think is our responsibility. I support that. Um I was the one who brought it up, you know. I'm sorry. Was there a second? I I made the motion. I
210need somebody to second it. Second. So ju just just for clarification, there was a motion on the table for for the item. So we have to actually resend that motion. No, this is a motion to table. So it's a motion second that put it on the table. This is a motion to table. We just need a motion and a second to table. But there was the original motion for that item. I know. Okay. But you made you you made the motion and the second placed it on the table. Right. Right. Now there's a motion to table it. Right. Okay. So it's Caroline Fanning. All those in support of favoring this of tableing this item. I I I I And maybe we can have them motion table 70. Can I have a motion for agenda item
2113D1 please? Motion. Second. Caroline Fannon, Carol Seahhoff. Any discussion on this item? Um, I just want to say we didn't have a hard copy of this. We originally got the wrong month for this when it was given to us and I think it was electronic a couple of days ago. So, we don't we didn't have a hard copy. The only thing that I want to say about this is the appropriation status report is through the end of February. We're in the middle of budget season. It's the end of April. I've said this time and time again. We need updated appropriation status reports. Um, and we don't have it. All those in favor? I had a few questions. Okay, go ahead. Um, I I printed out just not the entire report, but just the 20 pages
212of the general fund and was just, you know, looking at deficits. Um there's quite a few that are for um salaries and I found that surprising because I would have assumed Can I tell you the page and All right, Olivia speak to because people around last year where we budgeted them say we bud we budgeted somebody at Northeast and they were moved to Park Avenue. we have to go back and move the salari with them. So we've been doing it as we go along. That's what we are seeing. So if I'm seeing new like negative numbers now that's because you're still moving people around now because we have to do it through payroll and we have to do a budget transfer. Okay. Yeah. All right then. Um it's late and I'm not going to go
213through all of them, but any other discussion on this item? All those in favor? I I motion carries 70. Can I do 3E1A through I all together? Motion second. Winnie Kestro, Carol Seahhoff. Any discussion in these items? All those in favor? I I motion carries 72. Can I have a motion for agenda item 3 E2, please? Motion. Chris Naran is first. Second. Megan is second. Any discussion on this item? Yes. Um I went through the agendas last year. I don't see that this came before the board to vote on. So this is the first time. I'm not sure why this time is different than last year. Um, but I will say that there are several concerns I have about this. This is to approve the reports, the annual reviews. Um, for example, there's seven students
214in one special education class that is their transportation's being cut and if a child's entitled to it, they're entitled to it. Um, I think it's a red flag unless it's just some crazy coincidence that all seven kids somehow just suddenly don't need those buses. Special education is different than general education and their needs and their IEPs and so forth. I am not comfortable approving this. Wait, I'm sorry. I just want to say that I it seems to me in reviewing this that a lot of this is um as cost savings and is generalized rather than individual and because they have similar needs in these classrooms in the same school it just raises a concern. Thank you. Any other comments on this side? Um, so I went through this too amongst everything else that we were
215looking at this week and I just kind of went through and saw that like only a handful of the commentary indicated that the parents agreed. So, I was like, "Wait a minute. We're saying that we're cutting back on services and there's instances when parents are concerned and there's only a handful that they're actually agreeing." So I just seemed like a red flag to me that are we going to have complaints next year and are we going to have cases brought forward for the services if we don't so and if will it be challenged and but I also was wondering why there is no resolution here so I guess the resolution is going to say that we accept these so the approval is for the limited purposes of funding uh the board would really if you
216don't approve it, it would be remanded back to the committee on special education and it may come back up to the board of education in the same form. Uh the requirement that there be a board approval of uh the the cse recommendations is for funding purposes. It's not actually to make a determination as to uh the services that are recommended. Um, but if we if we voted no and it went back to the committee for special education, like I said, like there like all these kids getting cut transportation in one class. I mean, that's some coincidence that all of a sudden they don't need it. So, if we voted no, can it go back to the director of special education to review further? Because I mean I mean if I'm saying yes that means I
217mean how do I say yes to something that I think is not not okay. So I'm not saying you have to say yes or don't have to say yes. I'm just saying that the the effect of a board rejecting a cse recommendation does not actually disapprove it. it just sends it back down and the cse might make the same recommendation that and it may come back up for the board of education for funding. The cse has to make an individual determination with respect to each student and their needs and what's appropriate. So, um the board can reject it, but I'm just saying it it doesn't just die. It just go it doesn't that's not the impact of a board saying no. It's actually remanded back to the CSC. Well, we we this wasn't even on
218this wasn't even up for approval last year for the board of education. I went through every single agenda. So, why is this year it's why don't I don't know why, but it it is part of the it is part of Well, some districts do it and some don't. Well, should moving in compliance and so it's it's here because it's a part of um the responsibility. So we're moving in compliance and also if we remember in the this particular department there were some decisions that may not have gone through layers of discussion and verification of what is actually needed and so as we are taking these situations case by case um cse are making decisions accordingly. first and foremost with the best interest of the students in mind. But I guess my point to the special
219education transportation being cut for like one class, all these kids in one class. It seems that it's programmic. It's not it's not individualized. That's what my concern is. I mean, I could talk offline with you because I don't want to get into detail that you know to uh give any identifying information. So my question to you just so that I understand it, if if we reject it, it goes back to cse. Yes. And and if the concerns are shared with Dr. Talbert, she could go back to the chair to say, "Review this or not." And they could they could possibly amend it or they can possibly not. Yes, that's what I'm saying. It would go back to the cse. It would be reconsidered. It might come back in the same way it's presented to you
220now. It might be different, right? It may or may not, but at least if we have the conversation, um, they could review it. All those in favor? I I I All those opposed? Opposed. Opposed. Okay. Wait a second. I have Wendy, Megan. Chris, and myself for yes. So now I mean I'm sorry. I'm sorry. Leslie, Leslie, Chris, Lisa for yes. I have Wendy, Megan for no. So I I have Carol. Yes. Caroline, I'm opposed. Motion passes. 43. I have a motion for item 31. Please motion. Second. Winnie Kestro, Chris Ner. Any discussion of this item? All those in favor? I I. Motion carries 70. Okay. I have a motion to pull a agenda item 3F2 please. Motion second. Chris Narren, Winnie Kestro. All those in favor? I I Motion carries 70. Any old and new
221business? Um I just have one item for new business. Wait a second. Oh, sorry. Here. Go ahead. I just have one item for new business. Um, a couple of parents have brought this concern to me and I wanted to bring it up that summer school is contingent on a student's attendance and also accommodating schedule changes is contingent on a student's attendance. Um, it seems punitive. I think if we're here to help children and they're not meeting the requirements or I I can I can understand that you're trying to get them to attend school, but I could guarantee that no kid wants to go to summer school. like nobody wants to spend their spend their summer in summer school. So I am concerned that summer school is not being offered for some students and also I
222have heard um from several parents that when they ask for a schedule change um to accommodate the student whether um well there's two other issues if they if they want to accommodate a schedule to move a class or something. what's being said, this is at the high school I'm talking that they're being told, well, let's see how you do in your attendance and then we'll see. We'll work it out. And these conversations are happening with the parents and the students, I think it's pretty punitive. I think that we should try to work to um to help the students be successful. Um, and if a student already knows that if they can't get to a certain class on time or something or, you know, they want to move a class that we should try to work
223with students. Um, and uh, the last thing that somebody brought up is they're saying in this district that your senior schedule has to be completely stacked. You have to have every period full, which I don't understand. Um, you know, um, if kids have free periods, I mean, this happens all the time. A kid might have first period and the last period free. And if and especially for kids that are struggling, if they only need six classes to graduate, why would we impose on them taking extra classes with more homework to make it more challenging and more difficult? I just think we're in the business of educating children and helping children and not putting obstacles in front of children. So maybe Dr. Talbert could speak to this and maybe there could be some adjustment here. Um
224because I think that we should um try to help where we can and not be you in order like a quid proquo. You have to do this to get this. I mean let's try and help the kids out and work with them or work with the families. Thank you Trusty Kestra for your concern. Um I'll ask Miss Stevens to reply. I know she's been working very closely with principal Cardone around summer school and ensuring that students do have accountability to come to school and get the required seat time in order to be eligible for summer school and she can speak to the scheduling changes and perhaps senior schedules. Thank you. So starting with attendance for summer school, the board policy indicates that um credit can be denied by a principal if the student has 24
225or more absences. Um so currently the state defines chronically absent students as having 18 absences or more. Uh the high school does look at attendance and determines whether a student has received enough enough of the course material through their attendance over the course of the school year, whether that six week summer school is going to be enough for them to actually master um the content for that. All seniors are permitted to attend summer school, so they're not being held back from graduation. Um the schedule change there is an ad drop period and deadline. Um I I will look into something about attendance. I don't know anything about that. Um and senior schedule. There is a a policy that allows for a truncated schedule for seniors if they can prove that they're working. Um I don't
226know if you're suggesting things like study halls. we would I guess like my question is, you know, I have three kids that went to school. My kids had off periods. I mean, and I I I just don't understand why we're doing that if they're able to have an off period, you know, for them to work or and then the other thing that you I just want to go back to what you said. You said that they wouldn't be eligible for summer school if they had 24 absences, but then you said all seniors are are able to go to summer school. So, so this is actually a senior parent that told me this that their child was told they can't go to summer school. So, I'll follow up on that, but that has not been the
227practice. Okay. So, I'm I'm I was super concerned hearing that. So, thank you for following up on that. As far as the scheduling and kids just having an off period, like I mean sometimes kids want to sleep late, they might not schedule the first period or they might not schedule the last period to go home early. Why is that a problem here? Why why wouldn't we allow that? Is there some policy that says they can't do that or is that just something we're implementing? So, I would have to double check. I did think it was the board policy that a truncated schedule was only possible if a student could document that they were working. Um I will double check. Okay. Maybe we I know that wasn't always the case. So, that must have changed at
228some point or it just wasn't being enforced 20 years ago. Yeah. I think that like we want kids to have a good experience and everything is just so like tough here. There's so many obstacles. It doesn't have to be all these obstacles. So, um maybe the policy committee if you find that policy, can you let us know and maybe the board can uh the policy committee can review that. Thank you so much. Oh, and one other thing I had um as far as the transportation committee, now that we learned our lesson about committees, can we have uh I know Nate is super thorough. Maybe he can because I think he was even working on a policy. Can he provide parameters for a transportation committee to come to the board for us to review to give
229input? And then um we didn't talk about how we're moving forward with the mascot or not. Are we going to have another committee formed or not? Like I think that I think it just has to go through the same um avenues that we did with the budget committee where where the board is reviewing it and giving our input and um to make sure that it goes smoothly. Well, what I I didn't bring it up earlier, but Caroline did. um as far as what we're doing going forward with the mascot and just being generic for a year or two um as far as cost savings and that way we can try to have a better process going forward where we're still getting the voices of the students but it's made sure that a a more accepted
230process put it that that way. Um I'm not inclined to rush like just let the dust settle for a bit. What's the requirement by June 30th that we are just moving towards removing the mascot? to the requirement. We have to remove the imagery. Just we Okay. So, so we all we have to do by June. John looks like he wants to weigh in on that. The imagery that anything that has warriors on it, we have to remove that by by June 30th. So, anything that has warriors has to come off. So, um the A letter could, you know, could stay, but we just anything that has warriors on it has anything if we have a headdress and something that has to come off. Well, we also have uniforms to order, so we need to decide
231quicker quickly. We don't if we're going to do the A or we're going to do tide or we're going to do whatever. Well, I think the A is easy and a lot of teams are already doing that. They have been not knowing what the situation was going to be. I mean, know that you're a team, but I I think I've seen other pictures of other teams where it's a generic. Mr. Farcus has been forecasting for this and been, as you said, ordering uniforms, eliminating the figurehead, and then reducing the warrior wording. Do you have any that still need to be changed to the A? I think I think they all have the they all have the A. It's just a matter of if it's the A and Amityville or the A and Warriors. Oh. Is
232there a way to determine how many team uniforms we have to change? because we would have to change it cuz cuz didn't the governor say like they could be fined if somebody wears imagery? Remember that when that first came out? They don't want to be fined. I think they we we did look at I don't remember the amount last year, but there was money that was allocated for uniforms and um I I'd rather just I'd rather just slow it down, you know what I mean? And but it may end up being a double cost, you know what I mean? So, if we're just going to do something with an A on it in Amityville until we can figure out exactly what we're going to do instead of going back out and and rushing along and
233and trying to find a new name and a new image. But on on top of that, maybe we should need to come up with some kind of a a letter to send out to the uh task force, specifically the students and the community because it was announced that we have I mean I mean just specifically maybe apologizing that we're not accepting what they came up with. The board would have to develop that letter, right? Um because yes, we did ask them to do it. They did come up with the pro with the name. The superintendent can do it on behalf of the board, right? But I think we we're the ones the board. I think that's that's on us. Yeah, I think it's on us. We sign it. No, I think we need to actually
234come up with a letter. All right. So, go. I'm just I'm just Are you eliminating the name? What name? Which one? Warriors. Your warriors are gone. The Warriors. So, you're eliminating the name and all of the But I don't think we did a motion for that. Should we do a motion tonight to eliminate the name? It was just adopt the new name. We've done that already. Okay. We did that already. Oh, we did? Yeah. That was before. Yeah. So, Warriors is gone. No. No more Warriors. When was that? Last year. That was last year. Yeah. So, should we go around just to see what everybody wants to do, how to move forward or not? I know some people weigh in. That that's what I was getting ready to try to do was that um because
235Caroline had said the A and then Chris Neran said that's that sounds like a good idea. I said, you know what, I kind of like that idea as well to slow it down. So, I haven't heard from Carol. That's good. Megan, I agree. Um, Wendy and Leslie, I'm okay with the A, but I would like to move on at some point and decides fairly. I know it's good for the meanwhile. Very difficult. Right. So, it looks like Megan I didn't hear from Megan on sir. I'm okay with that. I want to be in compliance June 30th that we're removing warriors. Yeah. order uniforms. It has an A. Sure. And Wendy, yeah, the A is fine. I I agree with Leslie, though. At some point, you know, we can't just skirt the issue. We got to
236we got to address it. It's easy to kick the can down the road, but we're elected for a reason. I mean, we have to make tough decisions sometimes. Okay. Um, any other old and new business? Anyone else? Well, um Wendy just asked about the transportation committee too. So Oh, yeah. You know, you did mention that when there was um for the citizens budget advisory committee when that committee was formed and the guidelines were um put together. It did come before the board to take a look at. So you're just saying just for the same process to go. I think what happened was um Carl presented it to us. We reviewed it. I think everybody gave their comments. he did it again until it was fine. So I think this way we're involved in it and
237we could kind of set the parameters of what we want to see on there. Um um just for for review. Yeah. So just a quick go ahead Dr. T. Go ahead. Just asking for a point of clarity. Is this a boardappointed committee? The transportation committee came out of an administrative thrust and it was posted by the coordinator of transportation. It did not initially start as a boardappointed committee. So I am asking is it the board's desire to convert it to a board appointed committee and we have to kind of really what's what's the significance of the clar just because we have yes we have lots of administrative committees for example we had digital literacy committee we have curriculum advisory committee we have health and safety committee committee. We have several committees that are just administratively
238established and has various stakeholders on those committees that help inform administrative decisions. And then the board at RIOR approved two boardappointed committees. One was health and safety. Maybe it was more than two. It was wellness and policy. Yes. And audit. An audit. I just think it gives it gives oversight to the committee and because we have community members and transportation is one of our biggest ticket items and it's a hot topic. I think oversight is not a bad thing. Just to I'm just asking for clarity. CBAC was a boardappointed committee with a charge from the board and they reported their minutes came back to the board. A chairperson was appointed in the person of Mr. Frasier and then evolved to Miss Buazati as different from how administrative committees are run and facilitated. So I'm asking
239for clarity because it did not start out as a boardappointed committee. It started as a result of a cabinet discussion around let's be inclusive and available and accessible to the community because there were a lot of concerns around transportation. Yeah, the committee is a good idea. So if it if it's um if it's an administrative committee, I'm just asking for clarification. Then that way there still could be board members on that committee. Correct? I'm just asking for clarification. Okay. Yeah. Because if if we have if we have the other committees where there are board members on Well, we have no board members on the budget committee. We just get that we get the minutes and we get the presentation. So, couldn't it be the same similar to that? But the board um we can go
240any direction we want to go with the citizens budget advisory committee. That was a committee that the board established. So it was a board committee and in that establishing the board committee there was no members on the board. We wanted it just to be the community members to be on the board when we established that that particular committee. So going back to Dr. Talbert's statement, what does the board want to do? Do we want to leave it as an administrative committee for transportation? I'm just using that terminology. and have maybe board member on that committee or do we if it's a board committee that means we have to come up with the charge the guidelines and everything so that becomes a question do we want to do that or do the other way can't Nate
241do it and then give it to us for review just as Carl Frasier did about the budget committee he's the expert on transportation let him come up with it would it would have to go to through Dr. Talbert well yeah Dr. the Talbert in conjunction with me. Yeah. Yeah. Are you doing Okay, sure. So, what does the board want to do? I support doing it that way because I feel like it was really nice, it is nice to see members of the um community advisory budget committee here actively engaged and it seemed like that was the whole like concept behind the transportation committee. So to have another committee with community involvement that that's different than the administrative committees that you describe, understandably so, because not everyone from the community needs to be involved. But I
242I I can tell it's more work. I don't say that lightly, but I think it it does a lot for bridging the gap, the divide between, you know, inside the school buildings and out to the community. And transportation certainly affects more than just district students. So I I support that. I should I'm sorry for the more work. Um would it be a committee just for one year involvement? I think I'm going I'm asking for clarity supported as a board appointed committee. Okay. Yes. Community involvement. So it's an if it's a boardappointed committee it's a committee that's appointed on an annual basis. I'm I'm just Yeah. And we would have the opportunity if we want to reappoint people just it right. Maybe at the reorg meeting or I don't know when do you do this? The
243reorg would think that we do this. I agree. We need a motion. What are you saying John? You just need a charge. Yeah. Yeah. Do we have to make a motion like I make a motion to make this a board committee the transportation committee because now it has to be a vote. So my recommendation would be to bring it with a charge. Right. So when you usually when you create the committee as a committee, there's usually a charge that goes with the how the committee is constituted and what the what the charge is for the committee. Oh, I think that's what we did with the budget committee is where it came to us, we reviewed it, then we okayed it, then we adopted it, and then we went from I would use the same process.
244Okay. All right. Any other old and new business? We I had a family ask me is lo happening this summer just one week. So currently there are no plans for the summer but we do um anticipate a little bit of a surplus. So we're just looking to see whether we can extend any form of summer services based on what we think will be left over from the spring session. Thank you. Okay. Can I take any community input at this time? Uh, good evening. Matt Grace, 85 Craig Road, Icel Terrace. First, I just want to say to the stu two students that got up here earlier, Jesus and Michael, president, vice president of student government, democratically elected by their peers. I thought they did an amazing job advocating for their classmates, not their beliefs, but their
245classmates. Now, I have been in Amityville for 17 years. It's a second home to me at this point. But I did not go to this school. I did not play for this school. I don't live in the community. Um, I really don't have any skin in the game as far as the mascot goes. It does it doesn't matter to me. There's more important things that I'm worried about with my students. However, I do teach two college level government classes. I teach advanced placement US government politics. I teach Syracuse University project advanced public policy. I teach participation in government. And I teach United States history and government. And I feel my job as an educator is to teach my students about the democratic system to teach them how to use their voice and to empower them
246to use their voice and use their vote to shape the world in whatever way that they see fit. I don't care what they think. That's up to them. That's a personal choice. I feel that way about everybody. I don't really have any skin in the game as far as the process to decide how a mascot was chosen. It's not my place to be involved in that and I was not involved in any of it. So, I just want full disclosure there. But I did sit here at a board meeting over a month ago and hear this board decide to allow the students to decide what they wanted. I sat here and heard the board decide to let all students across the district from elementary to secondary to make that choice. And then I saw Michael
247and Jesus again just as an outside observer rooting them on using their voice exercising their democracy put together a fair and democratic process. They presented it to their peers. An opportunity was given to the whole school to vote. Some chose to do it, some didn't. That's democracy. We have an average of 60% of eligible voters who come out and vote in a presidential election. If you don't come out and vote, you had a choice. That's on you. The students chose the Hawks. Again, doesn't matter to me whatsoever. But now I have to go into class tomorrow morning and face my students and explain to them that everything that I told them about empowerment and voice and exercising democracy was wrong. Because it doesn't matter. Because at the end of the day, you heard from them
248regardless of what they chose. and you decided that because you didn't like it that it was time to get rid of it. I have to tell my students tomorrow that everything that I worked so hard for to prepare them for the real world is not true. How am I supposed to explain that to them? This was such a great opportunity. I just want to say that I am disappointed not in the choice of the mascot cuz I don't care. I'm disappointed that you took away the democratic process, the lessons that we try to instill as teachers, and you took away the student voices. Stephanie Andrew's amp. Sorry, I got to take this out. I could hear use it to hear the Zoom, believe it or not. Um, I just have a few questions. The seniors,
249uh, you said they're not held back from graduating. They're always allowed to have summer school. Are they walking for their diploma without the required credits? No, we do not. So, they would not then walk, but but they can obviously take summer school after. Okay. That's one thing. So, I didn't bring a pen, so I had to text myself. Also, I have a question about the bus mileage proposition that's up for a vote. Uh once it passes, if it passes, um does that mean the window for the parents to apply for a bus for their student in that new radius is reopened? Uh the because as of April 1 is the deadline for the upcoming year. Well, the April one deadline had a 15 mile radius that and I would venture to say most parents know
250the radius once their kids are at that high school level and know they don't qualify and they're not going to fill out a form that they know they're going to get denied. So, they probably haven't even applied in the past even though they might have been beyond. Now, you're going to have, and I find it hard to believe it's only eight schools in that additional 2m radius cuz this includes preK to 12 and special ed till they're 21 as long as they're not going to a special ed school. So, that's a whole another issue. But I like to know, is that window reopen now? Because you are including it in this upcoming academic year. So the parents who didn't apply in that beyond 15 cuz the proposition is going if it passes it's going to
251be for the 2526 school year right starting September but the deadline to apply was April 20 April 1st. So that's passed. Does that window reopen? That's actually a legal question. John, does the window reopen? Yeah, I would think it does because if the deadline was No, it does not. Okay. So, okay. So, no, it does not reopen. Okay. Um, and let's just be clear when you say the community was notified, I believe you want us to infer the residence. I've lived here over 40 years. I have two homes. My son lives in one with his children. He never got it. And he's a former Amityville football player. Uh, I never got a letter. Everyone my son spoke to, former teammates, residents, never got it. I spoke with numerous current residents, never got it. So, I
252don't know what community you are claiming was involved. Social media is not involving the community. We get notifications for the school. We get the calendar. We get everything else in the mail. I think a letter notifying the community that you were considering a choice of names and clearly the Hawks wasn't even in the one of them. Um, I don't think that's an accurate assessment of how the community was involved unless you mean some other community because maybe you mean the public school community because I know when the the St. Martin's principal got up, we never got the letter. Neither did he. Someone gave it to him about come to the board meeting. He never got it. I'm a taxpayer. And as far as interviewing the administrator position below the level of superintendent, there is precedent
253for that. It was done in this district under Dr. Pierre. It involves staff as well as residents, not one candidate, multiple candidates. It's done in other districts. And there is precedent for a board to want to do that, especially at a high level administrative position. And clearly this employee doesn't care what those girls had to say about that name, the Hawk. I can't wait for the first time there's a game. And those smart alec middle school kids who thought this was funny start yelling out that phrase and it's on the front page of every newspaper in the country because that's exactly what's going to happen. So that is the reason why you should be rejecting and I'm glad the board did reject it because that is something we will never be able to overcome. Thank
254you. Thank you Chris Hill again. I want to go back to the uh se back. You can lift them just lift the mic up there. I want to go back to the seatback discussion that you guys has had like 10 minutes ago. I think part of the reason and I know I'm the only B Cback you know member in the room aside from Olivia what did I miss I missed okay well anyway we're getting back to that you know um I don't think there should be a board member on the next seatback committee the next transportation committee I think it worked very well with an advisor first call Frasier and Olivia Baratzi. Okay. And we got a lot of good information that way. But I think uh having an actual board member would intimidate everybody
255else, you know, and you know to think that okay, maybe it's not quite fair. Maybe we're trying to tilt the scales. We don't want We didn't want that and we didn't get it. Thank God. Okay. And the second thing um Okay. Um you know, I wouldn't have picked the Hawks either, you know. Um, I would have I would have went for like the uh tide at a um you know crimson tide ideally, you know, if the state of New York dumped this piece of garbage on us, you know, that it had to be changed at all. And you know, you've made your decision. Okay, you didn't accept a mascot and I get it. However, I don't want to be a fly in a wall when you have to tell your kids and everybody else has
256to tell the kids that their voice didn't count. Thank you. Good evening everyone. Um, first I just want to begin I want to thank the board for showing due diligence and interest in um, issues that concern all of us. As a community resident and as an educator, I think that sometimes you get a chance to see things from a panoramic view. But within that, I think that we need to restructure sometimes how we approach um matters that should be left to the educators to handle. Not to sound condescending because we do want to collaborate, right? It is necessary to show concern and it is appreciated. However, we do have people who are certified professionals whereby they are being paid to render decisions collaboratively. And when we take so much time and we are here almost
257every board meeting to this hour talking about things that could have been quickly rectified at the school level leaves one to question what is the agenda. when you constantly question things that we have a qualified superintendent and have to trust that she and the leaders of the school district will be sensitive and will be responsible in ensuring that a collaborative effort is um implemented to ensure that the voices are heard. Okay. When it comes to regents and having to provide additional services, that is something that you definitely do want. You want to do that in addition to having extra help. Why? Because regions exams are high stakes tests that impact the grading or our ranking on the state's um report card. And because of trauma and a litany of issues, kids across America are just
258not doing as well as in years the past on high stakes testing. So the goal until the graduation requirements change, which is going to happen in 2027, where we will be shifting to a portrait of a graduate, you want to close this window out to best ensure that we get as many kids over the hump. I'm asking the board to please respect the educators that are in place and their decisionmaking in making critical decisions to ensure that the best practices. Everything is not policy. If I can just claim a minute, it everything is not always policy, but sometimes educators have to do things based on best practices and it is a best practice to offer additional regions help. Finally, when it comes to hiring, again, no one is saying that you should not have to
259go through resumeumés. I agree to a to a certain extent that this is a high stakes position and you want engagement. You want to ensure but to also suggest that a doctor in place is not capable and this may not have been the intention but this is how it is being perceived by the community and perception needs to be re-evaluated. She and her staff are capable of going through the initial steps of seeing who needs to um take over in this role in especially in this highly sensitive environment and then when the candidates are narrowed down to present them to the board. Is it necessarily a policy or can it be amended? Perhaps maybe. But the question is why? There are so many districts that do it this way. Most districts do not have boards
260of education this involved and it's crippling sometimes as an educator when you cannot make decisions because you are afraid that you every time you try to move a school forward you're going to run into unnecessary barriers and areas that just sure areas that need barriers all of a sudden we don't put up barriers seniors yes in the past I when When I was in high school, I had free periods. We also had open campuses. We were allowed to go out to lunch. That was more than 20 and 30 years ago. We are in different times. So in these times as educational researchers, we have learned in our steps to improve education. It is not a best practice to allow students to have free periods. So, I'm going to I'm going to So, in closing, in
261closing, in closing, um these decisions are made for the best interest of keeping students safe, from keeping them from getting into trouble and at the same time for pushing them for academic excellence. We don't want them to settle for mediocrity. And this is why we don't arbitrarily allow truncated schedules any longer. So, it's not to create a barrier. We have to be the adults. And sometimes when you leave kids to have too much freedom too early, you put them you set them up to make wrong decisions and they end up in mischief. Thank you. Thank you. I'm going to ask I'm going to have to I can't. Hi, Margaret Chafville. I just have a question. Um, Warriors is not an indigenous name. I understand the imagery with the warriors is an Indian of Indian nation
262or whatever. But my question is at what point did Kathy Hokll say the Warriors was indigenous? Cuz it's not. She So what if what if you kept the Warriors and changed the imagery? Why is warriors? It's not. We're not We're not We went through this before and we're not allowed to keep warriors that but but I understand what you're saying. Should we send Kathy Hokll of a a dictionary? It's it's not it's not our decision. It's not our decision. It's it's something that we tried to do. We we wanted to keep Warriors and just remove the imagery and just change the imagery, right? Because we felt we felt that worry has so many different meanings. Correct. I agree. So, but what has happened that it's it's it's out of our hands and we're not the
263only district that that still has the that has Warriors actually. Exactly. So it's it's out of our hands and unless something changes in the state of New York. Right now Warriors is out. I feel like it might change. It may change decision too. There's a lot going on right now. Yeah, it may change. But yeah, so I just wanted to know what constituted warriors as being indigenous because it's just not. So thank you. Thank you. Evening. Francis O'Brien, 684 Bane Parkway Sable. As a socialized teach in the Amville district for the past 21 years, most of which I spent as a seventh grade American history teacher. One of the most important piece of content I teach my students is the United States Constitution, articles 1 through 7, as well as the Bill of Rights and
264the other amendments. Whenever a question comes up about how a government is supposed to work or how democracy works, I always direct my students back to what I feel the three most important words. The first three, we the people. One part of that democratic process is for students to be able to speak freely, be part of this process, to vote, to have their voices heard. And I stress them there are many countries in the world today where they do not have that privilege. But with that privilege comes a responsibility. My function as a teacher is not to teach your children what to think but how to think. Look at the data. Evaluate it. Look at it from multiple perspectives. Question it. When you get information data, you have to get it from multiple sources of
265information. You just can't take it from one source. I tell them at least three to verify that there's at least an alignment there. At least has something in common. You can work with that. What are they to think now? They participated in a democratic process where their input was valued or so they were told. And if I recall correctly, the data shows that Hawk was the number one choice in all the buildings except one. Also, the point that was made by the female students gamers vote is a valid point. However, we need to verify that the majority students actually voted for that reason, stating that it was a silly joke on their part. I do not believe that has been done. This was a two-year process. Now, after all the work and input, you decide
266to negate the election results. You will continue to promote a culture of division and mistrust within this district. And to be fair, in an election, somebody wins and somebody loses. Tonight, everyone lost. Thank you. All right. Um, at this point in time, we're going to close out the um, committee input and Dr. TA's going to do her superintendent report. Can we have some assistance with the PowerPoint really quickly? We promise we'll have you out before midnight. So, thank you for celebrating our staff and students with us this month. Okay. Okay. The week of April 7th was assistant principles week and we celebrated our assistant principles and thank them for the great work that they do at all of our buildings throughout the district. We celebrated World Autism Awareness Day on April 2nd. Everyone wore blue.
267We're very excited about some of our autism awareness family nights that are coming. Our artistic students do a wonderful job throughout the district and next year we are opening two additional classes. Well, that's our crew. We were standing in anticipation of the unveiling of the mascot that day. And then of course there were top stories that hit around the uh new mascot name. And then the students used those four pictures. Uh they voted on the Storm, the Tai, the Cardinals, and the Hawks. And there are some of our students uh through Mr. Grace's broadcasting club who were facilitating the video. We had recent uh school visits to Miss Maria Ray Morz's class where she was reviewing the quadratic formula in her algebra 1 class at the high school. It was a great lesson. Students were
268engaged and we all had an a great refresher. We also visited Miss Dawn, Miss Rach's class. Um history of race and ethnicity. There was a very rich discussion around World War II. The students were engaged in research projects, uh, turn and talks, dialogue. They could tell you in great detail what they were learning about and studying. We also visited Park Elementary educator, Miss Trish Camarado. And in the class was Miss Mar and Miss Brilan Maro. They were having a wonderful time engaging with the students. Uh they were using their technological devices to communicate to their teachers. Rich discussions were taking place with the principal and the young fellow in the middle had put the whole puzzle together quickly. Took it apart and put it right back together. He knew all 50 states. We enjoyed Legally
269Blonde, Hands Up, 10 Toes Down. The musical was phenomenal. And we also had a chance to enjoy some of Miss Santos's delicious cooking. And we had some inductees into the Roappa Social Studies Honor Society induction. We were invited to give rec uh remarks to the student scholars. Parents were in attendance. It was a wonderfully run program as you can see uh Jesus Berios who was here tonight who's also our validictorian. He was one of the presiders at the induction. Most recently, Chancellor King reached out to us and he visited the high school. uh he and Jesus also had a other conversation both having uh Jesus is attending Harvard and the chancellor had attended Harvard and they were engaged in a really great conversation. We had assembly member Quanio Faroh's chief of staff Mr. Byron McCrae
270who came out to greet the chancellor. They had been working together in Albany and the principal was there along with the assistant to the chancellor as well. All of those students talked about their experience with the FAOSA. Some had great experiences, some needed some support. Guidance counselors were on hand and there was a very rich discussion with the chancellor about how the process of applying for your FASA can be improved. So, we were very impressed with the president of the class, Adonis, who led the discussion and ripped off for about 10 quick questions. And the chancellor was taking great notes and he said he would take his feedback to Sunni and um take into account all of the information our student scholars shared with him. So, this is just a little bit of our superintendent
271report for the months of uh last part of March and April. Thank you for indulging us and we look forward to greater days ahead. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you, Dr. Talbert. Can I have a motion to adjourn at 11:46, please? Motion. Second. Just nearing. All those in favor? I I motion carry