001Good evening everybody. Welcome to the regular meeting of the Minnesota Board of Education on this second day of fake spring March 10th 2026. If everybody can please rise for the pledge. >> I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America and to the republic for which it stands. One nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all. >> Okay. Starting with routine matters. Uh resolved that upon the recommendation of the superintendent of schools, the board is hereby approved the following routine matters. Uh board of education minutes for February 10th, 2026. Board of Education minutes for February 24th, 2026. Treasurers report for January 2026 and the CSE recommendations as listed on the agenda. Do I have a motion? So >> move. >> Second. >> All those in favor? >> Opposed? Motion carried.
002Presentations. Uh we have a couple of well one, two, three, three presentations for um proposed electives. Who would like to go first? According to the agenda, it's the art department. So, I bet Mrs. Buno and Mrs. >> Alph has won. Hello, I am Melissa Palovik. I am the high school one of the high school art teachers um representing the art department. Um first of all, we'd like to thank you for having us. Um we would also like to thank the community and the board for the renovations that are happening in the art department. Um the students and the staff um are very excited about the changes that we've seen um and are loving it and we can't wait to see more. Um we as the art department have had an increase in students. Um we've
003also seen changes in student interest and what they're asking for. And um one of those changes that I have seen is really an interest in 3D art. So, one of the changes that I'm seeking today, one of the um courses that I'm looking to add is um similar to studio and art, which is you know 2D but it does touch a little bit on 3D is similar to that a introduction to 3D design. Um so you have our proposals in front of you and I'm not going to read word for word. I'm just going to um give you the gist of it. So my proposal is for introduction for 3D design. This course explores the principles of three-dimensional design by bridging ideas with physical craftsmanship. Students will transform abstract ideas into tangible forms. Um, I'm
004seeing so many of my students really want to dive in their freshman year into ceramics and sculpture. And right now [snorts] we are kind of holding them back. And that's, you know, that's for 10th grade, that's for 11th grade. and students are kind of running out of time um to take some of those courses. So, I really feel like if they can get their feet wet in ninth grade and are able to take that in 9th grade, if that's what they're really interested in, that will really help them be able to take, you know, ceramics and sculpture 2 and our college courses. Um because we're really finding I'm finding that kids don't have enough time in their schedule to fit those in. So it will also free them up for other art electives if they're
005interested. Um so students will finish the course with a good foundation understanding of ceramics and sculpture and a deeper understanding of threedimensional art. Quite >> good now. And I'm Melissa Boono, another high school art teacher, and I'm proposing an advanced studio class. Uh studio is fantastic. Whole bunch of different things that you can do. And um we have students who are eh art's okay and art's super fun u or and very skilled at it. So um I'm proposing to have an advanced studio that can go a little bit deeper and still have the flexibility of studio where you can do lots of different things and not so stringent of it's just 3D or it's just drawing and painting. This is it's really flexible and um from what I'm um experiencing I think the kids will
006be really interested in it. So thank you so much. Appreciate it. If I could also add to the board, this is also sets us up potentially nicely for inspire New York worship and graduate to kind of develop our our pathways for our students. Uh and really furthers the work that is already here and sets us up really really nicely when that guidance starts going. [snorts] >> Thank you. >> Next up, social studies department, Mr. Gross. >> Hi there. I'm here to represent the social department for the high school. Um in a recent department meeting, I actually tked uh all of the members and um some viewed it as homework. Um although uh it led to some really lively conversation was really genuinely amazing as well to really put our collaborative brains together. um we all
007proposed various electives um for what that might look like and kind of a big uh overarching theme that we all wanted to look at was oddly enough every single member is very fascinated with the 1920s. Um so much good to go really in depth there with but uh the real overarching theme was more so going into every single different uh decade in the 20th and 21st centuries looking at the various cultural uh impacts that we see in art. uh dress, music, film, various uh different media that we can really analyze and various artifacts for us to really um look into. And uh the majority of this uh course came about from uh what's really the lovely brainchild of Katie New. um she was uh discussing this uh and also the possibility of kind of doing
008an inter disciplinary approach with uh the English department through Tina Davis uh and sat down with her over a few days. We uh planned out that rough outline that you'll see there on your handout and uh starting with um for instance again going back to the 1920s take just has any of you have any of Quebec? >> Yep. Yes. Mhm. >> Odd segue. It seems [laughter] going to start there. Seems odd, but have any of you had pudding shame or poor man's pudding? The direct translation is actually a unemployed pudding. Pudding unemployed, which I just, you know, languages often translate very well. Um, and it's just one of those things where even if you look at food in various different um, decades, you can really get a good sense of the culture, the history of
009all these um, how people lived uh, throughout history. And that's something that we as a department said, this is what students um, would really like. Uh, there's a lot of interest in our um, student population here for doing something different for social studies instead of um, writing um, rather begrudgingly. uh enduring issues essays and things like that that prepare them for the regions instead uh thinking more so analytically and looking at history through the lens of people who actually lived it. Um and before Mr. Cardig gets the chance to say it um this is also paired very nicely with the seal of civic readiness and looking at various um different aspects of that seal um it's opens lends itself very nicely to various projects as well. So uh any questions comments concerns um my quoting
010mayor recipe Can members of the community audit your class? Because this is right up my alley. [clears throat] [laughter] >> There may be room for guest speakers to be putting mayor if we make an >> Thank you. >> Okay. Next up, we have a uh presentation for uh innovative programs in digital badging from Liz Grappo. >> We asked Liz to periodically give us updates because the program is definitely not static. It definitely keeps changing and evolving. So, >> this is um little booklet of different business programs that business partnership programs we have currently in place. I'm just going to briefly talk about each one and some of the future initiatives. [snorts] >> Justin, I want to give one to you, too. >> Awesome. Thank you. >> Okay. So I'm going to start off with the
011buzzwords in our local leadership innovation I'm sorry leadership innovation visionary learning and entrepreneurship and as the students go through each of these partnerships some students are in multiple partnerships and some are just in one partnership but they are getting getting leadership experiences by some of the guest speakers they come in some of the activities and the projects they do a lot of the uh community service that they participate in. Um it's very innovative and you'll see especially with some of the future programs we're looking at uh the innovation that's there. Same with visionary learning because we're looking into the future with and I loved the about the 3D because that's excellent and um entrepreneurship the students are getting entrepreneurship experience as they go through. So, I'm going to talk first of all briefly about the
012International Boxing Hall of Fame, our student ambassador program, which is our signature program. It was our first program. We are in our fifth year. Currently, we have 32 members. We started off with about 40, 45. We need to get it down to 30 to make it manageable for the banquet. We have given out 86 micro credentials to date. Probably be giving out another 20 uh this weekend because the students just finished another topic. And so far from September to now, 280 workbased learning hours and community service hours. And those are hours where the students are listening to guest speakers going through lessons on different skills skill sets that they're going to need. Communication, augmentation, [clears throat] operations, public speaking, inductees, professional image. We finished hospitality today and um sports management will be next week and
013then planning and getting ready for the actual weekend. Again, they they work hard but they um they enjoy it and have a lot of fun. [laughter] Greater Lennox Ambulance currently we have probably about eight students. I'd like to see a little bit more um activity because I mean coming off of Carol with her 600 hours of community service, we're not even close. Um but the students are doing some of the lessons up at Glass. Uh we meet monthly here at Canod with Glass personnel and we're meeting on Monday to get an update of how many hours. um they send me the hours that the kids work every week and I've been talking to Kyle maybe trying to expand this out a little bit and and Mr. Carter, you had mentioned CPR and AED being a
014requirement. >> Correct. >> This may be a place or an avenue to help those kids get that. So, um because I checked into the Madison cadetses, county cadets and glass right now, right now they only have CPR, so they don't have the AED. So, we'll work on something with that. My Junior Chamber of Commerce, they have done a lot of community service. They volunteered during the holiday parade of lights and the fall craft show, spearheaded wreaths across America. I cannot say enough about that program. It was amazing. And the work that the kids did on that program. And this is a picture of them up at Clark's Park. Clark Park. Um but um they worked they they practiced, but we had so many snow days and so many cancellations that they had very little time
015to practice when they they got to the microphone on the day of the ceremony, which was also a two-hour delay. >> Nailed it. I I could not have been more proud. And some of you were there and saw it. And um to tomorrow we're going to they're going to be um hosting the Chamber of Commerce lunch. They're going to talk about it a little bit. But it meant a lot to those kids to see the military there and to see that, you know, I don't know if I call it pop and circumstance, but the the formality of it all. Alumni Day, the Chamber of Commerce kids are asked to help facilitate that day, which um I'm very proud that they're asked because it shows me that leadership quality is being utilized and they helped to
016take the kids around to for the different guest speakers that came in on alumni day. Like I said, tomorrow we're hosting the chamber of commerce lunch and I would [snorts] hope if you are available, please join us at noon in here. I know Miss Isabelle said you might be coming. So, I'm hoping you guys come and uh we're going to do a small presentation, short presentation, and then have lunch and the chamber will have their monthly meeting right here and our kids will be hosting them. Usually we I take the kids out. This is a lot easier without the bus and the permission slips and all of that. So, uh we'll be doing that tomorrow. And then what we did, we had the business expo last year. This year we have changed it to be
017a career expo and a job interview day to combine it. So we have businesses coming in on May 15th to talk to the kids. So our audience now is our students versus the public coming in to see different vendors and different businesses and then that day we'll do some mock job interviews with the students. I know that the workbased learning kids in Val's class are going to participate and uh as many of the leadership group kids hopefully will um also participate in the interview day and whoever wants to do that. So, so that's where we're going with the chamber. Madison County Sheriff's Cadet program. Now, I don't teach that, but I [clears throat] do meet with the kids. This is a program through Mason County and um Koopa right is in in that program [snorts]
018and you see by the picture I mean it just by it just made me so proud to see those kids and how seriously they take this stuff. It's um Delane Drexler is the teacher and she teaches at Madison County at the sheriff's office. I meet with the kids maybe once a month of I think there's about 12 kids in the program in Madison County. We have eight students in that program of the 12. So I'm very proud of it and I want to you know stay on top of it with them because sometimes the kids don't see the leadership experience that they are getting and you know when you see kids in ninth ninth grade are they in acting the way they acted the day of reads across America it just amaz it's setting them
019up for success there's no doubt in my mouth or my mouth [laughter] that too but in my Um, oh my god. And then we have um, oh [snorts] my goodness, Isaac Melted who is taking it above and beyond and offering physical training for the kids. He's making videos for the kids, for our kids. So, we are um, definitely running with that program. Municipal government, the kids have done parliamentary procedure. They assisted with the wreaths across America and alumni day. We had a guest speaker come in, Megan Co. Sam who was our town of Lennox supervisor. She came in and talked to the kids about her the election and what she had to do. They will participate in the career expo and then in May we're going to attend the town supervisors meeting in Knoxville and
020see how that is run. So I'll probably um prior to that we'll do a lesson on [laughter] the different townships in the county and you know what the what each of the supervisors does. So that should be pretty interesting. pretty fun. So, something a little different. The Roseman Gford Zoo, that group is going well. We probably have about 12 kids in that program, maybe 15. Uh, they visited the zoo in September and they did the conservation and action. Gina Rapazadi from the zoo came in and did professional image as a guest speaker. Um, their new person, Noel, um, Deja, she did careers. Now we're working on a final project and the kids were able to work on the um what they wanted to do and when Gina was there she mentioned that the zoo fails
021to reach the teenage kids and and you know and what can we do you know to to help and to them to see what opportunities are there. So, we did some research. We looked online and we saw some zoos that had career zoo careers and they made PowerPoint videos of those careers. So, we're going to do that. Brenda is going to help us put together some videos. We met with her last week. We're going to take each job position and talk about what the job duties are, what the pay scale is, throw in some pictures, some videos of that, and the kids. And our plan is to go out to the zoo probably in June, provide the kids with lunch. I'll be in touch [laughter] and uh present to them. So that's that's our plan
022because this year the second graders aren't going. So we last year we went and we guided the second graders. So this year they're not going. So we going to go on our own. So the other new one of the new things this year is the new visions academy course in canista that Val Ray teaches and um those students have completed the workbased learning micro credentials and done a very good job uh on those gaining a lot of work-based learning hours and we had our uh credentials to credits for student Ty right half a credit because he completed the workbased learning hours in service work and in community service and he took the workbased learning courses and he did a great job and I'm so happy that someone took advantage of that because it's there you
023know to help. So new initiatives um still working on gaming and bringing the the um the gaming curriculum into play drone operation curriculum. We went um last week or week, two weeks ago to Liverpool to look at their program. Amazing. And came back with so many ideas. 3D printing is in that program. Um along with, you know, robotics and all of that stuff. And what a great opportunity that would be to offer the kids curriculum in that area. Their their certification, their micro credential would be a federal or a national micro credential. Red House the the we've had so many postponements postponements but May we're meeting with Red House uh which is the theater in Syracuse to work a program together and that would include the kids going there um doing um a project with
024[clears throat] them and even seeing a play and Brent is going to be part of that with us and to talk to them about um what's going on. We have to be careful with that because they only offer certain plays and limited number and the plays naturally have to be student appropriate. WSYR broadcasting and I'm going to be working with Jake because he said to come back in March. I remember that to get a student to go out there and do some job shadowing. And then of course the career expo and and job interview day. I'd like to see that as an well, we've had it before, but as an annual event and connected community is working on that with me. This is something I'm so excited about and Justin um was kind enough to
025fill me in on what they were doing with this um seal of civic readiness because I had I had been looking at it for years and I looked like you need an application, you need this and I'm like okay and this part scared me. So, so I'm so glad that the social studies department took the initiative in pursuing it's a state seal going on their the students diplomas where we can help is we have this service learning project minimum of 25 hours. The students are getting a minimum of 25 hours. Um, and then what we would need to do if this is an avenue, and Justin would have to meet, but if this is an avenue that we're going to go in, I would work with them on their project, their presentation, um, and the
026essay. And then the other one, the extracurricular participation or work-based learning, 40 hours. They're they're getting it now. And I already sent him the hours we have right now to date. And a lot of those kids are are hitting those hours. At the middle level, the kids are doing reading micro credentials through Mr. Bazison. Um, and uh, Southside is doing the monthly character and Peterbrill Street just started the digital citizenship micro credentials. So, the kids are getting a little bit of exposure to micro credentials. If it's tip for them, it's the lanyard with a button on it, but it's still that same concept. And that's all I have. Any any questions? But our numbers are decent. Um, you know, there I'm not upset with them. I you know, I think they're a couple of them
027are a little lower than last year, but the quality of the student is and the commitment level of the student is is really to me what's important because they they're willing to put in the work, come in and do the extra. So, questions? anything my update and I have lots of data. >> Thanks. >> Thank you. >> Okay. Uh next up we have the uh uh principal building updates. Hello. >> I wasn't going to start with this, but Liz is so inspiring just to listen to her. She's just so incredible. And so how it relates to Southside, I can always count on our buttons, our micro badging buttons being delivered right on time, right on time for our assemblies. And this month, um, the character traders perseverance. Um and I was going to start with
028the fact that um the my first update aligned with uh the strategic plan goal number one academic performance. So that perseverance really ties in as we kick into um testing and the accountability that that is really such high level of rigor. But we've done so much work to prepare our students. And I just wanted to briefly talk about that. Our New York State exams um ELA is um April 21st and 22nd. May is May 5th and 6th. So in January we did the CBT simulation and it was just that just a simulation, just a run through so that every child got onto the system, they could log in. Um what it does for us, it gives us the opportunity to make sure accommodations are set, just kind of logistics are all ready to go. In
029February, we did our ELA practice test. So, this is really what we're looking for is content. What do, you know, where do we need to support and help students? The teachers are able to use the information from the practice test as a teaching tool. Um, did did they answer the question? Did they support it with details? So, they can really dig in um and and help again support. March is obviously right around the corner. So, we just did ELA. March is booked for Thursday and Friday this week for our math practice test with the same intent. Um just that practical practice to to help students prepare. And then also um I just want to commend Karen for all of her work with the afterchool program that began this week on Monday. It runs through April
03014th. Um, and the afterchool program is really designed to give those students um, who may need a boost with ELA and math that little extra practice. Pretty, you know, not too much, but just enough, you know, and it's really aligned with the curriculum this year that that the students really need, which is really important. You know, if you're bringing them in, we want them to, you know, get the curriculum that they need. I want to thank Rob Carter for joining us this morning. um joining our staff that is with some professional development on the use of the newl platform. This was approved by the board implemented this year. Our teachers are learning and using it this year. But Rob comes over with these short PDs. So our our planning time for our teachers is 8:05
031to 8:30. There he is right there giving us this uh exceptional PD. really this this morning was specifically um assigning test prep to students. So how to do that because it's aligned with our CK curriculum. It's aligned with our Eureka math squared. So how do we just assign that digital tool um to help prepare students as well? So thanks to him. So with all that work, I just want to commend the students and the teachers for that for that level of focus that they maintain through this right madness of March. Um but we also have a little fun on the way, right? That's what elementary school is all about. So, I just wanted to tell you that um the third grade teachers took advantage um after the ELA practice test, for example, to take the
032students out um on our southside field to snowshoe. But where did they get the snowshoes? They bummed them off the PE um teachers at the middle school. So, they were able to, you know, borrow the the snowshoes. But it's a first time, you know, experience for some students and that field is is the best. So, it was a lot of fun. That's one part of the story. The other part is um our very own SRO joined the students. So, Mike Kiran, that avid outdoorsman that he is, he happens to have a pair of snowshoes in his truck throughout the season. So, of course, um you know, he's out there with the kids and not only, you know, it just is that testimony. It's not only those guys ensuring our safety, right? But he's building those
033relationships with our kids and and just leading by example, you know, just being out there snowshoeing around. I'm >> sure he had skis and all kinds of other things, too. >> Yeah. Yeah. Because he's also involved with skiing with that high school program. Uh March Madness is in full swing at Southside with our reading challenge. Um so when the students read a book um they complete their basketball or if they read a chapter or a book. Okay? So they have to read three of them and um if they do so in return that we have our hoops set up um along the wall each teacher. So that basketball goes through the hoop. Uh, but it's been kind of exciting to see um, you know, re-energizing kids to read for for pleasure. I think they've really
034enjoyed it. Um, and it's just fun going into the classrooms and seeing that little bit of downtime where they're just reading for pleasure. Each class will have ice cream. Um, fourth grade, third grade, fourth grade, whoever wins gets their ice cream party. And then lastly, just we have bingo night this Friday night, uh, March 13th at Southside in the cafeteria. And I just want to again thank the PTO for sponsoring it. They're always so supportive. >> Thank you. As Miss Burns was saying, we have started the afterchool program which began this week. We're also doing that at the middle school for grades 5 through 8. Uh, and we've also begun pra doing practice tests to not only help students build the stamina to be able to sit through a test like that, but to help
035see what skills that they, you know, need to improve on. [snorts] And our teachers are giving those tests now and they're going to be using some time on the superintendent's conference day on March 20th to analyze that data and be able to uh help you know implement the supports needed in the classrooms. We've also have been doing CBT Thursdays. So every Thursday during win for fifth and sixth and during the ELA and math classes we've been having students work on uh computer-based test questions to help um give them some exposure to that program. On a more positive note, our discipline numbers have dropped. We are currently at 100 less referrals this year than we were at this time last year at the end of February. This year we have a total of 249. Last year
036we were at 349 at this time. Um our attendance is also on the rise. Last year we were at 92% year to date through the end of February. This year we're at 94. So, we are seeing slow but positive trends. Um, let's see. Our PBIS team has met three times and we're have identified some areas of need in the building that we're working on trying to put some supports and some incentives in place to help continue the positive trend for behaviors. We just had Jared Campbell come in. I'd like to thank Mrs. Leon for setting that up. It was a great assembly that the students and the teachers really enjoyed. Uh peer mentoring at the middle school is set to begin this month. As I mentioned before, we've had 27th and eighth graders who were
037identified as peer mentors. Uh we've had 10 academic and 10 social uh supports and we have 25 fifth and sixth grade students who we are meeting tomorrow to identify to be uh the students who are being mentored. So I'm looking forward to that starting. Also, this Thursday, Connected Communities is beginning their dine and play program, uh, which will take place once a month on Thursdays. And that is going to give students an hour after school where they can get together as a group and, you know, interact with each other and build some much needed social supports as well as throw in some extra homework help as well. Uh, we just had our bingo night tonight. I think that went fairly well. Uh so I'd like to thank connected communities for sponsoring that. Uh the artwork
038has been is now on display in our cafeteria. We've had the student government uh pick from a selection of artwork and so they actually, you know, got to choose the art that's displayed in there. Uh we also just finished the so last week we did the NAE test for civics and US history for our eighth graders. There was a group of 50 students who were randomly selected to participate in that test. We needed 90% participation and we had 92%. And I think that's it. >> Thank you. Thank you. Sorry, fighting a bit of a low gradede fever. So if I start rambling more than normal, you just get to cut me off. So um >> I'm an expert on rambling. [laughter] >> You'll know the signs, right? Um so so you know some lot of
039good stuff for the high school on the academic end. As I presented in the first quarter, very similar numbers, 63% of students got honor roll or higher, like 84.5 and higher. That speaks to the excellent work by the team getting that instruction, getting those assessments, working with those kids, doing those interventions. And this doesn't include um 22 additional awards that were given that were teacher recognized for kiddos who may not reach honor role, but they come in here and work hard every day. they just don't break that 84.5 threshold. Um I had some very very very good times with the f freshman class as I had reported to the board before. One of the things that I brought is the canota cup. So it is a interclass grade level competition. It is rated on three
040different categories and in addition to team points. So percentage of of students at the grade level with honor roll or higher, lowest discipline percentage and highest attendance. the freshman were a clean sweep of the second quarter. So, and let me tell you, they went crazy when they heard that. So, um that actually brought them to a tie with first place with the juniors. The seniors shortly went not far behind as well, too. So, that's been a kind of a fun competition that's just starting to take root right now. Um attendance [clears throat] attendance uh year to date 90.80 80 which is about uh excuse me not about actually 7 higher than last year. Some room to improvement in there. Those efforts are continuousing are continuous uh discipline. We've been on a wonderful trend since October
041in the building. We dropped uh 35% of total referrals year-over-year in the month of February. And one of my focuses has always been is quality of life referrals. So these are referrals outside of cell phones and late to school. So these are things outbursts in class, management of students in class, those are down 46%. So I think again as I actually released to the to the staff before I came here, 95% of behavior management and discipline in the building, those are those teachers and some of them being right behind me. [snorts] Okay, we support it, but they're the ones who drive that. So much like kudos for the honor role. Same thing there. Peer tutoring. I had uh released that we're opening up the peer tutoring center last month. We got 20 people to sign
042up to be regular tutors in that center. They received tutoring training. So it's not like we're just pairing kids who need help with kids who are going to just, you know, do the work for them. We actually did a training session for them. We currently have 12 students who are actively getting tutoring right now. This is far beyond my expectations for a new program brought into the building highlighting the advisory type. So this is every other day in advisory and credit also goes to our uh not just Mr. Corrosk who was leading this, but our special education staff who allowed me to jumble around their advisory groups with a partnership with me so that we could free up staff to be in there to supervise our our tutors. So, wonderful stuff. Uh the work keeps
043going on about advisory and expanding that work. Um had some nice, you know, discussions in district cabinet today. Uh going into next year, one of the things I'll be looking for is an advisory full of student government. Okay? [snorts] I want to be able to empower student leaders to positively impact the building and having them own the same route is the catalyst to that. Um as we institute a new elections procedure for student government and we bring that civic piece back to our building, I want to put more on those students to positively impact their environment. Many of our soontobe [snorts] seniors have already inquire asked me about opportunities to speak to lowerassmen and kind of put some guidance, you know, that maybe they've learned. Our guys in their update are going to update you
044on some of that stuff as well. I want to also update the board on the seal of civic readiness. So, I gave kudos to the social studies department after I thrust that application on them and gave them the support that they needed. We pulled a program together at lightning speed here. I think what I originally told you I'd be thrilled if I sealed 20 to 30 diplomas. I asked them to do a midyear assessment of the program. I have to revise that number. Our number could be, and I stress could be there's some dominoes that need to fall 93% of the of the senior class. That reflects the social studies department. that reflects community involvement. That reflects everything that was here long before I walked in the door. The only thing that required me to
045do is help the department pull it together. So now we take advantage of another state program. Lastly, as I'm sure the board knows, we're continuously working with the state on our PBIS efforts. Those elementary schools being a bit farther down the road on this effort than us. Some of the things that have come out of my committee are different ways that we can bring that positive atmosphere to both our staff and students. So over the last couple of weeks, we've run, we're in the middle of the one for the students right now. I hid 100 small leprechauns throughout the school and kids were finding them for teachers, teachers were finding them. I ponyied up a couple of Duncan gift cards and we did a random draw based on the number of thing number of leprechauns
046the teachers turned in for a very small investment. We get the turnover of something that's uplifting to a very difficult job. The kids now are trying to find tiny tonkas which is Mr. Krosk's well-known cat. Okay. So, like I will tell you, especially with the leprechauns, guys, having kids run up to me and ask me for more leprechauns to plant them in teachers room. That's the environment that I know we all want. So, >> Thank you. [clears throat] >> I'm substitute caran today. I just finished a great day at Peter Bro Street and Jenny asked me to present her uh her comments to you today. So, thank you. Um first, I I'm sorry to the rest of the schools, but second grade still holds the title for the original can of soda cup for attendance.
047That's right. Second grade. Second grade. Uh for February, um 95% attendance rate. Uh kindergarten is shortly behind at 93.8 eight and first grade at 93.7. She's definitely got to have those tenths of a point in there, right? Um, second grade has maintained this honor uh most of the year, September, October, November, December, and now February. So, um I think was it it was fourth grade. They were behind by just onetenth of a point. So, she's pretty impressed with that. Um, which is was a good thing because we've got a lot of got a lot of sick kiddos right now. Um, on the academic front, uh, just so you know what's happening in some of the classrooms, kindergarten enjoyed a week of celebrating Dr. Seuss with themed activities for his birthday last week. In ELA, they
048have started learning diraphs. That's the sh U, and NG sounds, and began a new phonic reader titled Seth. They are using uh phonetic spelling and conventions of writing, focusing on sentence structure and doing lots of rhyming. In math, they are using number bonds, composing and decomposing numbers to 10. In um knowledge, which is a component of the CLA curriculum for ELA, they're learning about Columbus and the pilgrims. Plant and animal needs are the topic in science. And in social studies, they're learning words that help them understand time, like past, present, future, and sequencing events, first, second, oh, excuse me, first, next, and last. First graders have had fun with measurement. They're using a variety of tools to measure items, and they also incorporate incorporated Dr. Seuss's birthday by using Goldfish as a non-standard tool to
049measure items. First graders have been working on informational story books and are very excited to share facts and show that they are experts on topics like being super citizens, following school expectations, and also different types of animals and their habitats, which also ties into the knowledge piece for ELA. U second graders, parents are going to be excited about this, are finally starting their addition and subtraction algorithms. That's a fancy way of saying um they're learning how to add and subtract the way that we all learned. Okay, so everybody's going to be excited about that. Uh they're also finishing their knowledge pieces on westward expansion and will soon be starting a unit on insects which involves the students conducting some research. It's very exciting. Um upcoming connected is coming in to do some classroom planning a
050or agriculture in the classroom. That's uh next week, March 17th and 18th. All classes will be hearing this story of Seasons on the Farm and doing a craft to celebrate Agricultural Literacy Week. Um PE uh Peterborough's PBIS team met on March 2nd to review schoolwide discipline data and collaborate on strategies to address behavioral trends across the building. uh Peterborough uh street classrooms collected canned goods for the opportunity shop as a community service project going with the theme of be kind for February and students met their kindness heart challenge in February by earning over 200 hearts in two weeks. They're also coordinating a bicycle safety presentation in April as well as a bike rodeo in June and I'm just kind of interested to know what that's all about. Uh anyway, the Child Advocacy Center will be
051bringing their high- five program to Peterborough in April and May, which is a safety program that incorporates the latest research on child abuse prevention. And this originated with, and this is the correct way to say this, McMahon Ryan Child Advocacy Center in Anadogen County. It's not the Ryan McMahon Child Advocacy Center. So, um, which teaches students the skills to stay safe in unsafe situations, which is super important for for our younger generation. And, um, just one little plug just to kind of add off of what Ellen and uh, Andrew said, just a little update. We currently have 103 pro, uh, students in the afterchool program, which is probably the highest enrollment we've had in a few years. Uh we have 34 third graders, 20 fourth graders, 21 fifth graders, 14 sixth, and 14 students uh
052combined between seventh and eighth grade. So we've got a quite quite an enrollment. So we're excited about that. So far so good. Just one day down though, right, Miss Carrick? >> Thank you. >> Okay. Uh, moving along to uh, excuse me, new business. Resolved that upon the recommendation of the superintendent of schools, the board does hereby approve the following new [clears throat] business items. Cooperative bidding resolution with Madison on ities for technology commodities during 2627th school year as per the attachment. Budget transfers as per the attachment and policies. Do you want me to read on these? >> I don't think it's necessary. Yeah. >> Okay. policies. Two two 20007 campaign expenses. 21101 Joint Code of Conduct for School Boards and Superintendent. 21102 Annual Organizational Meeting. 0011 Prohibition of Discrimination, Harassment, and Bullying. 0013 Title 9
053Grievance Process. 2000 Board of Education Authority. 20002 Number of Board Members and Term of Office. 20003 qualifications of board members. 20004 nomination and election of board of education members. [clears throat] 20005 New board member orientation. 2006 board member training. 20008 oath of office. 20009 reimbursement for expenses conference and attendance. Uh 20110 resignation dismissal filling vacancies 2100 powers and duties of the board and [clears throat] delete uh 21103 school district legal name 2201 annual district meeting and election. Do I have a motion? >> So moved. >> Second. >> All those in favor? >> Opposed? Motion carried. Resolved that upon the recommendation of the superintendent of the schools, the board does hereby approve Mrs. Kurak and Mrs. Stagnitti's request for the seniors to travel to Six Flags in Queensbury, New York, June 4th and 5th, 2026. Do
054I have a motion? >> So moved. >> Second. >> All those in favor? >> Opposed. Motion carried. Resolved that upon the recommendation of the superintendent of schools, the board does hereby approve Jake Smith's request for FBLA middle and high school level to travel to Rochester, New York to attend the New York State Leadership Conference April 15 through 17, 2026. Do I have a motion? >> So moved. >> Second. >> All those in favor? >> I opposed. >> Motion carried. [clears throat] Resolved that upon the recommendation of the superintendent of schools, the board does hereby approve the following SED 2023 capital improvement project order project orders. DJ Electrical uh uh order EC05 for $15,144, EC06 for $15,868, EC07 for $11,648, and Bacon and Siler Construction, GC14 for $4,08, GC15 for 20,990. Do I have a motion?
055>> So move. >> Second. Second. >> All those in favor? >> I >> opposed. Motion carried. Resolved that upon the recommendation of the superintendent of schools, the board is hereby preapproved the issuance of PCOG GC061 to Bacon Siler Constructors in the amount of $48,67 for the 2023 capital improvement improvement project. I have a motion. Is that u is that and an error? [clears throat] >> I was wondering if something was missing there. >> Okay, I'll uh make the motion abs at the end. >> Okay, do I have a second? >> Second. >> All those in favor? >> Opposed? >> Motion carried. >> Student board member updates. >> Um we have four different things. Um, I'll let Ty start off with the first two. Uh, so currently we're going we are scheduled to meet with the
056code of conduct committee to work on revisions of that. And as right now we're working on the creation of the ninth grader survival guide essentially. So we are working with 10th graders. I'm assuming I think 10th graders to work help edit the drafts of the handbook. It' be like a kind of like a living document. So as the school progresses, the code content changes and school environment changes, they can just continue adding to the document. But as of right now, we're just working on the skeleton. Um we're also working on looking into an AI honor code so students can use AI responsibly to prepare themselves for um future jobs that that may be used in. And then we're also going to look into a um 12th grade teacher recognition where 12th graders can um give
057us teachers that they think made an impact on them and we can share that with you guys and hopefully next meeting we'll start that. That's it. Okay. >> Thanks guys. Okay. Uh committee reports. Um start with facilities. We met on the 19th. Um but this is nothing new. We've all been kind of updated as to what's been happening uh regarding, you know, supply chain issues for work in the blade law gym. Um and how to work that out the best way possible without completely disrupting the construction schedule and possibly uh threatening um substantial completion. Um after looking at every option, it was determined that the um work in late lodge gym would be moved into a quote unquote phase two which will commence next year, right? >> summer of 20. Yeah. Yep. >> Um doing
058so it gives us time to you know secure the approved materials um and not put the completion of the other areas in in serious jeopardy. um art room has been turned over and I hear it's nice. [laughter] [snorts] Um and as well as the uh fitness uh fitness room bathroom is also completed and turned over. Yep. Okay. Um next we'll do um safety. >> So we met back on February 12th. To recap, um we started fire inspections in Madison County last month and they're due to New York State by April 1st. Um we reviewed findings and recommendations from drill audits um conducted across the district during the first semester for both fire drills and lockdown drills. The district is up to date with all the mandatory training, including the new mandate that became due in
059January of this year. The district met all the required drills for the first semester. Planning is underway for the second semester. Um, Robert Street complex is heavily used in the evening for a series of events. There was some safety concerns that were brought up. Um, the layout of the building makes it difficult to limit traffic and access. The district is investigating measures that can limit traffic and access to areas that are not used for an event. And then lastly, we had the Turner team that present and reviewed the status of the capital project. and we meet again in April. >> Thank you. Uh [clears throat] academic committee, >> we met yesterday um discussed the update with the student retention policy remediation plan. Uh faculty meetings have been productive with that. The meat and potatoes of
060the work is occurring at grade level team meetings to brainstorm and discuss actionable measures. um things to target attendance, increased parental involvement, um opportunities to make up work, tiered responses at different grade levels and uh so on. Um touch base on the homework policy which is being linked to those retention policy meetings. So uh likewise updates should be forthcoming. Um district strategic plan portrait of a graduate um update. There have been some discussions that the board of regents may be considering amendments to the part 100 graduation requirements in June. So once again maybe getting some more information coming our way. Um professional development uh PD day upcoming on March 20th. Um the agenda is in the works by the district and the CTA. As a reminder that's heavily incorporating staff choice and feedback for what
061PD is being offered. um different committee updates, curriculum council. The focus has been on the 7 to9 intervention plan, uh positive reports on what the upcoming product is shaping up to look like. There's been a lot of discussion around the new science assessments and what curriculum shifts would best target that. Some grades are looking to use Smithsonian for some purposes. Others are looking at using inner orbit for other purposes. So, there's deliberate discussions being had around what materials to use at what levels while planning for next year. Um, district cabinet met tonight. Sean might have an update with that in a second. I'll throw that back to him. So, as I finish here, >> uh, faculty advisory council has, um, ongoing work with regard to list of committees, subgroups for each building. Um, the district
062level committee list uh, with descriptions is nearly completed. Um, there was discussion on the need for behavior management PD for uh, some of our less tenure teachers. uh you know additional supports they discussed use of book studies flowchart generation for tiered intervention workshops and so on uh the illustrious Miss Galleski is working with Mr. set of drama workshop opportunities. >> I'm not illustrious. [laughter] >> Luminary. >> Congratulations. >> Um, we discussed the ongoing work for chronic absenteeism, use of a Friday newsletter for positive outreach, you know, explaining smart goals or nutrition fun facts and things like that to increase parent outreach. Um we did uh ask about district current district uses of outside services uh and partnerships you know rise um connecting community school resources partnerships with Madison County and ways that we can use
063those to uh assist with those areas. Um and perhaps the idea of having a needs assessment survey for families with uh chronically absent students to see, you know, what supports might be helpful to move the needle there. Um still looking at parent and community interact workshops, ready roy things like that. Um made some other suggestions for future possible topics for discussion like block [snorts] scheduling, alternate start times, fourpoint grading and things, but didn't talk about any of those. Just couple idle minutes at the end of the meeting to talk about future things that could be worth talking about. Next meeting is going to be April 28th at 6:30. >> Okay. Uh policy. >> Um we met tonight. Um and as you heard, we worked through um several of the 2000 series policies that you just
064>> Thank you for making me read all that. [laughter] Um, and this evening we had conversations on policy 7025, admission of non-resident students. That's ready to move to the final draft for approval, as well as policy 7030, musical instrument rental policy, which is also ready to move to final draft. And then this evening, we also took a first look and had discussions on a new policy 4801 gifts, grants, donations, crowdfunding, and memorial contributions. hoping for approval in May for that. And then the following policies or pending policies um are pending labor relations or legal clarification which are homebound instruction, audit, field trips, selection of textbooks, and participation of homeschool students and extracurricular activities. The next meeting is May 12th. >> Finance. >> All right, best for last. Um so we have not met since last
065meeting. Um but we are meeting the 24th. I will save um the lengthier update for the future. But um what I will say is Tracy and her team are building the budget now but we were not knowing what the state budget is. So until we know a little bit what the state budget looks like because they are in negotiations. The governor released her budget. Assembly senate now going through and hearing a lot of people come advocate um for more money for areas. I know education is one of them. Um so until we have the final numbers we don't know what really the numbers for word need for our um budgetary wise. So we are working through all those numbers. Hopefully the state budget is will be passed by April 1st. It won't um so we
066will have numbers probably more later into then Tracy would appreciate. >> So there's the update. >> Thank you. uh board comment period. Anybody have any comments? >> I will just I'm sorry. >> I'll just say um the students are working hard for the musical that's coming up at the end of March and we hope to get a lot of folks in the community out because it's going to be in Stockbridge this year. So March 2728 uh 712 musical Charlie Brown. >> It's a good man. We just give a kudos to Nick Handball and the staff, maintenance staff. [snorts] It's been a crazy winter and they put in some extra hours and I think they've done a well good job for with all the snow we've gotten. So, just shout out to the maintenance staff. >>
067It's a big deal. It's 70 and sunny today so bad. >> Trying to keep it here and mix the bed sleeping. [laughter] >> Anybody else? [clears throat] Okay. Superintendent report. Mr. Petta >> 17 and Sunny. You heard it. >> Um just a couple of recent um events that we've had. Um our it was our second athletic advisory council meeting. We've had we've had meetings uh previously I should say our second uh presentation sponsored by the athletic advisory council on the subject of nutrition um which was I know uh interesting to a lot of of students. We had um pretty good participation. I think we we had 20 something people who were in attendance. We know that there are a lot of other people who just couldn't be there. Um we are continuing to work through
068ways to still bring some of that good information to people. So for example, our uh trainer uh Journey McDonald who'd been the the [snorts] presenter did a great job took a lot of time. We had a lot of students who put a lot of time into coming up with some good questions and she spent the time to give answers and so we have those in writing and I believe we've been able to share that um or going to be sharing that um so that information can still get out. We [snorts] had a previous presentation on injury prevention also a big topic that's interesting to a lot of people. Um, we're actively asking for people to give us some suggestions. Each meeting usually we've [snorts] said, "What other how can we build on this? What types
069of things would you like to hear about? What types of experts or presentations um would be valuable?" So, if you have good ideas, we'd love to to hear them. Uh, we have some things in the works. We're just not quite ready to announce it yet. I was hoping that maybe we'd have some things finalized. I think we will have our next event uh which will be a pretty exciting one if it uh we can land the plane here in the next couple of days. We might be able to get that information out before the end of the week. Um and I know we had a couple board members were here. I don't know if there's anything else we want to add. It's new. This committee is is new. Uh but I think it's been really
070productive in a pretty short period of time. So I don't know if I'm missing anything or we want to add anything but >> it looks like there's more and more participation each time. I think. >> Yeah, bring a friend. >> Bring a friend. >> There's snacks. >> Yeah, we did get a little >> I I did get a in trouble a little bit because we had mix. We had um we had some uh what? Cheetos, I think, were found in the snack b. But we also balance it out with a fruit, a vegetable tray. [laughter] So, I'll I'll pay closer attention to what's on the menu for the snacks for the next one, >> especially when the topic is nutrition. Yeah, I'll be a little more little conscious of that. Um other other uh productive
071event we had this past week um or last week we had a uh our most recent pack meeting. Uh had good representation. We continue to have uh again some people who are have been regular contributors to that group but also uh new people who come on and we also recognize that people are busy. They can't always be here. uh for every meeting, but uh we still want to keep them engaged. Um and really had a lot of good uh suggestions from the group. I'll I can put out a few because I pretty confident at this point we're going to make them happen. Uh, one request was, um, what can we do, um, to, uh, build some maybe a friendly sense of competition and rapport and awareness of some of our new programs like our our
072esports program. And so, there's a couple of things that uh, Will Lamont from Community Schools is is going to be spearheading in the next few weeks. one is a demonstration where we, you know, some people still don't understand get the full picture of what it looks like and what the competition looks like and it's pretty cool if you if you haven't seen it. Um, and so we're looking to put together a demonstration for people to see people in a competition setting. And then secondly, which I think is going to be really interesting to people, we're going to have our own competition, but we're going to invite family members to participate. I know for a fact when we had some of the informational sessions, we had a lot of dads, for example, who were in that
073meeting who were really talking the lingo and pretty into it. And so we're saying, okay, you could have some mixed teams of kids and parents and uh and that should be a good a good way to get people uh involved and do something fun and and maybe learn a little bit more about our programs. And so I think I think we're targeting I believe we'll set around May, but we don't have dates yet. We're we have a tentative schedule and we'll be sharing that information and and I guess getting signups for people so they can start um preparing for competition. Uh another thing that we're working on, really good idea was we have a number of students um who are for a variety of reasons in different placements in different places. they're not necessarily physically
074in Ganesto schools during the day. And so one thing we want to do is bring some of the experiences that students who are here during the day have had. For example, some of the um one one question we had was well they couldn't go on the on some of the trips or some of the presentations we had with Boxing Hall of Fame, which was one of our signature programs. So, we're working on doing some things that will allow some students in an afterchool setting or and I sort of tried to be creative with how we we bring some of those experiences that kids have not been able to participate in. Um, even though there are there are students, they're just u the logistics have been the application, but we want them to feel like they're
075a member of our our school and are able to participate in some of those things that are important to the culture of our school. So, um, so those are just a few of the of the ideas. Every I've been impressed with the the, uh, [snorts] the amount of really good ideas that have come in through that group. And so, I just would, uh, encourage anybody who wants to be a part of something positive and and ongoing, even though we know that people can't always be there every every week, um, we'd love them to be there. Um, we our next session is and and we have food this last so that snacks again. We had pizza last time. Um and next session is April Cheetos and Pizza. Um is April 1st is our next session. >>
076Okay. >> Um I want to just u expand a little bit. You know, when Mr. Carrosk and several people tonight have mentioned New York inspires portrait of a graduate and I had the opportunity to be in Albany last week uh hearing directly from the commissioner of education and and several of the senior assistant and deputy commissioners and we're actually starting to get more clarity about you know we've been saying all along we need to hear information. and we're excited about the idea of having different pathways available to students and having more uh creative ways to get kids to the to ultimately to graduation. Uh now we are hearing that um the board of regents may be receiving precommendation or presentation and recommendation from state ed uh at their June meeting which would mean that's teeing
077things up nicely going into the summer into the new year that we can actually start putting some more structure to our our plan. So that's part one of the visit [snorts] to Albany that okay, we're now starting to get timeline. Um second part of it was I was able to attend some sessions specifically designed around the idea of what can districts be doing now while we're waiting clarity. We know this is coming. We don't have a lot of definition to it. What what can or should schools be doing? I I'm glad Mrs. Goff is here to to hear this as well. uh most of the presentation uh centered around uh digital badging and the importance of being prepared to have a platform [clears throat] or a way of organizing learning in different forms different from
078what the traditional model has been. So it was interesting that something that we've sort of been an early early um adopter of over the last several years and it built you know pretty good connections and a capacity to be able to continue to grow and scale it. Um that's what's coming out of at the state level is that's that is the future of education [snorts] packaging learning differently and flexibly. And so I think we're really looking forward to seeing what um what the guidelines and and and rules are hopefully in June so that we can continue to build out our programs. But it was it was nice validation of of the things that uh Mr. Goff and and uh our our team have been working on. Um, [snorts] so good job with that and I
079think we're on the right track and we want to continue and a lot of the things that were talked about tonight in the building updates so compatible with being able to badge and credential it from every level of the district K12. So um on the right we're on the right uh path. And finally uh just I wanted to follow up on uh you talked a little bit about the fact that we actually are going to have a chamber of commerce here. It's a perfect example of how we're trying to connect with something real. That's the perfect example of real learning. Our students who are participating are going to actually see a real chamber of commerce meeting talking about things that impact the present and future of the caniston community. So, that's really important and neat
080and something that we can build on. And that's just one of many things that we um really want to encourage our our students to participate in. So, lots of exciting things. Thank you. Uh personnel recommendations. All appointments are pending clearance on fingerprinting, excuse [clears throat] me, uh retirement resignations resolved that upon the recommendation of the superintendent of schools. The board does hereby approve Stacy Stagnetis science teacher letter of intent to retire at the end of the 2627 school year. Do I have a motion? >> So moved. >> Second. >> All those in favor? >> Opposed? >> Motion carried. Resolved that upon the recommendation of the superintendent of schools, the board is hereby approved Dena Davis's English teacher letter of intent to retire at the end of the 26 27th school year. Do I have a
081motion? >> So moved. >> Second. >> All those in favor? >> Opposed? Motion carried. Resolved that upon the recommendation of the superintendent of schools, the board does hereby approve Cecil Retrosce's elementary [clears throat] teacher uh letter of intent to retire at the end of the 2026 27th school year. Do I have a motion? >> Second. >> All those in favor? >> I >> opposed. Motion carried. It's resolved that upon the recommendation of the superintendent of schools, the board does hereby approve Bob Mangusi's letter of intent to retire at the end of the 26 27th school year. Do I have a motion? >> So moved. >> Second. >> All those in favor? >> I opposed. Motion carried. Resolved that upon the recommendation of the superintendent of schools, the board is hereby approved Carol Wallace's irrevicable letter
082of resignation for retirement purposes effective June 30th, 2026. Do I have a motion? >> So vote. >> Second. >> All those in favor? >> Opposed. >> Motion carried. Resolved that upon the recommendation of the superintendent of schools, the board does hereby approve Kathleen Stockbridgees irrevocable letter of resignation for retirement purposes effective June 30th, 2026. Do I have a motion? >> So move. >> Second. >> All those in favor? >> Opposed? Motion carried. Resolved that upon the recommendation of the superintendent of schools, the board does hereby approve Jill Stanley's irrevocable letter of resignation for the purpose of retirement effective June 30th, 2026. I have a motion. >> So moved. >> Second. >> All those in favor? >> Opposed? >> Motion carried. Resolved that upon the recommendation of the superintendent of schools, the board does hereby approve
083Kyle Bey's irrevocable letter of resignation for the purpose of retirement effective June 30th, 2026. Do I have a motion? So moved. >> Second. [snorts] >> All those in favor? >> I >> opposed. Motion carried. [clears throat] Resolved that upon the recommendation of the superintendent of schools, the board is hereby approve Amy Tucy's letter of resignation effective at the end of the day on April 15, 2026. Do I have a motion? >> Motion. >> Second. >> All those in favor? >> Opposed? Motion carried. Resolved that upon the recommendation of the superintendent of schools, the board does hereby approve Destiny Hart's letter of resignation as a probationary permanent bus attendant effective at the end of the day on March 6th, 2026. Do I have a motion? >> So moved. >> Second. >> All those in favor? >>
084Opposed. Motion carried. Uh substitute appointments. resolved that upon the recommendation of the superintendent of schools. The board does hereby approve the following substitutes. Lindsay Jackson is a non-certified substitute teacher at $120 per day effective March 11th, 2026. Lorie Strereer is a substitute bus attendance food service helper, teacher aid monitor at 1695 per hour and substitute typist at 1725 per hour effective March 16th, 2026. >> [clears throat] >> Amy Ticaly is a substitute school nurse at 3225 per hour effective [snorts] April 16, 2026. Rebecca Mccclure is a non-certified substitute teacher at $120 per day and substitute teacher aid monitor at 1695 per hour effective March 11th, 2026. Uh Zachary Smith is a substitute cleaner at 1845 per hour effective March 11th, 2026. Destiny Hart is a substitute bus attendant at 1695 per hour effective March 9th,
0852026. Carol Wallace is a retired substitute teacher at $160 per day effective July 2nd, 2026. Kathleen Stockbridge is a retired substitute teacher at $160 per day effective July 2nd, 2026. Do I have a motion? >> So moved. >> Second. >> All those in favor? >> Opposed? Motion carried. Civil service appointments. Resolved that upon the recommendation of the superintendent of schools, the board does hereby approve the following civil service probation probationary permanent employees effective March 2026. Karine Cartwright, teacher aid monitor. Angela Dots, teacher aid monitor. Austin Meyer, teacher aid monitor. Daniel Matthews, food service helper. And Stephanie Emerick, OA1. Do I have a motion? >> So moved. >> Second. [snorts] >> Second. Second. Uh, all those in favor I >> opposed. Motion carried. Resolved upon the recommendation of the superintendent of schools, the board is hereby
086approved the following 2026 [snorts] paid and unpaid spring coaches as per the attachment. Do I have a motion? >> So moved. >> Second. >> All those in favor? >> I opposed. >> Motion carried. Uh other resolved that upon the recommendation of superintendent of schools the board does hereby approve the following for the district cabinet subcommittee. Mackenzie Citro, Jennifer Fiori, [clears throat] Julie Halabah, Alexandra Lembo, Dana Pakuka, Courtney Robinson, Amanda Schlaggel, and Rebecca Westwig. Do I have a motion? >> So moved. [snorts] >> Second. >> All those in favor? >> Opposed? Motion carried. Resolved that upon the recommendation of the superintendent of schools, the board does hereby approve Alexander Jones and Alexander Limbo as instructional staff for the afterchool program at $50 per hour for March 9th, 2026 through April 15th, 2026. Do I have a
087motion? >> Second. >> All those in favor? >> I opposed. [snorts] Motion carried. Resolved that upon the recommendation of the superintendent of schools, the board is hereby approved Martha Mills and Jennifer Smith as non-instructional staff for the afterchool program at $45 per hour from March 9th, 2026 through April 15th, 2026. Do I have a motion? >> So moved. >> Second. >> All those in favor? >> I opposed. >> Motion carried. Resolved upon the recommendation of the superintendent of schools, the board does hereby approve the revision of Sarah Russo's permanent substitute teacher position for the 202526 school year to a 0.5 position and appoint her to a.5 long-term substitute position as a math teacher effective September 4th, 2025 through June 26th, 2026. Do I have a motion? It's a move. >> Second. [snorts] >> Second. >>
088All those in favor? >> Opposed? Motion carried. Uh public comment period. Anyone going going? Can I ask you a question or can I ask a question about something that was said? I was curious about the instrument rental policy. I just wonder what that was. Turn that over. [laughter] >> Uh it's policy that I worked on with the music staff. So we offer the um we offer specific uh instruments that we have in inventory that that can be rented if necessary. So there's a process. Um we didn't have a formal policy was a procedure. So now it's a formal policy with regulation behind it, how it would happen and and the pathway for that. >> Are you able to give any specifics of that policy? I mean, I don't have it in in front of me.
089It's similar to the process that we had in place. It's just formalizing it. Um, I'm just going to bring up a concern of I don't know if there's more expense for the community, for the the parents for renting um than there has been in the past because I know a lot of our students who are in band uh don't come from families with a lot of needs. So, I'm hoping that we don't ask more for them because then the kids won't be able to have that experience and be able to play an instrument is such a gift and not many people have that. >> Yeah. I mean, the the monetary value of the policy policy um where is that policy right now? It moved. It hasn't yet moved to the board. >> No, we it's
090going back to pol the policy service, >> right? Y >> um so the the board has so it's moved through the policy committee and then we'll move to the board for comment. >> Yep. >> Okay. Uh future dates. What are we looking at next month? The board meeting is the 21st. Correct. It is the 21st because the April April is the outlier month because of the timing of we have to have the uh meeting all the districts within the Madison aboseis have to act on that budget on the same night. So that's why it's not our normal pattern for meetings. Okay. Um this time I will entertain a [clears throat] motion uh to enter into an executive session for discussions regarding personnel and a contractual issue. Do I have a motion? >> Second. >> All
091those in favor? >> Opposed? Motion carried. We are now in executive session. We will not be returning for public and more public