001Can you please take role? >> Yes, please when I call your name. Mrs. >> Present. >> Mrs. Smith. >> Mrs. Arnett, >> present. >> Mrs. Johnson, >> present. >> Mrs. Pena, >> is present. We can now proceed with the meeting. >> Thank you. Can we please stand for the pledge of allegiance? 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. >> Can I please have a motion to adopt tonight's agenda? >> I'll make that motion. >> Second. >> All in favor? >> I. >> Motion pass. Can I please have motion to approve board meeting minutes of November 19th, 2025? >> I'll make the I'll second. >> All in favor? >> I motion pass.
002That brings us to tonight's presentation. I believe Mrs. Loftus is going to present on behalf of Mrs. Bosch. >> I am. Thank you so much. Of course. So, Mrs. Bo submitted her board report and I have the pleasure of just sharing a few noteworthy highlights with you all this evening. Um, in alignment with our commitment to prioritize diversity, equity, and inclusion, Mrs. Baptiste led a professional development session for staff districtwide on the November 4th conference day. Uh she had adjusted the presentation um that was previously um presented last year to to her elementary um faculty about implicit bias, diversity, equity, access, and inclusion as well as identifying implicit and explicit bias. Uh what is the difference? What does this mean for us working within a diverse student population? And a survey was given to staff
003after the session. um they generally identified that they would be they would like more PD like this as well as support and strategies to implement when they are uh as support staff working with students who are struggling with behaviors. So we will work to identify more professional development in line with these areas of want and need. CES had a successful fall gratitude spirit week in November. The advisory committee worked on planning and coming up with ideas for spirit week at CES. The fall gratitude spirit week is one where we focused on giving back and recognizing others. Along with dressing up in the in spirit, students and staff also brought in items for local the local animal shelter and food and clothing pantries. Teachers receive training and Amplify Science on November 4th and began implementation of
004the pilot unit the week of November 10th. We anticipate completion of the unit by February and then we'll evaluate the program. The CES Balloons Over Broadway Parade Yearly Tradition was held on Friday, November 21st. Second graders proudly paraded their balloon creations through the hallways with Miss Reny leading the way as the parade marshall. Some additional fifth grade robot programmers were added to the parade this year. This was one of the best parades yet and we have an updated as we have an updated sound system and additional speakers in the hallways to play parade music. It was a great way to get in the Thanksgiving holiday spirit. uh the CES broadcast uh team put out a promo um and their first uh official broadcast will come out in December. And then finally um for families here
005and listening, December's important dates to remember were included in the parent square message sent out on November 25th. So that concludes my updates to share with you. there's any questions I can answer. >> Okay. Well, thank you so much for recording. Appreciate it. Thank you. >> And that brings us to Mr. Flanigan. Good evening, ladies and gentlemen. Thank you for uh allowing me the opportunity to speak tonight. Good evening ladies. Gentlemen up here. Um thank you for the opportunity to speak once again to to the board of education and to present my report. I will be somewhat brief tonight because we have a great performance tonight. We actually have some visitors here tonight. See we have the the cast and crew of Matilda Jr. here along with director Mscali. Um so just a few things
006and then I'm going to turn it over to them. Uh first and foremost, uh we held on Monday evening a FASA, uh kind of a FASA workshop to help fill out the FASA. Um there was a lot of things going on on Monday night. I know a lot of people were getting very excited and anticipating a lot of snow and a lot of, you know, thinking about that. We didn't have a a a huge turnout, so we we actually put information out today um to families on some other additional ways to fill out the FASA and some other workshops. We we were in touch with Sunni. um Sunni had some some uh some ideas for us and so Sunni put some things out and we'll also additionally work um if we need you to do
007another FASA workshop in in either January or February based on family needs because we know that Monday night was probably you know when we didn't get that the turnout we kind of knew it was probably because everyone was really excited that we were going to be getting a lot of snow. Um, we also had to reschedule our Sunni Rockland Instant Decision Day, which will now be next Monday, December 8th in the in the Chester Academy Library maker space. Um, for students that were signed up. Um, they we had our our Sunni Orange instant decision day. Um, so we had a lot of students sign up for it. Um, we had 14 students who actually came in and completed the application. So we we were excited for them. So our first college our first college acceptances.
008So we are we are looking forward to you know to continuing that process. Now is when it really starts kicking in for students that are that are applying to college and and as we get to January those responses start coming back. Um parent teacher conferences I was very happy with uh our number of conferences were up this year from last year. Um we had almost you know we had close to 100 more conferences scheduled close to 1300 total conferences um over representing over 254 students here at Chester Academy. So we're excited. We'd love to we have you know we have uh over 500 students here at the academy. We'd love to see everybody. We know sometimes that doesn't always work out for everybody to to get here on certain days and nights and we're looking
009to coordinate to find other ways to uh next year to coordinate with CES and and make sure we're able to to accommodate more people. Um but we're really excited u and appreciate people coming in and as always, you know, parent teacher conference night is one night, but we're always here and everyone can always communicate with us and and certainly you don't have to wait for that night to to give us a call. Um we are we are it was a first year using the the synergy program through parent view. So we have gotten some great feedback from people on some different things that we're looking at for next year to to include and make sure that we were kind of able to go back as it was our first time through. So we're really appreciative
010to those that were able to provide that feedback. Um I'm so grateful. Um another successful Veterans Day ceremony here at Chester Academy. Um, we appreciate everybody that came out to support and our students and and Yamlet is here. Yamelet is always a big part of our our ceremony and and William Peterman who's here as well who were our singer. Owen's here. Hey Owen and William's not here, but tell William Owen. Tell William some credit. Okay. um that were you know a part of the ceremony and singing you know God Bless America and the Star Spangle Banner, the Chester Academy band who once again performed taps and and the armed forces medley. Um we are we are greatly appreciative and uh you know there's there's more ways to continue to honor and celebrate our veterans. Um
011on the 13th of December at the well at at all veteran cemeteries they have wreaths across America. um Orange County Veteran Cemetery and Goan is one of them. For anyone that's looking to continue to to help and support and maybe find ways to volunteer and support our veterans, I know I'll actually be at the the Northern New Jersey Veterans Memorial Ceremony because I'll tribute my dad on that night on that day. So, we're we're really excited and uh it's a great opportunity for kids to to get involved. Um just some important dates coming up. Um we have we talked about Sunni Rock and Decision Day, our concert to next week. So, we can't wait for our students have been working really hard. Our chorus and our van. December 8th is the middle school and the
0129th is the high school. I can't believe it. But the fiveweek progress report is on December 12th and it's you know today I was I was starting to mock up I was talking uh with with uh you know Mr. Rivera back there starting to mock up the midterm schedule already to to send out to people. It's the time is flying. I mean I remember sitting here in September and saying wow we have a long way to go and now I'm thinking we don't have such a long way to go. Um, if you have not gone to a PTSA meeting, I consider it. I I I I uh I I I would say suggest, you know, checking it out. We have a great PTSA who's really involved. We have a lot of people that are that
013have been going to the meetings. It it's growing. It's a great opportunity to be involved. And, uh, Mr. Agular, we'll talk a little bit about spirit week when he comes up here. We're planning out for for uh, the last week of December here. So, there there's definitely a lot going on. Um, but one of the best things that we're gonna have going on tonight, and I'm going to turn it over to Miss Scy here. Miss Sci was the director of Matilda Jr., she did an incredible job. Our cast and crew did an incredible job. I'm still blown away um from what I saw and I and uh just a you know a amazing five-star performance. So, I'm going to turn it over to Miss Sci here. She can say a couple words and thank you
014guys for all being here tonight to to give us a little performance in just a couple minutes. Good evening. Thank you so much for inviting us tonight. We are honored to be here. Um, and thank you so much to everybody who came out to see the show and for all of your support. I know Miss Arnett was a huge help and support the whole weekend as well as for the past however many years. Every single time we need help, she's always there. So, thank you so much. I wanted to say thank you to Mr. Flanigan and Mrs. Bosch because they really truly helped um the whole event be successful for our students from picking up scenery, returning scenery throughout the county and really utilizing all the different resources that we have um outside the district
015on a smaller scale budget. We were able to really bring a special opportunity for the students and and for that I'm really grateful. So, thank you so much for having us. We're going to do the smell of rebellion, which is one of my favorite scenes in this show. We have some of our cast here tonight. And we started um today after school, The Little Mermaid. We kind of dove in under the sea, and it was great. So, our drama club grew significantly. We have a really nice site. We're going to have about 120 students between both buildings for the spring show. So, we're really excited. Andlet Lopez Cortez is a senior and she's playing Trunch Bowl tonight. And we have some big and little kids. Those are their roles in the show. So, we hope
016you enjoy The Smell of Rebellion. schooling. Why? That's what I'm speaking of only. And it won't be long for always. exercise. All right, let's step it up. Double time. 1 2 3 4 Let's bring it all the way. Heat. Thank you so much, Matilda Jr. in your cast. One of one of the things I love so much as Yama is singing that song too, it is like the acting. If you look at the faces on on the actors as as as as she's singing and moving around and they're displaying that like that real fear that they would have from this this character that is kind of like I mean she's kind of like me I guess you know like in the school and they're all afraid of her that I'm hopefully nobody's that afraid of
017me and I don't sing. Um, but uh really it w it was really awesome and you know as I was watching it you know I was watching the whole time and I'm watching Yamlet the play I was thinking like is Miss Scy sending me a message here or something? But uh I'll take any questions. >> Questions? Well, first of all, excellent job. Yamallet's voice is amazing. Um so thank you for for sharing that with us. Had a question about the FAA. >> Yes. I know that um the fast can feel very overwhelming for parents and so have you ever offered to have juniors parents of juniors are they allowed to come to these sessions and I say that just because it could be overwhelming they have a head start and kind of understanding the FAFSA
018process because there's not just a parent component there's also a a student component I think that would be a great thing to offer to them if you have not >> it's a great question let me look into it because I know when they come that you get you get a pin from FASA that helps take you through that application. So, I wonder if you if you can it's it's a great question because I know the answer to it. So, I will look in further if there or if there's a generic way that they can go through to introduce parents to it. So, I'll I'll what I'll do is I'll look into that and I'll follow up with Mrs. O'Hara um to let everybody know. That's that's a great question. >> Thank you. related to that
019question, is there the opportunity to perhaps have it earlier in the year next year because a lot of I know that the fast deadlines have changed throughout the years, but I do know this year in particular there were some that you might not have had a great turnout on Monday because people have had to already do it. >> They had to do it by November 15th. >> Yeah, we So that's you we we had in our initial date was earlier. it was changed by the college. Um so we can work with the college and that that's really good feedback that we can try and really press home that we do need that data earlier as a lot of people have filled that out >> right at the beginning of the year. >> There'll also be
020um one of the requirements that we have as a school in in New York State and people will get this email tomorrow. schedule sent it out is it's required that the school district, you know, try to get everyone to fill out the FASA. And those that aren't filling out the FASA, we are required to ask that if you're not doing that to fill out a waiver to say that you're you're waving your your right to fill out the FASA. Um, but in that email, I'm also putting other resources. And actually, one of the resources is a way to schedule an appointment with uh with Sunni to actually fill out the fast. can you can schedule a specific time with a counselor and and so on. So that email is coming out tomorrow um when and
021it hits at every different times for everyone based on what you select in your your parent square account. But uh this is this is definitely that time and I agree the earlier you can do it the better. So we kind of yeah I think our initial date was in was going to be in late October and we wound up getting it had to be canceled and and rescheduled for us. So much much uh agreement there. I have a question. Um, is there have you checked in with the counselor to see if all students are have filled out a FASA? Like do you know that there might be some supports? Are we doing check in with those students? >> So, there is a database in New York State that we use to check out who's filled
022out the FASA. Um, that's that's one of uh the requirements that we had to fill up with with this new because this is a new mandate um that we do that. So, we check through that website. Um, we are now on that site. It was a relatively cumbersome process last year just to go through it. Did it wasn't just we send something in and sign up. It took a few months to get to get us in there. So, we should be able to have that information earlier this year than we did last year and continue to encourage people. That's we can contact and we can encourage and and and there's really no benefit to not filling out the fast is what we what we tell people. Um so, absolutely. And I assume that requirement to
023fail for passport is even if your child has chosen like to go right to work or military service. Yeah, they they're asking if if you're choosing that what they're ask what they're asking the school to ask I'm wording it very carefully in the terms of New York City here. What they're asking the school to ask people to do is to fill out the FASA. It's it's essentially an opt out form that says we're just not filling out the FASA. Um it's a it's a simple form. Like I said, I don't I don't know the harm in filling out the FASA. Um, and it might be just as much effort to then fill out that form and figure out how to send us back to us as if you just get in and, you know, and
024and kind of uh, you know, go and fill out the form. So, >> and this is new. >> This was last year we started as the first year. Yeah. >> Any other questions? >> Again, our congratulations to the talent never ceases to amazement that we bring here in >> Yeah, they they blew me away. They really did. Um, this was this was great and we're we're looking forward to The Little Mermaid, you know, which is they I mean, we have sent that out, so it's not a spoiler. Mrs. Scout, I think, mentioned it, but The Little Mermaid uh is going to be a a fulllength production. Um, and it will be this uh this March. So, hope to see you there. >> And listen, you weren't shown up by Mrs. Bosch and the little ones.
025>> No, I'm much happier following Mr. Lus. >> Thank you everyone. Thank you very much, >> Mr. Agular. Good evening, everyone. Um, just riding on the coattails of Mr. Flanigan. Um, I I can't believe we're in December already. Um, the kids have done so much. the school district, uh, the district, the academy has done so much. One of the greatest things that I'm proud of is, uh, promoting the kids, uh, because our kids, as I continue to say, they are amazing. They're not good, they're great. Um, recently, uh, we just finished our first quarter here at the academy. Uh, we're proud to highlight the outstanding academic achievements of our students. This quarter's grace reflects not only the hard work and determination, but also the unwavering spirit of what it means to be a Hamiltonian. Driven,
026focused, and committed to excellence. How many of our students are also involved in clubs, activities, and athletics? It's not easy, but these young people find a way. We will be celebrating their success on December 10th uh during all lunch periods uh for a small ice cream treat which uh each student soon will receive a certificate. But in my report I also was able to highlight students for each grade level and um I haven't released it yet to the students because we want to make a big deal out of it. Um but I just want to share that with you uh because again it is quite an achievement for our students not only here at the academy but also our students attending CEK. Recently we also had uh with the su the success of our kids
027planning and I know that's one of the things that we always strive for is let's let the kids lead. Um I'm very happy with our senior class and our junior class as they were able to schedule with guidance uh uh a second event uh community event where uh participating within their grades. So this time we had powderpuff football and this time we had powder tough volleyball in which the boys uh played volleyball and they were coached by the girls varsity teams. It was a great night to see a lot of our students out there, but most of all supported by parents and classmates. I'd like to thank Paige Niles, Lauren Higgins, uh Gabriela Galvadz, uh for spearheading this. But here's the great part about it. When this was over, the next day about seven juniors
028came to my office and say, "We'd like to schedule something for the spring. Can possibly we do something with teachers? Can we do something with grade level?" We can do anything as long as we come up with a plan. Let's present that plan and let's see what we can do. But I will tell you this is the first time in quite a long time that the kids are leading for activities and supporting one another. And that's the foundation here. They kept it's that school spirit which I'm very proud to to see. Um again, I'd like to thank Mr. Ducette and Mr. Higgins for helping us that night and also members of the varsity club. Uh without this, none of this could happen. I hope that it starts a tradition. Um the bar has been set
029by that senior class and and that junior class is not far behind. And then lastly um our send off to the states. Um and I'll try and uh do this. Um it is quite an achievement when our kids go to the state. It's also an achievement when they go and win a section 9 title. But this achievement here is even more special by the way they carry themselves. Zoe Arnett, CL Johnson, just for example, right now. What makes them even more special? The way how they carry themselves. They're more than just champions on the course or and in the pool. They're leaders. They're role models. They're trailblazers. They continue the powerful lineage of strong successful female Hamiltonians here at the academy. Stephanie Judge, Simone Ayes, I I remember Allison Bono, Alli and Isabella Steinberg, Marley
030Farley, Kalissa Cambria. Those were just some of the names that have made a difference here at the academy. Zoe Cel, thank you for showing what the Hamiltonian pride truly looks like. your courage, commitment, and character, but most of all heart. Congratulations on your trip to the States. Again, on a personal note, as a dad, you know, it um I had the experience when our kids go up to the States. I've seen it for baseball in a championship game, football, being at the dome, uh track, wrestling. I've had all those experiences as an administrator and I loved it all. Last week I got to celebrate as a dad just like Miss Arnett, Miss Johnson, just like you guys as parents. My son had an opportunity to play in a state final game for soccer. It's amazing
031when it's your own kid. So now I get it. So, you know, I know I now know Sahara with your daughters too, you know, when they play at that level, it's uh it's amazing. It's quite a feat. And uh you know, when I when I see our kids up there, you know, you always support them, but when when it's your own, you know, it really hits home. So, again, congratulations to both of you. And that's my report for this evening. I I just want to thank you um and just thank the school for the way that you support our children when they achieve these amazing accomplishments. It makes them feel really supported and really great about what they're doing. But I also want to congratulate you for what you were able to experience with your
032son. So all the best to to him and >> thank you. >> Kudos to you. same, you know, watching the video and seeing the pictures and, you know, and I love that you include the school. I think it gets all of the students excited and it just raises the pride throughout the school. It's not about just the individuals. It's about, you know, being proud of where you are and being proud of who you're achieving that for, right? So they work hard to achieve it for Chester because that's where we're at and that's who they're representing. So to know that they're supported and they get to walk through the halls and um I'm a crier, too. So um that's just emotional. >> Just emotions. >> Oh, we're going to get you. So um but it's it's
033great and again it's for the it's for the school. It's every step of the way, right? the the student athletes what you're doing and I I thank you for spearheading a lot of it and I thank you for your big heart because the signs that are now hanging all over my house and you know it's it's it makes an impact and um especially for some of the sports that are not right here in your face right it's a big deal so I thank you and congratulations to yourself I was here for Matilda all weekend so I did not go to states, but I did get to celebrate all the students in the back and thank you guys because you were awesome. You made it worth a, you know, missing a drive to Lake George. >>
034So, thank you to all of you in the back also and and congratulations, Mr. Aguilar. >> Thank you very much. That brings us to our first public comment. That brings us to round table discussion. Start on this side. >> Well, I say she's not in preparation for tears, so I'm a little uh And I'm just so proud what an amazing job and all of our students that just participated in Matilda and showcased this evening. Um just blown away by the talent and um to have that along with being dedicated to your schoolwork and all the other activities that I know these students participate in it. It's really impressive and speaks to um the students that we have in Chester. So, I do hope everyone had a wonderful Thanksgiving with families, uh, friends, and I do
035want to mention regarding yesterday's snow day, which is always fun to, uh, make that call. But, uh, that was an important one. And speaking of that, if you did not receive a text, a phone call, email, please reach out to your child's um your students main office either building so that we can make sure that your information is updated in parent square. I want to thank our director of facilities, Matt D. Rosa, and our buildings and grounds team. We often don't realize all the work that goes in behind the scenes and uh the small team who works very hard to get all of the parking lots cleared and our sidewalks. and they were in again this morning well before 5:00 a.m. Salting to make sure uh we have a safe arrival for our students and
036staff. So, shout out to the to the team and and very much sincerely appreciate all of their effort. Um you might have noticed that there's some uh posts and activity outside of the elementary school and Chester Academy and that is for uh the start of the installation of our welcome signs. So, While school was off, we were busy working and by we I will say Matt D. Rosa and his team and the installation crew. Um so they, you know, in uh installed the footings which includes um putting in 5 foot deep and cement and uh from this point forward there's going to be electrical work, welding. So it'll be next couple of days and then it'll be really exciting uh whether it's this Friday or early next week when the signs are complete and installed.
037So, it's going to look like a very modernized updated TV versus I'm not sure how many of you are able to actually read any information in a scrolling sign unless you're literally stopping your vehicle to watch the full sentence go through. So, uh that will all be changed and we're very excited about that. Um, speaking about Pride and Chester, I just want to remind everybody about the capital project, the Intercolastic Athletics Facility project that we've been discussing uh through the first mailing in August. Uh, just so much appreciate all of our students, our parents, our families, our staff, community members that have been involved and engaged in either presentations, community forums, uh, sending questions out to the email address. We we really appreciate your engagement and we want to make sure that you continue to
038be informed. The November district newsletter was shared last week and that highlights some information again about the capital project and where you can access information and uh which is on our website. Also on our website if you have any questions about voting whether it's an absentee ballot um it's all there in the website under voter information along with a newly added digital copy of the mailer. So some of you already received the mailer for the capital project that has gone out this week. And then the PDF version is on our website. Uh there's also a translated version in Spanish for families as well. And then it references in Spanish in the mailer how to access information. So we encourage our community members to uh look through the FAQ. Um there's many documents on there. If
039there's any information that is not answering your question, please reach out whether it's to the dedicated email address or give us a call. we're happy to meet with you. Um, so we're we're in December now and it's literally right around the corner and what a wonderful opportunity to uh, you know, bring that Chester pride that our students very much deserve and to bring families from outside of our area to the Chester community in having facilities that our neighboring school districts do offer that that our students don't have. So, we look forward to seeing our community's voice reflected in the future of Chester for the future of Chester on December 16th. So, that's from 8:00 am to 9:00 p.m. in the Chester Academy band room. And it's so important uh that everybody come out and vote
040um whatever your decision may be, but it's really important that you do come out and vote. So, thank you so much. That's all I have this evening. >> Thank you. >> On this side of the table, um I have an update. Uh Rosalie and I were both present for the virtual Orange County School Board Association meeting last night. Um there were county legislator and representatives on. They were discussing the budget and um they don't have a lot of answers yet because they are still waiting on um numbers and things. uh they were interested in how the cell phone ban is going and they discussed topics about zero emission buses for the timeline for that and um as well as funding for mental health programs within schools. The next meeting is virtual in January. Great. >>
041Thank you both for attending. Appreciate it. >> Anything else? >> Brooke, do you have an update for us? >> Yes. I don't know too much because of mentioned before the high school concert is on the 9th and the middle school concert is on the 8th and Jasmine Wood. Last Wednesday, the varsity club did a thank you chester event where club members volunteered at party to help customers and they did 1 hour time slots from 9 to 12. The varsity clubs also have a meeting tomorrow on December 19th right before winter break. Venture class had a successful tuning celebration on the 21st for the CD beverage item and celebrate the Thanksgiving event together. Um for the senior trip there was one spot available that's not designing pages. The senior write up is due on the 5th
042and the senior write up a little about yourself and your plans is due on December 12th. Photos of the winter sports will begin to be taken as well. And lastly, students and also to win. >> Thank you so much. Okay, that moves us on to consent agenda. >> Can I have a motion to approve consent agenda items 5.1 to 5.8? >> I'll make that motion. >> A second. >> All in favor? >> I. >> Consent agenda items pass. That brings us to our second public comment. Can I have a motion to adjurnn? >> I'll make that motion. >> Second. >> All in favor? >> I. >> Motion carries. I thank all everyone for coming in person or tuning in tonight. Our next board meeting is December 17th. Wishing everyone a safe night.