001Okay, good evening everybody. I apologize in advance for this. I'm going to do my best. Uh uh my handy dandy trustee uh vice president is going to take over if I can't manage. Um we're going to call the technically call the meeting to order, but we're starting with a public hearing for the first half hour. Uh so we're calling this meeting to order at six o'clock and we're going to start with the pledge of allegiance. I'm gonna turn it over to Miss Ross, which is great. >> Hi everyone. Welcome to uh the December 4th phase three of the Centennial Project, the public information or public hearing. Um most of you in the room know who I am. I'm Kim Ross, the superintendent. This is Jeff Ryvenberg, the assistant superintendent. We kind of want to walk
002through. We did this virtually the other night. I really don't like this. We did this the other night um virtually and so it was great because it gave us a chance to kind of like testrun our presentation and the folks who are watching virtually um or watching virtually again, it's the same presentation. All right. So, celebrating 100 years, I'm gonna hand over the mic to Mr. Ryenberg. So uh as a part of our Centennial project uh we had our when we went through our uh building condition survey with our architect, we had determined some some maintenance things or some areas in the uh in the building that needed to be uh renovated and needed to be addressed in order to make our facilities uh fit for uh up-to-date for education. Uh so we came up
003with uh a a total of a $28 million project called the Centennial Project. And uh the first uh phase of that project, a $6 million project, included uh roofing at both the elementary school and the high school and a and the uh the new playground at the elementary school. Uh and then phase two uh included so much more. uh the $22 million portion of it uh included cafeterias, uh classroom space in the high school and and classroom space in the uh elementary school along with the cafeteria and kitchen over there at the elementary school as well. Uh and a bunch of other roofing that had to be done. So, as uh roofing uh gets to the end of its uh warranty, that's when you are allowed to by by the state's terms be able to
004replace uh the roof. Uh so, it had been up to a 30-year roof. I think it's 30-year roof. Uh so, that's uh that brings us to to now uh where we still have some things that we need to address in our um in our building condition survey. And we decided that what what better way to to do this other than to tack on a phase three uh and utilize some uh some expiring debt uh to take on uh and make sure that our facilities are up to date with students and uh our facilities can carry forward. >> Okay. So, you're going to hear a lot of this repeated throughout the presentation. You know, I think it's important and you'll see later on that we talk about why phase three and why a vote, another vote.
005Just know that all the work since 2022 has always been student centered. The decisions we make and the things that the committee looks at is because we want to make sure that our students are at the core of the decisions may be safety or it may be modern spaces. So, what will our next hundred years look like? I love these pictures and I think it's because I taught social studies for 15 years and I love old pictures. And this is the original Delansen High School which opened in 1925, hence the Centennial Project. And then in 1954 when the elementary school was being constructed, um what would we want our district for our children to look like in the next hundred years? So next I'm going to have Jeff make some introductions of the planning team.
006So uh when we had to uh when we had started the uh Centennial project, we had to go through a a request for proposal uh portion where we had selected uh the best fit for Dwayneburg, our architect and uh our uh construction managers. Uh so joined with us actually tonight are uh folks from Ashley McGra Architects and uh from Schoolhouse Construction, our construction manager. Uh we also um we also use uh fiscal advisers as our um fiscal adviser to uh to help us to determine uh affordability on projects like this. So, just really quick, um, up in the front row, if you want to kind of just stand and wave for everyone. So, we have Drew from Ashley McGrath. All right. And then we have Katherine Wolf from Ashley McGrath, the architects. And then we
007have Eric Rober from Schoolhouse Construction. And then we have Henry Gent from Schoolhouse Construction. Now, Henry is in our buildings all day, every day. You see CJ here a lot too, but he actually couldn't split himself in half this evening to be here and at another school doing the same thing. Um so this has been a a project of love with these partners with the buildings and grounds committee um of the board of education as well as way back when back in 2022 when stakeholders came together and and created a scope list on what we need because you have to continually renovate your your house and what were some good wish items. All right. So Jeff can kind of walk through what that looked like. >> Okay. So uh our time frame uh that we
008had started out for phase three this year. We started out in the summer of 2025 here and we had come up with uh B first of all we had looked at that building condition survey and decided that we had some needs that had to be met and then we we reached out to stakeholders to to start or we we are going to be also working with stakeholder groups in in our design with uh especially with the uh student support center. Uh and we're going to have planning meetings uh and then our construction manager will continue to uh to estimate our project to make sure that the project will fit in with our with our budget. Um and then we did our SRA back in October 7th uh in the fall here. And so brings us
009up to our public public hearing and then our our referendum vote for this project will be on December 16th. Uh so that is a Tuesday night two weeks >> and it's the same night evening as the uh as the holiday concert. All right. So I get the fun job. So I always have Jeff talk numbers, right? So I get the fun job of the why. Um and our partners Chris Crowley with fiscal adviserss obviously guides us yeartoear toear and we're going to dive into that in a little bit. But what are our guiding principles. When we think about doing capital projects, we know that there are growing needs of our students every day and every year. The needs of our students 10 years ago are not the needs today. So when we talk about the
010student support suite, it's an area that will allow a confidential space for students and for families to enter into having a separate entrance and allowing for a lot of our providers to have space within that footprint. So we want to make sure that we as we tackle uh the needs of our students, we are continually making the renovations needed. We always want to instill a sense of community pride. The gymnasium, right, that is a core of community pride where people gather um and making sure that is always a place of where if you are a family member, a community member, you walk in and either you have memories or you're you're making memories. We always prioritize relationship building. We want positive connections with our community and to create a safe and welcoming experience. Safety is
011always is a balance of safety and and making sure that our spaces are evolving. We want to make sure that those safety and security measures are always an intricral part. Oh, it's me again. Yay. So, update to the high school gymnasium. We had quite a few people at the tour. It was great. They got to see what's currently happening and what's going to be happening. Uh we're going to make sure that there's new basketball hoops, new ventilation, new paint. The bleachers are still in good shape. The floor is in great shape. Um the padding is in great shape. The rock wall is coming down because I don't think anyone has used that in a very long time. Um so giving that a really great facelift and throw the safety piece in it. the v the
012new uh HVAC ventilation. Um the safety fencing at the junior senior high school baseball field that was originally supposed to be uh slated for either phase one or phase two. But when you go out with that wish list that the stakeholders did back in 2022, you know, you dream big, build it and they will come. But sometimes the money is not finite. So that was something that had to be carved out of phase one or phase two. But we felt that it was important because as we prioritize um academic areas, we know that extracurricular areas including the gym and the out our outdoor areas need a facelift as well. So, we're going to renovate the original 1925 first floor. Phase two includes um the original building. There's some renovations on the second and third floor.
013And then if you were on the tour, you could see it needs some love. And that's Drew's words. I love that. It needs a little love. Um, there was some renovations to it years ago and if you know the guidance center doesn't have a window. Um, but now that the cafeteria will be done, taking just that footprint of that space and reimagining what we could do with it to make it a modern, confidential, warm, and welcoming space for our children and our families. And it's going to include a new heating system. Um, we want to continue to upgrade to our transportation, including vehicle charging stations. One of the things that we know as the world continues to grow and modernize, is that both our community and our staff have electric vehicles and we know even
014though we're trying to slow the process with electric buses, I you know, one of those advocates on, you know, within the state, but let's lay the infrastructure. So, it includes laying the infrastructure for 10 charging stations, but we're only going to have two. We're going to start slow. Those two charging stations, we uh intend to use um districts who are visiting for athletics and they have an electric bus, they're going to need to charge and or finding a way to a conversion kit with those two charging stations if we have staff members who need to charge their car. So, this is why we're saying a vehicle charging station. It isn't just the site on buses. We know that in the future more and more people are going to have electric vehicles and for athletic competitive
015events they will be coming in electric buses and then we're so excited for this finalize all roofing coming out of warranty. So I know it feels like and we say it too we joke actually about like more roof. When will the roof ever end? You can't. The way SED does it with roofing is you can't replace it until it comes out of warranty. If you replace it before then, you don't get aid on it. So, this is why it's been phased each section. Even though we'll be so grateful when the roof is done, um the last phase of roofing comes off a warranty in 2027. 28. So in 28 when it comes off a warranty then that finally will get done. So hopefully the new cycle won't start for another 30 for another Oh yeah.
016I'll be long gone by then. I'll be 30 years. Yeah. So what phase three looks like is uh $6.9 million and it'll be phased over the next uh few years. it it is uh it'll start mainly in the uh summer of 2027 or in the spring of 2027. Uh and it will likely carry into 2028. Uh but it will address uh it'll address that student support center uh the gymnasium renovations, the electronical uh the electronic uh vehicle charging uh and then some flooring repair that needs to be done in the high school. Uh and baseball field uh fencing. This will make the uh the flyball area a little bit safer and uh some the uh the big area of the elementary roof. Uh so how we um got to the $6.9 million is uh slide
017uh that $6.9 million is is our amount that allows us to be tax neutral. Um so that means that we have bonds we have a bond that's maturing uh because of uh prior capital projects. So, uh, while that's while that will be coming off of our, uh, of our debt, um, this is a time when you can go ahead and take more debt to level out your debt. And in in schools, uh, the the tax levy calculation uh, relies a lot on on what debt you have uh because it is a an exclusion in the calculation. Uh, also we are going to be taking advantage of the the building aid that comes back to us from the state. So it's what the state allows us to uh to to uh receive from them. So we
018receive approximately 80% or actually 79.8% of our of every dollar spent, we actually get that back in building aid from the state. So, uh, this is a big a big ticket item to really take advantage of if we can come up with, uh, a project to get some money back. So, um, yeah. >> All right. So, a couple things. The first project I did seven years ago, it really like it it took me a while to wrap my head around like how this works. And through the years, I've now I'm like, okay, I I get it. A few key points about what does it mean to be tax neutral? How can that be tax neutral? Where's the money coming from? So, districts get money from state aid for foundation aid. Foundation aid is the money
019every year we get, every school district gets it is per per student. Foundation aid is different than building aid. It's in addition to the per pupil amount we get. So when you go out to vote in May on a budget that's all wrapped around foundation aid, boseies aid, transportation aid, right? We do know what we're getting in capital aid, but this is a separate vote. This is why you have to vote on it because what will happen the reason why it stays tax neutral as Jeff had said is because as a bond matures and that bond is cyclical it probably was started 50 years ago. 50 years ago the district took out a bond to do renovations. We're required to do renovations based on our building survey. So probably 50, 60, 70 years ago, bonds
020were started to take out. Well, no, but it replaced a bond from before it, right? That's why I'm saying it's cyclical. So bonds replace each other. And then what happens is as the bonds mature and get paid off, you're it will if you don't replace that bond, it messes up your tax levy. It makes it sink very quickly. But then what happens is in a year or two when we are required to do renovations, so like the roof because it comes off warranty in 2028 or ventilation systems that aren't to code or pick a card, pick a card, pick a card, then we have to go to the to the community and say, "Guess what? We need $10 million more because we're required. We have to keep this building safe." Just like your home, right?
021You do renovations to keep it safe. Your boiler breaks, you fix it. The roof caves in, you fix it. So, by replacing the bond that's maturing with another bond, it keeps it stable and it doesn't have the taxes or your taxes drop really quickly and then spike really high. So, that's how it remains tax neutral. We're not asking the community to give a dollar more towards this project. Hope that makes sense. So this is a look at our current debt. So you can see that that debt that bond uh matures uh in 2029 which would be when we would uh logically take uh that that debt back out uh to level out with this. So the red line is where we currently are uh based on the the debt tax levy or you can see
022that we're paying for the tax levy uh within the tax levy. We're paying for that debt right there on that first line in 2028. So that's where it starts to fall off. Uh so in order to uh to stay on that that red line or what we are allowed to uh to do with the $6.9 million is fill that that area with um with new debt that fall that fills that that debt that actually had matured. Um that allows our uh finances with with building aid uh and our tax exclusions to to stay level. Um, and that way we don't have fluctuations in our uh tax levy and our um our state aid that that will be coming to the district. So, in that yellow section, that would be the new debt that would come
023on with that $6.9 million. And then so uh just to kind of recap uh what what happens if uh if we do not uh keep our steady debt for the district. Uh it it does create instability with taxes uh because again that um that debt is a large portion of the uh the tax cap calculation. Um, so you may see it decrease uh in one year and then when needs uh come up for the school uh and there's instructional needs or there's new teachers that are needed uh it really creates a challenge to try and increase uh the tax levy on those years. uh because you may be looking at trying to exceed the tax cap calculation uh which adds many challenges uh for not only for the community but also it um you could
024be seeing larger increases on your tax uh on your tax levy than than we really desire. Uh so then also with this uh this building con uh building work we would also see the building aid again this is the you know almost 80% that would be having coming back to us. Um so if you don't take on this opportunity it uh we start to lose that building aid that we are we are receiving right now and our revenue side of the budget again I get to do the fun part. So, if you did the tour, right, um it's really important to know where we've been and where we're going and um just connecting the different phases and making sure that this is a win for everyone because we continue to renovate spaces that we're required
025to renovate, renovate spaces that we know we need to renovate, and then um make sure that we are keeping the taxes within the community stable. So there we go. So here is Oh, J. Oh, Jeff gets to do the fun. You sure? >> Go ahead. >> All right. So, um, more roof, right? Who doesn't like a good picture of a roof? Um, so roofing and then you're going to see the bus garage. You know, this is a blessing in disguise with a bus garage. Um, and it justifies why we have to do this work and why SED requires us to do it. One of the things that happened with the bus garage, the board's aware of this and we talked about in open session is that when they were doing some of the restorations there
026and they got into the foundation, was it two sides? Two sides of the foundation. One or two sides of the foundation was Yeah, one for sure. I think it was two where it was like hollow and crumbling. So then you go, whoa, everybody stops, right? And they go in and they have to reinforce it. Again, I don't know the technical terms, but doing these renovations and starting to dig into the the bus garage, we are able to restabilize it. Without discovering that maybe five years from now or seven years from now, it could have been a very disastrous situation. And then you're going to see there is the playground. The playground was actually complete. This is an aerial view. And then the spaces in the 300 wing in the elementary school, which actually right now
027um they're doing three rooms at a time. They're doing all the finishing work, the flooring, the case work. Um, some of the teachers are displaced for a few weeks, but then they get to go back to a brand new space. And then, um, the wing, the 100 wing here at the junior senior building. And the, oh, both cafeterias. All right. So, the cafeteria right now here is under construction, slated to be done in February, and then the crews go over to the elementary school. If you've ever tuned into any of the board meetings prior, the renderings are beautiful of the cafeterias. I think it when when it's complete, folks are going to walk in and they're just going to be blown away. They are absolutely beautiful. We're grateful Ashley McGraw for their their great eye.
028So, as a part of the uh $6.9 million project for phase three, uh here are the areas that we will be looking at uh to improve on. So, this area that is in that is shaded for the uh vehicle charging. It's kind of just a general location, just a just an idea. Um we haven't completely decided where it's going to be, but uh in that general vicinity. And then uh the roof replacement, you can see that's a pretty large area um of the elementary roof uh that covers uh our our uh elementary office and then also several of the classrooms. So this is that area that the only area that hasn't been completed as a part of the uh centennial phase one and two. Sure. All right. So, here is the junior senior scope plans,
029the middle school and high school. So, we talked about the gymnasium renovations. Um, and that's number one, basketball hoops, facelift, new HVAC system. And then two is that is the student support suite. So you're going to see on the map where it we're going to take that footprint as a clean slate and start over and see what great imaginative things that Ashley McGraw comes up with. And then three is an interesting area. There was the Torzo flooring in a couple corners for whatever reason are buckling and so we want to get ahead of it before it gets worse. So they'll try and figure out where the moisture is coming from and then uh replace that terazzo flooring there. No, I'll do baseball. Um, so there's the baseball field, the fencing. Um, as you can see
030there, there's no fencing now, is there? There's a fence, but right, it's not high enough. Maybe the balls won't hit our cars in the parking lot. Maybe. Well, anybody's head. Um, so really making sure that we have a newer fence for safety purposes. This is money. So he talked. >> Uh so that that wraps up the uh the major portion of uh phase three. Uh again, it's a $6.9 million uh project. Uh that is what the what will be on the uh on the vote on December 16th. Uh and it it'll uh encompass over the 20 uh 2027 2028 in the summers mainly in the summers. But >> and that is questions. >> Questions, comments? >> What would be the interest rate would you be paying on the uh loans we'd be taking out? >>
031You're so smart. Uh, good question. I I'm not sure uh because it'll be based on market at the at the time when we take out the uh the ban. All right. So, um >> so we're paying around Yeah, there is. Yep, that's right. So, there is a Dazzy option too that that helps to offset the uh the uh payments on like interest rates and all that, too. So, um I think that it it's tough to say because buses and uh between buses and buildings there's uh different different rates and they're all in my head. So, it's really tough to give you a number right now. Um but it would really be based on on market. Um and uh when we actually do go to take out that that ban, um you know, that could be
032that's some time from now at this point. So, it's really tough to to navigate what the interest rate will be for that. >> I was just going to say, so a ban of Oh, so a ban and a bond. So, when you're starting the project, you take a ban and when the project's all done, it goes to a bond. >> That's simple. >> It's in simple terms. Yes. Uh the ban the ban is only a one-year term where it allows you to uh to take out um your take out your funds uh and then balance when you're going to take your your 15-year bond uh depending on how so that that allows us to basically plan for how that debt is going to come on. So once we take out that ban, it'll allow us
033to put that that uh that bond exactly right where it belongs to carry that debt so that there's uh zero impact on the tax levy. >> And it's a great question and what we can do is um Trisha, she's going to put stuff up on the website to update folks. we will get a like a a what the current rate is but like Jeff said two years from now it could be different right so give or take but just know that it does fluctuate so remember all right she's giving me the thumbs up so we'll get a more specific answer any other questions >> yeah I had a question um when you were talking about the dazney with incentives or something is I didn't quite hear what what that was >> I know a little
034bit to be dangerous Um and what I'll what I'll share is um working with with other schools and and Dwayneburg here um schools are offered an option where they can finance through DSNY the dormatory authority of New York. So if if the rates and and Jeff, please correct me a little bit if I'm but if if the rates are not attractive to the school district, they can always fall back on a Dazzy option which which don't quite creep up as much as the public or the private market does. >> So the terms and the interest rates could be more favorable with a DAN. >> At times they are. It's kind of, you know, how it's I hear the other financial advisors kind of word it is it's a safety net, you know, and I I
035think sometimes it it hovers around 5% or so. So, if all of a sudden, you know, what what's available to the district is higher than that, they can always, you know, go to their option of financing through the dormatory authority of New York. >> So, why wouldn't we just do that right away if the terms and the interest rate was better? It's it's because, you know, as Jeff had mentioned, we just don't know today and it could be that when it's time to do that that it could be much more attractive for the district to go with other financing outside of Dazzy. Fair. >> So, it's kind of something that the district can wait and see and they can weigh their options for when the time comes and select what's most favorable. >> Okay. So,
036we have a couple different buckets to choose from when the time comes. >> Yeah. >> Exactly. And we're in this shortterm debt. >> Is that what we're saying? This ban is like a short-term debt until we get to our long-term debt, which is more stable, our bond for a longer time. >> Okay. Thank you for clarifying. >> You're welcome. >> Any other questions? >> I'm doing my teacher pause. All right. Nice job, Mr. Ryvenberg. Nice job, M. I'm so lucky to have such a great team around me. Um because I'd forget my own lunchbox. So, we learned our lesson on Tuesday, right? Um, we just kept going like it's not going to snow. Hasn't snowed in years. So, we are having um a snow date uh for December 16th. Um, do we have that date
037yet? No, December 17th. Thank you. So, if we have another um round like we did on Tuesday, we will obviously do what's required of public notice uh because we have time and we'll put out that the snow date is December 17th. You're supposed to do it a week in advance if you're changing the date. But here's the thing. If if we don't set a snow date, I I learned this too the other day that um so the referendum in in Bethlehem had to be changed. It's a 45day window. So, by going out now and saying our snow day is December 17th, um hopefully it won't be one of those three-day storms, but um if we happen to have um a snowstorm, we can move it to the next day. >> And you've aligned with the
038music department on that date. >> Align aligned with what? Because we're in the library, >> but the plan is to have it the same time as the concert. >> Oh, thank you. Um I'm assuming so. Yes, Jody. Shake shaking your head. Yes. All right. Thank you. Are we okay to carry on? >> Okay, great. Thank you so much. Um, all right. So, our next item up is our recognitions for the month. Um, as if you've been here before, you know that we like to recognize students and employees and community members um that have gone above and beyond over the last month. So, this month we want to recognize our drama club. Um, shout out to the drama club because they had a phenomenal performance, well, performances, um, over the weekend just before Thanksgiving, uh, DCS
039things Broadway. That's their fundraiser for the year and also just a way to showcase everyone in the drama club. um uh in their in their singing and and acting and dancing abilities. So, congratulations to you guys. I got a couple of them in the room. I know. So, um let's see. Also, big thank you, big big thank you to Mrs. Mary Cla Waltz, Mrs. Amanda Chovin, and all of the staff and faculty members that helped to make the annual Veterans Day assembly a success. Um if you haven't been to the Veterans Day assembly at the elementary school, please please go. next year. Pay pay attention to those dates and mark your calendar. It really is a a very special event. Um and it and and we have a collaboration with our high school um band
040and choir as well. And and it's just a really beautiful um beautiful event. Uh in in addition to uh all the folks at school, we want to thank the DCPTA because they provided a buffet breakfast for all of our veterans as soon as the Veterans Day assembly was over. Um, and they're always very appreciative of that, which is awesome. Um, and shout out to our kitchen staff because they they prepared a lot of that and they had everything ready to go for the PTA, which was awesome. Um, and then finally, uh, we have a couple of senior students that have, um, committed to D1 schools. We have one senior student committed to Mercyhurst University to continue her softball career and pursue preysical therapy studies. And then uh another senior student who's committed to St. Bonaventure
041University to continue continue excuse me her cross country and track career while she majors in business and marketing. Scribbling furiously. Should I wait? >> Oh yes. And to our buildings and grounds and Jeff and Anen for uh snowb blowing and managing the from the tournament, right? Yes. From the Thanksgiving tournament. And of course it snowed which was um made a little bit of a of a mess and a challenge for everyone. So uh if anybody hadn't noticed winter has arrived. So okay, anybody else that I've missed or anybody anything else anybody wants to mention? Okay. Um next item is the board discussion of this evening's agenda. Uh any any comments or questions? Do we have any changes to the agendas right now? Okay. So, no changes since it was released. Okay. Uh then in that
042case, be it resolved upon the recommendation of the superintendent, the board of education approve the agenda for the regular meeting of this evening, December 4th, 2025. May I have a motion? >> I'll motion. >> Thank you, Francis. A second. >> Thank you, Tony. Comments or questions? All in favor? >> Any oppose? Any abstension? Okay, excuse me. Our next item on the agenda is public comment. Sorry. Um, okay. Board encourages public participation at board meetings during specific portion called privilege of the floor. The public comment section is not the time or place to register complaints about individuals or items that have not first been addressed through proper channels with those closest to the issue, such as the teacher, building principal, or superintendent or other appropriate party. Individuals making statements during privilege of the floor are expected
043to be courteous and respectful, modeling for our students how one can participate and have their voice heard in situations where there is agreement or disagreement with others views. If members of the public have gone through proper channels and still wish to discuss a matter with the board, they can submit their comments in writing to the board at it, excuse me, the board clerk. At its discretion, the board can invite may invite visitors to its meetings to participate in its discussion of matters on the agenda. Um, just some notes, public comment is an opportunity for residents and residents only to address the board of education. Uh, it only takes place during the portion of the agenda that we've designated. Um, persons wishing to address the board should indicate their desire to speak on our sign-in sheet,
044which we have done. Um, let's see. Because we have many business items, speakers must confine their comments to three minutes. The board cannot address specific questions or comments in in the public comment space, but we may ask for your name and contact information in the event that followup is necessary. Um, and please note that we will not permit in public session discussion involving individual personnel or students. Persons wishing to discuss matters involving individual personnel or students should present their comments or concerns to the superintendent who can then share them with the board at the next executive session. Okay. So, with all of that said, I have a few people um on our list that signed in and a couple that mentioned they would like to speak. So, um starting with Tiana Fox. Thank you. Two
045minutes, three minutes. I'm only prepped for two, so that's even better. All right. So, my name is, excuse me, Diana Fox. I live on Weaver Road and I have two students in the high school. Um, and I'm here to speak about some concerns regarding communication and school culture here at Dwayneburg. I think this impacts many families, not just my own. Uh, for years I've been reporting a bullying concern regarding um, one of my children to counselors, teachers, and administrators. I've been talking about this since fourth grade, and those concerns have continued. The communication has continued. Yet, communication from the school has been minimal, inconsistent, or at times entirely absent. When serious incidents occur, including physical harm and hateful language directed towards my own child, uh we simply were not notified by administration. Maybe behavioral issues
046um or concerns were being tracked internally. We were not informed, so we couldn't uh support any sort of intervention at home. Instead of timely collaboration, we experienced silence until disciplinary actions were taken. This reactive approach prevents families from being partners in resolution and leaves problems to escalate unchecked. More broadly, communication within the school system, seemingly between teachers, coaches, counselors, and administrators, are fragmented. Concerns observed in classrooms or athletic settings are not consistently elevated to support teams or administration. And as a result, warning signs are missed, and opportunities for early intervention are lost. Too often, families are brought into situations only after an issue escalates rather than being included when solutions could be effectuated. eventually or excuse me equally uh concerning is the broader school culture. Many students report hearing misogynistic, anti-semitic and race racist language
047within the school environment. When these behaviors are not addressed openly and consistently, they become very normalized. A culture develops where harmful behavior feels tolerated, victims feel unprotected, and students are left to fend for themselves rather than rely on adult intervention. Students have also shared that speaker assemblies intended to address these concerns are not taken seriously and in some cases actually lead to an increase in inappropriate behavior afterward. Without meaningful follow-up or accountability, these assemblies fail to mitigate the problem and reinforce the perception that responses are simply performative rather than effective. Teachers have shared that some students choose to to selfisolate socially to avoid conflict instead of activating additional support. These warning signs are often siloed within classrooms and not elevated to counselors or administration. Another example of internal communication breakdowns. Communication and culture are definitely
048not separate issues. They are deeply connected. When schools communicate clearly and partner effectively with families, problems are addressed early and students remain safe. When communication fails and concerns go unanswered, especially for the years that I've experienced, students pay the price. Uh, so I urge the board to prioritize strengthening staff communication protocols, definitely improving parental notification standards, responding more consistently to family concerns, and implementing meaningful sustained interventions that address not just acknowledge these cultural issues. Thanks. >> Thank you, Das. Perfect timing. Perfect timing. Thank you so much, Tiana. Um, okay. Next up, we have Mr. Gellaidell. Hello everyone. Uh my name is Scott Fidel. Um I live on Wayne Lake Road. Thank you very much for listening to me. Um I wanted to kind of bring forward a topic um that my wife and I had
049um about our kids. We're really interested in ensuring that our kids um have the opportunity to meet their goals that they really have been striving for for a number of years. Um, and you guys may have kind of heard this conversation previously. Um, but I wanted to kind of let you know and kind of advocate for a conversation that I started um, with Coach Simpson about six months ago. Um, and then my wife and I both met with Coach Simpson. Then we met with Coach, Miss Marvin, and then we had a conversation at the end of October with Miss Ross. Um we were interested in trying to find a way that our boys will have the opportunity to play um high school lacrosse in partnership one with one of the other school districts around the
050area. Um we understand that it is not one of the programs that Dwayneburg offers, but we also understand that Dwayneburg is one of those schools that wants to give kids the opportunity to meet their goals. Um both of our boys play at a high level club around the Capitol region. um the oldest one, Nathan's already been having aspirations to want to be able to play in college. And as we're going through the recruiting process, being on a high school program is one of those key things. So, it was kind of the impetus to say, what can we do with the school? So, we've kind of gone through the conversation um with the school district. And while I know nothing has come of it yet, I hope that there's a time when Miss Ross can bring
051it to you guys and you will be open and supportive of more opportunities for our kids because I think regardless of where we are as a district, we can all agree on one thing that we want there to be opportunities for our kids. We want them to be able to succeed. We want them to be able to meet their goals and whatever we can do um to be able to help them meet that is definitely a a ambition that we all have. Thank you. >> Thank you, Gus. for this. Sorry. Okay. Um I know I know that that was the only two that had marks that they'd like to speak, but before I move on, is there anyone else that had anything that they wanted to say? Okay. All right. Very good. Thank you so
052much. Um next up, yes. Okay. Uh is our previous board of education minutes. Be it resolved upon the recommendation of the superintendent that the board of education approves the minutes of the regular meeting on November 4th, 2025. Uh, may I have a motion? >> I'll motion. >> Thank you, Lisa. A second. >> I'll second. >> Thank you, Ray. Comments or questions? All in favor? >> Any opposed? Any abstensions? All right, on to what is quickly becoming one of my favorite parts of the meeting. Although I do like the recognitions as well. Um our our exeicio student board member reports. So who's who's starting out today? Centino. Okay. Oh, you have a presentation. Yes, I saw that. Okay. All right. Fantastic. Ari, do you want to help him? >> Oh, well, this darn technology. Uh, all
053right. Okay. So, if you remember from uh last meeting, um I mentioned the Washington DC trip and the government shutdown which was uh an impetus to that. Um, and there were a lot of concerns about trip and whether activities would be um, comparable to what was promised when a lot of people signed up and all that. And uh, I'm happy to report that the uh, tour company organized it very well and everybody was able to have an amazing time. It was very few complaints that I heard. And uh, I have some pictures up here from the trip. Uh right there you can see on the left the Martin Luther King memorial. That was a fun one. Uh the tour guide had a lot to say about the civil rights movement and a lot of related
054history to that and some cool stories. A lot of symbolism there that a lot of people appreciated. Um in the top middle there you can see the president and vice president who we were very close to. Uh we saw them speak at the um Arlington cemetery on Veterans Day which was very fun. It's fun to see um to be so close to all those powerful figures and all that. And you can see uh two pictures of the capital there too and the Lincoln Memorial. Um we were able to go to all the memorials and monuments and all that. Um that wasn't affected by the government shutdown and it was really just the museums and the capital tour that couldn't do but the uh like I said before the company was able to make um good
055work out of the situation and was great. Uh I I don't know the exact number. Um 45. Yeah. Um I do know that a lot of underclassmen are uh really excited for trips in the future. I know that's something that a lot of students want to keep continuing and uh it would be based on precedent in two years or so, but there's a lot of excitement for doing that in the future. Um, in the uh local news, uh, in the school, our one of our service organizations, one of the service clubs, uh, Leo Club recently hosted a wreath making day to sell the generate funds to sponsor a family for community service and that sort of thing. And um, they've also been operating the EOS outlet in the school. Yeah, if you were on the
056um construction tour, you would have seen the room that it's in. And it helps uh give clothing to a lot of students in need in the district and whoever uh needs it for um free free of charge, which is a big help to I said those who need it. Um along with that uh as president Peterson uh mentioned earlier uh the Wesburg sings Broadway from the DCS drama club happened uh week ago about a week or two. I don't know the exact remember the exact date but that was uh very fun and u were able to join lots of funds for the musical that'll be happening later this year which is once upon a mattress but that's great and um there was also the DCA host DCS hosted um basketball tournament which Dwayneburg won of
057course and uh also um I want to mention Miss Ross's uh superintendent advisory meetings that we had the first meeting uh a week ago last Friday which was uh very productive. There was a lot of dialogue we had there on uh district issues. Yes, it was very fun. Food was good too. We had it during lunch. So, but um that's a pathway to a lot of resolution to issues in the district. It was found to be very productive and uh something we like to continue in the future. But um that's all I have. Uh like to invite Ari up here talk about some of the uh NHS stuff. >> Yeah. I I'd like an encore of I'm just cat, please. >> Um, so our National Honor Society has also been busy at work these past
058couple of weeks. We had our National Honor Society blood drive where we had 25 out of 29 slots filled and we had 25 donors which was great. I think some people who are here donated. So, that was really great to see the community, especially the bus drivers and a lot of teachers aids. It was great to see so many people from the school who are donating. Um, and we're also working on a recycling grant project, which I think got submitted earlier in November, um, to help our school um, be more productive in recycling and be able to be proactive as that's something that I know we've had issues with in the past and we really wanted to be able to secure this funding from the National Honor Society to be able to kind of further
059that. So, that's something that we're looking forward to hopefully securing in the next couple of months and hopefully getting some recycling going at the school, especially at the high school. Um, the other thing that I wanted to talk about, I know this is exagent right now because we're going to be going through the read of the um new student fundraising policy. And this actually came up because students have been starting to raise money for their classes early this year. We've had lots of different fundraisers. We've been selling literally everything. I can't even name a single one. Um, so some students who are selling items for their class benefits have been confused on the rules relating to accepting donations. Not soliciting donations, but if they're allowed to accept donations and this is something I've been wondering
060as well, like so I also am a Girl Scout and when we sell for Girl Scouts, a lot of times we will get monetary donations and we're allowed to accept those as Girl Scouts. But in the school, we have been unsure if that's something we're allowed to do or what the process for that looks like. So, we want to kind of looking forward to doing that, make sure that there is clarification um when we're drafting these new policies because a lot of students were confused on that and a lot of teachers were confused on that as well. So, it's just something that we want to have a little bit more guidance on from the policies. And then I didn't put this on here, but I did just want to mention this with the discussion of
061the third phase of the capital project and the idea of this student support suite is that is something that I know I've heard a lot of support for. Uh if you don't know, our guidance counselors are currently residing in the library. um which it can be chaotic at times and I know if I was in a situation where I really wanted conf confidentiality I wouldn't want to hear teachers yelling at middle schoolers right down the hall while that was happening. Um so I think that that's something that there is a lot of student support for and there is a real need for. So, I'm looking forward to that and seeing how that project progresses and any board members have any questions for our students? Nice job, guys. All right. Excuse me again. Next up, we
062have um superintendent report. What do you have for us, Miss Roth? >> I can't be trusted. Um, thank you Ari and Santino. And I know Ari and I had a little bit of a discussion about we're so grateful that you guys are here and that um, you know, just similar with our family members and our community members, right? You you're going to grow um, and learn that like concerns should start at the building principal level and then then superintendent and then brought to the board and you guys are super respectful. And as for the fundraising, completely agree it's confusing. there is a policy out there that um we'll look at how do we reference it in the draft um and I did had shared with Ari the rules are different for schools like any donation
063has to be accepted by the board if it's um a table or a washing machine or a car or money right so um again we'll try to make sure there's clarity so that if if you're confused then other people are confused as well so great feedback thank you all right So, as for my update, I just want to piggyback on um Gus. Um so, some athletic updates. Um so, thank you Gus and Heather for as I just referenced like with Santiel and Ari, taking the proper steps starting with the athletic director, moving on to the principal, and then me. Um if you know me, I'm all about when I say all, all means all. And when kids have opportunities, dreams, and goals, if I can make it happen, I I want to. So, there's always
064the concern about new teams here at Dwayneburg, right? Because we don't necessarily have enough kids to who want to play sports. Um, but there are some kids who have different interests that we don't offer here. It's not a lot. So, like for example, we have um some students who like to go swim. So, we have currently two students who will be swimming for the next five years. and uh making arrangements so that they can file their dreams. So when speaking with Heather and Gus, I had said this is for me the same example. Um no, we financially can't afford to start a lacrosse team, nor can we necessarily field a lacrosse team. I know in the past um when this was looked into, it was a hard no from a neighboring district. Um, and there
065was reasons for that, but um, because I just want to make I want kids to have have what they need and and and fulfill their dreams. I did do some asking around and um, the Sha Mohans connectity team is um, willing to merge with us for lacrosse for the for the the two students. Um there we thought we had a hiccup um as of last night and I lost sleep over this last night because um there is a January one deadline for the paperwork to be in which makes it tight. In the paperwork it says that needs um board approval which we know we can't do all three districts can't four districts can't do it in the month. So I actually as a Hail Mary I called section two and I talked to Steve Nolan
066who is the section two um oversees all commit all mergers. He's on that committee. And he said, "Oh, no, no. Just get your paperwork in by January 1st." And then let the boards have discussion. All four boards have discussions. The superintendent will work out the logistics, what the cost is going to be, things like that. So that all four boards are informed. All that matters is you put the paperwork in and then you just have a board resolution by the time the season starts. So that made me feel better like okay it is this an option now we haven't got it across the finish line another big hurdle section two could say no that's always an option and and Heather and Gus both acknowledge that but I want to know at least I tried I
067want I want to try if if we're told no we're told no okay um so we're one step closer I did send an email to all the district's ads and the superintendent Skenctity is a bigger machine than us. So, uh, Dr. Kado is wonderful and he's always been a wonderful partner. I don't foresee it being a challenge. Um, I don't think they send many players anyways. I think they only send a few kids as well um to play lacrosse, but same concept. Kids have this interest, why can't we make it happen? Um,