001Mr. Harrison. Good, thank you very much. We'll start with the budget hearing. This is a New York State Education Department required meeting. As you remember last uh meeting, we did adopt the budget. However, we're required to hold this meeting a certain number of days before the budget vote. And not much has changed, unfortunately. We still not We still did not have a state budget. Switching gears. Uh we're going to start with the public hearing for potential tax exemptions that have been made available through the New York State budget process. We're going to talk what uh talk about what real property assessment relief means. We're going to talk about the specific exemption, one that's mandatory already approved and enacted in state law, as well as two that the Board of Ed has the ability to opt
002into at a later point in time. So, the one that's been Sorry. So, when you have real property assessment relief, which essentially is a tax uh exemption, it reduces the assessed value that's used to calculate the amount of property tax paid by certain homeowners. However, the amount of the tax levied by the school district remains the same. So, what happens during these um granting of exemptions is that the real the the burden shifts from those taxpayers granted the exemptions to those that don't qualify for the exemption. And the tax the district's uh tax levy is made whole by that process. So, the first exemption we're talking about, again, has already been enacted in law, and it's a property tax exemption for veterans with a service connected disability. And again, that was signed into law by
003the governor on February 13th of 2026. So, this exemption is now mandatory for school districts and with no further action being needed by the Board of Ed. This property tax exemption, if a person qualifies, would be a 100% exemption from school taxes. And it will not take effect until the 2027-2028 school year. Unfortunately, there's not enough information to tell the Board of Education what the impact would be for this exemption being in place. The second exemption is regarding surviving spouses of police officers, volunteer firefighters, volunteer ambulance workers who were killed in the line of duty. Previously, the Board of Ed had approved an exemption for this class of individuals, specifically um volunteer fire companies, volunteer members of incorporated fire companies, fire departments, and volunteer ambulance companies with 2 years or more of service to those
004organizations. So, those qualifying for that exemption, which is a 10% reduction in assessed value, there are 163 parcels currently at a total reduction of $703,852 in assessed valuations. So, this extension of property tax exemption is regarding to surviving spouses. And the Board of Ed will have the ability to adopt a resolution at some point in the future that could reduce assessed valuation for surviving spouses of up to 50% reduction in assessed valuations. Similar to the previous exemption, there's not enough information uh to give the Board an estimation of what this impact would be for the rest of the uh tax base. However, we believe the impact would be negligible. At the town of Islip, uh this exemption is in place for police officers only, and there are only 19 exemptions that have been granted so
005far throughout the town of Islip, not just for East Islip school district, but for the whole town. So, again, only 19 exemptions for police office officers receiving uh surviving spouses 50% reduction. And then finally, there's been amendment to the tax exempt exemption for low-income senior citizens. And this is for individuals 65 and over with limited income. Previously, the Board of Ed had adopted a partial exemption for senior citizens with link with limited income up to 50% of the assessed valuation based upon a sliding scale. And I'll get to a slide in a minute that shows what the income threshold thresholds are. So, currently, under the current exemption, there are 266 parcels receiving a reduction in total assessed value of over $4.4 million. So, I'm going to go right through the slides. So, right now, for
006combined household income for those limited income seniors, if you're making 40,000 or less, you receive a 50% reduction in your assessed valuation leading to a 50% reduction in your taxes. And this is a sliding scale, so if seniors are making more than 40, but less than 48,400, there's a potential reduction uh you know, scaling from 50% to 5% of property taxes. So, the new legislation creates three tiers underneath 40,000, which will allow seniors who are making less than that to receive additional tax exemptions. So, for someone who's making 37,000 or less in a household, property taxes can be reduced as as much as 65%. So, so there's three highlighted categories that are that are new to this exemption. And again, as with the previous exemption, the board has up until March 1st to make a
007decision about enacting either one of them or both. Any uh comments or questions at this time? Thank you, Mr. Harrison. And now for the next exciting with a budget hearing. All right. So, as I mentioned earlier, there's been really no changes to state aid at this point as the state budget has not been enacted. So, I'm just going to cover some of the highlights of what we discussed already. So, state aid remains the same currently with a 0.84% increase to state aid that impacts the general fund. As you can see, the majority of that increase is by foundation aid. And just to note again, UPK, universal pre-kindergarten, is not part of the general fund, so that's why it's subtracted on the bottom to get to the 0.84%. The tax uh cap levy has been calculated
008for the district. It's increasing by 1.86% over the previous year or $1.4 million. This is the levy that's in support of the budget that was adopted last week. The average homeowner in East Irondequoit can expect a $149 increase to their annual tax bill or 1.86%. So, the biggest two components of the revenue budget are your state aid at uh 32% or $42 million. in property taxes at 60% or $79 million. We are appropriating $7.3 million from reserves to fund the difference between budgeted expenses and budgeted revenues. So salary benefits and the expense budget are going up 1.8%. We do have a large increase in employee benefits being offset by retirements. Overall the budget to budget increase is 2.41% or $3.1 million as compared to last year. Contingent budget so the contingent budget can be adopted
009by the board after the first failed budget or after the second budget. The board of ed has the ability to do that with only one failed budget go directly to contingency. Contingent expenses are those that are deemed absolutely necessary to operate and maintain the educational programs, preserve property, and ensure the health and safety of students and staff. So if we are going to contingency things that would have to be removed from the budget are non-contingent expenditures including student supplies and equipment. And then the tax levy supporting the contingent budget may not be any greater than the current tax levy in place. So as you can see from the middle column our budget to budget increases right now 2.41% increasing by $3.1 million. So if we were going to contingency we we would have to reduce
010that budget by over $2 million to reflect a 0.77% increase. On the ballot in addition to the budget are capital reserve propositions. We did establish a capital capital reserve in 2015-16. It had a term of 10 years with annual contributions not to exceed 2 million for a total of 20 million. While we are no longer able to fund this reserve, we can transfer from it and we can spend from it. But each time we do so, we do need voter approval. So, the first item up is a $1.4 million expenditure to purchase and install generators at the high school and Timber Point Elementary School. This would be to support critical HVAC, cafeteria, refrigeration, and IT infrastructure. In addition, we're looking to transfer $1.8 million from the same reserve to our newer reserve to fund a
011future project being the Connetquot Elementary School kitchen and serving line. So, going back over our historical information, on a 10-year average, our percentage increase to the levy, as you can see, is uh 1.1%. So, budget vote is May 19th from 6:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m. here in the ECC. Any questions? Okay, thank you. Thank you, Mr. Harrison. Uh we're reconvening for public session. Please stand 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. Thank you. Board President, to advise members of the audience that they may address the board regarding agenda items after the superintendent's report. Only those members whose names and addresses are listed on the sign-in sheet available prior
012to the start of the meeting, will be recognized during new business. The chairperson will limit discussions of any item by the public to 3 minutes in order for the board to expeditiously conduct its business. Uh Mr. Manzo. Thank you, Mr. Rooney. Good evening, everyone. Uh I would like to ask Dr. DeNova, our math and science director, and Mrs. Jones, principal of our second grade, to come up with the first presentation. Uh it's on uh covering the mysteries of science in these grades. Can't wait. Good evening, and thank you to the Board of Education and the administration of East Side for providing me with the opportunity to present uh the work of our team in selecting, adopting, and implementing an exciting new science program that is changing the way our children learn, and positioning them to
013grow as young scientists and explorers of the world. I'd like to thank tonight to be joined by my principal partner, Ms. Janet Jones, without whose support and collaboration this project would not have been possible. Uh we're nearing the close of our first year of adopting Mystery Science as our primary science resource, and I'm proud to report that the implementation has been successful. And as you can see by these smiling faces, our students are learning both academically and through active discovery. Uh Mr. I'm going to turn to Ms. Jones, who's going to provide some important background to begin our story. Thank you, and good evening. Thank you for having us. So, through the years, it's never been easy to find a great science program. Our teachers have always wanted a variety of pieces to programs, and
014this, of course, journey was no exception to that need. One of the biggest things that we talked about was the need for reading materials, uh not only when we look at our i-Ready data, we see our students uh sometimes falling a little bit short on informational text. And if you look at the slide that is displayed at the moment, it shows the amount of reading that is now part of our fifth grade science assessment. Uh 2 years ago, we moved the assessment from fourth grade to fifth grade. It is a reading test, and I'm sure as educators and people in education, you've heard as they move on into the secondary years, very often those science Regents exams that they take, for example, the living environment exam, they're very much uh reading comprehension exams, in addition,
015of course, to knowing a little bit about science. So, we wanted to make certain that we were providing our students with opportunities to read uh in the content area. The funny thing is when I reflect on this whole process and now that we um are in the process of implementing um magnetic literacy, those books that the children have have units on content areas, including science, which is kind of a wonderful bonus that's added on to our journey that we couldn't have forecasted a couple years ago when we started this. Uh so, in addition to that, we're always looking for hands-on. Um that's nothing new, and these the the materials that we have now certainly do that, as they have done in the past. In addition, something that has is new, uh along with the new
016science assessment, we moved away from, according to the state, um the lab practical portion of the assessment that we used to have years ago, and we have uh science investigations, which I think are much more fabulous for the children instead of that practical portion that we had which was kind of like a standalone experience that the points were added to their assessment score. Um, this gives our students opportunities throughout their third, fourth, and fifth grade years to have science um, hands-on experiences that the whole state has. And when we have children who mid move in, we have to make certain that they have those same experiences before they can sit through the fifth grade assessment. Uh, so in third grade we do inheritance and variation of traits which is called the circle of life. And
017in fourth grade we do energy and light it up. And in fifth grade we do two different experiences, what's in a bag which talks about chemical reactions and cloud in a bottle which is cloud and weather. So before our teachers implemented these for the first time, we had a lot of fun and we had them come in in the morning and we did a little uh, hands-on work with them. Uh, one of the things that we always like to focus on and I teach a course in management science and change jobs and I tell all my uh, future educators the same thing. It's very important to increase your own depth of knowledge more so than you're supposed to be teaching the children. Uh, so that's the one photo up there was actually our professional development
018experience that we have with the teachers which was a lot of fun. Thank you. So the elementary science committee was long at work before I began here and it was highly focused on finding a program that was aligned to science learning standards. And we were looking for a combination of things. We were looking for alignment and our teachers are very passionate about providing hands-on experiences to kids um, that are engaging. Our previous program didn't put them in the best position to do so. And so as a result this became a big priority for us um, as we looked together. So you see some photos here. The search for a program, um, it was thorough and our team remained very patient and disciplined throughout the process. Uh, we needed to be because our search didn't resolve
019immediately. Uh, you can see images of us here uh, reviewing one alternative that we considered carefully. We advanced it to a pilot stage um, and we received some complimentary training that proved very valuable, but the team identified some shortcomings that were really hard to ignore. So, rather than settle, we reset and re-engaged the re-engage in the search process. So, all the while we were seeking a new program, committee teachers consistently were talking about Mystery Science. As we investigated a little further, uh, we discovered that teachers had mentioned this program for quite some time. Um, we surveyed other neighboring districts. They shared very positive feedback about their experiences with it and after subscribing and piloting, we found it was an excellent fit for our students and our teachers alike. So, the elements that other programs lacked,
020uh, standards-aligned content that was versatile, met a wide range of needs, um, along with a fully featured digital platform, they were all delivered, uh, by Mystery Science for us. Uh, the program's structured in a way that supports scientific problem-solving skills and also provides enough of the content area reading that Ms. Jones was talking about to strengthen our youngest learners' literacy skills. Um, so our teachers have shared very positive feedback um, as as we have implemented and I'll read uh, the quote from one of our East East Side fifth grade teachers. East Mystery Science created many opportunities for teachers to create engaging and exciting learning experiences. The lesson guides quickly hook the students while simultaneously providing a script for teachers that are very easy to follow and or adjust to meet a variety of learning needs,
021abilities, and interests in our classrooms. I've really enjoyed seeing the smiles on my students' faces as they test the salt composition in water, attempt to clean pennies, or set budgets for a hypothetical hurricane repair. There's definitely been an increased enthusiasm and excitement for science instruction that can be directly attributed to the implementation of this program. I look forward to using Mystery Science for years to come. What's not changed is that we still see our youngest learners learning science actively. We enjoyed the eclipse over to the left of April 2024, thanks to the scientific glasses provided by the district. Students learn the science of life and get chances to interact with the world around them. And on the right, they learn how energy is converted from potential into kinetic forms right in their own classrooms. And
022I'll share with you some quotes about what the students are what students are saying about their science experience. During the experience, we get to feel like scientists. For example, we made an ocean in a bag. We learned that even if you don't see the salt, it's still there, and it was really cool and interesting. Another student said, "Mystery Science is good for kids because kids don't want to just read books all the time." Well, some of the time we do. Uh with Mystery Science, you watch a scientist and try it yourself, which helps us understand. Um our kindergartners on the outside of this slide are charting the properties of leaves using their campus as a collection site for samples. They use clipboards to record their observations, returning to the classroom with both data and a
023story to tell. For learning that is best experienced beyond the classroom, our students are supported in venturing out on field trips, as you see in the middle of the slide. Our second graders visited the Seatuck Environmental Association South Shore Nature Center, where they learned about forms of marine life that can be found right in their town's own waterways. So, while we've come a very long way, our team's not stopping in its advancement. With the adoption of a new program, our teacher committee turned its attention to assessment. In the spring of 2025, we devised common interim assessments that helped us identify the most important learning to emphasize and provided us with the tools to recognize strengths and offer support where necessary. This kind of cross-campus collaboration is driven by our teacher teams who created these assessments.
024It will ensure that we continue to evolve each year and while establishing a strong foundation for ongoing improvement in our instruction. In conclusion, we're proud to share that we've identified a science program that provides East Lake students with an outstanding blend of hands-on discovery and rich text-based content that supports the development of strong readers. Our students are becoming the young scientists we celebrate through science fairs, theme tank challenges, LEGO clubs, and so many other opportunities. I'm excited to see what they will achieve as they continue to grow through our middle and high schools. I appreciate the opportunity to work alongside such a disciplined and dedicated team of teachers on all the work I had the privilege to speak about tonight. Thank you for this opportunity. Thank you, Dr. Genover and Mrs. Jones. Mr. Woman, that's
025all I have for you. We have the Board of Education student members report to the board. But, one thing before Miss May reports, I want to congratulate her for being chosen the salutatorian this year. Um Salutatorian, I'm sorry. Miss May, you report. Uh yes. Hm? Is it working? Yes. Yep. Good evening, everyone. I hope everyone is having a great start to May. We wish all of our students the best of luck with AP exams within the next 2 weeks. And also, May 1st marked decision day, and we would like to congratulate all of our seniors as they take the next steps in their journeys, whether they be college, the military, the workforce, or other paths. There are also several concerts coming up this month, and we encourage everyone to come out and support our talented
026musicians this month. This week, from May 4th through May 8th, we are celebrating Teacher Appreciation Week. So, thank you to all of our teachers for their hard work, dedication, and the impact they make on our school community every day. In addition, this Thursday, on May 7th, in the high school library, is is the staff appreciation day taking place during periods 4 through 8. And that concludes my report. Thank you. Thank you, Ms. May. Public comments on agenda items only. Okay. Certified personnel, be it resolved that upon the recommendation of the Superintendent of Schools, the Board of Education hereby approves the resignations, terminations, leaves of absence, position abolitions, employment appointments, tenure appointments, and salary changes in accordance with the applicable provisions of education law and civil service law as cited in the certified personnel attachments. Can
027I get a motion? Motion. Second. All in favor? Aye. Call the roll. Yes, thank you, Mr. Roland. I It gives me great pleasure to introduce Gavin Rogers. Gavin, would you stand up? Gavin is going to be our new principal um at Connetquot Elementary School beginning July 1st. So, we welcome him to the East Islip community. We're very excited to have you here and we look forward to working with you. Congratulations. Non-certified personnel. Be it resolved that upon the recommendation of the superintendent of schools, the Board of Education hereby approves as resignations, terminations, leave of absences, position abolitions, employment appointments, tenure appointments, and salary changes in accordance with the applicable provisions of education law and civil service law as cited in the non-certified personnel attachments. I have a motion. Motion. Second. All in favor? Aye. Okay,
028items to remove from the consent agenda. Does anybody want anything removed from the consent agenda? Mr. Rowland, can we remove 10.10? Sure. Okay. So, consent agenda items 10.2 through 10.9 and 10.11 through 10.17. Be it resolved that upon the recommendation of the superintendent of schools, the Board of Education hereby approves consent agenda items numbered 10.2 through 10.9 and then 10.11 through 10.17 in accordance with the action presented for each item. Okay, a motion? Motion. Second. All in favor? Aye. Okay, we're going to go back to 10.10. 10.10, school safety and security consultant. Be it resolved upon the recommendation of the superintendent of schools, the Board of Education hereby awards RFP number 040926-1, school safety and security consultants, to Kate Consultants for the 2026-2027 school year. The anticipated cost based upon the attached fee schedule for
0292026-2027 is $139,000. Can I get a motion? Motion. Second. All in favor? Discussion. I. Discussion. Steven. Sure. Um This contract recently went out for an RFP. And as such, the entire contract is is reviewed. And I just had some questions as far as the corporate structure and employment status. So, I I went to our attorneys. I wasn't able to get anything in writing. I went to city agency. Unfortunately, I've not gotten a response back. But just out of caution, I'm a no. Okay. Fair enough. Anybody else? Okay. 11.1, appropriation changes for the 2025-2026 school year. Be it resolved that upon the recommendation of the superintendent of schools, the Board of Education hereby approves the attached list of appropriation changes for the 2025-2026 school year. Can I get a motion? Motion. All in favor? I. Dorson,
03010-10. Did you record the vote? Yes. What do you have in essence? Four yes, one no. Thank you. Okay, thank you. Okay. Old business. Any old business? New business. Mr. Z. Introduced under new business for the board's consideration this evening is policy number 4529, use of generative or traditional artificial intelligence AI in instruction. This is a new policy drafted by district's legal counsel, reviewed by the district technology committee, and is required in accordance with current state law. Thank you. And public comments. Any public comments? Nobody signed up? Okay, then. The next Board of Education regular business meeting {slash} annual budget vote and Board of election will be held on Tuesday, May 19th, 2026. The meeting will begin The regular business meeting will begin at 8:30 p.m. Do I hear a motion to adjourn? Motion. Second.
031All in favor? Aye. We adjourn.