001Okay, good evening everyone. I'd like to bring this meeting to order. Please rise for the pledge of allegiance. Heat. Heat. have a moment of silence. Um, I'll ask you to please stand for join me as we honor the memory of Shirley Wilson, a long time employee, a bus driver for about 30 years who helped to drive our students around. So, just a moment of silence in her honor and memory. Thank you. >> Thank you. Good evening everyone. Fire exits located in the sides of the room in front and back. In the event of a fire, you will hear a fire alarm at that time. Please move in a common orderly fashion to the nearest exit. Um we do not have anyone signed up for public speaking tonight. So we will give it over to our
002superintendent Belusco for the superintendent report. >> Thank you. Thank you and good evening everyone. I'd like to just start off by giving a word of thanks to our facilities department for all of their hard work um over the last few days. Um they they did a fantastic job. We brought in uh contractors at the end to help out. Um so I I just really want to thank them. I know they work 12 hours a day and they did a great job. So thank you. Uh just to just continue to remind you that we always have transportation updates on our website. Um and so please feel free if you have any questions at this point. We are working hard to plan for a successful opening. As you know, we have um um the consultants that we
003continue to work with and we are in the process of transforming our transportation department particularly uh in regards to our delivery of services to our non-public um students. So, um will there be more specific updates as we continue in the winter? >> I have a question. >> Yes. When will the next transportation committee meeting be held? >> I don't have >> We haven't had one for quite a while and we never met with the consultants as we were promised. >> Sure. Uh Eric, [clears throat] we'll we'll we'll schedule um the transportation meeting this week and let you know. We'll return back to you. Thank you for that. Just another reminder that um in in the event that we have to close schools, please always check the website. We also have the QR code available for
004everyone and of course we send messages out via Remind and the ROOC call. >> We wanted to just Um I know in the past we there was a number uh where parents can call to seek to for the emergency closing. Um I was told that that nor that number no longer works. Um I know at I want to say two board meetings ago it was shared on the screen that um that was an option. Is that no longer available to parents? >> Uh is Bobin Gandhi here? He would know. Yeah. Bobin I I don't recall a phone number that we used but maybe we did. >> So yes in the past there was a phone number it was called infophone which hasn't worked. So uh I think there was a typo a couple of board
005meetings ago that was added uh through board as well which we removed that for this board meeting. >> so there is no phone number. >> So moving forward there is no more >> there is no phone number where parents can call. Yes. No. >> So it's okay. So, is is there any way we could bring that back? Because a lot of parents are familiar with, you know, dialing that number as e as an easy way of finding out. Um, they may not have access to, let's say, the robocall emails or any other of the options that you have here. >> Yeah, I'll look into it. Well, I mean, again, that was a different old system that back in the days we had, but I'll I'll look at if there's a way we can bring it
006back. >> Okay. Um se second thing too is um not having to do with the number but um you know as uh Miss Rusco said I want to thank our facilities as well. Um but it was brought to my attention that there was a issue at Spring Valley High School where uh they had a fire alarm today and the students had to go outside and the exits were not cleared of snow. So can we make sure that at all the buildings that um you know uh the teachers and staff students have access to be able to go out the doors um in case of emergency like that. >> Eric um Stark will address this. >> Yeah. So when when we were made aware of this this morning um we immediately um called the head custodians
007at every building to double check every exit of the building. Um, it's unfortunate that this did occur today. Um, we have cleared all of the exits at Spring Valley High School. I want to tell you that 95% of the exits at the rest of the schools had been cleared properly. There were still a few when we double checked that needed to be cleared and those have all been cleared. So, uh, at this point in time, everything is complete and done. Um, I don't really want to make any excuses for anybody. We haven't had a big storm like this in many years. So perhaps some memory loss occurred about certain things, but it will definitely not happen again. >> Quick question if I may, and I apologize for being late. Uh, forgive me all and maybe
008more so for the entire uh executive team. is the there was a school a school day a snow day implemented this past Monday due to this past snowstorm and and if if I missed it I once again I apologize and I meant I wanted to talk to you about this earlier and I apologize again >> Mr. school for coming so tardy is um it's now being pushed to March 30th which will take a day from spring break is is there there is the risk that you know a lot of parents do plan around those days those days to take off where you know parents take time off staff take time off and plan accordingly have flights whatever vacations planned is Does can the school district absorb that day or does it have to occur that
009they have to move it? Because here's a here's and here's the second part of that is that >> there's a possibility of another storm this coming weekend and this could result in again either a delay or a possibility of the use of another day possibly remote not sure just something to I'm wondering about that. Thank you. Thank thank you for bringing it up and yes it's it's an issue that we are facing this year when we create the calendars at any given year there are always specific challenges that we have to account for and this particular year we were unable to build in any uh snow days that are traditionally built into the calendar. Uh and uh the state does require us to provide a minimum number of instructional hours to our secondary programs and
010our elementary if we um uh so when we close and we want to uh we are actually required to make up that day. Uh our instructional calendar indicated that if we do this one time the first day will be uh March 30th as a makeup. If we do it again the next day will be March 31st. It is very inconvenient, but um if you're working in a school district for any period of time, you know that these vacation periods are not uh something that you can rely on 100% of the time. And so, unfortunately, we find ourselves in that situation this year. >> Gotcha. So there's a a risk that it could if once again if there's a snowstorm we'd end up and if and if again once again the ifs the 31st would end
011up becoming another another day pulled away >> if we're if we are unable to provide remote instruction. And in this particular case, we uh thought long and hard and chose not to provide remote instruction because we anticipated the likelihood that there would be widespread power outages as were you know we were warned about and we anticipated that would be true. We had a great risk of having a power outage here in the district itself. So, uh, we based on that information, we didn't want to say that we were going to have a remote day just to most likely have to retrieve that and create confusion. However, if there is another closing and it's not a huge storm like this where power outages are anticipated, we would likely simply go remote. If we if we offer
012remote instruction, we will not be required to open schools on March 31st. >> Thank you, Superintendent. I appreciate it. >> Thank you. Could I just add also that the the issue with not making up the time would create a penalty in terms of the aid that we receive from the state. So if we did not make that up, it wouldn't just be a slap on the hand. It would be not meeting the 990 hours and aid would be our aid would be reduced in the form of a penalty. I just wanted to say uh that knowing that there's a possible snowstorm uh this weekend, um something I noticed this morning driving around um when we talk about the safety of our students, the plowing that was done in our district is not the best. Um
013I noticed there were a lot of students standing on the street this morning. So I don't know um what is it that we are doing or what can we do in terms of making sure all of our students are safe um you know when standing outside and not only that too for those students who do stay after school um who have to um take the late bus and walk home um you know making sure that they're safe. what can we do in terms of um I guess I don't know if it would be transportation maybe driving around to see um what the streets look like just in case we have to make adjustments um within the next I guess >> it is a you know it that's what we were so worried about you know
014we were on the phone all yesterday talking about this we reached out to um two transportation companies asked them they went and they drove around we asked did you from your perspective is it safe um and they felt they could do it. But yes, this district- due to the density population, the narrow streets, the density in transportation, that is a major challenge here. >> Uh, as a question, why weren't we able to push in snow days? We I remember always the calendar had snow days always on it. What was why couldn't we make snow day March 30? >> How are other districts able to make snow build in snow days? Why aren't we able to build them? we we often are able to, but in this particular year um accommodating uh the March and um
015uh schedule, if you remember, we went back and forth a lot last year regarding the uh March break, wanting to make sure that we included enough days in Passover as well. So that elongated that um time off were longer than most districts. That's that would have been >> why why is it diff I mean it's the same amount of days that are off and this district just moved in different times we didn't add any days off what's the difference >> I think I think that um our march is longer than um the others same days we're talking about the same amount of days >> March we're off on March 30th until I think April 7th I believe >> I mean I don't have the calendar in front of me but I'm saying is >> how
016is it that uh let's say I'll grab Sherry's favorite district North Rockland um is able to build in snow days. They have the same amount of days off in March. >> And we even said we're mirroring the Boseis calendar. That's why we're doing March the way it is. So we're not adding any extra days. >> Yeah. >> Due to any holidays. So I'm saying what's >> sure the difference could it all depends. So for example, there's contract language that prevents us from starting school on a on specific time frame. Uh the North Rockland district may have different um more flexibility. Do we have less time in class than than other districts? >> Uh well, what it is is that um for example, the the teachers are required to work 184 days. So when we build
017in time, what we normally do is build a calendar for 185 and then that's the extra day. So if for example, we're closed one day, then then uh we're fine. Um but uh we couldn't do that. >> Are we not getting enough hours during the day taught from the teachers? What what's the reason why we're so short on time >> and well every year is different. If for example we had opted to make this a 185day calendar this year then we would have been open March 30th or we would have been open March you know March 30th is the Monday that would be the likely one. Um so we would have been open March 30th so we couldn't that's it. So, we couldn't build anything in. If we're closed and had to go remote, then
018we have to give a day back. >> So, do we have 185 days this year? >> We had 184 days, which is the minimum required. Say that again. >> 184. So, we had no room to uh be closed and not go remote without having to give it back. We had no room this year. Now next year we may have room depending on how the dates fall and you know we may be able to build a 185day calendar in which in which case we would build in one additional day. If we don't use it we give the date back to the teachers. >> When will um the 2026 2027 calendar be >> well it hasn't been started yet. >> Yeah. Well no we've started conversations and we've started working uh with Boseies. They shared their calendar
019their draft calendars with us. Um, so when do you think it could be presented to the board so we could at least take a look at it to before we approve it though? >> Yeah, probably in March. So we we started talking about it and we started looking at the um we only had a couple of draft calendars that other districts have shared with us. So we're waiting to receive a little more, but we've already started talking. >> Just for clarification, um, since this past on Monday was considered a state of emergency. So, um, I just want to make sure that with that being said, that that day the district does not have to make that day up. Correct. >> That's a good question. I don't know. And we'll look it up for sure. >>
020I'm I'm look Okay, >> we'll look that up for sure. >> I'm looking at the law. >> Um, so it's chapter 605 of the law of that does state that if it's a state of emergency that's declared, then that day wouldn't have to be made up. So, I don't know. >> Yeah, I I believe that that's right. I'm actually looking at that for a couple of school districts because there was a state of emergency statewide and several counties had states of emergency, which you know presumes that we're we're taking as many cars off the road and staying home. So, I think what you're reading is is right. I'm actually looking at the very same thing, but I don't want to >> that would be great >> right now say don't worry about it because then
021you'll say I said it and if I'm wrong then you know [laughter] I'm wrong and so let me look at it. I'll get back to you. that may resolve this for this >> the problem. Thank you. That would be great. Yeah. >> And we are looking for another parallegal at our firm, Sherry. So, if you're interested, we can we can talk. [laughter] >> Thanks for bringing that up. Uh, okay. So, the next slide is about Chromebooks, and I'm going to ask um Mr. for um Bobin to Bobin to come up and just give us a reminder of our Chromebook policy, how we uh have Chromebooks available to all of our students. >> So, every student in East Toronto um they they receive Chromebook uh to use for instructional purposes. Um if [clears throat] your Chromebook
022breaks, uh first replacement is uh during the school year it's free. So, you get one Chromebook, you break that Chromebook, second Chromebook's free. If you break the second Chromebook uh and the third Chromebook, you have to pay $50 for that right now. That's been our process for last few years. And all Chromebooks uh requests must be made through your your child's school through the main office. And if your Chromebook if your student uh if your child has a broken Chromebook, damaged uh Chromebook, missing keys, broken screen, not charging at all, please bring it to the main office at at their building and um main office will look at it. They have a distribution team who looks at it. If the tech is required, they'll call a tech to look at it and uh if needed,
023they'll replace it for you. And um again, we get requests all the time at district office to deliver Chromebooks. Every week, we deliver a bunch of Chromebooks to building. So, please, if you have a damaged Chromebook, please uh talk to your main offices. >> You know, I always ask about the hotspots. Um how are we doing with hotspots? >> Same process. So, if you um if you do not have internet access at home, please reach out to your main office. We we do have hotspots in stock again just last week because we knew um it could have been a remote day so a lot of buildings requested hotspots last week as well and we delivered about hundred of them throughout the district. >> Okay. And can we make sure that um this Friday we districtwide
024make an announcement that all students take their Chromebooks home just in case we do go virtual? >> Yes. >> Okay. Thank you. So, we wanted to just remind everybody we do have a family university tomorrow night and we hope that you can join us. And we also wanted to announce again that we are going to have a virtual town hall February 5th at 6 pm. This information is on our website. Um, and uh we are asking folks to submit questions if they have them. There's a small survey that simply asks folks if they have any specific questions, please um um you know jot them down in the survey. We will receive them, review questions and we will um choose the questions that we respond to. I will be joined by Dr. Jallow and um Mr.
025Farre. It will be an hour in length. We will be providing an update on our um absenteeism plan to to address abs chronic absenteeism in the district as well as responding to the more popular questions that we receive. So we hope that a lot of folks join us. Uh there is a link on the website. Uh if you go to the front page, there it is. And um it says East Ramapo uh virtual town hall Thursday, February 5th, 6 p.m. And if you click on that, you will be taken to the survey. The link to join us is also there. Uh first, if 500 folks can join after that, uh Zoom won't allow any more to join. So we're hoping to get 500 guests. And now we have budget updates and Mr. Stark will be
026presenting a budget update for us. >> This is better. Okay. Um this is just a preliminary conversation before we get into the budget conversation for the budget. Um, a few things that we want to uh get out in front of, uh, to let people know, including, uh, a draft of the maximum allowable tax levy calculation. Um, a look at our, uh, projected expenditures and revenues and so on and so forth. So, um, why is that showing up there, Bob? And you know, get rid of that. Um, in any case, um, we've done, um, a first draft of the maximum allowable tax, uh, levy for the 26 27 year. That's using preliminary information. We don't have all of the information on, um, some of the capital items as well as the um, pilots that will be
027included by uh, each of the towns. Um but uh when the calculation was done because there was carryover from last year uh we did not go to the the maximum allowable limit. We actually had a tax levy that was flat from the prior year. The calculation came out to um 16 I didn't do that. We're fighting $169,878,588 which represents an increase of a little over $7 million uh and is equivalent to a 4.35% increase. Again, that is the limit that we have to submit to the controllers's office, not what we are necessarily um going to be proposing to the board, but that is a calculation that we have to make. Okay. Um New York uh state executive department state aid projections were released last week. Our foundation aid actually remained relatively flat. Although statewide foundation
028aid increased, our student population has decreased by 4 to 500 students and that decrease um sort of offset an any increase that we might have received in our foundation aid. Uh that being said, our expense driven aid such as BOSEIS, transportation, so on and so forth with greater use um will will be increasing. Okay. The tax levy and state aid are the two major drivers of our revenue budget. If you recall the slides that we showed last year, those two items make up a great majority of our revenue budget. And our revenue budget drives our expenditure budget because those two budgets have to be equal. So [clears throat] the revenue piece is very important as we prepare an expenditure budget to propose to the board of education which we will be doing shortly. Salary projections
029for all of the employees based on contractual increases have been um are in the process of being reviewed for accuracy and are being entered into the draft budget. um principles and department leaders have all been trained or retrained on envision which is our financial package and are in the process of reviewing and refining their requests in the master budget document. Um and as you saw last year when we provided that document to you, it will have detailed notes in every account so that you can see what is included in each area. A presentation of the summary of a draft revenue and expenditure budgets will be given at our meeting on February 24th. So now um we want to take a quick uh review of our expenditures. Um and they're broken down into each of the
030different u major categories. So we have the board of education, central administration, finance, central office, central services, um special item, building administration, teaching which is um as you would expect one of the larger areas and you can see that there instructional media, pupil services, um transportation, um the three different areas of that, community services, employee benefits, another very large piece of our budget and interfund excuse me transfers. So I'll go back to the other slide in a second but you can see that over the past three budget cycles we have increased our expenditures substantially and that is in um that's based on the uh large increases in state aid that we have received over those >> over those three years. What's I mean just looking at the actual transportation services actual expense >> 2324 was
03159 million 2425 63 million and then you're projecting 2526 almost a $60.5 million increase from the last two years it just seems like it increased only by 4 million. >> That is that is uh unfortunately correct. So, what's um we did mention, um last year at the end of the school year when the bids came in for um much of the transportation services for both public and non-public, um those those the contractors, as you know, we contract everything out. the contractors did not choose to renew their prior contracts with a um with a CPI increase and they chose to go back out for the what was the initial budgeted amount for the transportation for 2526 >> budgeted amount um was approximately 66 million if I'm recalling correctly but I I I'll give you this new
032exact amounts >> contract negotiate all the Say that again. >> No, no. I I remember the the the went out to bid on all of them, >> right? And we had much larger than expected increases in in in those. So, um at the time, we actually negotiated some decreases um from what was actually bid. So, what we're what we're going to show you um as we as we go through um looking at the the expenditures, which we'll be doing because um we're actually going to have to be doing a large um budget transfer into the transportation line to cover all of this, which will be at one of the next two meetings. We'll show you the the breakdown of how all of that uh occurred. But yes, the the the increases there um that that
033is a projection, but I believe that pretty close to >> the current year that we're in now. >> That's the current Yeah, it's a projection for the end of the year. >> I mean, based on the contracts, we can see already what we're getting and what it's going to cost essentially. >> Eric, was one of the negotiations with them that they cannot go up next year that this is for a two-year? >> No. So what the negotiation was was that we reduced the amounts that were bid um with the agreement that in year two we would go to the bid amounts with a cap. So we so there there will be a slight increase again in the in the year moving forward but not not to the same extent >> but we will would we
034know already now basically with most of the contractors what the next >> with the contractors that will renew. Correct. and and there that will be everybody still has the option of of not renewing but >> the understanding was that this year we're giving him a bigger increase that next year they shouldn't. Wasn't that part of it? >> We we we agreed to what the second year would be should they renew. So, I I the the thought amongst the conversations that we had was that most people would be satisfied with the two-year proposal that was put out there. Okay. And I I want to also make clear that this was not only the non-public and the YPC's which we did have a um had some some bidding issues with but um the public transportation uh public
035school transportation with Chestnut Ridge and IMS and others also increased not to the same extent but they interring numbers 23 247 million and the act is that transfers from the from the fund from That's transfers from fund balance. >> Got it. So, we're going to take out an an additional $5 million this year to cover. >> So, that was budgeted for um and it's in the transfer to capital line. So, th those those dollars were presented during the budget process as being um dedicated to uh primarily three different projects. two boilers in in two of our buildings to replace the boilers I believe at Elmo and Limekll and then or El Dorado and it's either Elmo or Elorado and Limekill and then uh the rest of the rest of the those funds were being used
036for um the parking the parking lots uh paving and concrete work that was needed to be done that was not covered in the ARPA funds >> but that had has been done. The parking lots were done already. Yes, >> it's all been done. That's all been done. the bo bo bo bo bo bo bo bo bo bo bo bo bo bo bo bo bo bo bo bo boilers are not complete but there we're in the process of working that out with the um architects. Okay. So as you can see here we we've had an overall increase go from 266 million in 20 324 up to 323 uh in last year. We expect that we'll be at approximately 343 um or closer to 344 as we get to the end of this year. What was the
037budget? >> I'm sorry. >> What was the original budget number? >> Um the original budget. >> I didn't put that in here. I'll have to uh I think it's about 10 million less. I think we're going to be about about $10 million over. Okay. So, um the expenditure reports include all the amounts in the general fund that have been expensed or encumbered as of December 31st. As I mentioned earlier, they also have um $20 million of unencumbered additional transportation expenditures. We will be providing you with a budget transfer for that uh in the coming meetings and unencumbered employee benefits will also be included in the January expend expenditure report. So, we have a few um not not a major amount, but uh some un employee benefits that are not uh encumbered yet that will also
038be included when we get to the January report. So here is the um as you see um when we get to the revenue report our projected revenues which are pretty close to being on on budget are 334 million. I back up our projected expenditures are about 344. So, we're looking at a number that's about $10 million over, which will >> What's missing >> from what >> the numbers? If you look at the 25 >> Oh, thanks. >> If we put it on one on one slide, they'd be too small for people to see. It might be too small already. But >> um so as you can see our revenues uh will be approximately 334 million leaving us with a uh shortfall or use of fund balance of approximately $10 million for the year. Um as
039as mentioned before, real property taxes and New York State aid income are the two primary drivers of the budget. Interest income is also important. that is budgeted for this year. Last year it wasn't for some reason. Um we will earn a little bit more in interest income than was budgeted for as interest rates have stayed a little bit higher than anticipated. We did um we did that a little conservatively in the event that interest rates dropped um and they've stayed uh reasonably high and we're still earning quite a bit in interest income. In terms of the cash flow analysis, this is great because I can't see it. Um, can I move this? I can cheat over here. >> Um, >> when we're looking at the cash flow analysis, um, the first page, you'll be able
040to see this maybe a little bit more clearly on your computers. The first page has our receipts and page two has our um our dispersements. So you can see that our projection for the end of the year is that we are looking at um total receipts of about 400 million and dispersements of >> 433 which would um mean that our cash balance would be going down by about 30 30 million or so. Now what I do need to 30 million >> 16 I get where's the other 15? >> So we are anticipating uh some increases in our expense driven aids but because they were not in the run. So for example our transportation aid is going to go up with our increase in transportation costs >> but because that was not in the aid runs
041it will be given to the district in a special payment in September. So as a result of that, this is a cash flow analysis. It will be a part of the district's financial statements for the year ended June 30th, 2025. But in a cash flow analysis, we won't see the receipt of those funds coming in until September. So the cash part will come >> total cash balance of 65 million. Is that what you're saying? >> Yeah. Does the fact that we have between 400 to 500 students less this year would bring down some cost? Um it will it will not bring down costs in the current year in terms of staffing and benefits and so on, but it will be something that will be uh addressed in the budget for the following year because obviously
042if we uh were budgeting to run public schools with 10,000 students um in the current year, uh if we're down 500 students that we obviously um will will make some adjustments for That was that was it for this evening. Any other questions? >> Thank you, Eric. >> Thank you. >> We're going to still be reviewing this a few times, so we can as we're a little short on time for tonight. >> Yeah, >> we do and we don't have um a student voice. >> Okay. So we'll move on to >> Okay, we will now call upon Dr. Harold Kohl's from Westchester Boseis and his team to present the update on the superintendent search. We're going to be meeting with them later in exec as well. Dr. Kohl's Thank you. Thank you. Okay. Thank you. Um
043we currently uh in our search we had um [clears throat] 31 different candidates that were interested in applying for the position. Um we start looking at setting up appointments. We had [clears throat] two candidates withdraw which left us with 29 candidates to look at. After vetting the candidates, looking at their criteria, looking at the criteria that was given by the board as what we were looking for, um we w up narrowing that down to 12 candidates, which we w up interviewing starting January 6th. Um we finished our interviews the third 16th of January. And once we vetted the character the the uh candidates again uh we w up narrowing that down to five candidates that were listed that had the criteria that we were shared with by the board that we were looking at. That's
044okay. [clears throat] Yeah. Um it's the 27th which is tonight we're able to come forward and give the information to the board as far as the candidates that we interviewed. uh and the selection recommendations that we're making and that will be done tonight during the executive session. We're looking at moving towards having the candidates that the board selects to have come forward for the first round of interviews to be done in February. That date will be determined um at that time period. Um following that, the board will make a decision based upon the feedback that they received after going through the candidates search uh and narrow that down to a finalist. And those finalists will be coming in for a final interview with the board to be able to have that meeting with them to
045make the determination as to who the person is going to be for the district. Um after negotiation the date term determined the board will like to final create a fi have a date for the finalist to come in and then the board will have uh negotiation for that one finalist to be able to look at contract being put together and the date that um is put here as far as uh the superintendent will be offered a position to start um by by the July 1st 2026. Do you have any questions? >> Not necessarily a question, but more so of a concern. Um, how are we timewise um in terms of the way we're moving um knowing that it's pretty much February and we're just now going to be introduced to the applicants tonight. hear you
046but the mic. >> Okay. >> The first round of interviews with the board being beginning of February which would be in next week or starting earlier next week. The second round would be sometime in month of February end of February. It's a shorter month and the the uh I guess the anticipated goal would be to have those determinations made by beginning of March into February to be able to have that determination to go to contract. At that point, we'll be on time for be able to have that person come in. Uh I think that if uh once the board makes a determination on the finalist, they'll have time for if a person's working currently, they can wind up giving enough notice for position to be available to start at the beginning of school or beginning
047of the end of the school year. >> Okay. Thank you very much, Dr. Cole. Looking forward to see the applicants later in exec and I appreciate all the hard work you and your team have done. So thank you. Right. >> Thank you. Okay, that concludes the superintendence report for tonight. Thank you, Mr. Lusco. Um, we don't have a student reps here tonight, so we'll move on. We now move on to consent and agenda items before we open up the motion. Is there any would anyone like anything removed for discussion from items 1 through eight? We can move it to action items. Hearing none, I will now make a motion for items 1 through eight, consent and agenda. Do I have a second? >> Second by Mr. C. It s >> Mr. Feder apologize. [snorts] Um,
048all those in favor say I. Anyone oppose? Motion carries. Moving on to action items. I have a motion of action items one through nine. Moved by Mr. Weissman. Do I have a second? Second by Mr. Gruber. open up for discussion. >> Uh yes, I have a question about number item number seven, the donation. Um I noticed that this was a letter that was presented back in July and we have um a deadline of I believe um I think the uh July 10, 2020. No, that's not it. Yeah, there's a deadline of July to for us to spend this money. Um why did we wait so long to approve this donation and have we started to um spend this money yet? >> Thank you. Dr. Shanahan, would you like to respond, please? recently. It was just
049recently delivered to the business office. It comes every year. Um, and it is for the F FRC's to support the work that they do with the schools. It's part of a larger program in the region for the F FRC's. No, I'm sorry. >> Is that the >> the question is this was sent July 7th. Uh there's a deadline of June 30 of 2026 for us suspend this or we lose it. My question is why are we just now approving this um in January? Why wasn't it approved back in August, September? >> Right. It was the check itself was just recently received >> in October. Yes, it's it was just recently received in the in the business office and once we saw it, this was about a month ago, then we put all the processes through
050to get it on the board agenda. >> So, this hasn't been spent yet. We haven't done anything with this yet. >> Correct. >> Okay. Um but like I said, it's dated October. We're in Jan. We're January about to be in February. So, I'm just a little concerned why it took us so long to um realize that we received this check to >> Right. It was like I said, it was in the business office. We just got a hold of it about a month ago and put the process through. Okay. Thank you. Okay, we have a motion and a second for items one through nine. All those in favor say I. I. Anyone oppose abstain? Motion carries. Information and reports from the board. Vice President have anything for us tonight? >> Yeah, you know, I'll be
051quick um because I know we need to hurry up. Um, but I do want to say congrats to the East Rampo wrestling team. Something different. Um, showcasing their remarkable skills against Clarkstown South um here at Rambo High School. Yeah. >> And um >> and representing our East Rample Titans wrestling team at at the Scarsdale tournament. And at this tournament, I do want to give a special recognition to Jeremiah and Fabricio for securing fourth place in their division among over 20 participating schools. So, I thought that was also great. And I want to say thank you to Coach Sini and staff for their tireless dedication and commitment to empowering our student athletes. And one last thing, um, this month, you know, past Monday, we celebrated Dr. Martin Luther King and there was a event at the
052at Ramapo High School where I just want to give a huge shout out to our students that participated within that event at Ramapo High School. Just a job well done. And it's just great to see our students, you know, showcasing their talents, um, whatever they may do, what whatever they may be interested in. But I just think it's great to even just give them kudos for for all of their efforts. Thank you. >> Um so I I just want to add uh I didn't I noticed this wasn't shared. Um I know there's a possible storm this weekend, but um we are supposed to be having community day this Saturday at Rample High School. Um I believe the first game starts with our modified team at 9:00. Um and our varsity playing at 5. Uh but
053like I said with the weather possible weather um please keep an eye out for any messages that may go out um of possible cancellation. And the last thing I'll mention is that um just please be mindful uh when driving. Uh like I said as I drove this morning I saw many children standing outside waiting for the school bus. Um and with the sidewalks not fully cleared some kids were forced to stand on the street. So, please slow down, stay alert, and drive with extra caution. Um, our children's safety depends on it. Thank you. >> Thank you, Sabrina. Thank you, Mr. >> By the way, there was one municipality that had did they didn't do much of a job, but uh today in the afternoon and even tonight, they brought in trucks and tractors. They're cleaning
054the snow. They're actually working to do >> agreed. make it positive. >> I I also noticed just driving today that some of the new the border border towns in New Jersey had equally sketchy snow removal. You know, there's still snow on the roads. So, I think it's just there was so much to move. >> You know, >> there was a few years that we didn't need to do it, so we figured last year we're raking lawns this time of year. [snorts] >> Okay. Future meeting dates. We'll discuss the weather later. Regular meeting is scheduled for February 10th, 2026, beginning at 7:30 p.m. right here in the PLC, not here, in the PLC room in the administration building at 105 South Madison Avenue, Spring Valley, New York 10977. Written communication. Since the last board meeting, the
055board has not received any written communications. I will now make a motion to enter executive session. Kathy, what are we discussing besides superintendent search? >> We're one second. Sorry. um to discuss matters regarding the possible employment of particular persons and the discipline or termination of particular certified persons. We do not expect action following. >> Okay. Do I have a second on the motion? >> Second by Miss Charles Pier. All those in favor say I. Anyone oppose? Motion carries. Thank you all and have a good night. like to make a motion to adjourn this meeting. Second by Mr. Gable. All those in favor say I. And on oppos motion carries. Thank you.