001Did you guys get my >> All right. >> Good afternoon and welcome to the monthly meeting of the East Rockway uh Board of Education. I'd like to call this meeting to order at 5:38 p.m. on Tuesday, August 19th, 2025. Can we please stand for the Pledge of Allegiance? I pledge algiance to the flag of the United States of America and to the stands one nation under God indivisible with liberty and justice for all. >> All right, new business, Mr. D. Tomaso. >> Uh, you know what? I'm going to save old and new business uh for the superintendent's report. >> Okay. Um All right. Public comments on agenda items. Are there any comments here? No. Nope. No comments on tonight's agenda items. Approval of minutes. Are there any questions regarding the meeting minutes from the reorg
002meeting and the regular meeting on July 8th and special meeting on July 29th, 2025? >> Nope. >> Can I have a motion to approve the minutes of agenda item 1F? >> Motion by Mrs. Doyle. Second. >> Second. >> Uh second by Mr. Lores. All in favor? I >> opposed abstain. Motion approved. >> Uh correspondence. We have received one email uh this month. Uh next item three, consent agenda. Can I have a motion to create a consent agenda with the following items? Recommendation of superintendent personnel schedules, items 4 A through F. Other items 5A through J. Approval of CSE and CPSC recommendation 6A and budget transfers 7A. Can I have a motion? >> Motion by Mr. Lores. Second. >> Second by Mrs. SalFo. All in favor? >> Opposed? Abstain. Motion approved. Uh, now can I have
003a motion to accept the items on the consent agenda? >> Motion by Mrs. Salufo. Second. >> Second by Mrs. Doyle. All in favor? >> Opposed to abstain. Motion approved. All right. Uh, next is policy matters. We will be adopting one policy tonight. Policy 5300.70, public conduct on school property. Are there any questions from the board? >> No. >> Okay. I have a motion to adopt policy listed on item 8B. >> Motion by Mrs. Doyle. Second. >> Second by Mr. Lores. All in favor? >> Opposed? Abstain. Motion approved. Okay. And we have seven policies for review. They are listed on the website. Uh now for report, superintendent report, Mr. Gamasu. >> Yep. Thank you, Mr. McN. Um I just like to uh thank the parents uh of those children who attended our summer boost program. Um
004you know, the idea is to try to prevent that summer slide so when kids start up in September, they're not as far behind. And I'd also like to thank Mr. the Murray for organizing it and also our teachers. Uh this was a a good incentive in the sense that we had all teachers from our school uh running the program. So uh we're looking forward to seeing how well the kids start off in September. So uh thank you parents for participating and have your children uh participate in summer boost. Uh keep your ears and eyes open for uh potentially uh more programs like that to come in the future. Um, just want to let you know on the academic home front, um, I'm very excited that after our November superintendence conference day, the entire district, all
005that's including all teachers will be trained in project-based learning. Um, they will be getting the gold standard from PBL works. And as you know, and I've been uh speaking about at numerous PTA meetings, it will foster critical thinking, collaboration, and communication, which are essential skills for our students to succeed in the future. In the area of facilities, uh we're almost there at REM Avenue for the new boiler. Uh it will definitely be ready for uh unfortunately, I have to say, when the weather does change, uh but we will be ready for the heating system there at the junior senior high school. uh lockers and hallways have been refreshed and painted. I love it. You see the uh black and orange in the in in the in the hallways. It's almost as if you're walking into
006a different building. So, we're excited for the kids and parents to see that uh work on the Koopa. I think the survey work has begun. Uh so, uh we will be looking um and sending notice to you in terms of when the Koopa will be restored. Uh it's going to take a couple of months, I'm going to imagine. just materials. >> Okay. Um and last but not least, um if you had noticed, and it's hard not to notice when you walk in our buildings that all the lighting has been improved and upgraded. Uh the system uh the lights actually sleep when there's no motion. Uh saving us money and energy. And then the lights go on. They're incredibly bright. And these are all our academic learning spaces and offices and this is going to be
007an excellent improvement uh for our students in the learning environment. So we're excited about that. Additionally, uh we have in the buildings have been insulated uh in all areas that need be. So these are all cost savings from the energy performance contract that will be saving the district money as well as improving the environment in our schools. Uh school safety update. Um, we've added an additional day working with our security firm, Alaris. Uh, previously they had been in our schools for 2 days a week. Uh, now they will be with us three days a week. Uh, we take safety as a premium here. Uh, and it's, uh, you should know that, uh, that with the additional day, that'll keep us safer and that'll keep our staff and students um, uh, in the well-being of, uh,
008staying safe. And last but not least in the area of security, we added two um scholarship kiosks that are being installed. Um they're not they will not be ready uh for the opening day of school, but shortly thereafter we will have the system set up and that will be for checking in parents and students and at different activities uh throughout the day. So, we're taking all the necessary steps we need uh to keep our building safer and for our students and staff and parents. And and last but not least, I sent out correspondence today on two updates with New York State. I'm sure you've heard a lot of about the new cell phone uh uh device uh ban uh which is a New York State requirement. Uh the governor passed that uh earlier in the
009uh in the spring. Um, I included the policy in my update. If you have any questions about that, please feel free to reach out to me. You should be receiving correspondence. I know the high school sent out information in terms of guidelines and procedures. So, that's the everyday what that means to the students and parents and how uh the policy will be enforced and what the potential and hopefully uh there will be none but consequences for violating uh those procedures. So, uh, keep your radar open for that. And last but not least, um, you should be aware that school lunches now are free. So, school lunch and breakfast, uh, are free. Uh, New York State has passed that for this year. Uh, you will receive information probably from the business office regarding that, but I
010want to emphasize that that's for school lunch, not for snacks and anything additional uh, that the kids may order for school. So, those are two uh important updates from New York State. And last but not least, I'm incredibly excited about getting the school year started. Administrative team, uh teachers are all anticipating a fantastic year. Um we kick it off on superintendent conference day for the staff on August 28th. Uh we'll have some fun that day. I have a couple of fun activities planned uh for the staff and then the students will be returning for their first day. Uh we'll be here with open arms on uh September 3rd. That would be Wednesday uh September 3rd. And that's it for the superintendent report. >> All right. Uh thank you, Mr. D. Tomaso. Uh next up is
011good and welfare. Condolences to Diane Dracopoulos and family on the passing of her father-in-law, Steve Draopoulos. Condolences to the Krug family on the passing of Clifford Krug, who served as our volunteer assistant varsity softball coach for 29 years. Um, at this point, are there any public comments? Over here? No, none over here. >> All right. Um, board member comments. Anyone? >> I'm good. I'm good. >> I just want to ask about the free Is it free breakfast and board and it's students or students and teachers? just students. >> No snacks. What about drinks? >> It comes with I'm not sure if it come It comes with a milk or a juice. Okay. It comes with a drink. Um and and they'll be getting healthy portions of which are distributed equally in terms of proteins, carbohydrates,
012and vegetables and whatnot. So, they'll be getting breakfast and lunch. >> Yeah. No, I'm very happy with that. I just um wanted to say the balls look absolutely amazing. >> I knew you'd like it. >> Love it. I love it. >> And I'm looking forward to um you know, >> right? I'm good. Um this concludes tonight's board meeting. Can I have a motion to adjourn the meeting at 5:48 p.m. to continue into executive session to discuss contract negotiations? Motion by Mr. Lores. Second, second by Mrs. Salupo. All in favor? >> Opposed? Abstain. Motion approved. Good night, everyone. >> Have a good night.