001Evening everyone and welcome to Covert Avenue School. I want to extend a warm welcome to our board of education members, superintendent small, district administrators, staff, and families joining us here tonight. We're proud to share our school with you and to honor our veterans together as one community. It's a true honor to host tonight's board of education meeting here, especially to celebrate such a meaningful occasion, Veterans Day. Before we get started, I want to highlight a few safety reminders. There are emergency exits as you see on this side, as well as on that side of the gym. So, we're not going to have one, but in case of an emergency, obviously, we're going to exit through these doors and do so in a cal calm manner. At this time, I invite everyone to please stand for
002the pledge of allegiance and remain standing for the Star Spangled Banner performed by our show choir under the direction of Mrs. Turk. >> 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. I'm sorry. Please remain standing. >> The [singing] dawn's early light. What [singing] so proudly we held at the twilight [singing] last gleaming whose rush stripes and [singing and music] bright stars through the perilous [singing] fight for the ra [singing] and The rock is red. The bombs bursting in air came through through the [singing] night that our clad was still [singing] there. Oh, say does that star spangle better [singing] yet? For the land of the free and the home of the brave.
003[applause] Thank you very much. At this time, it is my pleasure to turn the program over to our board of education president, Miss Tiffany Capers. >> Thank you, Miss Scott. Uh, first I'd like to apologize for our delay. We uh had so much to cover and it it really is never enough time. Please forgive us and know that we uh do appreciate all of your attendance today. We just had so much to cover. It seems like the meeting's come so quickly and a lot to cover. So, please forgive us. All right. Welcome everyone to our meeting. Um district clerk, please note that all board members are present except Mr. Palmer. Thank you. May I have a motion to approve the meeting minutes of the regular meeting of October 14th? and the special meeting of November
0046. >> Thank you, Miss Battle. May I second? >> Second, >> Mr. Ramos. Thank you, Mr. Ramos. All in favor? >> I >> Motion carries. Thank you. Do we have any correspondence? >> Correspondence has been given to the board for consideration. >> Thank you. All right. Good evening everyone and thank you again for joining us for our November schoolboard meeting. We are grateful to have so many families with us both in person and those joining us virtually tonight. Your support means so much to our school, our students and our staff. We also want to extend a special welcome to our volunt our veterans tonight from post 1033 that are joining us. We thank you for your service, your sacrifice, and the example you set to our children and welcome. [applause] And no meeting would be
005complete without us highlighting our wonderful scholars. So we will be celebrating our achievements of our English lang language learner students tonight. Their hard work and growth is why we are here and we are so proud of them. So please stay for that celebration. Well again thank you all for being here and let's get started. All right. Uh may I have the report of the Sana Central High School District, Miss Douglas? Good evening. As we approach Thanksgiving, we send warm welcomes wishes to the Elmont Union Free School District community for a peaceful and joyful holiday season. It's a pleasure to share with you a snapshot of the vibrant activities and impressive acknowledgements and accomplishments taking place across our high schools. This month, Elmont Memorial Scholars continue to excel across academics, the arts, and service. Senior Bedish
006Minashua Minesua, a proud Dutch Broadway alumni, recently published a children's book entitled Alex and the Wishing Well, which is available on Amazon. This past Friday, he also had the privilege of reading to uh our fifth grade students and really sharing with them the writing and the publishing process. truly a full circle moment for a student who went to Dutch Broadway, who is now in our high school, uh, to really exemplify the district's commitment to lifelong learning. The school community also came together for many events such as the Malloy Health Fair, the senior high drama club's production of Clue, and the middle school's performance of The Lion King Jr. at the Elmont Public Library. My nieces are still um speaking about how Mufasa was fantastic. It was truly an honor uh to see our and and
007overall the overall production uh to really see the middle school scholars come out and perform. Elmont's commitment to inclusive education was also on display as the school prepared to welcome families of incoming fifth and sixth grade special education students with spelling bees pal Thanksgiving and hurricane relief collections led by key club and community partners. Elmont continues to foster student voice leadership and care at Swanica High School. Student engagement has been dynamic and deeply meaningful. In celebration of art education week, scholars collaborated on a large-scale art installment symbolizing unity. Our virtual enterprise students earned a national gold banner, placing them amongst the top 29 firms across the country. Thank you for that round of applause. Let's give our scholars a round of applause. [applause] Business students excelled in competitions and behind the scenes learning at Metife
008Stadium. Cultural enrichment continues to thrive with culinary field trips, community service through food drives and garden cleanups and student success in national academic competitions. From college visits to creative fundraisers and from Red Ribbon Week to senior banquetss, our scholars are cultivating skills and character character in equal measures. At Floral Park High School, academic distinction and student leadership remains hallmark to our school community. Seven seniors have recently been awarded the prestigious LIU Presidential Scholarship, each receiving full 4-year tuition scholarships. Congratulations to those students. [applause] The school hosted its inaugural career day, bringing professionals and alumni together to mentor 10th grade students, and nearly all juniors participated in the P um PSAT. In athletics, the varsity boys soccer team earned the Nassau County Championship for the second consecutive year in a row. We can give them a
009round of applause as well. [applause] While our girls volleyball team finished a conference championships, the music department, virtual enterprise team, and national English honors society all provided students with rich learning experiences beyond the classroom. With service projects, art exhibits, and academic recognition continuing across departments, Floral Park Memorial is closing the fall semester with momentum and pride. Thank you. >> [applause] >> Thank you, Miss Douglas. Are there any audience members who would like to speak on agenda items only? Okay, Mrs. Sprinton. >> Good evening everyone. I'm so happy to see so many of you here. So, thank you so much for joining us. Tonight's board meeting is indeed a very special occasion. It's a night where we will celebrate our scholars for their extraordinary achievements. We will celebrate and thank our servicemen, our veterans for their
010sacrifice and service to our nation. and we will thank three retirees for years of dedicated service to our school district. Uh also we will also celebrate the partnership between our district and community organizations such as the American Heart Association. So what I would like to do now is um on Tuesday of last week on the 11th um our nation set aside this special day to thank our veterans for their service and sacrifice uh to our nation. We're often reminded that we live in a free nation. But we also know that that freedom is not free and is paid for by the service, the leadership, the courage and the sacrifice of those brave men and women who serve in our ar armed forces and also their families who support them during um their time in service.
011Last Tuesday, the Elmont community came out in its numbers for our Veterans Day celebration. I would like to thank our students, our teachers, our parents, members of the board who came out to march in the parade to show our love and support to our veterans. It is now my pleasure to reintroduce our building principal, Mrs. Gun, who will introduce our students. Thank you, Mr. Small. This evening, we gather not only to continue the important work of our school district, but also to pause and reflect on the incredible sacrifices of the men and women who have served our country. To our veterans in attendance, including those from our local American Legion, and to the family members of veterans who are part of our Covert Avenue and Elmont school community, thank you. Your courage, commitment, and service
012inspire us all. At Covert Avenue, we work hard to teach our students what it means to serve others, to be kind, respectful, and responsible citizens. Veterans Day gives us a powerful opportunity to show those to show these lessons in action and to remind our students that freedom and community come with responsibility and gratitude. On behalf of the students at staff of Covert Avenue School, thank you for being here. Thank you for your partnership and most importantly, thank you to our veterans for your service and your example. We are so glad to have you with us here this evening. We invite you to admire the beautiful eagle hanging on our gymnasium wall. Our Covert Avenue students and staff are honored to present this artwork as a gift to the American Legion Post 1033. A special thank
013you to Miss Ellison for her creativity, effort, and care in bringing this piece to life. So, wherever you are, Miss Ellison, thank you. [applause] >> [applause] >> I will now turn the program over to Mrs. Cheryl Turk and our show choir as we honor our veterans with a song entitled To Those We Serve. So, my [singing and music] country is of thee, sweet land of liberty. [music and singing] To thee we sing. To thee [singing] we sing. [music] To those who serve, who serve [music and singing] the free. Those who stand proud [music] and tall and serve us [singing] all unselfishly. With [music] heart and soul. They've answered freedom's [music] call. To those who serve, >> to [music] those who [singing] serve, who serve us all from this [music and singing] great land. Our heroes
014help, putting [music] their hopes [singing] and dreams on so freedom [music] can prevail. They come from north, [music] from south, and east and west. They [music] are the brave. >> They are the bravest and the [music and singing] best. How can we ever thank them? Their words would [music] never do. are here to serve [music] and help [singing] preserve our grand red, white, and blue. Those [music] who [singing] serve my country is a sweet land of liberty. [music] All that. Oh, near and dearly [singing] we sing. They taught us [music] all. What truth [singing] and strength should be [music] to those [singing] who serve those who serve courageously. [music] How can we ever think that clear words [music] would never do? Our heroes [singing] brave deserve to save our grand red, white [music] and blue.
015Red, white, and [music and singing] blue. Those who serve my country is [music] of the ser of liberty. Those who say proud [music] and seriously [singing] we sing with heart and soul. They answer freedom's [music and singing] call. To those who serve to those who [singing] serve. To those who serve, [music] to those [singing] who serve, who serve [music] us on my country of the [singing] ser [music] to thee [music and singing] we sing. >> [applause] >> Thank you so much, boys and girls, for that beautiful performance. Can you take a bow? Take a bow. [applause] As our students exit the risers, we do have some cards that the students at Covert Avenue have made that we would love to give you and also a bouquet. [applause] Thank you so much. And at this time,
016after our students distribute and exit, I will turn the program back over to Mr. Small. I'll read it because Okay. It is always hard to say goodbye. Um and so I don't think we're going to say goodbye um tonight. We're going to say thank you for your service and we're going to thank you and hope that we will see these individuals um in the future. Um tonight we are here to celebrate uh three incredible individuals who have provided over 54 years of dedicated service to our students, our staff, our faculty, the administrative administrators and our families. and we want to say thank you for a job well done and we want to also wish you continued uh success and all the best things that retirement will bring your way. Uh Ms. Arlene Wong who serves
017as our senior account clerk in our business office has served the Elmont school district for over 11 years and she has now retired. She's not here tonight. We want to give her a big round of applause for her years of service. [applause] And we have here tonight Mr. Timothy Clary. Mr. Clary has served our district for 25 dedicated years as a custodial cleaner. And we often don't give our custodians enough credit. But their work is seen every single day. and what they do does contribute to our main focus of teaching and learning. Mr. Clary has played a vital role. His efforts have not gone unnoticed as it has directly impacted every student, every staff and every member of our uh administrative team every day in every classroom in the hallway and in our facilities department.
018Through his efforts, our buildings remain clean, our lights were on, the heating systems were there. And I can attest to it because for the last year, he was at central office. And often times, um, he would come to my office as I'm working in the late evenings and I need to clean your office, right? Um, he is dedicated. He is meticulous in everything that he has done. And so, as Mr. Clary retires from our district. We want to tell him how much we've appreciated his work. We want to thank you for everything you've done to ensure that our buildings remain safe, clean, and comfortable for our students and our staff each and every day. So, thank you, sir, for your service. Congratulations on your retirement, and we wish you all the best. [applause] >> [applause]
019>> I'm in the middle. All right, here we go. Congratulations. >> Thank you. >> We're also tonight going to recognize our district clerk who is presiding over her last board of education meeting um tonight. At the end of this week, Mrs. Barbara Gallow will go into retirement. She reminds me each and every day, "You're going to miss me when I'm gone." Um, and yes, indeed, I'm going to miss her terribly when she's gone. I I have to say this, one of the things that of um Anna's greatest strength is she is the district historian. There is nothing that you could ask her that she doesn't know. She will remember everything that happened when it happened. um the context behind why it happened and if I need a document she knows exactly where to find it.
020So um I started um in the district last July July 2024 and Mrs. Barbara Gallo started her tenure as a district clerk at the same time. And so while she was not new to the district, she was new to her role and I was new to the district. So we learned many things together. And I can tell you that over the last year, she has been a rock. She has been a solid foundation that I've relied on. Uh and I can also tell you that our board of education has relied on her. Anna is meticulous about everything you want a document to be read. She zeroed today. She's got a document that she opened up and said, "I see I see an error." Like she is um she knows how to find um the most
021minuscule mistaken something and pointed out to us. And those are the things when someone takes great care in their job, you see from afar and you admire it deeply. So Anna's journey began over district as a teacher aid. Then she graduated to being a clerk typist and it is now culminating in the role of our district clerk. She has a deep knowledge of the district's history, our policies, our practices, our procedures. She has strong connections, relationships with many individuals in this district. I can tell you though that I have enjoyed and admired and respected her service while I've served as a superintendent. She has helped us to leap into the 21st century with our board docs platform. Um we started using board docs last year and she was instrumental in spearheading and leading us to
022uh digitize how the board um worked with our agendas and our minutes. So today, Anna, we are sending your heartfelt thank you. We are thanking you for your service. We are thanking you for your dedication. We are thanking you for how you have made us feel. And I can tell you how you've made me feel over the last year. You're loyal. You're dedicated. You're meticulous. You put service. You go above and beyond each and every day. And I will tell you that we will miss you. I know you're coming back to help out and to help with the transition. But tonight, a grateful board of education, an even great more grateful superintendent, and an entire school community say thank you for your service and wish you all the best in retirement. [applause] >> [applause] >>
023Anna, on behalf of the entire school board, I want to extend a huge thank you to you for your 19 years of dedication and service our district. I'm going to try to get through this without crying. You've been the district clerk every board hopes to have. Always willing to lend a hand, always ready to support in any way you can, always committed to doing what's best for our students and staff. And on a personal note, I want to thank you for the encouragement you've given me in my new role as board president. While I'll miss having you by my side, I know that your family is excited to have you back full-time. So, on behalf of the Elmont Union Free School Board, I wish you joy, rest, and wonderful adventures in your retirement. Thank you
024for everything, my dear friend. [applause] Okay. Drop your >> plate. You ordered your >> Oh yeah. No. Now you want to do a photo while this behind. Yes. Thank you. Thank you. [applause] Congratulations again, Miss Barbara Gallalo. [applause] At this time, we would like to invite Jeremy Jeremy Lease, the community impact director from the Long Island and Westchester American Heart Association to present a donation to our school district. We would also like to invite Miss Deborah Bennett, our physical education coordinator. The Almont School District gracefully accepts a gener a generous donation from the American Heart Association which includes six CPR in schools with first aid training kits and six AED trainers as they are being displayed. This contribution will definitely strengthen our emergency preparedness and expand life-saving training opportunities for students and staff. heart health
025is extremely important and we get to teach our students how to manage that and how to identify the risks. So, thank you the American Heart Association. [applause] Thank you. I'm Deb Bennett. I'm the fizz coordinator, but I'm also the health and welfare uh for IDA, our Elmont Elementary uh teach association. We are thankful to Jeremy and the American Heart Association for this generous donation. It'll enable us to expose our students to life-saving techniques and skills. We look forward to continuing our partnership with the AHA. In fact, we are excited to share that we are in the process of planning assemblies in our schools using these CPR kits to address heart health. Thank you. [applause] Thank you so much for having me this evening. Um it's my pleasure to provide these resources to the Elmont district.
026Um sudden cardiac arrest can happen anywhere, anytime to anyone. Uh 350,000 individuals annually experience out of hospital cardiac arrests. In fact, just yesterday there was a student in the Locust Valley District that collapsed on the basketball court. and thanks to um those in the crowd uh jumped in and performed CPR, administer an AED, the student uh looks like he's going to, you know, have a favorable outcome. So, we know that these resources uh will benefit the students and faculty here. Um god forbid a situation occurs, people will be prepared to act. So, it's our pleasure to assist in that. [applause] Okay. So, in addition to all the wonderful things that we've been doing, no board of education meeting would have been complete without us acknowledging our scholars, we're always incredibly proud of our students, their
027hard work, and their achievement. And so, we also want to thank the teachers and the principles who play a critical role in our students success each and every day. Tonight we will recognize our English language learners who have performed extraordinary. And so I would like to introduce our interim director of English language learning um to uh Miss Rita Johnson who will now speak about our students. Yeah. >> Hi. Good evening everyone. Just a brief announcement before Miss Johnson uh presents the student awards. Uh just like we did last year, we are pleased to offer the simultaneous translation devices for our Spanish-sp speakaking parents who would like to hear Miss Johnson's speech translated into Spanish. I will be making a brief statement letting them know that it's available in the table uh in the back. We
028are also aware that many of our scholars tonight are of Erdo origin or urgent erdo descent. So for those parents, we would like to offer simultaneous translation from Miss Gazalah Haidider, my friend and colleague back there waving her hand. Um, Miss Gazada, Miss Gazalahider will also assist you with Erdo. Um, we want to let you know that as parents, you should feel proud and excited of the achievements and recognition of your children. And if you feel the need to hear the speech in your native language, whether that is in Spanish or in Erdo, the district is more than happy to offer and provide those translation services for you. Now I'm going to do the brief statement in Spanish. Thank you very much. Gracias. And Miss Haidider taught me. Thank you. And erdo shukria. Thank you.
029[applause] Good evening, members of the board of education, families, staff, and most importantly, our scholars. My name is Mrs. Johnson and I am honored to serve as interim director of ENL services. Tonight we gather to celebrate a remarkable milestone achieved by some of our multilingual scholars reaching the commanding level on the NISL light assessment. This accomplishment represents a significant step in their academic journey. This year we are proud to announce that 85 multilingual scholars have reached this milestone. Tonight 64 current students will honor will be honored with certificates for their outstanding achievement. To our multilingo scholars, we are proud of you and excited to see the many successes that lie that lie ahead. Please join me in congratulating these students on their exceptional achievement. Let's give them a welldeserved round of applause. [applause] To honor
030each scholar, we now invite our principles to announce their school's honores. Please welcome Miss Rodrigo from Alden Terrace School to recognize the scholars and present their certificates. >> [applause] >> Thank you, Miss Johnson. First, I'd like to call up our outstanding ENL teachers from Alden's Terrace School, Miss Oisam and Mr. Farren, to come join us. I'd like to thank you both for your hard work, your dedication, and your fun, positive energy that you provide our students with each and every day. Congratulations to our students who have tested out of the ENL program. We are proud to share that six of our students successfully met the requirements. Out of those six, three have moved on to the high school and we have three remaining current students. So congratulations to Saduch Sadutral actor Atia Umar and Fia
031Sajad. I think Fia's with us today. [applause] Congratulations on this wonderful accomplishment. Stay with us. Fia. Congratulations. And now I'd like to call up Principal Waffle and Assistant Principal Miss Marachi from the Claraara H. Carlson School. [applause] >> Yes, I have my students. Of course, >> how you pronounce Um, >> we have 18 students at Clary H Carlson that exited ENL. [applause] So, we have a lot of ENL teachers also. So, a special thank you to our ENL team. All of them here. One, two, three, four, five, six of our ENL teachers came here tonight to congratulate their students that they helped throughout the school year, not only this year, but many years to be able to um master their ENL in reading, writing, speaking, and listening. So, congratulations to our students here. When I
032call your name, please come up to get your certificate. Congratulations to Damian [applause] Gersm. Some of our students aren't here. Abigail, [applause] Eduardo, Amy. They were going to say their names anyway. Congratulations, Camila. Congratulations, Heidi. >> Jaden, congratulations to Leia. [applause] Lauro, congratulations. [applause] Romer, congratulations to Diana Ashley. Congratulations to Eden Mubin. Congratulations, Samar. Congratulations, [applause] Gabriel. Congratulations. And last but not least, congratulations to Valentina. A special thank you again to our ENL team. Let's give our Cloud H. Carlson scholars a round of applause. And next we have from Covert Avenue, Miss Gun, Miss Triion, and Miss Donahghue here. Thank you. >> [applause] >> Good evening again. I am so very proud to be able to thank you to award all of our scholars at Covert Avenue. We had 31 students who tested out of
033our ELNL services and I believe tonight we have 18 of our students here with us. I want to acknowledge of course our fantastic ENL team, Miss Elizabeth Garcia, Miss Arena Benini, and Miss Caitlyn Cortina. And I would be remiss to me not mention Miss Tara Doss um who is not here this evening, but thank you for all the hard work that you do. [applause] First we have Carlos Alvarado Mendes, Shake Ail, Dylan Diaz, >> Thiago Flores, Cabrera, [applause] >> Juan Garcia Vargas, >> Daniel Garcia, good job, >> Sebastian Garzone, Estupinon, Steely Jean Baptiste, Fatima Jahanier, Jude Josie, >> Aene Core, Muhammad Khan, >> congratulations Liam Lopez Matamoros, William Madrid, Zavala, congratulations, >> Nia Anne Matthew, Alana Melendez Contreras, Jeremiah Nunees, [applause] Luchana Palasios Garcia, >> Isaac Cavado Gonzalez, good job. Amalia Renoso Peralta, Yarilyn Reellos,
034[applause] Floren Sanchez, congratulations Harit Singh, good job Singh, good job. >> Matteo Antonio Trogeros, congratulations Max Venegas Ruiz. >> And that is everyone. Thank [cheering] you. At this time, I'd like to call up my colleague and principal from the Dutch Broadway School, Miss Cynthia Cassim. [applause] >> Good evening everyone. And it's always a pleasure to highlight students who have done above and beyond and also highlight those who have made an impact to make that possible. So, thank you to the families, thank you to the teachers, um the Dutch Broadway community. All right, here we go. Axan [applause] Fahad Aziz. He's not here. He's not here. There we go. Aribba Chowry. [applause] Miam Abraimi. [applause] Carla Jean. Ashner core. There she is. Sajda Khan [applause] to Micah Lamore. Congratulations, [applause] Alan Mansia Coronado. [applause] Congratulations >>
035and Enrique Takuri. >> Congratulations. All right. At this time, I'm going to ask the admin team from the Gotham Avenue School, Mr. William Mingo and Miss Finia, to please come up. [applause] Good evening everyone. >> I could not find the awards. Um, I would like to take a moment to say thank you to two wonderful colleagues for doing such a phenomenal job this year. Mrs. Mononttoya and Mrs. Luisi, [applause] we thank you very much. Your dedication and your hard work does not go without notice. I would like to recognize Tamid Hassan, Jaden Nierra, [applause] John Carlo Perez, Congratulations [applause] Khan Car Razan [applause] William Vasquez Cruz. >> [applause] >> I would like to ask everyone to please please give our final um awardees and our awardees for tonight a final um round of applause and
036we thank you and congratulations [applause] Mrs. It's gone. >> You're on. >> Hello. Yeah, mine's on. Use mine. Okay, thank you everyone. Thank you. [applause] >> Congratulations to our students and a big thank you to our teachers, our administrators and to our parents for your continued support. So, thank you so much. We will now move into the approval uh uh part of our agenda. Miss Gomez. >> Thank you, Mr. Small. I have one legal item for the board's consideration this evening. I will read the resolution. Rejection of RFP proposals. Whereas, pursuant to internal auditor RFP number 12526, the board of education reserved the right to accept or reject any or all proposals. And whereas the board of education has determined that it is in the best interest of the school district to reject all proposals,
037be it hereby resolved that the board of education rejects all proposals submitted pursuant to internal auditor RFP number 1-2526 and be it further resolved that the board of education authorizes the school district to issue another RFP for internal auditor services. Is there a motion? Moved >> moved by President Capers. Is there a second? Second by Trustee Battle. All in favor? >> I. >> Abstensions opposed. Passes unanimously. Thank you, Mr. Small. >> Thank you, Mrs. Gomez. >> Intermission. We'll just take a pause during the transition period. There we will. In the interest of time, members of the board, I seek a motion to approve personnel agenda items 5.1 through 5.2. two. >> May I have a motion to approve personnel agenda items 5.1 through 5.2? >> Uh, thank you, Mr. Khan. Second. >> May I have
038a second? >> Second. >> Thank you, Mr. Ramos. All in favor? Motion carries. >> I seek a motion to approve curriculum agenda item five, 6.1. May I have a motion to approve curriculum agenda item 6.1? >> Thank you, Miss Battle. Second. Second. >> Thank you, Miss Douglas. All in favor? >> I. >> Motion carries. >> Thank you. I seek a motion to approve support services agenda items 7.1 through 7.2. >> May I have a motion to approve support services agenda items 7.1 through 7.2? 2. Thank you, Dr. Massie. Second. >> Second. >> Thank you, Mr. Ramos. All in favor? >> I. >> Motion carries. >> I seek a motion to approve business agenda items 8.1 through 8.5. >> I have a motion to approve business agenda items 8.1 through 8.5. >> Move. >> Thank you,
039Mr. Ramos. Second. >> Second. Thank you, Mr. Khan. All in favor? >> I. >> Motion carries. >> Thank you, madame my um president. This ends my report. >> Do we have any committee reports orformational items? >> Uh yes, if I may. Just wanted to announce about uh attendance to the NISBA conference. Uh, Superintendent Small Trustee Lynette Battle, Trustee Zahed Khan, and myself, Trustee Angel Ramos proudly represented our district at the 2025 New York State School Boards Association annual convention and education expo held October 23rd to 25th at the New York Hilton Midtown in New York City. The event the event gathered hundreds of schoolboard members, superintendent, and education leaders under the theme leading with purpose, inspiring progress. Our over the course of the 3-day program, participants engaged in a diverse breakout session covering critical topics
040such as board operations, safe and supportive schools, technology and education, and equity and community engagement. Several workshops focused on priority priority areas for our community including inclusive leadership practices, amplifying student voice and amplifying student students voice advancement in AI and digital equity and mental health supports targeted at underserved populations. This this participation allowed the valuable insights and networking opportunities that will inform our ongoing efforts in these domains. Thank you. >> Thank you, Mr. Ramos. >> And just one more. Uh, >> sure. >> I'm going to be using Mr. Smalls's word. I would be remissed not to mention one of our own World War II vets and teachers, Mr. Jerry Georgie. So, I just wanted to acknowledge him today for everybody. Thank you. [applause] >> Thank you, Mr. Ramos. Uh we also have Mr. Palmer who
041is a vet. He's not with us today. uh he had a family emergency but we also want to thank Mr. Palmer for his service. Do we have any old business? Any new business? Is there anyone in the audience who would like to speak? We ask that you limit your comments to three minutes and we also ask whether there's praise or problem you not use any employees names. Yes, Miss Hall. >> Good evening, everyone. >> Good evening. >> My name is Claudine Hall. As most of you know, I'm a lifelong resident of Elmont and a graduate, proud graduate of Clara H. Carlson. And I serve as your civic president in the Jamaica Square area. And growing up, my mother always taught me that when someone does something nice for you, you are to say thank you.
042So this evening, I stand before you to say thank you for all that you did for our successful first HBCU and Divine 9 event last night at the Elmont Public Library. And I must start with you, Mr. Small, because you allowed the principles to place it on the parent portal so that the children from fourth to sixth grade can come out. And we I can honestly say we had standing room only. And I thank the board of education, those who came out to support yesterday and spoke. Thank you so very much um for what you do for the Jamaica Square Civic Association. Thank you. [applause] >> Thank you, Miss Hall. And I also like to acknowledge our very own Miss Stephanie Douglas. She was a speaker on yet at the showcase yesterday and it was
043a great showcase. So, thank you Miss Douglas. >> Good evening everyone. Sheldon Mikl Elmont. >> Hey Mr. Mik. >> Hello. Hello. I haven't spoken in many months. >> I haven't seen you in a while. Good to see you sir. >> I just want to come out and thank everyone. Thank you board. Thank you to our veterans. Especially special thanks to our veterans. Um we wouldn't have the liberties that we have if it wasn't for them. >> Absolutely. Um, as a father of three, I've gone through the first kindergarten, K through six, three times. And if you're an active parent, you understand what I'm saying. Um, the reason I mention that is because the educators at Elmont Union Free School District have molded and shaped my children. By the time they hit seventh grade, they were
044independent. They knew exactly they were ready. So, I want to thank our educators for all the hard work and effort that they put in. Um, in particular, the reason I'm a little welled up, seeing my daughter's name in the board agenda and being hired by you guys as a second generation Elmont resident, I really, really appreciate that you're giving her this opportunity. Our board members, you guys are volunteers. I've sat on that side of the table. I know how much work it is and sometimes it's thankless. We're going to double your salary. [laughter] There you go. My testimony and to the parents that are remaining and to the teachers that are here are keep doing what you're doing. Parents, keep showing up. Keep get involved. By the time they get to high school, they're going
045to be ready because we have the finest educators in in in the United States as far as I'm concerned. [applause] and the passion for education and learning that my daughter has been has been uh has learned from our educators um has has uh put her on the trajectory of being one of the future educators special ed. Uh she did her undergrad at St. John's and she'll have her masters May of next year. So hopefully she'll be continuing on with Elmont and again she's a teachers aid now. We look forward to her being an educator and again I just have such a sense of pride that uh my daughter was so inspired by our educators to go on and become an educator herself. So thank you very much. Have a good night everyone. [applause] >> Thank
046you Miss [applause] >> Hi Miss Crick. Good evening, uh, Chica Crick. Um, over the summer, I asked to meet with all of you regarding the complaints that I have at the Dutch Broadway School, and you all refused. So, I'm presenting my current complaint here being that this is the way that it has to be done. Um, my child is still being persecuted at Dutch Broadway School. We're talking about Veterans Day freedoms rights and her personal rights were violated. There is nowhere anywhere in the country where you can force an individual child or adult to do anything that they don't want to do. And my daughter was lied to manip the teacher was lied to. Excuse me. The teacher was lied to who in turn lied to my daughter in order to coersse her to participate
047in a class activity that she did not want to participate in. >> That's correct. >> And what I had to have from my daughter is for her to tell me after school, "Mommy, they lied." >> Mrs. I'm not going to stop you from talking, but I do want to ask if you have scheduled an appointment or if you've made an attempt to speak with the superintendent about this first because we don't have confidential student information. >> It's my it's my information on my testimony. >> I understand and it's your right to do so, but in order to make sure that the issue is properly addressed, I'm respectfully asking you if you have spoken with the superintendent about this because that would be the proper >> The superintendent is aware. He's fully aware of these events.
048He's received emails and there's never a response and even over the events over the summer, it's always denial. And why I wanted to meet with the board is because I had evidence of multiple things that were done against my child in that school. But what I'm bringing up today is that this persecution chronically at Dutch Broadway started a couple of years ago because I asked this board to put protections in place for sixth grade parents because parents were being overcharged for sixth grade dues. That's where this started and ever since then it's been using teachers using different vehicles in the school to target my child or my children. The decline in rapport is just kind of disgusting at this point. For a veteran administrator, my child is in fourth grade. For a veteran administrator to
049lie to a teacher to manipulate my child to violate her rights is disgusting. And I don't know at what point this board is going to actually move to hold administrators at Dutch Broadway accountable for how they treat really my family. Because I'm not going to stop speaking. My children have learned from this school and this district that evil comes in all colors. It looks like us. Sometimes it doesn't. And it doesn't matter whether we have the same skin color or not. Things are being done because you all are allowing it. >> And it really has to stop. >> Another few things I wanted to mention because Sheldon spoke beyond three minutes. That's discriminatory. Who spoke be beyond three? >> Sheldon spoke beyond 3 minutes. You did not time him. >> Your time is over. Your
050time is over. >> Okay. Can y'all please over? >> There's feces at at Broadway school in the yard. Can y'all please have >> Your time is over. >> Thank you, Miss Craig. >> Your time is over. >> Please clean up the species. And they lock the parents out of the gate in the morning to drop their kids off. It's declining. >> Thank you, Miss Anyone else? >> Okay. Our next meeting, our next regular meeting of the board of education is Tuesday, December 9th. It will be held at 8:00 p.m. at Clara H. Carlson School. May I have a motion to adjourn the public meeting? >> Move. >> Thank you, Miss Battle. Second. >> Second. >> Thank you, m Dr. Massie. All in favor? Motion carries.