001Square Civic Association established in 1967. In addition to all of that, I am a 1978 graduate of Clara H. Carlson, the very building that we're standing in this evening. And I remember oh so well my sixth grade year. I remember my sixth grade dance and I remember my sixth grade graduation. I walked across this very stage. So this evening I stand before you with two issues that I'd like to address. Well, not issues, just two things I'd like to address. one to the principal, Miss Wolf, who's out. I'm sorry, not supposed to use any words, names. Anyway, if there is anyone I I understand I heard the young lady speak about someone may not be able financially to afford a school trip or something to that effect. I'm standing before you this evening, like I
002said, as a 1978 graduate. And if there's anyone in sixth grade at the Clara H. calls in school that has a parent or a social worker that can get in contact with me because if there's any student that cannot afford to go on any trip or participate in any sixth grade activities, I am willing myself Claudine Ella Hall to finance their trip, their graduation, whatever they need, I am willing to do that and I will bring it to my board because the majority of my board is either graduated from Clara H. Carlson or have children who have graduated from Clara H. Carlson. So I know without a doubt that they would vote unanimously that we will finance any student because we don't want anyone to go without experiencing it. I still remember it and it's
003something you'll never forget and I don't want any child in the Clarage Carlson school especially the Jamaica Square area to go without um having that act that experience. Second thing, I stand before you this evening as a 16-year committee member of the Paul Sapienza Elmont Belmont Stakes Parade. And this year, and I spoke about it at the Salonica High School board meeting, this year we have the pleasure of I got to be careful with my words, right? We have a Jim in the audience this e in the on the on the day this evening and in as your your president. I nominated her to be our grand marshal for the 2025 Elmont Belmont Paul Sepian's Elmont Belmont stakes parade because I have watched your president for many years in different positions that she's held. We
004didn't always agree. We didn't always agree. Let me say that one more time. But after observing her and watching her fight in this community for not only the children but for the teachers and the parents in PAL as our treasurer who you will not get a dollar back if you don't have a receipt as well as on the Elmont Union Free School District as well as Sanica Central High School. So, I voted her in to be this year's grand marshall. Thank you. And and after I voted her in as this year's grand marshall, there was no other names placed on the floor. So, with that being said, this year I expect to see Mr. Palmer, Miss Wong, Mr. Haimey, Miss Battle. Don't shake your head. We're a team. There's no I in team. Mr. Small,
005of course you, our council, and Mr. Ramos. And I know that we have a banner because in the past years, the Elmont Union Free School District has always marched in our parades. And I have not seen you lately. Check. I know you'll be there. You better be there. We'll all be there. Check the check whatever wherever your storage is. I expect to see you marching right behind our grand marshall who has worked so hard. And then the the let me turn around. The red shirts. I expect to see you right behind Miss Capers. Thank you. Thank you for this time. And Miss Capers again, congratulations. Job well done. Thank you, Miss Hall. Thank you so much. I'm really honored. Is there a new Yes, Miss Lewis. Hello. Good evening. Um Michelle Lewis from Elmont. Um
006I wanted to just ask two questions. I have been um part of this community for a long time and there's some questions that still always comes back around. Um it's apparent that there's a lot of things going on in the community and a lot of information. And what I've always asked the question here is for clarity and for an answer so that there's no rumors. Um within the community recently this week I heard a title associated with a personnel on that's sitting on the board. Um and I just want to clarify that because I wasn't sure that was an actual title. So we were informed that Mr. Galante is a business business consultant, but when I went to the organizational chart for the district, we do not have a business um consultant, although I know
007that at times the charts or stuff that's in here may not be updated. There is a treasurer, there's an internal auditor, there's a claims auditor. So, I wanted to clarify whether that was Mr. Galante's official title, which it was presented as business consultant for the district. It looks like you're going to answer me, Mr. Oh, okay. Cuz you look like you were chiming in. Okay. So, that was my question. Then I have another question for council because in the bylaws in section 9000 it says that he or she shall periodically review the bylaws and shall make recommendations to the boards concerning revisions or changes. Um I have come and met and spoke to you in the past about policies and procedures that I feel need to be corrected. I feel that this district has a
008policy and procedure problem. I am not about highlighting a problem. I would like to bring a question or comment or solution. The bylaws need to be revised. I've asked periodically for a parent committee with for to address the bylaws. Per my understanding, it's your responsibility as council to make a determination if there's a bylaw that needs to be revised. I am actually making a recommendation that there should be term limits for board of ed members and that it should be added to the bylaws. My also recommendation is again to form a parent and board or councilled committee to address the bylaws. Um I really honestly don't remember what you told me last time when I asked about the policy. So I'm bringing it back up to the table and that's my questions. Okay. Do I
009go to personnel first? Sure. Yes. Uh, so yes, Mr. Galante is indeed the business consultant. I don't know if that that's the most updated um org chart you have, but I've given the board a revised org chart that um we're in the process of updating our our website. Um and so as we go through that process, we'll have more um the corrected um organizational chart on the website, but he is indeed the business consultant for the school district because I printed this out yesterday. So it this is what's on your side. So there are some things in there that might need to be changed. So do you do we have a treasurer? Do we have an internal auditor? And do we have a claims auditor? Okay, cuz I've never seen or heard who those people.
010We have a treasurer. As a matter of fact, we have a new treasur just just started last month. and we have internal auditors um that um function um in and audit our our transactions. Okay. So the treasurer in my opinion and suggestion should be at present at your budget presentations at the bare minimum. Okay. So that was my Thank you for the clarity though. So this is the one that you need to print out. We'll take Yes, we'll put the right one up. Thank you. Sorry. And did someone want Miss Council, do you want to Gomez, do you want to speak about the policy? It's not me. Okay, I believe this is on. Thank you for the question. Um, I do recall you coming to the microphone before to ask about policies. I remember us
011having that discussion. Uh since our firm has come on board, we've actually uh started an audit of the district's policies and we've periodically been revising and updating policies along way along the way. I don't recall you asking about the bylaws before, but we're certainly open to reviewing and making changes to the bylaws as necessary. If you want to submit your proposed changes to the district clerk, we'll take that under advisement as we go through the bylaws. And if it makes sense to incorporate it, of course, we will do so with the approval of the board. If they ultimately decide that those revisions should be made. So that is certainly something that can be looked at. And if you could send that to the district clerk, we'll make that a part of the discussion. So I
012send it to the district clerk with intention to you or should I still send it with the attention to the superintendent? Could do both. Copy us both. Thank you. Thank you. Hi. Good evening. Um, I was a former employee here and I just wanted to find out I had um actually wrote a letter to the board of education u regarding a grievance I had um with some issues when I separated. Thank you. Um, we appreciate you coming to the microphone. Uh, I am familiar with the situation. It is my understanding that legal counsel has already looked at this and the administration has already provided you with the response, but it wasn't the way that I it was addressed. I haven't been formally um it hasn't been formally provided the information hasn't been formally provided to
013me because I was advised that there was supposedly prrated days and things of that nature and nothing was provided to me and I would drop it if it was handled correctly and I was informed better. Miss Harry, um, as you know, we know that we've had you've had several conversations with member members of the staff, and I know you do disagree with the conclusions, but I will tell you that this is not the appropriate venue to have those discussions. Well, it would be an appropriate venue if somebody had responded to me with numerous emails. So, if you want to have a conversation with me, we'll have a conversation, but I know that opportunity. Yes. Well, Dr. Leande has met with spoken to you several times. We had the we had a lot of back and
014forth. Everything was via email. Everything was via email. Not one person picked up the phone to call me or speak to me or ask me questions or ask me to come in to speak to me or to show me any documents until I sent a letter to the board, which I don't even know if they received it. You the board received your letter and you've received several documentations. You've had several um um um correspondence between members of the staff with you. So, I do understand that you disagree. You guys have no idea how it's being how people are being treated. And I it's very unfair the way I was treated with that. And it's unfair that not one conversation could have been had and not one person could pick up the phone to call me
015to speak to me about it. And the person that did call me had the nastiest attitude about items when I was speaking with her and she didn't know how to she doesn't she's not professional. And it's it's something that does bother me because for a district that I felt very strongly for. Yes. I worked here five to six years prior as a teacher's aid. I was extremely excited to come back as as a clerical um to be a part of the clerical staff, but to be treated the way that I was treated and how I was dismissed with my emails and not one person responded to me correctly, not appropriate. If you were disrespected by any member of the staff, I take full responsibility for that and I apologize to you for that. Let me
016finish please because I've listened to you. What we've had is a dispute about your end of work compensation. Exactly. And you've been you've had several correspondents with members of the staff and they've provided you with with documentation only because I wrote a letter to the board. But you were having three months later when this could have been Can I finish please? I hear you. You were having correspondence with members of the staff prior to getting the documentation. But there was no explanation as to what I asked them because when they told me prated days, no one provided me any pro-rated days. When I put in my resignation, no one spoke to me. Thank you. I appreciate you coming to the microphone. Mr. Small, can we uh perhaps uh commit to having a member of your
017administrative team? I would have come here if somebody had addressed this part. And I know that correspondence has been sent. The district has been very diligent in followup. I understand that your concern is that you have not had a verbal conversation with someone. A person will contact you via phone. This is not the place to talk about individual employee matters such as the one that you're dealing with. handle better and then I would have had to come here and a phone call will be placed to you so that the mo more appropriate conversation can be had. Let's commit to that. Okay. Sure. Thank you. Thank you. Joanne Smith, um I just want um you had a candidate night um on March on um May the 5th. Where was it advertised? We were told at the
018last board meeting that it was going to be before the board meeting. and I just found out the other day that you had it. I I wanted to be present at it. I had questions that I wanted to present to them and now I'm not going by their bio. I'm not doing anything that I've read everything on it. I wanted to talk to them personally and as a taxpayer I think I'm entitled to it because you have a budget coming up on May 20th. Thank you for the question. I I apologize for speaking out of turn, but it's my understanding that the PTA actually interchool uh put together the candidate forum, not the school district and not this board of education. So, who was notified? I don't have children in school and I'm a taxpayer
019and a homeowner. I understand your concern, but this board and this district is not promoting any particular candidate or advocating for anyone or the budget for that reason. We're just providing factual information such as the information that Mr. Small shared earlier during the budget hearing. So if you'd like to know more about the forum and how it's advertised, perhaps someone Oh, I hear that the president of Interchool, is that the name of the organization? Interchool PTA. Interchool PTA. You can speak with that person about how it's advertised and how you can be added to that mailing list, but that's not something that's handled by the school district. Well, I mean, we get robocalls for everything else. Is the Is the president for interchool present or Okay, maybe you could uh connect with that person, please.
020Anyone else? Public comment. Have a public comment. Wait, Miss Smith, are you done? Okay. Okay. Mr. Ferdin, good evening everyone. Sheldon Mel. Sorry, did I interrupt? I was just saying hi, Mr. Mik. Mr. Graham Marshall. Congratulations again. I I just wanted to say thank you to all the teachers. Those of you that know me know my kids, Mr. Douly. We have an amazing We have amazing amazing faculty at all five buildings. Um my daughter is graduating on Sunday from um St. John's. I have and she did her internship in this building. She did her internship at Steuart Manor and she's a product of Dutch Broadway. So, thank you so much to all our educators. I'm going to try to end on a positive note. So, I I came to the mic because um I was
021sitting and I didn't want to say anything, but I said, "You know what? Let me let me give back to our our community." Um the the topic of um um well, I can't think right now. The topic the topic of um the kids leaving our school to go to charter schools. I don't want to say the word anymore. Beat it over the head and I don't know why just brain fart. But anyway, so um I was I was just wanted to make a suggestion because so many of our students that have gone through our elementary schools and through our high schools that are graduating or have graduated in the past are doing amazing things. Oscar, Miss Battle, Tiffany, your son, your daughter, Mr. Palmer, you now have grandkids in here and I know your kids
022went on to great things. Miss Capers, Morgan, I mean I know all your families and I think what we can do is together as you mentioned speaking with the parents who have made the decision to go on to charter schools include have a committee and include some of these alumni. Yes, that's a great idea. A couple of my neighbors, I have two that just graduated um and they're going on to Colombia Law School. My middle son who graduated, he's going to start his doctoral program as a PT um in in the fall. Again, these kids are doing amazing amazing things and I who better to hear from the parents of going that are going to these schools, who better to hear from than the kids that actually went through our our districts and are doing
023amazing things. So, I just wanted to just make that suggestion. If there's a committee or if you're formulating a committee, we can possibly include some of our alums. And I know some of them are at home listening, but I think we got cut off. I think I we got cut off for some reason, but um I just wanted to make that suggestion. And again, thank you everyone. Thank you so much. Appreciate all of your response and I'll see you May 20th. Can I respond to Mr. Mel? Sure. I wanted to say Mr. Mel, use your mic. Oh, sorry. Mr. Mik, that I think that's a great idea. Um, tomorrow my son is actually going to a school in Red Hook to talk about his aviation journey for career day. So, that that is a good
024idea for our kids to come back and talk about what they're doing. Okay. um just to the I guess concern that was raised about the advertising of the candidate forums and things and I actually was asked and I referred a sponsor to um you. So I want to know is there anything that precludes the district if an organization wants to advertise a forum through the schools being that it's just a general forum and it's for our district. Yes. If an organization is sponsoring a candidate forum and they send us their their flyers, we will post it because it is in our community's interest. So they get to meet the candidates and ask questions. What we do not do though is the board of education nor the district does not promote will not promote candidates will
025not take a side. But if an organization I think when inter school was doing its candidate forum they sent us um information um it was the weekend right before so it was not up on the website for a long period of time but if a third party is doing it and in the interest of our community being informed they send us the information we will publicize it. They wanted to know would they be able to do physical flyers? Yes. Um for us to put on the website. No, no, physical flyers like if home to send home promoting promoting an event that will have all candidates to come and and um introduce themselves in the community. Yes. Yes. Okay. Thank you. Thank you. Sorry. I'm sorry. I just wanted to put on the Is this on?
026I just wanted to put on the record real quick that uh we posted uh a flyer on the Friday before and I I did it myself so I can attest to it myself. It was posted the Friday before. It was Monday the 5th. Um and so it was on our website under announcements. It said Monday, May 5th, meet the candidates Clarson 7 p.m. I did it myself. So I just wanted to put that on the record. Thank you. On the website under announcements where we do all our announcements and flyers and it was on there. I did it myself. Yeah. I don't remember. Oh, I did. Are you sure? basically say put on your website every single day let me see what's happen and just so we're clear yes I was past school So, I'm
027not going to be too crazy about this. Right. Well, you also have parents that grow up. Absolutely. And one of the things that we've talked about in the past in this board is being able to reach out to everyone. This this web, this um this internet, this whole thing is not the all end all be all. There should have been stuff that we could send out to everybody. But there was absolutely but why was the statement made at the last meeting? at the next board meeting will be on May 13th and before the board meeting we will have meet the candidate right and if they wasn't there but if the statement was made then the location and time so that statement should not and at the end of the day the enter school meet the
028candidate night is just like any other event we have to get a permit we have to get um so forth so the school district is aware of the dates prior to And I I don't know if it's on the calendar because I don't get a calendar anymore on but that is really definitely the problem. What happens now? That's it. I could address a little about that. Hello. Good evening everyone. My name is CJ Ford and I'm the inter school president. First I was must say it's on the school calendar which we submit the school calendar in the month of May. Right, Fernandez? It's on the school calendar that the meeting I do think every resident gets a school calendar. Am I right? No, just um parents. It's just a student. Parents. So maybe we should
029see that every resident receive a school calendar. Cost more money. I would suggest it cost more money. Yes, it's also and we did ask all the school unit PTA president to share it with the community. uh I share that and I also ask request to my superintendent to share it on the school web page which they did. I released the information to them and we get these names for me the candidate after we came back from break. So it's just like a small period of gap. We had that time space to put everything together to advertise. It's just like two weeks advertising more or less and we did our best. Yeah. So maybe we could request that every resident in the community suggests receive a school calendar with the program because the pro almost all
030the activity is in the calendar. That's just my suggestion. Thank you guys. Thank you. Thank you, Miss Ferdina. Are non student people able to download the app, the Elmont app, and then maybe you can do a push on the app. So, any n any community person that wants to receive notifications about the district, if they download the app and then you guys do a push notification or announcement like we get, they'll get that maybe something. The app is open to everyone. Yeah. Mhm. Okay. Let's suggest. All right. The next board of education meeting is Tuesday, June 10th at 8:00 PM at Dutch Broadway PTA. Uh, may I have a motion to adjurnn? Thank you, Mr. Palmer. Second, Miss Battle. All in favor? I. Motion carries. Thank you everyone and enjoy your evening.