001whole story. >> Good evening. Welcome to the August 12th, 2025 regular session of the board of education. This is Joe Silio, president of the board of education speaking. Thank you for attending in person or through Zoom. Please rise for the pledge of >> allegiance. Hi and to the stands one nation indivisible justice. >> Due notice of today's meeting has been served to each member of the board of education pursuant to the requirements of law. Tina, will you please take attendance? >> Present. Deborah, superintendent for school. >> Present. >> Papio for business and finance district court. >> Present. >> Machlin for human resources and leadership development. >> Present. >> Dr. Alice Bowman, assistant superintendent for curriculum and instruction. >> Present. >> Member of the board of education. President >> John >> present. >> I have a
002motion to close the public session and open the public hearing. >> So moved. >> All in favor? >> I the district I'm going to get you want to do districtwide I can do it. The district-wide safety plan has been posted on the district website for 30 days. At this time, we will hear questions and comments. Are there any questions from the board on the districtwide safety plan? None. Are there any citizens questions or comments on the districtwide safety plan? There are none at this time. >> Could we just uh mention some things about because it is a public hearing. Um, you know, this is uh the district-wide safety uh plan is an annual requirement and Boseies, they really help us create. Um they have a template that most Nassau County schools use. Mr. Capio works
003closely with our consultant that we have through Boseies and also our um security personnel. There's also a health and safety uh committee um which includes principles, our police department, security consultants, nurses and teachers that uh Mr. Capri chairs these meetings and really brings that um you know as part of the the safety plan. And there have been some updates to mostly the language and the addition of the cardiac emergency response plan. Um Mr. Cappy, do you want to go over that a little bit with some of the language changes and the um the new requirements for the cardiac plan? >> Certainly. So um as Dr. Shha was saying the district-wide safety plan is really a comprehensive framework and that we develop in each school districts required to adopt uh the plan prior to September 1st.
004Um it outlines our processes, our procedures responding to emergencies including natural disasters, violent incidents, any other threat and it also includes protocols of our communication, evacuation and coordination with all the local agencies. All of us have a plan, have a a role in that and we practice it and we we do all sorts of exercises uh really just um with uh carrying out the plan. Um in late May, the district-wide safety committee uh starts this process and we review the uh the draft of the updated plan. This work goes on through June. Uh that's all incorporated and on July 1st, as Mr. Silia was saying, we announced a 30-day um public period of comment and and now that culminates here in this public hearing. So um in addition in addition to the district-wide plan, we
005also have the building level plans. Uh those are building specific. They are not uh for public view. they are confidential in nature and those also get adopted and they stay there and they go between the building and any other uh emergency services that have to. So um just about 10 days ago um we received legislation or an update to the legislation that required uh changes to the district and building level plans that talked about cardiac emergencies as one of the protocols that have to now specifically be incorporated into it. It includes mostly requirements for availability of the AED machines as well as training for staff on CPR and AED use. Um the effective dates to include those in the new plans are for September 1st for them to be not uh noted in the building
006level plans and on the district level really where it flushes out the protocols has to go into effect by January 20th, 2026. So that guidance is just coming. It hasn't even come out yet, but that is unfolding as we speak. As that happens, we will build uh that section of the plan, incorporate it, and when that does go in, it'll require another 30-day comment period and another adoption. So, we will be going through that. We'll expect to go through that unless something changes a little bit, you know, during the beginning of the school year. So, that's where that is. Um, as far as changes to the plans, um, it's really in some of the terminology. Instead of lockout, it's now secured lockout and and some of the others, information on this came out the year
007before and we have been training on this for a couple of years. So, it was a very easy transition for us. We do all our security training uh, for all staff on superintendent conference day and for new employees and we're all up to date on that and it'll just cover the new plans. So that information is already being disseminated and that's where that is. So um you know and that's the long and short of it. >> Yes. >> So and there were no uh comments on the website or No. >> No. >> Thank you. Thank you for uh the comprehensive work the team has done year in and year out on that. So appreciate that. At this time I have a motion to close the public hearing and open the regular session. >> All in
008favor? I have a motion that the board of education accepts the agenda for August 12, 2025 regular session as presented. >> So moved. >> All in favor? I. Dr. Sa, would you like to get the superintendent's report? >> Sure. I have a sort of a long report, but before I begin, I'd like to welcome Miss Kayla Turney to as our student uh member of the board of education. We're really thrilled to have you, Kayla. And uh I would love for you to share some things about yourself and how you have been engaged in in leadership roles within your time here in Garden City Schools. >> Yeah, sure. Thank you. Um so I do a lot of work with student government. So I've been class president for the past few years and we've done a few
009really great things with that. just communicating with, you know, we've done some stuff with regions, grades, percentages, and then now the honor role and then with student government as like the whole entire school. I meet with Dr. SHA once a week, once a month, and we kind of just make changes. So, maybe it's little things like the bathrooms, but then also big things like my freshman year, we brought up the idea of a financial literacy course, and now the that's offered at the high school, so a lot of kids take that. And yeah, we do a lot of really great work. I'm a rising senior. I'm very excited and I hope that I'll be class president again. I'm really happy to be on the board. So, thank you >> for being here. >> Welcome. >>
010Thank you, Kayla. >> Yeah. >> And and we're just looking forward um Kayla is going to really share just student life things that are happening in our in our district high school and and the other buildings as well. Thank you. All right. I also wanted to uh you know we have uh Miss Allison Rob here in the audience. Um she's also on the agenda. We'll be recommending her for the assistant principal ship at uh at Stratford and we're really looking forward to having her join our team. She brings great strength u particularly in the area of really understanding elementary students, mathematics and even literacy. So, we're really excited uh to have you um Allison here and you'll be on the agenda in a little bit. Okay. So, a couple of other things. I know I
011had put this in the weekly that I give you the report the board, but I also wanted to share it publicly with uh our programs, our summer program with scope enrichment. It is unbelievable how that program has grown under the leadership of Mr. side who's our fifth grade teacher at Stratford and our enrollment like close to a thousand students and we we offer morning and afternoon and every year that program gets better and better um and we also have our extended school year program our with our special needs students that's housed at Stratford which will end um you know this Friday actually and that also under the leadership of uh uh Danielle Waricki she does a great job coordinating our summer program who's also the school psychologist there. Um you know I had sh I
012had written a letter last week around the new legislation for a distra distractionfree schools and um you know that's going to be in effect starting you know September and really what that is is that um internet enabled devices that students uh you know access to those and particularly where we see you know the greatest challenge will be um at high school and possibly even middle school which is students are not allowed to have that throughout throughout the day. So during, you know, classes, um, hallways, lunch, recess, any of those times. So we'll be sharing more information around that with our parents and we're going to overcommunicate this because this is a requirement. And the other um part of this requirement is that we're to report this. There's a reporting mechanism to the state around, you
013know, uh, around this policy. So, um, so that's something that I think will be somewhat of a challenge and and we'll have to make sure as a school community we're working towards, you know, ensuring that we're abiding by our policy. Um, you know, I would like uh Dr. Bowman to give us uh an update on the summer uh curriculum writing projects. >> Sure, absolutely. We um we have had approximately 600 hours of curriculum design take place over the course of the summer. Uh most of the work is nearing completion if it isn't done yet. I'm in the process of meeting with our coordinators to review that work um and make sure that we have an implementation process, excuse me, in place so that the work that was done over the summer takes root in our
014classrooms over the course of the year. Um we had projects in every discipline on every grade level. Um we had a few interdisciplinary projects. We had some partnerships between special education and content areas, special education and music um and art as well, I think. And so it's been a very voluminous summer as it when it pertains to curriculum design. And I'm excited to see all of the work that has been put in come to fruition. And um you know can you also give us an update on our literacy review? I know that's near completion. >> Yes, we are almost ready for a final draft. Um we anticipate that uh Tim Bachis of CASDA will join us at our September board meeting so that we can review the findings of the review together um and start
015to formulate our action plan in response to the recommendations that CASDA makes for us. Thank you. And just one other item um you know th this year we expanded our UPK program which has been unbelievably unbelievable like we have now four sites that our students are um will be attending in in September. We have about 145 46 students enrolled. >> 146 students total which is imagine just three years ago this is our third year we started with two sections at homestead and it has really grown. So the homestead um it'll be in Rosling through Harbor Childare Miniola and then our precious angels um um that that was a new agency that we partnered with. So we're excited about that. Um last uh oh you know one more thing Miss Mclaclin could you give an update
016on hiring please? >> Absolutely. Thanks Dr. SHA. So we we the collective we the buildings uh and myself have been busy all summer. We've hired over 25 teachers and administrators, occupational therapists. We have four teacher aids to still hire. All of their paperwork is in my office. So we're just waiting on interviews. So everybody needs to keep their fingers crossed that that goes well. Uh we have a nurse on the agenda tonight. I'm waiting for another nurse candidate to give me her final answer tomorrow. So again, prayers and good thoughts. Uh we have one more nurse um who's away on vacation who I'll be meeting next week. Couple of leaves that start in October, November. So I really don't want to get any more specific than that because things right now are extremely good. We're
017in a great position and um I expect that we will be fully staffed when school opens and we've got a lot of really wonderful people joining our team. Thank you. And we have our new teacher orientation next week also. Uh that'll start. So we are in a pretty good place with our hiring this year. Um I also wanted to mention um which we'll um talk about in a minute with there's construction work that you'll see throughout our district. Lots of great work happening from the bond projects to the capital um reserves that we've used for um for this summer. Um we did meet with um Dana, myself, we met with uh um you know with Commissioner Jackson to really talk about for this uh when school starts parking will be a challenge and what we
018can do with that. I also wrote a letter to him regarding that as well. Um, but I think you know there the work has been moving so quickly, so fast. I think this is the this is one of I I really say that I know you're looking at me, but I really I have never seen projects move as quickly as it's been. It's moving this summer. Seriously, never. But it has been it's exciting to see. And if you get a chance, I encourage our board members to really take a look. Even if you just go to the high school fields, you're like, "Oh my goodness." But wait till it's all done. It's going to be beautiful. So, Mr. Capio, can you give an update? Um, you know, I know we've shared with the board, but
019I'd like our community to hear a little bit about our projects. >> Certainly. Um, thank you. So, um, we have projects going on in all the buildings this summer. So, we have been very busy and, um, things are nothing's really done done, but they're very, they're getting closer. So, just going through the, um, the projects here at the high school. We are working on a bleacher replacement and we also did uh one of the basketball courts and we replaced the uh dividing doors with curtains. So the bleachers are completely installed. All the electrics in place. The electric on the curtains that go up and down um is supposed to be finished tomorrow. So hopefully that's done. And then um there's some you know punch list items and odd oddball items on that. But um that
020should be done you know quickly. So, we'll be moving on to punch list on that rather quickly. Um, in the district-wide HVAC improvements, we are uh air conditioning the cafeterias at Steuart Stratford and the middle school. Those the units are all installed. The um the plumbing is all done. The wiring of those to the compressors is finished. And then now they're working on the control wiring. All the units have been pressurized. Um, and I'm hearing they should be turned on by the end of the week. I don't know if they'll be controlled by the end of the week, but we'll be able to uh, you know, get a handle on that. So, those are really looking good for the beginning of school, which we're excited about. Uh, the other major air conditioning project is all
021of the classrooms in the primary buildings. So, that is really all about pretty much at the same point. So, all of the units are installed. Um, they're finishing up some wiring inside, but Most of them I think all definitely all three buildings have been pressurized at this point. Uh they have some wiring still in one building hemlocks probably on the last of the buildings that are being done. So that wiring to the compressors is is being done and should be done by the end of next week and those will be moving along too. So good good work on those. Uh the Stewart parking lot is um has the paving there has begun. Uh, I heard them talking about pre planting trees, which is always a good sign because that means they're getting to that point.
022But, um, the the aprons that go out to the street and the asphalt on the driveway itself are being done and that will it takes many passes on that. So, that'll take at least till the end of next week. So, that's good. Um, the multi-purpose room, the AC and the three primary schools that was done last year, we're actually still hitting some punch list items on those. So, those aren't closed out, but that is that has been working since the end of last year, but still open projects. Um, and then, uh, the other is the bus garage. We are replacing the concrete pad there and is a huge project. There's 40 piles that are getting put in and those have um, you know, all been the excavations done. The the helical piles are all installed
023and now they're putting things back together. So that's looking good. And then here at the high school again, we have the boiler replacement. So um one of the boilers is being replaced with two boilers. The boilers were actually delivered today. So all of the uh abatement's been done. The demolition's been done. Uh the p concrete pads are finished and the uh the new boilers were uh delivered today. I tried to pin them down. They told me October 15th is looking good. So that's really the good date that we're >> yellow smiling. You need heat here, right? I know. They said you have two other boilers. I go, "No, no, no. We're not going to play that game." So, >> are we are we doing middle school boilers, too? >> What? >> Are we doing middle
024school boilers as well? >> Um, one is will get done and the other one is um had some repairs done. So, those will also, you know, those should be fairly working this year too. Um here at the uh the turf fields, all three fields, the softball and baseball infields and the new multi-use sport fields are well underway. Um our facilities director once everything was demoed, joking around, sent Kassum and I a picture that basically said, "Here's your dirt fields you order." You know, >> we laughed, but um >> you already had them, >> right? >> So I know, right? So, um, those are really I think that's what it it blew up the whole field area. So, you know, it's very interesting to see so much happen at once over there, but they are moving
025along and they're really saying that by September 15th, the baseball and softball should be done. The the uh the multi-use field will go on until early November, but the others are really moving along well, so that's good. >> They'd be available for use, >> think so. Yes. um can use it can be alternatively a full it's not it's not a full season but >> um the the middle of those fields and the and the outfields looking are looking very good. Um as far as the high school edition that is probably the biggest part of this project. Um, as everyone knows, we're putting on the addition to the high school, which will have the weight room and the um, uh, you know, um, outdoor bathrooms and concession and that whole thing. So, that area is, it's
026just fascinating to see that go on. And, um, the whole thing's been excavated. They're doing, uh, they're working both on the connections between the buildings and just, uh, they'll going to be starting digging the foundation now. Um, and that's the big plans going on. So, it's it's a huge undertaking and it's it's a very uh I've never been involved from the beginning to the end on this. So, um, just seeing, you know, just how much needs to be excavated and what they're working on and all the trades coming together. So, we meet every week. Our construction manager is carrying those meetings and moving along. Okay. >> All right. And then um you know we had our audit that's also the the corrective action plan is in the um on the agenda. We had a wonderful
027audit with it was the health and benefits went very very well and um you know the results of the audit was just basically adding some additional procedures. So that's been done. Um, we also are introducing our lunch for all learners program, which is the free lunch to all of our students throughout our district. That's pretty exciting. And as you I think we had shared with you, the New York State budget allowed for this, for this universal free school meals for all students. And you know, I'm just really pleased because this is something very very quickly to get this off the ground in the matter of uh I would say two months. It is it was a huge under undertaking um that our director of food services along with Dana really um went through this very
028quickly to see how can this be managed and that also the the award for the bid is on the agenda for the uh food services as well. So we're really excited about bringing this um to our um to our school community starting in September. >> September se Yeah. And we have we will be putting we have a uh on our website we have a uh a section that's dedicated to the um our school lunch program. So it'll be nice to offer this to our parents. We had this during COVID the lunch program um where we it was offered for all families. I think the year after we we had we had that also didn't we? >> Well I mean the difference is is that now we have the elementary buildings that are going to be
029participating also. So when they had the pre-launch in that year, we had it at the high school, middle and high school on the secondary level. Now we'll have it >> for everybody. >> So we'll be sharing more information on that um you know as we continue to plan for this. Um I also wanted to mention to our families to make sure parent square is our main mode of communication. So our parents to really um make sure they download the app. Um that's the best way to get all information. um from the district. We also transitioned to a new website. I really want to thank Miss Maguire for taking u the lead on that. It's a you know it's a the website looks fantastic and very easily you can locate information on the um on the
030website. We also have our continuing education um this summer really gathering like comprehensive uh program for our um community. So, I encourage our community members to enroll in those programs. Our district calendar is I think it's with the printers as I speak, but it will be out to families, but the most current calendar is what what's on our website. So, I always tell our parents, we may have the printed, but go on the website. That's the most up-to-date um uh information, and copies will be available for anybody who lives in the district to pick up from the district office. And then just a couple of other items. Homecoming this year. It's early. It's September 20th. And our PTA and SPTA really would like to thank them. We had a meeting last week and they have
031some grand plans for our homecoming uh parade. So again, last year was ahead. I think this year will be interesting to see what we come up with, but excellent ideas and um they've already started planning. Also want to take the opportunity to thank our buildings and grounds uh staff. I know um we only have two more weeks, a little over two two weeks before school starts. There's lots and lots of work happening throughout our buildings and I'm always amazed when school opens and we're just ready to to open up along with um Robert Foley, our director of facilities. Um I mentioned the new teacher orientation and want to thank Miss McLaclin for coordinating the um the new teacher orientation the mentoring program that has gets better better and better each year and we really get
032some very positive feedback from our new teachers. Our superintendence conference day our with our staff will be welcoming our staff August 27th and 28th and then our students come in the following week. Um so we look forward to welcoming everybody back on our campus. What else? Um the portals will be opening for parents for primary and elementary students on August 20th. For high school and middle school students, the portal portal will open on August 25th. And again, first day of school would be um September 2nd. And then just some items on the agenda for this evening. As I mentioned earlier, we have our um Allison Rob as our uh we're recommending her for the uh assistant principal uh position. And I want to thank um Miss McLaclin and Mr. Hardigan um because the search was
033um you know with Miss Casada leaving, we really did that very quickly and both of you really did did a tremendous job in in um you know, with the committee and screening and all of those things that go on with hiring. donations. We have um some uh donations on the agenda and uh we'll be accepting uh from Garden City Friends of STEM for the purchase of furniture with the computer lab um at the high school. We thank them for their partnership with the district and for the donations. And we also have um as you recall last year we talked about having occupational therapists as employees in our district. Um so we have that on the agenda. will be hiring to um occupational therapists along with uh another supervisory aid. Um that's also on the agenda
034and that is it. Thank you. >> Thanks Dr. S. Just a couple of things um from my side. I I want to thank you for I know the village reached out um and we were coordinating usage of the fields during kind of the period of disruption but just also more formally uh have a program where we can find a way to establish better use of our fields for for both uh the village residents and uh the students. So appreciate that. I know Mr. Ramirez was involved in that. So appreciate that. Um Mrs. Dicapia, one quick question for you. I know we're pricing the bond and this jumped to the front of my mind because there's rate movements going on. Is there any way to delay it because all the talk is rates are going to
035be cut very very soon and so I know I kind of put you on the spot but I mean topic of today >> it's being built against cash flow so >> it's kind of >> it's being done later this month. >> Okay. Just figured I'd throw it out there. You know, timing is everything. 25 basis points here, 25 basis points there makes a difference. Um I know you know that, but um also one thing that was brought to my attention from the village, I guess the the state has been working on power transmission from south to north across Long Island. Maybe some people here know this or not. I was not aware of this until later last week. They're proposing running them to through Garden City. I know the village trustees have been actively working
036on this, but it looks like the better of the options may involve them running uh one of these uh high transmission wires through Steuart Field, which is it was either there's more to come. somebody from the state would like to meet and have a discussion, but the options seem to to be debating between somewhere in Clinton Avenue and somewhere kind of east of that. I think the village is at the forefront of pushing on it, but it might be something that kind of falls in our lap because it might be the the better of two evils. Um so, more to come on that. Um >> can I just add something to that? Um um from the village or the village manager, Mr. Swazi did reach out to me um this week to uh late last
037week to let me know and we're scheduling a meeting to discuss. I >> forget the woman's name. So >> he wrote to actually Miss Pepalardo because she's coordinating that meeting with us. >> Yeah. >> That when we learn more, we'll share that with the board. >> The uh the the mayor reached out and said, "Hey, they want to talk with the school about the options." I think I I told them and I know they they don't they agree with it, but both options are unpalatable. One's running the wire right in front of the school and one's running the wire right through Steuart Field. So, um any public sentiment that is negative would probably be appreciated because I don't think as I have kids at that school, I don't think that that's a great result for
038the community, but that's me. Uh that's my own personal view. So, uh something people should be aware of. So, appreciate that. And then you know from one hot topic to another um the village is also working on um things with St. Pauls. I know everybody's aware of it. Um they have we have had conversations in the past uh here um on the board with the community. Um there's a lot of things being thrown about or discussed, but uh after the most recent um bond experience and the expense of building a new wing on the school, um there are ideas being bandied about if the community supports redoing St. Pauls and the funds that that that would entail kind of come from the village and all of us as individuals, not kind of board of trustee
039members. Um, but they are interested in coordinating with us or having conversations that if it does get approved that we u maybe find some multi-purpose use for the district. I know uh when they had first mentioned that that was part of their thought process. Universal prek has been something that Dr. and I have been talking about for three plus years. The state funds it currently. We can't do it in the district. Building is extremely expensive. Full stop. St. Paul's I'm sure will be not cheap or inexpensive, but I do believe it'd be more expensive for us to build on our current existing properties. And so any way to utilize space if the village um and the people vote for use of St. Paul's is something that I think the school district should take extremely seriously.
040I think there's a lot of space there that could be used for universal prek. I think it'd be paying ourselves. Ultimately, the state funds universal prek today. It would eliminate uh some transportation issues. It eliminates some complaints about sending kids out of district. It's all something that to me it's a big project. It's a big ask, but I think it's it's a shot worth exploring. Um as long as the math and the money work and the village residents support it. So they've asked for us and we have some people here who are liers but they've asked for kind of all of us to uh think about things including probably more more you Dr. S of things we could do with that space. I know we've talked about whether there's a something STEM related that we
041could build there. Um whether there's other things whether um there's other other courses or other other classes that other people are offering. I know we did Bloomberg here at the high school, but Shamana does some unique things. I think we've we've tried to mimic or take best practices. I think we should consider doing that if we do um seem to find a way to get some additional space. Uh so that's something that we'll be kind of talking with the village about. Um when they when they figure out what they want to do, I think there's a big meeting tonight, so I have no idea what they're going to decide. Um, but if they do decide to move forward, I think it's really in our best interest to to try to have a conversation about using
042that space to the to the best of the school's ability because we definitely need it. That's that's all I had. I don't know if anybody else has any kind of updates. Can I can I just add one quick thing on the agenda that I didn't I I didn't mention that is with um you know we we have on the agenda a uh a literacy coach for K1 and um and that um and and um that position is on the agenda with which is our current um homestead reading teacher. she'll be taking over that role and then we are hiring a reading specialist for Homestead. So, thank you Miss Papis for reminding me of that. And one thing I think you mentioned it, but one of the things we talked about in the last 12 24
043months was hiring some OT for for the district versus trying to avoid using out, you know, outplacement services to the extent we could avoid doing that. And so I'd like to compliment everybody on being successful and being able to accomplish that and and bringing that uh to the new school year. So hopefully that alleviates some of the pressure that I think our district and other districts have been experiencing. So thank you for >> Yeah. gonna say the same thing. >> I just need clarification for one thing. Um, I don't see the girls varsity lacrosse coach >> deal. No, lacrosse. >> Miss McLolin, were we interviewing for that position? >> The field hockey coach is coming in on Wednesday, tomorrow or Thursday. I'm not sure. the the um I'm just just just want to see. >>
044It doesn't look like it. >> We don't have uh the the current coach hasn't decided yet if he's returning lacrosse. I thought you were confusing lacrosse field hockey. So, as you know, Lauren Laval uh resigned and got took a position as an administrator in another district. Um we have an excellent candidate for field hockey. Um if coach um Etinger decides not to return to girls varsity lacrosse, we have we've had a contingency plan for years. We have several good candidates. So it's early. Uh I think he's just I know his daughter plays college lacrosse and so he was just making a decision. Thank you. Um, I just had a quick question and this might be something that we would learn about later, but about the um the school lunch, what does that look like for
045the schools in the buildings that don't have cafeterias? What would the choices be for the children in those buildings? And does this also include children that have dietary restrictions? Is that also included in this plan in the money that the state has given us for this? >> So the um so what happens with the free with the uh universal free meals, it's not as if we get money, but you get a reimbursement for reimburseable meal and that's the process that goes on. >> Um as far as for the five schools, we we will be doing a cold menu. So, um, and they have a lot of very nice things. So, they'll they'll have an they'll have options that will be there every day, whether it's, you know, a bagel, a lunch, uh, you know, a
046turkey, a ham, you know, they they'll have that, but then they also have plans to have a variety of lovely different things to choose from, including uh, you know, bento boxes and, uh, yogurt parfets and all sorts of different things. So, uh, the menus will be online. The online order, um, process or system that they use has nutritional and other things. It has to be pre-ordered. So, this is not going to be that children show up and they go through a line. We will be doing it on a pre-order system only. It's the order system that we've been using for years for anyone that wants to pre-order, but that will have to happen on the elementary side. There'll be um, it'll probably be like a two week lead time. That's what we're thinking. And you
047can order every day. Um you could order some days. Um it'll get delivered on a that morning with the child's name sealed and it'll be given to them. So we already set up refrigerators in each of the buildings to receive them. We have um part of the new bid is that they will have a van that and personnel that will go around and we have people that will receive them and then the lunch monitors will be distributing. So we are transitioning on the elementary side from just the the special milk program to the the full lunch program there. So we're now signed up for that. So we have some really nice things happening and um you know not long after that we'll be talking about their breakfast also. So um and they'll have you know
048what that will look like there. So but hot meals at the elementary level without having kitchens is just it's too difficult. But we thought that this would be a really nice option for people. >> And those meals are prepared at the middle school and high school cafeterias and then delivered. Most likely it'll be the middle schools, but it might be either one. But yes, they'll be prepared that day, packaged, uh, labeled, and delivered same day. >> That's what the plan is. Um, because our program looks so different, we were required to go back out to bid and that's why that bid is on the agenda because um, the program just our whole offering just looks so different. So, >> and does that include a snack for the kit? Um the reimburseable lunch comes with um
049you know the protein uh the milk and uh fruit on the elementary level. We're also giving the option and this is you have to pay for it. So same as at the high school when you load into your lunch account we'll have uh snacks like chips or a cookie if you want to add that. So we are going to give people the option to add it if you're doing the lunch. So when you order the lunch, it won't let you close out unless you pick three components. That's the reimburseable meal. And if you want to add some, that'll be an option on there as well. So it's not going to be a huge variety, but we we thought people might want to add a little something if they you know, we'd want to >> do
050they reimburse for a dietary restriction. Do you know? >> Um I seems to find out specifically curious >> the everything is labeled. I mean, we're required to um you know, I would it be labeled? I I believe so, but I'd have to check. And I know that there's a meal planner system that's on there that gives you all of the dietary uh and nutritional cards. So, parents would know that prior to ordering. That's part of the online system. So you'd have to go in there, put in what you're going to order, and it would it gives a >> tempor. >> Yes. >> So same way we kind of hang up the same way that they get their lunch by class. Lunch monitor is possible by class. >> Yeah. On the elementary and primary levels, we
051have one lunch monitor assigned to every class. So it's it's quite simple for us to do this. So those will be delivered. They'll go in, grab Mrs. Smith and and just and just distribute that way. So >> this is how we did it in my the school district that I work in during COVID. That's how we did meals. Everything was >> Yeah. >> was the plan was we worked with the principles and you know really I >> pulled this together quickly but uh you know >> nothing new to add. >> It was a nice day. Yeah, we're excited about this. We think it'll >> it'll be big. >> And I've heard from families that families are happy about it, too, in the fact that they don't have to pack their child to lunch every day,
052>> you know, and >> so there are families out there that are happy about that. >> You know, we we'll talk about the information that we're going to give is going to talk about breakfast because the elementaryaries and primaries all have um you know, a snack period that we can we can add that. We're we're thinking it would be a nice opportunity to add that as well. So that's going to be right around the corner and I I think we'll have some good participation on that also. So we're encouraging people to do it. It's >> more I just had one more question. Bell to bell the roll out of Bell to Bell are um I know there'll be more information coming to parents but um what about as far as um the information provided to
053the children in schools like are administrators planning to do like building wide assemblies or are you thinking more like teachers doing that work inside of each of their classrooms or what are you thinking as far as like how to deliver deliver the messaging so that you know all children know that there's a consistent message of what's allowed and not allowed. >> So in each of our buildings, our students are, you know, principles, they do go over like the student handbook, the code of conduct during that time. This will also be shared with our students. I think for this particular one, particularly at our high school and even our middle school, last year at our middle school, we really asked students not to bring in their devices or I should say their uh phones. Um it'll
054be just more information for them, but it'll be going through different ways between assemblies to, you know, teachers reinforcing that within the classroom. Uh elementary, they haven't been bringing it in. Yeah, >> we we've done we've done a pretty good job at the elementary level. K5 >> and middle school and high school, the place where students are supposed to keep their phones is in the lockers. >> In the lockers. Yes. >> There's no like special pouches or any of those devices. We're using the lockers for >> storage. Yes, we'll be using the lockers for storage. And you know, really it's important for our um parents to encourage their children, particularly at the middle school. I'm thinking about sixth graders, seventh graders, even eighth graders, like not to unless you really need it for after school,
055you know, it should be maybe they shouldn't even bring it to school. And if they do, it's going to have to be in their lockers. >> Just one quick question. Um a lot of students bring laptops to the high school. Is that not happen? >> No. No. The laptops will still be um because we have the bring your own devices meaning um and again it's for educational purposes and when you do have um you know like a cell phone it it you cannot use it and it has to be silenced. So but the we'll we'll still be using our laptops and I this year um I should mention another thing. This year we will be um providing you know one of the things that came actually from the high school um with our student government
056is iPads for 10th graders and also for our sixth graders at the middle school. So we will be uh we'll have that for our students. That'll be a roll out in September. At this time are there any citizens questions or comments? Uh if you do have a comment, please walk up and and notice that you're limited to two minutes and a maximum of 30 minutes will be set aside for public comment. Please know you're please announce your name. I' we've seen you here several times, so name and address and please list all your questions. >> Sure. Uh Tina Marshall is 171 Garden Street. Um I number one, the website looks great. It's so much easier to find things, especially the calendar. So, thank you for for making those updates. Um, I had a question. I
057know the literacy um consultant report is going to be reviewed in September. Um, just did part of that review include the understanding of how the TC units of study in the gened classroom may have impacted special education. So where children are getting spe spe spe spe spe spe spe spe spe spe spe spe spe spe spe spe spe spe spe spe specific reading instruction and getting confused going back into the gened classroom. Was that included in there? I don't remember what was on the survey. >> Again the you know could I address that real quickly. The um you know the review was comprehensive and again we'll be discussing it because even the board hasn't even looked at the draft yet. Okay. But it'll be discussed you know they'll be here on September 9th as Dr.
058Bowman said. And will it be posted in advance online >> or or um >> for public review? >> Um we'll be posting it probably after that after it's been Yes. >> Okay. Thank you. >> Any other questions or comments? To make more efficient use of the meeting time, the board of education yellow bars. Oh, sorry. >> Thank you. Um Kyperunis, 103 Garden Street. We recently moved to the district a few years ago and I just had some additional questions about the literacy program and education at the school. I know I've had a couple of conversations with teachers over the last few years and it it seems like the the overall um uh NWA scores have been declining over the last few years and we're also hearing from students and other parents that for example in
059the sixth grade there were teachers reading books aloud to students instead of having them read in the classroom. So we're and we've also um heard anecdotes from other parents saying that increasingly um some of the many of the texts or the reading books that are used again in the middle school are below grade level. So it sounds like we're hearing a pattern and I just want to ask you to confirm or or better educate us um but from the anecdotes we're hearing we're hearing again you know students not given an opportunity to read out loud in class either because they're concerned they're going to be embarrassed or or whatnot. um books being used in class that are below grade level and scores declining over time. So, I was interested in hearing your perspectives and to
060see what the district stance is and what efforts are underway to make sure we we turn this around. >> I think we've we've hosted a bunch of this material and maybe you correct me if I'm wrong, Dr. S. I know we've talked about this topic. I mean, I know I've been talking about it personally for a long time. I think it's part of the part of the genesis of the CASDA review is some of the concerns around the things you raised and some of the things we could do better. So, um I think that'll be addressed. I think the scores are something we've probably had three or four meetings on. I think it's something that we need to improve and I think we'll see if we're meeting our uh our goals probably in the next
061couple of months, right, when the state releases the data for uh NWA scores. So, hate to say more to come, but there will be more to come. And I think it's part of the part of the CAS review is kind of addressing those things and things we can do better to make sure those scores are better. So, >> else to make more efficient use of the meeting time, the board of education authorizes a consent agenda. Uh, the consent agenda allows for one motion to approve multiple items on the agenda. The president of the board will ask if any member of the board wishes to have a item removed and voted on separately. Um if nobody has anything they'd like to remove, may I have a motion to approve the consent agenda which includes business of
062the board items H1 through H5, district appointments I1 through per personnel matters J1 through J12, business office matters items K1 through K15, continuing education matters L1 through L2, and special education matters M1 through M10. So moved. >> All in favor? I. Is there any new business from the board? None at this time from the administration. No new business. Future board of education meetings. The next one will be Tuesday, September 9th, 2025. Uh it's a work session here at 7:30. Tuesday, September 16th is following. Board of Education regular session at 7:30. Um, at this time I have a motion that no further business is to come before the board and the meeting be adjourned. >> So moved. >> All in favor? Bye.