001enter public session. Mr. Bonowski, Miss Mchella, all in favor? The vote is unanimous. We're now back in public session. Please stand for the pledge. I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America and to the republic for it stands nationy and justice for all. Do we have any agenda changes? >> Yes, we have agenda changes to reports and personnel. >> Thank you so much. >> That moves us on to our board president comments. And I wanted to just take a moment to recognize that we're entering the second half of our school year, which is always a weird time because there's so much of the year left, but you're already planning ahead to the year after that in the summer. Um, so it's so much planning, so much thought, but making sure that
002we're still living in that moment with our kids and the experiences they're showing us now. Um, both my kids came home in the past few days after I prouded them telling me about electives and classes they chose. they were just gonna, you know, carry on with their day. Like that wasn't anything big. But it just it made me pause and realize just how quickly that time goes and how hard they're working and how independent. And all of that is because of the teams working with them. I also just wanted to take a moment to recognize that the support that our community gives to each other, to our staff, and to our families when times are good, but also when times are a struggle, whether they're big or small. And really just to thank everybody for
003being here today and the continued work that's going on for each of our kids. Do we have any points of interest? Any meetings? Do we have any visitor comments? Thank you, ma'am. All right, that moves us on to our reports section of the evening. We have our gauge highlight high school NYC step trip proposal. Good evening, Board of Education. My name is Brandy Broncado. I'm the MCC MCC step specialist. This is my colleague Nicole Fidelli. She is the MCC um step specialist at uh Gates Chili Middle School. while I'm at the high school. Um first slide here is um just of what our program's about and what we provide for the students at Gates Charlie High School. I currently have about 142 students with me in the program. I did this field trip last year.
004Um it was in November of last year. This year it was pushed a little further because we were waiting for funding by the state and I needed three months to present and plan to everyone. So that's why it's a little later this year. It's from March 18th to the 21st, a Wednesday to a Saturday. I chose that time being respectful to the calendar for school activities and events. I also did it because that Friday is a superintendent conference day, so I knew the students would already have that day off, so it's less days that they're away from their classrooms. Um I am choosing 22 sophomores and juniors with four chaperons. Um the students are chosen just like last year invite with an application that they filled out on why this would be beneficial to them.
005They um were invited based on their grades. I checked to make sure grades were um above, you know, well in classes, participation in our program and also interest in the trip and the colleges that we're going to visit. The trip is completely free for the students. The cost is covered by MCC step. The only thing the students would have to bring is spending money if they choose to. If not, there's no need. Um, and then there's just the program objective. Itinerary is um almost similar to last year's bus would arrive at uh 5 7:45 at our MCC campus that morning. Um, we would end up at a lunch place in New York City, then going to Time Square and heading to a place called Skyscapes, then to our hotel that evening. The next day, um,
006we're visiting Forom College. We've connected with the CSTEP college students at Forom and we're having a tour with them, a Q&A and just a kind of a meet and greet with the students that are also part of STEP and Seep in New York City. Um we're heading to the American Museum of National History that afternoon and then dinner somewhere in I believe it's in uh one of the local areas near the um Central Park. Um and then back to our hotel the next day. We were um heading in heading to New York uh NYU, New York University for a tour. Um also um specifying because we're a STEM program, we're going to get into some of their um science labs, biology labs there at the college and do some things with some of the professors
007there. And then finish Oh, then we're heading to um the ground zero 911 uh the 911 memorial um and then dinner in Time Square that evening. And then Saturday morning, breakfast, check out, and then head back to Monroe Community College about 2:30, three o'clock in the afternoon. Um, I've been working with Kyla just like I did last year with all transportation and insurance requirements, making sure they're all up to um, Gage Chilai standards. This is who I'm working with with um, the travel first choice. And then the agency that put the whole tour together is fantastic tours. Um, her name was Kelly And the last thing is pre-trip activities. Um parents are going to meet with us. We're going to have a Zoom meeting with all the parents once all the applications are in. Um
008I'm also doing a parent meeting. We go over a contract um behavior and expectations while we're there to answer any questions to go over itinerary, what they should pack, especially for the weather in March. Um and then also just having all the students together so they can be with the um people that are all the students that are going on the trip together. Post activity um students will just complete a survey like they did last year for me. It's just feedback that helps me show if the colleges were ones that they valued and learned from and also helped me plan like the next future trip. So that's about it. Any questions? >> Thank you guys so much. Do you guys have any questions? >> That sounds wonderful. Thank you. >> Okay. Thank you. >> Good
009night. >> You, too. All right. Now, we have our capital project update. Hi, guys. >> Good evening. Uh, unfortunately, we will not be doing another cahoot tonight. Uh, it'll be back to a boring regular old presentation. Uh, with me, I have Zack, uh, Mooney. He is, uh, with campus construction management. presented once or twice to the board as well. Kurt could not make it tonight. Uh starting off with our building brighter futures. We're almost to the end of this project. Uh we started this over two years ago. The last area in phase one is the middle school music space. So our general trades contractor has been installing cabinets, ceilings, floor, and wall tiling throughout the space. Uh we wrapped up the exterior work minus some sidewalks. We ran out of nice weather for that. So
010that will be done in the spring. And then the back of the middle school stage has a elevator going in along with a new set of stairs. The mechanical contractor started up their units and is currently going through testing. Uh electrical work, their final power components, putting in outlets, minor things like that. And then all the lighting is going in now. And then the plumbing work, the sinks, and the one drinking fountain in that space has gone in. Site work in phase two. Uh the middle school parking lot uh lot was striped. This happened back in December. And then the Florence Brasser Ballards and sidewalk fencing went up. Uh inside of Florence Brasser, we turned over the art, the EML, and the mental health suite at the in the middle of December. So all those
011spaces are occupied by staff now. And then the instrumental music, this was originally supposed to be in December as well. There was a last minute flooring change which we're waiting for that material to show up and we expect that to be turned over shortly. And then the middle school fields, the masonry dugouts, the interiors of those have been completed. And then the floor base that goes on the rooms in the high school. Nothing crazy there. Uh the mechanical electrical plumbing, very similar story. We turned over the spaces that I previously mentioned at Florence Brasser. And then the middle school fields, the dugout and the field lighting has been wrapped up by our electrical contractor. Phase three, the middle school bathrooms that will service the sports fields. So the walls were framed and drywalled. Ceilings have
012been drywalled with light uh fixtures cut in. And then the bathroom walls have been tiled and grouted. We're working our way onto the floors and into the hallways. And then the mechanical electric plumbing have followed suit. So the mechanical units have been started up or brought power to them on the roof. Lighting is ongoing in that space. And then the toilet carriers are hung ready for uh tiling to be finished. So looking ahead, the middle school music, we're moving in over February break. So we're going to wrap up that space, clean it, and then uh we're working with Dan or Dr. to uh complete that and get a proper move in. Phase two, like I mentioned before, instrumental music at Florence Brasser. And then the hallway and bathroom tile work. There is still some of
013that at Brasser as well. We've had a lot of tile work on this project. The remaining piece will be at Florence Brasser. And then the exterior paneling is nearly complete. We're waiting on a bench and some signage to go up outside of Florence Brasser. We'll see a picture of that later on. Uh the middle school fields, the only that remains there is punch list and then when the weather turns uh training the maintenance staff on how to uh maintain the fields and then this is a typo here but the phase three bathrooms should just be continued wall tiling and then we're going to start mounting bathroom fixtures uh and then our turnover for that is early March our budgets uh like I mentioned before we're nearly done 96% build for phase one 95 for phase
014two and phase three which is rather small but moving along quickly we're at 54% % uh contingency is 1.8 million and we've expended about 500,000 of our 615 in allowances. So we're really coming down to the end in terms of dollars. So this is the new band room in the middle school. The high ceilings, the uh acoustic foam, and that's all the music instrument storage which is now inside of the room. This is another angle of that. The high ceilings, uh the fun light or ceiling fixtures and the baffles or lights. This is the vocal room. Uh, and the coral coral room that has mirrors along the back that'll have a curtain. And this is another fun ceiling in that space with all the lighting. And then this is the keyboarding room, which has a
015piano keyboard in lighting on the ceiling. Uh, this is the principal's office at Florence Brasser. the ceiling went in over December break. And then this is the paneling that I was talking about outside of Florence Brasser. We're 95% complete with this. And this is what some wall tile looks like in the bathrooms. Wall tile with some floor tile going in. Any comments on the 22 building brighter futures project? >> Any comments or questions? The teachers must be about the music spaces because my sixth grader came home very excited about them the other day. >> We're very excited to get them in. It's been a long time coming. >> Thank you. >> All right, we have a brief update on the future ready capital project as well. So this month on the other side of things,
016we're just getting started. Uh mainly just demolition in the operations center. That is the only space we have open right now. And then site work just mobilizing, getting ready. Unfortunately, the weather has not been cooperating to start the site the new fence at the high school site. >> And just to be clear, that was the old HR area, correct? >> Yes. Yes, that's the old conference room. >> Thank you. Uh schedule for next month pretty much the same just making safe and general demolition. We'll be doing floor cuts for the plumber and we'll be doing some under slab work as well. That is the old board pictured in that. Uh budget wise like I said complete other side as Joe mentioned we are just starting this project. So we are 0% build as of right
017now. Uh for the remaining phases, uh phase two, we're standing at about $25.7 million budget. Phase three, $16 million and phase 4, $18.2 million. And we are standing at about $2.3 million in contingency for this project with zero dollars expended in the $199,000 allowance. You'll see here in the operations center uh some uh wall and window demolition as long as some ceilings and floors. Same here. That's the old conference room. And in this one, another just wall demolition. Real exciting stuff going on there. uh for the remainder of the project. Phase two timeline is currently sitting at uh timeline of summer to fall bid and award with construction starting shortly after in the fall and winter of 2026 and we anticipate the close out at the end of 2028. Phase three um just went to
018or just started design last month and will get submitted to SED at the end of 2026. And in phase four, that design will start in April of 2028 with estimated submission to the state in the spring of 2029. Any questions? >> Any questions? >> Thank you guys. We appreciate it. >> Thank you. All right, that brings us to our culture, belonging, and engagement report. >> Good evening, interim superintendent Dr. Ball, President Coffee, and members of the board of education. Thank you for the opportunity to join you tonight and share an update on the work happening in the area of culture, belonging, and engagement across our district. Two weeks ago today marks my one-year anniversary in the district. Yay. So, when I stepped into this role, um a year ago, my first priority was to listen,
019learn, and build trust. Um I spent some time getting to know the people, the practices and the culture of gay chili with the goal of understanding where equity work was and uh where it was already taking root and where we could grow even stronger. So this is a highlevel view of how the work has evolved over the past year. I started by laying a foundation uh building relationships and identifying strengths and gaps. Uh from there I moved into building community and structures that could support long-term progress. Now I'm focusing on amplifying voices and preparing for the future in more intentional ways. So early in the year uh I started out partnering with Dr. Robert Shawwell who had been doing some of the work as a contractor for the district to support uh connection and belonging
020for BIPO staff and helping to relaunch what is now known as the common ground collective. Um, I joined the school improvement team meetings uh throughout all of the buildings uh to observe how equity was showing up in each building and I stepped in to co-f facilitate the culturally responsive sustaining education framework uh learning with a new cohort and uh continued on in those cohorts and began a deep dive into four years of suspension data to better understand uh patterns and disproportionality. So, uh, as we move into restorative practices and the CRSC framework, so far 30 staff members and 20 students have been trained in restorative as restorative champions through our partnership with Aquabin. Uh, and they continue to receive coaching to deepen their practices. We also began planning for next steps for the CRSC framework,
021including the development of a support staff version of the training to expand our reach and impact. the Common Ground Collective, which uh was formerly known as the BIPAC group. Um, and for those who don't know, BIPAC is black indigenous people of color, um, which is now the Common Ground Collective, um, began to expand to include all staff who hold historically underrepresented identities, creating a spa, a space for connection, reflection, and growth. Um, our school improvement teams participated in an equity collaboration day over the summer where we introduced uh inconsistent I'm sorry. Introduce consistent naming um across the board, moving them from uh different names throughout all of the buildings to school improvement team naming through all of the buildings. Um introduced reporting and accountability structures as well. And in this past December, the equity leadership
022team came together for a strategic planning retreat that aligned all of our priorities across key initiatives. So a few things that are happening in some of the schools um so that you can understand what some of the school improvement teams are working on uh in their buildings. At Florence Brasser, their school improvement team restructured under new leadership um and formed our focus four focused uh subcommittees and these teams are working on everything from culturally responsive literature and professional development uh to student recognition and cafeteria culture. They're also making student voice and family engagement a visible part of the school's daily life. In Gates Chili High School, um at the high school, the focus groups are leading um work in three key areas. You just heard about this from the high school just a few meetings
023ago. Um but there are three key areas are cultural awareness, cultural education, and inclusive school climate. They're especially focused on making sure students in our 1211 and 811 programs feel included and valued as part of the school community. The middle school has expanded uh both student and staff involvement in their school improvement team. They trained the entire building recently on uh the use of panorama social emotional learning data and are planning to uh have a schoolwide seal half day in February. They're also preparing to lead the upcoming community schools needs assessment in Neil Armstrong. They're integrating uh culturally responsive literacy and social emotional learning through uh initiatives like one school, one book. Uh their celebrations and belonging work include schoolwide uh themes, bulletin boards, and student recognition. Staff are also engaged in responsive classroom training
024and ongoing collaboration to strengthen tier one practices. At Paul Road Elementary School, they've launched Panther Pause, uh, which is a framework for, um, recognizing uh, different types of work. And they have a tier one system grounded in respect, responsibility, compassion, and hard work. They've also introduced the golden tray lunchroom program to reinforce shared expectations in common spaces. Student leadership is embedded into many of their celebrations, and their equity uh, subcommittee uh, is planning cultural including a sensory friendly Valentine celebration coming up. And at Walt Disney Elementary, um they've been leading work throughout uh the school on uh around neuro neurodeiversity, identity, and tier one SEO. They've implemented buildingwide neurodiversity lessons. Um launched their wish tree, which is their one school, one book project, and held family engagement nights around zones of regulations. The team is
025also developing a respectful uh terms um tool to promate promote excuse me promote inclusive language across the school and some of the other things that are happening districtwide. One of our key culture building tools this year was the update of our inclusive communication style guide. Um, I worked in partnership with the communications team to add a new section on harmful language to avoid, which also includes the history behind it and some terms that folks can use in place of some of the harmful terms that u many of us have grown up using. Uh, this work is supported by uh the interrupting harmful language training uh that's being facilitated by by our local history and offered to all staff. Um, I'm also working behind the scenes to build data systems that allow us to look at
026patterns across the years, especially related to uh discipline and behavior. And the goal is to move from being reactive to being proactive, using data to inform uh supports before issues escalate. And this year I joined uh NICED uh on the DEI leaders network as the Gates Chilai representative and I now serve as a facilitator within the group as well. And this network allows us to learn from other districts across the state and bring those insights back home to Gates Shilai to strengthen our own efforts. So looking ahead, um we I'll continue expanding the common ground collective and deepening our cse CSE framework. Say that three times fast. Um and restorative practices work. Um, I'll support our school improvement teams through coaching and accountability and uh developing dashboards to help leaders make equity focused decisions in
027real time. And this first year has been a whirlwind. It's been a lot, but it's been a good lot. Um, and so it's been all about listening, building relationships, and laying the foundation as I mentioned. And in year two, I'll focus on embedding the work, measuring the impact, and continuing to evolve. So, thank you so much to all of you for your support, your commitment to this work, and I'm so excited for what we'll build together in the coming year. Any questions? >> Hello, Dr. Carter. >> Hello. >> Not necessarily a question, but a comment. I am ridiculously excited about the um inclusive communication guide because I think so often we hear of microaggressions and language we shouldn't use but no one really put it to paper so people have something to actually go back
028and reference and study. So kudos and I appreciate that side to as well. >> Any additional questions or comments? >> Thank you so much. Right, that moves us forward now to our consensus agenda. Can I have a motion to approve the consensus agenda? Littlewood, Dr. Richards, any discussion? All in favor? Vote is unanimous. Can I have a motion to approve consensus items C through H? Can I have a motion? Uh, Miss Mella, Mr. Reinhardt, any discussion? All in favor? The vote is unanimous. Can I have a motion to approve the Gates Chile High School New York City step trip? Can I have a motion? Littlewood and Miss Jennings. Any discussion? All in favor? Unanimous. Can I have a motion to approve the resolution for probationary administrative appointment for Emily Gino in the tenure area of
029assistant principal? Can I have a motion? Dr. Richards. Any discussion? All in favor? The vote is unanimous. That moves us forward now to superintendent comments. >> Good evening, President Coffee, Vice President Richards, and the board of education. Today kicked off the start of the second semester, an important milestone for our school year. In addition to many students at the high school and middle school who may have started new courses today marks the halfway point for our year. We look forward to sharing more information about what's been happening in our midyear update at the next board meeting. And with that, I'd like to share a reminder that next Wednesday, February 4th, will be a half day for all Gates Chilai students. After students go home for the afternoon, staff will engage in collaborative work focused on
030key instructional and departmental initiatives as well as review instructional data to help inform teaching and learning in the second half of the school year. While snow days can be a welcome break and a fun opportunity for families, I want to remind everyone that the state requires districts to provide 180 days of student instruction. If we exceed our allowable snow days, additional instructional days may be needed to add to the school calendar. Because of that snow day last week, or this week, I should say, the sixth grade winter coral concert that was scheduled for yesterday will now happen tomorrow. Then on Thursday, seventh and eighth grade chorus students will have their turn. Both events begin at 700 p.m. in the GC pack. Gates Chilai musicians at both the high school and middle school are gearing up
031for another year of Java Jazz next week. This year's event will take place next Friday, February 6, beginning at 5:30 p.m. in the GCPAC. This annual event will feature jazz ensembles from the Gates Chilai Middle School and High School along with two outstanding professional groups, the Joey Stein, I don't know if I said that right, big band and the Molly Collins Quartet as well as the Brockport High School Blue Notes. Tickets are $10 for general admission and $5 for students and senior citizens. Proceeds will support Gates Chilai High School jazz bands byianual travel experiences which have included destinations such as Nashville, Orlando, Philadelphia, New York City, and Boston. The evening will also include free coffee and beverages, snacks and desserts for purchase, raffle items, and will be hosted by News8 anchor Brennan Summers. Last Friday
032evening, students and families from Walt Disney Elementary School braved the winter weather to attend the 4th annual Walt Disney Bingo night hosted by the Walt Disney Parent Teacher Organization. The event brought the school community together for an evening of games, prizes, and fun with support from the Gates Chilai High School peer leaders and generous local donors. This popular fund raise fundraiser raised more than $3,000 to support programs and opportunities for Walt Disney students throughout the school year. Also last week, the Spartan Fieldhouse was transformed into a circus big top as the community enjoyed Billy Martin's Cole Allstar Circus. The event was a collaborative fundraiser hosted by the Florence Brasser Family Association and the Neil Armstrong Parent Teacher Organization, bringing students, families, and staff together for an evening of classic circus entertainment. The show featured acrobatics,
033balancing acts, and comedy, creating a fun and memorable experience while raising $1,000 for each school. And of course, earlier this month, the Harlem Wizards returned to Gates Chilai for a high energy fundraising event benefiting the Gates Chilai Education Foundation. The Wizards kicked off the day with visits to all four elementary schools and the middle school, engaging students with trick shots and interactive demonstrations. That evening, students, staff, and families filled the Spartan Fieldhouse as the Gates Chili Spartans took on the Wizards in a fast-paced game that celebrated school spirit, community involvement, and student excitement. It also demonstrated why I was not a basketball player. Tonight, the board of education approved a new addition to our leadership team. Emily Guino will be joining Gates Chilai as an assistant principal at Florence Brasser Elementary School. Miss Guino comes
034to Gates Chilai from the Rochester City School District where she is serving as associate director of special education. She is also a parent of a current brasserbearer. Miss Guino will begin working with us after the February break. A big thank you to Mr. Tim Doberton for stepping up as interim assistant principal these past couple of months and welcome again to Miss Guerino. And finally, earlier today, we learned the high school head custodian Todd Carr passed away over the weekend. Many of us who knew Todd knew him to be a kind and quiet person. He was a dedicated member of our team since November of 2022. as both the head custodian at the middle school and most recently as head custodian at the high school. Tomorrow, members of our district trauma, illness, and grief team will
035be ready to provide support to anyone in our school community who may need time to process this loss. As a district, we extend our heartfelt condolences to the car family and all those affected by this loss. Please join me now in a moment of silence in memory of Todd. Thank you. And that is all that I have for tonight. President Coffee. >> Thank you, sir. Congratulations, Emily. All right. We can I ask for a motion that the board enter into executive session to discuss appointment or employment of particular persons. Can I have a motion? Mr. Long, all in favor is unanimous. We're now entering executive session.