001Okay, they're ready. >> Good evening everybody and welcome to the September 9th board of education meeting. And before we begin this meeting, I would like to turn it over to Lars for a moment. >> Good evening everybody. I got a sad text from Mr. Meyer uh today um that Mrs. Burns, who was with us for many years, um passed away last week. Mrs. Burns started with us at the young age of 58 years old after an entire career. It was the phone company, I think. Uh Mr. Meyer, she retired from the phone company and she worked attendance for us. You could see her there. That was when she retired in 2021 and uh we were still in masks. Mrs. Burns would not she would be cross with that Mrs. Burns for having the mask below
002her. Uh no because she was a rule follower, right? Elementary folks, Mrs. Burns as a parent, I always uh was scared to call and say Ryland was sick because you felt like she was thinking get your son to school, right? Uh she was she was that great. and um she worked for the phone company, started with us when she was 58 and retired with us when she was 84. Um and if you are a member of St. Rosal's Church, uh you heard her as the caner and the lector for many, many years. And so before we begin tonight's meeting, just like to ask for a moment of silence for Mrs. Burns. Thank you. >> To begin tonight's meeting, I would like to ask you all to please stand for the pledge of allegiance. >> I
003aliance to the flag of the United States of America and to the republic for which it stands, one nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all. [Music] >> Please note the emergency exits behind you and behind us. And now I'm going to make a motion for the approval of the order of agenda. >> Motion. >> Second. >> All those in favor? >> I. >> Motion passes. Clerk's report. Be it resolved that the board of education accepts the minutes of the business uh meeting held August 12th, 2025. >> A motion for approval? >> Motion. >> Second. >> All those in favor? >> I. >> Motion passes. Public comment. Speakers will be recognized who wish to address the board on agenda items only. >> Okay. Thank you. And now I will turn the presentation and
004reports over to Loris Clemenson. I guarantee you that Mrs. Ftopolis, myself, Mr. Shug, Mr. Far, Mr. Foster, uh Mr. Carlson had a better day than you did uh today because this is what uh we did at Hampton Bay's uh at Pankag Beach today. U Miss Vopoulos and it was Varsity Club, right? Um our town ocean lifeguards uh who are um is that Cade Arinson, the Karns Boys, Willam, Kira Clinton, Kira Shorland, am I and Lily Mafia. Uh we're in the ocean uh working and supporting folks from Surfers Healing, which is a national not for-profit uh that travels the country to uh support individuals with autism and giving them the unique experience of surfing. And uh this was I would call this a blue flag day at least, maybe a red flag day if this was
005July or August at Pong Beach. And there had to be a hundred individuals from the east end, including Miss Manzulo and Miss Penn's uh special education classes from the uh middle and the high school. Uh who got into the water and got on surfboards. Uh that's Justin on the right. Um initially was hesitant um but very apparent the strong community that is in Miss Manzulo's class. the students surrounded him and encouraged him. And that is an ocean Southampton town ocean lifeguard right there in the foreground of the picture. And with Justin on the board is one of those surfers from Surfers Healing. Um who has been doing this uh begun in um on the West Coast since 1996. Uh we had the opportunity to meet the founder today, Izzy. And um Izzy has a a
006grown son um on uh the autism spectrum and built this experience and he said that after today they clocked the number of uh individuals that they've served at 108,000 surfers uh which was awesome. Um now love Michael is a uh a partner here in the region. Miss Fatopoulos you and your crew have worked with them. It was great. Um, Love Michael is an organization that is again based here in the Southampton area, but has a great reach into the city and beyond, and their focus is to support individuals with autism as they transition to adulthood. uh providing uh some built group homes in Southampton, um advocacy and education, and then connecting families to resources uh as uh individuals transition out of uh secondary school and and into whatever adult programs they might be going in.
007So, you can see we just snapped a couple pictures here today. Um the next, if Andy, this might be a little loud, so if you could turn the volume down, uh this is how we ended the day. This is how >> Oh my god. Yay. [Music] Yay. [Music] >> Awesome, right? >> What a way to have the day. Um, way more than anyone in this room could do except maybe Mr. Joselyn. But, um, just a great way to spend the day. And uh I know that Miss Manzulo and Miss Penza and their entire team because the pair of professionals that are in that room as well um uh just are just remarkable. I was stood online with one today uh one of our colleagues and uh she said to me, you know, every year I
008think maybe this is the year that I'm ready to retire and then in June I'm like I'm coming back in September. I'm going to keep at this uh because it's a special place. Hampton Bay is a special place. We started uh the school year uh strongly last week. Um we had a very busy day on conference day. Um our faculty uh staff leadership team uh back at it. Uh coaches began um the weeks be leading into the summer uh leading into the fall out of the summer. Uh and last Tuesday we got together for conference day. We start each conference day just with a refocus on our mission and our vision which are four simple um premises that most people can't argue with right a school should be focused on strong academic foundation building character
009in individuals being committed to our community and having a dedication and instilling a dedication in lifelong learning um to uh the pe to the people we serve. So hard to argue with those things. Uh but what we challenge ourselves to do is see where that's actualized and where that's realized because this these are nice notes. These are nice words to put on a poster. They hang in our spaces and you know you you can leave and pat yourself on the back and saying it's getting done. But if our if our faculty and our leadership team um and our board are not constantly going back to this document to say is it really happening? Are we embracing a safe learning environment? Uh building programs that build curiosity, respecting and honoring diversity, and really focused on the
010individual's talents and potential, then um we're we're not getting the job done. So, we're constantly going back to that. And so, we kicked off the year just sort of understanding where we are in some really key places. And so this summer after a partnership with Leslie University at the K to at all the way from K to 5, uh we worked on um a focus on writing and writing curriculum and and writing curriculum but writing writing curriculum um to enhance the writing instruction that happens in um our classrooms at the primary level. And uh what came out of that is a real integration and our parents will start to see this at open house in the next couple of weeks where all of the different touch points throughout the day complement one of the multiacets
011of the science of reading. So that's phmic awareness, phonics, reading comprehension, vocabulary. Um and uh it is a multiaceted approach. We don't teach reading with just one program. Kids need different approaches where their their strength where they're stronger or weaker and different skills that we're teaching need different approaches as well. At the middle school, Mrs. Otati was was part of leading that work around a a new set of resources and textbook in social studies. Uh at the sixth, seventh, and eighth grade level, we had a full a full boat of summer school K to 12 with not just recovery but also enrichment. We worked with Hugs International around social and emotional wellness and learning. So there were a couple of assembly opportunities for our kids. The garden was operating. We had a summer music program.
012Uh so the the the only people that challenges are our poor custodial team at the middle school who have about 72 hours to turn that building from 2425 to 2526. Um but that's okay. That's all right because um it's important. And in addition, um a growing um capacity for food service in the summertime with hot breakfast and lunch as well to complement um you know the the the work around uh community eligibility provision for food service. We saw a 20% increase in the amount of kids eating um and participating in the food program uh from last year to prior when we had no uh C eligibility. So more kids are taking advantage of that. Some of that is probably moms and dads saying, "Oh, good. I don't have to make lunch tomorrow." But some of
013that is also no stigma related to being the free or reduced price lunch student, which you don't see at the elementary as much, but as students become more self-actualized, uh you you do see that a little bit more. So, um Miss Facini is here. uh is one half of the duo of our new teacher mentor program uh with uh Miss Mills who teaches in the middle school. Uh Kyle Bisdick is here. He welcome Kyle uh was traveling in August so we didn't get the chance to meet you but special education and science um has uh jumped right in here at the high school. Uh but for some time now we've had a a strong uh firstear mentor program and Christina and Jess are going to take that into the next part of the early career
014of faculty members from years 2 to four. Um they don't meet as frequently um and it gets less tactical like how do we get through the next 42 minutes of my period u and more into some higher level stuff as as young career professionals begin. Um Kaylee Velichella Via or I Via Velichella uh graduated class of 2025 in June. Uh she was a student in Miss Meyers early childhood education class. Uh spent two years in 11th and 12th grade aspiring to be a teacher working with the scope prek. Uh and um Mr. Carlson worked with Miss Meyer the Copag School District. Flattery is when you take something from someone else, right? uh it's the most sincere form of flattery. Uh their career pipeline in cop was to create teacher assistance and uh Kaylee graduated in
015June, took her TA test in July, had all the requisite training and support through the early childhood education program and is now a New York State certified teacher assistant. Can work in any district, this district, any public school district in New York State. And so we hope to see that career pipeline continue. handle with care. Mr. Ferraro navigated a roll out uh as we closed the pilot down from February to June. Uh we had 17 where are you? 17 handle with care notifications from February 1st to the summer. We actually got a few in the summertime. And uh what that information did uh what empowered us to do was to provide the heads up uh when a heads up needs to be uh shared that this child may be coming in um and needing just
016a little bit more or a little bit different than what we would normally give them. Uh so we closed the pilot down in August and expanded it south uh townwide to Southampton town. So other school districts will now have the opportunity to do this. Um and it's great. We have there's a district in northwest SuffK who is mirroring our pilot with the sheriff's office. So that is around um arrest warrants, evictions, um herpo, which is the red flag law, that's gun confiscation out of homes. And so the sheriff also deals with some pretty traumatic interactions sometimes. And uh they're piloting it there as well. So what starts here uh hopefully will continue to get better and more useful for our folks in the classroom and on the front line. Um at the secondary level um
017with our investment in the Spyro program that's a literacy program um we are seeing exponential growth in the capacity by the number of people that we've been training and supporting to pick up working with a kid throughout the year. It could be small group, it could be one-on-one. And so building that capacity to have a team that's ready um has been a focus of ours as well with uh building more folk who have uh who can operate through the spire program, understand it, uh work with kids really um to improve literacy levels. Um research proven we saw it with a number of um overage students who had lower reading levels in the past sever during the COVID era and coming out of that. It's been an investment that is paying off. So, it's time to
018expand that. Um, we'll continue this year. We'll hear from the middle school uh later this year um as they continue developing their application around the New York State schools to watch program. So it is a uh consider it like an accreditation like a third party comes in and says these are the tenants of what a strong middle school program in New York State looks like and then we get audited and uh it's a it's a seal of approval and uh the application is considerable. It is a multi-year process and there are teams of teachers and staff working with uh administration at the middle school to build that. So we'll roll that more out this year. peak performance on AP exams. It's the first one of the first July mornings after graduation. You could still see
019the the dead grass after we've trampled thousands of people over it. But Mr. Morgan's there at 7 in the morning with Mr. start looking at our uh results. We've had the over the last 25 years um that we've matched the one-year high that we saw with 78% of the kids taking an AP class scoring a three or higher uh which only empowers them as they go into college. And then our assessment performance coming before COVID and postcoid that I only put C there because we don't need to type anymore. That's going away. that when we talk about COVID fog and coming out of the pandemic, uh we're seeing that we are at or surpassing where we were in our capacity operationally, fiscally, academically. Um and uh is that it? Okay. Um so these are these
020will continue to be areas that we focus on. I went back to our last September's board meeting to see where we were. You know, we revisit our goals throughout the year and we touched on some major priorities here. Career development for kids, literacy, um partnerships in the community, school safety, mental health, and wellness. Our enrollment today sits at 1,935. This number remains fluid through September until we get to what's called beds day. That's really the snapshot picture that New York State takes. It's the first Wednesday of October. And that is uh an opportunity to let the dust settle when a student is on our register but hasn't returned. Um usually that happens in the first 20 days. And so here we stand right now. >> We kicked off um also last week a commitment to
021community service. And when you see that with Love Michael and and and surfers uh helpers um a public school is the cornerstone of a community, right? We can't do the work that we do if we don't have the trust and support of our community to know that the return on their investment in the school is something that's worth it in our community. And so our focus on that is serious and it's important. Um and so this year our theme will be Bayamon in the bays. So, our opportunities like being at the beach today um with with community organizations and businesses um and throughout the year, many of our clubs do community service. The Lions will be at the middle school on Saturday with the 5K or 10K over the bridge. Um Mr. Foster and Mr.
022Loose will be doing that. Um but on conference day, we kicked off with a hands-on community service project. The idea was that if uh Logan calls them heavy hands, not many hands, she calls them heavy hands. Uh heavy hands make light work, right? And so um at the high school, we packed 125 emergency amenity kits for our partners at the retreat, which is a domestic violence um advocacy and support center in East Hampton. Um when you have a hundred people who work in a building, if everybody did one bag or two bags, you're done in about three minutes. And so that was the objective here to show that when you have heavy hands, it makes the work um it makes the work a lot easier. In the middle school, I saw Diane carrying in district
023office today a box of cards uh cards of connection. So middle school teachers um uh created uh fall themed cards, messages of love and connection and positivity for uh patients at the West Hampton Beach Care Center. So, in their long-term area and at the elementary school, um, boxes of, uh, daypacks of healthy snacks, granola, dried fruit, mint, purll, so that when, um, as as Morin's Haven gears up in the wintertime and partners with churches as a homeless shelter, the Leos have worked with uh, Morin's Haven at St. Mary's in the past. Um, and as they the clients leave the next morning, they'll get a pack to go. It took very little time. Uh but it did have an important impact. This year we will create Hampton Bay teams at a number of different things and
024encourage anybody to come out and join and just be part of the Hampton Bay effort. In November, Mrs. Hollyy's uh Rotary Interact Club here at the high school uh sponsors a 5K at Red Creek Park that supports Mary's Meals uh which uh provides meals for also homeless individuals in underserved communities. in the winter. What's behind door number two, we don't know yet. In April, there'll be a Hampton Bay team, uh, Hampton Bay schools team, uh, participating in the great East End cleanup, uh, where we take a piece of town and for a couple of hours on a Saturday morning, grab a cup of coffee and and own that part of town for a little bit. And then in June of 2026, Dr. Delos Franza and Mr. SHUG have invited us to participate in what would
025be the third annual the third annual middle school day of service which uh on a Saturday branches out uh seventh and eighth graders to five four or five different locations throughout the community um and if there's a the animal shelter uh St. Joseph's Villa, the gardens, uh number of other places. And so again, does this is just a recommmitment for all of us, I think, in a in a very tumultuous 2025 in the world that um connections matter, service matters, when you can, you should matters, and uh it makes Hampton Bay a better place. It is a it is a acknowledgement I also think of the support that we enjoy from our community. Okay. And then there's the school year folks. June 25th, 2026. We'll see you at 6 o'clock. That's of course Christopher Ralden,
026not this year's uh validictorian. But as I uh wrap up, can I take any questions on the start of the school year or anything that's on your mind? >> Not anything that's on your mind, anything school related. Okay, thank you. Thank you everybody. >> Thank you. >> Okay, Larry. >> Thanks, Mr. Josyn. Um, I I had almost as much fun as surfing on the beach. I I spent the day in the basement of district office with the auditors. >> That is >> It was great. I mean, we we didn't see the sun the whole day. It was wonderful. >> Yay. >> But, um, I just wanted to update you on a couple of things. uh our capital projects that we've been working on uh at the elementary school. The the bathrooms are are primarily done.
027Couple of uh punch list items. Uh one sink is on order and should should be in uh I believe by the end of this week. Um but for the most part, they're the the bathrooms are done and I think uh much appreciated, Mr. Meyer. >> Okay, good. Good. Um the new skylight for the middle school to replace the one outside the cafeteria is on order. Um probably that's going to be it's probably going to arrive at the worst point in time in the winter and which means it's probably a spring project getting put in place. Um that's just reality. Um HVAC units for the elementary school and high school are also on order. They should arrive by the end of this month, which means probably October. >> Yeah, >> maybe early November. We'll be we'll
028be getting those in the classrooms, getting them set up and commissioned, and they'll be ready for next spring when it when it gets hot again. Um, we're also working on an uh energy performance contract uh project. The audit for that project is going on right now. Uh numerous projects have been identified as capable of significant energy savings for the district. Uh we'll be discussing those and have a lot more detail about them at the next board meeting. And as I mentioned when I started uh the auditors are here yet again and uh we've been having loads of fun. Um they will also be with meeting with us in October. Uh not sure if it'll be ready for the board meeting in the beginning of the month or if we'll have to have a another meeting
029later in the month, but definitely in the month of October, we'll be set to go over their report. Okay. >> All right. Thank you very much. Welcome. Anything else? Okay. At this point, I make a motion for a consent motion for 4 A through 4 C. >> Motion. >> A second. >> Second. >> All those in favor? I >> I >> motion passes. Uh I make a motion for 5A student services. >> Motion. >> Second. >> All those in favor? >> I make a motion for personnel 6A. >> Hold on. That's >> And we have to hold on. >> Y. >> So we have an opportunity here to recognize one of our administrators with a tenure vote. Um, the year was 1990 when young John Foster first entered kindergarten at Hampton Bay Elementary School. Mrs.
030Brosman was his teacher. I was his teacher. >> And maybe he didn't know then that he would grow to become the director of health, physical education, and athletics. Uh, but did you did you no? Maybe. Okay. I thought you said I did. Uh but here we are all these years later and tonight it's it's my honor to recommend to the board of education and a a positive tenure vote for John Foster. Uh he came back to us uh graduated from East Strazburg University and received his uh leadership degree at Satan Hall University in New Jersey. uh made a quick pit stop here uh as a substitute teacher in around the 06 07 era uh before heading to Springs where he taught elementary school health and physical education. Uh ran the garden club sort of was
031an early inspirer of that work for us in Hampton Bays um before he came to Hampton Bays in 2016 as a health and uh physical education teacher going back and forth between the elementary and the middle school. Uh he did that for five years and as Mr. Walker was retiring we had some conversations um and I'm just going to tell the story because I think it captures um it captures his essence. Um we were interviewing athletic directors and we were interviewing a number of them who had applied and each one was just not it wasn't the right match. uh to the point where at one point I got up and walked somebody out to the car and said, "Thank you for coming." You know, it just wasn't the it wasn't where um I think the
032BA wasn't what the Bayon needed. And I sent Johnny a text and I said, "I know you want to stay in the gym and coach for a little bit uh longer before you make the the jump into school leadership. Um but I think now is the time uh for you to do that and you're needed. Would you give it a consideration?" And I tell the story because the answer was, "Yeah, yeah, if I'm needed." And and I think we see that through the last four years of his service as director of health, physical education, and athletics. The guy who's checking in with everybody to make sure they have what they need. Uh we have a renewed uh partnership with our youth sports organizations. You saw youth cheer and and flag football out there tonight. Um
033you said it coming in tonight. The best thing is when you can't find a parking spot in our in our parking lots. Youth sports has a lot to do with that. Um Johnny navigated a challenging time where you tell the community it is not going to be the right move for us to have varsity football for the next couple of years. Um it is going to be a rebuild. I'm I'm not I'm not using false words. I'm not just saying things to get through the next day. And he committed to that. And we have our varsity team back again. Uh, boys volleyball had their first win tonight. Um, as well, a new program in its second year. Um, and I think if you walk around the buildings, um, you see that there's a real care
034for the athletic facilities. Um, and Johnny's fingerprints are all over that. So, um, in 1990, Mrs. Bro, what's what Mrs. Broden could have called it, I bet. Um, but we're glad that to have you on the leadership team. You've got coaches here in the room and adviserss who you work with. Um, and without hesitation, I'd recommend uh a positive vote for tenure. >> And then each person has You need a motion, a second person. >> Okay. I read this first motion. Whereas upon the recommendation of the superintendent of schools, the board of education grant tenure in accordance with chapter one of the board of regents of the New York State Education Law to those candidates eligible. And whereas the board of education is in accordance with such recommendation. Therefore, be it resolved that the following
035individual, John Foster, be granted tenure in the administrative tenure area indicated with the effective dates noted. June 30th, 2025, we will now take a vote. >> Motion motion. >> Motion sec. Uh >> second. >> It's my first time doing this. Um all those in favor? I >> I >> Okay, we'll now take an individual vote. >> I >> Yes. I I >> Liz, >> I I It's unanimous. Congratulations. [Music] [Applause] [Music] [Applause] >> Now, go back to work, please. There's still teams in the gym. Mhm. >> Okay. We will now continue with a consent motion for 6B through 6K. I hear a motion. >> Motion. >> A second. >> Second. >> All those in favor? >> I motion passes. And where are we now? >> Oh, just give me a second. Okay. Public opinion, public
036comment. Persons may address the board of education on any matters of interest or concern. The board president will recognize all speakers. Time limits may be imposed based upon agenda needs. Anybody wish to speak? >> Okay. Thank you. Therefore, I make a motion that we adjourn the meeting. A motion. >> Motion. >> Second. >> All those in favor? I >> I And I thank everybody for coming and congratulations again to you, John. >> Yes. >> And to Kyle. >> Yes. >> Congratulations.