001Okay, welcome back everyone. Uh we'll move into public comment uh agenda items only. So if anyone has any public comments uh just stand up your name and then shout them out. Okay, we'll close public comment. We'll go into our consent items which are GA1 to D. As usual, if any board member has questions, comments, concerns, um, or want to pull an item out and vote on it separately, we can do that. Otherwise, we'll take it as a block. So, can I have a motion to move our consent items? Mo motion by Mike, second by Jen. >> Anybody have any questions? >> Yep. No comments. Okay. All those in favor? >> Opposed? So carried. >> Okay. So this evening we do have a few of our uh newly hired teachers for the 26 27th school year.
002So uh Erica Shaw I see in the audience. Congratulations to Erica. if you could stand. Erica will be an elementary school teacher. I also see Sophie Canino in the second row. So, if Sophie can stand, she'll be an elementary teacher. I saw her before. There she is. Right. Yes. Susanna Spencson will be a math teacher at the middle school. Joe GM was here. I don't see Oh, he is. Joe GM took a position as our school monitor at the elementary school. He's actually starting right away. Congratulations. And I believe I caught everyone. Is there anyone in the room that got appointed that I did not acknowledge? No, I think I got everyone. That concludes that. I just want to also just for public record uh because she was recognized earlier, but Cindy Chalice gave a
003retirement letter uh later than uh we could get her on the the front end. So, I just want to thank her for her uh her years of service, 28 years at as a teaching assistant in the district. So, thank you to Cindy. And I believe that covers everything for me. is just wanted to mention that uh uh the instructional staff members here are um appointed probationary so we hope to see them back four years from now will be their tenure uh period in 2030 so again look forward to it thank you >> okay thank you to our new hires congratulations our principal report um elementary school. So, the unique part of this meeting is this happens two weeks after the principles just gave their last reports. So, I can tell you what the principles been
004doing for the last two weeks. They've been hiring because, as you can see, we have all of the fruits of their labor here in front of us this evening. So, I don't know that they have too many uh additions to their agendas, but uh we'll give them to you anyway. >> All right. So, just the one thing that just didn't make it to my report just because it happened last night was the uh spring concert. It was amazing as always. Uh just an awesome performance overall. And you know, just a um round of applause to to both the band and course teacher. And then the other thing is also to the students. Um there were some students that took on an extra challenge um for Mr. Frier um and they did a encore performance last
005night um very Disney themed. So that was really cool because they got done with the performance, did all those songs and then did an wanted to do an additional one. So it was kind of like a little little tearjerker, but so um congrats. >> You mean floodgates? >> Yeah, this is true. >> It was very touching. They they uh instrumental version of You've Got a Friend of Me from Toy Story. >> Yep. >> He definitely let it go. And that's it. Any questions? I had a question and it you know we this can continue on but at some point the district will engage in another capital project and what I'm thinking because it is a large elementary school. A question I had for you is um does does the outdoor play area, the recess area,
006does that meet the needs of our Highland Elementary School? Could we use another playground or play area? I just know that, you know, schools that are similar in size have multiple play areas. So, I'm just >> I would love to have another playground. Um I think that that would also help a lot with um our morning recess because all the students as soon as they arrive, they go out for some morning recess and get some fresh air and exercise. Um you know, in the winter it's a hard sell, but in the now it's it's hard to sell to get them in the building. Um, so yeah, that would definitely help out a lot. Uh, >> so that might be some, you know, conversations we're engaged in in the years to come. >> I would love
007that. And I know that you guys used to have a huge wooden playground. I know that's not coming back anytime soon, but like, yeah, some of those big playgrounds are awesome. >> Yeah, we talk about um, you know, they're just getting so creative with with uh, school grounds and there's a lot of applications and maybe that's something we can talk about expanding in the future. Thank you. >> I'd love it. Thank you, >> Ian. on on the same line that Mike just mentioned, the outdoor learning pavilion. How was that going? I mean, >> booked every day. >> Good. >> Um, so actually the lunch monitors have uh now um they're bringing out a cart of of um games for the students because we have all those tables out there and everything like that. So during
008lunchtime, some of the kids that you know either get overheated or whatever the case may be. They go out and they they go into the pavilion and play some some board games and like you know um um I can't think of the game's right there. What's the connect five? There it is. >> Couldn't think. Yeah. Four. Never mind. >> Play it. Play it often apparently. Uh >> so uh yeah, >> Connect Five is the middle school version. >> Haven't got there yet. Um, so yeah, they do have a bunch of games which I thought was a really cool idea and that and again that was not my idea. That was not that was our lunch monitors and they've been, you know, you know, bringing in their own stuff and and just, you know, and different
009staff members have been donating different games. So that's really kind of I I thought it was a really awesome use of that space other than, you know, the normal just being out there for, you know, for instructional time. It it's usually during that some of that downtime. So >> good. Good. Thank you. Uh, no additions. Just one highlight. Um, it was on the calendar of upcoming events. Kathy Bowman has spent a really lot a lot of time putting together a sixth grade kickball tournament, which is like a field day. It's the first time we've ever done this, and I want to give her a big shout out for putting a lot of time and effort into it. It'll be on Thursday. Um, and also to the parents for donating lots of water and things like
010that for that day, which was really, really helpful. So, I just wanted to uh throw that on there as a highlight. Um, that's all I've got. >> Thank you, Andy. >> Anybody have any questions? >> Good evening, everybody. Uh, congratulations to our new hires and our promotions. Uh, wish you the best of luck. I do have one highlight for the high school board report on the last page. Uh Olser Bosey's graduation. Uh Joel and I had the opportunity to attend that. Um one of the highlights that I would like to point out was the Val and Sal for all of Ouler Bois and all the students that that encompasses came from Highland. Um the validictorian was Michaela Petrashock and the saludiatoran Brandon Herbert. And additionally, the Olser County Bosey's uh student board rep was also
011a Highland student, Elizabeth Harris. So, just want to congratulate all three of those students who represent all the hundreds of kids that attend Boseis uh are here from Highland. So, congrats to them. >> That is it for my board report. Does anybody have any questions? >> Thank you. Thank you. And then okay, uh our director's monthly report again they're here most of them are here this evening. If you have any questions for our directors, you can shout them out. just um want to introduce a topic for further reflection and discussion but I want to talk about uh you know what the expectations of the concession stand are. I know um uh you know the experience there is really not where we want it to be. I know they were still growing into the space but
012um has all the equipment been installed and is that up and running properly? I just still have a lot of questions about both the setup of the concession stand and then the service we're providing. There was actually a few experiences um uh where the away team, you know, the kids have a few minutes before they get on the bus and they ran there and wanted to get a snack and you know those windows were closed like right away as soon as that last whistle was blown. Uh I saw it a couple times. I thought we could, you know, hold that open just a little longer and allow these kids to purchase a snack. You know, if we had vending machines or something like that, it wouldn't be such an issue, but as a parent, I
013felt bad um you know, that that we could do better. So, I think there's a discussion on what we expect of our concession stand and, you know, we can kind of grow into a a better service for the public. Thank you. Any other questions for our uh directors? Just real quick, athletics. Frank, uh the boys and girls lacrosse are playing this coming weekend. >> Yes. The uh boys lacrosse won the section. They'll be playing on Saturday at Middletown. And then um the girls lacrosse also won and they're going back to Monroe Woodbury on Sunday. Uh we also have some track athletes that are um going to be involved in state qualifiers uh during this week and pretty much everybody else is wrapped up. But one thing I do want to mention is uh last Friday
014uh we hosted the section 9 boys class A lacrosse championships here at Highland. Um, we had one game. It was Manuel Woodward Woodbury verse, uh, Kingston. Uh, I thought we did a very good job. We were staffed. It was all Highland people staffed it. Uh, Mike Geller's father ended up announcing. Um, he he filled in for Mike and he did a great job there. He's done games down at West Point, so having him there kind of gave a really good feel. Uh the one thing I want to mention is the next day when I went to the boys game, the head official for the night before was also doing he did this the boys game that was here and then he did our boys game at FDR. He made a point during a timeout to
015come over to me and tell me that you know what we did was a first class operation. Everything was done great. He he thought, you know, there's no reason why we can't host things in the future on that field. Um that was coming from him also from the vice president of section 9 who was here that night. Uh he said the same thing from Colleen and and Opus doing the the tickets at the gate and then we had our staff here and and I was very happy with it and and um to show what we have here. So I just want to leave you with that. >> Right, Frank. Um, we approved uh the winter coaching uh coaches for this coming winter. Um, and I know several months ago there were a bunch of um,
016girl parents for wrestling came to our meeting when we proposed to entertain bringing girls wrestling as a sport here in Highland. Uh it's very discouraging right now that we do not have a coach for our girls wrestling team. And I know at that meeting uh many of those parents spoke out and said we we have a coach. Um, I mean, they asked the board of education to uh bring on another sport with the idea that we were going to have a coach and here we are several months later and we're approving the winter sports schedule and we don't have a girls wrestling coach. Um, I know the state asked that, you know, most of the districts separate, you know, their boys and girls wrestling. We moved in that direction in the hope of having a
017successful program with a coach on board. Uh, is there any activity as far as uh people coming forward to uh even think about coaching the women's or the girls >> well >> wrestling team? At this point, we are still looking for other coaches for other winter sports. But in wrestling right now, the only one that is full would be the varsity boys head coach. We are looking for an assistant coach for the boys. We're also looking for a modified boys coach. And yes, we are still looking for a varsity girls coach. >> Do we put these on >> or are these just internal posting? You do? >> They're everywhere. Thank you. >> It's Yeah, it's been out. It's been posted right from I believe I think it was May 1st was it was posted in
018in April and then May 1st was the deadline. Then we put it out there for the whole month of May. >> We'll put parents on notice now that if we can't, you know, staff the position then the program doesn't run, I would assume. Right. >> Yeah. And I just want to point out the board was in complete favor of having um a separate program for the girls. and we were led to believe that there was interest, that there was people who were willing to step up to be able to be this coach for the girls program. So, I really hope that that happens because I do not want the girls to not have their own program. So, I really do hope all those parents who came out prior and really pushed and it wasn't it
019didn't need to be a big push from all of us. We were on board with that. Um, but I remember specifically saying, "Do we have a coach?" because lately there have been times where we do not have coaches for um these teams and the only people that uh lose out on it is our student our student athletes and in this case it would be our female student athlete wrestlers. >> I know the athletic department will try its best to fill all the positions. >> Look in reflection there are reasons why sometimes you want things to run as a club for multi-year so they they kind of build that but uh let's see what happens. There's still some time left. Thank you. >> Thank you. Any other questions for our directors? >> Okay. Uh we'll ask
020Logan to uh give us his final report as student rep and I'm sure it's going to be a doozy. >> Oh, it's going to be amazing. >> Amazing. >> Um yes. So anyway, starting off in the elementary school, our kindergarten students have been working hard uh preparing their annual ABC performance on June 6th and 7th, a cherished tradition that highlights how much they have learned and grown throughout the year. On June 8th and 9th, our fourth grade students will visit the Samuel Morse House where they will learn about Samuel Morris's remarkable careers as both a talented artist and the inventor of the Telegraph and Morse code. Students will also have the opportunity to explore original portraits, landscapes, drawings, and sculptures showcasing his artistic talents. And then moving on to the middle school, the eighth grade
021dance themed blackout ball was held on May 29th. Students dressed in black and white and enjoyed a fun evening celebrating the end of middle school. And there are several exciting field trips that are also coming up. The eighth graders are going to go to Rocking Horse Ranch. Sixth graders will visit Wooden Wheels. and seventh graders will head to Lake Compounds all in the next two weeks. And the middle school is also preparing for several important celebrations and events, including culture day, the National Junior Honors Society induction ceremony, and the eighth grade moving up ceremony. These events recognize hard work and accomplishments of students throughout the year. Moving on to the high school, the Highland High School band and chorus recently traveled to Six Flags, New England, where they competed in a music festival before enjoying
022the park afterward. The band earned second place while the chorus earned fourth place overall. And last week, members of the Art Honor Society and Art Club took a field trip to the Babe Ruth Baseball Field where they painted a mural on one of the dugouts. The mural features baseball themed artwork and serves the as a creative contribution to the community while showcasing the talents of our student artists. Um, that is all I have for my report. I just wanted to add one last thing. As this is my uh final report as the student representative, I'd like to thank the board of education uh the administration, faculty, staff, and most of all the students for allowing me to the opportunity to serve in this role. It has been an honor to represent the students of Highland
023throughout the school year. And I'm grateful for the experiences and opportunities I've had on my time on the board. Thank you very much. Thank you, Logan, and good luck in your future endeavors. Okay, our assistant superintendent. Good evening. Um, at the last meeting, I talked a little bit about uh we had another update coming from the New York Inspires work. So some of our administrative team uh went to Boseies after last meeting and uh we anticipate some changes to the timeline that I presented a few months ago as expected uh coming up at the board of uh regents meeting in June. So uh we'll see what that timeline looks like. It seems like everything's getting extended a little bit for some of that work. So um we also had a session uh at Boseies. Um
024we'll be moving to a new APR. We do have some some time with this. This doesn't have to be in effect until the TW excuse me school year uh is the the final endline but uh final timeline. But um so between now and then we'll be working on that. So our steps process will be replacing our APR evaluation system. Uh this morning I got to attend the athletic senior award breakfast. Uh big thank you to uh Mr. Alfonso and Miss Miller. They did a great job putting on uh breakfast for our senior athletes. uh who reached a certain number of varsity letters. Uh so they needed to reach at least eight varsity letters. Uh we went all the way up to a student with 16 varsity letters. Um which was pretty impressive. Um and they
025had some really nice things to say about our our senior athletes. So uh great job to them for putting that on. Uh this Friday I will attend uh the last instructional advisory council meeting for the year um with assistant superintendents from around the county. Uh and we'll look at some more updates from New York State and start some planning for next year as well. Um and just beyond that, uh it's a fun busy time of the year with a lot of the end of year events. So, uh we're really looking forward to all the other celebrations we have going on. >> Okay. Any questions for Dr. Boyd? >> Thank you, sir. Superintendent. >> Okay. So, one last call for the educational foundation dinner. Uh that will take place this Friday evening uh June 5th at
026Duboce Farms in Highland. Tickets are $65 a piece. Again, Becky Omoody can be uh contacted at 2341522 uh or by Venmo at becky-moody uh to reserve your seat. We will be honoring the recipients. I actually brought the poster with us this evening that will hang in our boardroom. So folks that have been to our other boardroom where our meetings are on a regular basis, we have a series of three of these. So as the new class is inducted, we move the posters over. We take one off from three years ago and just keep uh moving those posters over. So we will be honoring Dennis Bragg, class of 72, Gina Hansick, class of 81, and board president Alan Baron. So if you have not gotten your tickets, please do that today or tomorrow. Um, Mrs. Crimmy
027Veroli is uh pushing very hard to get all of those tickets in place so that uh we have tables. It's like planning a wedding. So, she needs to have everything and she texts me like five times a day. So, please reach out to Becky Omoody to reserve your seat or uh you can drop your check off as somebody did this evening to me and I'll make sure it gets there. Um, let's see. I will be attending the Scholastic Achievement Breakfast along with uh Mr. Opitz at Wiltwick on Thursday. They will be honoring our uh principal award winner and our validictorian and saludiatoran uh everyone from around the the county, every school district brings their validictorian saludiatoran and a principal's award winner to that breakfast uh will be tending attending this week. Again, last night uh
028was the elementary final concert of the year. Tomorrow evening is the middle school at 6:00 p.m. and on Thursday the high school at 6:30 p.m. On June 16th in the morning, our seniors will have their grad walk. So, if you are anywhere in the area of our three buildings, please uh feel free to stop by and uh join in the celebrations. Our moving up ceremonies for the elementary school, Tuesday, June 23rd at 12:15 PM and middle school Wednesday, June 24th at 11:45 a.m. High school graduation is scheduled for Thursday, June 25th, 6:00 p.m. Our senior awards night, scholarship night is next Wednesday, June 10th at 6 p.m. Our elementary school does their small and tall ball for grades K and one on Thursday, June 18th. Friday, June 19th, school will be closed in observance of
029Junth. Uh just a a notification from the state that we got since the last board meeting, the bus electrification um has been pushed off by the state for 5 years. However, our study that we're in the middle of will continue. Um but we are asked not to submit anything for the waiver at this time so that we can reserve the right to have that waiver down the road. If you submit now, you're using up your opportunity. There's a lot of discussion still in Albany. I'm not sure that in 5 years they will still be pushing in that same direction, but we'll uh you'll have to keep your ears to the to the ground on that one to find out what's going to happen. But um there's a lot of push from across the state for
030them to do some reconsideration. Uh our 2026 2027 safety plan was put up on the website for its mandatory 30-day review. I want to thank the town board that uh met in an emergency session last Friday evening to uh approve the SRO contract that they have to approve each year. So um it did not make their meeting earlier in the month. So they had a meeting on Friday afternoon at 4:15. and I attended and brought that uh plan to put into our safety uh plan for uh its 30-day review and then it would be approved on July 2nd. >> Does that change much from year to year? It doesn't. >> Why don't we do a three-year term? >> I don't know that we're allowed. So, the thing is um well, I would say does it
031change every year? Yes, there's something that changes in it, but it usually changes after we approve it. So last year it changed the week after we had it approved where they when they approved Dash's law and then if you remember we had to add that addendum we had to put it up for another 30 days. >> Um >> so I don't know that it's it's necessary for us to do it on a three-year basis because it is constantly changing and being updated and as we this is our forward- facing plan also. This is not our behind thescenes plan. So, um, this is the one that is public. This is where our SRO contract goes. That may change slightly from year to year depending on salaries and things of that nature. So, it's another reason why
032we have to keep that moving forward. Um, just one thing. Um, I got a a nod from our kindergarten teacher. The alphabet concert is actually tomorrow and the next day. So, sorry, Logan. Somebody gave you false information. >> I don't I'm looking over at the elementary school principal and a assistant principal over here. Might have sent me the wrong date. >> There you go. See, he learned early. And then the only other thing that I have is, and I think we sort of already talked about this offline, but we do need to approve the reorganization meeting. I believe July 2nd is is on the table for the evening. If the board is going to move forward with that, we just need the resolution this evening so that Lisa can get it posted for the record.
033And we're we have conversation coming up about that later in the agenda. And that's all that I have for tonight. >> Any questions? Any questions for the superintendent? Okay. Anything under new business? you have our um reorg meeting. I believe uh all board members are in agreement for July 2nd. What would be a uh approximate time for everyone? >> I mean in the past we've done them in the evening. We've done them first thing in the morning. >> I'm only available in the evening that >> evening. >> Yeah. >> Jen, evening. >> You want to do it a little earlier in the evening? Five is can 5:00 work or 6? >> 5:30. >> Just keep it at 6 p.m. >> 6 to 6 p.m. So you don't get tied up in the bridge traffic. So
034on July 2nd at 6 pm we'll do our reorg meeting. >> We don't need a resolution. >> You need a resolution. You do. >> I don't. >> Yes. >> All right. Okay. Be be it resolved that the board of education upon the recommendation of the superintendent will have our reorganization meeting on July 2nd at 6 pm. There you go. Have a motion, please. Motion by Mike, second by Tom. All those in favor? >> Opposed? So carried. Okay. Okay. Is there anything for the good and welfare of the district? Okay, we'll open up public comment for general items. Please state your name and you can come up to the podium and ask your question or comments. Good evening. Sorry I walked in late. I had grandma duty. That's okay. >> Good evening, Superintendent Frier, school board,
035and the community. First of all, thank you for indulging me for a minute. My name is Linda Dorenzo. I've been a resident of Highland for almost 50 years. I have had three daughters come through this school district. three grandchildren who have graduated. One who will be a senior next year and one who will be a sophomore and my youngest grandchild is now in first grade. So I feel I know this district very well. I have been wanting to stand in front of you all this year, but I kept thinking this may be minimable to some of you. But as the year has about come to an end, and my heart genuinely pushed me here tonight, I am not here for anything on the agenda this evening. I am here, however, to express my sincere appreciation
036and gratitude on behalf of my daughter Kayla and my granddaughter Lana and myself to the Highland School District, especially the Highland Elementary School. February of 2024, my 43 year old son-in-law was diagnosed with stage four metastic cancer. My 36-year-old daughter's husband, my 5-year-old granddaughter's daddy. Lana was in preschool at this time. Come May, when it was kindergarten registration, our first encounter was with a wonderful gentleman, Mr. McCormick. My daughter made him aware of what was happening in Lana's little life and what was ahead, especially for Lana. We knew we had a fight ahead of us, but Lana was always the number one priority. With Mr. McCormick's kindness, compassion, and genuine heart, we knew Lana would be taken care of, and she was and continues to be. Lana was placed into an angel's class for kindergarten.
037You may all have heard of her. Mrs. Tara Holoffield. There truly are no words for this wonderful angel. She cared for Lana like her own. Lana knew Daddy was sick and she had her up and down days. But Mrs. Holoffield always always knew what to do and what to say. If an emergency came up with daddy, Tara was only a phone call away for us. And we knew Lana would be cared for and loved. Tara, thank you. We also had amazing support from other people. Miss Aaron PT, Miss Mickey OT, Miss Delmare, it could go on and on. And she loves Rey. Just loves Rey. Coach C, Coach S, Coach Helmer. There were mornings bringing Lana to school with meltdowns and the coaches would have me pull over and they would give gentle talks and
038walk her to class. The summer came and went, Lana now in first grade with our next angel, Mrs. Canino. Unfortunately, with heavy hearts, Daddy passed away on September 24th, just as first grade started. Mrs. Canino, she was there. It was rough. Mrs. Canino came to visit Lana at home to comfort her and bring her homemade gifts from the class. Lana has gotten through first grade with much love thanks to Mrs. Canino. Just another side note, Lana came to us and to Mrs. Canino many, many members of the elementary school bought Team Tito t-shirts and she wanted them to wear them because she didn't want her daddy forgotten. She went to Mrs. Canino and asked. So once a month at the elementary school, many many people wear Team Tito shirts and it makes Lana so happy.
039They don't have to do that, but they did. My main message I have, Lana's a six-year-old whose daddy passed away. Does not know the gravity of this yet. Does she really understand? But Lana does know every day that she walks into the Highland Elementary School. She is loved. I hope you all know what we truly have with these teachers. Taking care of our babies, not just mine, but all of them. I thank you all for listening to me tonight. I just felt in my heart I needed to let you know and there's so many more people who have touched her. So just in closing, I have learned that's not that it's not what I have in my life, but who I have in my life that counts. Thank you very much, Mr. Fear. Enjoy your
040retirement. Thank you, Mrs. D. Lorenzo, for those kind words. Okay. Is there anybody else for public comment? Okay. We'll close public comment. I need a motion to go into executive session um with our attorneys for legal advice. >> Motion by Mike, second by Jen. >> All those in favor? >> I >> Okay, now we need a motion to adjourn. Can I have a motion to adjurnn? We will be not we'll not be coming back into public session. Motion by Janine, second by Tom. All those in favor? I