001Good evening all. Welcome to the board of education regular business meeting. Today is September 8th, 2025. Can I please have a motion to open the meeting? Annie one, Teresa 2. All in favor? I got to lift my left arm today. My right arm is short is sore. I'm getting old. It is my recommendation from the superintendent of schools that the board of education enter into executive session to discuss specific legal, collective bargaining, personnel, and in other matters in accordance with the open meetings law. Can I have can I please have a motion to enter into executive session? John 1, Annie 2. All in favor? That's everyone. We'll be back in half an hour. 7:30. Welcome back. Can I please have a motion to exit the executive session and re-enter the public meeting? Anyone? Teresa 2.
002All in favor? That's everyone. All right. Can we please all rise for the pledge of allegiance? Pledge >> allegiance to the flag of the United States of America and to the for which it stands, one nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all. In case of an emergency, please direct yourselves to the illuminated exit signs uh in the back and in the sides. These this is a smoke-free building. Smoking or vaping is not permitted. All right, we have some fun events today. Uh I would like to thank Dr. Rob Wutaba, director of fine and performing arts for working with our chamber choir director Charles Kalisanti, who has arranged for a 911 tribute by our chamber choir. They will sing the Star Spangled Banner by Francis Scott Keyi and God Bless America by Irving
003Berlin and Liam Levertu and Dana Garcia Martinez will be performing taps. I would like to introduce the chamber choir. [Applause] Relax. Yay. Say [Music] by the dawn early so proud we at the twilight last [Music] stand bright stars through the fight for the [Music] gallant stream. [Music] The burst [Applause] through the night that our flag was Oh, say does the star [Music] of the [Music] Pray. [Applause] God bless I love stand [Music] the To the white bless. America, my home sweet homeless [Music] beside her and guide through the night. [Music] From the mountain to the prairies to the white with God bless [Music] my home sweet God bless. America, my home sweet home. [Music] [Applause] Thank you, chamber choir. That was a beautiful rendition. And if we can all please rise for a moment of
004silence as we tap [Music] Thank you, Liam and Dana. [Applause] We're going to move on to our approvals and FYIs. We're starting with the board of education meeting minutes of August 25th, 2025. It is upon recommendation from the superintendent of schools that the board of education approve minutes from the meeting of the Huntington Union Free School District Board of Education meeting dated 8:25 2025. Can I have a motion please? Jenna 1, Kelly 2. All in favor? That's everyone. We have uh FYI at 2, three, four, and five. Do we have any questions or comments? All right, we're moving on then to the treasures report. It is upon recommendation from the superintendent of schools that the board of education approve the July 2025 treasures report. Can I have a motion please? Annie one John two. All
005in favor? That's everyone. And then to the warrants. It is my recommendation from the superintendent of schools that the board of education approve the attached warrants which were certified for payment on August 27th, 2025. Can I have a motion? Kelly one, Tom two. Any questions, comments? All in favor? That's everyone. And we're going off to the communications and announcements. Um, a few of us were fortunate to attend the opening convocation. Um, we haven't held one of those in a few years. And it was really, I felt like it was a great start. pretty animated about how we started the day and I think that everybody in the room was was was really enthusiastic after we had our keynote speaker uh say what he had to say. So I thought that was a a wonderful way
006to start the year. Um the booster club event is this Friday. Uh it is at the American Legion Hall starting at 700 p.m. Just reminding everyone that it's open to the public. Hope that everybody attends. The booster club has invested in players development by funding off-season training for boys and girls teams at campus and local facilities, sponsoring summer tournaments and leagues, and covering costs for special inseason events. Uh, for example, the the team at Penn Relays. These funds also provide meals at meetings and before championship games, enabling students of all incomes to participate and boosting in season participation and diversity. So, I hope that you can all attend. Uh Emily Herrera, mic is yours. >> Thank you. Good evening board and community members. As we wrap as we wrap up the first week of school,
007students and staff are excited for the year ahead. The athletic department is already at work. Tri began at on August 25th and our student athletes are now transitioning into our official competitive teams. They are preparing to compete with other school teams and they always invite parents, friends, and community members to attend. This year, approximately 315 15 students are involved in sports in just the high school, demonstrating a strong commitment and involvement in extracurriculars. Beyond athletics, the high school has several opportunities to be part of our community and get involved. Clubs are beginning to scout new members who are interested in making an impact in the community and to enhance their educational experience. Clubs such as New World Club, a world of difference, and Key Club are amazing programs to participate in to serve the community
008and make a difference. Other clubs such as debate club in Montrial that that can also h um help spark spark an interest in a particular field of study or simply or simply to improve public speaking and making new friends. These clubs are just a few out of the dozen offered at Huntington High School, and there are many more, and each one of them are beneficial to all students to participate in. The month of September is filled with exciting events to start off the school year on a positive note. The high school's holding the exciting bonfire celebration on the 25th for all friends and families to come and support Huntington's clubs. In addition, on September 27 26, students of each class in the high school will have the day to work together as a class to
009build their pep rally float. Each year, the classes compete to win the title of best float. And this year's theme is mobile games. The next day on September 27th, our district will have its annual homecoming parade at 11:30 a.m. before hosting the football game at at Huntington High School. students are thrilled for the upcoming events and we hope to see you all there for support and to have fun. Thank you so much. >> Thank you Emily. Uh now my fellow board members mic is open. >> Hi everybody. Um I want to do a couple things. One is just acknowledge all the excitement and the wonderful things that have been happening. I've loved seeing all the kids I've seen around look so happy. I know my kids come home every day and so far every day
010is a great day, which is phenomenal. Um, but at the same time, I want to take a moment to acknowledge that many people in our community are currently living in fear. Even my husband, who's a naturalized citizen, has felt concern for our children's safety. We recently got our kids at just nine and 12 years old real IDs to carry when they're not with us. Um, and I share this as a reminder that families across our district are navigating similar worries. In moments like these, we all need the support of our neighbors, teachers, staff, and administrators to feel safe sending our kids to school each day. I'm truly grateful to be in this district where I really do trust that the leadership at every level is looking out for every child in the community. In the
011spirit of community, I'll also speak very briefly to the families most affected in Spanish. Nino in Huntington. Thanks. >> Thank you, John. Anyone else? Mike is yours, Beth. >> So, I just want to start by thanking our chamber choir. It's unbelievable that year after year, we just keep producing more and more talent in this district. and that that's attributed to the wonderful families we have, the students we have, and our staff that's really helping them to develop as well. Um, so thank you to the chamber choir, Mr. Kasanti, and the students Liam Liveru and Dana Garcia Martinez for the 911 tribute as we remember those that we lost on that tragic day. Our K to8 buildings will be paying tribute by doing a variety of activities that may include moments of silence, discussions about the
012importance of our heroes such as firefighters, police officers, EMS workers. Uh they'll be reading and discussing related literature, and many will wear red, white, and blue highlighting unity and togetherness as a common theme. The high school will have a ceremony that will be livereamed by our advanced broadcasting class that will include a literary piece, a coral performance, a moment of silence, uh, two trumpeters playing taps, and closing remarks by Miss Brown, Huntington High School principal. So, thank you to all for organizing such special tributes to honor those that we lost that day. Um, going back a bit, our two superintendent conference days were really quite a great success. Teachers were given opportunities to set up their classrooms, attend professional development, attend faculty meetings, department meetings, um, as well as attend the opening convocation, which again,
013it was nice for everybody to have some time together. It's been a long time since we were able to gather the whole district together, um, for some really great inspirational speeches and our keynote speaker. Um, we had a great school opening. I'd like to thank our teachers, staff, bus drivers, custodians, clerical, nurses, buildings and grounds, admin, lunch monitors. We had such a great start. Uh we know that we've had some bumps or speed bumps with some transportation. Um that is being worked on diligently uh by Mr. Hender and his team and I can't tell you how many hours they are putting in to ensure that everything is running as smoothly as possible. So, thank you to them. Um I would like to remind everyone at the beginning of the year to please make sure you
014join our PTAs. They do so much for our families and our students and we would like to just start the year by thanking you for all the events and activities that we know that you're organizing that will enhance and complement all the great things that we have in our schools. Um so please get involved and join your PTA and also SEPTA which is a district level um special education PTA. Uh we had three great block parties so far at South Down, Flower Hill, and Jefferson. So thank you to the PTAs for those um and our building principles who helped to organize. And we have an upcoming block party next Friday at Washington. And we have our socials for STEM, um, Jack Abram STEM and Wood Hull on Thursday and Friday of this week. Um, we
015have an upcoming guidance night this week, uh, Navigating the Future, a senior guide to post-secary success, which begins at 6 p.m. And then there's high school meet the teacher night at 7:00. So, it's a great opportunity for you to really get some ideas about post-secary opportunities as well as attend the meet the teacher night at Huntington High School. Uh we are participating in the Unity Day parade this year and Mr. Ronnie Wilson is being honored at the Unity Day parade. Um it starts at 10:00 at Huntington High School. We will march to Stimson Middle School and then there will be activities um and lots of thing like community events over there at Stimson for the day. Just to mention some things for our marching band. We have some upcoming competitions at Brentwood on September 21st.
016Cop. Um, I actually have the same date, so that must be an error there. But we have Brentwood, Cop, and uh, Liu Post coming up as well. And we have drama auditions happening, uh, starting on September 16th for the high school drama club. The fall drama production will be November 21st and 22nd. Um, I'm also pleased to share that the following students have been accepted or selected as alternatives alter alternates for the 2025 NISMA Allstate Performing Ensembles where they will participate in Rochester, New York December 4th through 7th. This is a tremendous accomplishment for our students in our fine and performing arts programs. We have Daniel Simon as an alternate uh mallet percussion, Lily Wazoski, mixed chorus soprano 1, Rachel Huth mixed chorus alto 2. Some of these people just left the stage. Rachel Huth
017string orchestra on the viola. Also, due to the excellent programming we have in Huntington, our amazing teachers, and our phenomenal students, we have 10 students who were selected to participate in the high school allcount festival held in November. We have Rachel Huth on the viola. Lily Wasowski soprano one. Rachel Huth alto 2. Michael Devincenzo tenor 2. Cena uh on the clarinet. Alexander Tine bass one. Dana Saramigo French horn. Jessica Lee soprano 1. Dan Simon on percussion and Elellan Horn soprano 2. So congratulations to all of our wonderfully talented students. We also had there was a day where we just kept getting email after email about all these good things. It was it was wonderful. Uh it was a couple weeks ago. Long Island Arts Alliance and News Day announced the 2026 class scholar at artist
018and merit award winners. 40 outstanding high school seniors represented schools across Nassau and Suffach counties. And they demonstrate exceptional achievement in both academics and the arts. And we have two of them out of the 40 which is phenomenal. In theater for the merit award, Lily Wazoski and media arts scholar artist Kylie Bartch. Congratulations to them. Oh, I thought you were gonna say something. I'm not done yet. I would be remiss if I did not announce that our alumni field lights are now operational. Mr. Hoop sent us a text that he turned them on and he was the only one who has seen them because I think he needed that moment. So, we will all see them soon, but they are operational. Thank you to buildings and grounds and Mr. Hoops and everyone that's participated in
019getting that field the way it should be. Um, we're really excited to have our first night game there. Uh, we we've also in the area of athletics, there's new there's a new Navy blue banner at the top of Blue Devil Stadium. It reads Huntington High School, home of the Blue Devils, and the previous banners are going to be moved to the softball field fence. Uh, we also installed new electrified basketball backboards at the high school because we were unable to raise or lower the old ones. So, then we couldn't see the film that was coming out and huddle because they were in the way. So, um, this was a great addition to be able to to move them. Um, and on another note, we're moving forward with our new varsity unified co-ed botchi team. Um,
020there's tremendous interest in the program and it will be led by high school PE teacher Lauren Blackburn. Again, buildings and grounds really outdid themselves with planning this. It it is a certified um it's the the correct length of a botchi court. Um, for anyone who's played botchi, we were not playing it on a certified court. It was probably in someone's backyard and it was the size of maybe two tables, but this is a certified court. We have two of them. And um there's a really nice patio there so people can watch and it's accessible and it's really a great space. It was an unutilized space behind the math wing in between the wing of the building and the tennis courts. So if you have time to check it out, it really looks great and we
021have so much interest in the program. Um, on another note, the NICED 3 through8 ELA and math assessment results are in the e-chool parent portal uh, under the assessment tab. The parent letters are not available yet, but they will be uploaded once they're available. So, I'd like to thank Mary Beth Robinette and Nancy Allard for all of their work in the technology office getting those uploaded. Um, and I'm almost done. Uh, regionalization update. Just wanted to give a a share on a recent regionalization meeting that included all Western Suffach Bosey's districts where the priority activities were finalized. One of them in the area of non-instructional operations would be to coordinate transportation routes to non-public schools in Bosey's programs. So let's say there's another district locally, Harbor Field is sending a child to Long Island High
022School for the Arts and so are we. we would combine our transportation potentially if we wanted to opt into this so that we would save instead of us each sending a bus to a a school that's kind of far, we would actually have some cost savings there. So, we're exploring that as an option. And the other uh is um graduation measures. That's the category expanding access to advanced coursework regionally such as AP and electives. And that would be through potentially a virtual option. So, if there's a course that we're unable to run because there's two kids in one district, two kids in another, and two kids in another, potentially we would be able to hire a teacher that would be able to run that course in some capacity asynchronously, and it would provide kids with
023opportunities. Again, that has to be further explored, but those are the options that are on the table at this time. Um, and the third actually is exploring a shared service model for elementary guidance counselors. So it would be to have some packaged uh presentations that someone would come to multiple districts to provide some assemblies and things like that because many districts do not have guidance counselors at the elementary level. So those are the three areas that are being explored. Districts are being asked to express their interest in exploring these priority areas by October 1st if they're interested and there is no financial commitment at this time. We have adult reg ed registration September 10th um which is on Wednesday from 6:00 to 8 at the high school. There's also online registration. And last but not
024least, and super important, meet the teacher nights, September 10th for Finley Middle School, September 16th for grades four and five, September 16th for primary schools, and September 18th for grade six. I already mentioned the high school is this Thursday after the guidance night. Um and that concludes my report. Thank you, Beth. And that botchi court really was bigger than I anticipated it to be officially. >> At this moment, we open up our uh meeting for public commentary. Public commentary is open to resident and employees of the Huntington District. Speakers are limited to three non-transferable minutes per person. There will be a maximum of 30 minutes total for all comments. We'll open it up again for public commentary towards the end of this meeting. Priority will be given to comments related to today's regular business meeting
025titled items for discussion and action. Public commentary is a time dedicated to sharing your thoughts with the board and your input is valued is meant for expression rather than dialogue. So please understand that direct discussion with board members or administration will not be part of public commentary. When you approach the podium, please identify your affiliation to the district, whether you're a resident or an employee of the district. Use the form at the podium to sign in. Please refrain from naming any student or employee of the district. Public commentary is open. All right, we'll move on then to items for discussion and action and I believe the first thing is a presentation only. It's the summer capital and facilities updates. It's all yours, Dr. Harris. >> So, as doc as Dr. Harris approaches the podium, I
026do just want to thank Dr. Harris, uh, Rick Rouse, our facilities director, buildings and grounds, and our custodial staff for all of their work this summer. Um, not only were the buildings, you know, spotless as the students arrived, but so many upgrades took place across the district. So, thank you so much for all that you've done. All right. One, I want to say, uh, these pictures are beautiful, but they do not tell the story of everything, uh, that occurred this summer. So you will see some things within the pictures. I will read off some things that are upcoming and then there will also be a full list that is shared. All right. So our building improvements and summer work 2025. So we will start with Flower Hill. Um you will see throughout these pictures that
027we had a lot of resealed uh gym floors uh if not all of them. Um Flower Hill also received new boilers. So you'll see in the top right corner uh just like the bare bones and then you see more of the finished product um that's occurring there. There's still some painting and things that are taking place but this is just night a nice depiction of that area. Um also upcoming at Flower Hill is painting of hallways. That will take a little bit of time. Um it's amazing what paint does for a place. So once uh that occurs, I will share pictures as we usually do uh once we're in budget season and planning. So you'll be able to see some of these uh additional items. They will also be receiving a new tile floor in
028the cafeteria. Next, we have Jefferson. Um we have the new switch gear over there, which to everybody else isn't really exciting. I'm not going to lie. It's really not exciting to me either, but it's something that was necessary and it has occurred. Um there is also uh new refrigeration and they have a refinished gym floor as well. Some things that are upcoming is the speed bump uh that has been underway and discussed a couple of times internally. So that is something that's forthcoming as well as replacing portions of the floor in the hallways. Next we have South Down. Um you will see in the bottom right hand corner uh they also were on the list for new boilers uh which look very lovely there. Um you will also see that we painted some univvents within
029the classrooms which make them just look a world different. Um as well as replace ceiling tiles. Right. The the rooms look brighter. Um you're going to see that again as we get to the high school. Um, buildings and grounds has really taken the time to make note of what can aesthetically make our buildings look better. Um, and they have without me pushing. So, that's always nice. Um, really taken initiative to do those things. So, a lot of that was done during the summer and it will continue to be done at multiple buildings. And then also there is the new floor in the uh I believe it's the faculty lounge um within South Downtown which looks uh gorgeous. I actually want my floor redone to look like that. That'd be great. Um but also in addition
030to that um we are also working on replacing the gym interior double doors and um the retaining wall around the school sign. Next we have Washington. Uh the first item you will see in the top left is the new cafeteria serving line. Uh that was something that was literally installed the first week of school. So we thank the principal and the staff there and the teachers for just being very patient as we had to quickly turn how we were serving uh breakfast and lunch to those students for the first couple of days. But it is up and running. It's wonderful. I believe there was a post shared um on social media and also on um the website regarding pictures that you really get to see how the full line looks. Also, they have a new
031cafeteria floor. Um they were also on the list for the uh rooftop solar panels, so you'll see that and the resealed uh gym floor. Upcoming at Washington is a retaining wall on the front flower beds. And we are also discussing fencing just securing all of the grounds as much as we can. Then we have Jack Abram stem. So this is two portions of the roof work. Um if you recall we had four phases. Um so this is really taking in phase two and phase three of the capital uh improvements for roof work. There is also a picture here. Uh it looked really much bigger on my big screens but the picture here you will see the different propositions listed there. So you can kind of follow along of which phase was done when. Um and
032then the last phase which just approved in our May vote. So that will be forthcoming. Uh we have not opened bids or anything like that but the board will uh know about that information once we have it. Um you will also see some installation of the cafeteria skylights that is occurring as well as the uh mechanical upgrades in the cafeteria. This was regarding the AC pieces. If you recall, we tried to do this initially through ARP funds. Um there was not enough funds there. So we put it in the capital project vote that was approved and those have been installed. Uh let me see if I have anything at STEM forthcoming. Um, we have a boiler room door replacement and we are going to reseal the playground black top. Those are things that are forthcoming.
033Then we have Wood Hall Intermediate. Um, if you recall, there has been a lot in the area of the water testing um that has occurred. So, there is a new uh cafeteria bottle filler. We will be working through the different buildings in the different areas to do these installations, but that has occurred at Woodh Hall. We have also resealed the gym floor and there was a request to expand the security office, which is really just dividing it and creating some privacy for some more confidential um areas. So, that is underway. Um clearly, we won't leave it like this. It will be painted and doors will go up, but it is a work in progress for Wood Hall. Um, we are also going to be replacing the broken loading dock and um, mulching all the playgrounds
034and beds. So, that's forthcoming. Finley Middle School. So, uh, Tracy likes to ask for a lot of things, but her build her building definitely looks great for her request. So, in the blue zone, she has done some um remodeling. We are working through her uh skylights. There has been some leaking that has been occurring. Um we've had taken care of the leaking. Now, we want to replace some things in the skylight area. Um she has also had her uh gym floor resealed. Uh there have been some new stone wall installations that look very beautiful uh outside as you approach uh both entryways of the middle school. And then the you know highlight of all things is the science rooms. Uh they look beautiful and we are doing everything possible to get all of the electrical
035up and working. So, we thank the teachers and the staff for just being patient uh through that process, but they are wonderful spaces that I'm sure the students are going to love to utilize. And then the high school um in the top right is the new botchi ball courts and courtyard. This picture really does it no justice. Like you just have to be there. Um so, like it was said before, if you have a moment, stop by. It's a great space. Um, it took some convincing. The the convincing they had to convince me more than anything just like what are we doing? What's the space? How much does it cost? But it was well worth it. I think buildings and grounds through and through for all the wonderful uh work they did this summer, every
036summer, all year long. Um, we also resealed the gym floor. Uh, the hallways look brighter. And you may say, "What happened?" Lights. That was it. Uh we will be working hallway by hallway uh as we've discussed in the past. Um just creating a unified color in the hallway. So those things are forthcoming as well. But the lights are wonderful and those were done internally by our guys. Um so piece by piece uh and they were very patient as we asked about them a lot. Um and then we also had the new wrestling mat in the uh wrestling room which is phenomenal along with air condition. You can't see it here, but if you're in there, I'm sure you will feel it. Um, but these are just a couple of things that happened this summer. Uh,
037and everything look wonderful returning back to school for the 2025 2026 school year. And then if you see buildings and grounds, please take a moment to just thank them for the tremendous work they do. Um, their dedication is top tier. Um, I'm appreciative of them. Mr. Rouse, Mr. Gray, and everybody else that pretty much does what I asked them to do. Uh, and more. And that's it. >> Thank you, Dr. Harris. >> Thank you. >> Couple questions. >> Oh, okay. >> The boilers, are we completed with all of the boiler boiler replacement in the district? >> Yes, >> we are. Great. And the other question that I had was the solar panels. Are those completed? >> No. So, there's additional pieces that are still being installed. There's parts that are still coming in. Um, so
038now, uh, we have Washington, uh, Jefferson is still underway as well. Um, so once everything is up and running, I can provide an update on that, but it's it's a piece by piece. So, they've done all they can in this time with what the materials they had. >> A lot of capital improvements in our district since 2012 when I've been here. We've done a lot of different things. Tell me how much capital um I'm sorry, tell me how much debt service we're going to have at the end of this year. >> Zero. >> And how rare is that? >> Um I believe we are the only district long this is the only district on Long Island that I've heard of. Um I can definitely research that uh for the entire state. Uh most people carry
039some sort of debt to do projects, but through um proper planning uh both just being uh front thinkers as well as just financial planning has really put us in a position to do a lot and not take on debt which impacts taxes. >> Thank you. Anyone else? >> Thank you, Dr. Harrison. >> All right. You ready? Mr. Stein, >> you're next. And now we have Mr. Stein for safety and security. Even though I did a wonderful job last meeting. >> That's right. From what I heard. >> Good evening. We're going to talk about uh my favorite thing, safety and security here in the district. Okay. The district, we have a district-wide safety team. Huntington Union Free D School District maintains a district-wide school safety team consisting of but not limited to trustees, administrators, teachers, parent
040organization representative, school security personnel, law enforcement, and emergency agency representatives. The team's role is to assist in the annual review of the district-wide safety plan and make recommendations for updates and revisions as needed. The team also convenes when the plan is needed to be adjusted. We also have school building level emergency response plans. This document was crafted using the building level emergency response plan template which was initially developed and distributed by the New York State School Safety Improvement Team. It is submitted annually to the Suffach County Police Department second precinct and the New York State Police. It includes standardized language and definitions used by FEMA such as shelter in place, hold in place, evacuate, new this year, the secure, lockout, and lockdown. Our plan is different than other districts because our plan has all the
041things that the other districts have as well. However, we live in Huntington. Huntington is a unique district. Huntington has the Huntington train station. So, our plan is crafted to meet the needs of our district. For instance, god forbid there was a train derailment and we couldn't get down Broadway. We couldn't get down New York Avenue. How are we going to get those buses through? It is listed in our plan. If parents are coming off the Long Island Railroad, but their planes are uh their trains are delayed because there is a derailment, what are we going to do with the students who are in scope? How are we going to get them home? This is things that are listed in our plan. In Huntington, we have water surrounding us. So, our plan also talks about what
042are we going to do if there's flooding? How are we going to get the buses through? How are we going to get the cars through? What if because of the flooding we lose power in any of our buildings? It is listed in our plan and we can use that when, god forbid, we're in an emergency situation. This plan is reviewed semi semianually by the school's basic uh building safety team and emergency response team. Effect of September 1, 2005, the New York state education law required that every school building level emergency plans uh response plan has a cardiac emergency response plan annex which we have in our plan this year. This is the five emergency responses recognized in New York State. The first one is a shelter in place. A shelter in place is used in
043schools mostly during a weather emergency. If there is a hurricane, if there is heavy storms with hail, if there is a tornado, New York State requires that all schools go into the rooms with the highest ceilings. So, in the high school, in the middle school, and in Jack Abrams, we can use the the gyms and we can use the auditoriums. In all of buildings, we use the gym. We practice this shelter in place drill the day before Thanksgiving. We do a shelter in place into an evacuation. The hold in place. Hold in place has been used a lot more in schools across New York State. Um, and what it is is exactly what that says. We hold the kids in place whether it is a hallway or the whole school because there is an emergency,
044a short-term emergency. We have used it in Huntington uh for instances where there is a teacher who is having a medical emergency. We hold the students in that hallway in their classrooms while the first responders can come into the uh classroom, use uh work on that teacher, get them into a wheelchair or stretcher and get them safely out of the building without anybody in the halls. We do that for the same if there's a child having a medical emergency. It's bad enough that a child is having a medical emergency in school, but to pull them down the hall in a stretcher or a wheelchair with all their friends watching is not what we're looking for. So, we hold them in place. Everybody stays in the classroom. When the emergency is over, we call off the
045hold in place. We have an evacuation drill, and our evacuation drill is simply our fire drills. We practice that um eight times during the school year, and I'm going to go over that a little later. New York State has changed the next one to a secure lockout. It used to be called lockout, but the lockout was getting confused with the lockdown. So now they refer to it as a secure lockout. A secure lockout is called when there is a problem in the community. The problem is outside of our buildings. If we need to call for a secure lockout, the principles and the school safety teams know the first two things we do when we call for a secure lockout is to get the classes inside. We bring in the fizzed classes immediately. We bring in
046the students who are out for recess immediately and then we do not breach our doors until the lockout is over. The last one is our lockdown and I'm going to go over that in a minute. our drills. New York State requires 12 drills between lockdown and fire drills. That is the minimum amount of drills that New York State requires. Four of the drills must be lockdown drills. Of the lockdown drills, the first of these must place must take place no later than November 1st. Part of our preparation includes developing and discussing lockdown procedures with our staff prior to the drill. Eight of the drills must be fire drills. All drills are documented in our building safety plan. The reason why we document it is because we run our drills during different times. If we ran
047at the same time every every drill, we would not be getting the kids the basic um work that they need to know what to do in different situations. After each drill, the building safety team conducts a debriefing to discuss any problems and recommendations for improvement. That day an email is sent to the building principal by me identifying any areas of refinement. We practice the shelter in place and evacuation and lockdown drills annually. Now lockdown drills. All lockdown drills are conducted with the director of school safety and security, the school resource officer, and when available, the sector car. Because that sector car is going to be the first responder in an lockdown situation. We want them to be familiar with our buildings. We want them to be familiar with our lockdown procedures. Now, I go to
048conferences and at the conference they always talk about making sure you get your drills done because it's more it's important to get the drills done. They're checking boxes. In Huntington, we do things differently. We do our drills with fidelity. Our first drill is announced. Our second drill, we hit our lockdown pushdown stations, which I'm going to go over later. Once we hit the lockdown push down station, a pre-recorded message from the principal comes across the loudspeaker letting our students and staff know we are in a lockdown. Follow lockdown procedures. This is a lockdown. Our third lockdown is done during a change of classes. So all the kids are in the hallway going from class to class and we're calling for a lockdown drill. Our last lockdown is during a lunch period. While the students are
049eating lunch, a lockdown drill is called so our lunch monitors and our lunch uh our cafeteria workers know what is expected of them and the students know what to do if they in the lunch round and they hear lockdown. Now, who calls for a lockdown? In some buildings um across the state, there are designated people who call for lockdown. But in Huntington, we do things differently. We do things differently because in Sandy Hook when the Sandy Hook tragedy happened, the shooter shot through the sun window, entered the building, shot the greeter. The principal and the school psychologist came out of the principal's office. He shot those two people. And then if you read the transcripts, a lockdown was not called for 5 minutes and 32 seconds. For 5 minutes and 32 seconds, no one called
050for a lockdown. And when you read the transcript, the teachers all said, "We didn't know we were allowed to call for a lockdown." In Huntington, anybody is empowered to call for a lockdown. So much so that in all four lockdowns that we do in each building, minimum four lockdowns we do in each building, a different person from a different unit calls that lockdown. Our school classrooms and hallways are locked in 13 seconds. New York State came up with an idea uh a few years ago that where they recommended 28 seconds to clear the hallway. 28 seconds is too long for Huntington. We do it in 13 seconds. In 13 seconds, our hallways are clear. If our hallways are not clear in 13 seconds, we're going to do the drill again the following week. That's why
051we do a minimum of four drills. We can do we will keep doing it until we do it right. The lockdown checklist and emergency response is located in the inside of every classroom and every every classroom door in every classroom in our buildings. If you walk into our classrooms to the left side of the door, you will see our lockdown checklist. So if we, god forbid, go into a lockdown, the teachers will be able to read from that checklist to get the students to where they need to be in a safe situation. a lockdown drill report card which looks like this is everyone in our school safety team walks around with a lockdown checklist report card. So when they're going through the lockdown we are looking for certain things. We're not just looking for one
052or two things. All these things are looked for in every single lockdown and if they're not done we write down what room number needs to uh needs to be spoken to. We write down what didn't go well on our lockdown checklist report card. We go over the report code with the school safety team after each drill. After each drill, we just don't release our students um and the drill is over. Our school safety team goes into every single classroom, opens the door, and reads a pre-recorded a pre-spech that so the students hear the the same thing from every person on that team every time we do a lockdown drill. There are new regulations for lockdown drills where parents and staff are notified in advance of each lockdown drill. And New York State requires that no
053uh we do not include props, actor simulations, or any other kind of tactics that mimic a school shooting. We have evacuation and fire drills. It is crucial for students to be aware of how and where to exit the building during a fire drill. Equally important is to remember to stay at least 500 ft away from our building ensuring the safety during the evacuation. Requirements are eight mandatory fire drills. Four of the drills have to be conducted with a blocked exit door. God forbid there's an emergency. So the students and the staff know a secondary way of egress. God forbid a fire is blocking the door that they normally use. Our school safety team knows the primary evacuation site and the route listed in the building safety plan. If we need to evacuate to another building,
054I will enlist the assistance of the police department andor public safety to escort our students and staff to a safe site. This is those lockdown pushdown stations I was referring to earlier. They are located in every single building in different locations in the hallway. God forbid we have a an active asalent in our building. All somebody has to do is lift that up and push that down for 1.5 seconds and it will get our buildings into lockdown. A blue strobe light will go in in the hallways and outside letting everybody know we are in lockdown. It a call goes right to the the different cars letting them know we need assistance. We are in lockdown. every one of our exterior doors and sun sun windows. The sun window is a window next to um an
055exterior door that has glass. They're glass doors. Every one of them is equipped with a film. That film is epoxy that covers the window. And well, I'm going to show you what they do. Oh, you got it. Chris, you're not reaching out exterior. your doors. They are equipped with epoxy that that doesn't shatter. It won't break in. Presently, we have over 400 cameras in our district. Each building is equipped with cameras both inside and outside of the buildings. Our cameras are recording 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Each building has a guard at the front desk who watches the cameras. Each security desk in the front of the buildings has monitors for display purposes and the cameras are always on. Our cameras are accessible to mobile phones so administrators can watch remotely. Panto
056Zil cameras are outside of our buildings. This is what our high school security office looks like. There is somebody in that office watching the cameras from 7:30 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. License plate readers. We have license plate reader at the high school. A license plate reader is placed on the roof of the guard booth at Huntington High School. It's pointing at the entrance to Huntington High School. So any car that enters our on our grounds from McKay Road, the license plate reader picks up. The camera sends information to the laptop computer at the guard booth. The guard in the booth will be alerted if a car is approaching and if that car has lost the person driving that vehicle has lost custody of their child, has a restraining order, has lost their um license status,
057suspensions and revocations. All of that information we get from our license plate reader. More layers of security. Every year we have assessments done by security staffs to check out our security um protocol. Three years ago, we had Homeland Security. Two years ago, we had workplace violence come in to assess our buildings. The gentleman who came in was a 20-year veteran of the Yoners Police Department. He was a detective. He gave himself two days to go through our eight buildings. He finished our eight buildings in 5 and 1/2 hours. He kept saying as he walked through the buildings, he goes, "I have nothing to write on this paper, Mr. Stein." He also asked if it was possible for him to take pictures of the things we have to recommend to other districts. After he was finished
058with his assessment, he went into this the um superintendent's office, and I quote, he said to the superintendent, "Honey safety protocol is light years ahead of the rest of the state." One of the things he couldn't get past was how every classroom door in every in all eight buildings was locked during the school day while the students were in the classroom. He asked me how and why we do this in Huntington. And the reason is simple. Years ago, I went to a um an a homeland security conference. And at that conference, they did a um a video of a school shooter in the Pacific Northwest. The third question they asked this shooter changed how we do things here in Huntington. First question was state your name. Second question the detective asked this young man was
059what was your purpose? The young man said mass casualties. The detective looked at him and said if you were looking for mass casualties why didn't you go into the cafeteria? There were over 200 students in the cafeteria. The young man looked at him and said I tried. The door was locked. So I moved on. The door was locked, so I moved on. So, we lock every classroom door during the school day. Is it easy? Absolutely not. Can it be annoying? Absolutely. But our principles and our teachers have bought into it. And every single classroom in our school while there are students in there is locked. So, nobody, God forbid, we have to go into a lockdown is fumbling for keys or looking for their keys or going into the hallway to lock their doors. Those
060doors are locked. And this is what um the gentleman, the detective couldn't get over, how we have every single door locked. We have signage in our hallways, English and Spanish, big blue signs that tell you where the library is, where the main office is, where the different um mental health offices are. Not only is it important for new students in our school, it is very important for our first responders who don't have to open up a map to see where they're going. they can see the sign and go right to that area. One of the things that has happened as you know we have no uh no more phones in school. The students are not allowed to have phones in their possession during the school day. So what happens to the students who are in
061wheelchairs? What are the students who get hurt and has to use crutches? Those students need to be in elevators. Our elevators um do not have phones in it. If that student gets in the elevator and they don't have um access to a phone and that elevator gets stuck, how are they gonna call for help? They can hit that buzzer during the change of class at the high school. Nothing's going to happen. No one's going to hear it. We are putting we are putting phones in our elevators at the high school, at the middle school, and at Jack Abrams. Along with those phones, we are putting cameras in those elevators. We have a Raptor visitor management system at every one of our buildings. That Raptor system vets anybody who's coming into our building. Anybody who comes
062in has to give their uh driver's license and it lets us know if this person is permitted to come into our buildings or not. We have vestibules in each one of our buildings. Our vest our vestibules are covered in that epoxy that we showed you earlier. No one is getting through those vestibules. This year we are uh we ordered a K Cabota utility vehicle. what it really is. It's a golf cart on steroids. It is a golf cart that can go, it's an all-terrain vehicle. It could go all over our grounds on the street, on the uh grass. God forbid there's an incident where one of our security guards needs to get to the football field. One of our security needs to get on the back of the uh back of the building, they can
063be there in seconds with this new vehicle. It will be equipped with branding saying Huntington, having a Blue Devil logo on it, having school security on that vehicle. We use the milestone system which is also used by the NYPD as our camera system. It has changed everything how we see things in our buildings. It is an excellent system that we are very happy with. We have a door access system. We can lock or open our doors by the push of a button on our phones. We have a door alert system. So if there is a door in any of our buildings open or a jar for a certain amount of time, the principal and myself will get an alert on our phones letting us know there is a door a jar in our buildings because
064our exterior doors are locked throughout the school day. But if a student or people go out for lunch, the um lunch monitors and they're letting the students out, they're letting the students out and they forget to close that door, an alert will come to the principal's phone, alert will come to my phone, letting us know there is a door, a jar in our buildings. Annually, the districtwide security assessment is conducted by outside agencies. Our guards are present for all athletic events, concerts, marching band practice, PTA events, club events, shows, etc. When we have people in our building, our guards are in our buildings. Our guards are outside ensuring the safety of our students during arrival, dismissal, recess, and any other events with the students are outside of our buildings. Our guards are trained. We presently
065have 26 guards throughout our district. Homeland Security comes in to conduct an active shooter workshop every year with our guards, both in the fall and in the spring to prepare them for an active shooter situation. Our guards are trained in different measures such as crisis prevention intervention where they learn they learn verbal judo. They learn their most powerful tool is their their voice, their mouth. Rather than putting their hands on somebody, we will use our mouth to deescalate situations. Workplace violence prevention, sexual harassment, child abuse, bloodborne pathogens, d uh dignity for all students. They're all trained in these things. We have monthly security meetings to discuss security protocol, upcoming events, assess assess school safety and security scenarios. We have two resource two school resource officers in our district. Officer Britney Santaro and Officer Robert Jinx.
066They are officers from the second precinct. The officers participate in school sponsored events. They act as essential resources for our administrators, faculty, and students and participate in all our lockdown drills. Our school resource officers walk through the halls daily with our students. Just the second day of school, I was walking through with one of the officers and the uh student walked over to the officer to ask said they want to become a police officer. Is there any programs that they could um join to become a police officer? The Suffach County um runs an explorer program. The officer gave the student the paperwork to be a an explorer to learn how to become a officer. Another student also that afternoon walked up to the officer and said, "I got a speeding ticket. Um, what do you
067think I need to do?" And then she asked the officer to get her out of the speeding ticket. Which wasn't It was nice though. This is the Rave Paddic app. Every one of our administrators in the district has this on their phone. What does the Rafe Panic app do? It provides the first responders and the administrative team where and when an emergency exists. During an emergency, 911 is flooded with phone calls. The Rave Panic button immediately notifies the district and proper authorities of what emergency you are dealing with and exactly where your emergency is located. It's integrated with the 911 centers and with a push button, it begins communication with 911. Instant workflow connects you to 911 or the first responders, streamlining your emergency responders. Your details and location are instantly coordinated with those first
068responders through the GPS. Mass notifications alert to people in our plan, including digital signage on their phones. key key stakeholders can initiate status checks with those involved. Presently, we have 52 teachers and every administrator with the Rave app on their mobile device. We we ran PD classes last spring where uh teachers could take a PD class to learn the Rave app application through Chief Joel Veter and they have put it on their phone. We will also be running classes this fall and spring PD classes to get more teachers to put this on their rave uh put the RAV app on their phones. Okay, any questions? Thank you. >> Yeah. Um thank you. This is very um in informative and thorough. I'm also really impressed that you've already adjusted the safety plan to account for the
069um the cell phone ban. So that was fantastic that you did work so quickly. Um >> just a couple of questions. So back to the lockdown drills. It used to be that one had to be not announced and so now they're they've done away with it and they all have to be announced. >> Right. They all have to be announced a week in advance. Okay. >> Not the actual uh time or date, but there's going to be a lockdown during this week. >> Okay. >> Right. >> Great. And then do students know the location of where the hallway passing drill will take place? Like are they given that advanced knowledge or >> Say that again. I'm sorry. >> The ones that are given during the um passing do the students know >> where that will
070be. It can be anywhere. So they >> Well, it's so what what happens is the bell rings. The students in the hallway going to a class and then we call for a lockdown drill. So the whole school is at into the hallway. Now the whole school's got to get into the different classrooms. So they don't know that that's coming. All they know is that it's a drill because we announce drill in New York State. You must announce drill three times after you say the word lockdown. >> And then what do they do? They get pulled into a classroom. >> Teachers do a great job. Um not only do we watch it, um the school safety team are also watching on the cameras to watching the teachers pull uh kids into their classes. Everybody goes into
071the uh quickest classroom, nearest classroom, close the classroom, and then we uh we are done in 13 seconds. >> Wow. Okay. Um uh can any teacher ask to get the uh rave app or do you guys select who? >> No no no no we open it up to the entire faculty the entire all the teachers in the district all of them have access to come to the PD take the PD with Chief Veter and then put the RAV app on their phone. >> That's great. >> Yeah. >> Okay. That's all I got. Thank you so much. >> Thank you. >> I have a couple questions. >> Yes, sir. What's the current pro protocol for parents dropping off items for their students? Uh, let's say at the high school, >> all items are left in the
072vestibule. Once they're left in the vestibule, the student will be called down to pick up their items in the vestibule. >> And what's the current um, let me ask you, what would happen to lockdown drills for students that are outside the building? >> Okay. So, when any lockdown drill is called, we have blue strobe lights that come uh, outside of the building. Blue strobe lights are on, then those students are not permitted into the building. When we are in a lockdown drill, all exterior doors are locked. So, they couldn't come into the building even if they wanted to. >> And what happens with a reader uh plate reader that comes back that the person isn't registered or uh maybe lost custody of their child? What happens with that information? >> Well, that information, it comes
073to the uh guard at the booth. The guard at the booth, it comes to their laptop with that person's name. Um it may be a husband or um a cousin driving that vehicle. They have to show their license. And if it's the if that person has lost c custody of that child, they're there to see. They are not permitted on the grounds. They're asked to turn around and leave school grounds immediately. >> Thank you, Mr. Stein. Sure. Anyone else? >> Yeah. Hi. Thank you. Yeah, there's so much here. I both I like could cry during it because I hate that we have to think about it, but I'm very thankful that you thought about so much. >> Thank you. >> Um there's the plate reader at the high school. Is there Can you talk about
074why there aren't plate readers at any of the other buildings or are there? >> We we've looked into putting them in other buildings. We're still looking into that. The high school is the only building that has a guard at the guard booth because it's the only one who has a guard booth. So, it makes sense to have the LPR camera there. Um, we have discussed putting it in other buildings. >> Thanks. >> Yes. >> All right. If no one else, it is my recommendation from the superintendent of schools that the board of education adopt the school building safety plans for 2025 2026. Can I have a motion, please? John one, Teresa 2. All in favor. That's everyone. Thank you very much. All right. And moving on to the New York State uh school board association
075annual business meeting. Uh it will be held virtually Thursday, October 16th at 4 PM. As a member of Nispa, our board is entitled to have representative participate in the meeting and vote on all proposed resolutions and bylaw amendments as well as the election of NISBA officers. The proposed resolutions booklet uh was attached. Uh we can nominate a voting de delegate this evening who can attend the orientation in early October and attend the business meeting on October 16. Uh I would like to nominate Teresa. Uh can I have a second? Tom second. Any other nominations? If not, all in favor that's everyone. Teresa, thank you for nomin having us nominate you. >> All right. And now moving on to the intermediate plan presentation. Good clicker. Here it is. Good evening. Um, tonight I will be providing
076an abbreviated version of the intermediate plan that was presented in June at the board meeting. The revised plan was presented in July. So, this is another revision to the plan. A lot of the information is the same, but it is a bit of an abbreviated version for the board to review tonight and for our community to hear. So going into the rationale um again we started looking into this plan because this was something that has been a conversation and a request um for some time um based on a lot of reasons but some of them are listed here. Reflected feedback from the community. Creating a robust academic experience in both buildings that's comparable and similar. Preparing students for a global future. balancing enrollment to provide more opportunities for students, meeting NICED requirements while strengthening bilingual
077programs, saving on transportation at some point down the road, um, and exposure to interest pathways aligned with the portrait of a graduate. So, logistically, if this plan is approved, uh, we would implement this in the 2627 school year with the incoming fourth graders. The enrollment for students would be based on location where Flower Hill and Washington primary students would attend Jack Abrams, South Downtown and Jefferson would attend Woodhull and siblings would be grandfathered in at current at the current intermediate building upon request and to the greatest extent possible. So that would be something that uh we will set up an email address where parents would say, you know, I have a sibling that attended STEM. I'd like my second child to go to that school as well. um and we would just look into that
078and then respond. Um so that is something that we would certainly grant um to the greatest extent possible. Um special circumstances for students with disabilities would apply based on needs and programs as they do now. So in some buildings we may have a 1511 class. In others we may have a 1211 or an 811. And so wherever the programs are that m meet the needs of the students, they're not necessarily the same in both buildings. So that would continue to apply in the same manner it does currently. So the program offerings, our core content, ELA, math, science, and social studies will continue with the programs that we're using. The only exception may be with the our science curriculum because right now our sixth graders both receive the same uh program. Um in fourth and fifth
079grade at Woodhull, they use a different science program than they do at Jack Abrams. So we would want to align the curriculum in both buildings. That's on a later slide as well. But our core program is not being adjusted in that manner. So we are not taking away the ELA, the math, science, and social studies. Although some time adjustments may occur, but the standards are remaining the same and our programming is remaining the same. It would allow for project-based learning for all fourth grade students once a week, innovation lab for all fifth and sixth grade students, learners who lead program for all fifth and sixth grade students. The search program would continue as it is currently based on selection criteria. Our math Olympiads would continue as it does currently based on selection criteria. Same with
080our first Lego League competition teams selection criteria and our dual language program would continue based on the current placement students have in the program. So just to touch upon the project-based learning, all fourth grade students would re receive this program once a week. Some of the activities may include engineering design, STEM challenges, creating a website, mapping and planning out a road trip, uh designing a community brochure, etc. In the innovation lab, all fifth and sixth grade students would participate once a week throughout the year or twice per week for half of the year depending on how we decide to schedule this. This would help students explore ideas, develop creative projects, and learn through hands-on experiences. um explore STEM careers, critical thinking skills. Um and some examples of units would be first Lego robotics, input output
081computing systems, engineering design process challenges in sixth grade, rocketry, innovators and makers, engineering design process challenges. The learners who lead program would also take place once per week throughout the year or twice per week for half of the year. This program really fosters civic responsibility, critical thinking, and helps develop leadership skills, um, strengthening community ties, um, engaging students in activities that really will help guide students towards the seal of civic readiness. Um, and the there's a five-step learning process that's in the top right corner. Preparation, I'm sorry, investigation, preparation, action, reflection, and demonstration. in the search program in grades five and six which is going to stay as it currently um exists. In grade five we have genetics, mock trial, science and engineering of flight, the Toshiba explorer vision contest. Grade six is forensics, mythology,
082natural disasters, and national history day. These would continue to take place during the school day for an 80minute block for students who qualify for the program. The math olympiads would be a club and the criteria would remain the same. Um we use currently I ready math end of year benchmark percentile scores the New York State math test score um and the entrance exam is utilized. Students must meet proficiency in two of the three categories. This would likely take place twice a month outside of the school day for students who qualify based on criter the criteria I just mentioned. Lego League um would is a competition team. So all students would be exploring first Lego League, but this is actually the team. Um and so 10 sixth graders in each building would be selected for this
083team based upon the criteria that's currently utilized. They would meet once a week after school as they do now. Um and they would be working on an innovative project. Dual language adjustments. uh all do language for sixth graders all dual language in the 2627 school year would take two core content classes. So they would take science and social studies taught fully in Spanish which would continue that K to5 dual language experience they had into sixth grade in their two content areas. So this would support the continued development of bilingualism. In seventh grade, they would then then take Spanish for natives grammar 7 and the FLA exam at the end of the year. In eighth grade, they would take Spanish for natives grammar one and at the end of the year they would take the FLB
084exam. And just so everyone's aware, when students finish these exams in seventh and eighth grade, they go on their high school transcripts um along with their final course grades for natives grammar 7 and Spanish for natives grammar one. The program adjustments we would make to world language are that the flex would not be offered this school year. So that is why this decision really does need to be made sooner than later. Um that would not be offered this year at Woodhull. Um but in sixth grade world language instruction would be phased out after this year and moved into seventh grade. Seventh and eighth grade language pathway would be that students would continue to select French, Italian, Latin or Spanish. They would take the checkpoint A exam, the FLA, at the end of 8th grade, and
085then successful completion of that course would earn them a high school credit in world language, and then they would continue on with the checkpoint B in high school. So, here are some of the standards alignment just to share that these um specials or elective type experiences that students would have are fully aligned with math standards. So the fourth grade project-based learning, operations and algebraic thinking, fractions, measurement and data, geometry, number and operations. So these are standards that students are required to learn in fourth grade for the innovation lab, computational thinking. This is computer science standards alignment, impacts of computing, cyber security awareness. These are the things that our students, we didn't really, well, I'll just speak for myself. I didn't learn about this when I was in elementary school, but these are really critical skills
086that our young students really need to develop now. Digital lit literacy, digital footprints, design processes. These are going to be part of pretty much every job or career that most of our students enter uh when they graduate. Learners who lead has New York State social studies and ELA standards alignment, inquiry and evidence, civic participation, geographic reasoning, communication and reflection. And with New York State's broader changes to the portrait of a graduate and graduation requirements, they really are moving in the direction of pathways. And this really supports students exploring multiple pathways at the age where they're really learning and absorbing everything. So then they can decide as they get older in middle and high school, which pathways they might want to explore a bit further. And then obviously after they graduate, whether they pursue a job
087right after uh high school or if they go to college, they have an idea of what really makes them tick. Here are some of the ELA standards alignments, argument and expository writing, evidence-based thinking, digital media integration, speaking and listening. All skills that we want our students to really master. So what will our intermediate programs look like if this plan is approved? Grade four, we would have project lead the way as a one time per week, one period pushin. Grade five and six would be one period per week if it's throughout the year for learners who lead an innovation lab really hitting that civic readiness side as well as the um computer science side. Um and dual language would be offered in both buildings, two sections in each building starting in 2026 2027. Proposed instructional minutes.
088And these can fluctuate a little bit um to a certain degree, but we would continue with our block of 80 minutes of ELA, 80 minutes of math, 40 minutes of science, which again depending on the lesson, depending on the lab, could be 60 minutes of science and less social studies that day. Um, a lot of times at the elementary level, we see based on the unit or based on the topic, we might need a little bit more time in one of those content areas. Um, 40 minutes of project-based learning or project lead the way, and then our traditional specials. Grade five, 80 minutes of ELA, 80 minutes of math, 40, and then 40 of innovation lab, 40 of learners who lead traditional specials. And then in grade six, which is more of a middle school
089model, um we have 80 minutes of ELA, 60 minutes of math, 60 minutes of science, 40 social studies, 40 innovation lab, and 40 of learners who lead. We do have a very interesting makeup in our district where we have K to3 buildings and then we have four to six buildings where in most districts sixth grade is part of the middle school. So, we have a little bit more time with our our youngsters before they go up to middle school, which I think we value greatly, but we do have a little bit more flexibility in the schedules due to that, where at a normal middle school, you have your 42 minutes for every single class. What budgetary considerations and curriculum alignment projects will need to be considered if this is approved? So, we would need to
090do some curriculum alignment with the fourth grade project-based learning, which would take place throughout this school year and next summer. The learners who lead program would be need to be modified a bit because currently it's a 456 program. The innovation lab would also need to be modified a bit because currently it's a 456 program. And the science content in grades four and five, we would have to come to terms and come to agreement with what program we would use in both buildings. Um, we've had much success in different ways with both of them, but I do think this is something we would put to a full committee and our teachers would have input and we would really look through that and explore that greatly before making a decision, which would again be board approved as
091a content area um, adoption. Budget considerations, um, we would need to provide a budget and materials to add lead to Jack Abrams and we would also need to do the same for innovation lab at Woodhole. That's not a huge significant cost, but it still is a cost. Um the curriculum alignment also would have some associated costs because our teachers participate um you know either throughout the year after hours or during the summer to work on units, lesson plans, all of those types of things. Um I'll go through the transportation savings in a moment. Um we would need an additional club siphon for first Lego League and math olympiads at Jack Abrams and Woodhull. and we would need to hire an additional dual language teacher at Jack Abrams and potentially the subsequent year unless we have
092teachers that perhaps you know if there's retirements or things like that and we hire someone who would be able to teach the dual language class then we wouldn't need to add but it will all depend upon staffing as we look at the budget season starting next month we're going to just enjoy September and then we'll get to the budget starting in October um some some potential transportation savings which wouldn't really come to fruition for a few years because again we have talked about grandfathering siblings in and again that might last for even longer than the next few years but the next few years would be transitional in this way um but if we were able if we did adopt this plan we see the savings in the future um being that we would be reducing
093three vehicles um from Jack Abrams and three from Woodhull um which is a savings of six different routes um which would be a cost savings of $581,000 annually. Um that might allow us to add busing for perhaps like the math Olympiads program which I know some parents said that their kids participate and they really want them to continue to participate but they may not be able to get them home after that. Perhaps we can explore that as an option for that and for our first Lego League etc. So um you know when you have cost savings it does give you other opportunities in other areas. Um, you know, we do have our I believe our transportation contract is is up and so we're going to be looking for an RFP this year. Um, so we
094never know what our costs will be because there's an interesting um experience with transportation providers. There's not many of them. Um, and they tend to um change their rates and uh we're kind of at their mercy sometimes, but um this is what we anticipate based on the numbers from June. Thank you to Mr. Hender for putting this together as well. So we believe that this model is forward thinking, inclusive, and ambitious. We really think that this will raise the bar for all students while giving everybody the opportunity they need and the support that they need to really have, you know, the best intermediate experience that they could possibly have uh on Long Island. So um that is my presentation and if you have any questions, I'm happy to answer them. >> Questions? Good job. >>
095I just wanted to say uh quickly as a parent of a current primary school student, I just wanted to say thank you uh for listening to the community's concerns and for meeting with parents and stakeholders and explaining your rationale behind all this and I personally look forward to seeing all the amazing things that are in store for all of our intermediate students. >> Thank you. >> Anyone else? Let's see. Reaching. >> I like the idea of an RFP, but I'll leave that alone. Um, okay. If no other question, it is upon recommendation from the superintendent of schools that the board of education approve the intermediate plan for implementation in the 26 2027 school year. Can I have a motion? Jenna one, Tom two. All in favor? That is everyone. Congratulations. Well done. All right. And
096now curriculum and instruction. >> Good evening. It is upon recommendation from the superintendent of schools that the board of education approve CSSE and CPSC submissions as delineated. >> Can I have a motion? Teresa one, Annie 2. All in favor? That's everyone. Personnel. It is upon recommendation from the superintendent of schools that the board of education approve personnel items on schedules 3 5 6 8 10 13 15 16 20 and 22. >> Can I please have a motion? Kelly 1, Tom 2. All in favor? That's everyone. And Dr. Harris business. >> All right. I have two parts. It is upon recommendation from the superintendent of schools that the board of education approve items I through L2 and L4 through O. Have a motion. Teresa one, John 2. All in favor? That's everyone. >> Okay. It is
097upon recommendation from the superintendent of schools that the board of education approve item L3. >> Have a motion. Jenna one, Kelly two. All in favor? I abstain. >> Thank you. >> Okay. And I think there's some announcements. >> It's the season of the Pelaton, it seems. >> Um, we have some very generous donations. In fact, I think one of our donies is in the audience. Miss Sarah Balibur is presenting a donation of the Pelaton bike to the Huntington High School Athletics Department. The donation has an approximate value of $800. Thank you so much for your generous donation. Um, the Jack Abrams STEM Magnet School PTA is presenting $2,500 uh to offset the cost of upcoming field trips. That's always an amazing uh donation to get. Thank you very much. Um, the Mallian Sea Mallian is
098uh donating his Pelaton bike, I guess, to Huntington High School as well. So, they'll have two. um also has an approximate donation value of $800. So, thank you. Where where are you going to hang his shirts now, though? And um West Shore Marina, why did my computer just freeze is uh presenting a donation of various school supplies to Jefferson Primary with an approximate donation value of $80. So, thank you to West Shore. [Applause] At this time, we open up our meeting again for a public commentary. This will be the second public commentary to the same rules apply as the ones that were previously read. Anyone? All right. If no public commentary, open it up again for fellow board members. >> I just actually Oh, sorry. I just wanted to thank you uh Beth and Chris
099and uh the entire team uh for this intermediate plan as a parent of um two kids who went through a dual language. Um it's important to know the history that you know the STEM magnet school's really been in existence for I don't know 10 to 12 years. Um and I'm so excited to now know that all the kids in the in the district no matter which school they attend will have equal opportunity. So thank you. Thank you. I know it's a it's a big undertaking and it's pretty forward thinking and I really appreciate it. >> Uh as um Xavier mentioned earlier, uh this coming Friday, September 12th, the Booster Club will be honoring John Lurco for the annual fundraiser event. Uh it'll be at the American Legion Hall. Just a few additional items. Uh local
100band legends Anarchy on the Bay will be performing and uh they do an eclectic mix of music from the 60s to today. Tickets for the event are available at the Huntington Booster website which can be accessed through the school web page and can also be purchased at the door. Student and teacher discounts uh will be given. Doors open at 7:00. Band begins at 8 and light and delicious fair will be provided. Hope to see you all there supporting the students in the sports and activities that benefit from our booster club. Thanks. sound like a a show host or something. Now I really got to go. Um if nothing else, a motion for adjournment. Kelly one, Teresa one, John two. All in favor? That's everyone. Good night everyone.