001operation. Um, can I have a motion to go into executive session? >> Absolutely. >> First by Bob, second by Todd. All in favor? Okay. Shows um six in favor. None none opposed. We will move into executive session. We will Uh just reaching out to the public quick that are viewing. Um we our start time is 7 o'clock. It's 7:02. We are going to be starting a couple minutes later. Um we start executive session and at the end of it a couple members had a run down the hall and a second they're back we will begin. In fact they're walking in now. So we're going to turn it over to Jim. Welcome to the Iricquay Central School District Board of Education meeting. There are two recognition of guest periods, one for agenda related comments and the
002other for other topics. Please refrain from personal related comments and address those to the appropriate administrator. To speak, fill out the proper form and submit to the district clerk clerk. Public comment is limited to 50 minutes total with each speaker allowed up to three minutes. This meeting is held in public rather than a public meeting and while we won't engage in dialogue tonight, we are listening. The meeting is live streamed and the recording will be posted online. Everyone please rise for the pledge of allegiance. >> Pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America and to the republic for it stands. One nation under God, indivisible, liberty and justice for all. Okay. Okay. We're going to move to uh board discussion and news we're sharing uh for the voting delegate uh for the
003NISSBA. Um Heather Becker. I did talk to her. She is willing to do it. Um unless anyone wants to fight her for it. >> No. >> Okay. I actually did talk to her. Okay, now we'll get into the heart of our board meeting. This is where what presentations does the board want to see for this year. Um, I know one of them, you know, that we're going to talk about is, you know, doing the school report card and breaking up by buildings. So, that will be a presentation and I believe we'd start with that in October. So I I looked at it um because I knew there was a primary building goals and data and primary would be one meeting, intermediate would be another, middle school would be a third, high school would be a
004fourth, a fifth one would be district data. So if we started in October because we also have to look to when the state releases the data and as I look at Mary Joe because she's the one who really monitors and looks at this. If we were to do the primaries in October because we have students that would be coming here for the pledge, principles would be here. Then intermediate in November because they would be here um doing the pledge. Middle school would be in January because they're doing the report and then high school and high school would be in December. So it would go primary, intermediate, high school, middle school for the months of October, November, Jan, December, January. And then we could look at the entire district data. Um, and Mary Joe will mention
005about uh districts we we look at. We don't use other districts names. You'll hear them now of who we look at to make sure the board agrees with them. But when we present data, we number them. One, two, three. I'm looking. I'm doing okay. She's nodding her head, giving me permission. Um, we do one, two, three. So we will know when where we are in our results with those because I think it's also important to see how we're progressing but how are we compressing towards like places. So uh right now the state has released our own 2025 data. However they said it will not be finalized until like the second week of September. So there may be changes to it. So we right now we have some cursory information but that's it. In the past
006the districts that we have um have looked at our data uh with are districts about 15 or 16. We have Alden, Amherst, Chetoaga, Central, Chiktoaga, Mville, Dew, East Aurora, Lakeshore, Frontier, Grand Island, Hamburg, Lacawana, Lancaster, Orchard Park, Sweet Home, West Senica, and Williamsville. Um, as Doug said that when when that presentation is done later in the year, we would not have their names listed in the presentation. Instead, they would be numbered so that um >> to respect them. >> And is there any on there you would say, "Oh, no. We don't need and she can read them again this district or we would like to add this district because this is really our decision of who we want to look at. How we look at them is um districts around us close um that border
007us districts that are about our size district same social economic um sometimes it's districts that just people always talk about you know like Williams was on the list they're not our size they don't border us same social economic um but they're so much larger they're different but we think that's a very valid one to compare ourselves too. >> Before the first building gets reviewed, is there any way we could maybe spend a short period of time on getting a 10,000 foot view as to what the data is not telling us, but like what it's measured on, um, where they get the data from, just working knowledge so that we all understand what we're looking at. >> Sure. So, if I'm if I'm hearing you correctly, the difference between what a school report card looks at
008when New York State publishes that that information in comparison to when we talk about say something like Ames Web. >> Yes. >> Okay. >> Are you asking the question I have? Are you asking to understand what's in the school report card or to see a little bit of the data beforehand? Like I mean can anyone around the table board member-wise know that they have like have seen a school report card and understand at a 10,000 foot level what it's trying to tell us cuz I haven't seen either. So I'd actually like >> Yeah. Um cuz then I mean at least when the buildings are presenting to us, we understand what we're looking at. I guess is the point. And that's why I asked is if if it's just what is in it compared to the
009data and comparing and contrasting data. We could do something of just here's what's in it, what they look at, but not compare data data over the last 15 years, 10 years or whatever. Then when you're looking at over years, you would understand where it's coming from. >> Hey, I think what and I don't put words in Heather's mouth is I'm just going to like in September that Mary Joe would give you the 50,000 foot overview. This is what's contained in the school report card, notformational data. This is what it it looks at how many red chairs and blue chairs you have. So then when we get to >> started receiving the data data in October that we kind of know what we're looking at. And the one thing I did uh talk to Keith and
010I talked to Doug extensively about is so when we get to October and there and the primaries are going to present that you know a week or two ahead of time that that information is in our email so we can go through it so we're not seeing it for first time presentation that way because there may be 200 data points and only five of them we feel the need to discuss because we'll have that information ahead of time. Like once again, if it was you have 200 blue chairs and 50 red chairs, it's not going to be discussion point. But those are the two points that I want to bring up. Is that what you're kind of saying? Okay. >> If if I could just um just cl one point of clarification, especially when it
011comes to the primary um when we talk about the primary schools, the school report card really only comes out for the third grade students. So what we would probably be doing is also including Ames Webb, which is fine, but I'll I just want to be prepared. So then in September, I have that information for you. >> Yeah. And like I said, the September would just be like the overview of it. And then October, send it to >> no actual data. This is what it is. >> And then just make sure in October before the meeting and not like a day, you know, that we can get it so we can look at it and kind of digest it. And I think He's point is when we get that data, if we have the overview, we
012can they'll understand, interpret it. >> You got it. >> Yep. >> Sure. >> Um the one thing I want to say, Jim, you said a week or two ahead of time. Typically, the board agenda comes out to the board the Friday before the meeting. That would be a change then in that for that data. >> I think the data I mean I guess >> and that's why I'm just I just want to nail down the data the board expects. >> I would I mean it's it's it's our meeting. What do you guys think? I mean, I'm trying to change the agenda is fine, but I think I would like the data maybe at least a week before, >> a week before, >> so we can actually, you know, look at it and read it. >>
013Yep. I just want to, you know, a week or two and then some I sent it out eight days. I had people say you missed both of them. It's not a week and it's not two weeks. >> I was testing it. I knew you were going to clarify that point. >> So, a week before >> a week's fine. Yeah. >> Okay. >> Can we have it in Latin and English? >> Yeah. your computer will interpret it >> ahead of time. >> And then is the other >> I'm sorry, just to clarify. >> Yeah, because you're a week ahead of time of this. I will want it from like administrators a week before that. So, I just got to make sure I have the right flow going through. >> Is everyone okay with at the end
014of the school when when I present on the comparable districts? Were you all good with those districts? number one and our our plan is usually five years back and especially with co that would work out that would be a nice cut point. We do have some new exams in there, but >> yeah, I think five years is enough. I mean, >> okay. >> To look at some historical trends. >> I I mean, >> is there co changes it like for high school, we used to do I'll say 10 for regions exams, but co has changed everything. So, I would think you kind of start with the five and then next year might be six and next year might be seven. >> Yeah. I tend to like 10 because you can get five out of 10.
015Um but I think >> start with five. I typically when we did this always it was 10 years but I think right now starting with five is where to go because of the change with COVID and everything. It just >> it it wouldn't be appropriate data. People didn't take the test. Tests weren't required. There would be blank spaces and so on. Well, I mean >> I mean like I don't think so because the region's exams have all changed in the last five years and they will continue to change. So for example, we now have brand new uh regions exams in global in US in living environment in algebra 1 and um earth science ELA is going to be next year uh next year will be physics and chemistry. It's just and you can't compare the
016two exams. They're just that different. I I think it's fair we can start with the five and then I mean we can we could revisit it if there's something a trend or something we want to see. Um but we still have you know more months here to fill. So what other presentation information would the the board like to see? Want to interrupt real quick. We do have two the guidance department and the special education um at the the bottom two there in red mandatory that we need to do. So if we already have September, October, November, December, January, those would be February. >> Okay? >> And remember once you hit like January, February, March, April, May, you also are going to be having John talking to us about the budget app meetings. So if we're
017up to January, February, now March, what would you like to see in March? And I I have a list of things like cell tower is one I want to ask about. Um, we were approached by a group that um would entertain putting a cell tower here on property. They would want it over by the bus garage, which means you can determine how visually appealing that would be to have a cell tower there. Revenue, I'll say, is anywhere from $800 to $1,000 a month. Is that worth it for us at Irakcoy to have a cell tower on the ground for that much money? >> Is this something you're asking us for right now? >> Do you want to have a discussion on it? Because if you don't have a discussion on it, we would not move
018forward. If you want to have a discussion on it, then there's a possibility. >> That's for today then, right? >> Not having a discussion today, do we want to try to schedule it somewhere? >> Schedule a meeting or schedule. >> Schedule a time to discuss it. >> Yeah. And if you don't want it, >> process, >> right? And if you say, "Well, right now I'm hearing the money and I don't want to look at it. I don't want to talk about it." >> And if you say, "No, I don't mind looking at it and I'd like some money." Um, we will talk about it. So I guess around the table are you interested at all? >> Right. >> Yeah. >> You're not going to win class president after you took away all their cell phones
019and then we gave them a tower. But it will help SRO's and school resources or administrators. >> Well, we we can discuss in March. >> We'll say March. Um John will get back to the company, see if that meets in their timeline. They might say that's too far out and they might want to move it. If they want to move, if they say it has to be by a certain month, we'll come back to the board and you might have to have two presentations. >> That that's fine. We can Okay, that works. What else do you have on your >> um building results goals? I I I don't know. I I guess I would say look at them and see like review of policies. I I don't that's something we've done. I don't think you
020need it at this point. You just, you know, had a meeting with a lawyer and talk about policies, procedures, and we do a little bit of policies every day. um board self-evaluation and goals. Is there something you'd want to do with that? Um you know, maybe June. >> Well, Jim, did we last year we had work sessions sprinkled in throughout the month? >> Yeah, we Yeah, that is a possibility. I think >> some of these fall into >> we could do that. Yeah, I guess now is just to get a feeling and if there's like nine things, no, but there's more then we could do them in work sessions. We're just it's this is just to get the feeling of what, you know, we'd like to see, >> right? The new graduation requirements I think
021is pretty important. >> Yeah. >> To have sooner than later. >> We could do that in April. >> Okay. >> I mean, because it's not going to change really. The testing doesn't change for like another three years. So, it's it's not something that has to be done tomorrow. >> Mhm. >> So, April for that one. And keep in mind there will be things that will come up during the year when you'll say, "Hey, Jim, can we discuss this on the agenda?" And right now new new graduation building results and >> goals. Uh there should be a dis well instead of building it should be district but that would be Mary Joe presenting that in February because that would be right after um whichever one middle school was last right after the schools school budget. >>
022That's going to be when it always is. >> That would kind of be January through May. Not every month, but >> yeah, that's two or three we have in there. Um, strategic plan. Do you want to do anything more with that at this point? >> I think that's something that we just has to we we did just did some stuff with it. You changed it a little bit. I think it >> I'm working on changing with administrators, >> right? So, I think until that happens, discussing it is kind of pointless until you know, >> right? Which is an interesting point in changing it. I was asked a question. And I don't remember by who earlier because we were talking about things and we talking about data a lot. I love that the board wants to
023go back and look at data more in the current and strategic plan. There's nothing about instruction and the fact that this board wants to get stuff about instruction in there which would come back to dad. I want to commend you and thank you. Um I know Mary Joe has been you know walking around on cloud9 for about two months now that you wanted that. So, um, April strategic plan. >> One item, Doug, that I didn't see here is, you know, I know we spent a lot of time last year on the reading program. I I would be interested. I'm not sure what the board feels about, you know, getting some level of update on how we're doing, right? What does that actually look like? >> You will be getting No, >> that you will be
024getting a little something that Mary Joe gave me for the Friday memo, and that would be included with primary. Go ahead. >> Correct. And what I was planning on doing is probably when we talk about the data, especially at the primary level again because there is only a grade three assessment there, the Ames web will really speak to the progress we're making. So um we can weave it into that primary uh presentation. >> Okay. I I would only caution that is a pretty big program that has altered over years. I just want to make sure we have the right time space to like unpack what we've done, what are the leading indicators, what could be lagging indicators. Those are the pieces I want to make sure that we touch on. Fine. Bringing it into the
025primary discussion. Um, but there may be other topics within the primary that are equally as important. So, >> right. And that's where we can add it because I think math is equally important. >> Yep. So therefore, we can always >> please don't think we're always locked into this. Y >> we can modify it and change the year goes on. >> What I what I would if it's okay with you is maybe do the initial within that primary meeting, but if you need more information, we could, as Doug said, modify another one. >> Yeah, that's that's fair. I mean, I don't want to get too far ahead, but yeah, that would be um that'd be reasonable, >> right? >> Great. So I would say then strategic plan May zero mission buses I would say as needed.
026>> Yeah. >> Right. Because there's no update. >> No update. >> Yeah. We're charging them as we speak. No, we don't have we don't we don't have any. So public that was a joke. We we do not have any public. I know how you feel. We we don't have any. Um SRO the Sandy Hook promise. That's that anonymous reporting. Did you want to hear from the school resource officers this year? I I think my response be that if there is something to report yes if it's just hey we're all doing good and we've had three reports and not we don't want you to just like a presentation on nothing if there's something of importance >> y >> because that's such an important topic. Yes. Not just >> so as needed and if you hear something
027you want something let us know. Um, uh, the NISBA resolutions, we get to sit through that September 17th. Um, what I would remind the board while we're sitting here with Heather Becker going, um, is that look through them ahead of time. There's a lot of them and don't want to, please don't talk about every single one. Is that fair to say, Jim? Pick the ones you say. >> You know, I I disagree with what Nisba Nisba wants to >> thinks it's something they should advocate for. I disagree with Nisba. If you agree with everything Nisba says, good. If but the ones you disagree, let us know. >> And please keep in mind on those that those are the only the resolutions that have been endorsed by Nisba. Other districts can add ones whenever they want.
028And there's what is there 800 districts or 865? >> 700 say roughly 700. So those are voted on by 700 people. So a lot of them, you know, end up going nowhere. Um, so I would look through them. There's like like maybe one or two or three that you think this is horrible or this is amazing. Those are what I would bring back because like I said, that was a meeting that goes on for 12 hours or 10 hours and you just won't get through all of them and most of them are just going nowhere. So I that's what I would focus on. >> All right. Then we have AI in school. um with how full we are with everything. I I don't think I think it's something the board should be aware of, but
029I don't think it's something we need a huge presentation on. I think it's more important for teachers to start wrapping their heads around of how to do it than the board. Um impacting New York State budget that would be with John during budget stuff during budget season. Um which just leaves the board self-evaluation and goals. Um, if you don't want to change any from this year, you're good with where they are, we could just do that in June. >> That is kind of what I would like to do. You know, we just had some good training. Um, we have, you know, Henry's new. Um, I would just want something to actually talk about at that point and reflect on. Um, I just think that like sitting here and like pulling a goal out of the
030air doesn't really do anything. Um, like I I still feel we have, you know, we're going to continue to get better and more to go. We've come a long long way, but I just think that would be a June thing to do. >> And real quick, the goals of what they are. Um, before you decide, support the superintendent, his accommodating district goals and his superintendent goals. Two, achieve and engage our students, family, community members, and uh, school staff to strive for continuous improvement of the district. and three, strive to be a highly functioning cooperative school board. >> I think though that because we didn't have the meeting in July, we never really had a proper discussion about this year's goals or retrospective on how we did last year as a board. So, what's the plan
031to get that done? I would I mean and with the training I would push it to June or if it's something that we feel that we want to do we could talk about scheduling a a work session on that >> because June's for >> well yeah but I would I would look to rep this year but if if it's something that if you got if we want to review this one I think what I would do is I would get with uh the district clerk and we could set a a work session and see what's availability to go over those. >> Okay. >> Is I mean just let me I know Heather is that you guys want to go over them? Yeah, I mean I I think so because um what and to Heather's point
032and I appreciate you kind of bringing it up, right? Because we didn't really have our you know the district planning session, it might be good to sort of have both, right? If we could have a um a working session a little bit earlier on, uh make sure that the topics are really concise and then we can review it in June and kind of see how we're doing because it's tough to measure if we don't know and especially with Henry coming on board, we don't want to wait too late. So I agree. >> Yeah. So we can uh keep keep the goals and then do um Don and I will get with you and we'll kind of like pick a month and then some dates that make sense. >> Okay. >> So we'll schedule for June
033for the following year and get a work session for this year. >> Yep. >> All right. I think that's everything with that. >> Okay. So we move on to >> and just one other topic. Um, I know Lucia, our student board member, is not here, but I don't know if we should engage her to see if there's anything that >> like I know she's not here, but was she going to give us a student report every >> school starts >> once school starts or what are the expectations for her? >> I'll say no because when the board discussed having her on, >> it was not to have her give her a report of what's happening at the high school, >> right? >> She's a board member. She has the same responsibilities as you. Our school
034reports will still be coming from the middle school and high school every other board meeting from other students within the meeting. Um you know that would be a change of the role of what we saw as um the member of the the ex official student. >> She she's just here as any other board member. The only difference is if we're talking about I'll just use example the presentations to maybe give from a from a student's point of view. Hey, I think we should really talk about this because it's something we may not be aware of. >> Yeah. And I can reach out and ask. >> Yeah. With the absence of her not being here, maybe just ask. >> Yeah, she she had practiced today. And that's what we talked about with the student board member.
035We're have to be very aware that these they're students and they have homework and all that. So, >> yeah, >> she's here week. I will reach out to her and see if there's any topic that she would like to add and I can get that out to the board. Okay, we will number six, the superintendent report by >> real quick. I do have one question for the board that we've been working on. Um because the goal is to have a board calendar where people can look at it and see where it is. And one thing we heard for that's been causing this the problem is for other board members to see who is going to event with an RSVP. So there's a new program since some of you are parents you're aware of it. It's
036called Parent Square would let us see RSVP but it's also a new app um that would be in there. I mean from there you can add whatever's in there to other calendars. But if we were to use Outlook which you already have keeping to the same program everyone would get the invite automatically in their Outlook calendar. the parent square you would get all these invitations everything you your inbox would be flooded with invitations for parent square um whereas outlook you wouldn't have that flood of invitation so which way would you rather go you go with outlook the downside is you can't see Jim and Keith are going to event um with parent square you could see it um you know so that's the difference and also the difference is the flood of emails coming in
037you have to accept or reject ones you want to go to or don't go to. >> My theory would be to go with the Outlook one and then it's really an appropriate use of the district. The text message we're all on is be like, "Hey, Bob and I are going to the soccer game on Thursday." And then then you guys be like, "Oh, I'll go. I'll go. I don't think we need to get 200 emails." Because one of the things we want to do is pair this down so the emails we get are meaningful. And I think that's the best way to because we'll know we'll now we'll know there's some there's an event and we can be hey Keith and I are going to the football game on Friday. You know who's there and
038you guys can be like I'll go I'll go or whatever it is or the play or whatever that is. >> Yeah. And just to be clear to the board we were not planning on inviting you to every sports home game. We would invite you to musicals and plays because there's I want to say three of those. Two at the high school, one at the middle school. um >> or art shows or >> art shows things like that we would but >> there's an you know 57 teams that's an awful lot of athletic events we were not planning on I don't I get maybe Don disagrees with me but I we were not planning on doing athletic other things like PTO meetings things like that >> what I would encourage for the athletic events are like
039the the senior nights >> senior nights >> or if it's a championship those or home well homecoming is pretty easy >> senior nights >> yeah but those are the ones that I think I'd want to know if it was soccer senior night I would I'd want to know Okay. So, senior nights would be one for athletics that we would send out. Okay. Um, so thank you. Outlook. Um, >> go ahead. the playoff I think >> playoffs once the regular season has ended all playoffs or just when they get uh um sectionals at what level? I would say I know I just said amount not too much but I would say all playoffs >> the amount of team >> any game after the regular season >> the amount of teams that go to sectionals are still
040quite rare. >> Yeah. So any after the regular season any game. >> Okay. >> So the next thing I have is uh responses from last month's public comments. um really did not have one. But what I do have in there is a comment uh that came from administrators and the union. Um new teachers do portfolios and the board see those portfolios when we're going through the tenure process. Um both the administrators and the union think there's a lot of busy work in there that takes away from the new teachers having instruction. They have to check it. They would like those to be redone. So there's a lot more reflective and focus on instruction. it would be a change in what the board sees. Um planning on going that direction because it supports instruction. Want to
041make sure the board's aware of that. So when you see um the letters for the first year teacher, second year teachers, third year and fourth year teachers, it will look different than last year. Is there anyone that's like you know gastly? I mean and we can always change and have discussions once we see it. We're going to develop that. Is that good with everyone? >> Okay. Just want to make sure. um kind of a kind of a administrative role anyways, but you do get to look at it. Recognitions. I want to start with Heather um Becker, our own board member, because I do have a thank you and I really had nothing to do with it except help organize it, but she was able to she became aware of um an excess or surplus of
042chairs from an organization and was able to get very nice chairs, over a hundred of them, get tables. Um, all the art rooms on the main campus have different tables. So, we're getting all this out to people. Um, she she was highly instrumental. Um, there was another graduate that works here and his name escapes me. I think he graduated in 2002. Um, I might be off on the year. And um, our grounds department made multiple runs to get this stuff. Other than paying for the gas and the labor, there was no cost to the district. And I'll say the chairs estimately were $500 chairs each one of them. And we got hundreds of them. >> Oh, Mike. Mike. >> Not you. Mike. Mike. Use your mic. >> Your name's Bob. Mike. I actually got to
043see all this stuff and it was beautiful. Brand new elevated workstations, the chairs, the tables, everything was awesome. >> So, thank you to her. Um, girls lacrosse. So, this is from last spring. Avery and uh Gia >> Gia Gia. I knew I was going to get that wrong. They even made Mary Joe practice with me. Um first team, the uh boys lacrosse, uh Donovan, the girls flag football, Tanny the offensive first team, Felicia. Uh defensive first team, Maya Tanny Claire. boys baseball, Slade, Gavin. Um, all Western New York first team, Luke, Dominic, Carson, Slade, Alex, Gavin, Adam. Um, and that's what I have for recognitions. Um, so then I would move into the capital project. You should have hopefully seen and read >> or maybe >> what about the teachers of the year, >> the
044Petri mailer? Oh, I don't remember all their names because that was >> Colleen McCoy and Katherine Stavanovich. >> Yes. >> Katherine Stvanovich. >> I said what the my kids call her because they can't kind of cool thing that was >> I thought that was amazing. >> Yep. Yep. Yeah. He and he comes and does that and and >> you know I really appreciate him for coming and but I more appreciate the teachers and what they do >> um to have that honor. >> Absolutely. that bus scratch presentation that they did that was >> yeah that uh if you haven't seen it um >> the transportation because they're looking for people for transportation drivers and uh um we'll talk about more later John will but we look like we're we're in good shape we need subs
045for next year but main drivers were in good shape but they were very creative in what they did it and when I was at the welcoming back for the drivers record presentation Um, I want to remember what his name is. His real name is Frank, but Dave or whatever I had to call him in the video, it it worked out well. Any other things for recognitions? Okay. The capital improvement project. In the back to school newsletter, there was information referencing the cap the capital project. Um, today is the seeker report. John will explain what the seeker is and we'll have updates monthly in the superintendent reports till then and John at the end of this we'll probably be asking to make sure the board is comfortable with where we're going because you'll be voting on
046the the the official resolution in September but we would like to start get the stuff out more to the public with the vote coming up in November. So I'm going to turn it over to John to give you updated information. The beginnings of this were started last school year, 2042 25 school year. Uh the board at that time reviewed the building condition survey which is a a really comprehensive report of our facilities and where things stand. Uh it puts things in priorities of what things need to be done in the next you know 5 10 20 years down the road from that list. Um and knowing that we kind of have restrictions on how much work we can do that that that report identifies hundreds of millions of dollars of work that could be done
047uh in the future to the buildings. Uh but we know that we use capital reserves to do projects. We don't have a a tax impact directly from these projects because we use the local fund um capital reserve to kind of fund the local portion and the rest of the funding comes from state aid. Um so based on that uh building condition survey, we identified a $23 million project. Uh we kind of captured the bullet points uh in the back to school um newsletter which is uh quickly summarizing Merura primary replacing steam boilers uh these things date back to 1968 well beyond their useful life uh putting in new boilers pipings throughout the buildings updating the control systems and I'm sure we're going to see some gains with with um utilities and things like that when
048you replace systems that are this old um Wales primary same thing replacing the boilers um particularly really more difficult there is that that is a wellwater school district uh school which is the only one in our district that has wellwater. So it really eats away at our boilers and things like that and requires a lot of maintenance over the years. So those are well past their prime as well uh dating back to again the 50s and 60s >> as well. Huh. >> We did get our use out of them. We replaced those tanks quite a bit over the years because they they only last 5 to 10 years and they all the tanks have to be replaced because of the hard water. Um and at Wales uh also um replacing the roof system. Um the
049roof was uh installed in 1998, so it's a it's it's approaching 30 years. So it's it's definitely a time for that. Along with that, we're going to add more drains, you know, make sure the pitch is right on and try and get another 30 years out of the the roof we install at the high school. Um the upper twotory level uh sections of the of the high school have been done recently. I mean, recently within 5 10 years. Um but we're going to now look at the lower first level uh roof um portions and replace those which are again past their uh expected life. Um and then based on the quotes that's again that's $23 million project. Um we hope quotes come in below what we think uh and there's some money left over and
050if we do we have an alternate u where we'd be replacing some um electrical systems at the high school. Everything's original to that building. So, we'd want to replace panels and and outlets and everything and kind of revamp that whole system as well. Um, as I said, it's going to be a no tax impact because we're using our capital reserves uh to finance the local portion of that project. Tonight at uh item 1702 is um again we call it the seeker SEQR that stands for state environmental quality review. Um and that has to that's the first thing you do with the project because we want to as a state entity we have to notify everyone around us agencies around us that we're intend to do this work and they have a chance to uh say
051they don't want it or they they have chance to ask questions. Um they look at the uh environmental impact obviously but also uh economic impact on the area and and um social impact as well. And they have an opportunity again to to say uh to pose questions if they'd like. The important part that you're going to see in there, it's going to be called a negative declaration as as part of that um um resolution tonight. That means there is no one's identified a a an adverse impact on anyone. So that's why we can go through with this and keep going. Um negative declaration means there's no negative impact on anyone. Um so at the next meeting, um that's when we'll put forth the proposition that the voters would vote on on November 18th. Um, and
052then we'd have we'd we'd also uh formally approve the advertisement that we put out in the paper to to be official with how we present this to the public. Um, and what I'd like to know is if at that se at that September 17th meeting, would you like a more in-depth look at the project? Uh, we could bring in architects, we could bring in the construction manager to answer questions. It's up to you if you want to do that at that point. and and we would like to go forward with putting information on our website and start to populate that as well so that there's a a resource for for immediately for community to go to and and see what's going on. >> Um and and the buzzwords for this if the committee asks you
053what are you doing? Um we're calling it the warm and dry project roofs and boilers. My um general feeling on it is first I want to you know thank you know superintendent and John and the project managers because we had an awful lot of discussion on trying to get as much work needed work done as we could and you know keep with the conservative nature of our district you know not to have a tax impact. We recognize that every dollar spent is taxpayer money, but we've always strived very hard not to um you know have a tax impact, which you know, it looks like we've done it. You know, once again, I you know, you know, feel we move forward. We spent you know, an awful lot of time and a couple meetings going through
054it um last uh year and the I think the newsletter out to the district did a good job. I don't think there's any more needed explanation. I would not bring in architects at this point. You know, I think it's time to go. Oh, it's go time. >> Okay. The only the only thing I would bring up is um if there is any additional economic impact beyond what we've budgeted, right? It now has been 12 months or 18 months since we even started talking about this and the numbers may or may not fit. Um so I'm with Jim. I think we we go but we also I think also want to be informed with what the new bids are, what what those pieces are. not an exhaustive measure, topline sort of stuff. Um, just to make
055sure we're going to get what we expect to get with the money spent that is available. >> And those numbers, the $23 million is built in with the the work really won't take place for two years from now. Yum. So, they do build the contingencies into that and escalation costs and they know things are going to increase over the years. So, a lot of that is built into their numbers to start with. >> And just to make sure the public knows about it, because I know the board has spent their due diligence in learning this, it's when you approve a project for 23 million, if bids come in higher, we cannot accept them. We cannot spend more than 23 million. And that's where there'd have to be a change in scope or rebid or something.
056And that's the information that we would give you. Um um because we can't spend more than 23 million, period. And a good example of when the bids come in a little lower and we do well. Uh the road behind us, uh a lot of parking lot work that we've done over this past summer is really leftover work from the uh the athletic field across the street. Uh the bids came in a little better than we thought. And when we have money left over, we can do some other good things that we have uh and need to get done as well. >> But those are all things on building condition surveys. So it's not like, oh, what would be nice to do? These are all pre-planned health, safety, structural, and they're all of within the scope.
057Um, so when we did the scope for that project, we said we'd be doing parking lots. So that's why we picked what we did because it was in what was presented to the public. And the state aid looks at that building condition survey and that's the basis for them giving us aid and payment for these things. If it's not on that building condition survey, they use as evaluation that it's a something that has to be done. That's why they provide aid aid to us. >> Okay. That's it. >> Okay. Um, moving on to number seven. Recognition of guests for agenda items only. I don't believe we have any. >> Okay. We're going to move on uh to the consensus agenda. Discussion of the consensus agenda. Um, and just the the basic purpose of the consent
058agenda is to act upon routine manners and expeditious manner. Items placed on the consent agenda are determined by the board president and vice president in cooperation with the superintendent and are those which are considered common to the operation of the district and normally require no special board discussion or debate. Board members have the ability and the responsibility of reviewing the consent agenda ahead of time. A board member may request any item on the consent agenda be removed and inserted at appropriate place on the regular agenda. The president will the president will present the initial motion followed by request for a second motion and then the vote. Um before we go on to the next step, I just want to remind uh that Bob will not be voting um on this consent agenda. >> So backing
059up real quick to make sure we have a discussion on some of the agenda items. Um number one, since you brought up Bob, I'll do that first. He's Thank you for being your volunteer for football. He's also volunteers for wrestling. Um if the board would like, we could modify whatever number that is 16.13. So, we actually accept his volunteer for football and wrestling at this one, which would mean he would not have to abstain at a future meeting from voting. >> So, we'll need a motion to make that modification to 16.13. And Bob, do not make that motion. >> Um, and the other one, we did have a question from a board member on 17.1 that has to do with a transportation contract that um I think everyone looked at the number and went, "Oh."
060Um, so John was going to update that update us on information. He did reach out to the transportation department to make sure everything he remembered because he saw that too and asked questions about it when it came across the desk. All yours, John. >> So this is for uh summer uh special education transportation for programs that run during the summer. Um um there were two students involved in this one that go to an off-site Boseies location um in North Collins. Um we post positions for the summer uh mid June and we give our drivers always the first chance to um do those runs for us and we use our own buses and everything like that. Uh we had about nine runs that we knew we had coming in the summer. They were posted. We received
061um confirmation from about 12 employees. Now that seems like we have it covered, but each of those bus runs because they're special education needs a a bus driver and a attendant on them. So 12 does not cover all those runs. Um so we did still make calls and they did actually get 16 employees by by actively going out and asking employees to uh help us in the summer. And we did get four more. So we did get 60 employees, but we were still short for that one run um that we couldn't staff ourselves. We had the buses, we had the the equipment, but we just didn't have the the people that could do it. So >> that wanted to do it. >> Yes. That that and it's it's optional in the summer. they it's not
062mandatory that they have to do work in the summer. So, um based on that, we went to an outside contract with a company uh to do that run. I think we do we since I've been here, maybe we've done two contracts with outside companies. We do parent contracts sometimes for transportation of students. Uh that's different, but using outside bus and driver, it it doesn't happen very often. It's just something we had to do in this case. And there was other questions in there about um where we are with staffing for transportation and how often um um the head the um transportation supervisor, head bus driver um and maybe even the the the transportation clerk are driving um Dave, do you have information on that or John? >> It's about again it everything changes quite a
063bit there um with with staffing. You never know from day to day who can be out and who's in. um sub drivers, it's hard to have a strong sublist because there's such demand out there for drivers. So trying to have someone who's just as a sub only uh often they don't last long in that capacity. We're either promoting them into a driver job or they're going somewhere else if if there's a full-time job available. So having a good strong sublist has been very challenging. Um but on a typical month, um our office staff is out driving. They think about one or two days a month that they're really all out, but when that happens, we do have someone at the garage who's answering the phone and monitoring the radios. Um, so there's never a part
064where that's not manned by somebody. >> Yeah. I'm just concerned like if there was like an accident or something that people needed to get to where a supervisor would need to be there. It seems like a safety issue to have >> people out of pocket um driving even if it is just one to two days a week or a month. >> Certainly not ideal. We don't want to do it, but we've just had to do it. >> And I guess um >> and answer that. And I think that's a good specific one to answer about accidents if there is one. Um I go to the accidents, the um >> SRO goes, the building principal goes, John will go, Dave will go. It's kind of all hand if he's driving. Um there are some times where
065I get there and just because of even if he's in the office, >> he's busy in the office. So I'll go there, they don't go up. So we have all the accidents always covered um from someone there and then they have another driver that or or a mechanic that's able to drive a bus, bring the bus there and then the driver gets on there and the mechanic takes care of the broken. Because to me it just seems like even though we can create very nice videos to try to entice more people to come drive bus or it seems like there's a shortage. >> Yes. >> Um and I don't know like >> um I mean because when I saw the and it was in the public content where I was in the agenda itself $648
066a day I was like that's got to be a typo. >> There's no way in the world to transport two students. >> But you have a driver, you have an attendant. you have two people. Uh the the cont the contractor probably pays them for seven or eight hours for that day because >> they're doing both runs in the afternoon. >> And I'm just concerned that could we be end up in a situation because we don't have enough drivers. Maybe we don't have competitive enough pay maybe or or I don't know to retain people. Like I'm just concerned that we might end up having to contract out more during the school year and we're going to be forced to do that. >> And when I started here Oh god. we'll say 2006, we consistently had runs
067contracted. We bid them out. We had so many miles, so many price, and we've been able to bring all of that back in house. Um, so we've been through there from that price. You can see why it's, you know, our transportation does a great job of um transporting students at a reasonable price for the community. Um, we do have negotiations coming up. We are Dave is watching what other districts are doing because they're negotiating now. So, their prices are going up. So, we're dropping in our standings of where we are for um how much we're paying our drivers. So, I fully imagine that will be a conversation at that time. We already do talk to it. I I I don't I want to keep the drivers here. I want to keep paying them fairly and
068I want to keep the runs in house so this doesn't happen. And that's why you put out bids for once to cover. But if something happens at some time, a student moves in that might need uh I think we have oh how much did Danny tell me? I want to say five wheelchair buses now and I can remember a time where we had none and we were discussing whether we should buy one. Um and so if there was be another one, a student move in need when they can't fit in to run with our thing. There could be something come on. Knock on wood. They do an amazing job there of keeping runs covered. >> And for next week, Wednesday, we have all the drivers that we need to cover all the runs that we
069have. >> But we don't have any extra toss. There aren't extras. And when different issues come up and people have to be out for uh three, four days for unexpected things, that's when we have good problems really. It's unexpected things like that. >> And just a, you know, just a big bird's eye view on this. This is a a problem. It's throughout the state. It's, you know, Buffalo is why they're using using FTA. The governor talked about paying parents to do it. So, this, you know, we are in a much better situation than a lot of districts, but this is a, you know, I don't want to say nationwide because I don't know that, but statewide this is a big concern. I just want to make sure that I want to say we're, you know,
070we're teeter tottering. You know, wind blows one way or the other. >> I could be back in two weeks and saying, "Okay, >> we have trouble. We still don't have everything covered exactly how we want it for length of runs. Um, but right now we're getting everyone to where they need to go. >> So, so you have just to summarize, you have all of the bus runs covered with internal resources currently >> for the upcoming year. Yes. >> For the upcoming year. Okay. >> Yes. and you have a an option to exercise contracts to make sure that nothing gets disrupted at at I'll bet most likely a higher cost. >> At a higher cost. Yeah. Because they are struggling for drivers too. So like last year >> we were trying to get some more runs
071in. Yep. And we reached out to um companies and they said no we do not have anyone for you. So therefore, we had to extend some runs. Or you might hear if you have students in here that typically these students don't ride on bus 352, but this today they did. >> Yeah. >> And that's why >> so we merge Well, we either have the supervisors and the mechanics drive to if people call in sick. >> Yeah. >> Um or we merge runs and both of those things would be done before we contract out. Is that true? >> Yeah. Yeah, because you can't cuz if someone's out sick for a day, you really can't contract for a day because there's a process that has to go through. They have to hire the person, make sure they
072know the run and so on. >> But if they're out for three months, then that might be something you could do if they have people available. But we're even having trouble with them for them having people in trouble. >> So when's their next is it next year? Is there contract here? Like >> uh this year we negotiate with the IFA. Next year we negotiate with the CSEA. Okay. Okay. I just I just don't want to be in a situation where we have to pay contract out. To me, it seems like where we have >> Well, that's one thing too where Dave is watching and contacting other people. I don't want to steal his thunder, but are with their new prices, is that solving the problem? And the answer Dave shaking his head no already. That
073is not solving their problem of drivers. drivers in Western New York. >> Um, >> it's not like Jim was saying, it's not specific just to >> Yeah, I understand that. >> We're having, you know, trouble finding drivers. So, everybody's working to try and fix that, solve that. But >> yeah, and that seems to be more of a nationwide thing as well. One question I do have, emergency response plan, whether it's a contract or internal, all of that's handled. I know you had mentioned as you were talking that it's all hands- on deck. If there is, I just want to make sure that that training or any of those pieces are addressed when you do have contracted work. >> Yeah, they all have to go they all have the requirements of what they have to go
074through. So, when we hire somebody, they have the we have our requirements that they must meet. >> Okay. So like how you keep track of the students who are on the bus, who you call, who you report it to, the the words you use. >> So I think the last question, I know you're not going to solve it here and I but I think it's interesting. Um and what is that tipping point, right? What's that tipping point where we may have to look at the business model a little more creatively? I mean, hiring more and and to your point, just paying more may or may may or may not solve it. um just to kind of keep it on the radar to say what is that tipping point to say >> I would say we're
075looking at it creatively every week >> every day we're we're at it that's a question I would ask because those are conversations um I have John has a lot more of Dave has a lot more of with transportation about what to do for drivers um bus attendants a little bit but it's more drivers it's a constant monthly conversation all year Okay. >> And I just I mean it it's really a shout out to the transportation department because you know Eric and Danny Lyn in that office they just do amazing job. Everybody from the top all the way down just you know pull together and work together that um make it work and make things happen. So >> and also you know shout out to them huge. But also a thank you to coaches the athletic
076department because they don't get the buses that they need. Sometimes they have to double teams up. You have to wait. can have the bus when you want it because we don't have the drivers that they can have it when they want. >> How often are we merging runs? I guess >> that's a high number that question. It's it's not daily because I hear the announcements. Yeah. >> Um being in the II but it'll happen three four times a year I'll say. Um but again that's kind of an estimate >> because then you're impacting families, right? Pardon? >> And then you're impacting families where you know >> it's a little longer. Yeah. Yeah. >> And I think the the you know the on this one in particular, if it was just a matter and please don't
077take these numbers exacting of paying $2 more hours, $3 more or $5 more an hour, that's not going to solve the problem. It's a true supply and demand issue and the supply does not exist. So it's going to be continue to be getting creative. And the forecast, if you look into this issue, the forecast is not going to rectify itself anytime in the near future. So we're going to have to continue to juggle the ball. It's just what it is. And I think what's going to happen is, you know, I'm just going to like a district down the street will raise their rates and everyone will raise with it because you can't you can't be the lowest paid. So that's that's not really the fear. It's just we're going to have to manage through it.
078>> And then in like 1708 and 1709 it says parent transportation contract extension. So that's where we're actually hiring an adult of some sort to transport what what >> the New York state law allows us to hire parents to drive in special circumstances. >> Okay. >> Um so therefore if there's uh and by all means this is not for anyone that's in here these contracts, but I'm going to say there's a a huge medical condition where they need some special drug or seizures or something. Okay. um and we can work with that parent and if they're willing to, they would drive their child to school rather than us sending a special bus there with a nurse. And so therefore, it's it's cheap it's cheaper to pay them than a driver and a nurse um on
079the bus to go there and pick them up. So that's helpful. And plus to find and and to find nurses that go on it, that's where we're contracting out too to find nurses that go on bus because nurses are in high demand. >> Okay. Okay. And and reimbursement is like IRS rate reimbursement rate. It's >> and so by all means it's not an option for any parent. So you know >> Yeah. >> Sorry. Um you know Henry, you have kids coming to school, we're not going to pay you to bring them. >> Yeah. And and and I just want to mention, you know, thanking you know, Eric and Danny, they do an amazing job. But really thanking the individual bus drivers that take their time, take the additional runs, you know, pick up, adjust their
080schedules, you know, I really appreciate that and and also noticed it really takes a community. Parents are, you know, chipping in as well. So, um, it's not a solve, but also it's not it does not go unnoticed. And so, thank you for the bus drivers that, you know, adjust schedules to make it happen because it is important. Okay. Um, >> thank you for asking because that's >> I'm sure blood of people were questioning that number. >> On the uh the consent agenda at this point, I will make them the the motion under withdrawal and add to um modify 16.13 which is for uh Robert Barry to to extend his approval for football and to wrestling. >> I'll second. >> All in favor? It show it shows um five in favor none oppose. So and one
081abstain. >> Okay. Is there any other request to withdraw an item >> to withdraw? >> Yeah. >> No, I just had a comment. >> Right. >> Oh. Um you'll see in the agenda I wanted to thank Dr. Rich Vilante within there to his service and dedication to the students for all these years. >> Yep. And um we have several folks joining us as longterm subs. We got some new faces um that'll be more on a permanent basis here at Iraco. So, welcoming uh Maria Worling joining us in health in the high school, Kelly McGary who's joining us music in the uh intermediate building, Christine Zetler um who will be joining me in HR, and Olivia uh Wowski joining us as a teacher aid over at Wales. So, welcoming some more permanent faces here at Urkoy.
082>> Thank you. Um to withdraw any item. Okay. Is there a request to add an item? Okay. Um I will make uh the motion to approve consensus agendum 10.01 through 17.16. Can I have a second? Okay. Second by by Heather. All in favor? Five in favor? None oppose. One abstain. The u the agenda and motion carries. No, we we just modified it. >> Just modified it. >> Um and then we uh do have a a guest who would like to talk. Uh Jeff >> Jeff Mockery, >> we get we're get you a mic. Wait a second. >> We got to let the public hear you. >> Sorry. >> And uh Mr. I know how you feel, but I get one everyone time, too. >> Uh, Mr. Mockery, normally it's about three minutes. Usually around two
083minutes. I'll just let you know you're at two minutes. >> Yeah, absolutely. Um, uh, good evening, Board of Education members of Mr. Scoffield. My name is Jeff Mockery. I live at 1701 West Avenue in Merrila. I'm the father of Dylan, who's a junior at Kenishas High School this coming school year, and Bianca, who will be an eighth grader at the middle school. Thank you for the opportunity to speak this evening to address a serious concern regarding our son's transportation, Dylan, which is currently stands as not acceptable for another academic school year. During his freshman year, his ride was 45 to 50 minutes home, a reasonable length of time for a 30-minute commute from Kenishious to home and what we expected to continue last year. During his sophomore year, the ride was regularly exceeding one and
084a half hours, close to 100 or an hour and 45 minutes and up to two hours. This is far beyond what is reasonable for a student's daily transportation. The proposed route for this year is 1 hour and 15 minutes under ideal conditions. Based on past experience, we are confident that that will not be the case. Another unresolved issue, one that you kind of spoke to this evening, rests within the transportation department. Um, not us as taxpaying parents, is the inconsist inconsistency of the ridership from other schools. On most days last year, the bus waited 20 to 30 minutes at one particular school from one particular student, compounding the unpredictability. As full-time working parents, this creates significant challenges because we cannot rely on determined or when our son will be picked up at the Uricquay campus.
085We even inquired about the possibility of door-to-door drop off since we live only a quarter mile outside the required distance, but that was denied, understood. Um, these concerns were raised last year with Mr. Scoffield and Mr. Nagel. Uh, Mr. Scoffield, thank you for your time. They were communicative, quick to response. Um, but at this time and during those conversations via phone calls and emails, copies of which I have sent to you this evening in your district accounts. Um, so you can see the trail of this problem. Um, it's just not a one time me coming here this evening. um the problems would be addressed and not be repeated for this upcoming 2526 school year. In fact, the concern was brought to the attention of district administration back in January of last year. Yet, we received
086no updates until I reached out just again last week for this upcoming school year. Out of patience and good faith, we made the accommodations last year, but continuing in this manner for another year is just not feasible. State education clearly states the amount of time should be reasonable, and I quote, "The amount of time should be reasonable." What we have experienced is not reasonable for last year, nor is it equitable when compared to other district and private school students. If the district maintains its lifetimes, >> just one second. I'm not I'm not going to stop stop you. I just would like to ask the board, can we extend the time for Mr. McCree if Okay, good. >> I appreciate that. Thank you. >> Um I tried to get another three minutes. >> Um if the
087district maintains that these ride times are acceptable, we'll have no other choice but pursue remedies with the state education department to ensure compliance and protect our son's right to safe and appropriate transportation. I hope by coming here this evening and tonight, this step can be avoided through a solutionbased response, something we have yet to receive from the district administration. In closing, therefore, I'm asking you in your elected positions to use your influence and authority to ensure the matter is resolved. I urge you to work with the administration to find a solution that provides a safe, timely, consistent, and again, I go back to the state law, reasonable transportation. I would ask that you consider this, please. If this was your child, which I know you all have children, would you find it acceptable for them
088to spend up to two hours a day on a bus with unpredictable delays and uncertainty, all while disrupting your daily work schedule of myself and my wife, more so my wife to be quite honest with you. I don't believe anybody would want this. Thank you for your time this evening and taking this responsibility seriously on behalf of all the students and families that you have to deal with, but more specifically in this case, our son Dylan. We look forward to hearing from you or district administration with a resolution prior to the start of this school year. We just can't have it. I'm I'm sorry. I'm going off script now. It's something that is not acceptable. We both work. There was times literally when he would get there early. He would get there late by half
089an hour. That's just not feasible. And I do thank Doug again for the communication, but it needs to be more solution focused. And I know I'm in education. I know finding drivers is tough, but this evening members of this administration just said you have enough. You don't have enough. Thank you. >> Thank you. Do we um have a need for an executive session? >> I do not. >> Nope. >> I do not. >> Okay. I'm going to make uh the motion to adjurnn. Can I have a second? >> Second by Todd. All in favor? Okay. Um, six in favor, none opposed. We adjourn at 8:07 p.m. Thank you everyone.