001Yeah, project. >> Thanks, Bill. >> Love you. >> It is 7:34. We have returned from executive session to our public session. If we can please >> Mr. Cer >> here. Dr. Collins >> here, >> Miss Anderson here, Mr. Ryder >> here, >> Miss here, >> Mr. Fitzpatrick >> here, >> Mr. Lamb >> here, >> Miss here, Dr. Bern >> here, >> and we have a seat. >> And Miss Collier >> here of America and to the republic for it stands. One nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all. >> We have one action coming out of the executive session, BOE30, the resolution to amend BOE13. Whereas on August 20th, 2025, the board of education adopted resolution number which abolished the director of special education K12 in district, assistant director of special education secondary
002and assistant director of special education elementary effective October 9th, 2025. Be it resolved that the effective date to abolish the above positions is hereby amended to November 6th, 2025. And be it further resolved that Other provisions of resolution BOB 13 shall remain in effect. >> Second. >> All in favor of BOE30. >> Any opposed? >> 30 has been that brings us to the approval of minutes from the um September 24th meeting. So we have a motion. >> So move second. Any discussion on the minutes from September 24th? >> All in favor of accepting those minutes? >> I the minutes from September 24th are approved. That brings us to our public comment session people. Good evening everyone. We are about to enter the portion of the meeting where we welcome public comments. Although state does not
003require that we hold a public comment period. We feel it is crucial that we hear from our community about their concerns. The board is here to listen. Your concerns and questions may be addressed at a future meeting of the board or you may be contacted by the appropriate staff member or administrator. If you have prepared a written statement and do not have the opportunity to present it, please leave it with the clerk of the board. will see that all trustees receive it. Each speaker will have three minutes and this public comment period will not exceed 30 minutes in total. It is important to note that state and federal privacy laws and collective bargaining agreements prevent us from discussing certain topics in this venue, including specific employees or students and pending grievances for negotiations. Those comments
004are both for positive or negative remarks. Any speaker who does not adhere to these posted guidelines will forfeit the remainder of their time. Thank you for your adherence to the rules and your interest in the continuous improvement of our district. Our first speaker. >> Hello. Good to see all of you again. >> Can you hear me? >> Yes. >> So, first as I always start, just thank you for having this. I know you don't have to and truly appreciate it. Um I'm gonna I have some comments suggest suggestions and some questions. Um so the first is the last time I was here I talked about the importance of the bus drivers knowing the protocol and what to do should they be tailed by ICE. And then as I started thinking about it after I was
005home, I realized, whoa, do do you guys have a policy for substitute teachers and substitute staff people who come for a day, a week, a month to make sure that they have training and you very well may. I just I don't know. Um, and so that protocol would be know your rights and know the rights of the kids and the families. Another thing we talked about was the danger and fear that a number of people from the community feel walking their children to bus stops, waiting with them at bus stops. And I don't have an I it's like I don't have an answer for this, but I just wonder is there a way to engage people who are citizens from each of the schools or each of the neighborhoods to wait at the bus stops
006with the kids. I know this would be a little bit of a nightmare to coordinate, but I just I feel for these parents and the kids and trying to think through what what could possibly help. Um I'm wondering about the board resolution and what the status of that is. I think that was talked about maybe a month ago. And I'm also wondering is there any particular type of support that you would want from community groups? So I'm I'm here not speaking for Olster Rapid Response although I am a member of Olster Rapid Response and wondering if there is anything that we can do offer and I'm done. So thank you. >> Thank you. Sarah Franklin. >> Thank you for having us tonight. My name is Dr. Sarah Franklin. I'm the parent of two children at
007GW Elementary. What I really want to say to Tail Lane's comments and I know many of the other communities want to say is that if any child in any of our schools is not being kept safe because of an administrator because of immigration status, neurotype, race, language, or any other categorization, then all children in the district are not safe. And that you as our elected officials and you as our paid administrators are responsible. But we have put our faith in you to protect all children at all schools. And we need better from you. We need clarity of communication. We need transparency. And we need swift action. Right now, there's a school without a principal. There are children who are not being protected due to immigration status. And we as a community need to do better
008on all of their behalfs. Please, we are asking you. We are here to work with you, but we need you to hear us, too. We need transparency. We need clear communication, and we need it now. Thank you. >> Dylan Paul. >> Hi, everyone. My name is Dylan Paul. I am a parent of a 11th grade student um at the high school. Um and I thank you for hearing all of our comments. Um for several years I've been hearing about um discomfort would be a a light way to say it. Maybe um sort of a a toxic um environment at one of the elementary schools. Um I have friends who have discussed a culture of um intimidation, punishment, um especially when they voiced concerns or asked questions. Some faculty members have left. Some have talked about
009wanting to leave. As an educator myself, I know how much power a school leader has to shape the school culture. And when a school leader cultivates an environment of fear or silences the voices of faculty and parents, it has a direct impact on student sense of safety, their well-being, and belonging, and it has a direct impact on learning. I've recently heard reports that I know they're not supposed to go into any details, um, but the reports give me a lot of pause. um they are more egregious than I had previously known about. Um and I'm quite shocked that the um that this has been allowed to continue for as long as I think it has. Um along with many many other members of the Kingston community, I'm here to ask for answers and demand accountability.
010Um sadly, the students and families most affected by this situation are those most vulnerable. um our im immigrant students and our students of color, those our school leaders have vowed to protect, support, and encourage. I want to take a moment to say that I've seen and heard lots of valuable indicators that Kingston is supporting our immigrant students and families um in a climate that is not necessarily easy to do. Um and I applaud these efforts, but I want to emphasize the importance of backing these messages with real substance, um with policies that protect our community members. Franny Newman. >> Hi everyone. Um, I'm Franny. I made it out of the house. This was important enough for me to uh Yeah, I don't want to hurt anybody else. Okay, great. Um I also want to talk
011about safety and alongside safety I want to talk about accountability. This is a room of extreme privilege. This is a room of people with that have been granted power in a variety of ways through election through appointment to be able to make change and affect a a transformation really in our community. And when we are making calls for safety for our students, whether it is safety from ICE or safety from uh the being separated from their families or safety from the fear that those things are going to happen be happening to them or safety uh in their classrooms or safety from their principal. um safety from being misunderstood because of a neurode divergence or uh because of a language barrier. All of those things cannot happen in a vacuum. We can make all the calls
012of safety that we want, but without the people in power making actual changes and yes to the to the words that are being sent out that I are getting on my phone that are like this. I'm like, "Yes, great. Good, good." And action is necessary. Um, and transparency is necessary. Those are key parts of accountability to all of us, to our children. I'm a parent of a Bailey 7th grader. You should come see Cinderella. She's a stepmister. Um, but truly truly this is this is we need action. And we I I know that things take time. I know that and I know that they take a lot of effort and in fact to be done well there's more time and more effort. And I am here to say please please thank you for the service
013of this of this work that you are have entered into and please please put in the time and effort. Also to any Jews in the house, happy terms. >> Good evening. Thank you for having this session. I'm really feel privileged to be here because I think it's rare that we get a chance to speak up for children in this way. Thank you. Uh I am a parent of two children at George Washington Elementary and I'm also here to just encourage more and more consistent communication. I think something I've heard is we do get encouraging messages from from teachers from administration and yet they don't always carry through. A couple of examples I can think of is that we received an email a couple of weeks ago saying there's a change with George Washington and we
014would be getting an update a week later or within the week and I don't believe we received that update. Um, another example I would point to is the encouraging notes that we're going to protect immigrant families and those who would be most vulnerable to ICE. But that wasn't by it wasn't translated for people who don't speak English. And then from what I understand, parents tried to transcribe that and print that in both English and Spanish to be delivered to students whose parents might might not have access to those emails or be able to understand those emails. They were told that the school board would have to okay that or the administration would have to okay that and then it was never okayed. And so just pointing out that that message was sent to parents. I
015don't know if all parents who needed to hear that message received it. And I think going forward, the more we can focus on clearing up communication and improving communication between particularly the parents of George Washington Elementary because that's my perspective. Um the more we can help our you our children, your students through this process of school and that's what I think everybody in this room wants to do. And right now parent, it feels like I have to rely on what my children tell me are happening at the school. And I don't know if I'm going to hear anything from the school or not. And it's hard to interpret what I hear from a first or a fourth grader >> as opposed to an administrator or a teacher. And as a parent, I honestly most of
016the time I don't know where to go to get those answers. I've sometimes foren emails and not respond not hear responses. Um and yeah, so I'm here really just to encourage that communication. I know there interest. This might be an inflection point where we can come together and help people together. >> Thank you very much. >> Thank you. >> Alana Burger. >> Hi. Hi everybody. My name is Alana Berger. I have two kids in the district, one at the high school, one at Bailey. Um, and actually I was just I've been at two open houses in the last two weeks and every time I'm sitting in these buildings and I'm like, "Oh my god, this is where my kids spend all their time and I love these teachers and this building is awesome and these
017kids are great and I I like really appreciate the school district and you all are the ones that are like responsible for the safety and the well-being of our kids." And so I I want us I while I'm very excited about lots of things in the district, I am really upset by what I've also seen at GW. Um I was a parent there for nine years. Both my girls went all the way through it. I was the co-chair of the PTO for many years and I've known things are have been bad for a while. I I know we're not supposed to say specifics so I won't I'm really happy there's been some action taken. Um but I want to say it's bad enough that all that stuff was happening. I'm glad action was taken but
018I want to be clear that parents, teachers, staff, and many others were raising the alarm for like five years. the superintendent, the deputy super or whatever the name is of of secondary of primary education board members have all known for years that things were happening at GW and I don't know why all of a sudden action happened. I don't think whatever final incident was was any worse or any different than any number of other things that could have happened. It is really unfortunate that that we're here. And so um yeah, I mean I think that's really what I want to say. And so a few thoughts just in terms of like what hope to see moving forward. A lot of people have talked about communication. I think that is absolutely right. I know people talk
019a lot about rumors. Well, the way rumors started start is when we don't know what's actually happening. I know that like I've been at the high school in the two or three years my kids been at the high school, several assistant principles have sort of disappeared and I don't actually even know why or what happened to them. I've heard lots of rumors. Um but that kind of stuff is just as a parent and as a stakeholder in a district is weird to see leadership in buildings just go away and not know what happened. Um, I do think I asked the board to really look into what happened in the last few years over at DW and why um things that were coming to leadership didn't get heard. And I'm particularly concerned about knowing that teachers
020and staff went to HR and rather than anything happening, those people were retaliated against. And I do think like looking into the way our district is structured and how HR seems very like how is there an independent human resources or entity that protects staff that is not connected to the leadership of the district seems like something that we might want to look into. Um I think I've talked to more teachers who are terrified of speaking up than I've ever seen anywhere else. I've seen how teachers get just get transferred across buildings at at will it seems like. And I don't know if you a relationship in a program in school for a decade or so. It doesn't seem fair that you're always worried about just getting moved. Like I I think the teachers do a
021huge amount of work, so you should respect that. Um, and then finally, this is totally unrelated, but I've been meaning to I have this email in my inbox. I want to send it. I just want to say I know that this year the the state passed legislation to not allow cell phones in schools. Super glad Kingston was out in front of that. Very happy. But I do know that part of that law said that you cannot suspend children for use of those cell phones. I have a text the high school is still saying kids are going to get suspended for for illegal use of cell phones. So I want people to look into that because I think illegal report. >> Thank you. I know we're So I'll move quickly. So this year um I did
022put into the board library meeting the superintendent go super goals for this year for an opportunity to review them and actually opening up for discussion for anyone >> Mr. Patrick >> the redistricting what is that going to look like? >> I don't know. >> Okay. So that's some of the things. Over the last four years, the board has asked me to to look at, you know, our our um populations, you know, our capacity in our buildings, where are we low, where are we high, look at transportation, um and and bring back just information on whether or not we need to make some changes as far as buildings, you know, as far as our attendance zones. So, um, again, they've asked me this year. We've done we've done several different pieces of work between these four
023years, but never came all the way to, you know, to bring in to the board. So, that's what we're going to do in December. >> So, it'll be like you, your people, and the attorneys, >> whatever you Well, you, your people, and the attorneys. >> Yeah. Okay. >> I mean, we we we hired a transportation consultant who came in and showed us some different ways, different routing for for students. Um, so we've done several things over the last couple years kind of putting that all together. And again, looking at our looking at our enrollment trends. Um, some buildings, you know, we want we want to see our buildings be at about 85% capacity. That's like the sweet spot. We have some that are at 70% and some that are 100%. So, we want to take
024a look if it's possible. Some places it's not, but if it's possible, can we make some shifts in our attendance zones. I'm not saying it's going to happen tomorrow, but I think it's just something the board wants to be aware of whether it's a possibility or not. >> This is I'd love to suggest in um goal number one to include something related to special education services. Um I think it would be really enlightening to understand the number of students that are being served with specific services and certain outcomes related to these core areas of teaching and learning. Um, so that's a proposal there. >> Thank you. >> I wonder for the sake of the public if you should just highlight the five goals. >> That's a very good point. Uh, goal one was the superintendent
025will monitor and provide regular reports of data to the teaching and data to the teaching and learning committee and the board of education and the implementation of three major educational initiatives. Those initiatives are our I Ready initiative, our core knowledge language arts initiative and our educative. Uh number two is superintendent in conjunction with communications department will present the board with progress toward the achievement of the goals established by the district communication audit including a review of the 2425 plan and objectives. Goal three of the superintendent will present the board with the potential options for redistricting of our school district and our attendance zones. Golden board superintendent will provide the board with updates on the 167.5 million districtwide capital project that's going on now and public super will present a balanced school budget uh school district
026budget to the board of education on April 21st. >> Thank you Mr. Ryder. >> Attack to goal three. Um can we add something in there? Are we doing this but can we added something in there about transportation and um because we've always talked about how there's the mandate and I don't know where that sits with the state but I think there's more than a few board members that want to see us move towards electric school buses regardless of the mandate and part of that has always been we have this potential redistricting and that could shift some things. So tied in with that goal we could see a transportation plan and kind of electrification >> point of order. I that's a lot to add onto the superintendent's goals at this. >> Can we do that somewhere
027else? >> Are we are we accepting these tonight or are we this is first discussion? I don't >> So I I don't know when else we would change And the superintendent has basically opened the floor for any suggestions or ideas. >> No, I think I think talking about transportation and talking about the electrification of of our bus fleet and we use contractors. So that's it's handing glove with them. Um but I think that's reasonable to put in there. And if we were looking at shortening bus routes, that would that would be an implication on how we could electrify our bus routes as well. So there's different options. So I think it's it's something that can be put in there. >> It's my understanding that that the requirement falls upon us though even if we use
028contract. >> It is it does we have to move towards electrification. So >> we just have to have a plan for that. >> Yeah. >> I think I can get that in there. >> And if our contractor doesn't, we're the ones that lose the funding, not the contractor. >> Correct. So it's an extremely important aspect. >> But Our contractors have not shown any indication that they are not um interested in doing this. >> Have they shown any that they are? Have they started building? >> They've started their their their planning as far as how they're going to do it. And actually first student right now is down in >> Rhond right with the lecture buses for for school district. So it's happening where it says 256. Yes, we're trying to identify the location of it
029in our files in our digital files. I don't really know how to formulate this question in a very articulate way, but um I'm very happy to see that you have a goal that still revolves around communications. Um and I recognize that it's really relying on the goal the audit that was conducted as well as um I went to last year's presentations to try and find what the upgrades were at that point. And um but what it's hard to to extract from this goal is is what those are and where confirm where your energies may be >> focused and I don't know again this is a hard thing to ask I think I'm looking for more concrete things whether it's either reintroducing us to the that audit and those particular goals to >> um yes I
030think that's kind of the point so you know there's two two pieces here so I think I would like to reintroduce you to that audit that was a that was a pretty extensive you know there was pretty big effort to to make that happen and um show you where we came we came forward and said year one we're going to do these things right so we want to come back to year one this is what we did year two this is where we're going year three and give you kind of you know I picture green bubbles um but the other thing is I think that was that was there were many different board members then so so the the efforts that we went through to I mean we hired a consultant we did we did
031each board member at the time did one-on-one interviews with the consultant Uh so talked with administrators, we talked to buildings, talked with principles and teachers about things that were important at that time and those are the things we've been working on and you know but through that time sometimes priorities or new board members or whatever shift. So I think we're presenting that but I think part of that we'll also be able to hear from people what are there different priorities we want to focus on um and do we need to revisit another um you know with elections every year sometimes you have to be a goal set by um threeear span goals that you know priorities change or people on the board change >> right and I would actually say that the needs of the
032community and may change right and I think weard some of that tonight. So, I'm just wondering and um in this goal then it's really about reporting the progress. Um and I suppose I I'm wondering if there's room to include language or are we to understand that that includes a revision of the communication plan as needed in response to a board discussion at that time? >> Yeah, I actually met with the communications team yesterday or today. I can't remember what day it was. It was yesterday and you know there's there is a a big new push around safety you know as far as you know our communications are concerned and our website and all this stuff. So there's there's safety and security we want to talk about too. So there are other goals that we can
033or other parts of this. So I think that's we'll talk about trends that we see and what we can possibly do to adapt or adopt them as part of our goals. >> Okay. So, I would love to see language that just says and and I, you know, a slight amendment toward I mean, you say reviewing, but but potentially revising um the those revision may come out as part of the presentation. Okay. But I understand. >> Okay. But just now, I guess we we've all been party to this that that I very much love to hear how we can update. I I I looked at last December's presentation and realized that there are green dots next to some areas I'm not sure that we would call totally green at this point and so I want to
034be able to have those open for conversation about prior setting for priorities. >> Dr. Yeah. Um the item the goal number two again on the communications um achievement of goals about the communications audit I would like to similar to what you have in goal one where you have elements that you're focused on. I'd like to see sort of elements that you'd be focused on. Um so again I agree the act the the verb review for me is not enough. I I I'd like to understand what how you're thinking about incorporation and that kind of thing more so and again um I have I have a sort of question and I don't know if we can answer it now but do goals usually include what you want to get out of those goals or are they
035these just see these these to me read as action items right these are the things that are going to happen but I don't know >> well the audit itself is a goal your goal one year goal, two year goal itself goals reviewing where we weren't achieving those goals. We're recognizing at the same time that some of our goals may have changed. >> Got it. >> For the last two years. So, so then again I guess I guess my main comment is in terms of communications being really specific about just like you have I ready core knowledge language arts and educr like that there might be three that you're really focused in on for the time period that you feel like based on the comments you've heard from the public and also the stuff we've been
036talking about internally that we could focus in on and instead of a general um audit or review not audit the audit's done or review Julia, >> I'd actually like to thank you because we don't have any goals that you're returning to us on the in June, which makes it easier to do evaluation. Number one, because every year it's tight to get everything done. You're going to get back, we're going to have everything in place to do your evaluation correctly, I think, and and easier with listening and when we ask didn't quite come due in June. So, thank you. >> Um, I don't know that I want to see it specified necessarily as a goal in one because I know we've got a long time frame, but I know board members are not every board member
037is aware of the changes that are coming down the pipe for graduation measures and pathways. And I think something has to be said at some point. Okay. Any other questions or comments? I I would just like to note that Dr. Pino developed these goals based on the our evaluation of him the year and evaluation last year. So um and they I I think they identified the five primary areas of responsibility that are for the Supreme Court. So Mr. writer >> and in the absence of our >> right we haven't >> typically we complete our goals and then so >> I'm sure that will be discussed during some portion of time but if it's new business or whatever >> not discuss time >> that's all you have >> oh no sorry I do want to also
038give an update on our um construction over at Bailey. There was some of the work that got pushed off into the um into the fall and the work's being done in a second shift. We did have a facilities committee committee meeting yesterday. Um Mr. special report on that next next meeting, but just wanted to there was there's really of the things that I reported out a couple of weeks ago, there's really only two or three things that have not hit that deadline and most of them were because of back ordering really about things getting there. Shades, um you know, so some of the shades had to be reordered, so we expect them to arrive by well, we expect them to arrive next week. Um, you know, there's some there's some problems with a couple of
039doors, door handles, that kind of thing. We expect that to be fixed this coming week. So, we we really are in in good shape. Um, as far as what the construction and our construction managers and our contractors said that where how they would be there, I was pleased to see. I mean, we had 19 open items and I think there's there's five that are still being addressed and they're not um major issues that were concerned, you know, obviously the health and safety issues were taken care of before we open the school, but a lot of this is cosmetic, but so we wanted to have them done. You know, the um for those of you who've been in Edson, you know, the Edson administrative suite is not complete, so we're waiting on doors there and things
040like that. But I I was pleased in our meeting yesterday to find out where we were. So to update you from two weeks ago, we have made a lot of progress and I think by the we're going to say probably in two weeks our our contract will be out of there until spring. Um, couple of quick things, just a reminder for people watching at home and parents, we have there's no school Monday, no school on the 13th. Um, also for people who are interested in our homecoming festivities. Friday, October 17th will be our high school homecoming and football game versus Washingtonville at the stadium. And lastly, for the public and for the board, policy committee uh meeting will be October 10th at 9:00 right here at Mahar in this room. Our teaching and learning committee
041will be October 27th again 9:30 in this room and audit and finance will be October 28th here in this room at 9:00. So it's 9 9:30. That's all I have. >> Dr. Could we receive um Thank you. Could we receive just two um updates? uh one um by when you'll provide a second opportunity out at GW to meet with parents and community and the second is just an update on where you at where you are at with immigrant family strategies and all that good stuff. Thank you. >> The uh well when I met parents last Wednesday, you know, one of the things that I was asking, would I come back in in about three weeks? I I don't think it's going to be three weeks. I'm I'm really thinking week after next to come back
042Dr. has been there but um to have another opportunity like we had last Wednesday to people to come and ask questions and I answer the questions I can to the best of my ability at that point in time. >> Great. >> Yeah. >> And then on update on immigrant family strategy. >> So I met with um I met with a new executive director of UIPN um >> Victor. >> I know his name is Victor. I can't remember his day. His name is Victor. So we we did a couple we had a great meeting and one of the things in our first meeting when we met with UIBN as well as also rapid response um was trying to establish you know a point of communication how we can how we can make sure that we're communicating
043with each other regarding what's what we see here in the out community. So we've done that um and I think we feel pretty pretty good about that. Also Victor is going to help us with some training for some of our people. Um, so on our superintendent conference stand 4th of November, he's going to do some training for our security team and our monitors and Mr. Parker who's our director of safety and prevention is also going to create some um other opportunities maybe after school for some of our people who need some extra training. So I think that's a good start. Obviously we got more to go and we we kind of committed to continuing to to talk and to work on things and I think he's you know doing good things. He brought a lot
044of different view point to the table is great and we're going to continue to collaborate best we can and you know protect everyone and make sure everyone knows what they need to know and move forward. >> Thank you Dr. Collins. To that end actually do you have any updates on just school attendance in general? >> Yes, we we have not seen our attendance for for September was about on par with what it was last year. Um so we I usually usually check by weekly um this year I checked by more than that but we did we did we were right about par as last year so I mean we're not we haven't seen a huge dip in attendance you know there are some days that we do see a huge dip that didn't necessarily coincide
045with conversations that we knew of that doesn't mean it didn't coincide with something else that other people knew of that we knew of you know I mean last Friday was a terrible day for for attendance because you have Thursday off and and then Friday that's that's typical that's something we expect it's pretty typical of of schools but no we haven't seen any it's really on par it's it's eily similar >> even by subgroups >> Dr. and then Mr. >> and just to add to Dr. Colin's comment. Um, it would be great if we could track it pretty tightly in this first part of the year, especially by subgroup, just because if there are any dips, even if it is temporary dips, it would be great to reach out to our partners in the room and
046say, "Hey, is is there something going on that we haven't caught?" Um, so I mean, we can keep asking, but also, you know, we're going to ask. So, yeah, just it would be great and and if there is quantitative data that's coming out, I'd love to see it point. Thank you, Mr. Ryder. >> So, at the last board meeting, both student reps and a member of the public brought up the bathrooms at KS and I'm just curious if there been any conversations about that. >> We've had several conversations about it actually and just this afternoon, um we met as a group with with the principal of Miller, principal B, Miss Bonville, myself, Dr. Skorca, um Rich Silverstein, who's the head of health aletics and Dr. Cleti in looking at the problem of vaping, >> which
047that's what the problem is. The problem isn't the door. The problem is the vaping. >> So, we're we're putting together a plan. Again, we also have our we have Sean Bailey who's, you know, our student support counselor who kind of tie him into that. So we are we are putting together kind of a multi-tered plan between you know a lot of communication to family you know parent nights to come out and have conversation with the parents about the impact on of not only the health impact but the educational impact on our students who are are vaping in school and and safety issues that I brought up last last week as far as vaping and turning on and and setting off the alarms. Um, so we again and we're going to bring in some of our
048we want to try to bring in some of our our community based organizations and our government organizations to help us. We need some pull trust because very hard for us to compete with advertising, you know, and the advertising is really something that that's it looks awful great, doesn't it? And and we've learned that through tobacco for ever. Um, so we're going to try to do a multi-, you know, prrong approach to try to get our kids to stop vaping. And, um, we've got some, again, Dr. Dr. is working on some restorative, um, approaches towards students who are vaping and how we can possibly do something other than send kids home um, to try to just kind of move in that direction. >> Sophia, then Dr. Vern and Mr. to to follow up on that. I
049was wondering if you had any like quantitative data on if vaping and having the bathroom doors open has that has has that decreased on vaping in the bathroom? >> I don't right now. >> Okay. Because I don't know about there's still been evacuations because of that. And I understand it's a matter of safety, but I'm unsure if opening of the bathroom doors is truly a deterrent to these people venting in the bathrooms because they are still doing it. I can still smell it. Um, I'm just wondering if there I know that you guys are exploring alternative methods to help decrease the population of vaping within the school, but I'm unsure if opening the doors is truly a deterrent or merely causing more issues in other areas. >> Dr. and just any because we heard that
050um there were still folks um unclear about the the policy for cell phones and suspensions in the high school. If you could just clarify what that policy >> not signed a suspension for a student for a cell phone in two years. >> Okay. And the and the policy I think we if we could clarify that. Yeah. >> But just to clarify there is a piece that if you use a cell phone in a way that is disruptive or otherwise so There there is a >> yes I mean a certain type of use of a cell phone could could you know result in a suspension but having a cell phone we're not suspending >> and that's allowed under the law. I'm I'm assuming that just because the law says you can't suspend for use of a
051cell phone doesn't mean if you're harassing somebody by videotaping them. >> I don't think the law is specific as far as that's concerned. As far as we're concerned, if someone's using the cell phone in an inappropriate way, maybe to, you know, film another student inappropriately or or something of that nature, that's the violation. Having a phone is not the violation. Although that part of violation, that's a different consequence. But just having a phone, I haven't suspended anybody for having a phone. >> One more then, Mr. >> So, just back to the vapes. I know your team had done quite a bit for research back when I was approaching the subject of weapons detection devices. Are you aware of any of those systems that would detect? I know some don't, >> right? >> But are there
052ones that do like open gate or others? Do they >> Well, I think yes on some levels. So, a lot of the vapes are plastic now. >> So, there so those aren't going to go off on a on a detector necessarily. Um, metal will go off depending on the setting of of a certain weapon detection system. Um, you know, I mean, I think that there's we don't want to um catch kids vaping in the bathroom. We want to prevent students from vaping in the bathroom, you know. So, I think there's a there's the same type of thing with the students with vapes, you know. We're not trying to we don't want to catch kids with babies necessarily. We want to keep kids from using vapes from school or using period. So, that's I think that's
053where we've kind of put our efforts. Um, last year at the at the safety committee, we were talking about installing things like that. And one of the things that was talked about was doing outreach with Dan Savona. I don't I mean I guess I would think he might be able to do more than advertisers could on awareness or >> not literally anything on a pizza box. I don't know. Maybe >> if he's interested. I don't I don't know him. I don't know if that's his thing. I don't I have no idea. But I know brought it up. I just So they put messages on the pizza boxes. >> I I don't know if they if they don't do that. I have no idea. >> Just trying to clarify. >> Yeah, he's just uh doing outreach
054with Dan Sabona, you know. I mean reach out and have >> any other questions. Oh, one I have one other uh like a sporting event or any other school sponsored activity. What power do any of us have to be like, yeah, take that thing outside when they see someone parent anyone hitting their baby? >> Well, none really. I mean, as far as positional authority, none. But I think as a you know, those are >> as a citizen. as a citizen. Absolutely. And you know, I I'm not sure if the health department has got to the vaping, but I mean, you know, smoking on school grounds is $250 fine. People don't realize that, but so I'm not sure if they've moved that to smoking and vaping. I have to check, but yeah, as far as positional
055authority, nothing, but it citizen they shouldn't be vaping any of our sporting events on school property. And Deed Stadium is school property when being used for school events. >> Is that the city's fine? >> What's that? >> The city's fine. It's a county. >> Oh, at 6 a.m. I'm not going to call the county call. >> No, I know. Yeah. >> Any other questions or comments for? >> Yeah. Just final just final follow up on the phones thing. Um, can you just check in with your folks just to make sure there's consistency around that suspension? Not necessarily that you've used used it, but just in terms of I know we went through I don't remember which it was a policy committee where with a fine tooth comb we shifted some language around to make it
056really explicit. So there may be some folks who are used to that in their own mind, not not due to your direction, but that confused that the use of the phone for problematic reasons versus the the actual not having the phone in the pouch. Sorry, what's the name of the >> yonder pouch? Excuse me. So, you know, just if if would would you mind letting us just taking that action because it keeps coming up over and over again and I'm not sure why it keeps coming up. So, I just wanted to make sure that there's not a lack of clarity around that distinction between the use of a phone for non-school purposes and just the having of the phone out of the pouch or whatever it is. >> Thank you. >> And I will check
057with Dr. also about as far as the um have the doors created a difference as far as her report on >> Thank you. Okay. Uh Sophia, um it is time for the student rep report and you may or may not have anything to report, but we'll give you a good chance to uh I have some I have a couple of things to say. So Benny and I, the other student representative, have been working hard to survey throughout the Kingston High School, and we're hoping to expand that even further to perhaps the middle schools and the elementary schools to really get a check-in with people's feelings, issues, and all the things conclusive to that. But currently, we haven't come up with anything that would be constructive in this environment to discuss. So instead, I'd like to
058share a little bit of good news and things that have been happening in KHS that could perhaps bring some positive energy when a lot of the things discussed here are a bit more somber of note. So currently since school has been more in session than just the beginning of the school year, I would say that student level of happiness has overall increased. People have been more engaged in clubs. There have been activities from teachers. I know recently I launched rockets in physics class and I would say student engagement has been going up and I think that's partially due to um teachers, it's due to field trips, it's due to clubs, it's due to extracurriculars, but overall I would say the environment in Kingston High School right now is doing a lot better than at the
059beginning of the year and I think that's due to everyone's work here, everyone's families, everyone's hard work and dedication. So that's all for today. >> Thanks. Great to hear. Thank you for sharing that. Um, it brings us to the board of education committee reports with um, audit and finance. >> Sure. I'm reading off my phone because this is where I have my minutes, but uh, audit and finance met on September 25th. Um, we reviewed the June treasures report. We talked about the risk assessment and internal audit. Um, Mark Bodet from Quest Star. the internal audit on the law 2D. Um we went he's finding money there's money left on the table um with Medicaid procedures and the administration's working on it's getting better but there's still a lot of work to do. Extra classroom report.
060Mr. Quiznell and Mr. will be visiting the middle schools and high schools for training with student treasures over the next week, which was last week, two weeks ago. Um, we have our external auditors. They're reviewing statements Mr. Healey will present to the board at the upcoming in the upcoming months. Um, and then we discussed the possibility of adding a community member. Um, we had like other committees put out the call at the same time in the summer but did not receive any applicants. Um I know Siri has put out I've seen it on the website and now we've gotten two. So we'll discuss those at the upcoming um meeting and once I receive those resumes then I'll pass them on or you can just pass them on. Um the only piece of new business is
061we discussed the housing tax exemptions that were passed the previous night. Um Dr. Palino. Um, Miss Carbon gave an update on how it will fiscally impact the district which I think was fairly minimally. >> Yes. >> Deminimous and weed after >> Mr. Yeah. The uh the names of the applicants who were applicants. >> I'm waiting until it's closed on the 10th to give the committee the names of all the >> Oh. M publicly share the names of people >> any other comments or questions for Mr. Ryder. That brings us to policy but we don't have a report. >> No we'll be meeting on Friday. We need to postpone anything or we just not take action on it. >> We're not taking action on it. >> Okay. >> So, it'll go to committee first. >> I'm
062sorry. Which one? >> Special meetings. >> The special meeting. >> That brings us to the consent agenda. Are there any items that trustees would like pulled from the consent agenda. Hearing none, if we could have a motion to to accept the cons. >> So move. >> Second. >> Any discussion? All in favor of accepting the consent agenda? >> I consent agenda is approved. We have no donations for this evening. That us um I'm assuming this is old business, but correct me if I'm wrong. I think we do need to consider very seriously a time to set to find together to set our finish our board goals. It's been challenging. We've had a lot of issues bringing others for different reasons. Um, but at this point it's getting a little dire. So I'm wondering if we
063can maybe initiate maybe I can just put it on the radar at this point but can we initiate a survey to do this soon? >> We definitely need to get this. If you recall in our our first session we have goals. It's the action steps that we have not finalized. Yes. So, um, but we can't finalize goals until we know what the steps are like. So, Dr. >> Yeah. And just to add that it's really important for the superintendent to be able to see what our goals are and we were we were we talked about that in another meeting. So, just to say like thank you for your patience, Dr. Patalino, with us not having our stuff ready to share with you. >> I will send out an email tomorrow. answer as soon as possible.
064>> Mr. >> I will not be at the next meeting um because I'm getting a call. Um get screened everybody. >> Not a big deal, but I'm asking that the goals not be, you know, scheduled during that time. Yes. >> Yeah. >> Is it possible to do it on Wednesday since we are Wednesday night? I mean, is it possible just to meet or done that next Wednesday? No. Well, I mean like and get them done >> the confines. Thank you. >> That's great. >> Any other old business? Any new business? Dr. >> Yeah. Um I just wanted us to find time and I read this in an email to to current Whoa. Sorry, guys. >> Oh, okay. >> I thought someone was trying to get in. He touched the microphone. >> Um, yeah. I I'd
065love us to spend a good chunk of time uh reviewing what the current way that the district and the board communicates with the public is and understanding what's been done in the past year for especially for myself as a new board member. And then to take all that rich information and to um collectively talk about what the plan is. Of course, that Dr. Catalino has the the communications audit that he has a a point of reference around and then we as the board have our own processes but I think it's clear that there's always room for improvement. So, I'm hoping that we can find time. Um, I have proposed by the end of this month, again, um, knowing that that may be nearly impossible, but the week the Halloween week was the proposal I had
066made, um, for us to really have a conversation about what communications looks has looked like with back with the public. Um, what kinds of communication works and doesn't work, what we've heard from folks about not just what we think works, but actually what we've heard back about what works and doesn't work. And then also um are there technologies and other tools that we could be using so that everyone feels comfortable um communicating with the district and then therefore us receiving those data. So um yeah, I think it's a really fantastic moment to be able to do that. And so I don't know if that's called new business or old business, frankly. Um it's a little bit of both, but I would like to propose something like that. >> Dr. um given how hard it's been
067to actually get our goals completed, maybe a little lofty. No, no, no. I was I wasn't actually I was suggesting that we know the communication is a goal for us and I um sometimes in the past those conversations happen in the context of that goal. So what does that look like and what has worked in the past and what hasn't worked in the past? So if we can arrange a goals meeting for us in the next week, 10 days, maybe that's a place where at least we could initiate if we can't complete it. But if when we're identifying our action items, I'm wondering if that might begin to move toward the kind of thing you're talking because I'm hearing action steps from your if I'm hearing you correctly. Agreed. That that's a really awesome I
068think first step and I do think we need more time than that, but I think it's a really good initial kind of outlaying of things. Um, what I think I'm also proposing is internally and externally, we've talked about communications being a goal of ours, and a little tiny chunk of time is not going to help us really get started on it in a serious way. It'll help us outline what we're thinking, but um, I'm also proposing after that after that goals conversation for there to be a concerted time that we've all agreed to. Um, I'm proposing something like two or three hours, like a real retreat on it. Um, and uh, I'd be happy to help organize and thinking about what that looks like with with our chair. Um, something that I think a lot
069about and I think a lot of us do in our professional lives. And so I just think it's worth our time. Um, I think we've heard from the public and we've heard from ourselves that it's it's critical enough, but I I think that's a great idea to start it off that way. >> Dr. So if I could just reply also, I you're right. I don't think the conversation would be complete during that time. But I do wonder if as part of our goals, it is that we hold a >> great >> three-hour retreat around or two hour retreat or whatever it is around structuring that communications as a board. And so then we can so even if we don't identify a time for that right now, we could set a timeline for that within the
070context of the goal. So, um, I maybe part of it just minimizing the number of emails that Karen is sending out about different meetings, but also just to say that once we have that conversation, it may be that that's the form that seems the most logical for us, but it may be that it's actually a series of two short meetings facilitated by different people. You know, it might come up that there's a different format once we start talking about it. >> I I think that's right. >> So, I but I support I completely agree myself. I think that it we continue to um to see that as a gap in our in our strengths. >> I guess a thing it's a weakness. >> Yeah. >> And and just to piggy back on some other things
071to continue the uh communication conversation, we do have new board members who there was a report that was an audit of perhaps that could be placed in the library so that our board members who have come on actually see it to reflect on it before we revise refine. >> Dr. Barbe and then Mr. Lang. Um, and I like everything that's being said. I want I just want to name that I think this is urgent. I think this is when we talk about urgent issues. I think this is an urgent issue. And I know that we may have differences of opinion about how we spend our time as a board, but to me, um, this feels urgent enough that I'm also happy to help with the administrative aspect of it if that's part of what's getting
072in the way. Um, you know, I'll find a space for us if the space isn't being used, but it's urgent enough to me that, um, I'd like us during that time to set a really close date inside of which we will do the labor. However, we split it up, hour here, hour there, external facilitator, whatever it is. But I I I just don't want us to put it off. >> I think our goals are so category. So, Mr. Mayor, >> I don't disagree with anything that's being said, but I what I trying to put a meeting together last minute like this, we used to have workshops in between board meetings and was when committ And I don't want to go back to that, but on the calendar, if we want to have something happen, we
073should have a meeting a month scheduled on the calendar so that we're not scheduling events, etc. Because it's going to >> last year it took us how many it took us two months to have a meeting because we couldn't get the board together. And if if I know that the 10th of November, I need to be available because I'm not going to schedule something on the 10th of November. Calendar is starting to fill >> for people and and as a musician, my calendar is filling. All right. So I I and as other people as you know our calendar is built we need to have when we set our calendar a day I don't know day every other month a day a month that we could have a retreat meeting that we can have those things
074but to try and do this every time we come up to it at the last minute is frustrating >> and we don't ever get anything done. So you're you're promoting having six more board. >> You know what? Basically, but we don't have to use them, do we? If we have it available and there's nothing that needs to be done, we don't have to use it. What I'm suggesting is we >> book it and then we use it or don't use it. >> Well, Dr. and I maybe could look at the annotated board calendar and build in some dates that um that we can hold. >> Love it. >> Right. We know what needs to be achieved. So there are certain things and if we don't we don't need it. >> Absolutely. So we can look
075any other new business board announcements. Board member announcements. >> Mr. Spicer. >> Oh, you go first. >> I just wanted to encourage everyone to go see the middle school musicals and to really make sure you prioritize the theater and arts programs on your calendars if you can. Even attending one is a real support and these students work incredibly hard. Um I mean it is like a full-time job for some of these commitments. Um and so as much as we elevate and celebrate our wonderful sports events, which I also think we should support our arts and music programs are really important to me to celebrate. So I'd love to invite all of you to join me at some of those events. >> Do you have any dates to share? >> I know there was one at
076Bailey that was shared. I don't. It was sort of an impromptu announcement. Um but I know the district does a great job at highlighting them. Uh I know for the high school the biggest uh musical event coming up right now is fall fanf fair uh next weekend at Deets Stadium and that is the biggest um show for we can give you guys. Uh so I feel like anyone interested in supporting our musical programs should be there. It is quite a show >> and that's on Sunday correct? >> Yes. >> Not this Sunday. >> No next. >> It's like 12:30 till about 5. So just got a lot of time to get there. We try to find out exactly when our band's coming out and I can pass along. >> I can probably sign up right
077now. >> I think it's second to last 3:30 or something. >> Mr. Spicer than Mr. Lamb. The uh Salvation Army of Austin County asked me to let our parents, grandparents, and guardians know that they are taking applications for their Christmas tree program. They need our parents to go to their Facebook page to apply to get toys and gifts for their children this holiday season. So, I hope all of our parents do that. And another announcement, I want to thank Mr. lamb for the outstanding pumpkin cheesecake being he gifted us with tonight and provide my personal support that he continued to pack. >> Fantastic cheesecake. >> Mr. Lamb. >> Um first wonderful open house at the high school last night and well attended and the high school students were a big part of that. Um but
078it was a nice evening. The other thing is Sunday this week you can see the band in Arlington. Um and and you'll see some other bands that you won't see at ours but plan the whole time at fall fanf fair because for the first time nine bands and multiple bands in our class. So you'll be able very often we're the only ones in our class at all band fair. This year you're going to see multiple bands in our class and you'll see how wonderful our program is in comparison. Not that I'm not that I'm saying that. >> Mr. Ryder, >> just I'm only going to bring this up. I don't normally highlight single specific sports teams, but it's happened since. So, girls varsity soccer has not gone in playoffs in seven years. They won their
079game tonight, which makes them eligible, which means they will be going to the playoffs. >> Congratulations to them. You have lots of other exceptional teams that will also be going to the playoffs. I'm pretty sure boys soccer's already qualified as well, but um wanted to highlight that because it was new. >> Cool. >> Any other Mr. Um, I'm still trying to work out the language with my people, but as an individual, I stand my principles stand firmly against the the president's BBB or dumpster doodoo fire call on it. >> Thank you. >> That's all I want to say about that. Call more attention to it. >> So, lots of >> lots of municipalities have put something out. Is that what you're working on? >> No, I'm >> saying >> because there are, you know, I've
080seen several. The city of Kingston, County of Olter, the county of Olter has it this month, so I've seen resolutions. Was that >> the Funky Judu jumper fire? >> Yeah. Any other announcements? That brings us to public comment. Anyone in the audience that would like to address the board? Hearing none, I will for a motion to second.