001Good evening and welcome to the Monday, January 12th, 2026 regular board of education meeting for the Marcela Central School District. Please join me in the pledge of allegiance. I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America, to the republic for which it stands, one nation under God, indivisible, liberty and justice for all >> this evening. We'll begin with recognition. >> So, just a couple recognitions. I'd like to just give a huge shout out to CC Powell. Uh CC is a senior on our basketball team. And if you did not know, CC was also on our soccer team and is on our lacrosse team. Um CC recorded her 200th career point on Saturday. So just a huge accomplishment. I don't know if you remember when she accomplished her a thousand points. So um
002we're just so proud of CC and all that she has accomplished here uh at Marcelis and we will be sad to see her leave us uh this year. And then um Lori Updike received uh the NFHS coaches association uh award for the 2425 section one girls soccer coach of the year. So you may remember last year she received a uh award for national coach of the year. She now is um the NF uh HS coach of the year. some session. >> So, congratulations to her. If you're hearing if you're here in the audience and if you're hearing a little reverberation, we have a little issue with our technology. So, maybe Sean, I think I noticed you. >> All right. At this time, we'll move on to presentations. >> So, um I just want to sort
003of welcome some esteemed guests with us uh tonight. And um we're going to sort of do a a presentation on our community collaborative and I know I have mentioned this in some of our board meetings previously um but that's why we're here to highlight tonight. um the collaboration that has been going on behind the scenes for really two plus years um within the district, the village, the town, business owners, um Baltimore Woods, the library, the historical society. There is so much work that's being done behind the scenes really in support of our students. Um but in addition to that, our full community benefits. And so, um, I I really want to emphasize that this is a special and unique relationship and collaboration that does not happen in other communities. And so, we are fortunate to
004have individuals here with us who um are really just focused on a common goal of really helping Marcelus improve each and every day. Um, so we're grateful for them. I will um just highlight I would be remiss if I did not highlight that much of this credit is due to Tyler Cooper. Um he was really the spark that got much of this collaboration started and it really was born from the connections that he wanted to make for the students uh that he was guiding in the pathways program. And so um I'm going to ask Tyler to come up uh to start and he will do the introductions. So, thank you for having us. Um this idea of coming and sharing with the board came actually from Greg Chrysler who after having I think we officially
005recognized the we'll call it crew or the the original core of some of the projects and the collaboration. Um and it that has been going on for the last two years with the community collaboration meeting that we have every other month. Um but really a lot of these people that you see standing before you have been working on community projects and investing in our next our next generation for upwards of seven or eight years um since we started really working with um it really started with Andrew Cameron way back when and he took a class and then it was done after a semester. He's like kind of feel like I didn't do anything. What can I do? And so the green gateway project was born and I mean that's a that's a village initiative. that
006started with John Curtain. Um, and then Joe Duran hopped on board and my gossip from the town, Greg Chrysler, Mallerie Zabinsky, all of those were were there kind of from the inception. Then that core has grown to include many of the original individuals that you have up here today. So as we kind of go through Chad Clark now mayor of Marcelis, Mike Oet town the town highway department, Minsky with the village, Maggie Hartnet um who is a crucial part of the Marcel together formerly the chamber of commerce Durant from TDK and one of the associates Mike um Paul who has also hopped on board for a lot of the projects um that we've kind of gone through. So, as you see this slide up here, this is this is what makes a lot of the
007magic happen. As you see the student highlights, as you see the projects that are happening, as you see the green gateway grow, as you see our community improvements, these are all the entities that have come together to kind of make that happen. If you go to the next slide, Jean, >> yeah, got it. It's really I mean we use we use the imagery of a bridge but I think it's I think it's be a beautiful illustration of not only did we physically put a bridge spanning 9 mile connecting the school property to what then became the village property but it's it's truly a representation of the the relationships and the collaboration that's taken place for a number of years. So, it it it really was a a nice visual piece to be able to show
008that relationship that's been established. Um, and it was it was dedicated to former Mayor John Curtain as he was crucial in and some of those initial connections that had been made. But then when you see in the center when Jean's talking about what what has happened over the last couple of years, we've established what's known as the community connection group. And so every other month what will happen is all of these individuals plus so many more um will gather and we'll highlight what's happening in each of these entities. So that way everyone knows what's happening. We can kind of come together and pull our resources to really invest in Marcelis. And many times at the heart of it you'll see in that top photo it's with the emphasis of the students. Um when we look
009at why are we improving Marcelis it's for the next generation. is for the sustainable future of of our community to highlight the successes that we've had of our past to build on some of the momentum and the progress that we're making, but then really to build for that next generation. Um, and so you'll see we we've met some of the beautiful spaces such as the picture that you see down the bottom at Baltimore Woods. And many times the meetings are here. We actually just had our monthly our our every other month meeting here um this afternoon. Um, so many times it's located here at the school, but we also want to highlight and connect and expand. I had no idea that Baltimore was had such a beautiful facility to be able to host a meeting.
010And so, it's those types of things that making sure that we're tapping into potential that's right in our backyard. So, as we go on to the next slide, um, was a Green Gateway Park. I'm gonna have Mallerie I think kind of Joe and Mike can hop in on this as well to talk about some of the projects that are ongoing there and then some of the things that we've accomplished as well as some of the plans that we've got moving forward to the future. Oh, you um I was gonna just say if you're not if you weren't aware, it used to be the lower crown mill um the village acquired it from the county and then around the same time that Tyler started his independent studies program with professional pathways uh we kind of collaborated
011and it's turned into like this seriously awesome collaborative project village the town and school district and it it's great for the kids because they come up with the idea and then the town, the village and the professionals help them see that project through. And it's not just like doing the project, but also like trying to get funding because you can't do anything really without any money. And most communities apply for the grants, but they don't have students involved and the like we all went to that bottom picture. We all went to Senator May's office and the students were able to present their projects to her, explain why it'll help improve our community, and then they got to see like the whole process through some of the projects we've done, the bridge, like Tyler talked about.
012Um, there's a walking trail that one of the students designed, there's historical plaques that tell you about the lower crown property. Um the outdoor classroom that's great one >> structures in the >> yeah they they worked with um US Fish Wildlife and DC they had to like fill out permanence to um go into the creek so we crosses and help stabilize the banks. We're working on uh pavilion and a fishing platform if you guys want to talk about that. >> Sure. Sure. Um so you probably see some of the site plans. Um they've got a real nice concept that that school the students put together with with uh the village and the town and uh it's a nice little showcase for entering into the village. Um the pavilion the it'll be ADA compliant fishing platform
013low on the water on the stream in a strategic spot with the crossings that M was talking about. And so you got US Fish and Wildlife, you got the DEC working with this team and and it's just a the students come in and they're picking up so much stuff. They really have great ideas. Well, they're bringing it through from Kyler and what a what an outstanding program it is. It's so impressive. But that park is just one thing of some of the projects that they worked on. And we're going to be working on the parking lot and and some other um incidentals around the park. But, uh, it's ready. We're getting close to go out to bed and go to construction. But these students should be commended. They've done a good job. So, >> and
014not to mention many of you standing here in these photos because you've devoted your time to our kids. And so, um, we're eternally grateful for the commitment that you made back to the district and helping our kids. >> Yeah. That connection with students really sets us apart on the higher political side because when they're looking at all the municipalities that are asking for money, we're very unique with including all pieces of our community and the students really help the cherry on top of all these funding applications and showing that the students are directly involved. that really sets us apart and that's helped why we've gotten county money and state money to actually bring these projects to fruition, but the students who are involved kind of blend in like any other community. >> Yeah. So, if
015we go to the next one, >> yeah, >> not only the green the green gate was kind of the central focus and where everything started and has kind of expanded out from there. Um, but it goes even beyond that into much of the town. Um, so Mike can can speak to some of the projects that have been I mean we say village projects and we say town projects, but if but if you know any of these guys, they're all working on the same thing. There are no lines. There are no boundaries. There are no there are no designations of who's doing what. It's oh, we need to borrow some of this equipment. Oh, we need to borrow some of your guys. And that's and that again that's the behind the scenes that you don't necessarily
016see. We think, oh, the village is doing such a good job. And it's like yes, but it's because it's got an entire community surrounding um that's making that happen. So in the center top picture there, that's Limmerch Street. It needed to be rehabbed. Um, Fred's trail connected Marcel's Park to the village by the Flores and um, while we rehabed it, we redid the guide rail and widen the shoulder of gate to help make a walking path to the green gateway. And hopefully that's going to be the future so they can have a walkway through there. >> Park to park. >> Yeah, park noise and greenways. Um, so one of the students helped me with that and kind of went through all the aspects of it, what it takes to mill it, pay it, get prices,
017guard rails, all the flower lane, the village got a grant for that to do >> uh right now just the structures. >> Okay. So all the drainage and >> sewer lane >> and rehab sewer >> and there was a student that worked on it with Jodan. So there's jackpot >> jackpot. >> Yeah. >> So there's a ton of aspects to that go to and where the grants got to be certain rules. >> Yeah. Or more so than >> fix the parking in front of the BT. [clears throat] >> Yeah. >> So did I survey in front of there? Relay that out. So they did a good job there. result in a direct economic improvement. [laughter] >> Yeah. I mean, a lot of it the projects that you've seen, we we many times just see the
018outer components of it, the final product. Um and and for the most part, even if students are brought on, many times that's the only part that they really are a part of versus we're really intentional and really it's allowed to have a seat at the table when these decisions and these conversations are being made. There's no there's no like requirement that a student needs to meet with Chad as at the mayor or Joe as a business owner or with any of our municipal workers or businesses. they're being invited. And so that's that's really where the power of this happens is it's not it's not that it's it's their right to be there, it's they're they're asked to be there. >> Um but it makes a huge difference. They sometimes they change their thoughts and Austin
019changes minds all >> a number of times. Yeah. And that that plays into the professional pathways of they get to test drive a a career or a pathway before they make a commitment to a program or to a college and are invested in that. Um and so they don't hold back there. There are sometimes where it's like they're given the real world experience where many times they're they are sheltered within the public school system where we we have designed for them to grow and expand. not necessarily holding as strong or as high of a a standard as the real world does just because that's not that's not the design of public education. Um but they get a taste of that in some of these projects and with some of these professionals in a very kind,
020loving, guiding way, but still sometimes I have to remind them like if they were your worker, what would you do? How would you handle it? Yes, they are students. Yes, we want to encourage. Yes, we want to equip. But at the same time we want them to be prepared. So if we go to the next slide um one of the things that we recently have done over the last couple of years was apply for the New York forward rent grant and then also um the downtown revitalization initiative this year with a number of projects that we've got. Um, in both years again the municipalities have asked students to have an input on that whether it's the upper lefthand corner of them actually doing a workshop to generate ideas presentations and Chad can talk a little
021bit more about that process and um where we're at with with those grants and those applications. So we did submit an application for first time last year. Uh it was for just the New York Forward grant. It's two they're very much connected but two different grants and the New York Forward. Last year we applied for a New York forward which was $4.5 million. And we were we were asked to come we made it to the final round of selection. We were asked to come and give a presentation on pretty much why why Marcelus and uh and we presentation went well but we were also warned going into it that nobody ever wins it on their first try. But so it was it was a compliment for us to even make it as far as we
022did. So going into it this year we just looked back at last year. What can we learn from that? We looked at the municipalities that were awarded the grant and what could we do differently? What did they do differently with their application? So going into this year, one of the big factors was that the municipalities that were awarded the grant last year, they had a lot more projects. They had more more going on. So this year we made sure to do just that. to our application almost I believe we almost tripled our portfolio of projects and uh the ballpark number was around $22 million for construction renovation the overall projects and because of that level that dollar amount that also put us into the next bracket which is the DRRI the downtown revitalization initiative which
023was a $10 million grant that's what this whole time that's what we're that's what we're shooting for the big Um, so we ended up getting asked again to come uh present, I guess you call it an interview, a little ugly, but presented to to a similar setup, the panel like this and uh we had a 25minute presentation on why Marcel and the picture on the right over here was these were the group this was our group that spoke and uh Ada the student on the left there she was phr it was critical part of it and we really believe it was like I said with grants including the students that's that's kind of the cherry on top to show that who that we're looking at our future and uh she played a great part in
024it too because she had she really she wasn't just a placeholder telling her what we told her to say she wrote her own speech she did a lot of the leg work on the student side of it with um the survey that she did throughout the school really just getting student feed back on what would you like to see in Marcelus? What do you like? What you don't like? The feedback was it was good overall. [laughter] >> We'll say honest. >> It was great because she really grasped the whole concept of what we were trying to do and she stepped right up. It was great. That can that was intimidating for all of us to do that. can't imagine being a high school student taking taking on the pressure of a million-dollar presentation, but she
025did great. Uh we had when the presentation is done, they ask questions specifically directed towards whatever their concerns were, but uh we don't hear anything. We're not expect to hear anything till about the end of February is roughly when it was they made the announcement last year who won it. They didn't they didn't call us to tell us we didn't win it. Kind of had to find out the other municipalities did win it. But so we're at the waiting phase right now. The presentation went really well. Our application um the total number of projects that were in the application but it was enough to get us the interview. That was the critical part because the process is if we are awarded grant whether it's four and a half or 10 we have to completely start
026over. We have to disregard anything that we had in the original application. We have to start whole new open call for projects where our parameters are literally the village line. So we can have any projects we own village that's what qualifies and it's when we started they warned us the process is roughly a two-year process before actually money is actually hitting the ground. So, we find out end of February where we're at and if we are awarded, it'll be probably a six-month process of the pre-planning all over again and then shovels hit the ground. Hopefully, we have plenty of more projects other than what was currently. We know it's it's a lot easier to get projects on board when the money's guaranteed versus now we're kind of ask everyone their wish list. Hey, if this
027were to happen, what would you do with it? But we're able to put together a good application, which got us to the point we're at. So, we're all crossing our fingers, hoping for the best in the next couple months here. And again, the collaboration that you see, many of the you see some familiar faces up on the pictures. Um, these are these are individuals and these are community members that are showing up. Um, we don't have to apply for grants. We don't have to pursue improvements. These are people that see the the value in that for both the community and the next generation like like Chad's talking about. Um and then another key part of that if you go to the next slide, Jean, in addition to the the collaboration, there's there's a revitalized chamber
028of commerce now now known as Marcel's Together who has just some dynamite individuals that are making things happen. Um, I'll let Maggie introduce it. But essentially the way that it goes is if you've got an idea, bring it to them and they'll help you form a committee and they'll make an action plan for it and one of those dynamite individuals and talk about some of the events. >> Yeah. Um so um Marcelus together you know we I work for which is kind of how we kind of got into this is we said you know what's going on with the Marcel chamber um we have this chamber chambers a lot of businesses stuff like that um and we were thinking this doesn't this isn't reflective of who we are as a community the way that the
029Marcelus Chamber was not that we didn't love it as a VT on you know the first Wednesday of every So, uh, you know, we've called Chad and he pulled together some of the original members of the chipper and some longstanding business owners and, uh, we started to just kind of have the discussion of, um, what do we want this chamber to be and is it really reflective of who we are as businesses in Marcel? A lot of the businesses in Marcelas are homegrown. They're people from Marcel, Marcel, uh, or transplants like me because her husband went to Marcel. I've got three in the district right now in Montgomery was very good to my boys. They're nuts, but they're they'll be happy guys. Um but so it just wasn't reflective. It was very networky and uh
030you know need to be and a lot of these buzzword like circle back like nothing was actually happening. So we started to have the conversation and the biggest part of the conversation was um if the school wasn't here we wouldn't be here. uh none of us would be here, we wouldn't be surviving. And um we are a reflection of the school. So how do we make our chamber look that way? So that's why we kind of dropped the chamber because it's not business to business. It's not a chamber of just business owners and and people who work and uh operate in the village in town. We are just individuals that care about giving back to Marcelus. So, in most chambers, I don't know how familiar you are with them, you pay a fee and then
031you get your name on the website and you're there every year and you go to these meetings and whatever. We dropped the fee and we said instead of paying to be a member of this uh of this group, we just ask that you donate 5 to 10 hours of service a year on a committee or form an initiative. So what these initiatives kind of look like is if you have an idea of an event or something that can make our village or town better, you bring it to Marcelus together and you ask, you know, is this in alignment with your mission, which is to support Marcelus as a whole. Um to also bring in new business, but when people do come in, we want to encourage them to stay away. So you don't just come
032into Stone Creek, you come into Stone Creek, get a copy at Gretchen's, get a book from that she read. Um, so how do we all support each other while bringing in new people and supporting the school? So if your mission or your initiative or idea is in alignment with our mission, then we just ask for volunteers. People raise their hand, that's your committee. We'll help you with the Google doc or whatever you need to do. Um, and then Marcel together will support these initiatives. So, some of these initiatives are um we have the Marcelus Farmers Market, which was really successful this year, and then we got a lot of great feedback about what we're going to do next year. We had the Marcelus Boofest. Um we have the Sweetheart Stroll coming up in February. Um
033those are kind of the initiatives that are going to bring people to the village to kind of support our businesses. Outside of that, we have some initiatives that are happening to support our students and then to continue on with the bridge work that you all are doing here. Uh, one is a continuing music program so that kiddos uh, from the school who would like to practice or perform in front of a live audience can do that around town for different um, events that are happening. We have the Marcelis first responders support committee which is a 501c3 that was just started to support the efforts of our first responders which it's just un unreal uh that we have so many first responders within a 10 mile radius. Um so how do we continue to give them
034support? We had our first kind of party which was coffee with a cop. Um, we had troopers, we had our police, uh, we had the SRO's, um, we had coffee, and we had Steve from Stone Creek was up at 3:00 a.m. making homemade donuts. Uh, so we had a lot of your students came in or a lot of the kiddos from school, you could make a thank you card, ask a cup of coffee or ask a cup of question like, "Why do you eat donuts?" You know, things like that. um just to kind of um you know be just a little bit more personable, kind of off duty, show that you know we're all part of the community. Um we also have a a cut club program that's going to be happening from Jord's Barber
035Shop. Uh that is going to be when you go to get your hair cut or styled, you can pay a little bit extra to go towards their nonprofit and they will be slowly collecting cut cards which will look like gift cards. they will be distributed to the school for uh anybody who's facing any kind of hardship and if a student is having hard time or a kiddo needs to help with prom or if you've got somebody whose parent is going out on job interviews, they are eligible for a cut card and you just run it through and it's a free haircut. So, it just looks like you're running through a gift card. We have a lot of that uh that's happening. I I could go on and there's a million other programs that I could
036think of, but um you're all more than welcome to join us. That's the first uh Friday now of every month. We meet at Stone Creek from 8:00 to 9:00 a.m. Um if there's something that the school needs, if there's something that a classroom needs or teaching needs, the this is the group that wants to help. Most of us have kids in in the school or has graduated from school. So, we're here to support all the initiatives that are happening at the school and we do whatever Tyler says. So, that's part of why I'm here. Um but you're welcome. anytime because you have an idea. We really >> just the fact that on a Monday night coming back from the weekend, the people that are here standing in front of you at a 6:00 time after
037they've already worked a full day and have an additional meeting with me. I'm not I'm not that entertaining. There's no reason for them to come and see me again. It's not it's not for me. It's for it's for the students and for the community. Um, and that's just the type the type of genuine individuals that that we've got. Um, this is just a representative. These are some of the core the four people that have played vital roles over the last couple of years, but we've got a meeting between 20 and 30 individuals that meets every other month in addition to everyone that's involved within Marcelis together. It's it's enormous and that's what's that's what's making things happen in Horsales when people ask the question like Jean said how is it happening? Well, first we've got
038a supportive district and supportive leadership that entertains my crazy ideas when when many times in other districts it's it's work. It's new. It's it's not something that they will teach you in an educational training program. It's not something that there's an administrator's manual on. Um, and so there's a lot of there's a lot of hard things that kind of come up with it and just things that you have to wrestle with that we've never approached before. Um, and it takes it it takes a village and it takes the village of Marcelis if we're putting it plainly because it doesn't happen in other districts. It doesn't happen in other communities. And so much so that we were asked, many of the people here in front of you were asked to share at the Onogi County Planning
039Symposium that's coming up in March. How are you doing it? And so we're actually going to be sharing on a larger scale, not just at some of the board meetings to bring light to it. It really takes the collaboration and and the connecting the pieces. Um, and we couldn't do what we do. the students wouldn't have the experience they have without these individuals and many that you don't you don't see um in front of you tonight. So, just something that I'm I'm super thankful that Greg was like, you know, they see the projects happening, they see the post, they see they see what's going on, but they don't see that it takes multiple entities to make that happen. It's not it's not just the school district. It's not just the village. It's not just the
040town. It's not just the businesses. It only happens because they all work collectively together. >> A huge thank you. And you know, I mentioned Mike, I'm gonna give you a little shout out. Just I mentioned the last meeting just my decisions on snow days. Well, Mike is one of the people I call at 3:30, 4 in the morning. And, you know, with a cheerful voice, he's he's willing to help me, you know, navigate what what things look like and if things can get cleaned up, the roads can get cleaned up. So, um, yeah, there's so much that people don't see behind the scenes that everybody here, um, helps to pitch in again in service of all of our students. >> So, thank you and thank you so much for being here. We are very grateful
041um, just to get the word out to not just the board, but the whole community about all of the work that happens behind the scenes that people don't really know about. >> Thank you. Well, I'd just like to say on behalf of the board, you know, we've um seen a lot of the kids presentations over the years, and we've been blown away by their presentations and all the opportunities that they've had. And one of the initiatives that we've had as a board is um to really make sure that we offer project-based learning for our students. And so a tremendous thank you to all of you because you have really made that happen. And um not a lot of kids get the opportunities that um that our students have had and that is a true testament
042to your time and your talent and your commitment to our students and to our community. So a huge huge thank you to all of you and it really is true. Marcelus is an exceptional place and um and it's because of all of you and and um what you've done. So, thank you so much and it was great to to see that presentation. >> You are welcome to stay, but don't feel like you need to, but you're welcome. >> So, moving on, I'm going to just do a um a quick little blurb. Um, one of the things because we have not met since December, you didn't get a chance to see all the wonderful things that happen for holiday celebrations. So, I'm a believer that a picture says a thousand words. I'm just going to um
043thumb through the pictures from our December celebrations just so that you can kind of enjoy the joy that occurred um leading up to the holiday. So, I mean just this face right here, you see the joy like pure joy. you'll see that um many of our current music department staff members participated and um just joined in in the fun with students um playing music as yours. So some of our high school kids participated with staff um you you see staff from all different areas from KCH, from the high school, from the middle school. These are our seniors that we welcomed back. So, here are a couple pictures. Um, Brian Cid, I think, had a a showing in an elf costume, if I'm correct, welcoming those seniors back. >> The pictures [laughter] that I left out,
044but um it's just wonderful this time of year to welcome our seniors back. And um again the joy that you see in their faces just you know being able to come back to school and see their friends that they hadn't seen for a few months was wonderful. And so um the other part of my presentation I just want to sort of highlight again um the strategic plan. Uh our mission we support educate and care for our students like they are our own as they learn and grow. Our mission is to connect with all children and empower them to strive for excellence and ignite their learning each day. And so I want to just highlight some academic excellence. Um that's one of the areas of our strategic plan. Uh, one of the action steps, expose students
045to careers by creating opportunities for them to participate in career days and explore careers through internship, field trips, community speakers, develop systems to lever leverage expertise of local professionals. Case in point, the presentation that we we just saw, action step, define, identify, and assess priority soft skills by collaborating with local industry groups and utilizing resources such as portrait of a graduate. An action step research and implement a tool that can be utilized to help students determine their personal strengths, challenges, and learner type. Tyler Cooper is doing all of this work. Um and so what I just want to highlight again is some of the student work that is happening um and and again leading directly to that part of the strategic plan. Um this is Pilon who was doing a shadow day of a um
046pediatricians just to get a sense of that career. We have Jack Waterman and you'll see Joe Durand who is in the audience when he was helping um Jack on his project. Leah Wood. You'll see Janine Wonderan spotted here. Leah Wood is looking to uh enter into the real estate field and she did a shadow day uh with Jamine Wonderdan at Howard Hannah. Lee Deng uh he did a he's one of our seniors. He did um some work in Syracuse Hancock International Airport just to get a sense of the transport airline transportation industry. and Kayla Teed uh did some work with one of um the public defenders uh looking to get into the field of law. So again, those are just a handful of students who have had those opportunities. And so I do want to
047highlight and Brian Si is here and Brian feel free to jump in. Um next week we are doing a freshman industry immersion tour. So again, this is led by Tyler Cooper and Brian Cid and they did a survey of students to see what industries they might be interested in um going to do a field trip. And so next Tuesday there are four different field trips. Um one in Auburn to Ryco Enterprises, DNW Diesel and Max Studios. Skinny Atlas, the Skinny Atlas group will go to Taproot Fields, Skinny Atlas Fields Resort and Spa and Baxter. And then there's one Syracuse field trip going to 8N1 Mission Technology in Upstate Medical. And then Syracuse, a second um trip to Syracuse to see Inspire Hub and King and King Architects. So again, we have done, you know, things
048each year just leading to more and more and and our goal is to have kids exposed to many different careers so that they have a very good sense of what they want to do when they leave Marcelis. Um, again, it will just benefit them having that exposure you heard to decide whether they want to do that career field or not. Sometimes that's just as valuable. So that is it. >> Okay. Excellent. Moving on to residents comments. Public expression of the board of education meetings is encouraged and a specific portion of the agenda shall provide for this privilege. In most instances, the board shall reserve judgment regarding questions and concerns that are brought to the board's attention at a board meeting as it is typically not prudent for the board to make instantaneous determinations. In addition,
049many issues that are brought to the board's attention do not require a formal determination by the board, but instead are most appropriately addressed by the superintendent of schools or persons designated by the superintendent. Without further board action in accordance with board policy 3220, community relations, do we have any residents comments at this time? Moving on to the business portion of our meeting. Item 5.1, first reading of board policy. Result that the board of education approves first reading of the following board policies. You can see them listed there before you. 4410, professional development opportunities. 5120, school district budget hearing. 5130, budget adoption. Can I have a motion? >> Motion. Amy. >> Amy. >> Second, Sean. questions or comments before we vote. >> So the the board is a a committee of the whole policy committee of
050the whole and one of the things that is part of our initiative is to curate all of the policies and to determine which ones we need and which ones are outdated. Um some of the policies have not been touched since 2000. So that's really, you know, a mission of all of us to get our policy manual up to date. Um so the policies that um are before you in the first reading um are really just some revisions that are based on legal advisement. Um >> there there's not really a profound change in 5120 or 5130. Uh in some cases they're just being updated based on current law. Um the policy um that is under administration 4410 is really just not necessary. It's um professional development opportunities and those are already guided by contracts. Um so
051it's it's duplicative and not necessary. So again and it's sort of an effort to make sure we're curating that policy manual and making sure that um it it's not really duplicative. That's the recommendation. >> Any other questions or comments before we vote? All those in favor? >> Opposed? [clears throat] >> Carried. Moving on to item 5.2, acceptance of gift donation to Marcella Central School District from NY FFA Leadership Training Foundation. Resolved that the board of education accept accepts the gift of $4,000 from New York FFA Leadership Training Foundation Incorporated for the Marcelus FFA chapter. Can I have a motion? >> Motion. Kelly. >> Kelly. Second. Was that Jen Erica? Erica. Thank you. Any questions or comments before we vote? So this is really just all Joe Killian and the work that he's doing at our
052extender and connections with FFA. We have a a strong and robust FFA program and um as you see the New York FFA Leadership Training Foundation donated $4,000 in just support of our programming here. >> All those in favor? >> I opposed. Carried. Moving on to personnel. Approval of personnel items. Resolve the board of education approves the following personnel items. You can see them listed there before you. 6.1 through 6.3. Can I have a motion? >> Jen. >> Second, Sean. Questions or comments about any of those items before we vote? All those in favor? >> Opposed? Carry. Moving on to consent agenda. Approval of consent agenda items. Resolve that the board of education approves the following consent agenda items. You can see them listed there before you. 7.1 through 7.5. Can I have a motion? Motion.
053>> Amy. >> Second. Kelly. and Cali. Okay. Questions or comments before we vote on any of those items? >> Just to point out the two overnight field trips. Typically, if it's an overnight field trip, the board has to approve it. >> That's why those are before you again. Joe um has students that they're going to the state leadership meeting in Albany. >> Great. >> All those in favor? I >> opposed. >> Carrie. >> All right. And thenformational items. >> Uh yes. Couple things. We're right now working on the 2026 2027 school calendar. Um you might be surprised to know we start that work in December, January. Um the one thing I just want to sort of mention is the calendar is um a bit strange this year the in 26 27 because Labor Day is
054September 7th. So, in the past few years, Labor Day has been earlier, which has allowed us to start school a little bit earlier um and has given that two week uh break at Christmas time, which will not be for the 26th 27th calendar. um with the days that New York State requires school districts to put in for holidays, the calendar is pretty tight, but um we're doing our best just to make sure that we also create that leeway. Plan for some snow days and even some high heat days. >> Um so again, just a sort of a heads up that the calendar is definitely um not as forgiving as the past few years. We do plan to put that forward to the board in February. I know a lot of people like to plan their
055um holidays a year previous. So um that will go before the board in February and should give people enough time to plan um for the following school year any vacations. Um and then the next meeting um that we have January 26 is a budget workshop. So, if you remember, that's the time of year that we start to present what we currently have uh to the board as far as where our budget stands. Tomorrow, I know um Governor Hokll is doing her state of the state address at 100 p.m. That is usually a really good clue for districts to know where the priorities are and um what our aid might or might not look like. Um and so um just just sort of that awareness that that budget workshop will be the 26th. I do want
056to just say um I I have been hearing and seeing little glimmers whether they're exactly accurate or not that the governor is saying that she will fully fund UPK for all those all four year olds. And um the the problem is I think people then assume we're going to be able to give everybody a slot in UPK. That funding is not exactly always accurate. So I hope it is, but I hold my breath and I just want to just again bring that awareness that fully funding means one thing to to you know >> the the governor than it means to actual school districts. So, um, again, I'm hopeful that that's accurate because I would love to be able to, um, accept everyone. Um, one of the confines that we have and many school districts have
057is space. >> I was just, it's not as simple as funding, unless maybe she needs funding for the, you know, more space. But, uh, I again I just want to caution people that because I think they assume that they will get a spot in in UPK and there's there's more to it than just we're fully funding. >> Um, so stay tuned. Again, we'll do our best to uh give as many students as we can spot >> and that's it. >> All right. So, at this time, we will enter executive session. Resolve that the meeting in public be adjourned and exe an in executive session be convened for the purpose of discussions of the midyear evaluation of the superintendent and to and to discuss matters made confidential by law. Student records made confidential pursuant to the
058family education educational rights and privacy act. Can I have a motion? >> All right. I'm gonna write Erica and then Jen. All right. All those in favor? >> I >> opposed.