001All right. We're gonna get stuck here. >> Sideep shuffle. Okay, we will call our August 14th meeting to order. Uh, welcome everyone and um we'll start please with the pledge of allegiance. Would you uh do us the honor, Andrew, leading the pledge of leading the pledge? All right. First up, we have uh communications from the public and press. I don't know that we have anyone here from either. Do we have any comments from administration? Hearing none, we'll uh move on to uh information and reports. And uh we're pleased to be joined uh here early in the school year before school even begins with our new student exeicio Andrew David. Andrew, welcome. And uh understand uh you you'd like to um have a word with the board. Yes, please. cell phone like learning how to control
002your use of your phone or being able to use all the materials available to you like the iPad for example. Um, I feel the ban is just um not giving the high school students the opportunity that the high school playground should be and that it's holding back many students like myself. Um I did um attach two u slides with images of the remarkable tablet and uh the iPad that I would have considered and like the uh note takingaking you could um these are internet enabled there. So therefore subject to the ban. >> Yes, the iPad is able to browse the internet and the remarkable because you are able to import files from your drive. >> You feel like the uh the Chromebook doesn't really serve same role or the same need in the same manner.
003My opinion is that Chromebooks are um somewhat of a crush for all. they um they don't have the performance. Um, for example, when you take an IB class and you have a um uh internal assessment or an IIA, which is when you're done, probably 20 30 pages long and with multiple tables and thousands of words of writing. It is some something of an impossibility to scroll through the entire document in 10 minutes on a Chromebook when your say MacBook or laptop can do it with with no issues. Um I just feel that the the Chromebook unlike these two objects would um it wouldn't suffice basically. Any other questions or reaction from Andrew or to Andrew? >> I I also support the ban. I think you're an exception because you're very studious. So if all students
004were like you were like you, we probably wouldn't have need a ban. But I also support the fact that I prefer the notebook than the Chromebook. I've Chromebooks. That's why I don't bring any. So I support your point but the decision was made at the state level for all school all students and I think you're a minority compared to most people would use those tools to access the internet and just cause distraction but you're using it for the right reason and you'll be ready for college because you're a good student. Well, um there are other students like me, lots actually in classes where they have to use devices like their phone for say at Boseis where students have to um in before cell phones basically they would have to have a full three- ring binder
005of papers with graphs of all different things that they would need to know or like EMTs where they would have um another binder full of all different information that they would need to know on the job. Now they have a phone with an app where they can just find out all the information or have it graphed in real time if need be. And this with the cell phone ban in place or with the limitation that is Chromebooks in place, students would not be able to achieve this in any way. I want to say too, you make some really good points, Andrew. Um, do you think and there's been a lot of research around the phones, so a it's, you know, when the state was looking at this, it was for distracted distraction-free classrooms. Get it.
006This is supposed to be an educational tool. Um, but b a lot of research is kind of the mental health epidemic related around phones and they're taking a lot of that into account, you know. So would you agree with the statement that you know maybe your peers and that link to phones is kind of an issue and and do you feel that um with the impact of this ban while it does affect your ability to use as an educational to which I think could be helpful and useful will in the long term benefit your your fellow students um in terms of just well-being. Um well I agree that the phones are very uh detrimental on mental health as well as um students attention spans in class. Um a ban during school hours may not bring
007about the good that people think it will. It may invite um compensation out of school hours. So when students are in school, they may not be able to have their phone, but that time away from it may cause them to want to use it more outside of school. It will um well not will but it can cause um what's the word? like over over time it may not create the good that you think it will because they will have access to it outside of school after school um before school or just whenever they want to have it, they will get it basically. And implementing a band from the like from up here to down basically will um or may cause a sort of rebellion from the kids perspective in my opinion. So the last two
008years we have had I've been blessed really to work with two outstanding student exeicios and this week Andrew convinced me that he is going to be number three in that line. We had an out I I I I had an in just an outstanding conversation with Andrew about about this and for a young man his age, he was so easily able to see both sides of this this issue and you know he remarked quite a bit about that exact thing, the social implications of overutilizing technology and what that can do. But then and he brought to my attention and I've argued this too like with our students at Boseies in the HVAC program, they do have that app on their phone about all the volumes of gases and and the rates of flow rather than
009carrying those three ring binders up onto a rooftop unit. So we talked about that and he talked and I had never really thought about what he until he said it. he had hoped to use some of these devices in preparation for next year where he is going to use them on a regular basis. I was like, "Oh my gosh, there's a perfect example of where there needs to be some allowance on all of this." Um, and and I think at some point in time, the state's going to have to look at this and listen to our students. The other part is school is a place where students are supposed to learn and oftentimes it's about learning from their mistakes. So if they take a cell phone out when they're not supposed to, we should be
010able to address it and let the student learn so it doesn't happen again. It's a safe place. If they are working for a business downtown or the hospital and they take out their phone when they're not supposed to, it's no longer a safe place. they could very well be on the firing line. So again, how do we find that balance in the future? right now we're stuck with the ban and maybe that's what's going to remain the law of the land. But I think when students like Andrew talk about this and they can see both sides, maybe we'll come to a different perspective in the future um to come up with, you know, state regulations that recognize that there is value in school with students using personal devices, but also how do you put parameters
011on that? So, you know, again, I think an Andrew, I you really opened my eyes to some different arguments that I hadn't seen and and I really, like I said, I really valued that. That was just we had a great great conversation um in in a short amount of time. So, >> how do we get Andrew to Albany to Kate? >> My son started at Clarkson last se September and first thing he got is a tablet and it helps him a lot. He could have used it here. could have be a little bit more as the techn is changing. Maybe there's going to be carveouts down the road for tablets or something. >> Well, thank you for sharing your your concern about the state law um and um your perspective on you know positive use
012of technology in in the school. Um we'll we'll have to see where the state goes with that and uh in the meantime we are our hands are essentially tied and uh and we'll have to uh you know live by uh the rules that have been set out for us. But thank you for um for sharing your concerns. Um anything else you'd like to say uh before we move on in the agenda? No. Okay. Well, thank you very much. We're looking forward to lots more reports from you and lots more uh perspective uh from the student end of things here at the board table. >> Mr. Hack, could Andrew share a little celebration of what he's done this summer, >> please? >> I think the board would be intrigued by uh where he's been this summer
013and what he accomplished. >> Uh well, after regent week, the Friday that I took my history US history regions. Uh that Sunday I left for Cornell where I spent three weeks taking the four credit course um intro to world government and politics and international relations course. Um while there I earned a B+ overall and um earned my four credits at Cornell. It was a uh a very condensed and uh rigorous course, but I had a lot of fun and uh yeah, made a lot of friends. >> Outstanding. >> Okay, I think he needs to stop now to uh give us uh less of a complex. Uh we'll move on now to um uh my report. Uh first of all, I uh wanted to make sure that uh I shared with you the uh advisory committee
014appointments uh for this year. Um no need to um tell you who's on what committee. It's all right there for you uh uh in the link. um looking forward to uh to getting started with our uh committee meetings and and the great work that uh our our committees do. Um the next thing I have I I did just want to walk through uh and I'm hoping uh Mr. Lincoln can maybe post these as well. Uh, I wanted to uh to walk through um we we talked a lot about our board goals in our retreat and but they weren't really fleshed out with any timelines or uh objectives or anything uh to kind of give us benchmarks. Um so I' I'd like to just take a minute and go through those. Um board goal number one,
015we established that uh in partnership with the administrative team, the board will conduct an internal analysis of moving to a grade level elementary school model. And uh some of the objectives as part of that is are to examine possible curricular improvements, staff efficiencies, transportation changes, social emotional enhancements, special education delivery, and cost savings that could be gained by organizing elementary schools by grade level. Survey other school districts that have made this change to gain insight from their experiences. examine current professional literature on uh stacking schools and uh the goal the completion of the study part of this goal would be um May 1st. That's not to say that we would be uh ready to uh entertain a recommendation uh to change the way our elementary schools are organized. But that that would be uh the
016goal for completion of um the internal analysis. And if the grade level school concept is deemed feasible, community forums, an ad ad hoc committee or other forms of public outreach would be undertaken in the following school year 2627 with a recommendation from the superintendent in early 2027. Um, this is a little bit different from what we talked about in uh the board retreat. Um, it does extend into a two-year process. Uh but after uh consulting with Ron and Nicole, uh they truly advised that uh because of all of the uh time that is going to be needed to uh address the uh ongoing capital project, uh there just isn't going to be enough time to uh produce the entire ball of wax in a year. So, uh, with your with with the goals with the
017board support, we would, uh, attempt to make the, um, uh, the internal analysis part of this, um, the goal for this year with possibility for picking up the ball next year. Or goal number two is the board of education will undertake a review of the district's policy manual to eliminate unneeded or redundant policies. And the um the benchmarks for this is the are the policy committee would discuss with the school attorney Ferrara Fiorenza the costs, benefits and options for a review of the policy manual by the law firm. policy committee continues its systematic review of policies in sequential order, which is what they've been we've been doing for uh quite a number of years now, and considers uh new policy recommendations as usual. If the changes and updates to the policy manual are recommended by
018Ferrara, those changes are first considered by the policy committee and passed on to the full board for approval. And completion of that goal is um hoped for by April 1st. I think that's pretty close to what we talked about in the at the board retreat. Um, it's just everything, all of the steps are kind of laid out there. I I suppose I should probably um ask for questions as I'm going. Any any response or uh questions or anything? >> If I may go come back to the first goal, you put a date of uh April 2026, but we gave ourselves two years to do this. I just I'm a little bit confused. the goal number one. If you go back to the goal number one, that's two. >> Oh, thank you. >> It says goal
019completion by May 1st, 2026, >> right? >> Do we don't we have two years? >> No, that it's just the internal analysis of >> Okay. >> Um >> the analysis for the >> Yes. the the analysis of um would would uh grade leveling school our elementary schools make any kind of sense at all and why >> teacher will be consulted >> right and then if if we determine um after the the May 1st date that it appears to be feasible we can pick the ball up and continue uh to >> another year >> look at it another year >> and and try make more concrete plans. >> Just to be clear too with the internal analysis if if it looks like it's uh okay conceptually that beyond that we will engage stakeholders right community. >>
020Yes, that that's yeah the last bullet um >> addresses that. >> Any other questions on goal one or goal two? All right. And uh our board goal number three, the board of education will review the New York State School Boards Association annual meeting delegates guide prior to the October 16th annual meeting to assist the board's annual meeting delegate, which is very likely to be myself, uh in casting votes that reflect the wishes of the board of education. Uh I have found in participating in the NISBA annual meeting um the annual meeting is where the school board's association essentially establishes its um what it's going to lobby for. Um and the the way that gets determined is that um all of the member school boards that are in attendance at the meeting, they uh their representatives
021vote and uh if resolutions pass, they become part of the uh um the the the lobbying over the next five years uh by the school boards association. Um, I have found it on several occasions um, difficult to make a snap decision as to how I should vote. And um it's been it's it's pretty clear to me in listening to uh the discussion back and forth during debate on these resolutions that other school boards do meet and discuss prior to so that they have their delegate has a better idea of how their board feels about particular issues. So uh I thought that this would be um a very worthwhile exercise to go through for us and uh have proposed um this uh as a board goal. U so the way this would work is the u
022um school boards association releases the delegates guide in midepptember so roughly a month or so from now. Um the board delegate uh makes note of I I'll go through uh the delegate guide and make note of resolutions that I have questions on that I would like to get guidance from you all on. Um and then we would meet in special session uh in open session to uh discuss proposed resolutions that I have questions on uh and anything else that uh in the in the manual that you all would like to talk about. Um and um I hope to get um some guidance from my fellow ward members as to how to vote on uh particular issues that I'm just perhaps not u uh don't don't have the greatest perspective on. More minds are better than
023one. And uh we would uh endeavor to complete this goal by October 10th because the um NISMA annual meeting is October 16th. >> If we receive the resolutions by our September meeting, um do you think that we can send them out beforehand for review and we can just discuss our September? Certainly uh if if if the um the delegate guide is sharable with you folks, I'll go through it first and um then uh forward it all to to you guys so that you can have a look at it and uh particularly where uh I feel like I'm having um questions. Okay. And uh we're going to uh be seeking um approval from the board of uh these goals for the year uh later on in the meeting. And the last thing that I have is
024um the scheduling of a special meeting to uh go through. This is of course assuming that you uh you provide that support. Um but uh if um if we do get that support, I would like to to try to schedule that uh meeting to um the special meeting to to talk about the uh uh resolutions in the delegates guide um sometime the last couple of days of September, first couple of days of October. And I think what uh I'll ask um Ashley to do is uh do a a Google u survey or a doodle poll to um try to find out which which day works best. And that is all I have. I guess we'll turn it over to Mr. Burke for reports from administration. >> At this time, I'd like to call Mrs. Chapman
025forward to discuss our summer raider academy. I think this is on. Good evening everyone. So, um, last month we had our summer raider academy for four weeks and we had, um, this at night andale elementary um, with summer raider academy. I know many of you know this, but it is K through six. This year in grades K through two, you can go to the next slide, please. Um, in grades K through two, we had academic enrichment and themed units. Um, for these activities in K through two, the requirement was to make sure that the teachers were doing something that looked different than the normal school year. So, we really wanted a lot of handson thematic um, games and units to make sure that they're practicing the skills that they need for the next year. In
026grades three through six, it was project-based learning. Um, every project started with an activity that sparked their interest and then all of the projects ended with a showcase. In grade three, um, it was the lemonade stand. So, it started with 3TK coming and speaking about how they came up with their business and how they had to train people and how to come up with a creative um names for their drinks and things like that. Um then they went through and they built their own lemonade stand talking about um math with the financing of it. um they read about other um businesses and then they had their own lemonade stand competition against the two um third grades. In grade four uh we had a veteran biography walk and honor flight letters. This was um a spark
027of interest from Mr. Tusa. He came into the fourth grade and spoke about the honor flight. Um, the students spent several days watching the flight and seeing what was happening with the veterans. Then they went and interviewed a veteran in their family or one that they um knew. And then they made the um walking on the walking trail. You can see all of the different biographies of the um veterans. In grade five, we had the food truck. Unfortunately, um, in prior years, we were able to get a food truck. This year, it did not happen to start. Um, but the kids did have a great time because we've, um, videoed over the years all of the different food trucks and all about how they start their business. Um, so they were able to do that
028and then they had their display and the showcase. Um all of the students and all the families came in to see um all of the different food trucks as they had to research about the country that they were um making the food for. And the best part of it is they cooked a lot of the food and they would share it with all of us every day. So that was great. And then our grade six did the amusement park which um started um in Lake Placid where they went to the Olympic Center and they got to um speak with a tour guide and they talked all about the engineering of the bobsled track. Um the ski jumps. They got to get into the coach's um I don't know like a coach where the coach sits
029to watch the skier jump and they got to watch the skiers jump. Um so that sparked their interest and they talked all about the engineering of all of that. So then they went back and created their own amusement parks with concession stands and all of all of that. Um next slide. Yep. STEM activities. So with the Alcoa grant that I um had written, we were able to hire two of our own STEM facilitators. Um so Erica Williams and Patrick Prinup were our two STEM facilitators for the summer, which allowed the kids to have it at least two to three times a week um compared to only having it once um in the summer. So, in grades K and two, every um engineering um concept that she went over was always um started with a book.
030So, she would read to the students and then they would move into building boats or catapults or going to maker sta maker stations. It was pretty cool watching the kids. they were on a computer trying to watch how someone was making a catapult and then they would go and try to make it themselves. And um she did some really great things. In grades three through six, the students um learned to program spiral bolts, which are little tiny spheres that they code with an iPad. Um, and so what they did first was the team had to come up with what kind of obstacle course they wanted to make on the floor and then they came up with one and then they had to code the spiral bolt to go through the obstacle course. So at the
031end of that um students taught us how to code and taught the younger kids how to code which was really neat to watch. With grant funding, we were able to go on several field trips. Um, like I said, grade six went to the Olympic Center. Grades K through two went to the North Country Children's Museum where they um did a science program on bubbles. Plus, they got to explore all through the museum. That was through the Alcoa grant also. Um the Olympic Center adventure was through the Aderandac for Kids grant. Um we went to the St. Lawrence Seaway and to the Neanderie Nature Center which was all through Connect for Kids. Next. Oh, thank you. So, the one thing that we certainly want to work on is that 184 students were enrolled in May to
032go to summer raider academy, but as you see on day one, we only had 117. So when we ro when I did the rosters in June, we had 27 kindergarten students, 27 first graders, 29 second graders, 30 third graders, 33 fourth graders, and 22 fifth graders, and 16 um sixth graders. So when I did that, I decided that I needed to cut some of the positions. We've always had three teachers per grade level except for sixth grade. We've always had one because we just do not have those numbers. So I cut it back to two teachers per grade level and one for sixth grade. Um so you know with the teachers reaching out to the parents and then at the end too I did call them and spoke with them or tried to message them
033you know and I wanted to know why is it that they didn't come you know is there something that we can change so that we can get more students in. Um some were that there's uh a daycare need in the afternoon you know so they didn't have somewhere to go in the afternoon although I suggest you know wreck and then there's PAL but that didn't you know they didn't send them still um just family came to visit for the summer and then they decided not to come um a child wanted to spend time away in May they thought they were going to come and then in the summer they just went away to visit family. Um some spoke about the transportation in the morning. So after speaking more with families learning that a lot some
034of the families that had trouble with transportation were in walking distance to night andale and they had a younger child and they couldn't get them there. Um, some because we only had four buses and we're going all over. Um, some had to get up an hour earlier than they usually do during the school year and the kids didn't want to get up or the parents didn't make them. Um we have great opportunities for our students here in Msina and you know we had they had volleyball camps, basketball camps, theater camps, therapeutic wreck, they decided to go to POW Msina wreck and some did many of those which was amazing. Um, so I surveyed the parents and I surveyed the staff and we're reflecting on is there a better way to structure what we're doing in
035the summer and I would love to again like I keep saying I would love to work with Zach with POW but can we just do camps two week camps where they can pick to go to a STEM camp a cooking camp theater camp and they just have to go the two weeks instead of committing to all of it. Or they could pick and go two weeks to STEM, two weeks to cooking. So, I'd really want to look at getting a committee together um to see what the best thing would be to do. Um, so with that, with the funding, I did request during strategic budget time $62,960, but we only spent 46673. And then for supplies, I had requested 9,000, but we spent $2,290. the next one. So, all the families and I have all
036of the surveys, you know, all the families that I have spoken to and when the showcases and they're coming in, they have great things to say about the great things that our teachers are doing. The only thing is is we would love to get more kids in. Um so you can see some of the things that um parents and staff were saying and it was great to see the kids mingling among other kids from the you know the other schools too which was neat. Um and to end I would just want to say thank you to all of you for supporting the program to Mr. Burke to Mr. D. Agugustino and the night andgale um cleaning staff for taking great care of us over there. Um transportation department, that's a tough job taking kids from
037all over, you know, and they're coming up with those routes and they were just wonderful. Um the maintenance department, we had times where roads were closed during it, but they were right there directing traffic for us. Uh the soup food service staff were amazing. We had a lot of field trips and they just worked around us. Um all the summer RA staff, they were amazing. They came up with great things. Aderondac for kids, they supported us with field trips. Alcoa Horizons came in. 3TK Stewarts, they did a huge Sunday party for our kids on the last day. And um I have to thank Bailey Maroff, our secretary, because she just does so much for the program. Any questions? >> I just want to say it's no secret I'm a proponent of out of school time
038programs, but um actually my own two kids went to Raider Academy and they loved it. I think they went every single day. And um I think one of the things here is that AU came under budget, which is incredible. the impact of the work you did. But I did I looked at the numbers and between the Mina Rec program, the PAL program and Raider Academy that served over 500 kids and summer learning loss, but also I think a big thing is the social interaction uh the recreation opportunities and then 500 kids in the community that are still being fed, right? So addressing the food security is is really important. So um great job again. I just want to say that. >> Thank you. Anybody else? All right. Thank you so much. >> I'll just say
039thank you to you, Miss Chman. >> Thank you. Thank you. As a frequent uh user of the u the trail, the the John Story Trail, certainly uh I I um was interested and uh and entertained and learned a lot from the u uh the veteran walk uh that was created. Okay. Thank you, Mrs. Chapman. And now I'd ask um our assistant superintendent for instruction, Miss Charleston, to report on district goals, past and future. >> Sure. So um I've compiled basically an endofear report of our 24 25 goals and then I will present the um 25 26 goals and as you know last year around this time uh the administrative team we created databased goals smart goals um and there's three the ABCs uh improving chronic absenteeism so a attendance benchmarks was our three through eight
040and regents and climate um our climate and culture of staff and students. So we will continue that work. We have uh fiveyear goals that we would like to reach um by the school year of 2028 29. So first linked in is the 2425 district goals just for reference. The next link you will see in the agenda is the data and that's what I will uh go over and that is what is on the screen. There's two things that I'd like to point out that we uh we made a change and we think it's uh for the better. As we said, as I said, it was new this past school year putting this together and we kind of learned things along the way. And one of them was originally all of our numbers were to the
041nearest h 100th. When we started putting in the actual data, it got very difficult to read. Um so we ended up just rounding everything to the nearest whole number. So you'll see a little bit of a change from the 2425 numbers to the data that I'm showing. Um, and that's just for readability. The second part is in the benchmarks. You will notice uh grades 3 through 8 in our original goals, we had them by each grade level. And again, when we started looking at that, and to be honest, the scores just came out Friday. So um it was a little bit of a rush to try to get this data and um dig through it. But this also uh what we decided to do is take 3 through 8 as a whole as a data
042point just like we did with regions. And so it's basically very similar to the high school data that we're sharing for the benchmark information. And just a reminder with that, you will still get all the grade level information in the fall when I break down all your 3 through 8 scores, the enrollment um region scores, you'll be able to see all of that. We just thought for district goals, this kind of cleaned it up a bit. Um so with that uh attendance the prek through six goal um we did not meet our prek through six goal but we were very close. Um when we rounded to the nearest whole number it says we were off by 0.5%. Um actually it was 37. So we were quite close at the prek6 of meeting our decreasing chronic
043absenteeism goal. And just as a reminder, chronic absenteeism is 10% more of days missed. So 180 days of school, it's 18 days or more means a student is chronically absent. And that's what we've been working to decrease. At the 712, um this is really where our focus and attention is going to be for the upcoming school year. Um we did not make the chronic absenteeism goal and unfortunately went in the wrong direction um by 5%. So our uh endofear chronic absenteeism was at 36%. Um so Mr. Burke, myself, Mr. Oliver, um we've really been brainstorming this summer along with our uh the rest of our administrative team and we have some ideas of things that we're going to implement differently. We're going to um continue to do the things that we're doing with MTSS at
044the high school. Um, but we're also we review monthly data using our school tool dashboard. And we've been focused a lot on kids in red. We're going to actually start focusing a little bit more kids in yellow, meaning they are close. Um, you know, they may have missed 20 days instead of 18 days. Um, and so we're going to kind of, you know, focus our attention on trying to support those students to get them here, uh, to school more. The other thing that we're exploring, uh, Mr. Oliver uh and I will be talking with staff in the fall just um to have conversations. Um staff is looking to reopen conversations about course credit. Um so we're going to just uh begin those conversations and possibly implement at the freshman or sophomore levels. And um also
045recently we met with tribal leadership and are looking to partner with the tribe um and our communications team and just um really get uh the information out there. use the resource of attendance works and just, you know, let families know how important it truly is to be at school. Um, and so it it is truly a family partnership getting kids to school. So, um, this this attendance goal will continue to be a main focus of the administrative team. So, moving on to BB benchmarks, we are excited to say we surpassed the 3 through8 uh, ELA proficiency goal by 5%. So our 3 through 8 uh preliminary data shows that we have 52% proficient. Um and then our math proficiency we also met our goal of 60% proficient at the 3 through8 level and we also
046met our New York State regions goal and uh that was at 73% proficient in June regions um and that was.5% over our goal. uh so headed in the right direction and we were excited to see those numbers. C climate uh this is actually um where we were definitely most excited was the improvement in the staff climate. Um and before I get into um the numbers of that I will explain that the company was bought out by a new company. So the questions on the survey were a little bit different. So the data doesn't truly align um but it was the same you know percentage and um what it showed that I really liked about with this new company is the areas of strength areas to monitor and areas of focus. Um and what that showed
047us was we are really close in some areas rather than just assets risks. It's nice to see what are those parts that we can monitor and try to get into our assets. So again, we were really excited to see a 14% increase of our assets with our staff. As an administrative team, we've been working really hard um and listening to our staff and asking, you know, what do you need? Um what improvements can we can we make and making sure that people um are seen, heard, and valued um because we have really great educators and really great staff here at Msina. Um so we were we were again excited to see that 14% increase of the assets and obviously that led to 14% decrease of the risks our students um we did meet our 5%
048increase goal and of course we want to far surpass this um smart goals is making them attainable uh but we're looking forward to further conversations with Mr. David and um our student body on just how do we continue to improve our climate here at um Msina for students as well. >> Any questions on the end of year 2425 data that we've looked at? >> Um when you say assets and risks is like um are you saying that like an asset is something that we do well and Okay. >> Yes. Yes. Um and then this data is collected by the um like survey that >> Yes. Yep. So the climate survey that goes out in the spring that all 5 through 12 students do and then all staff members and we send it to families as
049well. >> Great questions. >> Any other questions? saw the state education department release the preliminary data on assessments and it looked pretty optimistic in terms of what they were seeing increases across the board. Do we know like will we have where we stand with the state's um data preliminary data at some point in the near future? >> I I think at this point uh because the data just came out on Friday and this is also that period of time where we're actually evaluating at every school is that data accurate? So we really haven't had a chance to get any comparisons. Um we'll certainly be doing that regionally and then we'll also get comparisons but that does take some time for that data to come through SED side. >> Usually around October is where we get
050the comparison data. November is usually the state data. Um so I usually try to present the information to the board around that time frame that really breaks it down and give gives us those comparisons. Um and uh Ron will now uh just give a quick overview of our non-in these were our instructional goals and he has two non-instructional goals from the 2425. >> Thank you. >> So the first goal that we had um that was non-instructional was to present a capital project referendum which we did and we met that goal clearly. Um we're in the process now of planning. Um the second part was also to take steps for or the second goal was to take steps to plan for compliance with the New York State mandate to purchase zero emission buses. And that also
051really ties right into the first goal because that is part of our capital project. um that that is an aspect that we'll be talking about um and planning for the electrification of the bus garage in the event that we are required to um truly trans or to truly transfer our fleet over to electric buses. Um there's more and more coming out. So you'll see that this goal is coming off for next year. Um it does look like we're going to see some reprieve from the governor in terms of getting um waiverss for up to two years at a time. Part of the problem is is that while it's a great goal to be zero emission, the technology for large vehicles is simply not there and it's being shown around the state where schools have attempted
052this. Um again, we attended uh the RSA conference and that was one of the presentations that I attended school that employed I believe it was four of these electric buses. Drivers like them when they run and that's kind of where the problem lies. um and also being able to regenerate uh the batteries during the course of the day. So, so again there are some very and they had great analysis that they are now sharing with our legislative leaders who said this is exactly what we need to enact change to this um legislation. So, I do think we're going to see some changes in in the very near future as it relates to this mandate. So, >> okay. Okay. So, that's the 2425 endofear goal report. Mr. Lincoln, if you'd like to put up the 2526
053district goals, please. While he's getting that up, I'll just go ahead and get started. Um, so the first Yeah. Do you have the first page of that, Mr. Lincoln? There you go. Perfect. Thanks so much. Um, so this visual, as you know, is in all of our buildings. Um, this is what the admin team we look at um and we discuss every time we are together around Mr. Burke's table. Um, attendance benchmarks and climate. The these are our five-year goals. This is what we're looking at the information and and discussing and working to improve over time. You go to the next slide. So this is at a glance uh our beginning of the year numbers. We are looking to decrease chronic absenteeism, continuing to decrease 1% at the prek6 level. So our hope at the
054end of this school year is 21% 2% change decrease at 712 for the goal of 29% chronic absenteeism. Um and we chose to continue with our same goals. Even though um we've got kind of a gap now to make up, we thought it was important to continue with our 5-year long-term uh goal of where we'd like to be in 2829. Our benchmarks for 3 through 8 testing, ELA, we're hoping for 49% proficient and math 61% and our New York State regions at 74%. Our climate goal, we will continue to give the climate survey annually to staff, students, and families. And we're hoping to uh increase assets to 38% for staff and 10% to students. Um and again, this is a smart goal. It we're written to be attainable, but we're, you know, looking for ideas
055and student voice to help us increase that even more. The document goes through and it basically discusses how uh we will implement and the evidence we collect uh to do that. And so um not much has changed from the previous year. We will continue to implement and do the things that we have been doing. Um but they are there for you to to look at if you'd like. The first one being attendance, then benchmarks, and then finally the third page of climate. And with that uh is the new non-instructional goal with Mr. Burke. >> Got that? >> So the non-instructional goal, it's down to one this year. and it's because it's based on this, you know, $78 million project and that's where our focus really needs to be on this. Um, so basically the goal
056is to have the design phase complete by May 31st of 2026, which then allows us to follow our schedule getting this off to state ed that summer, getting state ed approval. So that way in the fall of 2026, we should be able to go out for bids with our contractors or the very early part of 2027. Um you'll see that the implementation is really all about stakeholder groups in the first two and then the director of facilities and myself will be serving on each of those stakeholder groups as well. We've actually expanded that already to include um our business manager and our director of IT. Good news on stakeholder groups. You can see we've got deadlines for each one of the major areas. We have already convened once for the athletic areas. We'll have our
057second convening in two more weeks. So, we'll be well ahead of schedule with the athletic areas. And what we're doing with our stakeholder groups, we ask them to do two things. Identify the problems that exist and share your dreams. And we talk about sharing your dreams with the idea that there are confines due to finances and due to space. But until we hear all of those things from the people that use these facilities on a daily or on a on a seasonal basis, we really don't know what this should all look like. So again, we're trying to get as many voices in on these meetings. Um we met for almost four hours, three or four hours yesterday uh with four stakeholder groups. Phenomenal conversation. You know, it was a virtual meeting thankfully because um some
058of the ideas were great but grand and you know, you just can't do some of those things. But I think it's a safe environment. So people were really sharing everything that they could see. And uh I think we're going to have some really great information for the facilities committee to look at and then to give their final blessing to the design plans in May. So again, great great opportunity. This is a pretty exciting goal to be working on this year. >> Those are the goals. Uh does anyone have any questions? >> Okay. Thank you, Miss Charleston. And the next couple of items, I'm going to be asking tonight that the board approve a floating um bus monitor position. We actually have candidates and right now we will have because of our needs for special education
059students. I believe we're we'll have every bus will need an a monitor with the exception of three or four buses that we run. So, we have a large volume of aids to have a floater. It's imperative because it's difficult to get subs. If we have a floater, we know that we're going to be utilizing that person on a daily basis due to absences. Every time we hire an aid that's due to the needs of a special education student, it is foliatable at our 90% state aid. So again, I'm asking for that. I'm happy to report that we are seeing interest in driving. Um, right now we are in the process of looking at four potential drivers. Two are fairly well advanced. One is taking the road test. I believe it's next week in Platsburg. I'm
060pretty confident that that individual will pass. So, we're going to actually have reserve drivers, but again, with the number of drivers and the number of buses that we have on the road, if I could have at up to two, I'll be happy with one. Um, if the board would approve floaters, because again, I can't think of almost any day where we're not short one or two drivers due to medical, due to personal issues, whatever it might be, that would save us on five different positions. That would save me from having to pull the mechanics out of the bay to drive. It would save me from having to pull the transportation director to drive. And it would also save from having to have the superintendent drive. Um, so but again, we all have roles. We're all
061more than willing to chip in when needed. But again, if I could have one or two reserve drivers and they can be busy all day long um because we always have we get a sick child. Mom or dad doesn't have transportation. We have to pull somebody from the garage to take the child home. So there's plenty to do. There are 40 buses and uh throughout most of the year they could be washed. Um we just don't have the personnel. So again, we can make great use of these individuals um up to four hours a day. On athletics tonight, I have some really great news. It's a it's a great problem to have. Uh for cross country, we currently have 45 plus student athletes signed up with one paid coach. Um so again, we have volunteers,
062but a volunteer is a volunteer. It's imperative, I think, for the safety of our students and also for the instruction of the of the program to have an assistant coach. Um, and that was a recommendation by Mr. Reagan, which I fully support. Likewise, at Modified Volleyball, we have over 40, we have now 40 student athletes signed up. The ideal 10 or plus more on a team. We are going to do everything we possibly can again to uh run a second modified volleyball team. They would practice together, but hopefully again we can combine um and get to games uh with other schools or two teams, but again with that many student athletes, we know that they're going to be cuts. But again, we've got a lot of student athletes and that's an awful lot for one
063individual to uh to try to make sure they're safe and again that they're being instructed properly. So again, I support Mr. Reagan's recommendation and request for an assistant coach for the modified volleyball. It's not unheard of. We do have other assistant coaches in modified sports such as football. So again, I think this is a great problem to have. It also ties back into our culture and climate where we're trying to really get students engaged, which again, if we can keep them engaged, that should hopefully lead into better attendance. And you know, athletics is one of the carrots that we can put out in front of our kiddos. um not unlike offering the musical at the two elementary schools, you know, get them hooked, get them engaged with other things besides academics. So again, I think
064we have a really great athletic problem this evening to face. Any questions on those financial recommendations? All right, moving on. Uh, I'd like to thank Miss Chapman uh for securing a $25,000 STEM education arconic foundation grant to continue with K through8 after school STEM activities. Uh, also Patricia Mat Patricia Matsui for a $150 art donation uh to support our annual art show. And again, if you've been able to attend that, you know just how talented our students are and what great pride our art department takes in in the works that our students produce. Night andale uh is requesting a fourth grade trip to Upper Canada Village on May 22nd. I love that they're planning this far out in advance so we can make sure we have a driver for a bus. The next request comes
065from Mr. Oliver and this is extraordinarily unique where we have an opportunity to send four of our rising seniors to a leadership council uh meeting u conference in Washington DC. um we he already has the four students from the leadership group that have expressed interest and would love to go along with two chaperrons um not to exceed $5,000. Again, I think it's a great opportunity for our students to uh engage on a national level with other students of such high caliber that exhibit leadership and to learn from that and grow with the with the hope that someday these students will return to Msina and become leaders and possibly even who knows serve on the board. And the last thing I was asking the board tonight was a construction management contract with C uh GIMO. However,
066we found two issues this afternoon. Minor issues I do believe, but uh I'd like to postpone that recommendation until our next meeting and we get those issues resolved. Any questions for me? >> Thank you. Yes. >> Um yeah, let's move on uh to recommended actions. Uh first up is the consent agenda. Um, are there any um items that are in the consent agenda that any board members would like to have pulled for further discussion and separate vote? I would like to comment when we get the financial numbers. Is it possible to put the previous month so we can compare monthtomonth instead of having just one month? It it's hard to make sense of one number or to remember what it was. >> Yeah, absolutely do that. That's it. >> No request to uh to pull
067anything. So um I would entertain a motion for uh approval of the consent agenda. >> So moved. >> Second. >> We have a motion and a second. All in favor? Any opposed? That carries. Moving on to other items for action. Uh we have approval of the board of education goals. >> So moved. Second. >> Any questions or comments? All in favor? Any opposed? Approval of the district safety plan for 2526. Second questions or comments? All in favor? >> Okay. Uh 202526 Msina school tax rates. Do I have a motion? >> A motion from Joyce. Sorry, I talked over you. >> Second. and a second from Rober. Um, any questions or comments? All in favor? Oh, >> I'm sorry. Oh, I >> I skipped the district goals. I'm sorry. Um, we'll we'll get that uh next
068here. We didn't >> That didn't require a uh poll the individual uh board vote. Okay. Um All right. So, we'll back up to the uh approval of the 2526 district goals. >> We We did motion for that. >> So, moved. >> Second. I thought we did that one. >> Oh, we did we did the board goals, the district goals. Sorry. >> Okay. Sorry. You're right. We have a motion and a second. All in favor? Okay. All right. We have approved the tax rates. So, we'll move on to approval to create uh bus monitor floating position. So, >> move second. >> Okay. Any questions or comments? All in favor? No one opposed approval to create a bus driver uh to create bus driver floating positions. >> So move second comment question that's notable that one. >>
069So they areable the minute they step onto a driver onto the bus just like as if they were a sub. Oh, again I I I don't envision a day where we don't need at least two subs. >> Really hasn't happened in quite some time. >> Any other questions? We have a motion and a second. All in favor? >> Any opposed? >> Uh I have a question, Mr. Bur. Um do you think we will a return of buses from like uh from the high school at 3 for the after school program anytime soon. >> So actually Mr. Oliver and I spoke about that today. So what he's talking about is the after school bus at the 3:00 which really we have not been able to run certainly at all. Last year we tried a 4:00 and
070it was a really a failure just too long of a time period. So we are that's our hope as well is that by having these two drivers um the two sub floating drivers that that would also free somebody up to want to take that in the afternoon. Um the other part that it does as well is it creates when we don't have enough drivers and the five spares that we are myself the mechanics and the transportation director. There are many times where we're rearranging pushing back departure times for games or other extra uh you know extracurriculars and this would help eliminate that as well. So it's really it's a huge plus. But again that is a major goal is to get that 3:00 bus. Okay. Next we have approval to create assistant coach for the
071cross country program. So move >> second. >> Questions or comments? All in favor. >> Okay. Uh next is the approval to create an assistant coach for modified volleyball. >> So move. >> Second. >> Any questions? All in favor? Okay. Uh, next is approval of the conference request to lead on uh February 27th through March 1st. >> Second. >> Questions or comments? >> All in favor? >> Okay. Uh, next is the uh resolution to approve the construction management. Sorry, that that that was uh Um on the agenda, uh we heard Mr. Burke's recommendation to table this. Uh I would offer I would uh request a motion to do so. Please >> table or I recommend to table. >> Second. >> Okay. Um so we're voting to uh table the construction management services contract. Um all in
072favor? >> Any opposed? Okay. And now uh approval of personnel items. >> And Mr. Haggett, I recommend approval of personnel action items listed as numbers 1 through 77. >> Do we have a motion? >> Second. Any questions or comments? All in favor? None opposed and no abstensions. Very good. Thank you, Mr. Burke. And uh now um we're uh looking at new business items for future agendas that anyone would like to propose. >> I I had one thought uh when we're talking about the PLC survey, the climate survey, and so it's been a year since I've looked at it, but I'm pretty sure there's um questions in regards to assessment of leadership and staff. So, my thoughts were and it would be a good board discussion, but um you know, we do our own board assessment.
073Um would that be an opportunity for us to get an external assessment from teachers, from parents? I don't know that it would apply as much to students because I'm not sure how much they're aware of, you know, what the the board of education does, but it is a good opportunity to get um an external assessment. It doesn't have to be a ton of questions because I don't think any of the other administration based questions are a lot either, but you know, three or four questions just to get a gauge and a uh an idea of how we're doing from an outside source. >> You know, Zach, I'm going to say that's a really good idea. I'm always surprised when I'm out in the community. People will say, "Oh, I watched the board. Aren't you on
074the board? I watched the meeting the other day." And I'm really you people watch this? I'm amazed how many people take the time to watch our meetings and maybe they do have some really good feedback for us. That's a good idea. >> Yeah, I think it's just important for us to know um you know, we're elected to a position and we need to know that we're doing you know um what the what our community is is looking for us to do and and if they have suggestions for room for improvement, it never hurts to get that suggestion or to get a direction. >> Is is that uh something that could be added to that survey? So the ed elements is actually ran through Boseis through our Mckenni McKenna Vento grant. It's done um regionally and
075they don't have anything specific for boards. Um but I can research what's out there for that. Just because this company doesn't do it doesn't mean someone else doesn't. >> Maybe that's not the right format for it, but we can look at another another format. Yeah, it might be a great thing to do as as as we're discussing, you know, how did we do at the end of the year where we could send it out simply as a Google survey. >> I was kind of thinking a Google form through parent square. >> Yeah. >> Um, can I ask for clarification on what you mean by uh staff leadership? I guess >> staff leadership as >> uh uh was your first talking point about the >> Yeah. >> Um Oh, so I was saying with the PLC
076survey, I think there's an opportunity for on the student because there's different surveys. I think there's a parent survey, a student survey, and then a staff survey. And so I think they're very similar in questions, but I think the students and parents have an opportunity to um to give their feedback on administration and school leadership, I believe. So that's kind of where I was thinking, you know, the board of education is a part of that administration and leadership team. So it's important to get that feedback as well, too. Does that clarify? >> Yes. >> Yeah. Okay. Andrew, would you um say that that's true that students probably don't have an idea of what we do? >> Yes, I would say that um most students have no idea who is on the board or what is
077discussed in these meetings, >> right? >> But you're going to bring you're going to bring some information. Try to educate them more orient. >> Um I I will say that um my position like Before taking up the role, I didn't have much of an idea of what what it was, which goes to show the little information out there to the students at least. So the the only um if if the type of uh feedback that uh that Zach is talking about is not available through an already pre-existing survey. I guess I I would be a little bit concerned at the idea of over surveying groups of people. Um just just a comment. I I I do think um uh creating a Google survey and and putting that out through Parent Square that that's probably uh
078as strong of a way to get access to some of that information that that you're talking about. >> Yeah. >> Um I like that idea. >> Yep. I don't think we're in any danger of over surveying the people that would do that because if they're already watching the board meetings, they're already putting in this extra effort. So, what is an one extra survey to them? >> Good point. >> Yeah, they're invested. >> I told you about him. >> Yeah, >> it's a Trinity boy, by the way. >> Any other items for future agendas? I guess I don't know if that was an agenda item necessarily, but uh very good suggestion. >> I see that there's an interest for cross country sports and if I remember well, we were doing our cross country at the Robert
079Moses part. I was wondering if we couldn't develop the back of the high school in Salman River. They have a great track in the back of their school. I know Potam has great woods as well. We have this all >> I I feel like I am qualified to talk about this. Uh so we run at the Nandry Nature Center which has amazing trails and um with the paved um John Story that is behind our high school. It's a good length, but the um the fact that it's paved now and the for lack of a better word, boring trail that it is, it's um not as uh great as a course as you would see it like Norwood where they have this wooded uh hilly nice um course that is enjoyable to run on versus the
080John Story where you're just running two laps of open concrete nothingness. >> Exactly. That's what I'm saying. We have the woods in the back that we could extend with a walking trail in the woods if the person own that owns it allows us to do a trail, but I don't think why I don't see why they would say no. But we could easily develop trails in there. >> Yeah, it might come down to a liability issue on private land owners. Doesn't mean that we shouldn't attempt. I'm not sure if it would be I'm not a runner in case you haven't figured that out. Um but uh I'm not sure if there'd be enough land opportunity to get a long enough horse back there. >> Yeah, I I don't like uh based on like what I've
081seen from the road. I guess I don't know if there's enough land to have a full 5K back there. It might be a question of the space that's available. >> Maybe something to explore. Maybe you can come back with answers. Maybe it doesn't make sense, but >> it's worth exploring. >> Yeah. >> Any other thoughts for future board meetings? >> I'd like to put out there maybe looking into replacement for Chromebooks for students who may express interest in using more qualified computer for maybe IB students or students who might um benefit from stronger computers either purchased through the school or otherwise >> example do you have examples >> um so my view is that the Chromebooks for some students maybe not like not all students students will be able to get by with just Chromebooks,
082but many will. So, I don't think we need to buy new computers for the entire student body, but maybe getting them for a select few or um those who deem that um they need it or have a use for it in their classrooms. Is that something the policy committee could look into maybe discussion with our IT director? >> I don't think it would need to be policy. I think actually Andrew and I are getting close to being on the same wavelength because as he was talking about different things that might be more useful >> for certain students. I was thinking the same thing. What could we do differently? Like this year we've added a Mac lab for our visual arts program. Um so what could we do? And I think that this might be something
083that I would ask Andrew to then go back to Mr. Mr. Oliver and let Mr. Oliver start that at the high school level with his, you know, with the student leadership, his faculty come up with ideas and because it is a it, it always sounds easy to do things like this, but it might involve like with our MacBook involved new servers, which also involved training for our IT department. So then we would take whatever information Mr. Oliver and his group come up with send it over to Miss Charleston so she can bring that to the tech committee and we would incorporate that perhaps into our strategic budget. But I think Andrew is really on to some some really good ideas there that is the Chromebook as a one-sizefits-all. Is that really the best way to
084educate our students, especially the ones that are preparing either for college or for, you know, career in tech? Um what is the best option for them? So, it could very well be a one size doesn't fit all, but I'd rather have that go to Mr. Oliver, start there and then work its way up the up the up the chain if that makes sense. >> Good point. >> Yeah, I I just wanted to put it out there for you all to think about. >> It's good. Good point. >> Thank you. >> Other thoughts for further agendas? Okay. Uh we have no uh public or press here. So we have no need for uh comments I don't believe and no need for another executive session. So I would uh entertain a motion for adjournment for this evening.
085>> Do we have an YouTube audience where they can ask questions? >> No. >> Say again. Do we have a YouTube audience where they can ask question live like we used to? >> Uh I I guess we do. Do don't we Mr. Lincoln? >> Yes we do. There are no questions. >> No questions. Thank you. >> Thank you. >> Yeah, we used to ask that as sort of a matter of course and we haven't been. Uh we have a motion and you have a second. Okay. Thank you. Uh all in favor of adjournment. Have a great night everyone. Thank you very much. [Music]