001Good evening and welcome. Thank you for joining us for the June 4th, 2026 regular board meeting. At this time, we now call the meeting to order. This agenda was prepared in advance of tonight's meeting. The final agenda for tonight's meeting is subject to change at the time of the meeting. Any changes will be noted at the time they are made and again after the meeting on the public board minutes, which are available on the district's website. We would like to remind everyone that translation and interpretation services are available during this meeting. If you need assistance, please let us know and we'll be happy to accommodate you. Thank you. The pledge of allegiance by Miss Rose Tobias. Mr. Parino. >> Thank you. If you could stand for a moment of silence, I'd appreciate this. Thank you.
002The moment of silence this evening is for uh the mother of one of her own, mother of Camille O'Donnell, Rose May McCree Graham. I did not know uh Mrs. Graham, but I do know Camille and I knew know Camille as a very honest and a very gentle gentle person. But Rose May McC McCree Graham, she graduated from Pierce College, then went on to Temple University. She served in a number of positions. She was the uh uh the administrative assistant for cardiovascular pathology department at Temple University. Continuing on with this, she joined the uh Social Security Administration and she served her community and she served her community in the Graham African Methodist Episcopal Church in Charleston, South Carolina. She served in many roles included Girl Scout leader, Sunday school teacher, vacation Bibles school coord coordinator and
003church secretary and stir. Sometimes you know it's what people say about you. And if I could read just a couple of notes here. Timothy McCrae said, "No one could ask for a better big sister. Well done, thy good and faithful servant. Sleep on until that day when the trumpet shall sound and hopefully we will meet again." Love always your baby brother Timothy Belinda McCrae. Continuing on, a colleague of Mrs. Graham. I work with Rosa at Social Security office. She was so nice and thoughtful. She loved her children. She's now with her son again. Camille, you and your family will be in my prayers. And when I read this, I thought of Camille that she's a very thoughtful person and she loves the children of our district. So, please remember Rosa May McCree Graham in your
004thoughts and prayers. Thank you so much. >> Please remain. >> I'm sorry. If you could just remain I'm so sorry. Please remain standing. Mr. Estrada also has a moment of silence. >> Just a brief moment of silence. If you can keep your thoughts and prayers for uh our fellow trustee, Mr. Andrew Moore and his family as uh Mr. Moore lost his brother-in-law um over the last day. >> Thank you everyone. Now we have the mission of the enlarged city school district by Mr. Estrada. >> We strive to provide fiscally sound educational opportunities in a safe environment that continuously supports our diverse student population. We will enable all students to graduate to reach their full potential to become lifelong learners and to be competitive productive members of society. >> Roll call. Miss Montrey. Dr. Mr. De
005Jesus >> present. >> Mr. Estrada >> here. >> Mr. Moore. >> Mr. Parino >> here. >> Mr. Rhett >> here. >> Miss Romero >> here. >> Mr. Tobias >> here. >> Mr. Freddy Williams >> here. >> Pastor Williams >> here. >> Thank you. May I have a motion to approve the agenda as presented? >> So moved. >> I have a second. Any discussion? All in favor? >> I. >> Any opposed? Motion passes passes. We're going to move on to the sp the spotlight on excellence with the recognition of Odyssey of the Mind. Thank you very much. It's really exciting night tonight. So much to celebrate. Um and I'm going to welcome our administrator extraordinaire for Odyssey of the Mind, Mr. Michael Fra, Dina students here at Middletown High School. Um, and what I hope that
006um, our community takes away is that um, great minds don't just solve problems, but they really create masterpieces um, lifelong friendships um, and a sense of teameming that I think is unforgettable. Um, tonight we are celebrating uh, the absolute pinnacle of this experience with um, a summary of the Odyssey the Minds trip. So, [clears throat] Mr. Fto, >> hi everyone. Can I just have the coaches and all of the Odyssey of the Mind students that are here please come up and stand behind me or to my right or to my left somewhere up here so you guys can be seen. Hi guys. So good evening board of education President Romero, Board of Trustees, uh Superintendent Creed and our district cabinet. I am incredibly proud to stand before you tonight to share the remarkable achievements of
007our Middletown scholars within the Odyssey of the Mind program this season. Odyssey of the Mind epitomizes exactly what we educators strive for in our schools for our scholars. Divergent thinking, intense collaboration, complex critical thinking, and the grit to solve problems under pressure. This year, our scholars took these skills to the highest of levels in competition, representing our district with absolute distinction. Our program's trajectory this season has been nothing short of momentous, setting benchmarks at the regional, state, and global scale. [panting] Don't mind the pictures. They're great. Uh throughout the Odyssey season, we saw a massive surge in engagement across the district with multiple teams stepping up to represent Middletown at the regional level, showcasing creative problem solving and true sportsmanship. At the New York State level, our district sent three teams to the state finals.
008Maple Hill, Manhagen Middle School, and the middle in the high school. Among them, one team, Middletown High School, claimed the title of state champions. Right. state champions. That is a testament to their months of rigorous prep and innovation. Finally, our enlarged city school district of Middletown reached the absolute pinnacle of the Odyssey Mind World. Two of our teams advanced to the world finals, which played out in Ames, Iowa, which just came to a close last weekend, which we went. I'm thrilled to highlight that our Middletown High School and Munhagen Middle School scholars spent this past week and weekend competing against the top creative minds from across the globe. Throughout the world finals, they exhibited um tremendous tenacity, made meaningful connections with international and local peers, and put all their efforts into making this a competition
009to remember. Both teams truly encapsulate what it means to be legacy makers in real time. These milestones reflect not only the brilliant minds and relentless dedication of our students, but also the tireless support of our coaches, our district administrative coordinators and families who make this program possible. I would like to thank each of the Odyssey coaches for their time and dedication. Our parents and guardians for the collaboration. Our food services team for making snacks. our buildings and grounds teams for ensuring props got to specific locations safely and on time. Jamie Kahhan and Dr. Connell in our purchasing department for their unwavering support through OM season. Let it be said, Middletown has incredible programs that continue to set the mark for excellence. When we give our students the space to innovate, they prove that they can
010soar to worldclass success. Let it be known midies, your dedication, your creativity, your desire to go out and compete is seen. We are beaming with pride for your from your successes this year and look forward to seeing your strides next season. Keep innovating, keep creating, keep having fun. Finally, thank you to the entire central admin team, our board of education for your continued investment in this program and belief and unwavering support of our Odyssey teams throughout this school year and beyond. Thank you. [applause] >> Can Can you guys have everybody just introduce themselves and tell us what grades they're in? >> Without a doubt. The mic is yours, guys, not mine. [laughter] >> My name is Xavier Chgoya. Uh, Xavier is pronounced Javier though. And I am 10 years old and I am fifth grade.
011Hello, my name's Amir Neil and I'm in the fifth grade and I'm 11 years old. My name is Nora Cardinal and I'm in the 11th grade. [applause] >> My name is Jaylen Harmon and I am also in 11th grade. My name is Ella Wardell and I am in 11th grade and I just want to further extend my gratitude for all of you making this possible. [applause] >> My name is Emma Vermillion and I'm in 10th grade. >> [applause] >> My name is Denelli Palanco Roas and I'm in I'm 14 and I'm in ninth grade. [applause] >> My name is Addison Burgerer and I'm in 11th grade. [applause] >> My name is Kimberly Peralta. I'm in 10th grade. >> Coaches, introduce yourselves, please briefly. Zach Davis. I teach fifth grade at Maple Hill. >> I'm Natalie
012Fermanion and I'm the Monagen coach. [applause] >> I'm Stephanie Sears and I'm here at the high school. [applause] >> Thank you all. >> Thank you. >> [applause] >> Next, we're going to have our legacy video and that is going to take place with Miss Ceden. >> Great. Thank you. So, they say a picture is worth a thousand words. Um, but tonight our really dedicated administrative team is here to show you exactly what legacy worthy impact in Middletown looks like. The presentation is a direct result of the board's goals, which helped to shape my vision and represents the dreams that we hold for the young people and our community. It's a vision that the team is charged with bringing to life each and every day. Before I turn the floor over to the leadership team, I
013just want to take a minute to thank the really talented and creative communications team that has worked tirelessly throughout the year to bring each of these video segments to life. They've done a wonderful job and we're really appreciative to have their partnership in this work. I'm going to invite our leaders up to showcase that that shared vision is our K through2 legacy because in this district, we aren't just teaching to the future. We're helping our young people paint their own futures and leave legacies. So, leadership team from K5, if you guys want to come up and start. [applause] Hello everyone, my name is Dean Lester. I'm principal of Presidential Park and I am so proud to be here to help introduce the legacy video for the elementary level. >> We'll keep going. No, [laughter] >>
014I will. >> I'm Tracy Santino, as you know, principal of Truman Moon. >> You guys are going to be blown away. Um, the whole experience, Amy's absolutely right. The experience with the kiddos and the film crew was in and of itself before you see the product an adventure but a great one. Um to watch the kids find their voice. There's nothing that compares. >> Suzanne Driscoll, principal at Maple Hill. Good evening. >> Tika Harris, assistant principal at Presidential Park. >> Regina Trout, assistant principal at Maple Hill Elementary. Delila Kanes, assistant principal of presidential park. >> Hi, Vanessa Pitman, assistant principal, case manager with special services. >> Hi, Brooke Filipini, assistant principal Mabel Hill. >> Hello, Kathy Jensen. Honored to be principal at WAC. And the joy of this is the voices of our students and
015how joyful and excited they are about their learning experiences. Enjoy. >> Good evening everyone. Tiffany Hall, humanities instructional leader for K through five. >> Liz Bowler, the instructional leader of humanities K through five. >> Ely Sanchez, ENL case manager, all schools for elementary. >> Matthew Kelly, assistant principal at Presidential Park. So, at this time, with all of our uh leadership team behind us, we would like to show our elementary legacy video demonstrating our scholars voice and our purpose and joy that we have in our buildings. >> [applause] [music] >> I really like that I'm smart cuz it's the perfect school for me because I can solve like anything. >> Oh, what I like about my school, I like my teachers. I like that the people are so welcoming even multiplication but not broke the division.
016>> Everybody makes me feel welcome. When I when I just came to this school I had trouble communicating with people and first time in school it kind of be a little nervous and >> I wasn't really used to it. Something that was difficult for me first was learning how to round and divide >> math. It just really wasn't my subject. >> The teachers helped me by encouraging me every step of the way. [music] >> They help me with, for example, essays. >> My teacher, she teaches like the best strategies. >> Now I think I'm really good at math and that's one of my best subjects. >> Another outstanding group of people who have helped me are administration. They approved me for certain activities like [music] our Odyssey of the Mind program. >> I got accepted
017into Odyssey of the Mind and we made it to states. I was super [music] happy. >> I love learning new programs. >> One of my favorite things I accomplished this year was I made it to the all county orchestra. >> Well, the most fun thing this year I did is the 100th day of school. My favorite thing that we did is we had chicks in our classroom. [music] I named one and it was I named it spots. Also, there's leader and me. >> This is my leader and me portfolio that we do in Carter >> which teaches you how to be a leader. What good habits to have. >> We have a lot of learning in here. >> When I with people I don't know, I'm so [music] shy. But now that I'm in leader
018and me, I'm talking in the talent show with a whole school of people who I haven't met yet. >> So at the lead there musical play. It was really fun. >> I thought it was amazing because my cousin [music] was one of the main characters. >> Every time there's an event like during [music] the week, I'm so so excited. I I'm excited to see experience of program if you could learn science if um there's like a technology area where like you could look at drones, robots. >> The sneaker ball was really fun and like there was so much music, [music] people dancing. This is like one of a kind that we had we even have these opportunities. Like we also got a book vending machine. Not all schools have a book vending machine. Well, I'm
019part of a lot of things. >> My parents, when I got home and I told them [music] about me getting into NES, they started screaming. We were so happy. >> I'm proud of how far I've gotten um in this school year. >> I think we might have woke up a few neighbors downstairs. >> I'm most proud of when I got the job teacher assistant. >> I'm proud that I know math. I just proud because I got a award. >> I'm super proud of this year for being the co-host of the talent show. >> I am proud of getting star student [music] for having it one be proactive. >> Coach Groin was like okay but I was like clearly the main attraction. >> I am proud of achieving the lead role in drama club. >> I'm
020proud of anything I am. I'm proud of being a bilingual student because I can communicate with other persons and help students who are just learning the language. [music] >> I'm proud that I was born smart. >> I'm proud of my time at Maple Hill and I'm proud of the achievements that I was able [music] to make. >> I'm proud of the school. I'm surrounded by good people in the school. By the end of the school year, I've like mastered it all. >> They offer so many opportunities that help our future. >> Go Mitties. Go Mitties. Go Mitties. >> Go Mitties. >> Clap along if you [music] feel like a room without a roof. >> I'm happy. >> Clap along if you [music] feel like happiness is a truth. >> Because I'm happy. Clap [music] along
021if you know what happiness is. You [music] clap along if you feel like that's what you want to do. [music] [applause] Okay. Now, I'm going to invite our secondary team to come up. I'm going to ask our elementary team to just step aside, but don't go far. And our secondary team is going to come up and show you the 612 vision. That was amazing. By the way, it's going to be tough to follow. That was pretty awesome. Um, great job, elementary team. Thank you uh everybody for being here tonight. Um we're going to show you the the secondary video. Before we do that, I definitely want to take just a quick pause and thank um Mr. Kevin Wit, Brian Cbeck, and Jason Thomasulo for putting in a ton of time to really encapsulate all the
022great things that have been going on K through 12 this year. I know only Kevin's here, but we appreciate the work you guys did. Awesome job capturing so many of the great things that are happening. Um, I'm just going to quickly introduce you to the Mont Hagen team that's here tonight. Dominic Cordonia, principal. >> Jess Lebron, Dean of Students. Belinda Hodler, Dean of Students. >> Terrence McKinnon, I'm the STEM instructional leader for the middle schools. >> Good evening everyone. My name is Nicole Brookkins, proud principal of Twin Towers Middle School. Just also wanted to point out that for 612, we really wanted to grow our opportunities to increase scholar voice and advocacy. And you will see that tonight in our video, I am honored to present my Twin Towers team. [applause] >> Hi, Nicole Minton,
023dean at Twin. >> Good evening, everyone. My name is Robera Taylor. I'm the dean at Twin Towers. >> Hey y'all. Fred Merritt, social leader for humanities at Twin Towers. >> And Nicole Lucerini, assistant principal case manager for special services for both middle schools. >> I'm still Terrence McKinnon. I'm still the STEM instructional leader for the two middle schools. [laughter] [applause] >> Hi everyone. I'm going to go a little out of order because I'm going to introduce the video. But before I do that, I want to introduce my team. So I am Billy Danu, executive principal. Joining me tonight, >> Kate Shiti, associate principal. >> Karita Asdo, freshman class cohort principal. >> Ashley Merchant, sophomore um cohort principal. >> Sapora Newsome, freshman class dean of students. >> Hi again, Michael Fra. I'm dean of the 2022
024senior cohort this year. Britney Hillman, assistant principal, case manager for special services, >> and Thompson, uh, assistant principal, ENL, case manager of secondary, >> Robin P, STEM instructional leader, >> Pat Woods, dean of the At Promise Micros, Middletown High School. >> And I'm rounding out the team. Rachel Coons, instructional leader for humanities. >> So, uh, as my colleagues alluded to, um, it was very difficult, and I I'm sure Kevin and the communications team can attest to this to kind of boil this down into the time frame we have because had we tried to capture every moment of greatness, this video would have we would have had to stay overnight. Um, and that is that is the the facts and I'm sure all the principles and administrators would attest uh what a joy it is to
025work in the building. Our scholars are the absolute best uh scholars around. Um and greatness walks the halls every day. So what you're going to see is a small snapshot told through the eyes of the kids. And uh I hope you enjoy. Here at school, I believe that your voice definitely matters. A lot of the [music] programs and clubs and extracurriculars that we have are student voice based. I do feel like people listen to me cuz there's a lot of staff and peers that are really open to hearing ideas. >> Being on the [music] board of edits showed me that I can use my voice to create. >> I definitely felt like my voice mattered when I started getting um more recognition with my academics and these roles that really made me kind of stand
026out more. The confidence I built part of leader in me [music] has been transitioned into like being able to like sing by yourself because you like you have like more power in your voice. [music] The lighthouse we specialize there's like three different teams and my team is the leadership team and we specialize in really trying to empower the students in any way that we can. I knew that I wanted to be a leader especially within my senior year and I knew that the roles [music] that I was taking on would require communication and public speaking recently for National Honor Society. I spoke at [music] the induction and graduation and I definitely could realize that I was more confident [music] within my speech. Used to be difficult for me like speaking out loud. Sixth grade I
027was like a quiet person like once I [music] did orchestra and stuff like I learned like you got to be afraid to speak or um try new things. The Midi's love to read was a way to make reading more fun [music] and I think it like makes people more confident with reading. When I was reading, I would read out loud to improve and articulate my speech better. >> We go to William Carter. We read to the little kids [music] and it was very nice. >> I felt like my voice my voice started to matter during sports. I was in basketball and I was actually the point guard [music] so I was able to uh um direct everybody else on the court. >> [music] >> It's really nice to be able to share your creativity and
028people have similar ideas to you and it's easy [music] to like collaborate with them especially in the programs that we have. There's a lot of programs where it's easy for collaboration like Odyssey [music] Capstone. >> We have a lot to offer here at Miltown High School. We have diversity club, multicultural club, my brother's keeper, my [music] sister's keeper. We have our national academy foundation, the seal of literacy, the seal uh the seal of civic readiness. >> The seal of civic readiness is basically proving that you made a positive impact in your community. >> It's important for us to connect with our community and show them that we have something [music] to be proud of. >> Experience our programs is a night where you where in the middle community everyone can experience [music] the programs we
029have here. The career fair was held here at Middletown. What that entailed was various [music] organizations coming in to give mock interviews as well as real interviews for students. And for the college fair, different schools came in [music] and were representing what they had to offer. And students were able to get information that they [music] might have not known prior. >> I think having the Star Lab here was a good like opportunity for kids who like want to study space and work for NASA. >> We also have micro school. It's intended that all of our scholars receive the same opportunities [music] and experiences that all of our scholars receive just at their own pace. >> I definitely do believe that the school encourages students to really have a grasp on historical events. I think it's
030important for us to reflect on our past to see the obstacles that we've had and see how we've overcome that. >> If I could go back and talk to my younger self, I'd probably say [music] be open-minded, branch out, >> don't follow nobody. do you and do your own thing. >> Just relax. If she keeps on worrying about what she's going to do in the future, [music] that she's going to forget where she's actually supposed to be. It's okay to ask for help. Please ask for help because you literally just got here on this earth. [music] >> I would tell him to keep it up academically. Don't slack off and try to help as many people as you can. >> I would definitely tell my younger self to keep going. It doesn't ring forever. >>
031Don't be afraid. People are always willing to help you and they just want the best for you. [music] They just want to see you do well. They want to see you succeed. >> Being afraid they it could uh take you away [music] from like different opportunities. >> Opportunity can be fun as long as you put yourself into it and enjoy it. >> It's okay to let everything like fall into place because everything [music] is like how it's supposed to be. >> I would definitely tell him to not sway away from his character and continue [music] to be himself because you will continue to find that belonging. Like Middletown has so much to offer. Know you're going to be great [music] >> as long as you remain confident in yourself. When I grow up, I want
032to be a [music] doctor. >> I want to be a teacher, um, a makeup artist or a therapist. >> I want to be a principal. >> Hi. I want to be a security at a hospital just like my dad. >> I'm really excited to be the best person [music] I can be because I'm going to try my hardest. When I grow up, I want to be a police officer because I'm really good at helping people. >> What I want to do when I grow up is be the best [music] actor. >> What I would want to do when I grow up is be a better dancer. >> I want to be a pediatrician. Would love to be a doctor [music] because I could help people stay healthy. >> Right now, [music] I think I want
033to study like marine biology. I want to work in aquarium. I'm excited to take basketball further. I'll get to college and then hopefully the NBA. >> My dream job is um be an [music] electrician. >> I want to be I want to be an actress on TV. >> I'm going to try to become a police officer or a lawyer. >> I will be majoring in [music] biology and economics and minoring in chemistry at Northwestern University. >> Where I really want to do is producing. [music] I I do like directing. >> Uh I will be majoring in fabrication and digital design. I do plan on going to [music] uh Yukon. I have a dream career of being a neurologist. >> My curiosity is so big. [music] So, I just want to keep learning and exploring the
034world. Thank you very much. Uh, and as I said through the eyes themselves, um, again, examples of greatness and and I really I don't want to say it for you, but just at the end, um, just how powerful it was hearing the kids talking about their dreams in elementary school and by the time they get to us, they're pursuing them and it was just really special thing to watch. I think it captured it and I hope you enjoyed it. Thank you. That was great. Thank you. Now, we have the recognitions of retirement. >> Great. I'm going to invite Mrs. Adma and Mrs. Crawford um up to lead us in this presentation. But I think that, you know, the legacy videos are a beautiful example um of what's happening inside our schools and our young people,
035our dreamers, and how we're bringing it to life. And we can't do any of it without the legends inside this district. Um they've given us some of the best years and have left um certainly a mark to remember forever um on our school community. So um it's with a lot of honor and appreciation that we um recognize their retirements this evening. Good evening, uh, members of the board and superintendent Creden. Um, you couldn't have said it better. Um, that's exactly what I was sitting there crying my eyes about trying to pull myself together for this moment. Um, so we are here tonight to celebrate and honor our retirees for the 25 26 school year. Um, we've had retirees from July all the way up until June. We have 28 retirees this year and if we
036combine their total years of service, we have over 750 years of experience in our district that we are honoring and celebrating tonight. So, let's just give that a round [applause] to not sorry to all of our um retirees. We want to just thank you for your legacy of impact. And out of our 28, 20 couldn't make it tonight because they are off doing all the things we all dream about during retirement. [laughter] So, [snorts] at this time, I am just going to announce our retirees. Um, we have them from across all 10 of our units. So, we're so excited. And I will announce and celebrate the retirees who couldn't be present. And then we're going to turn it over to Miss Adoba. So, let's celebrate M. Mariana Morales, Linda Reinkle, Linda Rivera Brat, [applause] Denise
037Skillis, Monica Dino, Ira Pausner, David Cusk, Tammy Walter, Patricia Guerreri, Paul Sto, Patricia Kaneibbo, Ruth Casillas, Lisa Deavion, Michelle Martindale, [applause] Barbara Toya, Deborah Robinson, Lewis Garcia, Barbara Ryan, uh Michael Melon, Daniela Lobo, Villanova, Claudia Apt, and now I'll turn it over to Mrs. Adma to announce our present retirees. Oh, wait. Uh when we call your name, can you please come and stand up here um for all of our retirees? Thank you. First, we'd like to recognize Mrs. Melanie Hoffen with 30 years of service. Erica Reed with 39 years of service. [applause] Karen Sarinac with 22 years of service. Arie Conn with 17 years of service. [applause] >> Greg Fina with 30 years of service. Kim Hickby, 30 years of service. >> And last but not least, Tracy Santino with 34 years of service. [cheering]
038>> Oh, sorry. Sorry. One more. Susan Welch, 38 years of service. [applause and cheering] So, just a quote, retirement is wonderful, is doing nothing without worrying about getting caught at it. So, on [snorts] behalf of our scholars and staff, we want to thank you for your dedication and service to the district and enjoy doing nothing. >> [applause] [applause] >> Take a break. [applause] >> All right. If you can't and our soon to be retirees, please follow Mr. Wit out into the hallway for pictures. >> We're going to take a quick break um at this time from the public meeting to go to a brief reception and we'll be back conduct the rest of the business for the board. Thank you. May I have a motion to approve the regular meeting minutes >> of May 20,
0392026 as presented. [laughter] So that was a first and a second. >> Any discussion? >> All in favor? >> I. >> Any opposed? Motion passes. May I have a motion to approve the special meeting minutes of May 28th, as presented? Any discussion? All in favor? >> I. >> Any oppose? Motion passes. At this time, we do not have any administrative action items. So, uh, may I have a motion to approve instructional personnel memorandum 22B numbers 1 through 20 as presented? >> Move. >> Second. >> Any discussion? All in favor? >> I. >> Any opposed? Motion passes. May I have a motion to approve non-instructional personnel memorandum 22C numbers 1 through 7 as presented? >> So move on that second. >> Any discussion? All in favor? >> Any opposed? Motion passes. May I have a motion
040to approve financial memorandum 23D numbers 1-6 as presented? >> So move. >> Any discussion? All in favor? Any opposed? Motion passes. May I have a motion to approve special service memorandum 22, sorry, 21E numbers 1 through two as presented? >> So move. >> Um any discussion, Mr. Parino? >> Discussion on that. You know, as as I've said a few times, I do the IEPs and I'm try to be very careful with them and I always note the progress from September to now and I make some notes and I uh I like to just uh report a couple of these phrases as I did at the last meeting. These are different making excellent progress and working in an independent level. >> [snorts] >> significant progress to his goal in handwriting. Teacher report that the scholar loves
041school making progress to all speech goals. Their parent reported that blank is making progress the school year on and on. So, as I say, Tracy Santino is retiring. She's a principal there. We have an excellent special ed department uh headed by Nicole Tagney and uh her staff is is great and the children seem to be doing doing very well as as I see it there. So uh good. That's my comments for the evening on that. >> Thank you. >> All in favor? >> I. >> Any opposed? Motion passes. We do not have any change orders at this time. Um, may I have a motion to approve the director of personnel and inclusion letter of understanding as it was presented? >> So move. >> All in favor? >> I. >> Any opposed? Motion passes. May I
042have a motion to approve the 2627 school year instructional calendar as presented? >> So move. >> Second. >> Any discussion? >> Yes. Could you explain the 26 27 what's the change? >> Yeah, thank you. Um when the calendar was adopted um there was an oversight in terms of the days that were um pullback days should the district um be unable to meet its minimum number of hours and days for um aid purposes. So we made that adjustment. So there's no change to the days that are in session and days that were not in session. It's just the order in which the days will be pulled back if um we need to because of um our inability to meet state hours or days. >> Thank you. >> And just for just for legal clarification, um I
043believe the motion is to amend the instructional calendar, not to pre not to approve it as presented. >> So, right, because it says to amend. No, it says to >> that's what it says here, but it's not what we said >> here. >> So, I just wanted to clarify it. >> We do it. Yeah. >> Yeah. >> I just want to make sure. >> I have a motion to amend the 2627 school year instructional calendar as presented. >> So, move second. >> Any discussion? All in favor? >> Any opposed? Motion passes. May I have a motion to approve the 2526 board meeting schedule as presented? The amendment reflects moving the last board meeting of the school year to Tuesday, June 16th, 2026. Let's see. >> The amendment reflects moving the last board meeting of the
044school year to Tuesday, June 16th of 2026. May I have >> just thought you said the 18th. So, I make sure >> No, the 16th. Can I have a first and a second, please? >> So, move. >> Um, any discussion? >> Yes. >> Okay. um for the sake for the sake for the sake of the community. What's the reason why we're moving the meeting? Again, >> we could not for well we had requested to change the dates because not many board members can be present on the 18th. We would have about four board members that could be present on the 18th and so changing it to the 16th would allow us to have a quorum and a majority of seven board members. >> All right. Thank you. question. >> I think it's important unless we
045change norms. We are supposed to keep every Thursday available and I understand that circumstances come up where a board member or not, but to tell us that there's not a quorum uh doesn't sit well with me because I feel we have an obligation um to be present. So, and I understand their circumstances, but I think when the [clears throat] new year comes, July 1st, it needs to be stressed. Same thing with special meetings. We're supposed to keep every Thursday open. We might not need every Thursday, but if a special meeting is needed, you have that open Thursday. >> Yeah, I'm in agreement. Thank you, Rose. >> Thank you. >> Any anyone else? >> Okay. All in favor? >> I. Any opposed? Motion passes. Public participation and this will be the opportunity to address the board.
046The board will designate a portion of its meeting agenda for public comment for a period up to 40 minutes. Each speaker will be allowed up to four minutes. The public is not permitted to discuss topics and or matters involving specific individuals. Speakers must sign in prior to speaking. Speakers are not permitted to seed their time to other speakers. A timer will sound when you have 30 seconds remaining to address the board. specific personas. At this moment, if anyone would like to address the board, please come up. Hello, Dr. Johnson. >> Well, good evening, ladies and gentlemen. I am always pleased to be able to stand before you and address you. I come to you as a friend of the district. I come to you as an alum of this esteemed body. I come to you
047as the most recent moderator of your candidates forum, but I'm just a guy. So, let's get that clear. So, if you remember from the candidates forum, I was uh under the uh advisement of our board president to focus more on uh how the board can conduct itself, make decisions and move forward in a productive manner. And so some of those questions reflected things like uh collaboration, consensus building, and finding a good way that may not be the best way. I stand before you tonight to remind you that a woman named Jane Goodall was on this planet from 1934 to 2025. And I've given each of you one of these. Why do I think Jane Goodall is cool? Well, she's an animal person, so that works for me. She's a woman who stayed dedicated to purpose
048for 60 years. Wasn't always easy. She was criticized along the way, but she managed in my mind, which is a dangerous place, I understand, but she managed to parlay intelligence to wisdom. And I think that makes her a very, very remarkable person. besides [clears throat] establishing herself as the premier primatologist and ecologist, hence my t-shirt because I'm kind of left in the 60s. I still wear t-shirts and my hat that suggests that you plant a tree. So, if you flip the page from the Time magazine cover to the red piece of paper, I stand before you with all due respect and with every hope that we can turn the page for the board and move forward in a very productive and collaborative manner. And I ask you to remember three things that Jane Goodall said.
049She said a lot of things, but here's three. Change happens by listening and then starting a dialogue with the people who are doing something you don't believe is right. Different approach perhaps. Second, lasting change is a series of compromises and compromise is all right as long as your values don't change. Third, what you do makes a difference and you have to decide what kind of difference you want to make. So, she passed on uh at age 91 of heart attack in her sleep in state of California. I think she left behind her own legacy. I'm not sure she had a video, but she certainly left behind her own legacy. And I just offer you those ideas as something to ponder as you move forward into this new year. Um, I'll offer you one tidbit that
050I've come across in my 70 years of wandering the planet. Everything's simple till you go to do it. Thank you for your kind and courteous attention. And have a good evening. >> Thank you, sir. Thank you. >> Thank you. Do we have anyone else who would like to address the board? >> We're going to move along. Um, have we received any letters to the board of education? >> Superintendent updates. >> Okay. So, we are going to move on to our board of education updates and it is time for our su student board members to report. >> Good evening everyone. Um, last time we met was May 20th. Unfortunately, I wasn't here because my brother's keeper, we appointed our new fellows into my brother's keeper. So, I have two new fellows in my organization. Uh, very
051proud of that. We took a trip to Albany and it was it was just another basic symposium um for all the my brother's keeper programs in um in New York State. That was a very nice thing. Um you want to talk about this? So, Friday of last week, May 29th, um the cohort 2020 2025 honored freshmen who were in both high honoral and honoral by um having ninth period off and to have the freshman receive ice cream. So, there was a big party for freshman. Um it was super super fun. We also had um MBK students who did help out volunteer. We also had ambassadors help out um and volunteer and other um seniors altogether. Um it was a very very fun event and I'm glad that we got to show appreciation to the freshman
052as they should begin. >> Other than those lately um we've just been preparing for graduation and >> getting Thank you. and getting our just end of the year celebrations out for all of our extracurriculars and just spreading just spreading uh just basic love throughout our community as our final our last stretch. Um and with that we've also been seeking for our replacements, those who will fill our shoes for the upcoming school year uh in September. big shoes to fill. Correct. Um I'm very excited. We've we've gotten a nice amount of applicants and we're working with uh Miss Shidi and Mr. Donahghue to really select like really select them down to see who Nepor Nepapor and I feel is can fit fill our shoes and live up to the expectations that we've set. to add on.
053Um during the application process, we've had gotten a lot of applicants. So, it's super super hard to like, you know, kind of like see like who fits the qualities that we like to see in a student board representative and because of the pool is like much larger than we expected, it's very very hard because everyone is amazing in their own way. Um to go on deeper today um as we know graduation is coming up. Today seniors were able to receive their stoalls and cords for differentmies that they graduate in such as um national academy of finance academy of engineering um biomed science. Am I missing anymore? >> The academy of information technology. Um, students also receive their seals of civic readiness and I believe their seals of bi literacy for our NAF and SEAL graduation
054tomorrow. Um, and then >> engineering I I believe Nepor said engineering. >> Um, [laughter] >> yeah, you can keep >> Yes. Um, yesterday we had our scholarship ceremony where students who applied for scholarships and received a scholarship were able to come in with their friends and family and be honored by their donors, by their family, and by their peers. So, that was super super fun. And I know me and Edid were there. And it's amazing to see how much we can accomplish by, you know, just [bell] by just being, you know, just putting ourselves out there and just doing the best that we can. >> Yes. Uh, I would definitely say at the scholarship ceremony last night, my heart was completely full with just just the positive energy in the room and just to hear
055like everybody be noticed and celebrated whether it like you knew the person or not, you are were all there for the same purpose and you guys were all being celebrated and recognized for all your hard work and dedication. I do have to commend our students and probably the best attired graduating class that I've seen in a long time. They these guys were snappy dressers yesterday at the scholarship function. >> It was nice. >> Okay, we're going to move on to community engagement updates. Mr. Perino, I'm going to start with >> Thank you so much, Prep, Madame President. First of all, I want to compliment our student representatives, Mr. Lugal, Miss Patel. You were great at the award ceremony >> and you carried away some of the 16.4 million dollars that was given out and we'll
056be and there's more to come. Uh so good for you guys. And Mr. Lugo was uh uh and Miss Patel were both at the uh at the sneaker ball and Mr. Lugo had sneakers on. I think they're worth more than the car I drive. >> 2020 year old car. So it was very good. Now the next thing I want to do, this is graduation season of course. I want to read some of the members who are graduating who are uh [snorts] children of board members and uh I'm going to start right now not and there I could go on for about two hours with all their accomplishments. I just want to read them very briefly. Leanne Cedon graduating 2026 Washingtonville High School going to attend Chattam University. Say Adamo III, son of Camille Adamo, graduate
0572026 Pace University. >> All right. >> Received a bachelor's degree in science, degree in computer science. Currently interning with IBM. Seth Monte graduate John A. Flary and Middletown High School. Val of Victorian at John A. Flary [applause] High School. Joseph Crawford, son of Jillian Crawford, 2026 Pine Bush High School, St. John's University, Criminal Justice. Addison Rodon, 2026, Arlington High School, Honor Society, will be attending Sunni Oni to study nutrition and dietetics. Will Bowler, son of Liz Bowler, graduate class of Warwick High School, president of the video production club, will attend St. John's University to pursue a degree in television and film. >> Hey. All right. >> Wow. >> Continue just for a moment. Anthony Filipino, son of Brooks Filipino, >> graduate of Washingtonville High School, will attend Sunni Onandaga to pursue a degree in fire
058science. Hey, that's great. He's a fireman. I'm going to say that Anthony will live at the firehouse as part of the bunker program. Sarah Lester, graduate class of Buff from Buffalo University, will attend Buffalo State to pursue a master's degree in speech and language, member of the acapelica group, the Royal Pitches. On and on I could go about these uh students, but it indicates to me great parenting. And before my time is up, I have to compliment um Kevin who's with who's taking photos tonight and Caroline Woodward. >> This is a very very tough season on them and we appreciate it. >> A lot of work. And I also want to include uh uh compliment our food service. they always rise to the tax no matter how many uh dinners are asked to prepare. And
059lastly, before my couple seconds is up, I want to compliment my colleague uh Mr. Rhett for setting up the uh Rhett Family Educational Foundation. Gave a nice scholarship up last night. Mr. Rugo was a recipient of that. I'm done. [applause] Yes, I am completely blessed to be the first Rhett scholar. Thank you. I appreciate it. >> Dr. De Jesus. >> Thank you. >> Good evening. Um just a couple of updates for um on this past Tuesday, my sister keeper, my brother's keeper had a sneaker ball as we heard a little bit about it. I heard about those sneakers as well. Um but um again, awesome collaboration for both programs to come together. On this sat next Saturday, June 13, the My Sisters Keeper program will be volunteering um with Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority and um
060for their block party. It's called block party with a purpose. It's actually going to be held in Newberg, but they'll be um doing community work over there on June 13 from 1 to 4 pm at 162 Johnston Street. Um for Maple Hill, they've been a little bit busy. Um their drama play is tomorrow and also on Saturday is tomorrow at 700 p.m. They've been practicing a lot. Yesterday I picked my granddaughter up at 8. Tonight it ends at 900 PM. Um, so for those those of you that can come out and support that Matilda drama play, please do so. It's tomorrow at 7 PM and it's also on Saturday. Saturday, June 6 is our Special Olympics. It's going to be held at Goan. It's at 8:00 a.m. Um Tracy Santino does an awesome, phenomenal job
061at the Special Olympics. So if you can attend, that's June 6 at um Gan. Our Maple Hill graduation is on June 24th at 1000 am. And on May 29th, um I had the privilege and honor of attending the cultural events at Presidential as well as Maple Hill. Um the the kids were very super excited about showing off um their art and the different and expressing the different countries. Um so that was awesome. community some community events on June 19th um is our Junth event at Eerie Way Park from 1 PM to 5:00 pm. And I also want to give a shout out to the girls flag football, the Odyssey of the Mind. And from watching the video, I wrote down a takeaway from the um elementary school. The the young man said, "I want to
062be the best person that I can be." So those those are my announcements. >> Thank you, Dr. De Jesus. Mr. Rhett, >> good evening everyone. Um, yes. Um, I believe we have a couple of um highlights on the screen that should be popping up. Um, I was um in the neighborhood of Mount Hagen and I said, "Oh my gosh, it's um Odyssey of the Mind um send off." So, I ran over there and uh Mr. Rodonia allowed me to cheer the kids on and be a part of their celebration, their send off for them to head on up to um head on to Iowa and um it was very exciting and it was great to be a part of it. So, there's a couple pictures there. It was really um rallied up and excited about
063going to represent Middletown City Schools. And this is um last night. This was at the um scholarship celebration. My wife and I was there to present this um award to this wonderful recipient here, Mr. Eden Lugo. So um this is our first year of um presenting this um u scholarship um foundation that we put together and of course our my brother's keeper program um these guys received some awards as well. So I was there to represent them as well. It was a real good occasion. It was long, but it was special. And as John pointed out, 16.5 million in scholarship money was presented to our wonderful scholars. It was just awesome. And you know, I I have to say that it just keeps getting larger and larger. You know, people truly feel very strongly about
064giving back and supporting these kids. you know, we know what um college fees are like. So, every little bit that they can get a hold of and um and because of their accomplishments, we it's great that we can reward them. Thank you very much. >> Thank you, Miss Satrada. >> Thank you. I I'll piggyback on what Mr. Red just said regarding the um scholarship um function yesterday. Excuse me. Um, what I would recommend for our scholars who did receive, excuse me, an award last night is to take time over the next couple of days and just jot a thank you down on a note and then hand it to um your de your house dean and that house dean will make sure that that note gets back to the people who provided the scholarship. Um
065I still in my drawer um the very first year first time I was president of the board um our graduation had gotten rained out. it was like major flooding and we had it at Sunni Orange and that was the first year that we decided um just as an offshoot when I got up I asked for all the military students to get up and surprised them. They got up, they were acknowledged. First time we had acknowledged our students that were going into the service. And about two months later, I received a letter in the mail from their from one of the parents of those students saying, "Thank you so much for recognizing him going into the military. People don't usually do that." And I still have that, you know. So, that was probably probably going on
06615 years now. And uh I still keep it in my drawer. So, those little messages mean a lot. Um, so I would suggest that you take time just write down a little thank you for them because one of the things that I always come away with from that evening is um the emotion that the presenters when they're up at the podium and talking about why they have a certain memorial scholarship for their son or their daughter or their father or their mother who were deceased and this was a way for them to keep that person's legacy moving forward. So, um I think our graduates when I see them go up to the podium and get the scholarship, they were listening because I see um the emotion when they go up there to receive the scholarship
067uh money. So, um it means a lot for those people and the fact that our students accept the gift very graciously is why they keep coming back every year and providing money. They keep continually paying pay paying it forward. So, congratulations to all of those out there. Um, and then I also want to highlight this morning I was privileged enough to go to the um scholar athlete breakfast that's held each year um over at the Otterkill Country Club. Um, two students, a female and a male, are recognized by every school district, every high school. So this year, Marley Blauvelt was the female who was honored for Middletown and Anthony Russo um was the male for Middletown. Um so their pictures were in the pamphlet today. We were very well represented because our own trainer, trainer
068Craig was um as soon as I find it here in the book, he was given the um trainer of the year award um for the OCIAA. So Craig [applause] Allnichek, I think I got his name right. All right, they didn't say it right there, but you know, God bless to everybody. Um, you know, be careful, please. Um, and I'll go over my Oh, no. I have 20 seconds. So, last year on the day that you had the senior breakfast, there was a car accident on Carpenter Avenue and I happened to be driving by when it happened and it involved two of our seniors. Luckily, everybody was safe and sound, but please be careful. It's a special day. and we're going to make sure you get [bell] through the end of it safe and sound as
069well. So, God bless. >> Thank you. >> Mr. Estrada, would you just tell us what sports those two? >> Sure. Um >> I know one is football. I don't know what >> I'll tell you right now. Actually, a couple different sports. So, U Marley class rank is seven, varsity sports, volleyball, indoor track and field and outdoor track and fe track and field captain of the track and field team scholar athlete team. National Honor Society, Top Student, Student Council, Senior Enrichment. Her community service was homeless animals advocate, tutoring, REITs across America, and the National Honor Society. She's headed up to the University of Albany for nursing. And Anthony Russo, class ranked number six in football, basketball, and tennis. Captain of the football team and the tennis team, threetime finalist and section 9 champion for football. three-time
070section 9 qualifier in tennis. Three-time MVP varsity tennis all league player for football. Um, city of Middletown litter pickup. BCNY Coaches versus Cancer volunteer. Middletown warming station volunteer. St. Joseph's Church volunteer. National Honor Society tutoring. He said it to Sunni Brockport for physical education. >> Wow. >> That's impressive. Yeah. >> Wow. >> Thank you, Mr. Estrada. Miss Tobias. Thank you very much. Um, congratulations to to everyone, but what I'm going to focus on is my favorite subject, OM. Um, our teams, [clears throat] both uh, one from the high school and one from Mhagen, went on to Iowa for the world championship. What wasn't said was that the [clears throat] team from Mhagen, there are two divisions with OM. You have your skits and then you have what they call spontaneous. None of the teams know
071what it is. They're given a problem and it is problem solving. Our team from Mhagen placed first in spontaneous in the state. >> Wow. >> And second in the world in Iowa. It's a major accomplishment. The other thing I want to point out with Odyssey of the Mine and you see the skits, some of the skits can look very elaborate. They are given a budget and I believe it might have increased but it was $120. That's all they can spend on preparing their skits. So when you see kids running around during spring cleanup or in the garage with their parents looking for, everything is donated or they have to make it. It's you you have to be there to experience the thrill seeing the students walk in. Um it's almost like the Olympics with the
072flags and and their nations. Uh the same with the final uh the finale of the last night which was last Saturday night again display of students because they come from all over the world not just the United States, Poland, other uh European countries and that um I have feel felt very honored to be part of both the trip to Iowa even though it was 18 hours on a bus and the trip to Michigan. So kudos to our adviserss and to the students. They did a wonderful wonderful job. Thank you. >> Thank you Miss Tobias. >> And thank you for you know giving us a breakdown of how that really goes about we don't really know about that. Yeah, it's a difficult uh situation. Pretty amazing. Yeah. >> Yeah. >> Um Pastor Williams, >> so there's
073a lot of good stuff that's going on um the end of the year. Um and I think it's good to to choose to focus on that stuff right now. Uh there's so many other things that we could talk about and so many other things, but um at the end of the day, it's about our kids. It's about our students. It's about our community, about our family. And so with that being said, um tonight I want to focus on um um on something that's really uh was really special to me over this past year. Um uh you know, I I I have the privilege of having a lot of great relationships within this within this community and within this district. Um relationships with families, relationships with um teachers, relationships with administrators. Um and uh there's a
074there is a particular class that I've been tracing um since the beginning of the year and they're doing some great things. And so um if they could queue up the video >> and I'll let the video speak for itself and then I'll say something after the video if they have that. >> It's time for our new segment, Classroom Spotlight, where we take a look at some of the amazing learning that's happening around our schools. This week we're heading into Mr. Silverman's classroom where the students have spent the school year raising trout from eggs all the way through their release into local waterways. Starting back in October, students cared for the trout while learning about their life cycle, migration patterns, and the importance of healthy aquatic ecosystems. Along the way, they conducted weekly water quality tests,
075monitored ammonia, nitrate, and pH levels, and even used nutrient-rich water from the tank to help grow classroom plants. Oh, >> the learning didn't stop in the classroom. During a field trip to the Ashoken Center, students explored the Espus Creek and surrounding waterways, discovering firsthand the habitats, food chains, and tiny organisms that support trout populations. >> We we got the goldfish when they were little and we we fed them, give them food and stuff like that. And we made them we made them like a very beautiful habitat, but then we had to release them. releasing the the fish, the natural habitat was was really heartwarming to me and that just made me appreciate more nature. >> As the year wraps up, students are putting their knowledge into action by writing argument essays about why it's important
076to protect natural resources like freshwater, forests, and fish habitats. >> All right. But so so um that's that's just a little highlight of of this class. Um I want to thank um uh Mr. Ezra Silverman for inviting me inviting me in early on in the year to be able to see where they started and then come down to this point where they took these students out and they released those trout uh back into the habitat back into the into the wilderness and uh it was a great it was a great experience for them. I think we concentrate so much on the academics and we should and we concentrate but the one thing that Middletown is really good at is providing experiences and I think that experiences are one of the greatest teachers and so um
077you know that's that's as as we're going forward there's so many other things that they've done uh that class has done um things with butterflies with so many other wonderful things and so um this was my highlight tonight of uh of of Mr. Silverman's class and some of the uh other ENL ENL teachers that he partners with as well. Um because Middletown Middletown is a wonderful place and I think that it was important for us to take a moment to we've we've seen some of the big things but just to kind of shrink it in for a moment and focus in and see something very specifically um I thought was a wonderful idea. So congratulations Mr. Silverman. Congratulations to all the students um on a successful year and a successful project. So, thank you. That's
078all. >> Thank you, Pastor Williams. Vice President Williams. >> Yes. Good evening. Um I think I have a couple images [bell] >> already. >> No, I hope not. >> Yes. So, so I'm excited to announce we have a date and location for the It Takes a Village Barbecue. Um, a special thanks to Superintendent Ceden. Had a great sit down with um Mrs. Cedon, Dave Coats, Justin Sturge, and Nicole Tagy um to put our heads together and uh you know, collaboratively get this thing going. Um super excited this year. Um, Fowler Field, August 26th is the set date. Wednesday, Thursday, um, August 27th is the rain date. Um, big mishap last year is that, uh, we didn't have a rain date um, when we did it in the park. So, that kind of, you know, resources
079went elsewhere. I got did the kids day um, with the police department, gave out book bags there. So, um, yes, looking forward to this. Super excited. We'll have multiple uh organizations within the district um out helping including staff um kids uh with programming. MBK, MSK, Diamonds and Pearls, right? We'll be out there helping out. >> Absolutely. >> Um uh honor society. Jennifer Young always does a great um job assisting us, sending out volunteers as well. So, looking forward to that. Um you know, I don't want to rush the back to school thing, right? Because we're just getting to the end of the year, but um you know, just putting the notice out there. And I have one more image. Yep. So, the kids day um is this Saturday, Thraw Park, 11 to 2:00 p.m. with
080Middletown Police Department. And um my business will have a couple staff members out there giving free haircuts to the kids. I think this is our fourth year um doing this kids day with the Middletown Police Department. We always look forward to it. Community engagement is our thing. You know, having a business in the downtown business district is uh it's important to give back. I believe every business that is a business should give back. Um and also so now I want to comment on our um student reps. Um Eden, it's been a pleasure watching you grow the last couple years with MBK. We've been on multiple trips to colleges. Um your energy is always consistent and a consistently good energy. Uh respectful, responsible. Um you're going to go on to do great things. You've done great
081things here. Uh my son is is MBK, one of the youngest MBK members, and he looks up to you greatly for a great reason amongst uh a lot of other young men. So, you know, salute to you and and all the best up in UA and the poor that this year, you know, only knowing you this year, um you know, you're going to thrive in anything you do. Um, we could just tell your energy and the effort you put forth. Um, Yukon is getting another special person to join that um that that organization up there. And that's a it's a big school. I'm I'm a Georgetown fan. So, uh, Yukon was one of our nemesis, right? But I'm going to I'm I think I'll buy Yukon shirt now that you're going to go there. Um,
082but yeah, good luck to you guys. You guys have been amazing reps and like Mr. Bison said, huge shoes to fill. Huge. Um, so you know, we we acknowledge all your great um achievements and everything you will do and keep in touch. We want to keep in touch. I'm gonna I'm gonna sit with uh with um Mrs. Cedon and I want to I want I want to pitch an idea about um us keeping in touch with um you know, our student reps among some some other kids. I think that's super important because these kids that you guys are leaving, they're not really leaving them, but they want to know what you guys are up to, right? So, um I >> Yeah, exactly. Exactly. So, um, just want to salute you guys again. All right. Thank
083you. >> Thank you. >> That was good. >> Eden and Apore, I'm going to miss you so much. You're both so amazing. Um, let's move forward to committee reports. Do we have any board members that have committee reports? Mr. Tobias? >> Uh, the audit committee has a meeting Monday at 4:30. This coming Monday, June 8th. Thank you. >> Thank you. >> So, uh, let me speak on on behalf of Oxa Oxa. Um, uh, Wednesday night was the annual Oxa uh dinner and annual meeting. Uh, and so I want to thank those uh, board members that um, attended that meeting. Mr. Rat, um, Mr. Estrada, um, uh, Miss Romero, and um, Superintendent Ceden all attended that meeting. Uh it was my it was uh my last meeting after three-year term uh serving as the president. It's
084been a wonderful experience, a wonderful time. I still remain on the executive committee uh as the immediate past president. Uh but it's been a wonderful time. And so now the new president of of OXPA is uh Mrs. Robin White who hails from Washingtonville, serves there as the vice president, and she's going to do an excellent job. Um, so I encourage all of you um take advantage of those relationships that we have across across the county uh and and so that we can um uh you know we can learn from one another. We can learn from one another. It's wonderful to be able to have those connections. None of us know everything and that's the that's one of the the biggest thing and and everybody has an experience. as much as we have similarities, there are
085a lot of differences and we can learn from our similarities, but we can also learn from our differences. So, um I just wanted to share that. Uh also, I think it's time for anybody that's going to be trying to attend the um leadership and education conference or leadership and education symposium up in uh Albany. uh the Lee the Lee conference uh this summer. It's it's time for you to let uh uh Miss Man Sheree know uh that you want to attend. I think those of you that have gone in the past have had a wonderful time. It's a little bit different focus. It's a a lot more intimate because it's a smaller group, but I'm sure that you will enjoy yourself and have a wonderful time. I'll be doing what I did last year. I'll
086be in this this year I'll be in Indianapolis as opposed to being in New Orleans. But I'll be in Indianapolis coming straight back from Indianapolis to be there on on Friday night. So, but I won't be as tired as I was last year. >> Hopefully better weather. I think it was a rainstorm. Remember last year? >> And that's what happened. my it was a rainstorm and my flight my flight coming into um into JFK was delayed and I got [clears throat] in by the time I got into Albany it was it was 6:30 in the morning and I had not slept. Um so I was a zombie during the whole time. Uh but this year is going to be a little bit different but I'm sure that you will enjoy yourself. So, let's take advantage
087of these opportunities and and let's go. And again, let me say congratulations to everybody from um our last meeting that was presented um your your um recognitions from NISPA. Um it's it's not anything lightly. You guys worked for it. And so again, I want to say congratulations to you. >> Uh yeah, to that note, I want to also add um after the um Ospa um >> Oxa Yeah. [laughter] >> after that um dinner, which was really great dinner. It was great um opportunity just um meet with some other people and conversate about different things. But a bunch of us ran out of there and we ran over to Goan, >> right? >> Because um a girls flag football team was >> winning a game that was really tough and uh we was able to get
088over there to support them. So that was really good and we're looking forward to them um bringing home um a championship. They're going they're traveling to where at um this weekend. >> Yeah. They're headed up to Homer High School. They're leaving tomorrow. Did we do we should do a sendoff for that? I mean, not that. Who knows? But they leave for Homer High School tomorrow. They play Half Hollow Hills, which is out of Suffach County on um th Saturday morning at 11:00 a.m. That's a state semifinal, >> right? >> And if they're fortunate enough to pull that game off, then they will play in the state championship game on Sunday. Um also at Homer High School, which is about just outside of Courtland. >> [bell] >> They they beat a really strong Mamaran team. They
089>> Yes. Yes, they did. >> They beat a really strong a really good Mamaran team um on on the on Wednesday night. So, um congratulations to them. >> Hey, let's give them a hand. How about that? >> Great job, guy. girls. [applause] >> We should just thank really quickly um because at the very last minute after they um won um the Middletown Police Department um the fire department um wound up giving them um a champions escort back to school with uh the police department and fire department. So it was a great night for them. >> People were asking. >> Yes. Thank you. >> I'm sure we shocked the neighbors because it was about 10:30 by the time they got here with sirens ablazing. >> It was late. Pastor, I think one of the great things
090about the Orange County School Boards, the annual meeting, is the camaraderie that's established between our fellow board members from the different school districts in the county. This is the first year in many that I was not able to attend. And I do miss that the exchange. I think of Arthur Boart. I think of, you know, different folks that for many years I've known. So, uh, that's a real plus, too. and that, you know, to that point, many of them many of them um over the last over the last nine years or so, um I've had the privilege they're they're they're good friends. They're friends now. They're good friends. We were colleagues. We were we were, you know, other boards, but um now they're good friends. And outside of schoolboard work, outside of all this this
091stuff, that's there's a connection there. So, um that's that's really a good thing about it. >> Yeah. And Karen Mir, she's always an awesome host. Absolutely. She always does a great job >> and and and as I said at the meeting, Karen is is without, >> you know, because I I I get to work around the state. So, I get to work around the whole state and work with a lot of different people. But, uh Karen is without question is one of the best >> Yes. >> if not the best um uh uh directors u uh of any of the KOBAs. They call them KOBABS of state or or county uh county organizations and associations. She's one of the best. So, um Karen Meyer, we if if you see this later, we salute you. So,
092thank you. >> Do we have any other committee reports at this time? Um any conferences, professional learning and education matters, Mr. Parino? >> Last meeting, uh I stated that uh a couple things I'd like to see [snorts] before I I leave the board. uh one of them is the uh come to grips with uh artificial intelligence and I want to compliment you on those little seminars we've had uh to the uh to the public on artificial intelligence. Uh the other item uh is uh preschool and in the governor's budget uh there's money for uh preschool which is good and I I'd like to see us develop a a think about developing a site for uh a preschool building. >> So uh those are a couple things. The third thing and I'm investigating this. I didn't
093say this at the last meeting. U we have a number of wonderful college courses at the high school. Uh what I'd like to see is maybe pairing up somehow with uh Sunni Orange good school and offering students in the high school an associate of arts degree. Now I don't know if that's pos >> I don't know if that's possible. No, >> but uh so they would come out of high school with a AA degree. >> Yeah, we're currently we're currently have that available for our students. >> But are they take the point is how many are taking advantage of it though because I haven't heard I haven't heard too much about that and that's why I said this. >> Yeah. So the official pathway will be brand new for us in the 2627 school year.
094Okay. >> But right now our students take credits up to 138 30 I'm sorry. I say it again. >> 38. Yeah. 138 credits that they can acquire in total. Um like today at the um scholar athlete recognition ceremony um one of our young people mentioned that he's graduating um this year with 44 college credits. Um so that next step for us um which is a pathway between the college credits um themies and the SEAL presentations. the next natural step is the associates degree and Sunni Orange is right in our backyard and very eager um to support us in making that a reality. So, thank you. >> Good idea. And uh if we could if we could uh get periodical periodonical reports on that. >> Absolutely. >> That's uh that's good. And the only other thing
095I'd like to say before we before we're done, I want to thank Dr. Johnson for bringing that article on Jane Goodell to our attention. how true that is. And uh remember the dignity index. I keep that on hand. I think during this year we were started out one or two on the dignity index and now I think we're up to number we're approaching number eight on that if we're not already there. Everyone has inter inherent worth and therefore treats everyone with dignity no matter what. So I think we're making a lot of progress. we have made a lot of progress on this board. So that that's what I want to say about that. I'm through. Thank you. >> Thank you, Mr. Parino. Do we have any other conference professional learning and education matters? >> Um
096just when uh when do you need to know about July? If we wanted to go to that conference, what's the latest >> Okay. So we have some time. >> You're talking about the one in Albany, right? the one in Albany. Yeah. >> What are the dates for that? Um >> I think it's late July like 24th or something like that. >> It's about the 23rd. >> How soon do we have to let you know? >> But for a hotel because the idea would be to try to stay in the same hotel where they have it. Yeah, we could talk after >> and I think the law conference, Crystal, correct me if I'm wrong. I think the law conference locally is always the first Friday in August. Usually they have it at Mount St. Mary's. >>
097Yeah. >> Okay. >> They're both offered virtually, just so you know. >> Yes. >> And how soon we have to let you know if we're interested? >> Anytime. but she said to talk to her after. [laughter] >> Okay. Well, with that, thank you all. I have um these guys here are going to share our upcoming dates and reminders for June 5th. We have a Carter fifth fun day at Middletown High School. We also have the NAV graduation at 5:00 p.m. through 8:00 p.m. at the Middleton High School as well. And then we have our Maple Hill spring drama performance starting at 700 p.m. at Monhagen Middle School. June 6th, we've have we have our Maple Hill spring drama performance um at 6:00 p.m. at Middle Uhagen Middle School. June 8th, we have our Carter Orchestra
098and Chorus concert starting from 6:30 p.m. at Middleton High School. And on June 9th, we have our special services caregiver training starting from 5:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. at Presidential Park Elementary School. >> On June 11th, we have the NYS lacrosse semi-finals at Middletown High School. On June 15th, we have the NHS induction ceremonies at Maple Hill Presidential Park and William A. Carter elementary schools. On June 16th, we have an academic awards brunch for the cohort of 2022, I believe, from 9:00 am to 11:00 a.m. at Middletown High School. We also have a board of education meeting at 6:30 p.m. in the MHS library media center. And also on June 17th between 6:00 and 7:30 p.m., My Brother's Keeper is having an end of the year celebration here in the Middletown High School Media Center.
099>> Thank you. With that, can I just add one Can I just add one thing that our um Special Olympics athletes um will be competing this weekend on Saturday um at Goan. If you are around and available to pop in, I know they'd love some support. >> Thank you. >> And I just wanted to add that June 17th is the um some of our students who will be taking part in the BoseCTE graduation down at West Point. >> Thank you. May I have a motion to adjourn? [laughter] >> Okay. Any discussion? All in favor? >> Motion passes.