001Good evening and welcome to our February 12th, 2026 board meeting of the Enlarged City School District of Middletown. At this time, we're going to share our disclaimer. Mr. Mccor, >> 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. Mr. Please webto. >> 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 will be happy to accommodate you. Thank you guys. I appreciate you. At this time, I'd like to have everyone rise and for the pledge of
002allegiance given by Mrs. Tobias. And please remain standing afterwards thereafter four moments of silence. Thank you. I alian to the flag of the United States of America and to the United States. One nation under God, indivisible, liberty and justice for all. >> Please continue standing. >> Pastor John, you didn't. Okay. >> No. >> Okay. So, I have one. Um, moment sounds for a community member and a brotherhood through basketball, Mr. Keon Gil, who has uh he had two or I think three kids in the Middletown district. Um, an excellent community member, great guy, myself and John Williams. Um, were teammates of his and unfortunately he lost his life uh almost two weeks ago. Um, but unfortunate event uh in the Bronx, New York. So, if you can just give uh five or 10 seconds of
003moment of silence, please. Thank you. >> At this moment, I would like uh we're going to share the mission statement given by Mr. Parino. >> Thank you. We strive to provide fiscally sound education opportunities in a safe environment that continuously supports our diverse student population. We we will enable all students to graduate to reach their full potential to become lifelong learners and be competitive, productive members of society. Thank you. >> Thank you, Mr. Pino. Mrs. Mree, roll call. >> Dr. De Jesus >> present. >> Mr. Estrada, >> here. Mr. Moore >> here. >> Mr. Parino >> here. >> Mr. Rhett >> here. >> Miss Romero. Miss Tobias >> here. >> Mr. Freddy Williams >> here. >> Pastor Williams >> here. >> Thank you. >> At this moment, I would like to delegate the business duties
004to Mr. Andrew Moore, and he's going to take it on from here. Thank you. >> Thank you, Vice President. Um, Fox, thank you. Um, may I have a motion to approve the agenda as presented? >> So, move >> question. >> Okay. >> Do we need to amend the agenda? >> I Yes, we do. No, we don't. No. No, we don't. >> No. >> Just so the public knows, the an action item was added before our meeting started, so there was no need to amend the agenda. >> Thank you for the clarification. >> You're welcome. Thank you, Mr. Bison. Uh, may I have a second? >> Second. They second. All right. Great. Any discussion? >> All in favor? >> I. >> Any opposed? Motion passes. Um, spotlight spotlight in um excellence. We have none today. So,
005we'll move on to Yeah, >> we did. >> Yes, >> no problem. We'll move on to the uh approval of the regular minutes of January 15th, 2026 as presented. >> So move. >> Okay. Any discussion? [clears throat] All in favor? >> I. >> Any oppose? Motion passes. May I have a motion to approve the board workshop minutes of January 29th as presented? >> So move. >> All right. Any discussion? >> All in favor? >> I. >> Any oppose? Motion passes. May I have a motion to approve the special meeting uh minutes of February 5th, 2026 as presented? >> So move. >> May I have a second? >> You have a second. Okay. Uh, any discussion? All in favor? >> I. >> Any oppose? No. Motion passes. We move over to action items. There are no
006administrative personnel action items tonight. Um, this action item B. Uh, may I have a motion to approve instructional personnel memorandum 15B? >> U numbers 1 through 18 as presented. Have a second. >> Second. Second. Any discussion? >> Yes. Uh Mr. Moore, Trusty Moore. Um I just uh have already notified both the acting superintendent and the district clerk. I'll be abstaining from 15B-1. Uh the first employee listed. He is a um the son of a friend of mine. So out of transparency, I won't be I'll abstain for that particular individual. then vote positively on the rest of the memorandum. >> Okay, >> no problem. Thank you. Um, all in sorry, all in favor? >> I >> Any oppose? 15B minus one for Mr. Estrada. Motion passes. Um, action item C. May I have a motion to
007approve non-instructional personnel memorandum 15C numbers 1 through 12 as presented? >> Any discussion? >> Yeah. Did you say 1 through 12? >> Yeah, >> because mine says 1 through 15. Or was that changed? Okay. My apologies. >> Yeah, >> you kind of messed me up. Okay. Yeah, the first one was one. Yeah. Any discussion? >> All in favor? I. >> Any oppose? Motion passes. May I have a motion to approve financial memorandum 16D numbers 1 through 11 as presented? >> So move. >> Any discussion? All in favor? >> I. >> Any oppose? Motion passes. May I have a motion to approve special services memorandum 14E numbers 1 through two as presented? So move. >> Any discussion? All in favor? >> I. Any oppose? Motion passes. May I have a motion to approve change orders 11F
008numbers 1 through six as presented? >> So move. >> Have a second. >> Any discussion? >> Bill. >> Yes. Sorry, Bill. >> Sure. >> Thank you. >> So tonight we have six different change orders as noted. The first is for the removal, disposal, and replacement of unsuitable soil. And the next is to provide and install four D2 light fixtures required to accommodate a reduced clearance situation. The next is to provide and install hangers for the district purchased PAS, clocks, and speaker combo units. Then we have one to provide and install electrical conduit and raceways to accommodate low voltage wiring and equipment to be installed by the district. The next is to is add for a change in new HVAC equipment refrigerant as required by the New York State Environmental Protection Agency. And the last one
009is to provide and install through wall flashing with solder joints. >> Thank you, Mr. Bartlet. >> Yes. Any other discussion? Yeah. >> Yeah. I just >> me. >> Yeah. >> Um I just wanted to because I know um Mr. Bartlet mentioned unsuitable soil and that could mean so many different things, but for this purpose is just ground that can't be used for the particular purpose. It has nothing to do with any contaminants or anything like that. [snorts] >> Mr. Parino >> that was the same comment More I had to do with clay so good and some coal ash correct this yeah minor small amount that was traces but it was the clay that we had to remove and over over excavate the space so that we could bring in some suitable material and develop a
010good base to build on. Of course, Twin Towers used to be heated by coal. >> Yes. >> Many years ago. >> Yeah. Okay. >> Sweet. Thank you. Uh so we'll take a vote. All in favor? >> I. Any oppose? Motion passes. Uh move to action [clears throat] item G. May I have a motion to approve the 2026 certified voting machine operators and table inspectors list for 2026 2027 school year as presented? So move >> second. >> Any discussion? All in favor? >> I. Any oppose? Motion passes. H. Action item H. Uh, may I have a motion to approve the MOA for directors and supervisors as presented? May I have a Oh, sorry. >> So move on that >> motion. I didn't hear anything. Sorry. Second. >> Second. >> All right. Any discussion? All in favor?
011>> I. Any oppose? Motion passes. Um, we'll move to action item I, which was just recently. All right. May I have a motion to approve the resolution to appoint a special counsel? >> So move. >> Okay. There is a All right. Cool. >> All right. Cool. So, I have a resolution that I have to present. Whereas a position has been filed with the commissioner of education pursuant to section 306 of New York State Educational Law against Trustee Edwin Estrada. And whereas the board of education is legally required to defend and admify Mr. Estrada in this matter pursuant to both the public officers law as well as the educational law. Now therefore, the board hereby appoints Capitol Region Boseies, Miss Bethany Catron, um the Boseies to resent to present, sorry, to represent Trusty Estrada in the
012above reference proceeding and further ratifying the um intermunicipal agreement between the district and Boseies which is incorporated by the reference into minutes of this meeting. Any discussion? >> Yes, >> Mr. Sh. >> Just since this involves me and so the public's aware, I consider this to be a travesty and a waste of taxpayer money, but nevertheless, so be it. Any other discussion? All in favor? >> I >> One obsession. >> One exception. >> So 81. >> Any oppose? Well, here's one. Motion passes. All right. This section. All right. We're moving to the public participation. An opportunity to address the board. The board will designate a portion of this meeting agenda for the public comment for a period up to 40 minutes. Each speaker will be allowed up to four minutes. The public is not permitted
013to discuss topics or matters involving specific individuals. Speakers must sign in prior to speaking. Speakers are not permitted to secede their time to other speakers. A timer will be will sound when the 30 second remaining to address the board. Um and this will be [clears throat] this. >> Yes. And they have this in disclaimer read in Spanish by Mr. Pacificas. Thank you. Any takers at this time? >> Good evening, board members, Mrs. Adom, and staff. I had the pleasure of meeting with Mrs. Adom and Mr. McConnell. Yesterday we discussed the great things that are happening in the district. Truly amazing things that have been lost in the shadows of the happenings surrounding the issues of the district since August. It was said at the November 20th board meeting that staff, students, and family have been
014held hostage. We can clearly see from the legacy videos that have been presented and social media highlights that the faculty, staff and students have carried on in excellence with Mrs. Adma leading side by side where their dedicated staff and faculty again not just one person. [clears throat] Excuse me. I wanted to reference two key points required at school of school boards as outlined in NISBA. Support a healthy school district culture for work and learning. For work and learning, maintain strong ethical standards. The board's response to presented evidence and circumstances raises serious concerns with alignment and commitment to NISBA's guidelines. These standards exist not to protect wrongdoing, but to uphold the standards set forth by NISBA. It is for this reason I announce that I'm running for school board in this year's election. I am running
015to fill these duties responsibly and with no personal agenda. My focus will be restoring and strengthening fiduciary responsibilities, strong ethical standards, and a healthy school district culture for teaching, learning, and working. Thank you. >> Thank you. [cough] Good evening, Mrs. Adma, members of the board of education. For those of you who don't know me, I'm Gregory Bennett. I am a lifelong resident of Middletown. I am a homeowner. I'm a taxpayer, and I am a recently retired member of the faculty and staff after serving 31 years here at Middletown High School as the director of choirs. This evening, I've decided to join the proverbial chorus of voices who have come forward. um a number of my colleagues who retired with me, we've been approached and the the proverbial feeling is that it's really not safe to
016come in and come forward to speak. Um and that's unfortunate because as a staff member, as a resident, as a taxpayer, if you work here, if you live here, should not be fearful to come in and speak whatever it is that you have as a concern. And if it's a concern, they should want to bring it to all of you so that a concern can be considered. So I understand the letter has been provided to Miss Monerry and it was also emailed and hopefully shared with all of you. said, "The letter I wish to share with all of you this evening and with the public so that they can hear it." Um, regarding employees protections, employees of the Middletown City School District commented or have written letters on instances of overt and subtle retaliation, harassment,
017and bullying by the superintendent and director of human resources to the board president Romero, vice president Williams, and trustees De Jesus, Estrada, Moore, Parino, Rhett, Tobias, and Williams. The individuals included in the comments and letters to the board hold senior leadership positions to provide them with the authority and discretion to initiate and influence personnel actions that may adversely affect employees or members of their staff and/or colleagues who have engaged in protected activity including disclosures of misconduct, submission of foil requests or other forms of protected speech. This letter serves as notification to the board and of the distress and concerns some of these employees hold. Therefore, the board cannot reasonably claim that they were not aware of these concerns and the potential deficiencies and internal mechanisms intended to safeguard employees from retaliation, harassment, or bullying. to
018not take timely and appropriate corrective action may subject the district to increased risk of constitutional claims, civil litigation, and/or board oversight investigations. Listed below are measures the board should consider preventing retaliatory conduct against specific employees by the superintendent and director of human resources. Number one, act and investigate reports from employees of alterations to an employees terms of employment, including but not limited to changes in compensation, duties, appointment, promotion, transfer of assignment, work site, work schedule, performance reviews, benefits, and privileges when an employee gauges or participates in a protected activity. Number two, prescribe the engagement in or encourage social or professional isolation of any district employee. Number three, initiate investigations that are conducted impartially, objectively, and without undue influence, interference, or bias that could affect outcome and in reasonably timely manner. The investigator's process should adhere
019to laws, regulations, and district policies. Number four, ensure to maintain the security, confidentiality, and preservation of documentation related to any investigation, testimonies, and reports. Number five, not approve the abolishment of positions currently occupied by an employee, especially a specific employee, for purposes of reorganization of a department or budgetary reasons. Such actions might be perceived retaliatory since this method has been used to terminate a permanently appointed employee. Number six, prohibited the use of disciplinary action penalties that are excessive and not aligned with the standard level appropriate to the disciplinary offense. Number seven, provide employees with a schedule of financial penalties for each type of disciplinary offense and use with them consistency. Number eight, prohibit the dissemination of partial, misleading, or inaccurate representation regarding specific employees as a form of retaliation. Number nine, communications to the board
020must be complete, truthful, and based on verified information and presented to the board in writing. I have one last thing, if you'll allow me. Okay. Number 10, an offer of employment extended to a former district board member who served within the past five years should not be approved without prior documentation from the human resources department detailing the total number of applications received, the candidates interviewed and the resumes meeting the minimum qualifications for the position. This requirement is intended to ensure a fair, transparent and non-preferential hiring process. And I it is signed a document that we submitted by myself, Linda Brat, Richard Collins, Christine Jockey, and Terry Randolph, which are either retired employees or former employees of the school district. And um I hope that you'll take all of that into consideration and the letter should
021have been supplied to all of you so you can look it over. We're just looking to help you all out and make sure that everybody does feel safe to come and do exactly what I just did this evening. Nobody here should be fearful to come and speak to all of you. Thank you. Thank you. Anyone else? So, we can move on to uh we did receive uh a letter um that we acknowledged as a as a board. Uh we'll move on to our superintendent updates. Mr. No report at this time. Okay, we're going to move over to our uh board of education updates. Uh first up will be our student board member report. Um, good evening. I first want to speak about my sister's keeper and diamonds and pearls event that took place Wednesday, January
02228th. I personally, um, had a lot of fun at the event. Um, I met a lot of amazing people. I enjoy I enjoyed learning about the nutrition snack alternatives as well as balancing good habit habits from the bad. Um the night was filled with wonderful young women who come together as one team. Um and on top of that I also want to speak about an event that took place on January 23rd um 22nd to 23rd. Um this was held during regions week. So on the board here, um I first also want to thank the Orange County Youth Bureau, Mr. Bark and Miss Melissa for training these amazing students and giving them crucial skills and lessons about becoming an ambassador. So safe school ambassadors is a program where students are recommended and interviewed. um within these
023interviews they are shown to give questions about leadership and giving positive attitude within the community. So here you can see that we had um 30 to 40 amazing um students who took time out of their regions week their break and came along and learned about becoming a safe school ambassador as well as being trained. Um, this program is not only displayed through other high schools, but they're also displayed through the middle schools as well. And this program just demonstrates to promote positive school influence and prevents bullying and violence within schools. So, yeah. Um, as I said before, when they are interviewed, they are recommended by advisors or staff members. And then after that when they do check those um boxes on their interview they're are accepting this responsibility to uplift those responsibilities and be v
024vigilant within their peers. The training is um in order to be official is mandatory and completely confidential and runs up to eight hours for both January 22nd and January 23rd. Overall this event was ex um very fun. and it was collaborative and I was able to get to know these students just more than a surface level. Um, that was pretty much it. But thank you. I also just want to um say thank you to Mr. Bark, Miss Melissa, and Miss Odo for making this possible. Thank you, >> Miss Patel. Thank you so much for that presentation. You're an awesome representation of uh students here at Middletown High School. Uh but now we'll move along to board members as far as uh so we'll go back and forth. >> Mr. Vice President, I just wanted to
025remind folks that Mr. Lugo is not here because he's on a field trip. So that way >> Mr. Lugo is with my brother's keeper. They uh they went up to Albany with Mr. Brown and Mr. Ward and I usually partake in that also, but you know, we have business to do here. So thank you for that reminder, Mr. Estrada. Uh now we'll move on to the board members. So we will start with Mr. Rhett. >> Community engagement updates. feel like a talk show host. Good evening everyone. Um, unfortunately we had some technical difficulties. I had some visuals that I wanted to show, but um for the most part um February 20th, we're having our third annual um Black History Month uh fraternity and sororities presentation, otherwise known as the Divine Nine. Um that'll be here
026in the media center and we're excited about that. Um, also, um, there's a couple other events going on throughout the city. And, um, I just want to say that, um, more than anything else, we want to put children first. You know, despite the highs and lows, most important thing is, I speak personally for myself. if I do this job for the children, for the community at large, and for the people that really care about what's going on, which is most important again, the children. So, I don't have any else, nothing else at this time. Thank you. >> Thank you, Mr. Red. We'll move on to Mr. Parino. >> Thank you, uh, Mr. Williams. Uh, first of all, I'd like to give a shout out to Tiffany Hall for the presentation of this book, The Knowledge
027Gap. It's an excellent book. And in this book, the author, who is also an attorney, talks about the reading and talks about uh learning to read and reading to learn. and [clears throat] she's also mentions the decontrolization dexturization of education. Very good book and I'll make this available to uh members of the board if they like. So thank you Tiffany on that. Uh also a shout out to Dr. Connell and uh Lynette Chelino on the health plan and getting us through this with the the new going to the sage plan. uh Chief Slingerland, NJOTC, the 17 graduates, another excellent uh graduation, the teaching and learning committee, and I'm going to talk about that under committee reports, but I want to the little time I have left, I want to start uh speaking about Black History
028Month. Do we have any of those slides or do we have any of those or why don't you just start rolling them and I'll speak. >> Okay. Thank you. You know, I've noticed and all the buildings had material on uh black history and I noticed a couple things. Number one, the integration of black history material into all subject areas. And uh Nicole Burkens, principal of Twin makes the point, rather than treating this month as a single lesson event, our teachers have worked intentionally to weave black history and achievement into meaningful learning experience in every classroom and content area throughout the year. I've also uh noticed critical discussion of various uh uh authors, various works of authors, the hill we climb, cage sing by Maya Angelou, Langston Hughes. In addition, there's been a very close examination
029of uh a number of prominent black uh history makers in this country. I thought thought it was just great. And that's been carried over to Twin Towers to Carter uh to Presidential Park and so on. The next meeting and as we've said many times, Black History is not one event. It should go on all year along with other ethnic studies. Don't like to go over my time. I'm done. Thank you. >> Thank you, Mr. Pino. Dr. De Jesus. >> Good evening. Um so I am going to go over my time just a little bit because the video that I would like to show is 4 minutes. It's the video that um my sister's keeper, my brother's keeper, the National Honor Society, and Enable Junior ROC put together for Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. tribute. Um
030they did an awesome phenomenal job and I would like to share that as some of the work that is being done um in this district and with the kids. I am happy to join with you today in what will go down in history [music] as the greatest demonstration for freedom in the history of our nation. I am happy to join with you today in what will go down in history as the greatest demonstration for freedom in the history of our nation. >> Five score years ago, a great American and whose symbolic shadow we stand [music] today signed the Emancipation Proclamation. This momentous degree [music] came as a great beacon of light of hope to million of Negro slaves who had seared in the flames of withering injustice. >> It came as a joyous daybreak to
031end the long night of their captivity. But 100 >> but 100 years later, the Negro still is not free. There are those who are asking for devotees of civil rights. When will you be satisfied? >> We can never be satisfied as long as the Negro is the victim of the unspeakable horrors of police brutality. >> We can never be satisfied as long as our children are stripped of their selfhood >> and robbed of their dignity by signs stating for whites only. >> No, no, we are not satisfied. [music] And we will not be satisfied until justice rolls down like waters >> and righteousness like a mighty stream. >> I have a dream that one day on the red hills of Georgia, >> sons of former slaves and the sons of former slave [music] owners will
032be able to sit down together at the table of brotherhood. >> I have a dream that one day even the state of Mississippi, >> a state sweltering with the heat of injustice, sweltering with the heat of oppression, >> be transformed into an osis of freedom and justice. >> Cuz I have a dream. I have a dream that my four little children will one day live in a nation >> where they will not be judged by the color of their skin, but by the content of their character. I have a dream today. >> I have a dream that one day down in Alabama with his vicious racist with his governor having his lips dripping with the words of [music] interposition and nullification. >> One day, right down Alabama, little black boys and little black [music] girls
033>> will be able to join hands with little white boys and white girls as sisters and brothers. I have a dream today. I have a dream that one day every >> I have a dream that one day every valley shall be exalted, every hill and mountain shall be made low. [music] The rough places will be made plain and the crooked places will be made straight [music] >> and the glory of the Lord shall be revealed and all flesh shall see it together. >> This is our hope. >> This is the faith I go back to the south with. >> With this faith, we are able to hew out of the mountain of despair [music] a stone of hope. With this faith, we will all be able to transform the jingling discords of our nation into
034a beautiful symphony of brotherhood. >> With this faith, we will be able to work together, >> to pray together, to struggle together, to go to jail together, to stand up for freedom together, >> knowing that we will be free one day. >> This will be the day when all of God's children will be able to sing with the new meaning. >> My country tears of thee, sweet land of [music] liberty. of the I sing. >> Land where my fathers died. Land of the pilgrims pride. From every mountainside, [music] let freedom ring. >> And if America is to be a great nation, this must become truth. >> So let freedom [music] ring from the prodigious hilltops of New Hampshire. Let freedom ring from the mighty mountains of New York. >> Let freedom ring from the heightening
035alaganes of Pennsylvania. >> Let freedom ring from the snowcap Rockies of Colorado. >> Let freedom ring from the curvaceous slopes of California. But not only that, >> but not only that, let freedom ring from the Stone Mountain of Georgia. >> Let freedom ring from Lookout [music] Mountain of Tennessee. >> Let freedom ring from every hill and mohill of Mississippi. From every mountain side, let freedom ring. >> Let freedom ring. And when this happens, >> And when this happens, >> when we allow freedom ring, >> we let it [music] ring. from every village and every hamlet, >> from every state and every city. >> We will be able to speed up that day >> when all of God's children, black men and white men, Jews, Gentiles, [music] Protestants, and Catholics, will be able to join hands
036and sing in the words of the Old Neo spiritual. >> Free at last. >> Thank God Almighty. We are free at last. >> [applause] >> And as trustee um red said, >> it's um it's about the children. So this collaborative effort between my sister's keeper, my brother's keeper, the national honor society and the Naval Junior ROC phenomenal job to come together and put this video together. Um my sister update on my sister's keeper program on January 28th um I had the privilege and honor to attend the their gathering and just hold that one there. And um I was able to teach um on the topic of mental health and peer pressure and the difference between choices and chances. And so the my sister keeper program the the women that were there they learned that peer
037pressure comes in four different ways. It could be direct, indirect, positive or negative. And there were about 60 women that were in attendance and then afterwards they they were able to fellowship with um Diamonds and Pearl and that was an awesome turnout as well. There are some of the pictures there um from the January 28th training um on February. That's another picture as well. Um, for those that were in attendance, on February 28th, the My Sisters Keeper will be um having a celebration for Black History Month. And their model, in the words of Maya Angelo, you may shoot me with your words, you may cut me with your eyes, you may kill me with your hatefulness, but still like air yet I rise. Um the women in the My Sisters Keeper program is also working
038on vision boards and I want to share a testimony from one of the young women that spoke um on at the last My Sisters Keeper program and she said she wants to thank um Tiffany Rhett um for extending the My Sisters Keeper program to her. She shared that that program has changed her life. That before she started My Sister's Keeper, that she always was in fights. She was cutting classes. She had no desire to attend school. And since she's been in that program, she said, she cried and she hugged Tiffany Red and she said, "I've turned my life around and I'm grateful and thankful for the invitation that you gave me to join this program. It is a true sisterhood." Um, so that is a testimony that I think we can all clap for that.
039>> Okay, sure. [applause] >> And moving on to um Maple Hill. Um, at Maple Hill, one of the 151 classroom students made a poster for Black History Month. And also in the words of Nelson Mandela, education is the most powerful weapon you can use to change the world. And so this is some of their art and um it speaks again volumes to the work that is being done with our children um in the schools. And so I salute the kids in all of the schools and everything that they're doing. Thank you. >> All right. >> Thank you, doctor. I appreciate you. >> Great job. >> And that uh the video exemplifies our our culture here in Middletown. That was that was an excellent video. Uh, Miss Patel, I didn't know you were uh, you have
040a lot of layers to yourself. That was awesome. Um, but yeah, and thank you for your engagement um, with our young scholars, doctor with the msk and uh, um, my the diamonds and pearls. Um, and thank you. Um, it's awesome. We have a lot of great things going on in Middletown. So, that just that video exemplifies that. Uh, now we're moving on to Miss Tobias. >> Thank you for the opportunity. I have nothing to report at this time. Okay. >> Thank you. >> Okay. Thank you. And we're going to go back over here. We are going to Mr. Edestrada. >> All good. >> Okay. And now we're going to go to Mr. John Williams. [snorts] >> Say it again. >> You've been all around. >> I don't have I don't have much to say. Okay.
041>> Uh I don't have much to say tonight. Um, we're we're we're celebrating Black History Month and um it's important. I I appreciate all of the things that's going on throughout the district. There are so many different programs going on in in each of the buildings and presentations going on in the buildings. Uh and it's very appropo that um in this particular season that we're we're really pushing um uh to make sure that we recognize black history. I I I want I want everyone to understand black history cannot be relegated to just one month to 28 days. Um and we see so many of the pictures of those that we know so well and and we should see them. Uh but there there are many African-Americans that are entrenched in the history of uh the
042United States that your name that you might never heard their names. And so what my encouragement is is to um everybody that's here and everybody that will listen is that we learn to dig a little bit deeper. Um uh African-American history has has um affected almost every area when it comes to medicine, science, education, all of the different things that's going on. Uh it's affected every area of our lives and our society. And so I'm appreciative Mr. Perino mentioned a little bit earlier um about about um how black history is um is entrenched within our programs, but even more so than that, not just black history, but um uh the cultural responsive framework um that is that is presented by uh New York State um uh education department. It's entrrenched with every aspect of our
043learning in schools throughout New York. And so, um, we've got to stay diligent. We're in a we're in a time in a season when, um, not and not trying to be not trying to be controversial, but, um, you know, they're trying to erase us. And and and I I I'm here to say we're not going to be erased. Um, our history our history is too strong. And um, and this board, you know, I want to say this to this board. Um, regardless regardless of um any disagreements that we have, um, I'm proud of this board. This board represents um represents something that has never been in this in this region or in this area. I have the proud privilege of being the area director for NISBA, but this board represents a a diverse population and
044and and with that, I I respect that. That's something that I strove and and fought for um from the moment that I stepped onto this board. And I am I am grateful to be able to look around this table and to see all of us that sit here at this table and what we represent from different walks of life, from different places, from different experiences. Um we represent we represent what what life really is. This is this is a a a showing a small capsulation of of the showing of really what society is about. And so um uh I want to encourage us [snorts] that as we move forward um that we keep our eyes on the prize. It's been said already. It's been said already and I don't want to I don't want to
045belabor it, but it's it's the truth. This is all about our kids. It's all about our children. And at the end of the day, um, at the end of the day, uh, it's what we display. It's how we how we carry ourselves. Um, it's the integrity, the character that we carry ourselves in, even in our dealings with one another. Um, that that these kids see. And I want to make sure that we we represent who we are, who we are, um, in the proper way. So, um, congratulations to each and every one of you for your dedication. um and your uh commitment um to being stellar individuals in this community. We make the black community proud, but not only that, we make we make the entire community as a as a whole proud by stepping
046into these seats. So, um I applaud each and every one of you that's sitting at this table and those within our district as well. Thank you. That's all. >> Thank you, pastor. Appreciate you, Mr. Andrew Moore. >> Thank you. Um, [clears throat] I have a couple of things. Uh, first I want to give a huge, uh, shout out to the entire presidential uh, staff. Um, I actually had an opportunity to attend my son's um, sneaker ball the other day. I believe it was last Friday. And just the the transition from how they had the the younger kids to the older kids, you know, from different gyms and the entire evening was just fun. They they had a ecstatic time and I was just sitting back, you know, just tired as ever coming from the city,
047but being able to to witness such joy and the well put together, um, experience for them the other day was pretty exciting. Um, also too, uh, today is actually a historical day. Um, today's February 12th, and many may not be aware, but I'll, you know, just want to share this. Um, 117 years ago, uh, the NAACP was founded in 1909. Um, it's the National Association of Advanced Colored People and it was founded in New York City. This organization was still the oldest and one of the largest civil rights organizations in the United States. Uh, it was created in response to the 1908 uh, Silver Spring, Illinois uh, race riots that was aimed to combat racial prejudic prejudices and also civil rights for African-Americans. Um, and that it was uh founded by black leaders such as
048WD de Boyce um and Mary Mary Churchill uh Terrell amongst other progressive supporters. Also uh today uh Joseph Spears was became the first black member of the New York Stock Exchange uh February 12, 19 uh 70 which significantly uh broke the color barrier in finance. Um, and I just wanted to just wrap that up and just give a little bit of a history lesson for for those out there on this historical day today. And also today is Abraham's Lincoln's birthday as well. Um, that's pretty much it. >> Thank you, Mr. Moore. >> All right. Somebody have something? >> Okay. So, um, you know, I'm going to reflect back to, uh, the the, um, phrase I said last month on, uh, we actually had a meeting on Martin Luther King's birthday, and the phrase is it's
049always the right time to do the right thing. And that just stuck with me. I mean, when I first seen it or heard it when I was younger, um, even before I was a teen, I kind of started um, you know, doing my black studies and, you know, as when I'm one through eight or nine, I'm just outside running around. And I, uh, did my own, you know, um, black studies, uh, the school I went to wasn't too uh, in tune with that. And that was that phrase has stuck with me for a very long time. Um, so with that being said, the uh chaos and monotony that anybody goes through, I mean through families, through uh communities, through boards of of education, we all um have to hone that it's always the right time
050to do the right thing. um and witnessing and and and being involved in the district this year, seeing uh the camaraderie and the um you know, for instance, uh Superintendent Adma and uh Norville, Dr. Norville and uh Jillian Crawford uh going into central office and kind of seeing you guys congregate and put your heads together and uh Mr. Bartlett as well. I gave you guys a shout last time about the water mane um mishap at the high school this uh past week. We had something at Twin Towers and um these situations are rectified, you know, without any bias, without any too much thought. You guys are just acting, right? Because it's always the right time to do the right thing, right? There's no second guessing. And um you know I just want to um you
051know salute all you guys the whole cabinet all admins you know the staff and the scholars. You can't forget about the scholars acting accordingly. This high school alone holds almost 3,000 kids and uh you know a salute to Mr. Donahghue, Kate Shiti, and uh like I said, all instructional leaders, admins, I mean, from buildings and grounds to uh you know, everybody just it's been a really good school year, and I really appreciate all of you and I just had to, you know, give you guys your flowers. Um because you'd always don't get them, you know, but uh you guys definitely deserve them. So, uh that's what I have tonight. So, thank you for that. Thank you. >> Thank you. Uh we're going to move on to uh towards committee reports and Mr. Perino uh we
052have you up for the teaching and learning facilities uh safety security and health committee updates. >> Thank you Mr. Moore. I I think what I'll do is contra concentrate this evening on a teaching and learning committee uh because of the time factor. Um, excellent committee meeting. The folks on this committee, I believe, represent very, very fine instructors in this district and administrators. Uh, Camille chaired the uh, committee. We had Tiffany Hall, Terry McCarron, Fred Merritt, Robin P, and Barbara Rekio on the committee. and we're making good progress in academics. One of our goals is to monitor uh uh academic achievement in this district and we could do far worse than having this group in to go over uh some of the progress we're making. Example, uh and first let me back up a minute. Uh
053what I've seen is that more than ever uh we are datadriven in this district. Uh if something's not uh working uh we try something else. Uh let me go over a couple specifics. at the high school. Uh Robin uh P gave a report on what's happening happening in uh the subject areas that she's responsible for. And one of the items is that the achievement has most definitely increased. the number of students who are above uh 64% has marketkedly increased in the in a uh most of the subject areas. For example, English 9 uh 9 through 11, grades 9 through 11 below 64 and 24 25 was 26%. 25 26 marking period 1 19%. Algebra 2 24 25 23% 25 26 18%. So I could go on and on but this is a trend in this
054building. I also want to say uh uh Misspool seems to uh be taking advantage of the uh mo the latest technology for example purchasing white board tables. I wouldn't familiar with whiteboard tables, but these are tables where students can actually uh write on and uh work collaboratively with each other, take notes and uh uh in general uh cooperate cooperate. So this has a number of advantages um to I believe it increases uh the desire to learn and increases learning that's been shown in these statistics. Uh continuing on here for a a moment and I'm just hitting the highlights. uh middle school mathematics again deliver uh again uh driven by data each in each uh unit there's an assessment of the students what happened in the previous units and this continues uh into the the current
055unit. In other words, if a student is not prepared to go on to a more advanced unit, there is a type of remedial work to get the student up on uh up to that uh up to that level of achievement. So, I thought that was good. One of the things being used in middle school is the and I wasn't aware of this bean stack and I'm sure Mr. Rep being a consultant of eminent consultant knows all about bean stack. You want to take that Fred? >> Okay. All right. It and this is my understanding of it. It's a digital experience being stacked where students can uh monitor their own progress, get involved in reading and get involved in uh more advanced reading as time goes on. Uh according to Fred, it promotes daily reading habits.
056It quote provides a valuable insight into scholars reading behaviors. And I believe you did mention that before uh Fred in at an earlier meeting um or Kurt, I'm sorry. So uh that's one thing. Mathematics uh reading uh we've tried different reading programs and we're assessing reading programs. It used to be where uh the district bought a tremendous amount of reading materials and then often than not these materials were not used and were discarded quote before their time. Not today. We assess the reading materials. We have pilot programs on the me reading materials and uh which is good. So I give a lot of credit to this uh this committee. uh elementary the same thing. Barbara Rekio gave a good report very very uh excellent committee meeting. The time was uh well spent and we're here
057as uh uh Mr. Rep mentioned, we're here for the kids. There's no doubt about that. And anything we do should be geared to improving academics and fulfilling our mission statement, which is to get students ready for uh career and job opportunities. We're not doing that. We might disagree on some things, but we should not be here. And I believe we're doing this on this board. I believe our staff members, we have an excellent staff in this district. I've I've seen programs over and over again. I can't fault any member of the staff in this district. Are some more proficient? Of course. Some doctors are more proficient than others. Some [snorts] lawyers are more proficient than other. But we have, believe me, we have a topnotch group in our Middletown school district. So, good job, Camille,
058on chairing that committee. And I want to thank you. Okay, I'll stop now. I'll go on with the others uh next week. Thank you. >> Thank you, Mr. Perina. Uh we'll move on to any updates from conferences, professional learning, or educational matters. >> No. All right. We'll move on to our student board. Oh, sorry, Mr. Bison. >> Yes. Sorry. We had to move the audit committee. >> Mike, >> we had to move the audit committee meeting. It will now be on Monday, February 23rd at 4:30 at the board office. >> Thank you. >> That was another mixup of mine. So, I guess I better get back in the groove. >> Thank you, Dr. D. >> Um, and the DEI committee is meeting on February 26 at the Thraw Library. >> Mr. R, >> don't let
059that get to you, friend. >> [laughter] >> Um yeah uh our policy meeting um we had um something that uh we had tabled um for this particular agenda but um we're going to put it off um it pertains to uh the public participation is some of the wording that um we're not comfortable with um and and um so at this point we're just going to um go back to the lab and just kind of talk it over a little bit more and um be able to present something a little better for you guys. um where um I'm going to be um talking with uh uh the team and how um we can make um provide to put out a better product. Um again um I'll be meeting with Miss Mont Mree and we'll be setting
060up a date so that we can um reconvene and be able to bring something forth to you guys before the next school board meeting. I just wanted to um piggy back a little bit on u what Mr. Parino was saying. That was a great presentation by the way and thanks for bringing us up to speed for what you're seeing in some of these school buildings. But to the point of um when you was talking about reading and how you know it's so essential that when we differentiate the instruction that you know now these kids they're not stuck at one level and that they can continue to grow you know um um based on their reading levels and um and then those children that are struggling they can get more direct attention. The other thing too
061is um you know it's the scaffolding it's the building you know of um this staircase of complexity from grade to grade that would continue to help children to um be confident learners and be able to build on their experiences from grade to grade. Um pretty much what you was talking about in literacy as well as mathematics. So again great presentation. >> Thank you. Thank you Mr. Wright. Uh we move over to our student rep, Mr. F. Thank you. >> Um upcoming dates and reminders. From February 16th through the 18th, there will be no school due to President's Day and Lunar New Year. So, whoever is celebrating, I hope you have a great new year. >> Tuesday, Wednesday. >> Um February 20th, there will be middle school winter dances from 6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. It
062will be held in Monhagen and Twin Towers middle schools. February 24th, 2026, there will be an all district band concert starting at 6:30 p.m. and will be held at Middleton High School. February 25th, 2026, there will be an all district orchestra concert held at 6:30 p.m. and as well in Milton High School. Um, February 26th, 2026, all district chorus concert at 6:30 p.m. at Milton High School. Um, February 27th, 2026, there will be a Black History Month assembly at Twin Towers in Mhagen Middle School. Um, February 28th, 2026, there'll be an Odyssey of the Mind regional competition and it'll be held in Genan, New York. Um, March 4th, 2026, there will be a Wednesday family night. Um, it'll be held from 6 PM to 7:30 p.m. at Melton High School. >> Thank you so much.
063Appreciate it. And one last update, our next uh board of education meeting will take place March 5th at 6:30. >> No, I thought I heard something. Oh, sorry. >> Just want to just uh I know I said I have anything to say, but just um February 15th is SRO appreciation day. So, we're not here today, but just please um you can't recognize SRO. They do a great job for keeping us safe. And then pastor Williams, you mentioned thinking about just our black black um history and people that we don't hear about. So I wanted to highlight uh Kevin Wit and Caroline Woodward on our website and Facebook page. They have been putting uh you know black you know black history facts that we may not know. So they've done a good job of just trying
064to find people that we don't hear about. So I just wanted to point that out to the community. Yes, >> sure. No problem. >> Um, so in my in my capacity as the as the um area 9 director, I've spent the um the last couple of weeks um u up and down the highways [laughter] >> up and down the highways quite a bit. on last week uh we were in DC um for uh two conferences that were presented by the National School Board Association um which I also uh sit on committee on national school board association but uh uh was a lead some leadership um leadership seminars but also the advocacy institute on that Tuesday on that Tuesday uh we spent the day on Capitol Hill um and Uh so that you understand we gathered
065from all over the nation from as far as Alaska even the Virgin Islands uh gathered in DC um putting together our our agenda uh as to how we would advocate. Um we did not call ourselves lobbyists. We're not lobbyists. We're we're going in uh uh to advocate uh for education. And so therefore, we spent time meeting with different representatives on the Hill. Um met specifically with um some of our representatives here um uh Congressman Pat Ryan um as well as um uh Senator um the the the minority leader um and then uh as well as other senators and and and congressmen uh throughout the day. And so that we understand the big picture. Um because sometimes I think that we lose sight of the bigger picture because we're so focused on what we have here.
066And I think that we should stay focused on what we have here. But the big picture is the challenges that are coming out of funding from the from the federal government and and and even though New York State is doing everything they can um to try to make sure that we stay solid in our foundation aid, which is even a challenge, and I'll talk about that in a second, but uh we have challenges. One of the things that we advocated for was continued funding um for Title One, continued funding for IDA. Those are those that's funding that affects our most vulnerable students, uh special education, funding toward mental health, mental health services, um continued funding in um uh in uh in so many different areas. also um continue continuing to uh keep the uh federal
067department of education up and running and not moving many of those services and many of those uh things that they're responsible for over to other agencies so that it will fall through the gap. So this is the challenge. Um unfortunately, you know, Washington is another beast right now. Um and very few people agree in the hallways. um they'll tell you a lot of stuff when you're sitting down at the table with them, but the very very few agree in the hallways. And so we also dealt with um with uh immigration um and the challenges that are faced right now um in immigration. And there's so much more. Uh but I was I was blessed to be with about a hundred or so from New York alone. 100 or so individuals from New York alone um
068that were on that hill advocating um for the bigger picture of education which at some point will trickle down to us. This past Wednesday, this past Wednesday, I spent uh the day uh well today's Thursday, right? Yeah. Yesterday, uh I spent the day in Albany um uh again for our lobby day in Albany. Um advocating meeting with our state representatives again advocating toward um keeping our foundation aid uh a stable advocating um for uh a a hold on the EV bus mandates. I can say this, there is legislation um that is coming forward um that will hopefully put a hold on the EV bus uh regulations. I think all of us understand that EV buses while it I think we're all worried about the environment, but at the end of the day, it's not feasible.
069It's a good idea, but the implementation has been bad. And so um we thank God we have some of our some of our representatives on both sides of the aisle that are starting to recognize um that it's just not feasible. The infrastructure is not there and the infrastructure is not available. Also um continued funding for again mental health mental health um uh uh services for our students uh special education services for our students. The biggest challenge I think that many districts are facing and and and I'm sure that we will face that at some point too um is surrounding universal prek. Um the challenge is the challenge is is that you we have an influx of uh three 400 students into universal pre prek. uh we're responsible we're responsible for trying to find space to
070house house that even though Middletown has the has uh many uh you know providers within the area there's still a responsibility that we would have to hold so we have to look at that how it affects us financially going forward in respects to transportation in respects to staffing in respects to um even having the infrastructure you know you're talking about bringing little ones now so you're looking at you're looking at having classrooms that are not built for uh our average student. So, there's so much that's going on um in the in the um in the big picture. I just wanted to make you a little bit aware. I've got some material that I'll be sharing in emails so that you will be able to see some of the um some of the things that were
071going on in DC and in uh in uh Albany on this on these past two weeks. Uh it's a big job. It's a lot going on. And um um I'm I'm grateful and honored to be able to have that opportunity to be able to to serve in that capacity. Um when you don't see me, when you don't see me, there's been a couple of times that I've had to go out to handle those responsibilities um in my position as the area 9 director because I have to go to other districts as well. Um and so uh you know, I have to I have to slip up and show up in those places as well. But um um my heart is always here and my heart is always for Middletown. And so I spoke about the
072challenges that we face here in Middletown even going forward. Um and I I'll have more I'll have more for you later on because there's a lot of other things that's going on. But I just wanted to give you just a little uh little bit of view on some of the things that's happening in DC in the federal government and in the state government. So thank you for your time. >> Uh Pastor Williams. >> Yes, sir. Have you heard anything more um in regards to DEI or from that end um and how the changes have been impacted in the communities and um >> so yeah that that was that was um that was one of our major talking points as well in DC um you know um as it relates to New York State um New
073York State is 100% going forward um with with uh DEI. I also I also um have the privilege I've been appointed this year as the vice president of the DEI committee for NISBA. Um next year I'll be taking over that committee um as the as the chairman of that committee. Um but 100% every director, every board member of NISBA as well as as well as the commissioner of education as well as all of her staff is 100% behind maintaining maintaining um support for DEI. Uh that's from the that's from New York's level, the federal government. Um they again, you know, the conversation sometimes at the table is sometimes at the table is oh yeah, we support um but the actions when we get away from the table are sometimes totally different. um uh you know
074and uh you know unfortunately you would like to say because we're supposed to be we're a-olitical um organization and we try to stay away from the politics but if we be real honest the unfortunate part is many of the politics and the divisiveness in politics the division in politics is really starting to creep in and affect our kids so that's why I continue to do what I do by going going to those places um and you all know that um DEI has always been at the part of what I do. Um, but there is good there's good there's good good push back. So, so we we we don't have to worry so much in in New York as of now. So, >> thank you. >> All right. I think this might be a record today,
075but um our next board meeting will take place March 5th at 6:30 p.m. Uh, can I have a motion to adjurnn? Oh, >> I just had one question. >> Oh, sorry. >> Yeah, Rose. >> Sorry. Sorry. Refocusing on students. Would it be possible to get the ELA and math scores from the state exams? >> Yes. >> I assume they're out of embargo by now. >> Yes. >> Okay. Sorry, that's I had it written down here. >> It's all right. Um, >> thank you for giving me the opportunity to address that concern. Thank you. >> Thank you. All right. So, >> motion to adjurnn. >> Yes. Motion to >> motion to adjurnn. >> Yes. >> Second. >> All right. Any discussion? All >> in favor? I. >> All in favor? I. Thank you. >> Have a
076good night, everyone.