001Welcome everyone. This is the Rochester City School District public budget hearing for the 2526 school year. Today is April 1st and it is 5:33. We welcome you to this hearing. Um, and I'm going to move forward into our speakers list this evening. We will hear from speakers who um would like to share their thoughts. Each speaker will have about three minutes to share their thoughts at which time the timer will time you out. Uh, the board will not respond, but we will give you the opportunity to speak so that we can hear from you. Um, at this time I'm going to ask for our first speaker to join us at the podium, and that would be Chrissy Miller. Hello, my name is Chrissy Miller. I am here to speak about mental health. Miss Miller, I
002don't mean to interrupt you. Can you just speak a little more into the mic so we can make sure we hear you? Thank you. is I am here to speak about mental health. Um mental health is really close to my heart due to me working out here in the community with families and our children. I just feel like we need more monies to support our babies. We need um I say 40% of our girls have depression and we need more money to help the girls, the boys, everyone. And we need to see more girls groups going on into our school system from elementary to high school to help the girls to get to know one another. But not just that, the boys also to have boys groups and all the all the schools from elementary
003all the way up. We need to see more money to help them. And also I would like to see this also going on also to help our families. We need a program for our families to get the training that they need for mental health. That's really important when they get the mental health at home, get the training to go home with to help their children where they can come into the school system where the social workers and every one of us could go right behind the parents to help their children. So, I would like to see that more in our district and our budgets to help our babies cuz they are crying out for help and we really need the help for our babies. Thank you so much. Thank you, Miss Miller. Our next speaker
004is Stephanie Krauss. Hello, my name is Stephanie Krauss and I'm the proud parent of a third grader and a kindergartener in the OLAP program at the Anamarie Douglas Academy School 12. As a parent, I greatly value the opportunity to provide input towards the district's allocation of limited resources. However, for the third year in a row now, I find this process exceedingly difficult to navigate. The RCSD budget book continues to present massive amounts of iniccernable data regarding specific resource allocations. Based on the individual school profiles provided, it is impossible for families to tell what programs, support structures, and staffing are provided to their child's school under the proposed budget. If RCSD genuinely wants meaningful feedback from families on these appropriations each year, I urge the district to find better ways of conveying this information during the
005budget process. And so, while I have no clarity on what resources the current budget plan actually includes for school 12, I want to voice my strong support in a few critical areas. Number one, our school provides uh continues to benefit tremendously from our two-way dual language program and schoolwide nature-based learning program. In alignment with the district's priority of instructional excellence, I want to see that these are adequately resourced for next year. Number two, following last year's reorganization, school 12 went from three school safety officers down to one. However, with over four 740 students from preK to sixth grade and a significant special education enrollment, this reduction is not appropriate. I am a frequent volunteer in the school and know that our SSO is regularly pulled in multiple directions at once. The school has also discontinued
006our safety patrol and other student leadership opportunities without that staffing. In alignment with the district's goal to improve school climate, I ask that sufficient resources be made in our school's safety officers. School 12 has had a long-standing team of instructional coaches who support the entire building, whether working with small groups of high need students or training and coordination for intervention needs, reading development, and curriculum implementation in alignment with the district's priority to recruit, grow, and retrain. Retain these resources should be maintained. Number four, the amount of food waste in our schools seems vast, inefficient, and unethical. Besides the financial costs of uneaten and discarded food items, we are failing to serve as stewards of our climate and our community. In alignment with the priority for operational efficiency, the district must implement reductions in the amount
007of food our schools prepare and then just throw away. I appreciate your time this evening. In closing, I just want to acknowledge my trepidation and fatigue with the district's continued instability and leadership transitions. On top of the very real budgetary and social challenges we face as a community, the job doesn't get any easier with all the turmoil. I hope that the board will create an environment where district leadership can be successful and accountable to our students first and foremost. Thank you. Thank you, Miss Krauss. Our next speaker is Melissa Rodriguez Mihan. Yes, thank you. Good evening, Superintendent Strickland and Commissioners. My name is Melissa Rodriguez Mihan and I have been a resident of Rochester for about a year and a half. I have two boys, one at school 12 and one in UPK and I
008am also an early childhood professor at Brockport. Last year around this time, I also came and spoke at the budget hearing to ask that as you move forward with budget allocations, you prioritize resources and programming that are student centered and truly support uh students individual needs and overall development. I am here with the same ask and will be here year after year. This year, as you review and revise the budget, I ask that you do so with a critical lens. How are the personnel resources allocated to ensure we focus on proactive measures that support students social emotional development and overall mental health? For example, why do schools in the suburbs have extra hands- on deck to ensure that all children can access daily outdoor resource uh recess yet schedule restrictions, curricular demands, and lack of
009teacher assistance in our schools put up barrier after barrier for our teachers and our students. It is well known and well documented that free play, especially active play, h uh supports children's development, helping them problem solve, be creative, and use their imaginations. Play is a basic need and is literally a human right, as stated in article 31 of the UN convention on the rights of the child. All our students need and deserve these opportunities, not just our youngest learners. I am happy to provide you with the research that has been available for years and years on this topic. Additionally, what in your budget provides educators and leaders the opportunities and freedoms uh to do what they know is best for their students? We spend how much money on scripted curriculums, I ready and programs to
010track students when we have creative experts in the classrooms who are capable of meeting students individual needs and meeting students where they are which is developmentally appropriate and culturally responsive. You mentioned literacy and of course literacy is a top priority as it should be. Where in the budget are you prioritizing children's love of reading? Where and when will they have choice and freedom over the books they read? Can we allocate more funding for the libraries, for classroom libraries, uh for more books overall? Um I noticed our budget for library books is extremely low. Uh these are significant components of ensuring children become proficient readers. How are we expanding successful, engaging, and meaningful programming such as nature-based learning to other schools? I've seen firsthand the kind of engagement, joy, and active learning NBL provides for students.
011One of your priorities is to provide healthy, joyful, and inclusive school culture and climate. Yet, your only emphasis is restorative practices, which are essential and helpful in the long term. Um, yet they are mostly still a reactive measure at this point. So joy in schools comes from students leading the way. Students having say in their education. Students having voice and choice. Having that high engagement in their classrooms. Engagement and connection are the key to having kids wanting to go to school. Dr. James Comr coined the phrase, "No significant learning can occur without a significant relationship." So I ask, how are you re-imagining our schools to ensure the budget aligns with what we say our values are as a district? Thank you, Miss Rodriguez Mihan. Our last speaker this evening is going to be Aean Scandlin.
012Uh thank you, commissioners. Uh thank you interim superintendent and um state monitor uh Hime Alisia. So I have some written comments that I submitted. So this way I can uh talk a little bit more extemporaneously. So I really want to thank the administration's openness uh with the children's agenda in allowing us uh to ask questions of the administration about the budget and the feedback we've gotten. Uh transparency is really important. as a community member, um a parent just said, uh it's very difficult to navigate the budget and so we think our organization provides a good service in terms of diving deep and helping communicate some of those details. Um also would like to thank the commissioners who've already met with the parents we partner with 70 um RCSD parents through the very invested parents group.
013So thank you Commissioner uh Mallaloy, Commissioner Simmons um and uh Commissioner Santiago who's not present. Uh, and we still extend the invitation to uh, Commissioner Patterson and Commissioner Griffin, so we hope we can follow up with you to schedule a meeting. I I also want to say that a good thing about this year's budget, and it still can be difficult for a lay person to read, but um, a personal crusade of mine and through the um, budget reviews we've done uh, for the past four years uh, has highlighted the need for an object summary and that actually was done in a detailed manner at the end of the budget book. So, thank you, thank you, thank you for finally doing that. That adds a lot of clarity on the fine-tuned um allocation of different positions.
014Uh also want to really uplift the three priorities that the the parents developed in partnership with us. School climate, mental health, and transportation. We've submitted a a lot of statistics on this. Of course, there's been some troubling stuff uh in the news recently, and you know, our hearts go out to those in the school community who are impacted by that tragedy, but also all the things that don't re reach the level of um newsworthy because there are many kids throughout this district, throughout this community, dealing with mental health and the approaches that we um put there. It's not a one-sizefits-all. Uh but we have recommended some um uh cost-effective measures and and building on what the district is already doing because we have to have that continuity. We have to celebrate the the great work
015this district has done on school climate on expanding mental health through mental health satellite clinics and teleaalth. Uh and we don't want that to go away because of a transition in leadership or uh administrations. Um so so keep doing what you're doing, but but do it faster, better, stronger, and uh I really just want to say thank you for all your efforts. Uh there'll be more time to to have dialogue and to push um to to make corrections where they're needed, but we know this is a very difficult task and we just hope that you will continue to be responsive to the community uh and their concerns. Thank you so much. Thank you, Mr. Scandlin. Okay. I I did get um an update that we missed a person on this list and I want to
016make sure that we honor um Miss Lorie Thomas. You you did sign up and I the word has gotten to me. Please go ahead and uh approach the podium and you'll have three minutes, Miss Thomas, for us to listen. Thank you. I would like to begin by saying I will be emailing Dr. Betty Rosa every hour of every day to inform her of the lack of due diligence by the appointed state monitor to ensure the district manages its finances efficiently and complies with relevant statutes and practices providing accountability for taxpayer dollars. My tax dollars are not being managed efficiently. As a taxpayer, I have no input into the decision-making of the board. I am only told what decisions have been made with my money. I will no longer come to you to express my disdain
017for the operational failure of this district. I will go to those who hold power over you because as a taxpayer I hold power over them. I will no longer be ignored, locked out or silenced by this incomprehensibly evil group of human beings who not only accept the failure of our children but have contracted to continue their failure for the next four years. In terms of the budget, the budget at a glance taken section makes this statement. Students at the preschool level identified as having special education needs is subsidized by the general fund and not fully funded by grants. As more students are identified, this amount will continue to increase which alludes to the belief and agenda of the district to classify more students and as a result receive more funding. Budget lines 2250 program for
018students with disability is increasing more than $10 million for approximately 100 FTE positions. On average, this is approximately $13,000 a year for salary for each position. How will these funds be distributed? Line item 2820. Psych services regular school currently has 13.5 FTEEs receiving over $820,000, which on average is approximately $61,000 per year per FTE. And now 72 FTE positions will receive nearly $6 million, which on average is $821,000 per year. Does this mean that the current 13.5 FTEES will receive a $20,000 increase in pay or will the new hires make considerably more money than the current staff? How will these funds be distributed? Line item 2825, social work service regular school, will decrease from 111.7 FTE positions to 108.3 positions for a savings of $2,78. That equates to $66 per month per FTE. How can
019those positions be full-time employee? Exactly what positions were eliminated? Line item 5-5120. Teacher salary levels K through three states that the number of teachers will be reduced by 33.1% at the most effective level of education for a child learning how to learn. 5123 teacher salary levels at fourth through sixth grade states the number of teachers will increase by 44.7 FTEEs. Which means since we have already failed to provide our children with the foundation necessary to be successful, teachers will now be forced to make up lost ground or simply move their students on. Item 5130, teacher salary levels grades 7 through 12 at the most difficult age for our young adults biologically and physiologically and psychologically teaching positions will be reduced by 78.8 FTEES. We appreciate your comments. Thank you so much for coming this evening.
020Thank you. And so at this time that concludes the 2526 public budget hearing. The meeting is now adjourned. Thank you. Good evening. I am Commissioner Griffin, chair of the policy committee for the Rochester Board of Education. It is now 6:03 p.m. on Tuesday, April 1st, 2025. This is the policy committee of the whole. I'm going to now turn this over to my board president so we can go into executive session. Okay. Thank you, Commissioner Griff. And at this particular moment, um I do want to make sure that we I'd like to uh move to uh motion for the board to go into executive session to discuss matters of concern with general counsel uh pending or current litigation with general counsel. Motion. Motion. Motion by Vice President Mallaloy, seconded by Commissioner Patterson. All in favor? I.
021Okay. We will convene in executive session and then return after that. Thank you. Good evening everyone. We are back. Um I want to go and have uh a motion to amend our policy of the cow meeting agenda. Motion. Commissioner Griffin, I think you have to open the meeting. Okay. I apologize. I strike that first. We're going to motion to approve the agenda and then we're going to motion to amend the agenda. Microphone. I'm sorry. We're going to motion to approve the agenda to the listening public and then we're going to a motion to um amend the agenda. So, can I have a motion to approve the agenda first? So moved. Second. Uh motion approved by um um Commissioner Vice President Malloy and Commissioner uh Patterson. Now, can I have a motion to amend the agenda?
022Yeah, I I would like to make the motion uh to to amend the agenda to remove the Sorry, I'm sorry. Yeah, you guys didn't you didn't vote. Do we motion before we vote? Okay. Yep. The motion to amend supersedes the motion that's already on the floor. So, the motion to amend is acted on first. Yep. I was moving the right way. Charisma, you messed me up. Okay. Um, a motion to remove the um committee the unfinished business agenda item uh of mental health ad hoc committee discussion uh to remove the the discussion from happening today from from the agenda for further consideration at the business meeting uh this April. Motion Okay. Now it's it's vote. It's it's it's vote on us. Are there any discussion? Is there any discussion? My hand up. Okay. Hold on
023one hold on one second. We're going to get to you. Um um um Commissioner Lebron. Okay. Can I just get a point of clarity when you say the Is it okay if I ask for ahead? Go ahead. Okay. Thank you. Um, Commissioner Santiago, you motion to move it for consideration for the upcoming business meeting. Is that the date of April 24th? This coming business meeting, correct? April 24th. Okay. Thank you. For the public for the files. Do we need a second on that? Yeah. Yes. I I Yeah, I agree to that as well. Um, sorry. We have any discussion? And I think uh Commissioner Lebron wanted to speak momentarily. Yeah. I just want to put it on record that uh the reason that we're moving it to the board business meeting is because although all
024seven commissioners last Thursday agreed that it was critical and important to have these conversations and move forward with creating um a committee ad hoc for the board that the commissioner chairing the board meeting tonight denied commissioner Santiago that opportunity and he came with a different alternative. I have a motion to um stop her from speaking. I need to I need public because that is not true. That's not true. Interrupt my point. I will supersede this meeting at this time and ask that we fall in order um at this time. Thank you. Right. But you don't get to interrupt me and then say fall in order. Don't interrupt me. I wasn't done. I was wrapping up. Um once once once a member is recognized to speak, they are they get a set amount of time to
025speak. um unless it is out of order or or improper. If it's defaming me and saying something that is untrue, then they can't do that. It was not untrue. It was not out of order and it wasn't improper. The legal you can ask legal for advice on it. Okay. So, so I think I think I think the com the the the opportunity for comment was was was given and it it has been occurred. So now I think it's unless there's further comment the board is is free to free to vote on the matter. Okay. Um, thank you. Um, we can we go ahead and move to um to to all in favor. I'm sorry. All in favor? Any opposed? I'm a nay because it should be discussed tonight. Motion moves. Thank you. Now, I'm going
026to go ahead and go um move forward with our agenda today. We have speakers now. Okay. I'm sorry. Now we have the vote on the agenda as amended. I apologize. Let's have a motion. So moved. Second. All in favor? I. Any oppose? Motion carries. Thank you. I'm a nay. So please make sure you document that. Charisma. Thank you. And we were going to move forward you all to the listening public. Um we have uh three speakers today. Um, can we call the first speaker to the to the uh mic, please? And that would be Anna Ramos if she is on. If not, we can move to the next one. Yes. Hi. Can you hear me? I can. Thank you. Hi. Hi. Good evening. Um, yeah, I'm just a parent. Um and um my uh granddaughter
027is in um Ebalard Reynolds School 42 and this is the first time me coming on here and I'm just uh you know wanting to bring in the uh the issues of uh the children not having uh bus monitors and fights going on the bus while the bus driver is driving the bus. you know, there's there has been uh issues incidents of kids having fights on the bus and I just wanted to bring that issue uh to hand and also um you know uh what recently happened with the with the young girl that uh took her life. uh you know the the the doors of the that that have access to these uh to the rooftops and everything. You know this this this should be uh brg into attention too. These uh these are security places
028that need to be locked these doors. And also um also I just wanted to uh uh there's there's there there's issues in the classroom sometimes like uh my granddaughter when she comes to to to the house she tells me the things that happen in the classroom and there's usually fights that do not get attended to. And my belief is that the principal of the school should um should reunite with uh parents from each grade. And so like that the parents could bring out problems that are happening uh and and and and so many things happening you know with with the children so much abuse and everything and it's because we are not the parents are not being heard and kids bring these uh issues and you know I I believe that there's social workers and
029and and everything and counselors in the school and it's to help the kids and and so many uh you know kids are being failed. So this is all I wanted to bring to the uh code of conduct. Okay. Even seeing Hello. Hello. Yes, sir. Yes, ma'am. I'm sorry. Yes. Um yeah, thank you. You know, yeah. I just I just want to I just wanted as a parent, as a grandma grandmother to bring these things out that there should be meetings uh between the principal with the parents to, you know, for the kids of each grade and maybe uh things could be uh resolved uh in different manners because a lot of kids have been failed. And if we have counselors and social workers in the class in the schools is for there to be help
030for these children. Thank you, Mrs. Ramos, for your information. We appreciate it. The next the next person we have on is Maria Gonzalez. Is Maria's Gonzalez in? Ford is expected on Thursday. Most Ford vehicles are made in US. My name is Maria Gonzalez. I'm here today as a grandparent worry about mental health. Okay, mental health. Mental health is a problem. It's a trauma. A lot of childs they have anxiety, depression and they cannot let the child the teacher know about their problems. Sometime they just swallow the pride or sometime they just afraid to talk about their problems. Okay. So in order for us to understand a child that has mental health problems, we have to see their uh their different way of uh acting. Sometime they're shut down. Sometimes you see them too hyper. Sometime
031you see them moving around. They cannot concentrate. Okay, that's a way of knowing that the person has trauma or has problem or has something to say to the teacher or can't. Okay. You have to uh learn to handle a child with trauma especially when they're growing up in the property that we have in the outside. Okay. And the attention we get outside out there. It's not. They got so many program for me mental health for youth. But when you go there to ask for those help sometime you have to wait for a whole month or to go to see a psychologist or so they can put them in medicine not to work on the problem that the child has only put him on medicine. Okay. So we we as a parent or teacher or guiding
032counselor or whoever who's taking care of that child have to find out what is the problem with that child. Don't send them to so they can be treated like laboratory. Okay? Ask him what's the problem is all about. Thank you. Thank you Miss Gonzalez. And the last speaker we have here is uh Dr. Josh Mack. Thank you. Good evening members of the distinguished board and policy committee. Let me get right to it. Uh I'm submitting this is uh for a formal request to look at expanding the existing mental health clinic partnership with the Monroe High School and the Strong Memorial Hospital in addition in additional school sites throughout the district. Uh I've heard a lot about this through folks on both side of it. It's a great relationship. Um and this would enable for us
033to have school-based uh uh model for delivery of services and would minimize the students disruption disruption of their academic program. Uh this will complement the um current mental health services that we already have available districtwide including support services provided by counselor, social workers, school psychologist and agency department partners. Uh this service operates in accordance with students with individual IEPs, individual education plans and also serve the needs of the general education. Some sites that could be used for this and I've been in the district 28 years now and I've know this district well. Uh the Dr. Freddy Thomas Learning Center has a a center there. Loretta Johnson, Charles Lunfort 19 school and Dr. Martin Luther King School 19 number nine has centers there that could be fitted to to equipped to staff mental health uh resources
034center. Uh the center could serve as an extension of the existing school environment allowing students to receive mental health services without being removed from their educational uh setting. In addition uh each student enrolled in the pilot uh also students in the existing surrounding areas could access services. Here are some of the rationale for that. Uh number one, you would have students would be able to access these mental health services without leaving their schools, which is very important as opposed to having to transport. Number two, legal and ethically, as a former educator, I spent six, seven years working at the interim health academy here at Rochester at Hart Street. I've witnessed unintended consequences related to uh taking students with and putting them in these alternative off-site environments. Uh a number of these students don't get their
035IEP uh requirements and we had to make modifications. I didn't, but some of the administration that put the the program out of compliance. So, a school-based model is the best model to use with a partnership with an agency like the one that's taking place at Monroe High School. We do have a lot of I don't want the community to think that we don't have services. This district has services, has had services, and will continue to have services. Just the community needs to be aware of what they are. Uh uh so this this strong uh Monroe High School model is a proven model. It can provide some evidence of effectiveness. Okay. and we can and it it leverages the expertise of professionals in the community. It's a partnership with strong. They have professionals there who know
036how to deliver these services that teachers do not know how to do. So my recommendation is that the policy committee supports a a pilot expansion at least into these uh the mental health model into the four proposed sites and the district can uh also expand the health services delivery in a costeffective scalable that's number two and the number one is legally compliant. those three things. In addition, I I I was recommend that the district request a report from the administration on the current state of mental health services the provider. So, the report could be a comprehensive overview of the current state of mental health support across the district and it would help to inform any potential ad hoc committee uh and needs moving forward. So, I have copies for this for the board. Unfortunately, you
037only have this and I'll leave it here for board secretary. Thank you, doctor. We do have services. Community needs to know what they are. Thank you, Dr. Mack, for that information. [Applause] Thank you this evening for all the speakers. We do applaud you for coming in and speaking to us this evening. We're going to move right along. Um, we're going to approve the minutes from the policy meeting from February 4th. Can I have a motion, please? So moved. Have a second. Second. Any discussion? All in favor? I. Any oppose? Motion carries. We did receive some NISBA policy recommendations updates um last week that are slated to be presented by our general counsel at the April 1 policy committee meeting. I'll turn this right over to Adrian. Thank you, Commissioner Griffin. Um yes, there was some
038uh proposed um policy updates from from NESBA um for in their January um update. Um and I'll go through those um pretty pretty quickly. There's um about four of them. Um and in no um really specific order. Um there was a proposed policy 81 uh13 extreme heat condition days. Um this policy is actually uh has been in the works here in the district and it's being uh forwarded out of the policy committee uh tonight. It's on the agenda. Um there is the uh 2245 exofficial student member off the board uh policy and this is reflecting a law that went into place um or is slated to go into place um very soon. Um there we've uh incorporated our proposed language for the board. Um it's in 2300 which is going through the readings. Um uh
039so the board will be able to um approve that um through the final reading of that policy. Um there is a a recommended regulation to 1120 regarding school district uh records uh regulation. Um uh we do have a policy 1120 which is our records policy and and we do have a regulation as well um 1120. Um and that regulation is um was already going through some some review um for some some needed updates. Um and as soon as that is complete um you know it will be able to uh be forwarded out to the to to the board to reflect um some of those um updates and that update is the the recommended change from this relating to retention schedule uh which which now covers um all types of municipalities no longer serves an appropriate
040subject matter list. So but but we have some additional updates to that policy as well. Um and uh last is um there are some proposed updates to the sexual harassment grievance uh policy under title 9. And the reason for that is um a recent court decision vacated the 2020 2024 um federal regulations implementing um some portions of title 9 in schools. And so um the the the guidance was reverted back to a 2020 guidance. Um we don't have this specific policy number. However, we do have a number of the elements uh from the from that policy spread over a couple of our policies such as 0100 and 0110. Um we are in the process of reviewing the the elements of the proposed updates and applying those to the um applicable policies and as soon as
041it's done um you know it can be uh presented to the board. That's it. Thank you um Council Adrian. Um we appreciate that update. And while we're going to move forward to a code of conduct committee at this time, can I have all the commissioners um come to the front, we will be uh recognizing some of the members today on the floor. Hello. I'm I'm just going to stand over here. It's probably better because we're all going to be down here collectively. Um the first um recognition we have is Fred Tanksley. [Applause] Next we have Robert Chuck [Applause] Allen, Joseph [Applause] Balladino, Kale Cameron [Applause] Sumera Casey. Did I say that right? Samura. Oh, I said it. I know. I know who it is. I want to Sorry. Maria Gonzalez. [Applause] Thank you, sir. Chrissy
042Miller. [Applause] [Laughter] Christine Price. [Applause] Thank you. I think you Thank you. No, that's okay. Here you go. Sorry about that. Thomas Rosidio Rosidi Roser. Sorry. Thank you. And last but not least, Rosemary Wilson. If we can have you all come up to take a picture, we we would greatly appreciate it. There you go. Thank you. And we'd like to thank you all for your services. We truly uh appreciate you all for being so dedicated to our children day in and day out. Thank you very much. All right, everybody. Step up just a little bit. Just a little bit. All right, cover your faces. Thank you. [Applause] go nowhere. You You never go nowhere. Okay, we're going to be moving right along. We have um I have a motion to for policy 1400 out of
043the policy committee. Can I get a motion, please? So moved. Oh, I'm sorry. I I want to back up. We have a presentation before we forward it out. I do apologize. I've been just been advised. So, can we do the presentation first? Thank you, Charisma. Okay. Good evening. So, really quickly, um, education law requires that we adopt and enforce a code of conduct. Um, the the code governs the conduct of students, teachers, and other school staff and visitors. The code of conduct at its essence is about set setting clear expectations for behavior, the consequences for bi violation and a shared accountability among all school district shareholders for those expectations. The RCSD believes in progressive discipline. Uh basically meaning when something is reoccurring a behavior there's opportunity around behavior moral and ethical issues that there's opportunities
044for growth and um that the least punitive option is available before um going up and progressing. So the resolution should include restorative approaches that seek to find out what happened, who was harmed by the behavior, what needs to be done to make things right or repair the harm, and how people can behave differently in the future. One of the most significant elements of the code of conduct is the behavior matrix that lays out the variety of interventions and consequences for school staff to use in response to behaviors. The Rochester City School District's code of conduct, the new code of conduct as we refer to it a lot of times, was adopted June 16th, 2016. The last time it was amended was last year, June 20 of 2024. Um, and so there is a legal requirement
045for a yearly review and updates if necessary. And just as a reminder, per resolution 2022 um number 13, the individuals and groups named uh in this current slide have the opportunity to recommend members to the Kodakana Committee. This includes our union groups. Um commissioners, both our superintendent um have the ability to to recommend folks. That does not mean that just because they recommend them that people will um decide to attend. And sometimes groups and commissioners or the superintendent can decide not to recommend folks, but they do have the opportunity. So a few minutes ago the board recognized the Kodak members who are present today but this is the full full list of all 28 um individuals who were a part of this year's committee. The Kodak account committee was chaired by RCSD real team member
046Fred and then co-chered by RCSD student Jaori. So all members listed attended at least one meeting and so at this time I would just like to give a huge shout out and thank you to this committee for all their commitment and hard work during this process. They were definitely amazing. [Applause] And so with that being said, um the code of conduct did not follow the typical policy review process based on the way the policy is written and again a way the requirements legally the we met every two weeks. Um and after the code of conduct reviewed and made recommendations, those recommendations was sent to the superintendent cabinet for review. And then there was a public hearing that took place in March. And so now it's the recommendations are in front of the board for review
047at this time. So, just really quickly, um I'm not going to go over all the changes because it's like a 80page document, but um important things to note is that all changes are highlighted in yellow in all documents attached to board docs in tonight's meeting agenda. Um things that were updated, so updated to ensure consistent training for all district staff. Uh there was some language in there to prohibit pre-K suspensions and recommending that the chief of schools be consulted before suspending students in grades K to three and students with disabilities. Reorganized and updated how to use the behaviors and responses matrix. Aligned the matrix with the school safety and educational climate reporting. Updated the data collection section. Added an implementation and monitoring section. Appendex C due process updated to align with changes in the law.
048Append appendix F the S SEC reporting updated with the glossery of terms so that it's transparent um with what is required to report it to the state and then updated exhibits 1400 E1 and E2 to reflect any changes that 1400 received. And so again, I would just recommend to both the board and the review and audience that when you review the documents that this re as a reminder, the highlighted yellow um are the recommendations. I would also recommend to use the abbreviate abbreviated overview first because it gives a quick um grab of what the changes are before looking at the document because it's such a long document. And so next steps, the goal is to forward it out of the committee tonight to go to the business meeting and then by the June business meeting
049for the board to vote. Thank you. Thank you, Charisma. And now, now we're going to have a motion to for policy 1400 out of the policy committee. You have a second. Second. Um we have a motion by Vice President Malloy, second by um Commissioner Patterson. Any discussion? All in favor? I. Any oppose? Motion carries. And next on the agenda, we have multiple policy presentations and I am again going to um um refer to Charisma, sorry, to assist us with those. I did have a comment to make in between the vote when you said discussions, but you kind of closed it quickly, but we can leave it. No, no, no. I'm sorry. I didn't see you at all. Commissioner Santiago, go. Can we can we um No, we we already voted. My vote is not going
050to change. It's still going to be the same vote, but I mean the the the chair recognized you to speak. So, you can you can absolutely speak on an item that the chair has recognized you to speak on, you No, I just want to say as this goes into a full vote, I am very interested and also depending on on my my vote for the code of conduct when I respect the code of conduct members, the work that they created. Thank you. Um, but what's also important behind the document is enforcement and education for our parents and our students to understand their rights uh through the code of conduct. And so I'm interested in in seeing how the administration or the district plans to help educate our students and our parents when it comes to
051code of conduct and what are the measures of enforcement and accountability behind the code of conduct because they've done great work, but if it's not being implemented and enforced, it's just a piece of paper. Thank you, Commissioner Santiago. Um Charisma, I'm going to forward that back over to you. Thank you. Nope. So tonight's presentation um are is on several policies that have required deliverables as well as new policies. And so um typically this is the policy process that is followed. cabinet and the law department put uh were the ones who reviewed these policies and BEC was one the the advisory group reviewed. So what happens is ISOP is it submitted to our advisory groups. DC um also provided feedback and their feedback would be included with any recommendations um that made sense to move forward
052with. And so these following policies have a required timeline that they are reviewed annually and that includes the um student harassment and bullying prevention and intervention policy 0115 school-based planning 1210 parent and family engagement 1900 service learning 4314.3 and gradient systems 4710. So there were no NESBA recommendations and no significant changes other than policy 4710 grading systems a recommended creation of the exhibit 4710E1 which is attached but the policies themselves have no recommendations and then as Adrian mentioned um excuse me general counsel Neil mentioned um doing his NESBA updates policy 8113 extreme condition. Uh so NESBA recommended we have they said we have provided a sample policy to help districts meet the requirements of the new education law. The law goes into effect December 1st and so basically once um the policy was reviewed the
053recommendation is for the district to adopt the NESBA um sample. There were a few tweaks that were um added in as a recommendation which you can see in a track change document but overall the recommendation is to adopt NESBI's sample and then policy 9520.6 policy on the rights of employees who express breast milk in the workplace. This will also be a new policy that is required. And so the New York State Department of Labor has updated their model policy in response to a change in labor law. And again, the recommendation to the board will be to adopt NEZ's policy. We do have like one or two sentences that talks about this topic and our wellness policy, but not to the extent that this policy covers. And just how as we started recently pulling out the
054the deliverables as in policies so that as the policies are being reviewed the board and administration can um review the deliverable to ensure that nothing no you know no changes are needed. Uh the deliverables in in these policies are all legally required um except for these two right here. Service learning 4314.3 grading systems 4710 which means that if any changes are needed um you know the board administration can recommend changes if needed and so similar to 14 the policy 1400 if forward the meeting tonight the board would be slated to vote at the June business meeting. Thank you. Thank you Charisma. Um, that was quite a lot going on here. Um, I know there's probably a lot of questions cuz I know I have them too. Um, so let me um first I'm going to
055follow the process. Uh, have a motion to for policies 0115 1210 1900 43143 and 4710 out of the policy committee. So moved. Can I have a second please? Second. Any discussion? Point point of information. Does that motion include policy 8113 and policy 9520.6? No. No. Okay. Is there any questions on that on the ones that we that we did? Okay. Um and we have a motion to for policies 8113 90 and 9520.6 out of the policy committee. Oh, sorry. Sorry. Let me back up. Let me back up. I just see my error. Sorry. I see it. I see it. Um there is no discussions as all in favor I. Any oppose? Motion carries. And then we're going to move um to policies 8113 and 9520.6 and out of the policy committee. Can I have a
056motion to forward those out of the policy committee, please? Second. Any discussion? All in favor? I I any oppose? Motion carries. Then we have the wellness policy. Pres presentation policy 5405. Wellness policy is another policy with a required review timeline which is every three years. Charisma, I will turn it over to you to present this to the board. So the current policy review deliverable is that a wellness task force shall convene a meeting at least semiannually and will be be comprised of representatives of administration, students, parents, community representatives, teachers, and school principles. Every three years, the wellness task force will review the implementation of this policy and make recommendations to the administration and the board with regard to issues impacting student and employee health, nutrition, physical education, and wellness. So similarly to policy 1400 this
057policy followed a different timeline as well a different sorry policy review process as well. Um so there the wellness task force was comprised of three central office administrators one building coordinator of health PE and athletics one physical ed teacher two students and two parents. These individuals met once a semester. Final recommendations are being forwarded tonight. And so the recommended changes is to remove is um remove the last sentence of the first paragraph as it is deficient language. And then updated section 5405.2 two wellness task force to align with the law including adding the required advisory council legal requirement from section 5405.665. So basically um the wellness task force as it's currently written to be um intentional on um the review process and stuff the language was changed and then there was a piece in another
058section that was added so that um duplicated uh committees wasn't being done and it would you know make sense to have it all be part of the wellness task force. So, as I mentioned pri to the prior presentation, um the deliverable review, so this deliverable is not a required one. Um and so the chief of school shall determine whether to grant the school principal's request to wave the recess requirement for the school year. Superintendent or design shall report to the board of ed and to the wellness task force annually the schools receiving such waivers and shall post notice of such waiverss on the district website. So it was again um for the board and administration to think about this is something that they want to keep in the policy because this is not her requirement.
059And so just like the other policies, the goal will be to forward it out of the night's bis um policy committee meeting to start to start the three readings with the vote slated for the June business meeting. Thank you. Thank you, Charisma. Um I I have a question, Charisma. We have a wellownness policy here as we see right. When's the last time it was updated? So, so um as I mentioned previously, this policy um it's reviewed every 3 years. So, three years ago um June of 2022 would have been the last time it would have been um reviewed and then so now this is the next time it's review. It's basically following that deliver that's in the policy itself. Okay. I guess my question and concern is is that a lot of things have changed.
060This this policy includes a a lot of things that that are relevant to our children's health growth. It's a lot of different u moving parts to this. So I would is there something that we can do to probably change that time frame because you know a lot of things change in a three years time. Why would they have such a a gap between the two? Is that something that maybe the council could address? I just don't understand when I'm looking at the the dynamics of this um wellness policy across the board with other schools and what we have documented online um it is not where it should be. So what what what can we do to change that? Um I I believe the timeline is mandated like in the regulation. Um but but again as
061as with any any policy I mean the the board could decide to bring up an issue at any time and and propose some change. Um in addition sometimes with as with all our policies some element of the law changes that forces us to change a a timeline of for normal review. Uh so that's why sometimes we have to bring policies to the board on an expedited schedule. Hey, you know, the the legislature uh passed a law that requires us to update something that wasn't scheduled to re review beforehand. So, uh I believe that timeline follows a specific this follows a specific regul regulation. And so, we're reviewing it on that timeline to be in compliance. Um but but the the the the board could, you know, suggest or if the law requires uh something else
062happen, that is um possible as as well. Yeah. I I um just to my um fellow colleagues and to the listening public for the record, I'm looking and reviewing the state New York State Education Department and a lot of other uh New York State um guidelines that uh reference the wellness policy. And what I'm seeing is that there's a lot of things that we need and we should be updating um in our policy that's currently online with the Rochester City School District. Um, um, nutrition is one of them, which is really big for our children. Um, I know now that our kids, the food that they're eating has a lot to do with their ability to think and and be productive in a daily process for school. So, I would I would just recommend that
063maybe as a board that we look into these uh into take a deep dive into the wellness policy and and compare it to what is on what we currently have. um noting um in in in the in NISBA and and on our um New York State Ed to see if we are where we should be as a district. Uh I was very surprised to see the difference um the differences that are here in New York State Ed compared to the Rochester City School District. So um if we have time maybe we should really look into that as well as far as our our children are concerned. Thank you very much. And now I'm just going to take I have a motion to move um policy 5405 out of the policy committee. Motion. Second. Um the
064motion carried by President um Simmons and Vice President Malloy. Any discussion? All in favor? I I. Any oppose? Motion carries. Thank you. Um, next we have a presentation of school part five, I mean part four and five. And I'm going to refer back over to Charisma to assist me with that. Thank you. All right. Thank you, Commissioner Griffin. Uh so the following policies schools part uh four and five follow the typical policy review process and so just to move to the recommendations. So at this time there were no Nesma recommendations. However the following recommendations are being put forward for the board to consider. Instructional goals 4,000. General um gender neutral language. So the his and hers to to their um equivalence in instructional staff and materials 4010. No significant updates. High school to higher education
065institutions policy. Uh recommend policy name change to high school to postsecary education to align with recommended policy language updates. Condensed policy to remove redundancy. added relevant policy language from policy 4314.2 policy 4100 organization of instruction and display of the flag 4311.1 no significant updates civic education form of values education 4311.2 two recommending resending the policy um not relevant to current district work. School to career or postsecary education transition initiative policy 4314.2 also recommending rescending redundant with policy 4095 um added terms defined in bullets three and six of this policy on page two to policy 4095. So basically any relevant language was added to policy 4095. Um and then arts education no significant updates schools part five. Um there are no significant updates for any of the policies listed. However, um alternative and homebound instruction policy
0664327, NESBA had an update to reflect SED guidance on homebound instruction for students with disabilities as well as an SED formal opinion of council regarding minimum number of hours of instruction for the alternative instruction provided to students of compulsory education age who have been suspended. And so, as general counsel stated um not too long ago, um we always review the policy when there is a NESBA update to see if it affects ours. And so, based on the review, the there's no needed um changes. And so, the following are deliverables that are in the policy. Um the ones I want to point out are the ones that's not highlighted in yellow because they're not legally required. policy 4095 um has one, so does 4100. And then the other two are in red because if um the
067board ends up resending the policies, those deliverables will no longer exist and the remaining policies all have legal required deliverables. And so that is that is all. Again, um these policies will be forwarded if they forwarded out tonight, they would be um slated for a vote during a June business meeting as well. Okay. Thank you. Okay. Thank you, Charisma. For that, I just have um a motion to forward the policies 40 um uh 4010, 4311.1, 4320, 4320.5, 4321.2 12, 4326, and 4327 out of the policy committee. Do I have a motion? Motion. Second. I have a motion by um uh Vice President Malloy and President Vice versa. I'm sorry. Let's switch it around. Um we have I have a first motion by the president Simmons and then Vice President Malloy. Thank you for that correction.
068And I have a question by Commissioner Santiago. Yeah. For and also to the media, not the media, but to our team, if you can pull up the um policy for high school to career. I'm just wondering currently in place by by our district, are are there any places or measures or data places where we're putting um our the interests of our student? And of course our students or the different interests of our students. Um you know and and of course in middle school and the beginning of high school you know you have different things that you know you're interested in. Uh it may not be a specific career but I'm wondering how are we tracking what our kids are interested in and not only tracking that but giving them an opportunity or or a space
069for them to be in programs that's tailored around uh what what their interests are. Um cuz I do see this this school to career um policy. I'm just wondering like are are we keeping track of what are our students interested in even if it's you know CTE or even if it is going into college and how are we aiding to what their interests are career-wise? Yeah. Uh yes go ahead Dr. Strickland. Thank you Madam Chair. Um, Commissioner Santiago, our students um participate or our our students interest are locked in uh with a program at the middle school level called school links. That is where we uh start to track their interest and and try to begin uh directing them on pathways uh that will best suit their needs through high school and beyond. And that
070was um changed I want to say last year or this year. Was it this year? This year um we use we used to use the platform called Naviance but now we're using school links uh to track those efforts. Okay. And I just want to add on to uh Commissioner Santiago's point. It's actually something that I was going to talk about today in reference to the the uh the children and and the CTE programs and things that they may be interested in. It seems as though we are lacking thereof in a lot of schools, a lot of the CTE programs and initiatives, which is uh for me one of the ways um one of the things that can help our children socially and emotionally um and drive them into to something else instead of of having
071that that that those things affect them. So to the point um of of that data being collected, if it has if it is being collected, when does it come to us to see and to review or is that something that is just done directly with the superintendent and his cabinet? And how does the commissioners how did The commissioners find out about it um when we start developing programs. If we see that there's trends in certain students uh likes and and their wants. So if we see that there's an increase in a lot of students wanting uh cosmetology that will prompt us to uh actually look at spaces to open more programs and different schools and things of that nature. But um I I would definitely uh say put that information or that question in the
072question log and we can determine uh how to possibly get some type of information to you in that regard. Okay. If I put it and and to the listening public if I put it on the question log that means that it has to be delivered back to us in an open meeting setting. So I just want that that one that to be known because we can't you sending it to me is not going to be to the public. So they're not going to know exactly what is happening. So, and then another thing is um we have the like just for example the robotics. The robotics was at Franklin and the kids really were into the robotics the CTE program that they just did at RIT and then it went away um when when all the
073changes were made at Franklin and the kids were not able to do the robotics and they had a robust robotics robotic program at Franklin. So, how do we make sure that even the programs that have been at the different schools are not falling by the wayside? And we have the when we have the people that want to do this for our children are able to do it because we need to track that as well because that was a big hit for Franklin when they had a lot of kids that were there and they were not able to participate in the robotics um CTE program that they had at RIT. They were very disappointed. I think we got a we have a question from uh from uh council Oh yes. Um not not a question. Um
074I think um just to respond to to the to the statement um I I don't I mean any any commissioner can ask a question at at an open meeting. What requires deliberation at open meeting is is discussion amongst commissioners. Um a request from information can be made by you know the board or commissioner and and there's um some obligation to get that information back to the commissioner. But uh as as a legal matter that whether um information requested has to be thereafter discussed at an open meeting, I don't believe that to be the that to be the case. I believe there is um should be efforts to get that information back if as it pertains to the decision-m process and a commissioner is free to raise that then again in discussion at a subsequent meeting.
075Uh but so that is the that's the clarification um I think I was being asked to give. Well, okay. I just want to I just want to say this to the listening public. I think we need to vet that a little bit more because if it's if it's o asked a question in open meeting and has the answer, the public has a right to know what the answer is. So, I think instead of instead of us trying to figure it out now, we need to definitely go back and and look at the educational law and the school and the policy to make sure that we're governing and giving the correct information to the listening public. But I do appreciate your comment. Raise it again. Yeah, Commissioner can raise it again if they so so choose
076at a at a later meeting. So, Madam Chair, with all due respect, I I definitely hear what you're saying. Um, I don't have the answer to your question right now. That's why I'm asking for it to go in the question log and I did want the public to know that that question log is actually public. Uh, so they do have access to that. Yeah, thank you for that. The question The question is though, I was and I understand what you were saying, Dr. Strickland. What I'm saying though, if it's happening in an open meeting, the public shouldn't have to dig dive and try to find out the answer when it was done in an open meeting setting. That's why I'm telling going back to the going back to council and saying instead of giving out
077misinformation by myself or anyone else, we need to clarify that and we can bring it back to the listening probably say, okay, these these are the guidelines. This is what needs to be said. That's all I'm saying. So, I do understand and respect what you're saying. I just want to make sure that we have an understanding that I'm trying to clarify the language, the legal language surrounding that. That's all. Thank you. I I'll take one more question. Go ahead, U. President Simmons. Uh, thank you, Commissioner Griffin. I also think that there are solutions we can come up with as far as the public facing information. um so we can figure out where that would uh best fit and that might even be um the board providing education on how the public can access the information
078looking for because I think you make a really good point around information getting embedded in things and and it's very difficult sometimes to even navigate our website. So um we as a board can maybe find ways to make sure we're educating and putting that information in a in a container that is accessible. Thank you. You're very welcome. And I as uh Commissioner Santiago, I'll go ahead and let you take the last question. For policy 4311.2, when when we're saying um the resend uh recommendations, what exactly just very quickly what what exactly does that mean? Because I see track changes, clean copy, but this is the only one I see with the resend. I I can answer that. I just want to be clear that this motion that you all on is not for that one
079yet. Oh, I'm a little ahead. I'm just like, okay, you want me to answer or you want to wait till you get to that? No, we can wait till we get to the civic engagement uh the civic education policy. Thank you. Thank you. Um so I want to move on with uh all in favor I I. Any oppose? Motion carries. Thank you. Then I have a motion to forward uh policy 4,000 out of the policy committee. Can I have a motion, please? So moved. Second. I have a motion by Vice President Malloy, second by um President Simmons. Any discussion? All those in favor? I I Any oppose? Motion carries. Moving on to policy 4095 out of the policy committee. Can I have a motion to for policy 4095 out of the policy committee? Second. I'm
080sorry. Who I have? Okay. I'm sorry. I didn't see I didn't see the first one. Um we have President uh Simmons as a first and the second is Vice President Malloy. Any discussion? All in favor? I. Any oppose? Motion carried. And we have motion um to forward uh policy 4100 out of the policy committee. Motion. Second. I have a motion by um Commissioner Santiago and second by Vice President Malloy. Any discussion? All in favor? I. Any opposed? And motion carries. I have a motion to forward policy 4311.2 two out of the policy committee including the recommended recommendations to resend. Have a motion. So moved. Second. Okay. I have a motion by uh Vice President Malloy, second by um President Simmons. And I have a question um from Commissioner Santiago. You can answer to the question
081from earlier. Yeah. What what do we the other one are is moving it out of the policy committee but this one is including the recommend recommendation to resend. So are we saying that this policy would no longer exist or Yeah. Right. So as you all are doing your readings the next three months the goal is as reviewing it that in June you vote to remove it from the policy manual so it will no longer exist for our district. The same goes for the I'm sorry. Yeah. So thank you for that clarification. Um because I I'm actually going to vote against that. I think civic education is important. I think civic education and having a policy around civic education is important certainly as uh where we are today. So I I am going to vote against
082that even coming into the business meeting. I hope that some of our commissioners will will agree on the importance of civic education but um I am not going to vote in support of that and thank you for the clarification. Um is there any more discussions? Go ahead U. President Simmons. I just want a point of clarity. Um it if pushing this forward for uh continued conversation is not changing or or anything. It's just it's just continued conversation and opportunity to maybe even rewrite the policy as it stands. Correct. Okay. Thank you. Is there any other discussions? Yes. Uh um Commissioner Santiago, ju just so I'm clear, but this is with the recommendation to rescend, which means it'll be going to the business meeting for us to have conversations then about it being rescended. So So
083you all can have both conversations. The recommendation from what's being presented to you is to rescend it. But as you're going through the readings, you again the board has a final say. So if you all decide like no, we want to keep this policy as is or make you know revisions, you can do that um through each of the readings. So, it really depends on what the board, you know, wants to do. Thank you. Thank you for that, too. So, so I'll vote in favor because I do think that needs to be edited. It seems like a a a policy that's been uh in place for a while. Um, and so I do believe that has to be edited, but I will not be voting in favor for the policy to disappear, but that's later
084on down the line, it sounds like. Okay. Thank you. Okay. May I Is there any more? Go ahead, President. Um, I'm sorry, Vice President Malloy. Yeah. Thank you for those clarifications. And as a social studies teacher, I value civics's education, so I won't be voting to resend that either. Thank you. Okay. Um and all in favor? I I Any oppose? Motion carries. Um motion to for policy 4314.2 out of the policy committee, including the recommendations to resend. Do we have a motion? So moved. Motion by um Vice President Mallaloy, second by President Simmons. Any discussion? All in favor? I I. Any opposed? Motion carries. Now we're going to refer to Charisma to bring the presentation for the financial management part 36700 through 6750. Charisma, last presentation. Um so similar to the previous uh presentation the
085these policies followed the same policy review process. Um the reason why they were um it's not the full packet is the board received some of these pieces back at at the February policy meeting and there was some needed work to be done. So um the remaining policies are now being presented to you. So the purchasing policy policy 6700 NESBA um updated a policy to reflect the district's option under under the law um to give a preference for purchasing American salt as well as amended exemptions for competitive bidding for certain food and milk purchases. So the recommendations in front of you um updated to align with NESB's policy recommendations and the law policy also reorganized for a better flow. The remaining policies did not receive any NESB recommendations. However, policy 6725 responsible bidder recommended deletion is
086due um due to the hearing requirement not being a requirement under the law and this implementation being costly to the district. The law in this area allows the district's decision to stand so long as the decision is reasonable. uh policy 6741 and 6745 align um with policy 6700 recommendations. In addition, um policy 6745 added required policy review timeline. Uh vendor relations policy 6750 is currently still under review from this policy batch. And so the goal again is to forward these policies out of the the committee tonight um for the board to vote on it. Uh well for to go through it three readings for the board to vote during a June business meeting. Thank you. Thank you Charisma. Um now we're going to have a motion to for policy 6700 out of the policy committee.
087Can I have a motion? So moved. Second. I have a motion by um Commissioner Santiago and then I have another that's fine. Commissioner Patterson was over here too saying motion too. So and it was another motion by Commissioner Patterson and uh any discussion in the 6700s, right? Um I did have a question around 6745 I think is what I was looking at. Um and it's I I recognize that this is really the financial piece for us to be prudent around how we are looking at things. 6745 specifically talks about the authorization of contracts. Um and just looking at this I understand that again the changes being made regarding finances. I'm curious to know you may not know offhand and it's okay if you answer it later. um if we have a policy that talks about
088our evaluation of of some of the contracts and so we may have to build that out in a way that's not getting too far into the weeds, but not that we would evaluate them, but that we get a report. So, I'm recognizing that we just have so many programs and contracts that we approve each year. Um and then some that may be working really well and some may not be. How do we make sure we're making the right decisions? Thank you. So, um, we do have a team that was established two and a half years ago or so that are specifically doing program evaluations to help inform our decisions on the effectiveness of the programs that we fund or partner with. And what they have developed is a program evaluation schedule. Prior, we've had the
089luxury of having the American Rescue Fund. So, we were able to also um contract with another large um program evaluation. We're able to do a lot more in the 23 24 school year. Right now, we have two full-time folks who doing a program evaluation takes a lot of data analysis, interviews, and things of that sort. So I am in a process of sending to the board working with Raima the schedule of those program evaluations and how we decided to do it initially was those uh resources in which we spent the most money and work our way down in the schedule looking to evaluate as we did last year summer learning our social emotional support uh Saturday schools and um uh after school uh small groupoup instructions um there's various things that are on the list.
090So, we'll have that for you and we'll do what we did similarly before where we have a database in Google where you'll be able to as those evaluations are done be able to access those and we'll clue you guys when evaluation is completed by working with the board clerk who will notify you guys with the link that you can go in here and check this evaluation. Um, so that's the that's the process that uh we are utilizing with our program evaluation team. Thank you. Um yes uh uh vice president Malloy. So this is just in regard to uh policy 6741. Uh just I'm looking at the tracked changes and the wording in where it says notwithstanding the foregoing RFIs and RFP shall not be required in the following circumstances. A little further down, it says,
091"In pursuant to which the district is lawfully piggybacking C policy 6700." That just seems like awkward language there. And I'm wondering if there's another way that that can be expressed and is it normal for us to say see policy such and such in the middle of a policy? I just don't want the know what the normal process is necessarily. Is there another way to phrase that? It just seems like bizarre a little bit. Um yeah, I mean um language changes, you know, to to for further clarity or or um can always be done. And I mean that's part of why it goes for the readings. And I think if if uh if uh if you have a question, others might have that um that question as well. um from from the p from my perspective
092as someone who looks at a lot of these policies, it's actually helpful to see another policy specifically referenced. Okay. Because then the alternative is to spell out exactly what's piggybacking is and then the policy itself balloons, right? Okay. Um to to multiple pages. So, um you you're right that it's it's not common, but but from my perspective was a was a helpful thing to do. Um um but but absolutely. I mean, as it's going through the readings, we can take it back and um and and maybe circulate some language and see if that is helpful, especially with the the term lawfully piggybacking just seems potentially problematic. What does that mean? If the public's reading that, what is what constitutes lawfully piggybacking, which which right, which which would be explained in 6700 more in detail, but
093I I understand the the the question and and we can absolutely um see if there's language that would be um clear. I think just for the public I think there is concern that you know we grant these we have multiple contracts sometimes with the same vendors and as long as those contracts are under a certain amount maybe they don't raise any eyebrows. I know that's been a concern brought up by many commissioners over the years. Um and I don't know if that has anything to do with this terminology here like the lawfully piggybacking. Um uh uh so so I I won't get into into in depth on what it means but lawful piggybacking basically allows um some entities um especially governmental entities to rely on the procurement work done by another organization right so so
094for example if you have another entity another governmental entity um like the city or Monroe County and they um do a RFP for some necessary service like um uh you know um heat gas right and And um we are allowed potentially allowed if some everything is in place to rely on their procurement and contract with that vendor without doing the entirety of our own piggybacking. Now piggybacking I mean the reason why that the lawful piggybacking was was inserted in there is because um it is um uh sometimes is is is misapplied right um because there are actually a lot of limitations about when you can do it and how you can do it. Um so so that's what what um piggybacking refers to. In regard to your your other question um as it pertains to
095certain contracts that come before the board, there is a tracking uh that goes on behind the scenes and um you know, for example, my department uh any contract that is is processed um you know through through our normal contract process, we we track once it hits a threshold even if it's separate contracts with the same vendor. Okay? And so and so we we do monitor that. And so if you have a you know smaller contract once it hits that board threshold we do send the very next contract to the board um to avoid exactly what you were pointing out in your first question. Okay. Thank you. And then my final question I guess and thank you so much for enlightening me here. Um does this just refer to government services or could this also refer
096to services provided by CBOS or community- based organizations? So, so the entirety of the policy require I mean applies to pretty much any professional uh services contract as it as it pertains to piggybacking that is much more of a nuanced and technical uh uh thing. Um and there's only certain types of services or contracts that you can lawfully piggyback uh off of. But but this this policy really applies to every uh professional services contract. So um the overwhelming majority of contracts that again are processed to department a lot of come before the board. This is the the part the policy that we kind of rely on to check off that you know RFP and and RFIs those type of procurement work is is is done. Thank you so much for your responses. I was just
097concerned more about you know potential redundancies within the district. So thank you. You're welcome. Is there any more questions? I have um a motion to forward policy 6700 out of the policy committee. I'm sorry, my hand is up so I don't know who's my screen. I do apologize. Uh Commissioner Lebron, you had a question. Yeah. No, a comment to what Commissioner Malloy was just saying for the listening audience that the board any contracts over $35,000 that um that's the threshold. Uh each government body has a different threshold. for us is 35. Anything over 35, the board the the administration is required to bring it to the board through a resolution no matter who the vendor is. Um and that's also how we know um where folks are at. I also want to add that the
098board gets a report from the legal on all of those contracts as well. Thank you. Is there any other questions? Okay. I would have um a motion to move it forward out of policy. There there was already a motion in a second, right, on on 6700. So, it's just a vote now, Caris, if I'm correct. Yeah. Yeah. Okay. I'm sorry. So, we have a vote. Um I I Okay. I um all in favor? I. Any opposed? Motion carries. Have a motion to force U policy 6725 out of the policy committee. Motion. I have a motion by Commissioner Patterson, second by Vice President Malloy. Any discussion? All in favor? Any oppose? Motion. Thank you. Uh motion u to move uh for policy 6740 out of the policy committee. Uh, just a quick I think it meant
0996741. All right. I'm sorry. 6741. I'm sorry. Yes. Sorry. Thank you. Um, council. It's motion to forward policy 6741 out of the policy committee. I have a motion by Commissioner Patterson. Can I have a second, please? Second by Vice President Malloy. All in favor? I Any discussion? Sorry. All in favor? I. Any opposed? Motion carries. Oh yeah. Motion of of the for policy 6745 out of the policy committee. Motion by President Simmons. Second by Vice President Mallaloy. Any any discussions? All in favor? I. I. And any oppose? Motion carries. Thank you. And I just wanted to for the listening public, I wanted you to um understand our our my position here as a a policy chair. Um I clearly wanted to just let you know that we are all looking forward to to making changes
100that are lucrative for our students and our staff as a whole in the Rochester City School District. Um I am my my goal and our goal collectively is to make sure that we have all the information in in front of us before we make decisions. So tonight's uh tonight's decision to put uh the ad hoc committee for mental health on hold was a collective union from from all the commissioners. It wasn't something that I personally as a board chair wanted to not do. So I wanted to I wanted to make it clear that I want you do not have the floor of what happened commissioner LeBron Harris you do have to be recognized by the chair to speak voted for that. What board members I know additionally to be clear so commission commissioner commissioner LeBron
101Harris you do have to be recognized to to to speak. Um, so my apologies on that. You know, in addition, we will be holding Can I'm asking I'm asking the I'm asking council to please step in. So So again, the the votes the there was a vote on the amendment and I think the record reflects who voted. The record reflects who voted and who did not. I understand Commissioner Commission Commissioner LeBron Harris, you do have to be recognized by the chair to speak. there was a vote and and whatever the thing the point you're trying to make is who was in favor and who was not in favor. There wasn't a vote on the record that is is clear to to all involved. So I think I think that resolves that. Thank you very much.
102I just want to let the the listening public know but I would no means discourage any kind of mental health. I'm asking Commissioner LeBron to please refrain from being disrespectful to the point of order. Point of order. Point of order. Point of order. Point of order. Commission. Yeah. Commissioner LeBron. It is. It is. It is out of order. That it is out of order. 100%. Okay. We're going to adjourn the meeting, but to the listening public, we are all in favor of of making sure the world is better for all our children. Have a great night. Please cut the mics. Please cut the mic. Motion to adjurnn. Motion return. Thank you. Have a great night everybody. Second.