001We're good to go. >> Just starting live stream right now and forgiving. >> Those that are able, please stand for the pledge of allegiance. I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America and to the republic for which it stands. One nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all. [clears throat] >> Can I get a recommended motion to approve the revised February 2024, sorry, February 24th, 2026 special board of education meeting as presented? I'll make a motion. >> Any discussion? >> All those in favor? Opposed? >> Motion carries. >> We have public comments. >> Is there someone taking? >> You can give that to me afterwards. >> Can I make a public comment? >> Yeah. Yeah. Go ahead. So, and just I'm Jen Mullen. I'm a um parent of a
002student at the school here. Um I was surprised to see that there was a special call for the merger of our school district or two of the schools. Um I would ask that the board consider tableabling this resolution. Um I don't know [clears throat] if the appropriate uh notification to the public has been provided. Um, I think that this is a very big decision and as presented at the previous schedule board meeting of the 11th, it was shared that these were things that were under consideration. Um, and I think that the fact that we're now moving and the board is now considering moving forward with a merger without a appropriate time for the public to consider the implications of that is not permanent. And so I'm asking that the board consider tableling this motion today.
003Thank you. Yeah. >> Yes. So, we did uh we did uh put out a staff letter to um the district about the reconfiguration of of the intermediate and junior high schools. We did put out a uh community letter uh regarding the reconfiguration of the high school. We we left a Google form for for feedback um regarding in getting input from the community about about reconfiguration. Uh we did a board presentation on reconfiguration. I've spoken with all of the building administration about uh the reconfiguration prior to all of that communication uh being brought out and we feel like this is in the best interest of the district to move forward. Next in the agenda is the reconfiguration approval of Rondout Valley Intermediate School and Rondout Valley Junior High School to Rondout Valley Middle School. That the
004Rondout Valley Central School District currently operates an approved junior high school known as Rondout Valley Junior High School grades seven through eight and approved intermediate school known as Rondout Valley Intermediate School for grades four through six. and is recommended by the superintendent of schools that upon approval of the New York State Education Department beginning with the 26 27th school year that Rondat Valley Junior High School and Rond Valley Intermediate School shall be reconfigured into one school to be known as Rondout Valley Middle School serving grades four through eight. And upon such reconfiguration, the current intermediate school shall cease to operate as a separate school. that the recommendation of the superintendent of schools effective beginning with the 26 27th school year, the current Rondout Valley Junior High School and current Rondout Valley Intermediate School shall be
005reconfigured into one school to be known as Rondout Valley Middle School serving grades fourth through 8th and that upon the said reconfiguration, the current Rondout Valley Intermediate School shall cease to operate as a separate school andor shall close and the superintendent of schools or his design shall file any necessary documents with the New York State Department of Education to accomplish such grade configuration of the district schools and effective immediately the superintendent of schools shall implement such grade configuration of the district subject to continue on any further board approvals as required by law district policy rule and/or regulation and that any and all board or district policies bylaws rules regulation shall be updated to conform to the new reconfiguration of the district schools as presented. I make motion. >> I'll second. >> Any discussion? Nicole. >>
006Um, so specifically what will change and why Dr. Spedo, do you think that this is most beneficial for our kids and our students? >> Sure. So what will change is instead of having two schools with two bed codes and two principles, it's going to one school, one beds code, one principal. We feel like it's it's going to be a a fiduciary savings across the district in the next three, five, seven years. Uh we're also reconfiguring our administration. We want more cohes cohesiveness going with our administration with the leadership in the building. Uh and we feel like going to one principal, having that cohesion and also not only supporting that principal, an assistant principal, we're also the high schools also benefiting this reconfiguration as well as now they'll also be fully staffed with one principal, two
007assistant principles as well too. So we have the same configuration at both schools in administration. We'll have a building a building principal at the high school with two assistant principles. We also have a building principal at the middle school with two assistant principles. >> Will there be any programmatic changes by doing this? Like will we lose clubs? Will we our kids lose any access to current academic programs? >> No, that that is not our intent for doing this for doing. So all of those things that are currently being offered at the intermediate school and the junior high will continue to be offered next year. >> Yes. The clubs we have keep same the PTA the extracurricular activities we don't anticipate any of those being excess >> because of recurring >> and in terms of like
008the amount of support services that are offered like school nurses we're not or music programs nothing like that is being changed with this decision tonight. No, we're taking a look at that. Anytime we have a resignation or or retirement through attrition, we always take a hard look and see if we can make budgetary decisions based on those moves. Um, we're still going through the budgetary process. So, I I can't say that some programs may be affected, but that could be a possibility. Looking at the staffing that we have, looking at our our declining enrollment, looking at the needs of the district, um, those could be potential areas that we're still looking But that's unrelated to this decision that we're making tonight. That's just >> that's more budgetary. >> Our financial obligations to the district is
009to look carefully at where our resources need to be. >> Correct. >> But ultimately with this decision, none of there are no other changes that will be taking place other than the administrative shifts. Is that right? >> Yes, sir. >> Um same programming focus. Um same delivery instruction. So fourth grade will still be self-contained. Fifth grade will be teaming. six through eight will beart departmentalized. There's going to be no changes in program programmatic, you know, instruction with our with our students and teachers. >> Thank you. >> And there won't be any changes in facilities, right? I mean, it's not as though we're giving up part of a building or something because of this. It's, you know, all the students will still have access to the full facilities they currently do even if this decision passes.
010Right. >> Yeah. Correct. for the 2627 school year, we don't see any changes with transportation, with food services, and with delivery of instruction. >> Yeah, just a comment. Um, Paul, I've heard a lot within the community about concerns with, you know, reduction within the band program in particular, and I appreciate what you said, right, that that would be a budgetary discussion. So, as a board, we could certainly vote against that kind of decision when the budget is put up if that is indeed something that's put in there. Um, I will let you know personally I do not will not support any kind of reductions within the band program. Rhonda was known for our arts and and band and I just went to the um the school play the other night. >> Yeah, Mattel. We have
011such talented students and I really worry about us reducing program within that that area, Paul. So, just want to put my two cents out there about that. Paul, I'm just curious if you could share a little bit about trends you saw in the Google survey that went out to parents and what like what are the trends in parent feedback and how we address this? Yeah, they wanted part of the feedback was they understand the concept of reconfiguration, making sure we don't forget about the fourth grade. Uh making sure there's a plan for for them as well because the community still wants the fourth grade moving back uh to the elementary school. They don't feel like it's a a developmentally appropriate placement for them to be in a school with, you know, sixth, seventh, and eighth
012graders. So um that's why at the last board meeting we did we did hire an external consultant to come in to provide us options as to how we can move the fourth grade back uh to the elementary schools. That's like phase two of this reconfiguration. Phase one is get is getting it to one school with one beds code under one liter. And then phase two is looking at moving the fourth grade back to um the elementary schools. And feedback was about the band program. Uh and again it's just a discussion. If a if we didn't have a uh a an opportunity for attrition, this wouldn't have been a topic of discussion. But you know, we do have a person retiring and uh with with all of our budgetary practices we've been doing implementing over the
013last few years. We always, you know, want to uh look at closing up positions through attrition or or or resignations. And um you know, we're taking a hard look and uh we're hoping that you know, we can find a a creative and uh financially responsive way to support the band program uh but also have a fiduciary responsibility as the community. >> Any other questions? >> One question. Um, so if the consultant finds that we can do a fourth grade back and and you know your team thinks it makes sense, when would that happen? That's not something that would happen next beginning of next school year. Correct. >> Correct. So the consultant will be giving his he's actually slated to come to the April board meeting to just introduce himself. Uh he's going to be meeting
014with a lot of stakeholders. He's going to be looking at uh enrollment trends over the last five ten years. He sent myself and Deb a big laundry list of things that he needs. So, we're going to be working hard behind the scenes over the 26 27 school year and we're hoping he gives us a recommendation what to do with fourth grade for the 272. >> Thank you. >> And do you think um I mean for me like this merge makes sense and I know it can't be contingent on the fourth grade move but moving the fourth grade makes it make sense to even more. Do you think that there's an opportunity for like we're talking about preserving programs, but if you move the fourth grade down and we have a smaller middle school, would there
015be an opportunity for more programming? And like, you know, I know a challenge in the middle school right now is kids have very little time outside because there's so many kids in the building that have to cycle through lunch and recess. In the winter, they can't even go out and play in the snow because they don't have time to get their gear on. So there's less kids in the building. Can like will that make more programming, more time outside accessible for students? Do you think? >> Yeah, I think so. When you're going down the grade level, there's going to be more opportunities. There's going to be less less students uh and probably more opportunities to use the resources that we have with the cafeteria and our our new our new playground that was just built.
016So I do see that happening. Uh there's going to be a lot of benefits if we can pull off moving the fourth grade back to the elementary school. questions. >> All those in favor? >> Motion carries. >> Next on the agenda is tenure area appointment. Um we're at Oh, sorry. Next is stipulation of settlement agreement for the New York State Division of Human Rights case number 10210223. Be it resolved upon the recommendation of the Superintendent of Schools, the Board of Ed of the Rondout Valley Central School District hereby approves the stipulation of settlement agreement for New York State Division of Human Rights case number 10210223 as presented. >> I'll make my motion. I'll second. >> Any discussion? All those in favor? I opposed. Motion carries. >> Next on the agenda agenda is tenure area appointment.
017Whereas Veronica Fraver uh was appointed in the tenure area of elementary education on September 1st, 2024. And whereas Miss Fraver is also certified in English as a new language, ENL. Uh, Miss Fraver taught in a 24-25 academic year, her first year of service, which was 63% uh, math AIS, which is covered under the elementary tenure area, and 37% in ENL. And Miss Fra for the 2526 school year talked 42% math AIS and now currently teaches 58% ENL. Pursuant to the New York State Commission regulations, a teacher who teaches in an academic year of over 40% in their tenure area may earn tenure for such services and effective for the 2526 school year and based on the district instructional needs, the employees to be appointed in the elementary education and English as a new language tenure
018area and that the board of education of the Ronda Valley School District upon the recommendation of the superintendent of schools hereby retroactively sub its use favor to the tenure area of ENL along with her tenure area of elementary education effective September 1st 25 as presented >> second >> any discussion >> yeah can you just give us a general very general overview of what all that means >> sure so uh Miss Fraver uh uh was her first year teaching with us was in the elementary tenure area but also teach she teaches math AIS and ENL Um, and this year she teaches more of her percentage of her day in ENL, which we're making the recommendations since she teaches more of her percentage of the day in ENL that she goes into that tenure area set up
019the elementary education tenure area because as we're planning um for next year and the years after, we see her um taking on more ENL classes than math AIS. >> So, this is correct. So, this individual Paul, there's already been discussions that have been had. They are aware that this is on the agenda. >> Yep. Um Nancy met with her and um union leadership today to talk about this and go over and explain why we're moving her tenure area from elementary to >> and they agree that they're they support this. >> Yes. >> Okay. Thank you. So qual here in the language it says along with her. So is it along or is it >> she has she won't lose the year. >> Correct. >> Got it. Okay. >> Thank you for that clarification. >> Two
020areas. Any other discussion? All those in favor? Opposed? Motion carries. and personnel report. Uh recommend motion the board approve the personnel report recommended by Dr. Paul Spado superintendent excuse as presented. >> Second >> any discussion? All those in favor? >> Opposed? Motion carries. Thank you. Uh recommend a motion that the board of education move into executive session to discuss the employment history of particular individuals as presented. No board action will take place after executive session. >> Second discussion. All those in favor. [clears throat] >> Thank you everybody. >> Yes.