001Okay, if we could please stand for the pledge of allegiance to the people. 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. >> Thank you. Our student board member will now read our mission statement. >> Our vision is for our students to grow into critical thinkers and lifelong learners with integrity, confidence, and compassion. >> Our mission is to create an inclusive, welcoming educational community where all students can find their purpose and achieve their goals. >> Thank you. Recommended motion to approve the revised December 9th, 2025 board of education meeting agenda as presented. >> I'll make that motion. A second. >> Any discussion? All those in favor? >> Opposed? Motion carries. >> Uh, next
002on the agenda, superintendent's update, we have uh Mr. Panic, our athletic director, presenting our athletic teams for our Gander Spotlight. Thank you. I want to thank Dr. Spado, Mrs. F school board for allowing us to recognize our athletes. We've had a great fall and we have a lot of great kids. Uh, I'd first like to start by thanking our coaches. Can we give our coaches a round of applause? And the next thing that's great is we have this guy that gives to our kids left and right and he's actually here tonight. So Benny, thank you very much for our Benny of the Month. With that, I'd like to read off the kids for September. Hoku, Josie Kak, and Ola Schula. You guys here? Stand up. October was Stella Greco, Stevie Schwares, and Jackson Bone. You
003guys don't know it, but I'm going to announce November because we're a little late with the pictures, but November are Owen Schaer, Cerini, Hannah Chapen, and Sienna Sergio. These kids have all had great great outings this fall performing on the field and academically. Um my next thank you goes to Randy Chase for all the recognition she does for our kids. Facebook, school website, Instagram, it keeps getting better and better every day I look. So, thank you to Randy. They won and when they came home, they came home with a loud bang. And I want to thank our SRO, Mr. Slinski, Mr. O'Donnell and all the police, fire trucks, and the rescue, ambulance, all those people that gave up their time, came out on Saturday, Sunday nights, whatever it might have been, and gave our kids
004a nice uh nice experience to come back to school. So kids, make sure you clap really loud for those Friday because my secretary's out. I had the opportunity to calculate all our scholar athletes. Seven of our teams made scholar athlete. Uh we'll start with field hockey. They were 94.9. Boys cross country 94.28. Girls cross country 97.94, boys soccer 90.18, girls soccer 93.99, volleyball 92.21, and golf 95.11. I was telling Dr. Spado all our grades were looking very, very good. So, I'm proud of our kids for performing like that both in the classroom and on the field. Uh, with that, we will start with uh the golf team. Like to have the golf team come forward. Coach Clinton, come on up. All right. first. They've won their third straight Mahal championship this year and uh Coach
005Clinton's coached for six years and five of those years they finished either first, second or third. So I want to thank Coach Clinton. Not many people know but he's stepping down at the end at the end of this year. He'll be taking the kids to the states. Hopefully in the spring they'll qualify for the states. But I want to thank him for all he's done for our golf team. He's doubled the number of kids we've had participating and done a great job. So, thank you, Coach Clinton. Our golfers, how do you guys want to do the certificates? Want to come out and get them? Okay, leading our team was Hokai Louu who shot a 76 at the qualifier. So, Hai, come on. I'll give your certificate. Hai right now is a top ranked golfer in
006section 9. So, he went to the states last year. We're hoping he returns again. He'll have to qualify in the spring. Stevie Schwarz, come on up to him. Stevie shot got a 72 and finished second. So, Hawkeye was one and Stevie was two, finishing in the golf qualifier, which is pretty impressive. Good job, Ste. Come on up. H shot at 82. Hudson shot 82 and finished seventh in the qualifier. And then rounding out our team was Joe Sweeney, AUGUST, and Tony Mason. I also want to thank Coach Maloney who was our assistant who's going to take over next year and has already been working with these guys getting them ready to go to the simulator. So guys, congratulations and thank YOU All right, moving on. We'll go to girls cross country. Come on up, ladies.
007We'll get those in a second. >> Okay. So, for golf or for golf, we've got coach Quinton stepping down. This year, Coach Golixson's going to be stepping down. When I got here, we had a couple kids that ran fast and they said, "Ann, if you just get enough for a team, you have a chance at winning the sectionals." And she's done she's done that. She's recruited these kids and these girls a couple years ago all started running and lo and behold, they ended up winning the sectionals back to back, >> right? >> Smiling. So, uh, I want to thank Coach Gillixson for all she's done and her assistants, uh, Andrew Ugalino and Michael's not here. >> Okay. Michael Oberly, the two of them have helped her tremendously. And it's fun to be at a cross
008country meet watching them run around and just pushing and and I and I got to mention Mr. Sherwood who's out there running around with them, cheering these kids on from point A to point B. It's awesome to watch. So, thank you guys. Um, we'll start with uh our first place finisher in the section 9 contest. It was Hannah Chapen. Right close behind was Gypsy Wish. Not too far behind her was Lola Sherwood. BEHIND HER was Greta Sutherland ROCK and making sure that we won was Gabriella Castro, Zineia Vargas, and Rowan Johnson. So these girls finished second in the Mahalss. They won the sectional title and then they went on to the states where they finished fifth out of the 11 teams at states. Great great representation by them for Rondell Valley. So thank you ladies.
009I don't know. Now going on to one of the hardest working kids I've ever been around. And this kid runs and he runs and he runs and he runs. Owen Sherini finished first in the Mahal Championship which is I believe our first boy to ever win it >> and that's out of all the schools in the section nine as far as that goes. Then he finished first in the sectionals and then he finished fifth in the states. >> And he finished his career off at the Federations. Congratulations, Owen. Congratulations. Okay, next we're going to move on to Coach Wooden. I mean, coach Simeone, >> those of you that don't know basketball, coach won like a bunch of national champ. So, our girls field hockey team, as many of you were there and watched or watched
010on uh on the computer, they unfortunately lost a heartbreaking state championship, but we've won five straight years in the Mahal Championship over Kingston, which I know when I got here, they had said that was their biggest pet peeve was Kingston, and they seem to have conquered them. So, I like that. And uh how many sectional titles is this in a row? >> 15 sectional titles in a row. >> Two years in a row were state runnerups. So congratulations to these girls. We'll start with Haley Henbury. line up for you, ladies. Scarlet Cormandy, >> Josie Kak. Josie was a section 9 MVP. So I had to keep that quiet. She told me I couldn't tell anybody. So I kept it. ZANG LOU Jasmine Jasmine McNeel. >> Okay. >> Our goalie Sienna Sergio. I tip my gift
011to her. She doesn't get any action for the first 20 games and then we get the states and then she's in there knocking these balls left and right. So, great job, Adriana Moran, Eddie O'Donnell, Audrey Dennett, Stella Greco, Ella Morris, Samantha Schneller, ELLIS SPOON MAKER, MADISON SHANLEY, Marggo McMillan, Daffany Orner, Emma Shanley, fellow Wingard, Maline Calbert, and Maya Henbury. All right, Lena, slide in here. >> Well, we've done this a lot of times. Right. >> Take the cover off, Chris. And that's all I have from athletics. I'd like to thank you guys once again for recognizing the kids. Congratulations you guys. It was it was a fun ride. Thank you. I did tell Dr. Spero it's supposed to snow tomorrow so I did my best. Uh next on our agenda uh we have uh Mr.
012Cutler school spotlight at the uh from the intermediate school. Hello everybody. So, congratulations to all the athletes and to Jeff Panic. And it's very exciting to see how big they've gotten and how much they've grown because we knew them when they were like this and now they're like this. But I guess the theme of my spotlight is about growth and people who are very involved with this group. So last year when we did our spotlight for the intermediate school, we spent a lot of time talking about all our great programs and we really gave a great overview of the entire school. And the next morning I was greeted by a very disappointed school counselor. Her name was Maramuchi who said to me, "Le, you forgot us." And then I looked at her and I said,
013"Oh, I know who us is." And I did forget us. So tonight, besides recognizing five students who have demonstrated amazing growth, I wanted also to put a spotlight on our school counselors, our school counseling department that has such an important role in the growth of all of our students and and and a role in our entire program. and Deb Marinucci, uh, whose husband Sean is here and son Nick is here. If you want to stand and say hello, that would be great. I think we all know that Deb lives on. She lives on in so many different ways, in so many different programs among our children. I I hope everybody here knows that in the last months of her life, she was composing cards for every student that arrived in the mail over the summer.
014So, tonight is to honor her through her fellow counselors, her family, uh, and and and and all of us together. I have a long slideshow for you. It'll probably take about an hour and a half. So, let's start. um our dedicated and qualified counselor staff to go to the next slide. Dr. Jacqueline Bleski, this is like an eye test. Can you read all that? >> Well, I gave to the board and anybody sitting at those important chairs um a packet to look at. And when I asked each of our school counselors to put down their their credentials, it took a long time, but they put it together. Um and so Dr. Eleski is our school uh our school psychologist for grades four, five, six. I I think I'll break from custom and I'll recognize you
015right now. Come on up, Dr. Buzz. >> There's one of you here. >> Thank you. >> I'm gonna be one of Okay. Okay. I think we should say >> oh our next slide which is equally long. um this Stacy Bowers who started back in Marvel Town, so you remember her from there, but she also has all these credentials which don't just happen accidentally and and and we really rely on all the expertise. Your photo is now he's finding the Casey services all of our sixth, seventh, and eighth graders who have the end of their names. A through no M through I always get this wrong. I'm M through Z. L L through Z. I always think L. Okay. So if you have a if you're in sixth grade and your last name starts with O.
016I don't think Do we have any O's? I think we do. Yeah. Okay. Then then you would be with her for three years. Um our next slide. Um, she's not here tonight uh because she's having heating problems, but she is Mrs. uh Christina Kasich Kais, sorry. And she works with all of our fourth and fifth graders, and she wishes she could be here, but she also has impressive con projections. So, our next slide, please. Uh, Miss U Stacy Ty Vler is our school social worker, and she's not here tonight either. a family emergency but really wanted to be here and prepared that credential for you also. Our next slide and uh Miss Stephanie Chase Chan Haver is really she really belongs to Miss Aody but we really work as a team as one building and
017she is the school psychologist for our seventh and eighth graders. Please come up. SO WHAT did these people do all day? What's that? Oh, Nette. >> Our next slide. She did not want the picture. >> We were trying to hide this from her because somehow the picture got on there and we don't know how it did. I think it's a slanty picture, but I like it. Um, Miss Simeone has has been um a rock for so many of our students. She is the sixth, seventh, and eighth grade school counselor for A through L's. >> A through K. Our L's really don't get much counseling because um what do these people do all day? They do a lot and and I think I wanted to recognize that tonight and Deb Bari really wanted me to do
018that. So, I have a list of things here. I'm just going to go fast. I do lunch and conventional groups, social emotional groups. They do crisis intervention, consultations with parents and staff. They attend weekly, monthly meetings, student response team meetings, instructional support team, tier one, two, and three meetings, threat assessment meetings, attendance meetings, peer mediation, home visits. They assess and assist services for students eligible for McKini Hento services. They review five week reports and report cards. They schedule, yes, they schedule individual meeting grades for individual meetings for kids in grade six, seven, eight. They do career counseling, mandated IEP counseling. They do quite a bit of deescalation and they work with outside providers and they test and they test and they test. and I just wanted to recognize them because without them we could not
019have our students be as successful and feel as comfortable and safe as they are. And so a round of applause for all of our counselors. And now let's move to our students. Could I have the five students please come up here now that we are recognizing? Oh, okay. Okay. So, why don't we have Yeah, we're just gonna do another chair over here. Now, the challenge is I want you to sit alphabetically. So, so the first person here, we're going to see how they do alphabetically. This is not planned. >> One of who's left. No, >> we're having a problem with the >> bees. So, Emma Bogart did really well. The rest of you, you did awesome because I didn't tell you we were doing that. So, that's why I recognized them because I knew they
020could line up alphabetically. Um, fourth through sixth grade, I've lived it for 10 years. They grow and change so much. I'm looking around at some of the board members who are fourth graders and kids who are sixth grade and and older. It goes fast. And they are very different than when they come in all innocent the first day of school and fourth grade and they leave pretty sophisticated in sixth grade. I would love to recognize every sixth grader, but what we did is we talked to our teachers and these five rose above because of what I call substantial personal growth that we've seen in all five of them. They had some rough times, growing pains like we all have, but what I admire about each of them is their resilience. Now, Austin Perry, do you
021know what resilience is? >> This was not planned. >> I mean, this is amazing. >> See, that was not planned. But Austin Perry, as Jill Graco could tell you, um could could have answered that in fourth grade. But what Austin couldn't do at fourth grade was sort of navigate the ups and downs of of school. And and so I want to recognize each of these students um because what they've done with their teachers who are here and when we do the photos I really want the teachers to come up with them um is absolutely beautiful. And we go back to Demar who she she loved all five of you. She knew all five of you so well. So she would she would be applauding um so loud right now. Emma Bart stand I want to
022talk about you first. Okay. Emma is a leader. She got chosen for win man this year. Um which is pretty honorable, pretty great. Emma leaves us. Well, she's not leaving us yet. Sorry, a few more months. But she she ends up in sixth grade and and I came up with some words for her. She's calmer, right? Mr. Maloney, Missoney. Um, okay. Mora and and Miss Graasa who all taught me before sixth grade. She's wiser. You definitely are wiser. And she's a leader for many. She has found her voice. She has found her way. And I think you would agree with me. It wasn't always easy. And we love you. And we are so proud of you. You're welcome. >> No. Okay. Okay. So teachers, Mr. Laura, Mr. Dr. Now, Emma, I don't want to say
023this, but it's true. She convinced her father to run for the board of education. So, this is because of her. Now, I'll be honest with you. When the list first came out, Jason Brower was not on it because I forgot to put his name on it. However, that's honest. Um, I immediately heard from my sixth grade teachers, "Miss Bennett, where are you?" Yes. Um, and said, "Lee, you forgot about Jason Brower." because the teachers have noticed in Jason Brower and Mr. um Mr. Gardano will remember Jason in fourth grade and Josh too was here but um Jason has become so much more mature, so much more self-motivated and I would say um Mr. Mance would agree um very future oriented. We're very proud of you, Jason. You've grown up so much. Please come up to
024accept your spotlight and a photo with your teachers. Come on up. Oh, Mr. L is here. Emily Burke, >> we have Cheryl Simmons. It's all started there, right? I'm sure we have elementary teachers started before. Emily and her family have been through a lot, you know, losing her brother and and and becoming who she is. Emily has grown up so much. We are so proud of her. What we love about Emily, and I use this word again, Austin, resilient. Emily is resilient. She is so caring. And what I love about Emily, is that she has an advanced sense of justice. Emily always looks out for other people and when she sees something that's not fair and what I mean when she sees something that's not going right she says something and her tears are beautiful
025because that's she always she always right Shan she always shows how she feels >> and and we always know how Emily feels and she is one of the most honest loving people you will meet and you have grown up so much since fourth Right. Right. Okay. So, uh teachers come out here with Emily for a picture. So Ryan Hassenflu when he was in fourth grade and certainly when he was in fifth grade Rene I would not have predicted that he would have been a wingman but he got selected to be a wingman this year which was a statement of how much growth he has shown. Um Ryan Hassenflu is so much so much more confident. I told him a story a week ago or two weeks ago of football, right? He's part of a football
026group outside that that plays football as their passion. And when he was in early fifth grade, he got really frustrated because no one was passing the ball to him. And he would come to me because I was always out there refereeing. Um, and he would say, "Mr. No one's throwing the ball to me. No one's throwing the ball to me." But he never gave up. And I didn't really do much to help him. I encouraged him. But within a few months, he was he made his first few good catches and and um touchdowns and he just blossomed there. And what we've seen in sixth grade this year, as his sixth grade teachers will tell you, is a competent um more calm and so attentive to everything around him. He's always noticing everything. So, congratulations on
027your growth. We're very proud of you, Brian. We have our sixth grade teachers. And this dash is not sure. >> Mr. Gillis is not here. Austin Perry. I would not have predicted this one. I I've loved Austin since fourth grade, but it was tough. And as as as Reell and and Gina know, there were many phone calls and and many challenges, but Austin was always really smart. Always really smart. I mean, I did not stage that resilient thing over there. He just he just did it. Um Austin has become so much more mature, so much more even, so much well, he's always been inquisitive. He's the kind of kid in town hall meetings he would always raise his hand and challenge me and and I like to be challenged so I would handle it but
028the challenge would keep going going but he's he's really learning to take responsibility for himself and understanding the audience in a way and I know his parents I know all the parents who are here are proud of all the I know they're really proud of you and you your sixth grade teachers have seen such growth at Miss Russo who started many of you and and Miss Maldon who's not here would love to recognize you. Austin Perry come up. Mr. Porters, why don't you come up here with the five of them and also Mr. Le I want to thank the board of education for allowing us. This is what we're all about is growth. Five great examples. Thank you so much. Thank you, Mr. Celler. To all the intermediate school teachers, parents, and students for coming
029out. Um, you're more than welcome to stay for the public meeting, but at this time, if you want to uh leave, you're free to go. Oh yes. You know what? Which one's dad? At this time, I'd like to open up public comment. Um just as a reminder for public comment um three minute uh limit and no names are identifying uh to either any students or personnel please identify >> yourself. Thank you for um having me this evening. My name is Alex McKinnon. I currently brought out students. I've been in education for over 20 years and I serve uh now a corporation that serves superintendent and school leaders across New York. It's nice to be here. Very nice to see all the accolades tonight. But good evening. I'm sharing something simple but somehow still unresolved. The
030educational programs my children are receiving here are not meeting their needs. And yet, at every turn, I'm expected to pretend it is not working. I have followed the chain of command and met with everyone from the superintendent to building leaders, teachers, and more. I've had difficult conversations and honest conversations. And in those conversations, I've been told directly that there is long-term systemic racism in this district by administrators. People in decision-making roles have had every opportunity to act. They've even asked me what to do about it. No meaningful action has been taken. My family has been forced to look outside the district for alternative housing. Rondout has not demonstrated that it can handle even the most basic responsibilities for our children's safety and wellbeing. Race based incidents continue frequently, even weekly. And you might not know
031it if you don't have brown skin. Imagine being expected to learn in an environment where you're bracing for the next event. That is the reality here. One of my children is in 11th grade and he cannot read. His experience in this district has been essentially been a holding tank. Not a pathway, not acquiring work-based skills, nothing. He needs a specific environment to learn for his complex medical and emotional conditions and Ronda has not done enough to support these. He needs a structured appropriate placement for his ability level where progress can be made. He has also been on the end of bullying, violence, and hate speech directed at him. Recently, he eloped from a building. He is not safe at Maro. I've done everything a parent can do. I've raised concerns privately, publicly, respectfully, and persistently.
032And yet, we're still here. So, tonight I'm asking a very direct question. What are you prepared to do to help my children feel safe to be safe and get an appropriate education here? Not what's going to be studied, discussed, or progressed, monitored months and months later. What will be done immediately to ensure my children are safe and supported and educated the way every child in this district deserves. Thank you. I hope I ma'am we do have just want to confirm we do have your contact information like our our clerk. >> Yes. Thank you. >> Everybody has it. There we go. Any other public comment today? >> If we go on to the rest of the agenda, uh we we did lose a great gander last night. Um Pat Salovich uh passed away unexpectedly uh last
033night. Uh she gave a lot of service uh to the district uh in the cler parole uh particularly at the high school. Please join me in a moment of silence in recognizing Pat Salvich. >> Thank you. Next on the agenda is uh superintendent uh consent agenda items 1 through eight. uh recommend a motion uh that the board of education approve the consent agenda items 1 through eight as presented. >> I'll make the motion. >> I'll second it. >> Any discussion? >> All those in favor? >> I opposed. Motion uh carries. Is Mr. Davenport here? >> He was. >> Oh, there. Sorry. Um you would you like to recognize your newly tenure? >> Sure. >> Thank you. >> They're nearly uh yeah we have two um and one of them Jennifer Brown. She's the art teacher
034works between Hung and Marble Town. So she is all students uh K2 and uh she she came here from the city and she has really kind of become a part of our community. Um I think Jackie Vanel and I are very pleased with how uh she's kind of built in that role in our art department. uh building relationships with our students, bringing social emotional uh part into her art classrooms, making sure the students are having fun and a lot of the stuff that she does with our community as well, sipping paint, helping with our drama club, things of that nature. So, we're pleased to have her uh be tenured. I don't think Jim is here. Um Amy Bower is here and I definitely want to recognize her. Uh she's been very patient here tonight wondering
035if she was going to receive this honor last year. Uh she is absolutely wonderful. She came to us from the intermediate school and really from day one has just been an absolutely fantastic teacher. Uh she's continued to grow in that role. She's a life skills teacher three uh three now three to five at Marbletown. And what is great is just the way that she makes sure all of her students, many of whom are uh significantly impacted, are able to access the curriculum, access the lessons, participate in th those lessons. But not only that, but the enthusiasm she brings, the joy that you see in her in her classroom. And what's also fun is just watching the growth that's happening with this with the students in her class. Um, you know, her students are of a
036whole wide variety of of abilities, but I get to see their progression and to get a window in that world where I get to understand how they're able to access and communicate their learning. And it just always blows my mind to see how much the students are able to do, how much they're able how much they've grown over time and that's really a tribute to Miss Bower. Uh the last thing I am really pleased of is the way that she's been working hard uh to uh work beyond her the walls of her classroom and so she's involved with things all over the school. She did a club this year. She had an she and Miss uh Blue had their students at their recent Vandenberg dance performance sing and sign uh Louis Armstrong's it's a wonderful
037life. Um she and Miss Beloo who is the life skills two three teacher have become this little team that that really brings joy and gives opportunities for life skills students to be pushing into the classroom of the 151 and just overall it's just an amazing job. uh welld deserved job tonight. Thank you. >> On November 20th, uh Olster County had their friends and education uh award evening and uh each school district nominate somebody from their community um to receive this award. And this year, uh, we had nominated Benny Kalcad from Benny's Pizza. So, um, for those of us who don't know Benny, which I'm not really sure who maybe doesn't, but you know, maybe somebody doesn't. Um, one Benny is probably one of the number one supporters in this community, of our students, of our
038fire and EMS, um, of anything, of our veterans. Um, I do a veteran ceremony every year and he is he he's he's always been 110% supportive of me with all of that. Um, when the pandemic hit, the thing that struck me the most when the pandemic hit that everything shut down and it shut down quickly and we know that we have a large number of students um that received free and reduced lunch. we were still navigating, all districts were navigating how are we going to provide for those students. Um, it did not take long for Benny to to open his door and say, "No questions asked. You need a slice of pizza, an apple, and a drink, just come to Benny's and it's yours." And that was huge at that time. And we all know
039those feelings and those emotions that we had back at those times. but he partnered up with our athletic director with Jeff Panick and he is part of the um monthly athletes, you know, athletes of the month. And again, he's been one of our number one supporters. And on November 20th, um he had a doctor's note. He couldn't get to his own award celebration because he was sick. So, the timing was terrible, Denny. But um but I did ask him to stick around because it is I think important for us to recognize Benny and all the support that he's always giving us. So thank you so much Benny for everything you do on this. Okay, now you can go home. >> Uh, so some board time. I'd like to start with um our students. Um, any
040updates from our two student members? >> Um, so one thing I'd like to share out um this past Sunday along with our newsletter was a survey released um about our scheduling within our school. Um, right now we're currently on a block schedule with block periods and uh it's been a topic of discussion for a long time to bring back the traditional nine period days like single periods for classes. And this survey gives a list of pros and cons for the uh traditional nine period day and the block schedules. And at the end is uh one question and it asks if you prefer block periods, traditional nine periods or if you don't have an opinion for it. And that's for all our students within the high school to take. We have a current goal of around
041450 students to take this survey. And and another thing I'd like to share out is this Friday during periods four, five, and seven is our elective fair. >> Um yesterday we went on the learning walk with fellow board members, superintendent and that went really well. We got to see our fellow peers and students in class, what was going on. And next week, Wednesday, December 17th, we have along Wednesday. So the days can be shortened. >> Yes. >> Thank you so much, Mr. Rally. >> Yeah. Uh so many things to be proud of as as a member of this board of education and the the teachers and the student body. Uh congratulations uh first to the athletes and the athletic teams and the success that we've seen. uh as a longtime coach I'm very familiar with
042uh the most successful athletic teams also are highly intelligent and I think that goes hand in hand academics and athletics. So congratulations to those teams. I want to uh also say thank you to Jason Clinton and Anne Gullixson for their commitment to our uh student athletes as well. Uh I don't know if they're retiring from the district but I know that they're retiring from coaching. So again, congratulations to them and all the years of their service that they've provided to our uh student athletes. Uh also uh to the recognition that Mr. Cutler provided for the uh students, the five students tonight. Uh I thought that was uh really uh fabulous. uh just to see their growth. Uh to recognize uh five students and to bring them into this atmosphere uh and to uh uh present
043them with a certificate or trophy or or plaque, whatever it may be, uh could change their lives forever. And uh I think that that's one of the things that we should continue to try to do is to change uh the lives of our students. And last uh congratulations to Benny and the recognition he just uh received. I wanted to echo the the Gander spotlights are amazing. I love the focus on growth and growth mindset and I know we are applying that to the work that we are doing on the board and in the district as well. So just appreciated that lens. Um, I loved the walkthrough of the high school yesterday and loved having our student tour guides and I was especially blown away um by the art all over the building. And then we
044got to go into the advanced ceramics class and they were just making some incredible things. The Spanish class was super engaging. Students were having conversations in Spanish and it was just really fun to the subject was what were you like as a child? So, it was fun to hear their responses. And then we also got to see the unified PE program in action which was really great. Students were 100% engaged listening and it was just really cool to see student leaders being involved in that as well. And then I don't have any updates for the Rhonda Valley Education Foundation this month, but I did reach out to the PTSA and the PTA presidents and going forward we're hoping to be able to share updates um at our board meetings for them. And this week the
045or this month the big update is that they have the Harlem Wizards coming to Ronda Valley playing against some teachers is playing. Um, but the request is they need more teachers and staff to um to play and tickets are I think there's like half left. So, they're at half capacity. So, make sure you get your tickets as soon as possible. And this is a um an effort across all the PTA and PTSA organizations. So, it's a really big deal and hopefully we can sell out all the tickets and have a really good show of support. >> Okay. So, I was on the walk. I say everything she said. Um, it was really quite a eye opener. And to have two students along with us made it just that much more of I don't know, we
046learned a lot from them as well. Um, the art was wonderful, the music was wonderful, and um, I don't know. I enjoy going on, of course. missed a few, but uh I've enjoyed everyone that I've gone on. Hopefully, we'll continue. Um and I will not be playing basketball. I'm sorry. I'm married. That's not a um I'll buy a ticket. >> Um I just have that our upcoming curriculum committee meeting is December 18th. We're going to be talking about ENL, our guidance department plan,CAL curriculum, and um new course proposals. Um also, I would just like to request that we do follow up as a board um with Miss McKennon's um concerns if we can get an idea of what has been going on, if there's, you know, I know that's probably confidential executive session, but whatever
047we can get more information on that, appreciate it. >> Thank you, Karen. Uh so equity council um is meeting again this Thursday um at 2:30. Um one of the agenda items will be looking at the climate survey. We've asked to um disagregate the data and sort of look at it with that lens. Um is there anything else you wanted to add about equity council for this Thursday? >> Um not specifically for this Thursday but a followup from our last meeting uh when we had Mr. about come and speak about the olster immigration defense that we do have a followup with him to we're trying to schedule now down the date but um schedule with him to come in and do some training with our mental health committee personnel >> the notori training and then CRS
048are planning I think some professional development days so those have been scheduled on the calendar for our building leadership teams at each of the buildings um for Dr. ground to come in and work with um our leadership teams on the connection of portrait of a graduate and CRSE. So that is uh PD that NYU is putting together. We're the first district in the state um that they are doing this for the state is asking them to push it out and we'll be the first district that they'll be working on with that. So let's go see. Um, I also went on that learning walk we've been talking about which was amazing and I and everything that Tim Diny and Pat said I want to echo and also just have to say having having you both the
049two student board members there was amazing. It was so good to hear your experience and just also um you know sort of observe what was happening and sort of hear you know hear what you have to say about that too through your lens as well which was really great. And then something that sort of came up as we were walking and looking at the art and we saw um a real sort of diverse group of classes. I'll say um the electives are so rich like we just kept sort of mentioning um you know there's oceanography and there's marine science and there's wood shop and there's ceramics and there's there's just so many things um offered and I think it's so lovely that there's sort of this choice for our students to really engage with topics
050that they're really interested in or that they want to know something about. But it's really such a such a rich group of collectives which I think we should feel really proud of. Um and oh policy committee um uh Jim uh just to mention that at our last meeting um we we had decided that we were going to partner with NISBA and do a little bit of a sort of comprehensive have them help us do a bit of a comprehensive look back at the whole policy manual. Right. Yeah. um and make some help have help us make us some decisions about what we might need to update or revamp or you know notice that there are some things that maybe we don't need there anymore and that sort of thing. Is there anything else that you
051would add to that? >> No, that was approved tonight. So, I'm glad that we can move forward with that. >> I think it's going to help us as a district that policy. >> Yeah. Um and then the last thing just um agreeing with you um I'd love some more details um in terms of the followup and understanding Miss McKenna's concerns. >> Thank you. >> Hi. Um first I'd like to echo what a few other people have said about the gander spotlight. Um, as a as a parent of uh a recipient, uh, it is nice to acknowledge the hard work um that somebody puts in at home, at school, with their teachers, with their friends, with their family. So, thank you. >> Sorry. Um, we had a facilities committee meeting last week. Um there was a
052couple issues with some of the with the rooftop unit on the gym not working efficiently as we would want to. So they're trying to rectify that. Um some of the security window films started installation on the high school that will continue as they come in. Um they had a kickoff meeting on 122 to begin um phase 1A which will be starting hopefully I believe over the the winter break. So, some really good things going on, some really cool stuff coming up. Um, the next meeting for that is on January 7th at 4:00 and leave you with just a shout out. I don't think he's here, but um Tom from buildings and grounds and his crew, we had our first test of winter snow last week and I came in the next day and everything looked
053like it was pretty well under control. Test two, I think maybe tomorrow. So, we'll see. Just a shout out to those guys for uh the good work that they did. Yeah, just to add on to Paul, um bids came back which we just voted on came back a little bit under budget. So that's good for the phase one. Uh progress progressing with the capital project. Middle school gym is or not gym, middle school playground is almost complete, which everybody can see out there. And our next meeting is on 7 4:00 open to the public. >> It's complete, but the snow can't let us go out there yet. >> Is there a gaga hidden? Is that >> got to bid on it though? Got to play. >> Can I share one more thing? Um, one of
054one topic that's come up a lot on all the learning walks is the school food. We've brought that up at meet at some of these meetings before and we had a really good meeting Carrie with um someone from Prop Shop and then someone from Milestone Mill which are both local organizations that are working to bring more local food into schools and they're doing amazing work in surrounding districts just like exchanging the bread that that we have from um you know a large company with locally made bread and chips and things like that. So, it's exciting to think about elevating the the quality of the food in our district and I'm very appreciative to you Paul for being open to exploring this. >> I'm appreciative. No, I'm excited and it sounds like we can we're you
055know we're we're trying to make some changes now mid year and I'm I'm very appreciative because it's a lot of work to set up all those meetings and and do all of that. It's great. Thank you. The recommended motion that the board of education approve consent agenda agenda item number four as presented. I'll make that recommendation. I'll second. >> Any discussion? All those in favor? >> I >> opposed. Motion carries. Recommended motion to move into executive session to discuss the employment history of particular individuals as presented. No board action will take place after executive session. >> I'll make that recommendation. >> Any discussion? All those in favor.