001stand if able 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. >> Recommended motion to approve the revise August 12th, 2025 board of education meeting agenda as presented. >> I'll make a motion. >> Second. >> Any discussion? All those in favor? >> Opposed? Motion passes. We are now going to have our new board member Carrie Crossins take her oath of office. >> I do solemnly affirm that I will support the Constitution of the United States and the Constitution of the State of New York and that I will faithfully discharge the duties of the office of board member according to the best of my ability. Delicious. You're welcome.
002Superintendent update cell phone discussion discussion on policy 5695 excusing personal electronic devices. Uh we this is the second final reading. We've had our first reading. I went to the policy committee. We made some some some tweets. Uh we again back to the policy all students uh access to uh internet enabled personal electronic devices, smartphones, smartwatches, glasses, tablets during the school day will be prohibited unless specifically permitted under an IEP or a 504 plant or in designated emergency or educational exceptions. Uh the devices must be silenced and securely stored in district approved locations at all the schools. Uh and then we also added to the policy uh other personal electronic devices uh that are prohibited uh which are not capable of connecting to the internet such as fitness trackers, wireless headphones and earbuds, ear readers, voice
003recorders, cameras and music devices. Those will also be uh prohibited as well as these devices can also create a distraction to the school environment. It could ne negatively impact uh student uh mental health. Uh we are having a community uh engagement forum on Wednesday, August 27th for the community come out uh and explain more in detail what each school's uh communication storage uh plan is and going over what we've added to our our code of conduct if if the policy uh has been violated. Are we voting? >> It is. It's under his >> Oh, no. Sorry. It's after Sorry. Number three. >> Public comments. Yep. Public comments. Cornell. Yes. Uh, >> good evening. My name is Barbara Cornell and I've lived for 35 years in the town of Aort. I was 73 years old and
004began my teaching career in Marvel Central School District 50 years ago. Getting a job right after college graduation and starting salary with literal $6,000 and 28 to 30 students in Toy and Marorrow in the elementary grade, second person, third for 35 years. retired in 2007. I had I would cry. I have been waiting for this day for over 10 years. Always planning on addressing board of education as to the detriment the use of self especially being out in schools. However, today I'm here to praise Superintendent Federo this board of education for adopting the no cell phone policy and over during school hours. I decided to retire when they introduced computers into the elementary grades. It didn't take me long to realize that being fixated on a lively screen instead of communicating with each other learning
005social skills they will need for the rest of their lives is not good. So I started out our school day sitting on the floor in a circle packing with stick and some days partaking in a compliment activity they were required to come to school with a compliment for the person's name who they selected for. At first they hated it, but groups are loved. They got upset when I was absent and the sub had no clue what to do. It was so amazing to see the changes in the children. I have to say my class was so well behaved when they knew the rules and their limitations. To again say how thrilled I am that this new policy is taking place. The use of texting has limited their ability to express themselves in written English that
006has any meaningful content other than five or six word tweets. I see the addiction to cell phones everywhere with families and restaurants waiting in offices for appointments. And if you're not sure if you're addicted, turn it off for three days and see. I hear parents say to me, "It is a different day today." Well, we had nings in the stairwells at North Junior High School in Newberg and sexual predators bombing us home as we walked to and from school and I forgot air drills in the school that the Russians were coming and that we had to hide under our desks. Fortunately, I did not grow up in a time of helicopter parenting. Instead, I was taught self- responsibility, independence, resourcefulness, and how to think for myself when I got into a jam. I will say
007I do not own a cell phone and have no desire to do so. Also, let me say that I navigate a very busy life very successfully, even traveling four hours driving by myself. I have attached a recent study on the detriment of using cell phones with the age of 13 or not before eight, the mental health. Thank you for your time and I am so pleased. Thank you. >> Thank you. Thank you for your service. I live in Kson. I like to say all three of my children graduated from students high schoolers now. And I commend the board for your guts and no guts no glory for taking this step. And I agree with the former speaker. I'll be I I'm addicted to mom. You know what I'm saying? Um I know that there'll be
008a wonderful experiment and I think you'll be very pleased with the results of that experiment. So don't >> you stand next to us? >> Yeah, I will. I'll take some things. >> Okay, good. I'm gonna take some. That's okay. We got uh policy 5695, students personal electronic devices, second reading and adoption. Recommend motion that the board of education adopt a second reading and adoption of policy 5695, students and personal electronic devices as presented. >> I'll make a motion. I'll second it. >> Any discussion? All those in favor? >> Opposed? Motion passes. >> Superintendent schools consent agenda items 1- 16 be resolved that the board of education approved the consent agenda items 1 through 16 as presented. >> I'll make a motion. >> I got a second. >> I'll second. >> Any discussion? >> All those
009in favor? I I >> opposed. Motions 1 through 16 pass. Uh so board committee updates. So um for our committees this year, I know that I have uh I've been in contact with with all of you um to discuss. >> Oh, >> sorry Nancy. >> Okay. >> I'm sorry. >> Just a quick introduction. I'm a new school education teacher. Just yell. >> I wouldn't say what I know about. >> Congratulations. >> Was a former player of mine. I coach at >> we're sorry. Yeah, >> you can yell at me next time. >> Okay. Um, so as I mentioned, I have spoken to all of you um in some capacity about um the the board committees as well as the committees that are district committees that just have a board representative. So um I listened to
010where everybody kind of wanted to be put. So this is what I have and again it is up for discussion. Um so the starting with uh the district equity council that has a district representative. Um Harry asked to be on that. Is that still okay? Yeah. Uh the Rondout Valley Education Foundation has a board representative on it and Demig had requested to be on that. Is that still okay? >> The safety and health and wellness uh they're being combined together. They that is also a district uh district committee that just has one board representative. Um Bogart, is that still okay? >> Yes. And then we have four board committees curriculum budget audit which is one facilities and our Thomas King distinguish award committee that we do at the end of the year for the awards.
011Um for curriculum I have Nicole chairing the committee again this year if that's okay Nicole and Dimidy and Pat as the members of those as for those three. Yes. For budget and audit, I have um Pat chairing. Agree to share. Thank you. And Jim and Diminy on budget and audit as the other two members. Thank you. Under facilities, um Dean will chair it again. Dean has been chairing it and uh Bogart, if you could please join him on facilities. >> And for uh Thomas King, um Chris, would you chair that? Um and Dean would also like to remain on that committee and policy >> and policy. I knew I forgot one and find I was like that's why I said I'm missing one. So policy uh Jim is going to chair it. Sorry. And then
012Chris and Carrie will be on policy. Am I missing? >> I was just missing I knew I was missing one. So those are our committees with our members. Thank you so much for making that so easy for me. >> Thank you. >> I'm not making it. Is it possible to have two rule representatives on one of the district committees because the safety and health are being alongside No more soccer for you. Okay. So for uh next item on the agenda is board time. So for our new members um generally during this time uh is we will have you will have met with your committees and some of us kind of have um you will update our the next committee meeting when that is if there's any notes or anything just as a very quick overview
013to the whole board as to what you discussed at your previous committee meeting. um as well as any other you know uh any other information you want to share or thoughts or recommendations that's the time to do that um is during report time right so I know some may have some things some may not so I'm just going to work my way left to right Jim do you have >> uh I look forward to the challenging uh new policy that we have district cell phone policy u I really hope that parents get behind us and support us 100% with this policy uh and give us a chance to work out the case uh with the policy. um is going to be so instrumental in helping our students get back to how it was and how
014members of our audience spoke about uh their ability to communicate to each other with each other without being on their phones. So I really hope that we get to get the support and this gives us a chance to work out any things that we have. Uh secondly, uh just on the health and sa uh safety thing, I went out of my way. I was really I have a friend who lives at the four corners of Lucas and uh Kaiser, I can I often see a lot of cars traveling through those four-way stop signs and uh I really thought about I'm really concerned about the safety of our students. So, in conjunction with Dean, who's not here tonight, uh Dean, uh working for the county, uh I believe we are turning those stop signs into flashing
015stop signs. Uh and they should be in place by uh time school starts. >> So, I think that'll help. I know uh down in my area in Kottill, we have them and they've helped tremendously. So, I really hope that I've seen so many cars fly through that those stop signs. I really hope that this helps so that we have you know we didn't stop or not allow we don't any actions. So it's kind of off the rack a little bit, but I mean just want to say >> thanks for we just had a quick meeting audit is going to get back to us that be done to well there weren't that many But couple things that need to be done to make things a little bit better. Um, I'm looking forward to working. She's good.
016>> I have no report. >> Not yet. >> Curriculum committee meeting. Our first meeting is going to be August 25th at 5:00 district office. Um, we're going to be reviewing our state data which was just released. So, we're really excited. I did have a we did preview our results and I'm really happy to say that there's some really really um excellent growth in certain grade levels. So we're something to celebrate and we'll dive deeper and see where there's other areas to continue to grow. Um but if you want to come and review the state data with us more than welcome Monday on the 25th um I attended the policy committee meeting and I just wanted to say I commend Dr. Dr. Spado and the principles for really thinking through so many there are just so
017many details um with instituting a new policy like that and I think you know we'll we'll learn a lot in the first couple weeks but there's been a lot of research um and a lot of conversation and a lot of work done. >> Thank you. I'm welcome aboard. >> Thank you Chris. >> Um no major updates. I did receive in the mail um the typical board conflict of interest form. So hopefully you all have received that as well. I know last year we were a little delinquent I think as a board um getting those in. So just encourage everyone to check their mail um and then return it. It doesn't get returned here. It goes directly to our financial >> and not the new board members. You'll get it next year. >> Um and well
018we still have one more meeting before the start of the school year. So, I won't say good luck till we start the school year again. >> Recommended motion uh that the board of education approve the consent agenda items 5 through 10 as presented. >> Make the motion. >> Any discussion? All those in favor? >> Opposed? Okay. Our deputy treasurer, Alex sworn in as our deputy treasury, swear that I will support the Constitution of the United States and Constitution of the State of New York, and I will faithfully discharge duties of the Office of Treasuring. So, we are going to address in a minute, but the board needs to sign the tax warrant while we're >> Yes, ma'am. Um, I was just confused. I thought Alex was leaving his current job, but he's in fact not.
019>> No, it's just typed into position. >> Yes. >> Okay, I appreciate that. I just took I was like confused for for a second. I don't think they administrative call. Okay. >> Thank you. >> Recommended motion to adjourn the August 12th, 2025 meeting as presented. >> I'll make I'll second it. >> Any discussion? All those in favor >> meeting. >> Thank you everybody. Just sign the Oh,