001Okay, to the flag of the United States of America for it stands nation indivisible with liberty and justice for all. Okay, first uh item is the acceptance of the agenda. Motion please accept the agenda. >> Second. >> Any discussion on the agenda? There is none. All those in favor. Any opposed? Agenda is approved. Next item is the consent agenda which is resolution 057 2025 approving the items on the consent agenda. Motion please. second. Any discussion on the consent agenda? This is just a >> typical cont. >> Sure. So, we receive state and federal funds for our UPK program. Uh, as part of that funding, we are required to do a couple of different things. We are required to go out with an RFP each year for community- based organizations that would be interested in hosting
002a UPK and we are required to give a certain percentage of our UPK funding to community based organizations. So uh it's a a very cut and dry process for the RT. There are certain things we have to ask for. We have a committee each year that reviews the proposals that have come in and we anticipate the number of spots that we think we're going to have available for next year and then um award accordingly. [laughter] Anything else on the consent agenda is the public comment section. We do have some rules regarding public comment, so I'll get those out of the way. Board of Education encourages public participation school related matters and board meetings. The board is here to listen during this period of meeting. Persons wish to address the board to save their name and
003organization. Such person will be allowed three minutes. Speakers are asked to conduct themselves in a civil manner. The board cannot permit public session discussions involving individual district personnel or students. Person wish to discuss matters involving district personnel should present their comments and concerns for written statement. Just a reminder that public session is generally not interactive question answer period. The board will not address specific questions respond to strict concerns from the public at the next meeting. person's specific question should address those dialogues and the president shall reserve the right to discontin. So with that we [laughter] name I am the St. Arman town supervisor. I live in Bloomingdale. I have two adult sons. Both attended Bloomingdale School K through five. Then they attended Petrova and both graduated from Sarin Lake Central High School. I was accepted
004as a member of the buildings and facilities committee that was tasked with reviewing all of the financial information, school schedules, bus routes, etc. regarding the possible closure of Bloomingdale School. The meetings were set to take place from September 2025 and end in June of 2026. In December, we were informed that the timeline had been changed and the future meetings were cancelled. At the end of the February 18th public hearing, Tori Thirsten stated, "We are running out of options. That's why we started the buildings and facilities committee. In the end, we failed and the buildings and facility committee failed to come up with that outofthe-box idea. The buildings and facility committee did not fail. We were disbanded before we could succeed. In truth, no brainstorming sessions took place. To claim that we failed is untrue. This
005school board failed us by not allowing us to finish the work that we were tasked to do. During the February 18th meeting, Tori Thirstston stated, "Is a child that attends Bloomingdale more deserving than a child at Petroa? Is a child that attends Bloomingdale more important than a child that attends to Pro Petrova?" She also stated to use the words that have been expressed to us repeatedly the last few months. Is the child that attends Bloomingdale the gem of the school? which were my words at the February 4th meeting, and receives a private school education at a public school price more worthy than a child that attends Prova. That is what we are talking about. At no meeting has anyone ever suggested that Bloomingdale students deserve more than Petroba students. At no meeting has anyone ever
006said that Petroba was not a good school or that the students at Petrova deserve less than the students at Bloomingdale. Tori seems to be forgetting one very important thing. The superintendent and the school board makes the decisions regarding supplying services to students. The parents and community members of Bloomingdale School have been asking for years to have these services returned to Bloomingdale School and those requests have fallen on deaf ears. Diane Fox has stated that to combat declining enrollment, we have to look at this as a three-legged stool. The legs of the school, the stool are affordable housing, good paying jobs, and good daycarees. I disagree. It's a four-legged stool. Affordable housing, good paying jobs, good daycarees, and good schools. We have more affordable housing coming to our area this year and even more plans in
007the next few years. We have help wanted signs everywhere and with the new norm of work from home with good internet services, people can live anywhere in the world and have a good job. We have a new daycare in Bloomingdale. Little tights is a wonderful addition to our community. But in order to attract people to come here, stay here, and raise their families here, we need good schools with enough space for growth. How many parents want to have their kids eating breakfast at 7:30 in the morning and lunch at 10:30 because there's not enough space in the cafeteria to accommodate all of those students. If we want to attract the next generation to stay here or move here to raise their families here, then we must have great schools to entice them. I am disappointed
008in some members of this school board. You have not been transparent. You have not been respectful and you have not been truthful to us. Diane, I don't know you well. I I we've worked together for the last few months. What I do know is you are a very smart woman. You are a planner. And I personally believe you have a plan for Bloomingdale School. I don't know why you're not sharing that with us. I I do believe you have a plan. Even if it's just an idea, I do know that the Sarinac Lake Central School this district belongs to all of us. Every resident that lives within its boundaries, every parent and grandparent, every taxpaying citizen. They are not your students, they're ours. All of ours. And it's not your money, it's ours. And it's
009not your schools, it's ours. They belong to all of us. The entire school district is a family and families sometimes argue and disagree and we can do that respectfully with each other which is obviously what I'm doing with y'all right now. Okay? But respectfully, I am absolutely certain that many of us will be very disappointed in what this school board votes on today. But no matter what, we are all a failing and you deserve respect and consideration. But we deserve your respect, your transparency, and the truth about the plans for Bloomingdale School. Thank you. Anyone else? >> Hi, I'm Dr. Brown. I'm supervisor my children's teachers. Just before I start, I want to say one thing. I'm the family that lives on the tail end of the town. My kids are the first ones on
010the last one off when they went to school. My kids got the bus at 6:20 in the morning. and came up 4:30 at night and half of you are probably still in bed at 6:30 in the morning. So my concern, my kids are grown, my grandchildren are grown. My concern now is the future of our residents and I know that they're going to experience if they don't go to it even be a longer life. So I want to begin by saying this decision is not just about building budgets for efficiency. It is about young children and their daily live experience. The proposal to close our local elementary school and require our out of town children to travel over an hour and a half twice a day is not a minor inconvenience for elementary age students.
011That would be at at least three hours a day of traveling time on a bus to and from school. is time taken away from learning and play, family, rest, and simply being kids. Five and six and sevenyear-olds are not built for this long travel time. Long travel times lead to fatigue, difficult difficulty focusing, increased stress and behavioral challenges. Why would we design a school day that intentionally exhausts children before they arrive in that class? Yeah, this is exactly what this plan was planned to do. I want to raise a serious concern about transportation itself. Under this plan, elementary students will be riding buses for an extended period of time with much older students, including high schoolers. This this is not a statement of older students being bad kids. It is about development, teenagers. Sorry. Teenagers
012and young children are at completely different stages emotionally, socially, and cognitively. The language and conversations that are normal for high school students are not appropriate for very young children to be routinely exposed to. We would never place elementary students in a classroom playground with any of these children because they're teenagers and because we understand that development matters. There's a big age difference. That same standards apply to the transportation. A school bus is still a learning and social environment, especially when children are on a bus for over an hour and a half each way. As educators and parents, even though young children absorb what they hear and see, asking them to process situations that they are too young to understand is unfair and completely avoidable. The plan also removes something deeply important, a neighborhood elementary school.
013Community schools are more than buildings. They foster parent involvement, community connection, and a sense of safety and belonging that directly supports student success. When children attend school close to home, families are more engaged, kids feel secure, and communications are stronger. Closing our local elementary school weakens that foundation. I want to respectfully remind the board that the people making this decision will not be the ones riding on a bus for hours a day. Our children will be. They will feel the impact of this choice every single morning and afternoon. I urge the board to consider reconsider this proposal or at the very least pause it and fully explore explore alternatives that keep elementary students close to home and age appropriate safe environments. The question before you is simple. Is this decision truly in the best interests
014of our young students? I believe the answer is no. I would also like to raise the question why you have not considered making Bloomville school as a school in the district for kindergarten through 4th grade. The children school could be for fifth through 8th and keeper high school 9th through 12th. This will would allow these young children to start school together grow as a class and will offer the proper educational programs for each grade at each individual school. Cha is a very old building. that anytime any structure was failing by keeping Boommyale school open, it would give the district another building that is open and an operating backup and children need to be placed temporarily. Thank you for your time and consideration on my left. I admire you all. I trust all of you. I
015know you make the right decision, but please keep in mind these are our precious children. They are the priority, not mine. Thank you. Anyone else? >> Um, I'm reading for Anner who couldn't attend tonight. >> Kelsey. >> Unfortunately, this week took me out of the tri sitting at my dad's bedside as he battled for his life at Alb Medical Center. Had I remained in the trilays, I most likely would have spent my days drafting a petition seeking a preliminary injunction to pause the vote now before before you because of numerous procedural errors. As I sat waiting for an update on my dad's condition, I had a change of perspective. Had I spent hours drafting documents trying to protect and enforce our justice system, it would have cost the district thousands of dollars. I didn't become
016an attorney to inflict harm. I became an attorney to help others. At the public hearing, a parent commented about the importance of teaching our children lessons on government through our schoolboard system. And those words keep replaying in my mind. I wonder what lessons our children will learn from this process. They will hear our superintendent wanted the school board to pass a resolution to close school without hearing from the public. They will hear the board chose to allow the public to be involved in this process only to cut that process short by four months. They will learn that when a timeline does not fit a person of authority's agenda, it's okay to burden your volunteers with accelerated timelines and demand a decision relying on incomplete data. They will learn to make a decision without completing your
017due diligence, like what are the social, emotional, and educational effects of shifting our seventh and eighth graders to the high school. They will learn that when you make a mistake, like removing special education services from Bloomingdale School, you do not admit your mistake and take accountability, but instead you stretch forward, compounding those mistakes. [snorts] They will learn when a person in power chooses not to adhere to the requirements of the law, like failing to properly provide advanced notice to the local and state officials of a public hearing, not to stand up and say something, but instead be a quiet bystander. They will learn when you have a budget problem. Do not ask for help. Do not fund raise. Do not liquidate unused investments like the 40 acres on a Mackenzie Conro. Do not cut expenses,
018but instead cut services to those that you please pause and think about the implications and ramifications of this decision before you cast your vote tonight. There are other viable options. There are other creative solutions. We need to be solutionoriented. For me, this is not about Louisville school. I did not attend Bloomingfield school. I went to Crova and I loved Crova. For me, this is about doing the right thing. For me, this is about looking my children in the eyes when they ask me why and tell them that we tried. Can you say the same? I believe if you give yourselves and our community the time to fully evaluate the situation and create a wellthoughtout plan, you will be able to confidently say you've done everything you could. Please do the right thing. ANYONE ELSE? My
019name's Preston. Uh, if you guys don't vote no on this or at least vote to uh postpone a little bit more, I want you all to know you failed. Anyone else? Okay, thank you for speaking. Next item on the agenda is financial report. Um, all of the reports are there'll cover invoices for foster care. I've talked about this in the past a little bit. um when our students are placed in another district that district will then all throughout the city districts build each other. Um and so it kind of at some a lot we are build a lot or the students have placed elsewhere and the it takes some time for the student to catch up for the final amount that we need to build for. And so some of these are actually based on
020the previous years that now [laughter] >> Yeah. Um, from one school we got that walk out. >> I mean, I haven't been here long enough to know that, but it seems like yes. >> Yeah. I mean, it seems like yes based on yearly now over multiple years. Yeah, it's very interesting how available foster care move throughout the state. No, [laughter] >> what is the increase in our with the executive budget proposal that came out on January 20th, we are estimated to receive a 1% increase in foundation aid for the district and that equates So that's $77,000 that probably wouldn't cover the whole world electricity this year. No, actually based on projections that I received today that would barely cover the high school from now until >> that energy cost you got 22% healthare that >>
021um it's it was at the time I was estimating it to be around 2 million but it's still >> we are not looking at any kind of say >> and I'll talk about the tax as Yeah. What do you think? Resolution number 0584 the current budgetary report as presented by the school business executive motion please second. Any further discussion on all those in favor? I any oppose? resolution cars. >> Um, so the next thing I wanted to bring up was actually on the agenda, but the property tax cap um is due annually on March 1st this year that falls on a Sunday. So it's really due on Friday the 27th. Um, so it's based on several factors that the state puts out and after all and and it's based on where you were in the
022previous year. So they build on each other. Um and so for the 2627 tax levy limit, we're expected to cap that 75% higher than the 2526 limit, which equates to an increase of 191,510 over what the limit was in. >> Yes. Just as a comparison, last year's increase capped at 4.4 Can you can you just can you explain the difference between how the budget is approved with or without saying? >> Yes. So the tax cap is a lot of different things that go into calculation that tell you how high you can bring taxes. um and collect from taxpayers and then we use that in state and um other revenues and then as previous to have a balanced budget. So for the 2526 school year, I correct me if I'm wrong. I can remember exactly, but
023we budgeted to spend I think 1.8 million in our reserve to get to the budget that we were at this year and next year our allowable taxable amount is only increasing by 191,000. just to get to the budget right now. So, if we the two roughly 2% tax cap that all municipalities and school districts are are uh asked to stay under where the taxes can't, you know, that are levy can't go over that amount. It's roughly 2%. can be above or less over under, right? It depends on there. They have a whole like um there's a website that they have that they have built into where you plug in your data and so it's not like individual schools are sitting there percentages doing it. You're just giving them based on actual financials that you are
024teaching, right? And if we if we uh put out a budget that's where the tax cap is where we've gone over the tax cap, we require 60% of the taxpayers to approve the budget for us to be able to to move ahead. If we stay under the tax, there's only a simple majority of 50%. So it's a big difference. is asking a lot more of our tax approve if we go over the tax cap to raise enough money to everybody. >> That's the increasing cost a lot of money. Well, it's it's even more than natural because let's just say we wanted to cut ABCD. If any of these things that carry a high price tag, we're not allowed to cut any. So, our ability to trim costs is very minimal, right? So, we're looking at
025some some increase here of I don't know 200 $300,000 increase. We know we already have a deficit in our energy cost this year and our health insurance was 1.7 1.8 So this is going to be interesting from the governor's office there. Um she said the governor was pretty firm on but several commissioners and pointed out that now it's almost getting to the point where it's not just us. You know, historically in this budget process, government will come out with a number and and school districts are almost always unhappy with it, but the legislature will talk to back. But even in this case, a little more really is I think closely we need to stay the same. So, my as we move into the budget season, which is coming up very soon, we're going to be
026looking at a lot of items to get us to where how we can operate this year. So I'm not looking forward to it, but we really are asking cost have control over what we have to offer. So >> uh just the mic I also have a resolution to put two propositions on the budget. Um this year we are only putting a propos we are putting propositions for transportation to purchase two school buses. um as we have been doing each year and then the second proposition is the standard library tax levy proposition and I included the history for the library. >> So let's let's get that on a table and discuss it's resolution 059 2025 transportation library motion please second. Okay. Discussion. So looking at $360,000 for two buses. Is that correct? So in 27 when
027we're required to buy buses or if the waiver comes soon gets pushed down the road. Our e buses are about two times more expensive to pay the rate. They don't get any. We're hoping that this program nonetheless it's going to be an increase. So, we're trying to plan for that future, not just show up. [clears throat] >> There are two twoear wound, second waiver isn't out yet. So two years uh where we still can you know byp I think as I'm sorry is in favor of of cleaner ways of moving our school I don't think that's the debate it's the ability to absorb those costs and you know there's a lot of noise now coming from down state big school districts about this so you You know, maybe there'll be a little bit of a
028change in the timeline. My my hope is that with a district that has big a perhaps could be some sort of hybrid system where we can keep diesel buses with huge long trips, things like that and keep our closer to the school district, the building, convert those to buses sooner. Who knows? A lot of like everything we do, we're dependent upon Alb, but they don't make the decisions in a timely manner to help us decant. >> So, it's a point system >> and we have enough points. >> Okay. So what are we doing? >> That's what we >> know. So here's a question like we're already in a deficit, >> right? And the other question, right? But but does our deadline change? So like the deadline is 2035. Does that mean we're 2039 now or
029does that mean we still have to just buy more buses in a shorter amount of time? >> So I don't know if it's that clear, but it would have to be because we, you know, it's an eightyear cycle. When I was in Senators and the Catherine with our seniors, this was something that we talked about a lot and actually the kids that went with us took it off themselves to do some research and they brought like the hybrid buses really make more sense for our district just all around and um both of them are actively working with Senator Mayor. Um the governor's office made it very clear there will be zero changes this year. However, um it's not just um our region that is struggling with this. So, they're they're actually building a bigger coalition.
030And he said right now what he doesn't want to see is he doesn't want to see both of them. They don't want to see us spend more money trying to show that this doesn't work. The governor's office is still saying you need to show extra dollars. These these studies need to keep being done. to keep putting money in when they're really looking at national grid. So that when national grid the work that they have to complete along the timeline for that especially when you get to the rural regions like really north country that there's no way the timeline is going to be there. So he said yes it's there but um I think we'll see active play during the budget um [laughter] this year's budget even though the governor has put um zero changes I
031mean it literally is exactly the same um there's aggressive movement the state um pressing so when house budgets come in I think we see something from the house but whether that stuff >> we we are I think the district is preparing >> I I know they're just saying are we know that our >> you know the way the way >> this the state has designed um the rebate system for the for electric school buses such that it they the state would pay the difference between what a internal combustion engine bus costs and what the electric school bus cost. That's how they're designing their incentives. And so we still have to prepare for buying a bus at whatever the cost is for an internal combustion engine bus and we have to, you know, the state's going
032to have to come up with the the the funding that can make that difference. So we still have they're not free to the district buses. The incentives are the difference in everybody. >> Yeah, they will right now budget came through the um the bond act. That's where the funding has come from. Yes. for everybody. What what what has kind of disappeared was some of the federal money that was available and that was not for every well there was a little boat but those were kind of like you got in early in the country we did not qualify then you know that that program is the state is working to try to make up that difference >> I We talked about this before transportation. [laughter] >> So charges remember national break. You say >> someone's going
033to pay. I'm not sure where that money comes from. >> We got get from his substation out there. The person that's our guy. >> No, >> but I think that that will not all. >> Well, right. They they they didn't say it was 100%. They said there's a percentage because again there's a there is a program to um pay for getting the electricity service up, you know, upgraded so that there's enough electricity. So that we're we're waiting to hear from the engineers on the uh [clears throat] the electricity needs with the single bus run if that's the way we go. And then also from national grid, you know, when we put in a request for this is what we need, what's it going to cost? And they're going to come back and tell us how
034much it's going to cost and how much is our portion and how much is their portion. And then you know and there's funding for uh from the state as well for helping us to pay ours not all of it but >> I think bottom are we putting the right amount so based on what we know for this question I resolution Well, I mean my question stem from the question of you know is this the last time you know you know what I mean? So >> any other questions on tax protection? So the next proposition is always the most misunderstood thing in terms of budget. It's the free library tax levy. And here's here's the source of confusion. It shows up on there this year. It looks like it's $58,989. And most people confuse that that
035the school is paying the library. That we are simply the pastor. When you vote yes on that, that means that your you will pay that tax to us or the library and then we will hand it to them. If this does not come out of our budget, we don't write the check that we collect for that. And so a lot of times people get very confused by this. And so I try to make that clear every year. And you know, we got a history of the library here. I'm just going to add some numbers real quick. Let's start with 2014 uh 2015 16. Um the levy was $160,000 and I'll just jump down here. Then 21 it was 294,000 and 23 24 was 409,000. 25 26 was 532. Of course this year it's 558,9. So
036sometimes we get criticism for these numbers and what they are and what they represent. We have nothing to do with any of those numbers. We don't set the budget. We don't spend the money. We don't approve any of the money. We collect it from the public. They give it their lives. That's our only role in that. So, I've had people come to me very angry about these these increases there. 8% 18% 12% 50% 25%. That's not us. We have nothing to do with that. You write the check, we get it, we give it to them. So, I'd like to make that clear every year so that people don't get angry at us. The library is a worthy asset. We have no control over what they ask for this. So if you vote yes on this
037proposition, this money will be collected from you. We'll give it. If you vote no, which I've never seen happen, I don't know what happens. This is not our austerity budget or part two. I still don't know. I don't know if they have to go back to last year's because it's not our budget. So I know you understand this. We've all been through this. Any discussion on proposition [clears throat] [laughter] >> let's go back to the uh the actual proposition we have it on the table correct that correct Yes, >> Nancy Bernstein. >> Yes, >> Justin. >> Yes, [clears throat] >> Joe Henderson. >> Yes, >> Mike Martin. >> Zack. >> Yes, >> I just can I just Okay, that that moves us to old business. Any capital project? >> That goes to item B, the
038district plan. >> Sure. So, it would be resolution numbers Middle School. We got the uh res. on our agenda that second discussion. >> So I just want to take a moment to sincerely thank everyone who's been a part of the conversation. My surroundings changed our advisory committee members our staff, family, students and community [clears throat] members. The dialogue has been thoughtful, passionate, and grounded in a shared commitment to our students and our district. This work has not been done lightly and it has not been done alone. Even when perspectives have differed, but has remained clear is how deeply this community cares about our schools and about getting this right for the future. I'm grateful for the engagement, the questions, and the partnership that have brought us to this point. This first resolution represents an important
039structural step in strengthening the long-term educational and fiscal sustainability of our district. I want to speak directly to the issue of equity because the narrative has at times been pulled in the direction that suggests this work is about one group of students. It is not. Educational equity is far broader than that. Equity means ensuring that every student regardless of need, background or circumstance has consistent access to programming, services, staffing and opportunity. It means creating systems where resources are aligned in ways that support all learners. When enrollment declines and resources are spread across multiple buildings, our ability to provide this opportunity consistently becomes more limited. Consolidating our elementary program allows us to strengthen services, preserve program, support staff collaboration, and ensure that students across the district have equitable access to what they need to succeed. This
040resolution positions the district to maintain strong academic programming, provide consistent supports, and operate responsibly for the long term. It's about building a stronger system that serves every child now and in the future. >> Any board members? >> Yeah. Last week, two weeks ago, a few of us went to a meeting with our local legislators and um and I said I got up and said to I said I told them what we were [clears throat] told what we were and I said it feels like we're managing decline and I said it really sucks to manage and we were not the only school district in that room that was dealing with this issue and I the issues we're dealing [laughter] with for decades in right affordability, housing, childare, many of the things we talked about very um
041lack of good careers, not just jobs, but careers. um the persistent inability of this country to deal with it healthare costs as somebody who works in other countries that's going to blow a massive hole in our budget that we shouldn't have to deal with because of structural in this country. Um this is a really frustrating process. I think this plan stabilizes us. We don't enjoy it. Um, I want to specifically speak to the staff and faculty. I've been talking to a lot of them most recent weeks. We're asking a lot of them this change. And as a former middle school teacher myself, I hope we can spend some sensitivity thinking about our middle school. was a really developmentally um fraught time and I have no doubt that our staff and faculty will be able to
042deal with this. We have incredible educators in this community. I think I think this is the right thing as far as it >> I prepared something so bear with me as I read before running for the school board in 2018. Just like everyone else, I heard rumors that Bloomingdale School was at risk of being closed. I thought I might offer unique perspective as a Vermont resident and Bloomingdale school parent to defend the need for our beloved neighborhood school. But it didn't take long for my perspective and responsibility towards the entire district abroad. Every September, I warned the size of each kindergarten class, hoping things might change. They didn't. Student enrollment has been a steady decline in nearly 30 years. Refusing to address a shrinking student population was never an option. To do so would be
043a sign of irresponsible board of education. Over the past several years, like my fellow board members, I reviewed enrollment trends, studied the reports, spoke to stakeholders, read every comment letter and email, listened to every concern, and considered each suggestion only. Addressing this bitter reality is no simple task. The district is limited by existing infrastructure under significant financial constraints and despite one might think has only a few options to work with. While no option is quite perfect, one is pretty close. Board members are elected to make difficult decisions to ensure the best and most equitable education possible is provided to every student while being mindful to the taxpayers who foot the bill. those that have plenty and have no problem paying their tax bill every year and those that struggle deeply. Excellent education and fiscal responsibility.
044Both are critical to a successful school system. Many committed individuals who understand this district intimately provided input that helped me feel confident with my decision. past speaking with community members from all over the district. My conclusion is to support a prek through 6 7 through 12 reconfiguration. This board has prioritized transparency, honesty, and integrity throughout this process. Now, I ask that members of the public please trust that the board thoughtfully, weighing every factor to come to the best and most responsible decision. Trust that the district's very capable administrators teachers and support staff will execute from reconfiguration back ultimately both with all students best interest I fully recognize that this issue is deeply personal there is no doubt that the community community has experienced profound and painful loss I mean let's take some time to learn
045together then let's get to Bloomingdale panels, please rest assured that faculty and staff create a loving school culture, not the building. Your children will be safe, nurtured, and received an excellent education in class sizes will remain small and intimate. When the seventh and eighth grade shift into the high school, there will be space to alleviate chronic scheduling conflicts uh alleviate chronic scheduling conflicts from housing in elementary and middle school in the same building. Middle school families change is hard and it can be scary. Well, relocating seventh and eighth grades to the high school offers new and wonderful opportunities by allowing flexibility in staffing and course scheduling, creating a centralized hub for athletics and clubs. Many districts have very successfully utilized this configuration, and so will ours. Our creative and capable staff are excited and ready
046to get to work. Please, let's support them. Members of the public, we've also got work to do. Let's rally around finding how to best repurpose Bloomingdale School so it can continue to be a treasure to the community. There are lots of great ideas floating around. Leing to head start with transitional housing a YMCA program. All ideas are on the table. Let's find them together. And I'll end with a quote from an article on closing rural schools that I found really valuable. A school is a resource critical for making rural communities strong. But don't confuse the resource with the community itself. The community is what emerges from the ashes stronger from having fought. Closure doesn't have to be a defeat. To close well, strong youth and strong adults and a strong community is also a gift.
047>> Thank you. >> Anyone else? I have something to say, but I'm probably going to be emotional. Um, so I want the community to know that my children and it's very difficult decision for me but I think directionction Anyone else? >> Just want to say that four children wanted to raise my kids in this community. So they don't have the same experience I have in the smart school district and because of this reconfiguration if it happens that will be a different experience for them. But I have a 11 year old kindergartener two three year olds. Um I truly think that this isn't just the best option given the circumstances. But I'm excited about the possibilities this provides. Change is always hard. Have to adjust this change about what might be different. Somebody who studies job
048development. I'm well aware of the concerns people have. But I have the utmost confidence in our administrators and our staff that they feel difficult to think about. Um, but I'm as nervous as I am about I'm also you know both my children just got out. My wife and I play both my kids love school. We love that. My dad participated in a lot of cool programs. So I know firsthand just how great that was and it saddens me that we declined to the point where we don't have so I'm not happy about it but I also know talking about the financial report and I will repeat what we really think that our staff is extraord And there's no question there'll be some bumps in the road. There's no question that there will be suspended will
049come up that you know didn't see. But our admin staff, our teaching staff, our support staff, our transportation staff, these people care deeply about our kids. I saw work here for 30 some years. So there's a lot of change coming. I think it could. So that's I guess anyone else. Yeah, I just uh to echo your sentiment in terms of all the staff that are going to be involved just expressing appreciation for what the event shout out to students and sharing as much as they were of course very community. It's nice to see as many people in the room as possible. Um, we love to see it continue. The other group that I'd like to just offer my appreciation for really is the administration team. I thought they took the time before recommendation and based
050on my experience, that's the group of leaders that are going to have to get shoulderto-shoulder to do this work. And so their perspective in my in my decision. And so I just wanted to echo the sentiment that I hope that we're able to go through a lot of changes. Okay, with that I'll share some board. >> Yes. >> Nancy, yes. >> Justin, >> yes. >> Joe Henderson, >> yes. >> Mike Martin, >> yes. >> Zack, >> yes. Okay, next item resolution number 3615 discussion. >> So this resolution creates a clear and developmentally aligned structure. a UPK6 elementary program and a certain way to 12. [laughter] At the secondary level, our seventh and eighth grade staff, the experts in early adolescent education will move with their students. We're not simply shifting students into a new space.
051We're bringing the relationships, expertise, and supports that define strong middle level education with them. More than half of our 7th through 12th grade students already participate together in athletics and extracurricular activities. They share teams, stages, and experiences on a regular basis. This structure aligns our academic program with what is already happening in positive ways across the district. The 7 through2 model also provides greater flexibility to expand educational opportunities, increase access to advanced coursework, and create clear pathways for student growth. It empowers our younger students by establishing high expectations for learning and behavior while opening doors to leadership and engagement earlier in school experience. It's a strong long-term model that supports continuity and opportunity. Our top priority throughout this transition is safety, social, emotional as well as physical. We will overcompensate in this area by building
052by building strong supports, supervision and transition structures to ensure students feel secure and connected. This includes creating clustered grade level class spaces that provide a supportive learning environment within the larger school setting as well as intentionally designing schedules to improve regular movement opportunities including outside and or gym time. This is not new. Our 9th through 12th graders already have this opportunity. We will also ensure clear expectations, consistent adult presence, and strong relationship building practices. So students experience a sense of belonging, predictability, and care as they adjust to the new environment. Would anyone more like weigh out? Again, just want to express my appreciation for what I do council and I've had the honor of joining a few the meetings, the team meetings over the past couple of years and we're very grateful to the team
053we have and the back grful available. I know that there's more available should we meet and I hope we're open to you just said term sense of belonging you said before um I think it's important that out we have a very high graduation rate in our district and one of the biggest predictors of kids graduating high school is having a sense of belong so knowing that that's a priority I I I don't know if I missed what you said too, but I I read somewhere that pointed out that next year with seventh and 12th in this building, half of the grades will be new to the building, right? Ninth grade, eighth grade, ninth graders would have been new have not been here. So, seventh, eighth, and ninth will all be new to this building. half
054of the children or roughly half of the grades will be all new. That that's that's helpful. I mean because it it means there'll be a lot of newness and everybody I mean >> new together >> with their staff. Right. >> Anything else? >> Okay. >> Yes. Nancy. >> Yes. Justin, >> yes. >> Joe Henderson, >> yes. >> Martin, >> Zack, >> yes. >> Resolution number 0625 single. PM transportation. Motion. >> Second discussion. So Gina did some digging with heard a lot of conversation about putting all of our students on the bus together, but we look at the full parking lot every morning and we really question how many of our high schoolers are actually riding the bus. So Dana did some um calculations for us and this is the number of students in each grade
055level that have ridden the bus at least once. PM in 20 in the 25 26th grader. That is a total of 39 12th graders, 37 11th graders, 42 10th graders, 51 9th graders, and 50 eighth graders. We've done the work to look at the number of students who ride the bus two or more times a week. And it sits at about 50% of our students who ride the bus two or more times in the government. And this 39 3742 is spread among 15 bus routes and they aren't on that bus every day. This is somebody who's gotten on the bus at least one time for one ride. So I I understand the concern. I think looking at it holistically without all of the pieces of who's actually riding the buses, what looks like um may
056look more overwhelming than it actually is in daily viation. >> No, just I look at these numbers. It's interesting to me because you know you get this vision of the time when we had our buses 30 kids in a champ back you know when we had 2,000 students and you know we've got the other buses are half empty and it would seem to me with this kind of ridership number that we could effectively keep younger students more in front of us more students that we could could limit some of that right effectively and I I applaud Jim having foresight to pick this out and data presented it, you know, seems like months ago to bring this back to them, but the actual writership students actually that's a good sign. Um, [clears throat] so my daughter
057Bailey went to St. Bernard's uh kindergarten and she was on the bus at 6:30, right? Um, and at that point St. her kids grow with the high school kids. And what I can tell you from my experience is my only child being brothers and sisters that she never had. Um there was less bullying. There was less trouble on the bus. In fact, my mother reminded me of a story where we were at Mount Piska for October Fest and um this group of kids, you could tell obviously adults, you know, obviously high schoolers and little kids. Some were brothers and sisters and um a boy and a girl, high school kids came up to my daughter and came up to my mother and said, "Um, can I take Bailey up to the top?" And then they
058all explain we know Bailey from us. That particular [laughter] high schooler had Bailey on his back for three trips to the top of Pisto where they all ran back. there were fever issues and it gave the kids responsibility but it also I looked at how they looked after her not because someone asked them to but because I think I'm incredibly grateful as living as far out as we do spent a lot of time on the bus and I look at bus drivers that I've been greatly incredibly grateful to the transportation department and I have very few interrupt this resolution supports more efficient and sustainable transportation system configuration and positions for districts in the future. Moving to a single morning after the run allows us to better align routes so buses are not crossing over one
059another eliminates student transfers between buses and reduces ride time for students who live the farthest from school. [clears throat] I just want to add although we're not answering question Deb's concern about 90 minutes our longest ride is just over an hour. It actually reduces the ride time for people who live. So if you're a Mcomes person, the ride is just over an hour. That's on the longest bus route for the the changes. >> So So it would seem like because you're not going to come in here longer, but it's accurate. It's actually shorter in some cases because automatic transfer, >> correct? And secured roots in order to fill a bus route as they allows us to preserve labor, time, and physical resources while continuing to meet all transportation obligations. This model also positions the district
060for future innovations, including the transition to electric busy. Streamlining our system now creates greater efficiency and allows us to responsibly plan for what comes next. This all about thoughtful stewardship of resources and creating systems that students and families well together. These three resolutions represent more than individual decisions. They reflect a comprehensive effort to strengthen our district three for the years ahead. This work is about sustainability, opportunity, and creating learning environments where all students can thrive. Change can bring uncertainty, but it also brings with it possibility. So all the way in first time on this was professional experience the theme of students and one of the things I had to do is assign detention not popular for that but I would get calls from parents say my son can't do that and he needs to be
061home when our little ones get off the bus and that was a pretty common conversation I had and it wasn't maybe a year ago we had some people when we were talking about the different times start schools there was a lot of concern about, you know, having an older sibling at home when the younger children got off the bus. So, if there's any upside to this, um hopefully more direct funds as you said, D, but also your children, if your mother, they're coming home on the same bus at the same time. So, that's helpful that small piece that was concern a lot of parents. that baby [snorts] my seventh grade or eighth grade home myth now they're going to come together and siblings trying together that can be good I mean sometimes siblings can be
062brothers twins what have you know they're not best but I think that could be a positive and I was hopeful to see that when they did that bus study and the fact the routes be more direct. That's mean that they're going to be longer. something short. >> Well, I was just gonna say my like Tory, my son as a kindergartener going with just a high school bus and you know, going into that, you know, little 5-year-old, he was tiny, you know, I'm like, "Oh my gosh, like these big kids." And I mean, I I really worried about that, but I didn't have a choice. I couldn't describe them myself. And uh it turned out to be a fine experience. really, you know, I I don't I don't remember anybody picking up right up the top
063of this, but it it it was not my concerns fell fell away. And uh and of course I I can't commend our bus department enough. They move children everywhere and they get they they don't lose them for very long. But um I also would just say there are cameras all over those buses now. So if anything is going on in the bus, it's being recorded and can be and can be dealt with. That's very different than when most of us went to school and all kinds of stuff will happen in the back of the bus. Um they can't get away with a lot these days and I think that's really helpful. >> It's audio as well. >> Okay. Video and audio. Um and you know that's interesting that we're hearing that an hour bus ride
064from the from the columns. Um and my I from Vermont to Bloomingdale was like 40 minute ride for my son in the morning. You know it was it wasn't short because it went all over. I mean it only takes you know five 10 minutes to drive driving a car but bus took a long time. So that that impresses me that they can straighten out the runs or or make them more efficient. um that they're the bus long bus rides is a reality of living in a rural area and it's kind of hard hard to change that but we can try to do the best we can piece of trivia was ever thought that we have 600 Anyone else want to? >> Yeah, Josh. Dan way in the back. >> Yes, sir. >> I've been thinking
065about you on this one because a couple of months ago you reported that the kids in the high school are kinder than previous generations. >> Um, I don't know about you, I have no doubt that the older kids will rise to this challenge. I don't want to put you on the spot, but you are. [laughter] But I am. And I we have good kids in this district. And you know, I'm an anthropologist, right? Separating children by age cohorts is actually a weird thing to do. In most other cultures, people are live with extended generations. I don't know about you, I have no doubt that our older kids will rise to this challenge. >> Agree. Anyone else? Okay. Charge the board call vote for the book. >> Mark Farmer. >> Yes. >> Nancy Bernstein. >> Yes.
066Justin, >> yes. >> Joe Henderson, >> yes. >> Mike Martin, Zach, >> yes. >> Thirst. >> Yes. >> Okay. Moving on to new business. 2627 district calendar. You have copy in front of you. >> Oh, you back. So we will be coming back before Labor Day works out with our new busing structure. We have removed half days. So we always need an extra day from our neighbors because of winter carnival. So we will be coming to school on the 21st and 22nd of December. The neighbors will have a full two weeks off, but we we need a day for winter carnival. So we took our second day for a spring parent teacher conference. So that leaves us with 184 school days. That's where we should be with our snow days. Does that get right? So
067the 24th would be our fall parent teacher conference which is a day without students. We would do the Monday evening and the Tuesday morning like we've traditionally done. the second one for the spring which usually is two half days for patrol would be a full day districtwide and that would be on March 1st. So this is the first one. >> Yeah. Next meeting. I like that the half days were tough. There are still half days at the end of the year. That's a different busing schedule because of regions, but not for the rest of the school. So, if you if you look this over and you have any questions, you bring up the next meeting and you just uh shoot that email and say, "What about this or that?" But I will tell you, um
068I've seen now probably 40 of these calendars and they're a lot harder to put together than you think because not a lot of wiggle room. The state has required time off and then they have end dates and they control when the testing is scheduled. Um, so there's, you know, we have our own unique things like we try to get that day off for winter carnival. So there's not a lot of free days in there to manipulate all the requirements. I know you find it surprising that we're kind of really pinched in on these things like everything else, but I applaud every year when they can get this to fit in. It's almost a minor miracle. We do get from time to time people say, "Boy, those tests are getting later and later every year. We
069don't control the test dates. We're told this is when you'll give these tests." So our calendar's got to start with that framework. >> Is there no Lunar New Year was on a weekend or something? That is correct. Same with June. >> How? >> Okay, moving on to reports, committee reports. Nancy, you got that for us? >> Oh, um, yes, just two things that I attended in the last meeting that were really helpful. One was a legislative breakfast that several of us were at. Um, always good to hear what other districts are, concerns of other districts. Um, and have the opportunity to speak to our um, our state senator and our members that cover the whole region to hear from um, the his name the state school board superintendent the guy with all the numbers. Yeah,
070>> he's awesome. But just to explain the budget and and aids and it's just educational. And then uh this morning several of us attended the um presentation from the Northville uh central school district superintendent who's you know they're having budget sweeps just like most of our districts are and um and uh the they're looking at creating this She called it the aderondic paradox which is kind of unique. It's very much what um Zach, you know, your legislative uh memo >> uh had to say but some of the challenges from from being within the park and in the wilderness gentrification which is changing the nature of our communities, the housing crunch or crisis with the cost of housing, you know, losing of of uh children and uh some really wonderful um resources that that she's created
071for her district that she's sh you know perhaps sharing with uh us who want to use it. But it it was just kind of good to know what else is going on in the in the region. very similar to our >> Justin nothing to report to >> I've agreed um to work with um going forward and looking at the possibility of adapting some of the work that she's been doing to help the community understand how funding works and also she's coming up presenting she's bringing She's put in the application to close out. Uh, I would like to try and finish what I was going to say before. [clears throat and cough] I don't know if I'll do it again, but who knows? So, I just want to say that, you know, all five of my
072kids have been to Bloomale school. Uh, we I was a parentale school. I had a child in Bloomingdale school. uh one or more from 2007 to 2022. Um I understand what humanity is and what we've done. Um I understand what we're losing, right? I understand what we're losing, but the cost and the services that can be provided by consolidation are just irrefutable. And I just can't um you know, I think we're getting much better, you know, getting our kids in one place. All of our services are available. Um, and I just think that that is main reason I I voted yes. So, just very but it's very emotional thing. So, it's very, you know, difficult thing to hear our community um bash my integrity. on that there was an agenda and for me there was
073no agenda. Um the agenda was doing the best for for our kids and for all the kids and I believe that this is so and I am behind. Thank you Mike. So I also attend >> I have one more thing. >> Okay. attended that seminar this morning online and the hardest thing to understand in all this budgeting are these various stating formulas and you know why do we have all this lakefront property but we don't get the revenue the way other places do and rural school it's always difficult to go and I thought this woman this morning made a presentation and she had some supporting videos that were outstanding and she did it for her community so you can explain to them because everybody asks the same questions and we're just not really equipped to
074have the depth of understanding that some people do. And so, you know, I'm looking forward to Tori. I'm glad that you're working with her, made that connection because um her stuff is not quite ready for release yet, but I'm hoping in the future we can bring that stuff to our community and show our taxpayers just the kinds of things that are just so hard to explain because she's done it wonderfully. She's a PhD who speaks like a regular person and and with very complicated stuff. So, I'm excited. I mean, I've been in this district uh for a long time in various capacities and I've never been able to fully understand better than what I did this morning. So, it's time well well spent. We're able to share among the board. She has permission for that,
075but we'll have to wait for permission released to a wider audience. I think you're going to find it uh really good stuff. So, I have time. You want something else? Well, I just forgot to mention um this Saturday uh I will be at uh it's a virtual meeting with NISPA's New York State School Board Association diversity, equity, and inclusion. It's a virtual meeting um this Saturday. So, that should be interesting. And then we have an inerson meeting. I think I might have mentioned before there again with the group in Colony that I'll be going to NSO will be paying for hotel and everything. uh on uh March 20th. >> Thank you. So to wrap up, you know, I think one of the things that I'm proud about this board is, you know, we just don't
076come here and sit here and and just go ABCD. We are active outside of this session. We got people lobbying in Albany, uh taking the students to Albany. We got other connections just going to a conference, different board members going to conferences. So there's a lot of work being done outside of quote our school day to try to be as prepared as we can be and so I thank all of you for doing that on your free time to try to be prepared and get as much access to information as you can. So with that we are in need of an executive session with the medical financial credit appointment history of particular person or corporation for managing the appointment motion motion suspension dismissal removal corporation motion to move to executive session second in favor. >>
077We are 7. >> [laughter] >> Oh yeah, thank you very much. [laughter] She sounds terrible.