001Seth. >> Okay. Welcome everyone to the board of education public hearing of Wednesday, February 18th, 2020. Um, purpose of the hearing is to uh discuss the future of new elementary school participation for the uh upcoming school year. And we do have some uh some notes here we'd like to read out so everybody gets on the same page. These public hearings are designed as listening and engagement sessions. The goal is allow the public board of education and members of the facility use committee to exchange views and share information. >> It's hard to hear. I've never been accused of not being able >> I'll start over. These public hearings are designed as a listening and engagement session. The goal is to allow the public and the board of education and members of the facility use committee to
002exchange views and share information in a structured respectful setting. No board action will be taken during the hearing. These hearings are not a regular board meeting and while the district has a policy governing public comment during regular board meetings. The board has intentionally structured these hearings differently. Because of these adherence or desire for structured listening and clarification rather than formal public comment or decision-m for this meeting the board has adopted a participation parameter tail specifically for this purpose. However, core expectations regarding civility brokenness of the sub matter and orderly conduct remain in effect. The board is leading these public hearings and members of the facility use committee are present uh to discuss uh uh different issues. All board of education members and committee members may engage with public during the hearings. The superintendent administrators may
003also participate to provide clarification or context as appropriate. Any comment by board of uh education members is not in any manner meant nor should be construed as a comment or commitment by the board as a whole. The intent of the interaction is not debate but clarification, learning and share perspectives to ensure meaningful engagement while all voices can be heard. Participants are invited to share comments, questions and perspectives verbally. Speakers will be asked to state their name and if applicable the organization they represent. [snorts] Initial comments will be subject to a general time uh guideline of up to three minutes to ensure equitable participation as we have a lot of people here tonight. As time permits, additional time will be allowed. If questions are asked during someone's comment period, time for questions will not count towards
004three minutes. Unlike typical comment periods at a board meeting, these hearings may may allow for limited interaction, including clarifying questions from board committee members. Requests for additional context or explanation, brief exchange to ensure shared understanding. Any interaction be limited clarification only and apply consistently to support shared understanding, not to pay or persuasion. All participants are expected to engage in a civil and respectful manner. Obscene language, liable statements, events of violence or statements advocating prejudice will not be tolerated. Those using such language be cut off and ask legally the need. Discussion of individual students or district personnel is not permitted in public sessions. If such comments are made, the speaker will be asked to cease. If they do not, they will not be allowed to continue. Comment should focus on ideas, impacts, mainly the values, information
005relevant to the future uses of [clears throat] the role of the president is to be responsibly conductings and will guide the flow of discussion including when and how interaction occurs, time allow for comments and exchanges, the appropriateness of topics and tone. These responsibilities are exercised with the goal of supporting fairness, inclusion, respective participation for all attendees. The press retains the right to redirect, limit or discontinue comments or exchanges that do not align with these parameters. Um, if you prefer written submissions, committee members prefer not to speak or wish to provide additional detail may submit those written comments to the board clerk, Gina Pollock her is on our website and if you need it, we did for tonight. Written submissions will be included as part of the public record and submitted alongside oral comments made public
006as part of the hearing minutes but will not be read aloud during the public hearing. The board of education recognizes the future use of Bloomdale Elementary School with deep interest and boards the community. These public hearings are intended to foster thoughtful engagement, shared understanding and respectful exchange. themes and perspectives shared during the hearings will be summarized and considered by board as part of the ongoing deliberations regarding the future use of the building. So, thank you for your interest for your participation. And I would note the two prior hearings that we held, one at Lingville School, another one here and our board meetings in between have all been uh helpful for us. The people that have come all spoke very thoughtfully and very appropriate. So, with that, who would like to be first? Yes. >> [clears
007throat] >> Thank you. >> My name is Gail Meyer. Good evening. Um I have It looks like I have a lot to say. Um but it's big print because I'm [laughter] old and I um timed it. It's going to be about 5 minutes, but my husband assures me I can steal two minutes from him. So I hope that I will be able to say what I need to say. >> For [clears throat] the first time, I have the ability to say no. >> I know you do. I know you do. And I'm willing to accept it if you need to. Thank you to all of you for uh being here tonight. I know you're diligent in looking at what is best for our students in the long run. Excuse me. It's clear that everyone's first
008priority is the educational well-being and mental health of our students. Everything I say tonight is geared towards maximizing both. I am a district taxpayer, parent of two sons who have come through the system, a science teacher in the district for 20 plus years. I've taught at the middle school and the high school in grades 6, 7, 9, 10, 11, 12, and at the AP level. I retired in 2017. I have read the three documents on the district website. All were helpful in seeing various aspects of the issue. While the plan you are considering has three components, tonight I'm addressing my concerns about the middle school high school component. I feel the change in the middle school high school alignment may be going too quickly. I understand that the C consultants report which I have not
009seen recommends a two to threeyear phase in the administrative team statement says that the counseling team has created a schedule that allows appropriate scheduling for all with complete confidence in and respect for the counseling team as I've always felt they do a great job. I have some questions for this committee. You may consider them rhetorical. I don't necessarily expect an answer. How have the physical layout challenges of having six grades in the high school building been investigated? Will there be time and space for six levels of art in the one room? How will the added usage of the library media center be accommodated? What about office space in the music department for extra teachers? Is there classroom space anywhere for extra teachers? Is there office space for an increased number of guidance counselors? Will there
010have to be five lunch periods now extending possibly from 9:30 in the morning till 1:00 in the afternoon? And what about the state regulations about distinct space and time needs for special ed classes? I don't have true numbers, but I have been led to believe that the seventh and eighth grade cohorts for the 2026 27 year are larger than the ones that come after them. If that is the case, possibly putting off the move until those cohorts had been in the high school for a year or two would ease whatever physical and logistical issues may become apparent with making the transition to the high school this coming fall. I am unaware of the space constraints at Petroa that would be impacted by moving the rest of Bloomingdale this fall. Certainly, the demographics for the entire
011district have shrunk during my tenure and since I retired. I understand the building is not being utilized in the same way even since I left and I am unaware of any extra unutilized spaces that may currently exist. I'm not suggesting the move can't or shouldn't be done. But I'm questioning the rationale in figuring it all out in a few months time even with the scheduling in place especially with the teaching staff not working in the building for two of those months excuse me and a new superintendent coming on board. [clears throat] On another point, I appreciated the administrative team statement on the website, but in curious and disappointed, there is nothing similar from faculty. Were they not asked for input, they seem to be critical to the success of the project since they comprise the
012teaching staff in all three district buildings. Even if there is not a faculty consensus, the varying perspectives and viewpoints are important to an educated response to the proposed changes. Were they ever asked for input? If so, where is it? If not, why not? So my question to you is why now? With the advent of a new superintendent months away, it seems like too many immediate, possibly unnecessary changes with most, if not all, the teachers and administrators dealing with extremely different different conditions next fall, including a new superintendent. I have grave concerns for everyone's efficiency and continuity if the move is made now. More importantly, I have concerns about what could be less of positive conditions for our students learning and their mental and emotional health. Should the board decide to close Bloomingdale, it sounds as
013if delaying it one year would be somewhat fiscally challenging, but there appear to be benefits to both the Petroga building logistics and of course the high school building logistics if that were to take place. Most importantly, the educational and mental well-being of our students should be the primary concern. Aren't they the most important aspect of all of this? Thank you for your consideration. [applause] Anything you'd like to ask and I can give Gina a copy of my comments. >> Sounds good to me. >> Thank you. Hello, my name is Savannah Thirstston. I'm the town of Sam and town supervisor. I live in Bloomingdale and I have two adult sons, both who attended Bloomingdale K through five. They then attended Prova and graduated from the Senide Lake High School. Right now, I just want to take
014one moment and recognize that this is a volunteer school board and thank you for your commitment to our school and our kids. This is a very difficult time and this is a very difficult discussion and I just want you to know that you are recognized for your volunteer activities here. Um, I personally moved to Bloomingdale 35 years ago so that my oldest son could attend Bloomingdale school. I was accepted as a member of the buildings and facilities committee that was uh tasked with reviewing all of the financial documents, school schedules, bus groups, etc. regarding the possible closure of a Bloomingdale school. Uh 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 moved up because a decision had to
015be reported to the New York State Department of Education by March 1st. I do know not know why the March 1st deadline was not known previously. In January, the school board set up dates for public hearings regarding closing Bloomingdale School, which brings us here tonight, February 18th. The board of education will be voting on February 25th, to decide if closing Bloomingdale School should happen. I've been carefully reviewing the educational impact statement, district reconfiguration at Bloomingdale Elementary, and the frequently asked questions documents that are on the Sarinac Lake Central School District website. Mr. Farmer, in previous meetings, you had stated several times that you wanted to make sure that the process was very transparent. Do you still feel that way? >> I do. >> Okay. In the frequently asked question questions, someone asked a question that
016I would have asked at a future buildings and facilities committee meeting if they hadn't been cut short. The question is, what is the current debt on Bloomingdale school? The response, debt related to Bloomingdale is publicly available in district financial documents. Debt service obligations remain regardless of building use. Is that a transparent response? >> Uh, I believe it's transparent. Maybe incomplete, but it's transparent. >> I I think it's a number. I think that question is a number. The response should be. Another question that was asked in the frequently asked questions was, "Will younger students have longer bus rides?" The response was, "While some individual ride times may increase slightly, students with the longest rides will see their ride times stay the same or decrease." I I don't quite understand how that's possible. During the February 4th
017Sen Lake Central School District board meeting, Diane Fox stated that we can't have service providers to students shared from Bloomingdale and Petroa because it took too long for them to drive from Petroa to Bloomingdale. So those two statements don't don't seem to mesh there. >> That actually is a contractual obligation [clears throat] that is beyond the time. They're two completely separate issues. So >> Okay. I I was talking about Diane stating we we talked about whether service providers could be shared between Bloomingdale and Petrova and Diane stated the length of time for that provider to drive from Bloomingdale to Petrova took up too much time. There are contractual obligations in the relevant [clears throat] contracts that they discuss time periods and class periods. So it's not a matter of it's x number of minutes to
018drive from Sarah Lake to Bloomingdale or Bloomingdale to Sarah Lake. It has to deal with the contractual language and it has to go by class periods. So it doesn't take 40 minutes to drive from Sarin Lake to Lake to I apologize to Bloomingdale. The contractual obligations talk entire blocks so that anytime a teacher is going to make a transfer from one building to the other. There are entire class blocks that are involved. So if a teacher drives from Blooming from Stan Lake to Bloomingdale, they have a block of time that's an entire class period. And if they were then to go back, it would be another class period. So that's two class periods that by contract have to leave. So I want to make that clear. >> Okay. Thank you. So it's not the the
019minutes. It is contractual language. Thank you for clarifying that. visually to me in you were at the uh rearization committee meeting when Dave Woodson gave his presentation. >> Dave did the extensive work uh in his office looking at all these times. So those times derived from work that the bus graphs did with our consulting company as well looked at all those that's not being pulled out of the air. >> Okay. But to drive from Moon Lake to Bloomingdale School is shorter than to drive from Moon Lake to Petroa. >> So it's more complicated than that because now our buses go directly from A to B. >> Right. Exactly. >> So he looked at all the routes. That's David's based on Dave's Dave's work on that. >> Okay. All right. So um another question in the
020frequently asked questions is what is the estimated savings from the single run bus routes and the response the district does not anticipate significant savings from the move to single bus routes. If this is the case then why do it? If you are saying you need to close Bloomingdale in order to move to a single bus run with no significant savings, how can you justify stating and using that as a as a reason to close Bloomingdale School? During the February 4th school board meeting, Diane Fox showed a slide stating that her job was to have a plan. And during that same meeting, Diane stated repeatedly that we don't have a plan for Bloomingdale School if it were to close. Additionally, Diane stated that whatever monies would be saved by closing the Bloomingdale School would be tucked
021aside into a future capital project fund for another use in the future. It's just disenheartening to know that we don't have a plan for the school. None has been provided to us, nor do we have even identified where that money might be used. It's it's just disheartening. Um I have been in contact this past week with the AAP Head Start program in Essex County and they have been trying to get into Bloomingdale school rent space for AAP Head Start for years. Uh initially it's my understanding there was a problem regarding a door would have to be installed so that the head start air would not be breathed by the school air that was cost prohibitive but that has recently been loosened. Um in 2025 the AAP program did reach out to Diane Fox and ask
022to rent space at Bloomingdale School for their Head Start program. and Diane told them that she did not want to get into a lease agreement at that time because they weren't sure what they were going to do with Bloomingdale School. Looking at that, AAP would pay up to $1,500 per month per classroom. They were looking for two classrooms to rent space in Bloomingdale School. they would have purchased school lunches, school breakfast that would have brought additional income to the school district. I understand that that's not enough to run the school, but what other organizations can we partner with? There's a JCO Head Start in Franklin County. They're looking for space. There could be other organizations that are looking for space that could share with Bloomingdale and have some passive income for the district. >> Like
023to address that? >> Sure. >> Because I'm looking over at Katie because not only were we interested in having them join us, they toured the building. >> Um it's their requirement that they must have two egresses from the room, two actual doors. want to be outside because we're a school district. All the work that we do has to be state approved and meet all the safety requirements. So, the cost of putting in a door into one of the classrooms because all the heating systems run across that building in front of all the windows that run across all the back the heat of those rooms. Putting in a door is not a simple project. So AAP thought that they would just cover that cost. And then once we [clears throat] realized what that cost would really
024look like, we reached out to Mosaic who who our engineers, we're talking probably over $100,000 to put the door in because of the need to move so many items to make that work. So it was cost prohibitive for AAP to be uh continuing to be interested in that building. interesting because I did have someone else who reached out to us and that was actually the hospital looking for some space. Unfortunately, at that point the rooms had all been set up, the [clears throat] classrooms were determined and I did tell them at that point for that year we did not have space available because it was being utilized and you walk the building and see however space was being utilized. I encouraged them to give me a call back at this time so that we would
025be if they were interested in the future. Um, and I think it would be incorrect to put the cart before the horse. We're still discussing what the use will be of Bloomingdale next year. So that and as you know Dina we've had a lot of discussion over some possible uses and Facebook has had a lot of conversation over possible uses but having a a use already on the table before the decision is that we're not using it as a school building doesn't make sense. We need to we need to address one issue and then move on directly to the next issue. Diane if I can add to that. I've been in meetings with Governor Hog's office this year to discuss the differences with and the difficulties with getting child care and early early education in
026the school district. The problem is that the school district is under one set of guidelines. It has one set of regulations. We would all think where would children be safer than a school district. The entire thing is planned out. However, in New York State, Department of Social Services and Department of Children and Family Services have different regulations. They actually negate each other or conflict with each other. when I met with Governor Hokll's office with a consortium of schoolboard members and superintendents from New York State asking the governor asking her to help negotiate this and work this out. um [clears throat] to say that her entire staff was dismissive and said that it was not their place, the governor's place to get into such matters. So this ongoing question of early education and Head Start and
027other daycarees, that's not just an easy fix. Now, if we need to put a door in, the example I was given, um, a superintendent had everything she needed. She had staff, all of them. However, the district did not meet children and family services guidelines. It took $40,000 10 years ago to put in a door and it took four years of [clears throat] two superintendents working day and night to get a daycare in their school. So this is something that we have looked at throughout the district and I personally wouldn't want to start that work until we have made a decision. So I agree with Diane. It would be although we have talked about possibilities, everyone's talked about possibilities. The newspaper talked about possibilities. I think to say this is our plan when we are hoping
028that someone will come up with a better idea or someone will come up with an idea on how to make this fiscally responsible to the district and to the 984 children of the district. I think it would be put for the worse. >> Thank you for that. Um, I do want to point out that AAP is in two other schools in Essex County. They do they are able to partner there. >> Yes, they have they meet the guidelines. They're lucky enough to meet the guidelines. >> Well, I I would say hang on I >> finish my sentence. >> Tori, >> let me please finish my sentence. Okay. >> Perhaps they are very lucky and their layout meets the guidelines. They have to be on a main floor. They have to have an interior and an
029exterior door. Uh just two of them off the top. Perhaps they were very lucky. As Dian just said, $100,000 in changes is not very lucky. Well, I I respectfully request that maybe we could look at that. If Bloomingdale is decides to stay open, perhaps there's other alternatives that we could look at to make that happen. And clearly Bloomingdale is all on one floor. So, we do have that going for us. And I I do feel that there might be other options that we could look at. Respectfully, >> I think that's a valid point. I'll say this. Um, when you get on the school board, you find out very quickly, I've said this in many schoolboard meetings, how much regulation there is that you're unaware of. Um, and and the cost when someone does something at
030school, for whatever reason, it costs way more than what you pay for it at your house. I don't know all the particulars of that, but um the regulation is just unbelievable. >> I I respect that. So, um, you know, when you say put a door in, what's the big deal? Put a door in. When you look at what they're requiring where it's got to go, you know, mechanic was at home, all of a sudden, you know, a door becomes incredible. What was the cost of the door? The front door patrol. Just put a replace front door was absurd. >> 400 plus >> 400,000. That was the front door patrol. >> And what was the timeline on that? When we submit completed plans to NISD, every building, every structural change that we want to do to
031the district has to go through the New York State Education Department. They have people that look at the plans, approve the plans. What is that timeline? That's what you're having done. >> Slow to slower. >> Yeah. Yes. Sometimes Sometimes you can pay to skip the line. they don't offer that long enough sometimes the line gets long and skip it. Um so months >> so I think what what we're trying to say is um even in our normal course of business and doing things and some of the projects we've done where we have architects doing it we run into these these blockades all the time and it's incredibly frustrating to us to to know that some of these fixed just have to go through these bureaucratic boondoggles and and get tied up and so we share
032your your frustration with that on a whole wide front not just this in particular but I agree 100% said that at such a point where where it needs to be we we need to look at trying to do things that we can do and we've seen great ideas. Some of them are not legal for us to do. They're a great idea though. Others um are so expensive and impractical but there's got to be a sweet spot in there for something hopefully. >> Right. I I just think we could have another look if it's possible if it works out. >> We are entirely open >> to the building. >> Thank you. Um okay. So, um during the February 4th, um school board meeting, Tori stated that she was very concerned about the low voter turnout in
033the Sen Lake Central District. Tori stated that there are 12,897 total voters in the Sen Lake School District with 519 votes cast in 25 2025, which equates to 0.4% voter turnout. Uh this is actually incorrect data. The actual number of registered voters in the Sarin Lake Central School District is 7,598. With 519 votes cast, that equates to approximately 6.83%. The number that Tori gave us, the 12,897, is actually the total population for the Sinak Lake Central School District, not the number of registered voters. Tori is human. Humans make mistakes. I make mistakes. Everybody makes mistakes. But that is why it is critical and important that the board allow the buildings and facilities committee to finish the job that you gave us to do. Review the numbers, verify the data, brainstorm solutions, and then and only
034then make a recommendation to the school board. Diane has stated several times, not just in the buildings and facility committees, that she's willing to be the bad guy and close Woodingale School, then retire so that the next superintendent doesn't have to do that. We understand that you are willing to die on a sore van. We understand that, but we're asking you not to. I'm asking you not to. Let the next superintendent come in with a plan. Let the buildings and facilities committee do the work that this board task them to do. Let's find other forms of income like AAP Head Start or other organizations that we can partner with. Let's see what the new housing that is opening up in Sarin Lake this summer does for our school age population. Give it time, please. Thank
035you. >> Thank you. [applause] Who would like to be next? >> Good evening, everyone. My name is Megan Ellsworth. Um, and I do well in front of students, but not in front of adults. So, I'm going to have to rely on my letter. So, dear members of the board of education, my name is Megan Ellsworth. I stand before you tonight as both a parent of a current sixth grader and as a sixth grade teacher in our district. I've taught here for 21 years, including the past 10 at the middle school. It's not an easy position for me because it's deeply personal both professionally as a teacher whose position is most likely changing this coming year. Sorry, I'm shaking. And personally as a parent of a sixth grade daughter who will most likely be entering the
036high school next year. Earlier this month, I sent a version of this letter to the board. I also felt it was important to share my thoughts with our current and future middle school and high school administrators. as well as our current and future superintendent. Tonight, I want to publicly voice some concerns that I have not yet heard fully addressed in some prior meetings. Over the past few months, much of the conversation around the reconfiguration has been centered on the closing of Bloomingdal School. That closure is undoubtedly a significant and emotional loss for our district. I remember when Lake KBY school closed during my first few years of teaching here. I taught at Lake KBY. I remember the uncertainty families felt sending their young children into a larger building and closing Bloomingdal marks another historic moment
037for our community. However, we are also facing facing another major change. The closing of our middle school and that loss has not been discussed with the same amount of depth. We are talking about a school that serves approximately I'm sorry if my numbers are off 250 students and employs close to 50 staff members. After more than a decade of working there, I can confident confidently say it is a well functioning environment where our educators understand and support students during one of the most challenging developmental stages of their lives. Many community community members have expressed that this decision feels final. From what we've read and heard, it appears the direction has been set. I am not here tonight to plead for reversal. I recognize and appreciate the time, effort, and thoughtful discussion that both the transition
038committee and the board of education have invested. I understand the logistical and educational considerations involved. What I am asking the board of education is this. Is there truly enough time between now and September to execute a carefully designed plan both logistically and developmentally that ensures a thorough and thoughtful transition for our soon to be seventh and eighth graders? As someone who works with this age group every day, I respectfully urge you to prioritize the emotional, social, and developmental needs of these students. In a world where children are exposed to more information than ever before and are often pushed to grow up too quickly, many of us as parents and educators work intentionally to preserve this critical stage of childhood. Many of our current sixth graders are still very young in maturity and life experience. While
039some may appear older than their years physically, many are still still very much children emotionally and socially. There are many that are still excited about Santa Claus coming this December. Many are just beginning to navigate friendships without parent guidance, still need reminders to organize their materials, and can be overwhelmed by managing multiple teachers and deadlines. During a recent presentation at the middle school, several students returned, unfamiliar with topics such as vaping and suicide. [clears throat] Others still gravitate towards playground games, craft projects, and animated movies. These are not criticisms. They are reminders that this age group is in a transitional stage. They are growing, yes, but they are still deeply rooted in childhood. That reality underscores how developmentally young many of these children truly are. I also strongly encourage the board to consider preserving daily
040recess or at least providing a structured activity break for these students. Movement and unstructured play are not luxuries. They are essential. They support physical health, emotional regulation, focus, and overall well-being. Even as academic demands increase, students at this age still need time to move, reset, and simply be kids. I understand that the idea has been mentioned of pairing younger students with 11th and 12th graders as mentors. While mentorship can certainly be positive, we must also acknowledge the significant developmental differences between these two age groups. If this model is implemented, it must be structured with intentional safeguards to ensure that our younger students are protected and supported appropriately. As both a parent and an educator, my gr greatest greatest hope is that this transition is handled with careful planning, strong supervision, and thoughtful systems in place.
041This includes consideration of scheduling, shared spaces, supervision during unstructured times, social and emotional supports, and maintaining developmentally appropriate environments within the larger high school setting. Our students deserve a transition plan that honors their childhood while supporting their growth. Thank you for your time, your service, and your continued commitment to making decisions that are in the best interest of all students. [applause] >> Hello I don't usually need one of these, but can you hear me? Okay, you guys can hear me. Okay. >> Yeah. >> All right. I'm Elizabeth AL farmer. So, AL paper gets it, but a farmer by marriage. Um, I'd like to point out just to lighten the mood a little bit that Deina stole my thunder about correcting the percentages on the voter. So, we'll meet at the boomale park the way that
042we should inale. We'll settle that later. Uh but because we have that clarified, my question actually comes from Troy Farmer who is a farmer by blood. Uh does the state require this decision to be made by the board or can the redistribution decision go to a district vote? Section 402- of the New York State Education Law states clearly that it is at the sole discretion of the board of education that they may opt to form a subcommittee um which we did but that they in the end it is they can either take the subcommittees if the subcommittee makes a determination it is up to this school up to the >> I'm sorry. Up to the board of education. >> Okay. So, it would then just based on your revision, I'm asking. >> Yeah. But I
043want to make sure this is a really this is a really good question because I think it's something that isn't clear. Um, and I know it's something that's come up a lot. So, I don't have the whole law in front of me. I apologize. >> We can work through it maybe. >> But it's very specific. It is very specific that um the board of education makes the ultimate decision. >> Okay. So that has to be you guys. >> Yes. >> Okay. We take into consideration um we have to take into consideration enrollment, finances, transportation, building usage, uh pretty much all the stuff that we're talking about. Um and it's not something that can be arbitrary and capricious. I believe is the actual phrase that they use. But again, it's section 402-a. And after the meeting,
044I can um get your email and I can email you a copy of it. Okay, that'd be great. I'd be happy to. So, that being said, we did have a couple other questions and I I would like to just ask them since I have three minutes. Sure. >> Um it was discussed previously the you know that lovely quote that keeps coming up at the seams because like Mrs. Ellsworth said, this does impact the other students. It impacts Petroa and all the other students. What is the average class right now as and I know we won't have exact numbers but average class at the elementary classrooms at Petroa that our Bloomingdale school students could be potentially adding to. >> It wouldn't work that way. Okay, we would simply move those classrooms to so the average class
045size in first grade is going to match the average class size when that group moves to second grade. We're not decreasing a classroom, but putting all three classrooms together in one building. So class sizes will not increase due to a >> So there's unused space at the schools that we have here in Sarin Lake. I'm just trying to trying to work through it with the move. Um so it's it's domino. back. That's why there's three oppositions because the move to 712 frees up classroom space at petro for the other classrooms for women to move into. So there'd be no lo faculty is what you're saying and I apologize if you can just walk me through it. >> I'm going to walk you through it by but I need to be careful. >> No, I understand
046that. I guess I'm not understanding how we're losing space over here. >> Yeah. >> Same number of kids over here. How are we not squeezing more kids into a set confined space? There's going to be shifting. I understand that. But how are we not putting We're going have to pardon my verbage here. How are we not putting more butts in the seats when we only have x amount of space? because space is being freed up because they because seventh and eighth grade will move here to the high school. So [clears throat] those classrooms will now become available at the house for the Bloomingdale classroom >> with shifting. >> Right. So then we're just shifting and shifting, but they've got to go somewhere. So those kids are then shifting into a set amount of space. You
047can see where I'm going with this, right? >> Yeah. There's no even split. There's no there's no way to split exactly down the middle. >> Yeah. >> But there's okay. I think that was the answer I was looking for and I appreciate that. >> So the split is based on um teacher certification. >> So we're just shifting. We're we're shifting. That that was pretty much what I thought you were going to say. And then when we talked about fiscal responsibility, it was discussed with the AAP and the JCEO and all those lovely alphabet soups that I'm not familiar with. Um, one other item. We have a lot of locals in our area here, our entire district, um, that are craftsmen, crafts women. I think you might be surprised except for the few of you who
048I'm looking at specifically that I know, you know, they're out there where we have relied on each other before in the community members. At one point, I know my cousin Craig signed down with um an athletic time clock where if you need help, ask for it. We're here. We don't necessarily have to be pulling money from somewhere to get things done. It was done that way in the past years and years and years ago. I really think that if people knew you needed help from the school, for the kids, they would help. So, that was my only part about the fiscal responsibility part of it. So, thanks so much FOR YOU GUYS. >> [applause] >> I NEVER HAVE TO raise my hand. Um, good evening. For those of you that do not know me, my
049name is Ann Campwell Tullifer. I circulated an online petition that gained 376 signatures in support as of today. I printed a copy of the petition, the verified electronic signatures, and the comments, and I will submit the same to Gina for the board's review and consideration. I do have a list of questions I'd like the board to consider and answer if they're able. On February 4th, Diane Fox reported the estimated savings as a result of closing Bloomingdale School from $594,598.86 to $62,35.77. How was this figure calculated? What do you anticipate saving if you intend to keep the building open and keep the staff employed? I don't know if you want to answer. You want me to go through the questions and then answer after? [clears throat] I'll keep going. On February 4th, Diane Fox stated it
050will not be a firstear savings. There will be some cost. Assuming your data is accurate, when does the board anticipate hitting the $600,000 savings? Is it year three or is it year 15? What are those costs? Three. On February 4th, Diane Fox reported that the overall enrollment in the district in 2025 decreased to 984 students. But her graph also showed that the actual enrollment in kindergarten exceeded the projections. If this trend continues, the data in our projections is inaccurate. If we close school and our incoming classes continue to exceed projections, can our facilities atro accommodate the increase? Four. As of today, the subcommittee's educational impact statement along with a copies of the meeting minutes from the January 13th and January 28th board meetings are unavailable to the public. Why were these resources removed from your
051website? >> They're not removed. They're on there. >> I I previously looked at them and they were not where they previously were today. If they were removed, I didn't see them. >> Which ones are Just tell me the date. January 13th, the educational impact statement, and January [clears throat] 28th, uh, meeting minutes. >> January 28th, >> January 13th, and the educational impact statement >> that's on the front page of the website. >> I printed it out yesterday. >> Issue. I apologize. I had an assistant come look to say you're not seeing this either. Um, number five, the subcommittee's comments in the educational impact statement discussed the transition in CROVA to K through six, and my recollection made no mention on how the preK program would be affected, but on February 4th, Diane Fox's recommendation to
052the board was for Petroba to house prek through six. Did the initial study take into consideration prek? Do we have pro proof that Petroba can house these additional students? Six. On February 4th, Diane Fox stated, "By going to the tax cap, we have created a lot of reserves. What is the total amount of funds held in reserves? How have we budgeted for those reserves? Are they held in restricted funds like the turf field funds were, or are they placed in unrestricted reserves?" Seven, on February 4th, the board disclosed the increase in medical insurance premiums rising by $2 million. How much of that is the responsibility of the employees and how much of that is the responsibility of the district? Eight. Special education services were shared amongst Ketro and Bloomingdale for years. Why can we no
053longer provide the same services to both schools? For Diane Fox, we have a long history of operating a K through2 bus. So why can we no longer go back to a single bus run while keeping Bloomingdale school open? 10. On February 4th, Diane Fox commented that very few students actually ride the bus. Can we provide an opt-in option at Bloomingdale for those families willing and able to transport their children? We redistrict our students. So now children living in Lake Clear are sent to a troa. Students should be bus to the school closest to home, not to the school that the district wants to protect. 11. The justification for closing the middle school surrounded teaching certifications and limiting travel times from the middle school to the high school less than a mile away. We know over
054200 students will be affected by your upcoming decision. Currently, how many staff travel from the middle school to the high school? 12. What reports and/or psychological studies did you or the subcommittee read and consider regarding the educational, social, and/or emotional impact of moving the seventh and eighth graders to the high school? 13. For those of us that own two properties in the district, are we entitled to two votes? For those of us that own property in an LLC or other entity, does every shareholder receive a vote? How did board member Tory Thirsten calculate that there are over 12,000 eligible voters in our district? And I understand that was already addressed, so I apologize. 14. What are the board's plans for the 40 acre parcel it acquired on Mackenzie Pond Road? If we're not going to
055use it for fields, could we sell the property to a local housing group? Diane Fox talked about the silo pro problem, but here's an opportunity for the board to work with the community to make an impact on the housing crisis. We would be providing housing for district residents and simultaneously increase the district's revenue. 15. Do you have affidavit of service for the following local and state officials? Michael Cashman, Dan Steck, Curtis, Curtis Reynolds, Marcel Webb, Andrew McIll, Jude Kapalo, Alexandria Bevelqua, Deina Thirstston, Carl Law, Donna Whitewalt, JP O'Neal, Sheridan Swinger, Dorothy Brown, Leo Deong, Ann Marie Nightingale, Dupri, Sue Alexander, Richard Brandt, Peter Schroe, Steven Tucker, Lydia Reich, Tracy Santigate, Amber Mccernan, Jordana Malik, Tracy Schrader, David Lynch, Doug Haney, Jeremy Evans, Richard Preston, Emily Kilborni, Richard Cummings, Jason Leon, Jack Molton, Jimmy Williams, Matthew
056Scholins, Kelly Brunette, Shawn Ryan, Aurora White. Lastly, and finally, [clears throat] I'd like to take a moment a moment to apologize to the board and the administrators. After the February 14th meeting, an administrator told me the salary data available to the public is inaccurate. If that's true, isn't that part of the problem? Why not be transparent? What are we hiding? [applause] >> Oh, sorry. >> So, a $600,000 savings. um that was based off of work of the buildings and grounds and uh we will not be replacing all of the staff that is out there. We have custodial staff, um nursing staff, um food service staff. Um but many of those people will still have a job because we have open positions. It's difficult to fill those positions. So we have open positions in other buildings
057and we have some retirements coming up. um not all in the first year. I anticipate in second year we'll see all that. But we have needs of boxes, perhaps some help with moves, that type of thing. Um making sure that we have the right furniture. So I do see some costs in that closure and move so that heard many of you talk about what's best for kids. We have some things that we have to do to make sure that the move is best for kids and we're set up for them. um the overall 984 did not exceed the projections that the district was anticipating for incoming kindergartenner and we're not seeing that for this year. Also, um the educational impact statement um and the administrative impact statement and the frequently asked questions document is all
058on the front page of the website. We've had UPK atro in the past. There is room for UPK. We really cannot have more than one UPK classroom because of the regulations surrounding UPK and the requirement that we give at least 10% of our UPK allocation to community- based organizations. Um 10% is nice, but it does not really allow a community- based organization to run a quality UPK program. So therefore, we actually have to gift enough that we make sure that all of our programs are equal in quality, which means we'll have one and there'll be at least one in the community. Um, reserve funds, I don't have that piece of paper in front of me. Um, but Nikki can certainly get that for you. We have a list. Each year, we have to approve how
059those funds are set up. Most of our reserve funds are in actual reserves for different purposes. um the insurance and premiums. Each of our different organizations pay a different percentage towards their um insurance based on their contract and uh really also it varies even in those contracts based on what role you play. Um the salary data wasn't accurate. We have no control over C3 through New York. I really don't know where that information comes from. Um we have talked about special education that sort of circles back to how come we used to be able to do it and now we can't. Um we talked about that a little bit and then our students I see some people in the um audience who worked for us many years ago where we moved to a consultant teacher
060model because that was really what we needed. We really disbanded our consultant teacher model because our kids have so much higher needs right now. our 611, 811, 121 rooms are all expanding where we've decreased the number of consultant teachers because we simply don't have the number of students. So, when you have a high need special ed child, um you're you're asking me to have a psychologist sitting and waiting all day long for the needs of that child, which may pop up at any time. Or that psychologist is traveling back and forth on no schedule. No, no second grader has a schedule, comes to school this morning and says at 9:00 I'm going to have a meltdown. Could you make sure that the [clears throat] psychologist is here for me? So, that's part of the reason
061why we'd have to put a complete second staff out for a very small group. Um, K to2 busing. Uh, why can't we have the busing of Bloomingale open? Because uh Bloomingdale has its own separate bus runs. uh they're not connected to the rest of the district. We're running into that problem now with UPK and that we have families who cannot have their child bus to daycare because the bus from Bloomingdale does not go to their daycare. Um middle and high school staff traveling. We have a few at the moment. I don't know that number off the top of my head. What we would be looking at over time is significantly more traveling. Um, and the black fried property was given to the district with the idea that we would preserve that property to be available
062for the community. They understood when they gave it that we were in the middle of a capital project. It does need some work. If you've been there, you know the driveways necess uh needs some work. Parking area needs some work. It needs some work. The fields need some work. He understood when they gave it to us, we'd already put our capital project in place and was working on it. it would be at least till our next capital project before we could do anything with that. But that was really given to us although nothing in the deed uh said that we had to continue uh I feel that it was given with the understanding that it would continue to be available to the community and so that's that was their hope with the gift and that's
063how we accepted the gift. >> Mark I have something on the salary. >> Go ahead. Um, I've been on the contract negotiations committee since I joined the board many four years ago. One of the things that I will tell you that I found um and that the board has found is that previous boards were comfortable with pay and equity. Meaning that women got paid less than the male campers both in the district and without the district. And that is something that this particular board finds particularly a board. So there are some increases and you'll find whether which source you go online because they are public record. You will see some larger than normal increases in the last few years. And the reason for those was because women were getting paid less for doing the same
064work. I personally don't find that. >> Okay. Who's next? Good evening. Uh, my name is Colleen Winsac. I submitted this letter to Gina, I think, last week, but I figured maybe my presence and my voice would resonate with everybody tonight. I am a mother of two who lives in Vermontville, and Bloomingdale Elementary School is our local school. My oldest child is set to begin school this coming year, and my family is filled with excitement, but now a bit of uncertainty. Within the last few weeks, it was brought to my attention that we may no longer have our beloved elementary school. My husband and I moved to this area in 2020 because the Aderondax and Bloomingale, in particular, are where we wanted to plan our roots and raise our children. The possibility of closing Bloomingdale Elementary
065feels deeply unsettling, primarily because of the loss of community it represents. In a world that already feels increasingly disconnected, closing our local elementary school would only accelerate that disconnection within our own neighborhoods. I want my children to know who their neighbors are, to make local friends, and to grow up learning how to care for and support the people around them. If our children are required to attend school in Sarinac Lake, those connections become diluted and we lose our village. A local elementary school serves as a natural hub for families. It's a place where children and parents alike form friendships, build trust, and develop a sense of belonging. These early years are formative, not just academically, but socially and emotionally for both children and parents. Knowing that there are people who care about us within a
066five minute drive is invaluable. Requiring families to commute to Sarinac Lake would mean would mean we no longer truly know our neighborhood children. Our social circles become more spread out and parents are forced to make additional trips into town. Some members of our community do not have reliable vehicles or the means to afford extra transportation. making this proposal especially making this proposal especially burdensome. As it stands, the solution being proposed feels like a misplaced bandage on an issue that has not been clearly articulated to our community. As parents, we are often told that time is a thief. And in this case, however, it feels like more than time is being taken. This decision feels as though it steals from our children, robbing them of a warm, close-knit school environment that nurture nurtures meaningful connections with
067neighborhood friends. These early childhood experiences lay the foundation for lifelong educational, social, and emotional skills. [clears throat] I would ask that the board I would ask the board to reconsider or slow down this decision. Thank you. >> Thank you. >> [applause] >> Yes. >> Hi, my name is Libby Sullivan. Unfortunately, I don't have any genius ideas. Um, I really respect how passionate everyone has been about this issue and how much research everyone has done. Um, I just want to take a quick moment um to comment. As a petroa parent, [clears throat] I know many families here tonight might be feeling anxious about these possible changes and what they might mean for your children. Um, so I just wanted to share a few words about our experience at Petrova. Our daughter Savvy transferred to Petroa unexpectedly
068in second grade. For her and for us, changing schools was intimidating, but from our very first conversation with Mr. Mun, we felt welcomed, supported, and safe. Savvy is now in fourth grade. She has loved every teacher she's had. She's built strong friendships and she's made incredible memories and now Petroa truly feels like home for her. Our other daughter, Bella, is now in first grade and we've had the same positive experiences with her. If your kids do end up, I genuinely believe they will feel cared for, supported, and embraced. Thank you. [applause] >> Video me. Uh, my name is Karen Beas. I am a grade six teacher, co-president of the Sarin Lake Teachers Association, and proud member of the facilities study committee. I was really here to address Gail's question. Um, she asked if the SLTA
069um was asked for feedback regarding the reconfigurations. And I just want to clarify to everyone in the room that the board Diane and the administrators all sought feedback from all SLTA members and CSEA members regarding possible reconfigurations. And regarding the SLTA specifically, I want to be transparent. Um about half of our 140 members um submitted feedback on a survey and they had varying perspectives on the best path forward. Um admittedly many many elementary teachers including some of those at Bloomingdale welcome the potential of a dedicated pre preK to6 building at Provo. Others have voiced valid concerns regarding scheduling and shared spaces at the high school. Many are also feeling the weight of the proposed timeline. Regardless of the final configuration, the SLTA's goal is to ensure this transition is successful for everyone. We believe that
070providing the highest quality experience for our students starts with a stable supported faculty. Our priority as an association is to work with the district to ensure our contract is honored and our staff is protected through natural attrition. By prioritizing a smooth transition and a solid plan, we ensure that our educators can remain focused on what matters most, the success and well-being of every student, albeit at Bloomingdale, Petrova, the middle school, or the high school, as we navigate this new landscape that our district is facing. Thank you for the opportunity to serve on the committee as well. Thank you. [applause] Hi, good evening. Um, I'm Doug Amy, resident of Sarinac Lake, parent of uh two children, a ninth grader and a seventh grader who have absolutely thrived because of this school district and because of this
071community and thus my family has two. So, thank you. Um I have a a question and I know that the the school district um commissioned a a study for various things. Uh one of which was the closure of the school. Another was reconfiguration of of classrooms of of grades. And I don't know the answer to this one. And I know that the study recommended that a possibility was for seven and eight to get moved to the high school. I don't know if the study provided a a timeline for that or a suggested time when that were to happen. So that's my question is did did they say it should happen now or should it happen in two three years? >> Yeah, they they base their time on um keeping [clears throat] the same number of
072students. If you read the report, it said in I don't have the number off the top of my head. I want to say 20 28 2029 20 I'm sorry I had it all wrong. 26 27 is next year. 27 28 would be the suggested time for Bloomingdale and then the transition was two or three years later at the high school. Okay. But their basis for that was simply keeping the same number of students. Watching the decrease in the number of students and district that would be where you would have the same number of students that we had four years ago 9 through 12 you would have that same number 7 through 12. Unfortunately, when that study was commissioned, we were also living high on the ESSA era funding where money was not an option. And
073now we are no longer living on the co money and and money speaks and we're looking at reductions in staffing um that are coming up. So, how do we do that in a way that preserves the most number of opportunities for our kids? Um, and also doesn't lay out people who have just bought a home or are looking to be stable here. And the way we can do that is through attrition. We have um I say this lovingly to the high school staff, but we have a little older staff in our high school that uh will have significant retirements in the next few years. And by aligning the certification, we can then um rightsize our staff members without having to actually fire anyone. Hopefully, our retirees will at least be snowbirds and stay here for
074part of the year. Um but we can still keep our younger staff employed and not jumping ship worried that with every year they're going to be the ones that are going to see a cut. >> Thank you. I I think that answers it. Um uh I'm not worried about the environment that my children will go into, whether my seventh grader moves to the high school or not. I know that the board and the staff that Karen works with and that Meg works with will do everything they can to make them feel welcome and and have them thrive. I know that. I'm not worried about that. Um, and I'm also thankful as more to state to the people out here, but I I love that Sarak Lake is a passionate community. I love it. We love
075ourselves hard. Sometimes too hard, but um it makes us all better in in the long run. And I I think that I hope that the folks who are here tonight here and here and who have attended other meetings, you guys take all of this information to heart and you'll come up with the best solution. I know you will. Um, and that I hope the community has your back, no matter which way it goes. Because whatever decision is made, we've all still got to do the things that we do and [clears throat] care for our kids and care for our community and do the best we can to to make it all work well for the most amount of people we can so that way it stays welcoming and inviting so that way our school enrollment
076numbers go the other way. Thank you. Thank you. [applause] Anyone else? >> My name is Carrie [clears throat] Garen. I promise to be real quick. Um, I just want to come and say that my, for those of you that don't know me, I guess I've had seven [clears throat] kids go through my household, five of my own, two stepchildren. Uh, the five older kids have graduated now. um like me, they went to Bloomingdale School, which is a fantastic school, but um my two younger kids came to patrol school because we lived in Lake Clear and it just made sense for their busing and for me to drive them and drop them off cuz they're spoiled. Um so they're in ninth and tth grade now and I was hesitant at first to send them to Prova
077thinking it was a bigger school like many people here are, you know, voicing their opinion about that. They're not wrong. It is a bigger school, but the teachers are the same. uh my kids had the same opportunities, the same love and you know turned out just as well. So I just want to that um wing special is just as great. [applause] Hi everyone, Jill Hank, Rainbow Lake. My husband reminded me this morning that everybody here is here because they care about this community and that they're passionate about what is best for our kids. Um, I wrote a letter to the editor recently, Karen and the queue, so I figured I would read it here and also make a few comments. Well, let me begin with, boy, am I exhausted. Like most parents of young children,
078I work a full-time job in addition to parenting. And like most North Country residents, I also have two additional part-time jobs. When my family moved to the north country in 2021, we felt strongly about moving to the Sarinac Lake School District based on our research and conversations with community members. For background, both my kids have participated in district hosted UPK, my son at Prova and my daughter at Bloomingdale, and I can confidently say both have great schools. I should also point out that I am a professional meeting goer and I have been on that side of the table. I've been on this side of the table. Um, I have an education in urban and regional planning and I have a lot of experience working with local governments and I'm very familiar with bureaucratic processes. That
079said, if you're familiar with bureaucracy, it certainly doesn't move at the speed of light. When my son entered UPK at Proba in 2023, I started talking to my neighbors, my friends, and schoolboard members about the deal with the district. I was curious and this is when I first entered the conversation around closing Bloomingdale School. We have entered an era where we all expect information to be delivered to our screens without prompting. We have lost our sense of accountability when it comes to civic engagement. Even though opportunities are at our fingertips in this digital age, I can cook dinner in my kitchen while live streaming a schoolboard meeting. Not only am I staying informed, but I am also exposing my children to the importance of staying involved. Civic engagement requires long-term attention and accountability by all
080parties. It is far easier for the 12,000 Sarin Lake Central School District residents to visit a website than it is for a handful of board members or administrators to provide individualized outreach. All that to say, let me share with you what I've learned. I should also say that nobody put me up to this. These are my words. Nope. All that to say, let me show tell you what I've learned. The Sar Lakeake School Board website, and I I linked to this hopefully linked to the letter online. Um, which I'm sure is managed by Gina, and I think is really easy to use. Thanks, Gina. is regularly updated and provides contact information for all schoolboard members. Minutes, agendas, live streams, and meeting recordings can all be found there. In recent conversations about district reconfiguration, the school
081budget has come up repeatedly. A reminder that Santa Cl res residents have a chance every year to weigh in on the budget and the May budget vote. If you'd like to do some research in preparation for that vote, budget materials can be found on the website. And most importantly, talk to your neighbors, your friends, your kids, teachers, school staff, and ask questions. We have fallen into a pattern of reactivity when it comes to civic engagement. I've attended and/or live streamed many school board meetings over the past year and most recently have witnessed many passionate testimonies specifically around closing of Bloomingdale School. As a parent of small children, I often reiterate the importance of approaching challenges with compassion and curiosity. When [clears throat] our brains are in a defensive state, it limits our creativity. And creativity
082is what we need to solve our budgetary wos. At the February 4th schoolboard meeting, there were many public comments justifying keeping Bloomingdale school open because the projected $600,000 a year savings compared to $38 million school budget is a drop in the budget in the bucket. First, have those with that opinion reviewed the school budget documentations and identified an alternative? The cost of health insurance for the school district as a whole is increasing by at a minimum $1.5 million a year. Even with $600,000 in savings, our budget shortfall is still close to a million. This doesn't even account for increases in electricity, fuel, or inflation. I have experience with nonprofit budgeting and relying on government funding and I can assure you money does not fall from the sky. It has been suggested that our school administrators
083are paid too much. First, a reminder that all salary information is available on the school website and is up for discussion as it plays into the school budget vote. Second, do we really think these public servants who have dedicated decades of their lives to serving our children are doing this for the big bucks? If I chose a job because of the money, I would probably choose one where the public didn't have an opportunity to come to my workplace and tell me I'm doing a terrible job, which I don't think that we talk about how we are showing up because we care about our kids. And you know who else cares about our kids? They do. Not to mention our schoolboard members who are serving the district for the greater good. All this to say, I
084think we can do better. I think we can be better about approaching these big problems with kindness and curiosity. I think we can all do a little more due diligence moving forward to be involved in our school districts and local governments as these problems arise. Accusations will not solve this problem, but creative problem solving and collaboration may um I've been to a lot of these meetings and asked a lot of questions and I'm not going to take up too much more of your time. I do want to say that the Troa is an incredible school and community and I'm confident that if Bloomingdale closes and the students are moved over, they will have the same education that they would have. Um, do I love this timeline? No, I don't. Um, I also feel like this
085is rushed, but I also understand the urgency behind the budget and increase the costs of keeping a school open are only going to increase. Um, do I love a single bus route? No, I don't. Do I trust Dave and Dana and everybody that works at the bus garage to come up with the best possible solution? Yes, I do. Because that's not my job. That's their job and I trust that they're good at it. Um, I trust all of you to make these decisions on behalf of our kids because that is your job. [clears throat] And I also just want to comment that I don't think it is a gift to the next superintendent to put this decision on their shoulders. I think a lot of work has been done already. I think that that would
086be a huge burden to them. I think that this group here has a lot of experience leading up to it and would give a new superintendent an opportunity to have a fresh start. Thank you. [applause] >> Anyone else? Hi, I'm Kimberly Winer. I'm such a fan of the school that I'll start crying. I warned some of my friends that I would speak today. And I first wanted to just relay my gratitude. My my absolute gratitude. We moved here when our older boy was coming into second grade. And I was incredibly concerned about that. I had a meeting. I asked about it. And what I would just um share now and give one tiny ounce of advice that we've heard earlier from many uh interested parents is the the involvement, the support, the guidance, the joy
087of the teachers. We felt that from before Gregor started second grade. He's now in high school. He's doing great. He loves loves the school, friends, teachers, activities. Hugo is now in second grade. might be more of a handful than Gregor was, but um loves school so much that he dressed up as Mr. M the other I mean one of the special days dress up as a character you dress up as your principal. So what I'd like to just share and echo the very thoughtful very thoughtful approaches that we've heard today recognizing the board here recognizing a lot of the parents and concerns people with facing new new uh environments it can be very intimidating and I would like to say that I am very confident whatever the decisions you will be supported and please stay
088involved part of our joy as a family of moving here those years ago was being involved and the support and the opportunity to speak, the opportunity to take meetings, to influence change, to ask for help, to go from second grade to middle school with a new principal at the time, to carry on through high school with activities, with the strength of the programming that we have available in this district is really unbelievable to me. And I just want to say thank you. And if ever people have questions, I'm so delighted to help. I'm sorry that I'm crying. It's kind [laughter] of forgiven. So, whatever the decision is, I just want to say thank you. [applause] Anyone else? >> You're going to have to fall back, right? Uh, hi. Uh, Nick Dera, uh, uh, Bloomingdale resident,
089um, elementary school. Uh, went through the system here, uh, college, Marine Corps, um, back here um, for my, uh, for the rest of my life. Um, um, hate to see uh, the school go, but uh, my question uh is kind of related. Um I'm wondering about the electric bus. Uh is that still you say still saving? >> Um has there been any research into the electric bus? >> I I'm I'm just curious. I don't It's crazy to think >> if you think you're frustrated, Nick, you should be. We're frustrated. >> Yeah. the >> we talked about this some other means. Let me give you two facts. Sure. Nancy is a pro here. She's got a lot of on. >> But they're almost three times as expensive. Okay. Yeah. >> So, it's coming. We have filed
090for a waiver to try to get an extension on, but it's a real cost. >> Yeah. Um, I just uh are we thinking about like has there been research into like u the cost of the bus when you get it and and and and everything else like the whole I mean safety features and what happens when there's no electric and you can't get kids off the bus >> or something or >> so, you know, there's >> at this point there's a um you a requirement that school districts start purchasing electric buses. >> Requirement. >> Yeah. >> There are two there currently two twoear bankers. I was in Governor I was in Senator Ste and >> they're going to keep doing it. It's not ready. Well, both in Senator Ste's office and Michael Kman's office on
091Thursday with some of our seniors and they are just as concerned as you are. >> Yeah. It's more it's more than just uh starting in the cold. It there's you know there's so much more to to the electric bus. >> Right. But you asked the question first off was you know has any studies been done? Yeah. the school district sac school district has has commissioned a study. It was paid 75% I believe by uh naerta state of New York uh that looked at our bus runs and and calculated how much of power would be needed you know how many chargers and the types of chargers all that was looked at for the two bus runs and it's currently being relooked at again for the one bus run. So this is like the initial planning to
092for if we were to go that way. >> It's kind of like you you got to start planning. >> You have to start >> like like uh >> it's not something you do overnight >> saving for. >> Well, it's >> what is your question? >> I guess what I'm getting at is you're saving all this money and you need to build a door in Bloomale to for something come in there. I mean, it's just um I I am just incredibly frustrated to see the school go and uh there's more people than just here that are just as frustrated. So, just wanted to see what you had to say. Thank you. [applause] Anyone else? >> I'm going to race you down there. You go first. [laughter] >> I don't >> I'm not really good. [laughter] >>
093My name is Ray Tum Stilly Bloomale resident. I'm going to try and state the obvious. I have here's a concern. You have a debate. There's a lot of people showing up. Democratic society. I think [clears throat] you need to do a vote. You can't make the decision yourself. You need to do a vote. [applause] The community wants to speak, wants to be heard. You can't make the decision. Another obvious for me. You're telling me, or at least the way I understand it, you're going to put a four-year-old on a bus with a 16-year-old. Fouryear-olds, in my opinion, are very impressionable. So, they're going to see somebody with a piercing. They're going to go home in the bathroom and try poking a hole in their nose to put an earring. They're going to see somebody vaping.
094They're going to go home and try smoking. That is not the impression you want to put on these little kids. You want them separated. You want to form good opinions, good values. Don't throw them together and make a mixed soup and expect it to taste good down the road. It's not going to happen. Thank you. [applause] It was quick, but it was real good. >> Hi there. Um, Jacqueline, Bloomingdale. I I know I'm sort of always on the save Bloomingdale because, you know, our local economy needs this school. Um, but I mean one big thing that I I've sort of never really told anyone is um I went to a Sable Valley school um elementary and then up into their junior high school um in seventh and eighth grade. I was bullied so badly that
095I I tried shrinking myself down to a fraction of what my you know by my I just I couldn't look anyone in the eye. I couldn't um speak. I I wouldn't raise my hand for anything. I I was definitely not the person I am today. Um, my family was very fortunate and at the time the tuition for Northwood wasn't that astronomical, but it was a lot back in 1992. Um, so I was able to go there until they raised the tuition um, going into my senior year, which is what led me here. Um, which I graduated from and one of my favorite teachers was sitting before me. Definitely most challenging. Um, but by the time I, you know, coming out of Northwood, I I had a ton of confidence, but I was really behind. Um,
096at Northwood, they had to basically start from scratch with me because I just I I was just in, you know, fight or flight mode, and it was it was terrifying. So, I I really hope that if there is a possible way to take a a little bit more time on this and pause it, I definitely understand all the pros and cons. um but some sort of study to make sure you know a plan that we can ensure that these kids aren't going to get hurt um you know mentally uh especially with the the pandemic I did sort of um have some people ask me about what's um you know developmental milestones that we've sort of misplaced in the the one or two years that this all went down and and there is there's there's actually
097a lot of kids that are very behind and to sort of even if we have the most perfect high school um that's so welcoming to these young kids, you know, are our kids actually ready for it to to take that challenge on? So, that's kind of one of my big worries. But I I really do appreciate you guys doing this and I I really hope that I can help in any way. I would love to volunteer to search out money to uh do the groundskeeping at Bloomingdale School to save costs. I we have enough businesses that we can we can help in some way, shape, or form. We all have business insurance. We can, you know, make sure that we're covered, you're covered. I I I know there's a lot of legal ties, but I
098mean, if there's anything we can do, I would definitely volunteer to ramrod of some kind of assistance for you. >> Thank you. [applause] Hello, my name is Shauna Manning and I am from Bloomingdale as well. I don't know if this is a stupid question, but has it ever been thought about maybe taking the seventh and eighth grade class instead of making them come to the high school, letting them go to Bloomingdale? I know like you said, Tori, it's like jumping through hoops and regulations and all that junk. My thing was, is the gym big enough? Is this, you know, the library this and that? But would that kind of be a possibility to keep moving to open, but now we're taking the middle schoolers, not necessarily playing them with the high schoolers quite yet mentality
099wise, but moving them there in that aspect. Again, I don't know if that's a stupid question, but it was just one of those things that I was inquiring. At least we have the school there, you know, they're not going and sitting with 11th through 12th graders or trying to sneak out at lunch like, you know, freshman and junior or sophomores try to do as it is. And that that's all I have. >> You know, one thing I would say about that in in some of the preliminary uh looks at the high school configuration, there's there's been some look at how we uh assign classrooms. >> And one of the views now is um that we would assign a section of a building to the seventh eighth grade. So rather than have everyone just jumbled up
100everywhere, the building would have to kind of separate if you will by location of grades and classrooms. Yeah, >> it's >> I figured that but unfortunately come knowing high school pretty well. It's circle. I mean there >> it is. And like had figured, [clears throat] you know, here you guys can't do that because Jim is way over here. The cafeteria is over here >> kind of thing. Just because I have a sixth grader going to seventh and he's like this tall and looks like he's in fourth grade. >> So I don't need him hanging out with a bunch of >> the high school seems huge to people from our community. We're really a small high school for most places which I thought was an advantage. >> And one of the most common comments I hear
101from alumni that come back is, "Boy, the building seems so much bigger when I was here." >> We aren't lucky yet. Even though comparatively um patrol elementary is bigger than than Bloomingdale and then of course the high school's bigger than you know their their classrooms elsewhere, but in our district we are really small. So we do really retain [clears throat] a lot of the small school benefits parent. So >> all right. So my next thing then leading if we do take the subsurers over here who utilizes the middle school gym now middle school gym the gym at Petrova because I know being a coach for the district you know which I love my middle schoolers they would always just be get school and come down to the gym. Now they'll be at the high school.
102So do they get to just stay at the high school and you make the high schoolers go over there? Has that been kind of talked about at all? Because I know like baseball it'd be easy because JB and varsity is at pova so it doesn't matter they have to walk over but where does modified practice you know kind of one of those things. I don't know if that's been thought about. Maybe it's a question to think about. That's all I have. Thank you. >> Thank you. [applause] >> Anyone else? >> [clears throat] >> Hello, my name is Dale Gier. Um, my wife and I have lived in Bloomingdale since 1976. We've been paying taxes there the same amount of time. We have three daughters, all of which who went to Bloomingdale School and then graduated
103from Sarah Lake School. Every day that our kids went [clears throat] to Bloomingdale school, it was a happy day. Every time we graduated from Bloomingdale School and had door control, it was a sad day for us. Bloomingdale school was like a family. Anybody that's had kids there understand [clears throat] that they couldn't be in a more beautiful location to start with. they have get to look out the windows and see the views and sights that they have. So to take that away from them is a difficult thing for the kids and for the families. I have like I said three daughters that went to school there. I have one granddaughter that completed school in Bloomingdale is now at Petroa and I have a six-year-old grandson that's going to Bloomingdale right now in the first grade.
104Every day I get him off the school bus at 2:20 in the afternoon. By the time we walked from the bus to my house, Carter normally told me a story about something that happened on the school bus. Couple of days ago, he told me about there's a preschooler ridic with him. Some older child was what he called bullying him. So he six years old took it upon himself to take the preschooler and move him to a different seat away from that. And as Ray mentioned, I can't help but think that next year when I get him off the school bus, the stories that he'll be telling me is going to be a lot different than the one he tells me now. He tells me one just about every day. I'm just very afraid that those
105stories are going to change. And being the greatest country in the world, I find it kind of shameful that the way that we can solve a problem is turn the lives up of hundreds of little kids because we can't afford to do a better job some other way. We have people, certain people in Albany right now that have a pipe dream about saving the planet, but to do that, you're going to have to close the school in the aderondex and and mess up the whole system for the whole school, kindergarten through 12th grade. And I just think it's a it's a shameful thing for us to have to say. Thank you. [applause] ANYONE ELSE? SO, one of the things uh you may may or may not know about me is I was a government teacher
106uh in the classroom for about 15 years and we often talk about me. Matter of fact, my students were required to attend government meetings as part of the course. Um, one of the things we've tried hard with this board of education is during our meetings and meetings as these is have respectful uh disagreement. We don't always agree on the board, but we try to do so in a respectful manner. And I want to tell you as an educational institution, the fact that we can come in an auditorium like this and have different viewpoints and do it respectfully is a great lesson for our children. So, I want to thank all of you tonight for speaking your mind, but doing it in a very courteous way. We're going to try to return that favor by doing
107any decisions we make [clears throat] in our public meetings and do it courteously. So, thank you for coming tonight. Thank you for speaking your mind. It's important to us to hear you. None of us like being at this table having to make these decisions. And this is just one of the decisions that we're faced with um that it's coming our way. So, we're not happy about it. Well, we are happy you came here tonight and you were gracious with the way you spoke to us and the information you brought to us and even when things were differing or we were, you know, debating some numbers, we did so respectfully and that's important lesson of our children that they see us behave this way on important issues. So, thank you for that. At this time, I'd
108like to ask if there's anyone at the board that would like to address our items or have anything they like to say at this time. Correct. >> Yeah. So, we've asked you to stand. So, I'm going to stand first of all so that I offer you the same respect that we've asked that you give us. And I'm also going to I'm going to read this letter so that I don't wing it. Um, but I'm also standing because I want to say that what I'm going to say here is my own opinion. Um, but there's been a lot of things said. There's been a lot of uh communication on Facebook, on newspaper. Um my poor husband has been accosted. I don't know by how many people he didn't run for the school board. I did. So
109um if you can bear with me, um I'm putting this out now because I want to have the week between now and the vote. As I've said to everybody, as I've said online, as I've said to strangers, as I've said to friends, call me, email me. I am reading all these letters and I will continue. But if you'll bear with me, in New York State, being a trustee of the school board is an elected position. Yes, it's a volunteer in fact that we don't get paid. Contrary to common misconception, it is illegal to pay a schoolboard member in New York State for their time. That being said, I serve on the board of education for one reason. Children. I am compelled to improve the lives of children through education. Children. That's what we're all here
110for, right? All of the children that call Sarin Lake Central School District home. Right now, through no fault of anyone in this room, enrollment is down drastically. Birth rates continue to fall, and people are moving away from the area in droves. Expenses like food, electricity, heat, and insurance are going up. And those those costs don't care if you're single, if you're a family trying to get by, or if you're an entire school district. The geographical size of the district is not going to go down at 640 square miles roughly. We are the largest geographical school district in the coldest region in the largest protected state park in the country in rural upstate New York. Those expenses, they're not going to go down anytime soon. Definitely not here in Water Park. I was going to wait
111until my daughter graduated to run for the board of education. This election would mean time waste of her, my family, my paying job. But my daughter asked me this, and I'll cry. I apologize. What about the kids that don't have somebody fighting for them? To the parents of the Bloomingdale students, thank you for fighting for your kids. Thank you for showing up. I hear and I respect you. My job, the job the people of the entire school district elected me for is to fight for all the children of the district. I have considered and studied every issue that has faced the district for four years. Some on the board would say my work on the state level has kind of dragged us into considering broader issues that face the district. I have even been called
112a truffle hog, a moniker that I now embrace for my ability to dig out problems and bring them to light. I have run for the board of election I have run for the election to the board of education three times in four years. I have finished two other people's terms and I finally got a term of my own. I did not run for one election on one issue and then give up. I ran for the board of education because I was frustrated with the district, specifically special education and how kids with special needs were treated. Beyond that, I ran because I consider education in all its forms to be paramount to lifelong success in everything. And yes, I mean financial success, jobs, and work. But I also mean being a successful human being. Being kind
113and being honest, hardworking, and civically minded are all learned characteristics. If that's not what the board of education's ultimate goal is, then I don't know what is. You elected me to do a job and I have been taking that job very seriously. When I started my service, I jumped in with both feet. I had gone to training across the state, Washington DC. I studied New York State Education Department regulations, New York State and federal law, and consumed everything that I could find about educating children, particularly in a rural school district. I've learned to negotiate union contracts and navigate the complexities of the civil service system that so many of our district employees work under. curriculum, athletics, food services, transportation, large building maintenance, New York State poverty tax law, foundation aid funding. I can go on,
114but I won't. What I will say is that all these factors are interdependent on one another. They form the unique living organism that is Sarin Lake Central School District. I am four years in and I will tell you there is so much more that I don't know. It is sometimes overwhelming. The one thing that I know is that every single day I wake up and I remember that all this work, all of this sleepless nights is for my 984 children. To the parents and community members that have written letters, shown up at public hearings and public board of education meetings, and advocated for your children, I respect you. I appreciate you. I thank you. Standing in front of a large group while being live streamed for the whole world to see is intimidating. Trying to
115express your opinions and beliefs is not easy. I have read every letter you have sent and read them over and over to make sure that I don't miss a detail you have expressed. My heart breaks for you and your children. The people of Sarin greatate school district elected me to educate and advocate for all children in the district. Somewhere along the way, equity has become a dirty word with divisive connotations. The Cambridge dictionary defines equity as the situation in which everyone is treated fairly according to their needs and in no group gets special treatment. In recent years, the elementary school situation in the district has not been equitable due to budget constraints, the format of state funding, and IED regulations. Sarin Lake Central School cannot afford to have complete contingents of special educators in each
116building. That would be three separate sets. Some positions haven't been filled simply because there are no candidates in the area to fill. So if a child attending Bloomingdale school needed significant help of special educators, they would have to be transferred to patrol. If my family lived next door to Bloomingdale school instead of in Sarin, my own daughter would not have been able to go there because she's dyslexic and needed the help of reading specialists. The reality is the classes in Bloomingdale have fewer kids with special needs in them and the level of the need of those children is significantly less. That also means that the classes in Petrova have more kids with special needs and the level of need of those kids is higher. That's not equitable. All of the students of the Sarin Lake
117Central School District should have equal access to special education services. All of the students of the Sarin Lake Central School District should have equal access to their teachers time and their efforts. We do not have the luxury of waiting. We do not have the luxury of more time. We do not have the luxury of putting this decision off to another board of education. Although I would like to decreasing enrollment put and [clears throat] decreasing enrollment and the possibility of closing Bloomingdale has been on this district's docket on agendas and in many meetings and in minutes since 2017. For the last three years, this decision has loomed over this board like a storm cloud. Month after month, chunks of dismal information dropping like hail. We've gathered data. We've researched options. We've sought advice from experts and
118tried to anticipate the outcome of every possible choice. But our findings have been rare. Per New York State Education Law 402-A, the ultimate decision is quote at the sole discretion of the board of education. End quote. We chose to establish the facility usage committee in hopes that they would come up with an alternative that we couldn't find, something out of the box, something unique. People have talked about the fact that a decision was already made. A decision was never already made. We're just running out of options. That's why we started the facilities. In the end, we failed and the facilities usage committee failed to come up with that out-of- box idea that we keep doing. Yes, this is about money. I would be lying if I said it wasn't. But more importantly, this is about
119equity. Equity is not a dirty word. Consolidating Bloomingdale Elementary and Petroa Elementary evens the playing field for all elementary students of the Sarin Lake district. moving seventh grade, seventh and eighth grades to the high school and keeping sixth grade when the elementary school lines up with the New York State teaching productions. Again, this would help even the playing field for all students and allow easy access to grade and topic certified teachers, special educators, playing fields, libraries, and one another and one another. Our kids will be together as a family from kindergarten to graduation. All our kids. Those of you who know me will tell you I have a say. I would rather get in trouble for telling the truth than for telling a lie. I dare say that the superintendent and the rest of my
120colleagues will say that I am honest, often verbally, where it comes to the welfare of my children. all 984 of them. I won't apologize. So, here we go. And again, this is me, not the rest of the world. Is a child that attends [clears throat] Bloomingdale more deserving than a child of the trouble? Is a child that attends Bloomingdale more important than a child that attends trouble? To use the words that have been expressed to us repeatedly over the last few months, is the child that attends Bloomingdale, the gem of a school, and receives a private school education at a public school price. more worthy than the child that attends control. That's what we're talking about. I will do what is hard too hard and which is unpopular because my experience being a lifelong resident,
121my knowledge of the intric intricacies of the entire Sarin Lake Central School District and my sworn duty to uphold Nice regulations in state and federal law. That is why I I know my vote unless something changes in the next week. [clears throat] Thank you for your time. >> Anyone else at the board addresses public comments? >> I can't say anything. >> That's no else in the board. Okay. Thank you for coming. We are