001Okay, we're going to call the public hearing to order. This is the review policy 5695 students [Music] and personal electronic devices. Is there any member of the public address board on the student and personal electronic devices? a board member would like to speak out on the policy. Nancy, looking right at me. Um, well, I was looking at I know this is an completely revamped policy because of the state law. Um, but I was looking at the old one and the old one talks about all kind, you know, more electronic devices that internet than that's only internet enabled personal devices. This one really is the internet enabled policy. So I wondered what are we are we going to keep some policy about like what about a flip phone that but it still would be internet enabled
002and a flip phone a flip phone still they don't real but not all of them do. Yeah. And what about what about I don't know music only devices or headphones and earbuds listen recording devices fitness trackers GPS I don't know is that in this actual cell phone policy or is there another one electronic is there another so that was in our old 5695 um but this one really only deals with internet connected devices and that kind of thing. Headphones, those are all covered under the handbooks for the individual buildings. Okay, I did make but but Nancy, I did make two changes that were asked for by the policy. I made a where it says exceptions for specific purposes right at the bottom of the first page. You could just open that up. I did add
003a fourth bullet which I think is simple but it does answer some concerns. Emergency communication is directed by a staff member. I always felt like that if if tell me if I'm off base, but I felt like that's what we were talking about. If sometimes there is a need to make contact or the bus driver or the coach or the whomever said, "Hey, take out your phones and come home. Let them know." that becomes one of the exceptions. And then I added the uh annual report under the enforcement consequences of reporting. The last paragraph adds the the requirement to put this on the website to So those are two changes from our last uh policy committee. Where was the second one? So I can if you look down to the enforcement consequences and reporting section
004those and the very last paragraph says beginning September 1st. Okay, that's okay. Those are the two additions to this policy from last time we discussed. Well, that's that's helpful for but still doesn't I I just So you think that non internet are cancer? That's good. They do. Um and then You know, I just want to I know there was some discussion that I overheard during the policy committee meeting about transportation. I just want to acknowledge that some kids in our district do spend a long time on the bus and my child was not one of the longest ones on the bus, but he spent a lot of time on the bus. He did not have an internet enabled phone, so he managed all those years. But um it is it is a long time and
005it's not I know we're looking for equity and just consider that not all kids are on there for you know hour and a half plus in the morning and the afternoon and it's it's great time to read a book or do your homework kids are able to do that but you know just want to acknowledge I don't actually I'm not pushing to change I think oh and And I did have another comment on the second page where it says student up near the top. Students may also be permitted to use electronic devices for the instructional purposes if and the teacher and or administrator approves the activity. I think it needs an and there. I'm wondering if it needs an and there and students without devices are provided with equal access as opposed to one or
006the other. Oh yeah. Does that kind of what we I think we need. So I just Yeah. That's all. So, I think it's it's a good policy. I think I know we're already kind of doing it, but I think it's what's interesting is you read reports around the state of schools that are struggling with this right now and there's a lot of controversy. I think this speaks highly of our local administration team. They were on this forum was mandated to us. So, for most of our students, staff, very little change. You agree with that, Josh? Do you want to speak to how the enforcement has gone under our system policy? There was a article I think right after spring break and uh I reported that after break there is an increase of cell phone usage
007because I feel like some kids are on their phones a lot during breaks. Um and so I just feel like these guys we got to crack down more immediately after breaks and just make sure that we're enforcing policy. But I think it's it's gone extremely well. Our staff is um all on the same page and you see us a real difference in our student behavior and just that heads up in the hallways. Um just just all positive. Sorry. Anyone else want to weigh in on the policy? Um, I'm just gonna, as I've said before, I have an intention to, um, regular bus. Um, I think one of the things that personally that we need to do is work on when's the appropriate times to use your cell phone. Um, and I personally would rather have
008a phone than then when you get home, be ready for homework. And that's just my personal opinion. My question would be is the state regulations they address on the transportation piece about the state. I'll just chime in. I think D and I talked about this. There is a little uptick in inappropriate usage on the bus videoing Snapchatting. I mean, it's not all bad, but I think there is it's hard for the bus driver to be driving the bus and then, you know, worrying about people videoing. I just I think having a a policy that says that we're saying we don't want kids using the phones on the bus is a good kind of like middle of the road. And then I think what Dian said, if kids need to use their phone for any reason,
009then they would ask you to do that. But I just think there is there is problems with kids videoing other kids in the bus. It's it's not good. And I think it's important too because we're busing both season back. Correct. That's not necessarily in the bell that's kind of in the bellto bell system. Right. Transportation we allow the bus. I mean, one this I think Diana's request came from transportation staff. We struggle we struggle with transportation staff and it is making their jobs a little easier. It probably be a good idea. Plus, yeah, I mean, first time a kid does a Tik Tok challenge that involves bringing a kid on the bus, who knows what it is, and then that kid gets recorded, their parents are going to be that their kid was on the
010internet. like there's no 100% best way but caring towards not using them on the bus unless the adult says yes there's emergency relief sports a year and going everywhere for games would it be appropriate to say to your team Okay, we're within uh half hour of being home. Go ahead and text your parents. We're almost there. Is that good or bad? That'd be great. I think it's good. As opposed to They're going to do it anyways, right? But at the direction of the coach, here's your window. Call or text your parents down. You got 10 minutes, then it's off. The luxury of us living here is going to Platsburg, there's no service from here to to uh Sarinac anyways and then going towards uh Malone area there's no there's no service from Paul Smith College
011to you know who knows. So I think but if you were coming back from a cross kit and you hit false miss is that appropriate? I'm I'm only asking because it is it is as a guy that Yeah. Because you want to make sure the parents are I had a relationship with one thing I don't have to do as a coach now is get back from the school, let a kid call from the office and wait 45 minutes for mom to show up. I think too like coaches should be encouraging kids not to be on their phones before a game anyway. you know, like coaching just trying to get them to have not, you know, not screen time for a sporting event. This is a practice, but I think I think you're right. I think
012it's appropriate for them to communicate for for rides and communication. Would it make sense? Okay, I'm not on here. Somebody please speak up. But would it make sense to have the coaches all follow the same kind of directive through forest? Would it make sense to just do it or should we talk about this at our sports meetings? Listen, there's no using the phone, but there will be a 10-minute window the coach will direct to notify you there on the way because that's one of the biggest things I'm hearing from parents. What do you mean? My kids can't call me the school. Oh, no. So, this conversation, the transportation language says these expectations also apply to school provided transportation. Students must keep their personal devices silenced and stored in their backpacks while riding to and from
013school. And I think this addresses your discussion. It says staff may restrict device usage during other times when on district transportation, field trips, extracurricular sports, etc. So yeah. So, I think we've addressed Perfect. I know that when Eric and I get back from a field trip and stuff, we look more full of times that times 5,000. Yes. Well, especially in the long travels cross and ta road like they get the text in Lake or Lake or the ones going further, you know, they're going to Rochester or they're going to Staten Island or the, you know, trips that go to over, you know, another country. I mean, like, you know, we got to be got question answered. Any other uh comments on the policy tonight just to read? Correct. Thank you. Dave, do you have anything
014you want to add participation? No, sports trips aren't really our issue. Our issue is bored kids after school, like they have an hour ride or whatever, they'll start videoing. That's the problem. The phone use calling their parents, whatever, isn't a big deal. But we can't we can't stop bandwidth. You can't see them. Even if you put the policy in place, they're behind a seat that tall. You're not going to see them. And most time it's not a problem. If they start doing Tik Tok videos, then they're all up and moving around the bus and somebody's mad. they're coming up and then they're telling their parents that this person videoed them. The the internet is the problem. Not that the the phone itself isn't the issue. Lot that keeps a lot of kids quiet, you know,
015keeps them calm. But when they start doing videos and taking pictures of kids who don't want their pictures taken, right? That's where the issue comes in. And we have to ask policy stay. The sports trips aren't really an issue for what I've heard anyways because they're all like-minded. I say likeminded. They're all doing the same thing. So, a lot of their friends are there with them already. And there's another adult in the box. Good point. Need a parent scrambler on the buses. Believe it or not, we looked into that when I was actually illegal. Oh, okay. Put the colon of silence over the school. They already think we do anyways. Yes. Okay. Um, so let's wrap up the public hearing and we'll uh take this up for approval. So let's call the Wednesday, July 2nd,
0162025 uh school board meeting orization meeting politics to order. Stand force to the flag of the United States of America and to the republic for which it stands. One nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all. Okay, I'm going to turn the uh meeting over to the board clerk. Okay. So, first what we'll do is the election of the president and vice president of the board. In front of you, you have two small pieces of paper. I think uh what we should do first is call for office. [Music] Oh, yes. Y office even though Zach's not here. So Mark, here's your Oval Office. It's in your folder. Sign it already. So everybody's oath of office is going to read the same. So I'm going to ring it once so that we're not sitting
017here. and hearing this medical event. I do solemnly swear or affirm that I will support the Constitution of the United States and the Constitution of the State of New York and that I will faithfully discharge the duties of the school of the office of school board member of the Fair Lake School District according to the best of my ability. And then they sign it. They put their address, the date, and then I sign off on it as well, verifying that they actually did it. So, got marks. We won't do Zach's obviously because he's not here. And then we call for nominations for presidents. So we have a nomination for president. Mark second. Anything else? Okay. I don't think we have to vote on that one. must be too great. Okay. So, feel like a president,
018please, and hand them into me into my little cup. [Music] I got good Change not Mickey Mouse in there. Oh my god. Okay. Going. Got two, four, five, and one. He needs a Wi-Fi password. the dome of silence. Congratulations to the president of Thank you. [Applause] Okay. So now, yes, Douglas. Now I'm going to call for nominations for vice president. Anyone else? Okay. So then fill out your little tickies for vice president, please. multitask. Anyone else? Thank you. Okay, Nancy, congratulations. You are the best. Okay. And you will have your vice president here in a moment and superintendent is down there in your folder as well. Um, thank you all for your willingness to serve the district and I'll turn it over to the president. Okay. Next item is the agenda accepted. Motion, please. Second.
019Any discussion on the agenda? All in favor? I I any opposed the agenda is approved. The next item is the consent agenda resolution number 00125 consent agenda item motion right second. Yes. Any discussion? I just have one comment on the um extra pay and substitute rate schedule for the extended school year. Teacher line should say teachers and nurse. It's just for the extended school year. It's called changes on the document. It's got an a section for the extended school year teacher teacher assistance and classrooms and it should also have the nurse on the teacher line teachers and nurses. section C26. Okay. I'm sorry I can't it's item C 25.6 school year authorization 504 compliance officer. We move to executive session. Anything else on the consent agenda? All in favor? I. Any opposed? Consent agenda is
020approved. One change. Okay, that brings us now to Yeah. Let's come back to Zach. I'm so sorry. So you can vote so you're fully aware of what you're in for. I do solemnly swear to or affirm that I will support the Constitution of the United States and Constitution of the State of America duties of the office of the school board member of the Sarin League Central School District according to the best of my ability. I do. It's in your folder. So if you mind and got it. Okay. Moving on to financials. Budgetary transfer report. Um being that it's in the second day, we won't have any transfers yet to report. Um but I did save the budget status report on the drive for So this resolution is not will that cause us to reorder all
021the rest? Or you can let's just approve no changes. Let's do that. Resolution number 002 2025 authorizing the approval of the budgetary transfer report as presented by district executive motion. Second any discussion of no money being spent. All in favor? I opposed resolutions approved. The only other comment I have is that um as with previous we're closing out 2425. So one final budget transfer request after everything is complete. Anything else that moves us to public comments? We have any members of the public would like to comment. Thank you. New business. So number one uh resolution numbers in the free 2025 is we must approve meal prices for the upcoming year for students. We are still a community eligibility provision so there's no cost for students. The adult calls for breakfast moved to $3 and lunch.
022Okay. Can I get a motion for 003 2025? Second. Any discussion? What was the price for? Oh, 490 cents. All those in favor? I any opposed? Resolution's approved. Next is resolution 004 um to approve and follow the policies. The first one is 5300 and it's all parts. So there's 5300 for one, two, three. But that has been up and now for well over 30 days. We've had every we've had public hearing. Um so that's ready for approval I hope tonight. Uh and the second one is extreme heat commission days 81. Second. Any discussion? I will mention that I did people had asked whether or not Douglas had reviewed it and so yes it has been reviewed by honey and thank you. All those in favor I I. Any opposed? The resolution is adopted. Three is
023our policies for yearly review of readoption student attendance investment and purchasing. There's been no changes this year last year. It's resolution 05. Motion. Second. Any further discussion? All those in favor? I oppose. Resolution is approved. You have a second sheet because I apologize I missed this. That is uh for should be the first reading of policy 5695 students and personal electronic devices. Uh we worked on that as a policy committee at the last meeting last week. It has been out since the 16th of June for public comment. So it will come back for a second reading at our meeting on July 16th. still open for public comment if anyone would like to weigh in. Okay, moving on to resolution 006 2025 setting of 25 committee on it. Any questions on that? Well, first of all,
024let's get a motion. Joe, any discussion? Are we going to do it? Does anybody want to change? That's where I am. I'm good with where I am. I'm good where I'm at. Well, there facilities utiliz our new committee. I know, but is it on here? No, we'll probably discuss. Yes. Well, but no, but the board. Yes, there is number that's not on. Strangely enough, everybody's here this year. Nobody wants to uh get assigned. Anyone else want to weigh in? contact. Yeah, review your contact info and get that to uh Tina and she will make sure we have the most recent contact and I'm happy to stay with everything that I've been on, you know, unless people like that. interesting facts. The board does have a lot of high turn off, right? Yeah. My eyes work
025with their signs. Okay. So, it's uh let's see. So, all those in favor? I oppose. Okay. Well, I I guess I'm sorry. On this list on the agenda, it mentions the facilities, but we didn't address it. So, maybe that's going to wait until I put TBD down because we'll be discussing it next meeting. Perfect. That's up to all of you. But it seemed like everybody was keeping what they had. We'll just address that when we have that's right. Okay, next on the agenda is um resolution 00725. Um that's our board of education meeting dates. You have those meeting dates with you. We looked at it last time. I said change. Okay. Get that in a second. Thank you. Second. Um if you had any concerns, bring it up with this meeting. Do you know what
026are the changes? There's one change that you'll notice is a Thursday, September 25th, and that is because it is 2022. That was the only change from last week. And as always, you know, we have been able to add or delete as you send these out. Okay. All all those in favor motion to get that on the table. We started discussing jump. Resolution number 007 2025 authorizing the center of school board education meeting dates 2526 motion second any further discussion all those in favor I any opposed is approved looks like the uh staff is up for them is that correct that's correct just willing Okay, we are in need of an executive session. I get a motion for that, please. Oh, you know what? Let me read that. Well, it's good to see everybody. Oh, we
027should do Thank you. We should do our report. We should skip. Oh, yeah. Okay. Um, so Nancy, anything from you? It was a wonderful graduation. Great last week. Justin appreciated the 21st century and all the awesome stuff. Thank you, Joe. Zach, nothing to report. Tori, um over the last year, particularly in the last two months, um community members, faculty, and staff concerns about um the special education department. Um and in speaking with Douglas and Mark and his blog, what what are our options? I'd like to request that we consider um an external audit of our special education department to make sure that we are in fact in compliance. Um hopefully my concerns are groundless, but I would rather heir on the side of the side of so asking the board to consider. Okay. Would you
028weigh in on what those look like? I know he's there before, but it's been a while. What was that process like? So we did one on our first arrive and the process can be a little different depending on what you would be looking for. Uh so we did one with an outside organization on Albany. They came in they looked at what we were offering were we offering the continuum. You're required to offer the continuum based on the students that you have. Um and they looked at IEPs and how they were written. picked it up cross-section of those. Um, that really was what we spent a lot of time on was were we were our students properly placed in the programs that were appropriate for them and were the IEPs compliant. I will say since that
029time the state reporting has become much more significant. So a lot of what they do is as far as IP review is stuff we have to do every year through state past years that they audit or do they do what is current? Uh so a little bit of both. It's funny I just got some information back. We were just cleared for 2122 for standard 14 or whatever it was. So, so some of it's kind of immediate. They asked to look at it. Uh, and some of it they're playing catchup from past years. It's a bit of a mix. And I'm sure we could have our audit focus on whatever we wanted our audit. So, who does who does audit? We hire a third party consultant. So, there's some auditors out there that uh I haven't
030looked for one in a long time. When I looked for it, there was a there was a third party that came in and did. Do you happen to remember? So, when you first started, we're talking over a decade ago. What what the cost was? I do not know. I don't remember that. There's multiple options. One includes going through I apologize. going through OC's um as part of OSI services. had um was actually passing along um some options just because he did have districts that had done it recently just kind of um and what um like instead and and what is it Tori because I've not had anyone anyone who's spoken to you has not come to my desk that I'm aware of. So my main concern is compliance with IEPs. Uh compliance with IEPs, excuse
031me, compliance with IEPs. Um and when parents have concerns about potential special placements uh getting established in the process that we are in fact following our procedures um um uniformly across the district with a parent as a concern with an educator as a concern about a child potentially needing services. Um there seems to be some confusion um of how to go about doing that. Um and then in general the um if it's process issues uh the largest most significant complaints that I have gotten have been about compliance with um and complaints with um CSE meeting procedure and complying with those timelines that our state, excuse me, our state, uh to give an example of letters arriving for spring meetings um where a parent wants to be present parents two days that um personally I am
032self-employed so I can make that happen two days. We also had some parents ask for advocates um which is their legal right and the student's legal right but they are not getting those um when the letter is received two days prior to the meeting and the parent requests that day applicant multiple times I've been told they were not parent it's too late so I think it's compliance with the procedure I'm not sure the exact term I'm looking for but procedure around how are we doing this? How are we getting the kids? Um especially we all know I have no problem digging through policy. We have a lot of parents that don't have that kind of background and I want to make sure that our parents feel comfortable um and are getting all of the resources.
033Yes, we're giving them the piece of paper that I've got for 11 years and I have to tell you it every year. it is incredibly confusing. So, I just want to make sure that we're crossing our tees and dotting our eyes the way that they should be. And hopefully my concerns are completely unfound, excuse me, unfounded. Um, but I live from another era of caution considering we're talking about our highest needs kids and we're talking about a time in history where uh there are going to be cutbacks and um at the state and federal level and we will make sure that okay so procedurally what we need to do is a motion and second got a vote if we want to annotate this. Let's get the motion. Finish up any discussion. Is this something we
034do during I mean like is this something that should be on the agenda next time or is this something we can do right now during Okay, question is let's do a motion to get this out. Can I get a motion um for compliance with you? I make motion. You can. I would like second. I'll second it. Although I'm not really sure discuss now it's open for discussion. So my question Tori and Corre. I think I heard you say that you had parents and staff come to you with these concerns. Is that right? So I want us to be transparent but I also have questions that we can't discuss staff in public. So part of this discussion we need to be an executive because I am if a parent came to us and said parent comes
035to me and says my kids being bullied in the middle school my first response is going to be talk to and then if you don't get satisfaction from Amy talk to Diane no satisfaction there then you come to the board so parents are circumventing that and coming to you directly it's great they trust you but that is not following procedure and that for staff doing it. I don't want I'm not asking you to name names. I can I can address both those concerns. Those are completely legitimate concerns and all of these parents and staff. I want to emphasize that I have encouraged to um go through the chain of command building u the teacher itself work through the system building administrators. Um, right now I have a dozen families and two educators that are willing
036to come forward if they have assurances from the board of protection for retaliation. And I would like to say that retaliation is not something that's happened in the district. Um, Douglas and I spoke about this and he doesn't believe it happens in the district. I myself have personally had it happen and my daughters had it personally happened and I've spoken to you know that it has happened and we reach a point where yes we want them you have to come forward. My daughter asked me specifically to sorry back off. Let's No, this is what I'm saying is parents want to come forward, but they're afraid to come forward. But we're in this Well, we're not going to help you unless you come forward. But if they don't, it's this awful catch 22 where an audit
037would provide us someone from the outside looking in. outside looking in that would take that um that would take that interpersonal in the district out of it and look more at are you in fact is your child in fact getting you getting the accommodations if you have 10 accommodations your child's IEP and they're in fact getting six um it takes the personal That's why I'm asking for Okay. But some of the things that that you're discussing seem to me that the auditor would want to talk to those people that have these complaints. Is that correct? That is correct. And my understanding my understanding of the process is that one of the things that can be done is that um they will reach out for uh either through survey or um I don't know the exact
038steps. It depends on the auditor, but they will reach out to parents directly as opposed to someone from the district doing so looking for more honest answers because it's out of the district. Question that I have and I don't know the answer. This is why I'm asking. So if they reached out to some people that um would like to make their feelings known, is that anonymous going to the auditor or would the board be getting that information from those people? Anyways, I don't know the answer. My hope is seem to me that if in fact the board is entitled to know who's making the complaints then adding an auditor when these people could just tell us. So, one of my um one of my contacts for those posted um and one of the contacts that
039I've spoken to who has been involved for exterior external audit before has said that when families know that they are not alone that there is multiple of them. Um it is the sad fact of this world that there's strength in other that is what would happen. I know that is the other question. What's a somebody who knows the answer to this? What's the typical process with how the IEP or file is being operationaliz? What's the traditional route? Because I can call meeting but a parent can request an IEP meeting wherever they want for a legitimate reason. The IEP meeting IEP team will reconvene the parent and or their advocate explain the concern. The IEP team goes yep this is you're right with this right whatever that's like a parent can request the meeting. Now it
040doesn't always mean that request is honored but if they say I want to have a I want to convene the IP team and this is why then the IP team should get together. So, so and then what happens because I've sat in those meetings as a corner teacher like if there's people are unhappy because the mediation right is there a mediation process there's due process and you can have a hearing officer and the hearing officer would evaluate here's a concern and then it's essentially a judge yeah which is an external person right there's also mediation yeah which is an avenue we've had several take here I hear you, Tori. But we've had many I feel if I'm the parent of a special needs child. I'm going to do everything I can to make sure that
041my child is receiving the supports that are necessary to be successful in school. And sometimes what a parent believes that to be and what the school system believes that to be are not the same thing. um talk about all the time. It's just the perspective from the other side of the table. And there are many avenues that families have taken advantage of multiple times in this district while I've been there with mediation, with impartial hearings, never after one of those. Now, these are parents that have empowered themselves to take advantage of options that are out there for them. There's often legal support for them. Never has one of those families come back than to say that there was any retaliation on the part of the district towards the family or their child. So I just
042take offense to that. Um I realize you're talking a bigger picture. That has been something that has been lobbied at me personally since I got here 12 years ago. Don't go to Diane. And yet it's interesting that this summer I asked a staff member for possible change and the staff member said no to it and other people have said, "Well, couldn't you tell her to do it?" And my answer was yes. It's in my power to just tell her we're making this change. But I've never had retaliation actually be anything that anybody could talk about for 12 years. And this would look publicly like retaliation even though I think it would have been a good thing. So no, I'm not going to do it. So I also think there are some people who don't want
043to come forward for whatever reason. And the excuse is the retaliation at my level. I can't speak to any other level. I can only speak to mine. And that has never happened at my table to a staff member or to a family. And I would encourage you if you've got 12 or 14 people who are unhappy, I have not spoken to those 12 or 14 people. And so you have stopped me from being able to do my job by not coming in with them and sitting at the table or providing whatever they felt they needed because now they're upset going through you. But unfortunately, you as a board member can't can't really solve their problem. So you you and the family are stuck in this spot where you can't get resolution and by not coming
044to the table through the director of special ed and then for me they have not allowed the progress process to roll out and then if that process didn't roll out there will be avenues for that right correct if they were unhappy they came to the table including legal correct right this is your wheelhouse so I yeah I I I would say that Right. This is where we joined was right up saying you're on the board and there was something that happened around special ed that was legal and my issue with the audit or as it stands right now. So I'm not saying I don't believe you. What I'm saying is I want to see evidence. This is something that I this is my profession. I was a special ed teacher. I'm still licensed. I train
045people. I need to see evidence that something was done wrong. And I'm not saying I don't believe you. But if it's if there's all these families that are saying this, like they shouldn't be coming to me. They should be coming to Diane and or Suzanne. And I I know your point, but like I don't feel comfortable voting for an audit of our entire special program if I don't see evidence of doing it. And if they have these concerns, bring them forward the channels. And if and if you and then if they do that and they're shut down or or whatever happens, believe me, I'll be the first one with you saying we're not we're not going to blow them off. We're not going to retaliate all that. No one's going to do that. But like
046I just want some kind of documentation of what I'm doing. I mean, it's more than anything else. Special education is all about documentation. You know that. Show me the documentation. Show me where X happened that violated special law. That's I mean, I teach it. I know what it is. Um, sometimes parents get confused and the analogy I use is everyone thinks that fate free appropriate public education. Appropriate doesn't mean a Cadillac means a Chevy Cavalere. Like you don't get the Cadillac. Um, and sometimes parents think they're entitled to a Cadillac and they're not. There's not enough money for that. I'm not saying that's happening here. So, if there's evidence of wrongdoing, please bring that forward and I will be holding your hands through the gates saying, "Let's do this." But I just personally don't feel
047comfortable voting for an audit when I haven't seen any of this. It would seem to me that if you had some parents that went through that process and the auditor said, "Hey, you guys, you know, we're not really doing it the right way." That would be the trigger for the auditor, the mediator, whatever said, "No, you're in compliance." Okay. But if we're getting some some parent or staff complaints that are going through that process and the district is on the wrong side of that, that would seem to me again to be the trigger to look at everything special. I think going the audit first is a little backwards in my mind. I've said this before. If we're not doing something correct, I want to correct it. We're in violation of statutes. I want us to
048be in compliance. But I don't know that. Yeah, we need evidence, right? It's hard to make decisions without evidence. I don't think, you know, I'm appreciative of wanting to hold all of our staff accountable, but a a departmentwide audit without the impetus behind it, I think, is out of order. I'm not opposed to the audit. If if someone in the processes say it's warning, let's do it. Seems backwards. Also, what would it cost? would do it. We don't have any of that information. And typically when we hire auditors for things, it's a specific contract, right? Well, I think if we if we voted in the affirmative, it would be to gather that information or a second vote whether to do it or not. We probably don't believe the cost is effective if we need to
049determine that we need it. Yeah, that's right. We spend it because we need it. There's evidence cost is a factor determining whether or not correct. Yeah, I guess you know what I mean. Yeah, but what specifically we like there's no specifics around that. Usually when we approve these things a specific person Oh, no. I don't disagree with that. I'm just I don't think we need it. We need it. It's hard to know if we need it. Right. Evidence and maybe we do need it. Well, it sounds like there's there's folks that are on that for sure. It's hard to know the answer when the unhappy people don't speak. I understand the logic of that, but at some point you got to put your voice to the issue so that we can move forward. I think
050would be poor procedure to simply just say, "Well, we got some happy people. Let's just dig in. They've got to be heard. Hang on. It's hard. It's difficult. I would say this. If some folks or group of folks came forward and there was any appearance of uh retaliation, I would be very very disappointed. A and B, I think I'll be actionable by we've given audience. had specific concerns about specific issues before. We've invited them speak to us and to say here's my concern and that was done in privacy and so there is an avenue where they don't have to be public discussing either. So there's I just want these folks if they're out there to know there is avenues to to be heard and to Mike's point yeah the process matter but it won't be
051cheap but if it's necessary then it needs to be done but I can't vote to do an audit of our program if we don't have evidence. I guess my input is is I I'm not opposed to the concept of an audit. Um, I think for me it's more like I'd like this conversation to continue before it do a full yes or no vote on do we hire an auditor? Like we have an issue that Tor's brought forth. We're talking about it. It sounds like it's being a conversation. Do we put this on as an agenda item in the next meeting or something like and in the meantime maybe we can find some pricing options like gather a little bit more information. we just offered. Thank you, Justin. an all call for anybody to come in
052that we'll try and make time and give presence to um and just maybe keep the conversation going so that we can make a decision and even if that means to put some thresholds and levers in place like you're saying Mark of like if this then and we are more well informed so that if we say pull the lever we can we can I want to be clear we probably are not going to be entertaining a dozen or more people in an executive session to hear their grievances about their staff. We've always said that we wouldn't hear anything. So that's probably not good procedure, right? Yes, sir. There there is is a chain of command always. We have had a couple of parents who have specific issues that have come to the board and the board
053has given them the committee to speak but they've had to go through the road channels to get here and I do just caution the we'll throw the door open for you to come in. Yeah. Yeah. We want the right channels, right? We have to set precedents. So if the right channels are used, we should be open. That's all I'm saying. Yes. That's all I'm saying. They go to Yes. They go to the command. They don't get satisfaction. You're not saying that people should just jump right to the jump to line. You say open it up and say, "Hey, that was my right. There may be something out there that we don't know about that it here's your opportunity to go through the right channels to come to get to our and some of those channels
054are confidential letters to just board members right like there's an avenue for that I haven't seen anything from a parent I would love to read a letter from a parent that is only going to board members right like to the evidence point well but again I think part of the conversation that's productive is helping some of the families that might be listening 100% % to understand that we have multiple avenues above and beyond what even we need to do as important that we're trying to make those efforts you know so I think this is productive conversation in that regard to to your point Justin that let's if there's something there we want to do everything we can to encourage something to bubble up that we can then use to make decisions off Tori I'm not
055discounting what you have to say in chair it's more like Let's let's trust and verify and we're looking for help getting verification. So if someone's got it and if it works in the process, some of these may be resolved in the process. Correct. Would be I think would be our hope. You've had you've had lots of emails to Mark that are then shared with the board and this big issue that's concerned. Mark says go to this person, go to this principal or go to the superintendent. and we never hear about it or we ask dang what happened there take care like we get we get it was resolved so to point yeah a lot of times if they go through the channels it doesn't get to us because it was resolved but they don't feel
056like it was then our emails are out there you got to update yours or not right yeah yeah yeah no it's good never mind okay so we have a motion and a second on the table voting the vote would be to commission it on that's the that's the at this stage is there any further discussion so I be clear the motion on table is a commission an audit or special all in favor no oppos The motion is in that. Okay. Um off here. Um Mike, do you have anything? No. And um I just want to echo I think Nancy said I thought graduation very well. Everyone seems to be happy. Graduates are happy. I was struck by the small size of all the white chairs from the graduate. So good. I sat down with with
057with Bruce for a minute and I said, "Geez, remember when it was double that size really was a visual impact for me, but okay. So we are in need of an executive session under two items. Item E, collecting those negotiations pursuant to article 14 of the civil service law and item F, medical, financial credit or employment particular person corporation matters lead to appointment suspension dispensoration motion please second Mike all those in favor I any oppose we'll take a fivem minute journment uh for Um,