001Okay. Um, try this new mic tonight. All right. Good evening everybody. We'll call to order this um regular meeting of the um Sori Central School District School Board, October 14th, 2025. Um, emergency exits. We have one at the rear of the building, one at each side of the building. Um, Virginia, could you do roll call, please? Christine Bellarosa >> here. >> Emerson Hos >> here. >> Joe Gromoglia >> here. >> Robert Tolman >> here. >> Shakinai >> here. >> Carol Kelder >> here. >> Michael Meyer >> here. >> Jeffrey Azi >> here. >> Timothy Wells >> here. >> Adriana Argua >> here. >> Pledge of allegiance please. To the flag of the United States of America and to the republic for it stands one nation under God indivisible with liberty and justice for all. >>
002All right. >> Dr. Roarback, you want to read our mission and vision statements? >> Sure. We provide equitable, engaging, inspiring, and holistic experiences that support success and empowerment for students, families, and the community in a diverse and changing world. The vision statement, we are a beacon of educational excellence where every individual is inspired and able to achieve their fullest potential. >> Okay, thank you. Um B, just to clean up, we have approval of minutes um for our September 9th regular meeting and another regular meeting on September 29th. Can I have a motion to approve those minutes? >> So moved >> by Miss Keller, seconded by Mr. Wells. Any questions? All those in favor? >> I. >> Okay. Public recognition. This is we have um just so we're because the last time. So, we have two
003public recognitions on our agenda and we'll always have two. The first one is anybody who wants to get get up and discuss any topic. Um, everybody has three minutes. We ask you to be respectful. Um, please don't release information about a child or something that you would have gotten based on your position or things like that. The second public recognition is held for things that are on the agenda. So, as we've gone through the agenda, if somebody Well, >> it's the other way around way around. >> So, we want to talk about things that are on before >> the public can speak to things on the agenda. First, public recognition and then at the last one is it's open forum. >> Switch that. I always thought it was the other way around. This way, we're
004probably going to switch it because that actually doesn't make a lot of sense. Um, that we're going to talk about things before we talk about them on the agenda. Um cuz I always thought it was the thing on the budget where if we went through the budget thing and then people had things to discuss about the budget, we could do it at the end. But I stand corrected. Um so public recognition, first one, anything that's on the agenda? Nobody. Okay. All right. Miss Argua, our student representative report. Okay. Khill was happy to host fire prevention day with the Soverities Fire Department last Friday. Their ladder truck was a fa fan favorite. Tomorrow we will be participating in the big apple crunch, a fun event that supports local New York farms. Each student will receive a
005locally grown apple provided by the food services. We also have a PC meeting on Wednesday 600 p.m. in the Cahill cafeteria. On Friday, the PTA hosts the Cahill Trunk retreat 5:45 to 7:30 in the cow flop 115 Main Street. Ricardi students interested in running for student government ran campaigns and gave speeches to the student body. Congratulations to those who were elected. Some students will be recording a Ricardi theme song during music enrichment blocks. The support of Ricardi's music teacher, Mr. Hogan. Ricardi's trunk or treat is this Thursday at 6 p.m. The next Ricardi PTA meeting is Wednesday, November 12th at 6 p.m. Um, GDM student council off officer elections are tomorrow for Morris. We completed our one book, one school reading of a book called 10 students and some adults stayed after Friday to add
006some color and personality to the playground parking lot. will likely need two more sessions, but it is a great it is great to see the students vision coming to life. GDM next BTA meeting is Wednesday, October 15th at 6 p.m. and our next BLT meeting is Wednesday, October 29th at 3 p.m. Junior high student government elections took place last week. They are hosting a Brooks chicken barbecue fundraiser this Friday this Thursday from 4 to 7:00 p.m. Last minute orders will be taken tomorrow. We will be honoring our veterans on November 3rd with a breakfast and assembly. More details to come. Family members and staff who are veterans are encouraged to send pictures for our event slideshow where they will be honored. Junior High Science Olympiad ran a codebusters workshop today with Mr. Fineberg from IBM.
007They are hoping to attend more competitions this year. The fishing club and their next in their first excursion is back back creek behind the football field with adviser Mr. Amora. The junior high building leader leadership team meeting will be held on Thursday, October 30th from 3 to 4 p.m. in the junior high library. There will be a virtual link for both the senior and junior high. Tryyous for this year's musical have taken place and the cast announcement will be made soon. This year's musical is Alice by heart and adaptation of Alice in Wonderland set in the World War II era. We administration students and faculty are currently in the beginning stages of discussing and planning for a club fair career fair and elective fair. Parent parent teacher conferences are this Thursday from 5 to 8.
008Please contact the main office if you would like to schedule a conference. The junior high FCCLA meeting club will be hosting a crafts for kids station during the conferences for younger children/ siblings to attend while parents or guardians are in conferences. Mumball took for senior high mumball took place on Saturday October 4th. A wonderful tradition celebrating our strong sor community took place at halftime to crown the mum queen in her court. The varsity football team was victorious in this annual contest as they defeated Dover High School significantly. Later that evening, the Mum Ball or homecoming dance took place with just over 400 students in attendance. Many report a great night of music, dancing, and friendship. >> Thanks. >> All right. >> Thank you, Adriana. Um any questions of thing anything that um should the super
009>> All right, Dr. Roarback miscellaneous items. >> Yes, you can. I'm happy to get it away from me. >> Good evening. Tonight I want to speak directly to our students, our staff, and our community. These have been challenging times for our district. Change and uncertainty can bring feelings of unease, frustration, and even doubt. But in moments like these, I'm reminded of something powerful. The strength, heart, and resilience that define the Sawyer spirit. Despite what we might hear or read in the headlines on social media or through word of mouth, the truth of who we are lives in our classrooms, our hallways, and our community spaces. It lives in our students, in their creativity, their leadership, and kindness. To our Sawyer students, you are the reason why we are here. You are our why. You inspire
010us every single day with your innovations, your accomplishments, and your courage. This season alone, you've given us so much to celebrate. After 38 years, our golf team brought home the Mahal Championships. The mumble, a timehonored tradition that Adriana spoke of, reminds us how much pride and joy that brings us together with a beautiful weekend of connections. And our football team this season remains undefeated. Our cross country team hosted the Lombardo Invitational with excellence. And at Morse, our student council designed and painted new activity stations as an extension of the playground. turning an idea into something lasting for others. I attended the student board of education conference through NISBA and NISED with Adriana Arqueta, Mrs. Molino and Mr. Riyazi. And the promise of and potential of elevating student voice is truly exciting. These are not just
011achievements. They are acts of leadership. Sawyers, you are seen, you are heard, and you are deeply valued. To our teachers, leaders, and staff, you continue to amaze me. Your steady professionalism and drive to improve physical buildings, systems, instruction, or programming have been inspiring. No matter your role, whether you work directly with students or behind the scenes, your commitment to educating the whole child is unwavering. You've embraced new literacy assessments, expanded the plan pilot, launched innovative programs, refined small groupoup differentiated instruction, implemented equitable assessment practices such as students presentations of learning and deepened your own professional learning. You've raised the bar for what it means to be student focused and you've done it with care, professionalism, and courage. To our parents and community members, thank you for continuing to stand beside our schools. Please know this.
012the safety and well-being of every student and building trust is a process and takes time. We are committed to this process. One we will move through together with honest communication and transparency. And to our entire Sawyer community, students, teachers, staff, families, and community, thank you for your courage, your honesty, and your heart. Sawyer strength prevails in every classroom, every act of kindness, and every decision rooted in care. Together we will continue to take care of our students, take care of ourselves, and take care one of us one another because we are Sawyers. >> Thank you. All right. Um board member remarks. Um we'll start at this side today. Mr. Meyer. >> Nothing today. Thank you. Okay. Miss Bellarosa. >> Nothing either. Thank you. >> Nothing today. >> Okay, Mr. Tolman. >> Um, later on in
013the agenda, we're going to approve uh the retirement of Jerry Gardner. I just wanted to wish her well um in the future. I'd hate to see her go. Uh we've all worked with her for a number of years. Uh we share a love of classic cars together and she'll be missed, but I wish her good luck and congratulations to the golf team. It's good to see golf on the rise. >> Thank you. All right, Mr. Wells. Uh, >> don't have much to say, but I I'll kind of say what he said as well. Congratulations, Jerry. Um, the golf team's pretty that's pretty amazing. I saw it on Facebook. I didn't see it firsthand, but I do know a couple of the guys that are golfers. Um, the the trunk or treat. I know my daughter,
014she's she's in sixth grade, so she always looks forward to the trunk or treat and all of her friends running around. So, I'm sure I'll be bringing her on Thursday to trunk or treat and watching them all kind of have a good time and enjoy it. I I I love that PTA's put that together and I think it's a great thing for the kids. Uh as well, uh the fire prevention days, I like to thank all the uh the fire departments for coming in and doing that. Uh the volunteers that that that come in to kind of show the kids. Um once again, I my my daughter got to be a part of that and she she loved it. I mean, she came home with the sticker on her chest and has the hat and
015the whole nine. So, she she she absolutely loved it. So, I I I want to say thank you to them for that. Um and keep rolling with the football team. Undefeated. That's pretty amazing. I hope they they continue it and finish the season out uh undefeated as well. Thank you, >> Mr. Gromalia. >> Good evening, everyone. Um I just I want to thank Dr. G for your comments. I think that they were well timed and very well thought out and reflect a lot of what I think many of us at this table feel. Um, in particular, the comments related to student resilience really resonate with me. And as the mother of a 10th grader, I can tell you that as challenging as things seem, you know, an administrative level, frustrations with parents and information and
016so forth. What I'm seeing with the kids, and you know, my kids are social. They're they're out and about. They seem like the same old good, wellspirited, excited to come to school kids. And I think that that's a good reminder to us that kids are resilient and um they are finding a reason to want to come to school. Not every kid wants to go to school every day. I mean, let's face it, but generally and I and I really think that the teachers um and coaches deserve a lot of credit for that. And so I want to thank everyone for your part in making sure that the children are continuing to feel safe and welcomed. Um you know, it it seems like that's pretty consistently happening. Um, I also want to congratulate the golf team.
017Congratulations, golf team. And I just want to also um commend Katie and Christine for your leadership of the policy and audit committee meetings that we've had since the last board meeting. You're running excellent meetings and I hope that the public chooses to at least participate on Zoom if they don't choose to come. uh very very well prepared uh very well organized and I certainly appreciate all the public support and um input particularly the policy meeting but I love that audit meeting too >> nothing okay >> Dr. pass. >> Oh, great. >> Um, I also want to thank Christine for just providing a good model for minutes and um for the meeting sending out the audit committee meeting minutes and that prompted me to get on the policy minutes. Um, I want to just I know
018we're going to talk about policy a little bit later, but I just want to really um one of the things that was so great about the policy meeting was I mean I was prepared which certainly helps and um but Kristen Wilhelm uh transportation supervisor really just knocked it out of the park uh with the information that she brought to the meeting. And so the policy meeting is a place for us to discuss policy. It's not a place for the board to just put policy on the table, say, "Yep, good." Um, but for us to really bring up the things that policy, what are the implications of policy? What are the implications in the field? And um, we had uh, Mike Tiano was there and um, any and you know, so we had 22 people there
019and I really just want to thank everybody. I mean, it can make things a little challenging um, but is also the way it's supposed to happen. Um and so we'll talk a little bit more about that later. Um I also want to just thank um Dr. G for uh sort of your bravery for um I was at the district leadership team meeting. I was not able to stay for the whole thing. Um but it was great to hear sort of what pre people are proud of and I know that can um for some people it's like really we're going to go around and do this again. Um but also for other people it really really matters to hear everybody's voice and that when we're talking about trauma uh voice and choice are sort of the
020two sort of core core principles right because when somebody has experienced trauma they've been overwhelmed and have not had a voice or had not had choice in the matter and um I am going to just take the liberty to give everybody just a little um because in my other job uh we have been talking a thought about how we manage adverse circumstances, right? And so an adverse circumstance does not necessarily result in trauma. So what result the the ingredients that are left in there are sort of the individuals what they bring to it and then the support that they get. So, um, an adverse circumstance does not necessarily equal trauma and that all of us as individuals have a role in helping make sure that adverse circumstances do not become trauma by um really encouraging
021soothing neurotransmitters to come down to the amygdala in our brain. So, I'm going to give you just a very quick hand model of the brain. Um, I encourage you to look up Daniel Seagull online because he does a much better job and he's a neuroscientist. But if this is your brain and this is your brain stem, here's your lyic brain. It's the oldest brain. It's our reptilian brain. Fight, flight, freeze, uh, danger. This is your lyic system. We actually have two of them, but most people don't have two thumbs. So, we just And this is where our this is our mamalian brain. And this is about caring and connection and our emotional uh center. And that's where our emotions come from. And then this lovely thing is our cortex and it wraps around and this
022is the front of our brain. This is our prefrontal cortex. And so when we're upset or when we're very frightened or we get overwhelmed, we'll flip our lid, right? And this is a great thing to actually talk to kids about when they're having feelings and about their flipping their lid because what it does is it activates this part of the brain of symbolic representation of understanding what's happening when I'm having an emotion and being able to name that emotion. So the way we do that is by using the language parts of our brain and the symbolic parts of our brain and it shoots soothing neurotransmitters from here into our amydala and helps us calm down. Right? So we want to name it to tame it and we want to give people a way to talk
023about when difficult feelings are happening and as grown-ups particularly for babies and infants we provide that frontal cortex right as grown-ups. And so when we have very young children where this is not really super developed, we're doing that all the time. So being able to provide language, talk about the things that we're doing to if we have an upsetting event to be able to come back and repair and make a connection and activate that and bring our b brains back and our cortex back online. So I just want to offer that because I think that we are talking about a lot of things and this is not an easy job and so I encourage you all to sort of go and explore the hand model of the brain and think about your own brain and
024what you can do to shoot some new s soothing neurotransmitters down into your brain so that you can stay connected. That's it. >> All right. Thank you Dr. Hos. Um so I have a couple things. I had two things. is I'm going to add a third. Um, so we heard a lot about the golf team which won the Emma House and the football team is doing really good. I'm going to call out the girls cross country team, um, which is near and dear to my heart, the cross country. Um, we mentioned the Lombardo Invitational. Um, but just give you an idea of that event. There were 13 schools here um, to compete events. um schools like Walkill and Lords um schools as far away as Mawa, New Jersey. Um and um both of our girls
025teams, our girls varsity team and our girls freshman team both won the event. >> Um so a special call out to them. It was it was a great day. Raised some good money for the track uh track and field group. Um and the amount of turnout was fantastic. So um so I I'm put that in just to give them a little shout out. Um, and that's the first time any of our teams have ever won anything at the Lombardo event. So, um, really good. So, a couple of things for me. Um, one, um, update on the investigation. Um, so the investigation is not complete. Um, I actually had a teacher, um, email, because it's out there, email the investigator directly and say, "Have you finished your report?" um which I thought was interesting but that's
026okay. Um we have not um the investigator is complete with every with all the interviews. So everybody that was going to be interviewed was interviewed. Um the number I think the total number of interviews she completed was um she reached out to 40 people. She had 40 people on her list. Um 39 agreed to interview. Um, one thing she did share with us was that everyone who she talked to was extremely cooperative and forthcoming with information. Um, and also went off on some tangents of other things that they talked about which she's in the process of completing the documentation for that. The other component of the investigation, if everybody remembers, was um the component of the legal component with our secondary law, a new law firm just for the investigation, Gersio and Gersio out of
027Albany. um they are in the process of completing their piece. Um we are near the tail end as I have said all along I was not there was we as a board were not going to time box this thing and say it had to be done on this date. We are nearing the end. Um and when we have the report um and we've reviewed the report and the recommendations and things like that um and our lawyers have said here's what you can share and can't share. it will be made available to the public so people can stop emailing the investigator um and asking her if she's done. Um it was we have actually and we've been talking to her all along. Some of the recommendations that she discussed with us have already been started to
028be put in place by Dr. Roarback. Things like around HR um some of the some of the changes in how we were going to do HR and some of the policies and procedures and things like that. There was no reason to wait and and to do that. Um, we got started on that. So, if anybody has any questions on the investigation, whether that be a parent, a community member, a teacher, feel free to email me and I will let you know where we're at and what I can share with you. Um, they are in the process of compiling the components. Um, the main part of the investigation was around the incident with the wrestling coach. When we opened up the email to the investigator, a ton of other information came in that has to be
029compiled. Things people emailed her about things that happened 20 years ago. Um, so that is all but it's all being documented and gone through by the lawyers to make sure we capture everything. So that's number one. Number two, um, and this kind of goes on what some people here have talked about a little bit, and this is to our administrators and our staff. 12 or 13 weeks ago, we had an event at the senior center, and that's what I'm going to call it, an event. >> Thank you. >> Um, and since that day, it has basically been open season on our administrators and our teachers. It has been to the point where people have emailed us about a myriad of different topics. Some things, and we've mentioned this before, where we have certain duties as
030a board, but because we opened up communication and we said people email us about anything, it was kind of on us to make sure those things were were being taken care of or had been taken care of. So what I want to tell everybody is for the majority of things that came in and we went and looked at them, they were already fixed. Our staff did exactly what they were supposed to be doing. They were already done. Now, did the particular person who raised the issue get the exact answer they wanted? Maybe not. But our staff followed procedure, followed protocol and did what they had to do. The other thing and I have been remissed to not step up sooner on this is we have had a set of teachers or staff members I won't
031just say teachers who have taken in my opinion and this is my opinion not the other eight board members an unnecessary attack simply because of who they are related to or if they're related to one another to the point where some of them have and worrying that they're going to get a tap on the shoulder that they're going to get moved or moved out of a particular area. That's not going to happen. Okay, we are we have HR experts in that are looking at everything and doing thing. It's not about simply moving people around because who they're related to or who they happen to be married to. and people people wrote in with emails with no idea whether the people were doing a good job or doing what they should have been doing. Okay. So,
032I want to say thank you to our administrators, to all of our staff for the last 12 or 13 weeks for this onslaught for showing up to work every day and simply doing your jobs. Okay? So, thank you. Um, and thank you to everybody on that last piece that I mentioned that's had to deal with that. Okay. Um, we are going to look at things from an HR perspective. They are going to procedures, policies. We are not simply going to randomly move people around. That's not what we're here for. Okay. So, that's the last thing I wanted to say on that. All right. Okay. Moving on. Resignations. G. Um, we have resignations, leave of absences, and some appointments in here. Um, I know on one of the appointments, Kelloo, did you get the answer that
033you were looking for? >> We're not sure. >> Okay. All right. So, I'm going to do the resignation. So, as Mr. Tolman mentioned, this resignation, um, there's the old saying, these are tough shoes to fill. These shoes are impossible to fill. Um, the amount of institutional knowledge that is leaving with this lady is Right, Virginia? Yeah, >> because a lot of it's fallen on her. So, >> I wish I could have her brain. >> So, um I want to thank as as Mr. Toman did um the years of experience that Jerry has given to us and even agreed she was supposed to retire on September 30th. I asked her to extend it a month and because she is who she is, she graciously agreed to end it go at the end of October. So, um,
034we have a couple of leaves of absence and then we have a bunch of appointments in here. A lot of which are just, um, kind of, um, standard things that have to be done. Um, and then CSC recommendations. We have a couple of new coaches. Um, we have a volunteer to the football program, Mr. Minger. We have a new varsity boys wrestling coach, Joe Depola. Um, basketball volunteers. I see Mr. Whan has showed up to see if we approve him. Thank you, Dan, for stepping up. Um, okay. So, you want to call that one out? We can take that one out. >> Can we just Yeah, sure. >> We're going to double check it, but it's most likely overtime. >> Okay. >> What What are we speaking about? >> We're gonna We're going to remove
035D. >> You see it? >> That it is. It is okay. >> It's It's above take it out. Are you okay? You good with it? Okay. All right. Can I have a motion to accept G1, two, and three? >> So, move >> by Mr. Tolman, seconded by by Dr. Hos, he beat you by a minute. Any questions on any of these? >> I have a question. >> Yeah, go right ahead, Michelle. >> So, it's my working understanding that again as one of the uh several following the as part of the investigation, we identified that we have an opportunity to tighten up coaching certifications. So, can someone just remind me the process for these coaches and are they complete? >> Yep. Yes. So, they are um there is a multi-step process. Um if you are not
036a teacher, if you are a fizzed teacher or a teacher, I'm going to point out Mr. Tiano or Mrs. Tiano, they don't have to go through the same level because of their their job, but anybody who's coming in from the outside has a set of certifications that they have to go through that then has to go all to New York State Ed. um it's called teach.org um which you get a temporary certification and then you apply for your your actual certification. So we have worked out with Mr. Plei um and um and the athletic department that no one will appear on our agenda unless they have all their certifications in line and have been sent to the state. Um and if you remember maybe you actually you wouldn't remember and I'll use this as an
037example Mr. Polola for wrestling was actually going to be on our August agenda. He had his certifications, but there was a hiccup in getting them to New York State. Mike pulled him off the agenda and put him on that. >> Okay, that's the process. Very good question. >> Require certifications for volunteers also. >> Which volunteers for for sports? Yes. >> Yes. Yeah. Like I'm a volunteer for the baseball program. I have to go through the same level of certification. Yep. >> Yes. Okay. Any more questions? All right. All those in favor? >> I I All right. [Applause] We are up to uh business office recommendations. We have the internal claims audit. We have the tax refund component. Um those are the if people remember those. Uh number two there is for when people dispute their
038tax assessments um and they win their taxes are adjusted and that affects um what came in. Um and then there's a budget transfer on small budget transfer on here and then a gift and donation uh to from the Ricardi PTA to use toward playhouses for their playground. All right. Do I have a motion to accept H1 through five? That motion >> by Miss Grimolia, seconded by Miss Ker. Any questions on those? >> All those in favor? >> All right. Board action items. As usual, board action items is a myriad of things. Um, we have our normal CSC stuff. Um, we have we have to appoint Dr. Royback, district pro uh clerk prom. We have uh I think it's important to call it out. We have our softball team on here is going to go to
039uh Myrtle Beach for spring break, play some tournaments down there. Hopefully, if they're successful, they can convince Mr. Bissi to let the baseball team do the same thing at some point. Although that's a tough cell. Um know if there's anything else on here that really And then at the very end of these we have our our two um two policies um transportation students and then 6180. We are actually going to pull 6180 off because we have a redo on it. have some stuff that was called out that has to do. So, that's going to go back to policy committee. That's our staff, student relations, and fratization. Thank you, Michelle, for calling that out. Great catch. All right. Can I have a motion to accept I 1 through 19 >> taking one >> through 18. >>
040One through 18. It's at the end. So, move >> by Miss Keller. Seconded. >> Second >> by Mr. Wells. Any questions on any of these? Yeah, go right ahead. >> Uh, this is probably for Dr. G. So items six, seven, eight, and it might be for um Jamie as well, and nine. It looks like these are all requests for us to um approve basically um hiring out third party contractors to accomplish and achieve some of our supportive services for um primarily it looks like it's special needs, special ed programs. Are all of these required? Are we required to provide all of these services? And if so, by who? You want to give me a mic? >> Yeah, let's get you on mic. Definitely. Good job. Thank you, Jamie. >> So, they're they're I don't know
041if this is working. >> Yep. There you go. Y >> they're all a little bit different. So, like the number six is teacher of the visually impaired. Bose doesn't have enough folks to do that for us. So, we have to find someone additional. She's going to do that. Um the Empire Neuros Psychological Services 7 is a independent educational evaluation which is a a process that parents can request um an outside evaluation after we've done one and they disagree they can request that which does happen quite frequently. >> Okay. So in that case do we pay them on a like a fee for service basis or we have a retainer with them? >> So we it sort of depends. There's one there's one agency that we they just bill us and we'll pay um after they've
042kind of submitted all of their information and this particular one will do a contract with us. So it is an independent eval because we only contract to do the evaluation. There is a little bit of weirdness in that that we have a contract and they're independent. >> Is that common? >> It has been since I've been here and in other districts. Yes. But like I said, we have that one evaluator who recognizes that and does it a little bit differently. So, we're kind of open to either way, but we have to do it regardless. Um, now, where was I? >> Translation, >> that one is for the whole district. So, you can call them at any moment, a parent teacher conference that's not specialed specific, and just say, I have this person in front of
043me. We're trying to have this conversation and I need your help. Okay? and they find you somebody >> and it's a multiple languages, right? It's not just a couple, right? Yeah. >> Uh and then that last one, number nine, is uh a student who actually um is 22 that we had to pro provide services to 22 years old. >> Yes. >> Oh, okay. >> So, we weren't anticipating it, but that regulation. Yeah. >> Okay. >> Thank you. >> All right. Good question. Any other questions? All those in favor? >> I. >> All right. Nice. Committee reports. Um, before we dive in the committee reports, I want to echo Michelle mentioned it before. Um, I think we've we've kind of turned a a thing on our committees. So, we have three main committees that we operate
044as part of the board. The audit committee, the facilities committee, and the policy committee. Christine is our chair of our audit committee. Um, Dr. Hos is our policy committee chair and we're transitioning Michelle to be our facilities um chair. Um from an audit perspective like we have nobody better than Christine to be that chairperson. There is not a budget transfer or anything that goes past her. Mr. Wells if everybody's that that there is not a question answer and she does not let it go unless she gets the answer of that and we all sit back because a lot of those questions a lot of us wouldn't don't wouldn't know to ask and we look for the answer which is fantastic. So, thank you. Um, from the facilities perspective, our last couple of meetings have been
045really crisp. Um, and having Michelle be the head of that from her one her financial experience, but then also from her employment, being able understanding how to manage capital projects is really is going to be key. Um because as very important to all you everybody out here as we start to enter other capital projects, the Ricardi easement discussions um she has a vested interest in Ricardi easement which um is is helpful. Um it's it's going to be a great partnership between her and Rich Prince. Um and I just want to say thank you to him. Um, there is I've I've worked I've known Rich a long long time, but I've I've worked with him closely probably over the last year. There is nothing that man does not know about our facilities or our custodian areas
046or our grounds. Um, and he's on top of it regardless of if he gets pinged at 2 o'clock in the morning because an alarm went off somewhere. He knows it inside out. I was nervous when we were losing Mr. Lette and Mr. Rick's both at the same time. A ton of institutional Mr. Prince has stepped in and does exceptional job. So, I wanted to thank him. Um, and then lastly on our policy committee, I don't think Michelle and Katie really did it enough. This last policy meeting was exactly what our policy meeting should be. We had, I think the number she said was 22 people, but more importantly was the makeup of the 22 people. We had administrators in the room, we had teachers in the room, we had parents, um, we had coaches. Mr.
047Tiano joined us. We had our athletic director there. Um, we had retired teachers. Having somebody like Miss Lzette with 30 plus years of experience in the room um was invaluable. Um, and there was just a general good discussion about our policies and we actually got to answers relatively quickly. So, thank you for that. Um, and I'll be quiet now. Miss Bellarosa, our audit committee. Thank you. >> So, we held our um first audit committee of the year. Can you guys hear me? >> Um last Thursday um and we discussed a few different things. Um we met with our claims auditor who is someone who works for the board and reviews all non-payroll claims uh throughout the year and she provide that's in um our business section. every month there's a claims auditor's report. Um and
048she basic she came to the table with saying a pretty positive review. Um she had no denied claims in recent months. She had some last year but she said there were no denied claims um in recent months and she's building relationships with um the new business office staff because there has been some turnover there. Um she suggests that any new business office personnel take certain trainings so they're kept up to date on best practices. Um and Mr. Stagger mentioned that uh Bosey's regional information center will be presenting um at the October 17th superintendent conference day um some information from a business perspective. Um, and she also encourages all department heads, administrators to be mindful of policies and procedures regarding expenditures prior to making purchases. So that makes her job easier so she's not having to
049deny claims. Um, then next we met with our internal audit auditor, Michael Wolf. Um, every year it's a requirement that the uh an internal auditor um external to the school system. Um, they don't work for the school. um does a what they call an annual review assessment and it's as he describes it a mile wide and an inch deep. It's just a very broad overview of the different risks um and risk areas in relating to the school district primarily in the business office. Um the biggest high you know risk that he highlighted during his review was um changing change in changes in personnel and vacancies particularly in the business office positions. There's been a lot of turnover. Um and when there's turnover there's loss of knowledge. Um when you have vacancies you have people who
050are overworked doing double duty. So that's that's always a risk uh in any organization not just this this school but in any organization. So uh that is something that he did highlight. Um through his review there were a couple recommendations that may require corrective actions which we're uh the business office will work on preparing. Um but specifically he mentioned about cross trainining um a backup for the payroll clerk um and reviewing professional services contracts best practices to do that every 5 to seven years. um in his review he had looked at our physicians contract and that was last um updated in 2017 or gone out for bid in 2017 18. So it's been a while. So just best practice to uh look at professional services that we the school offers um or contracts with and
051um review those every five to seven years. Um also extra classrooms is always um an issue with all schools and everywhere. um because you have students working on things and there's different clubs and everyone there's just a lot of people involved. Um and you one thing he mentioned was to ensure that there's a consistencies between the junior high and senior high clubs and there's just more consistency in processes. Um the external audit we're still um at the time we were waiting the draft financial statements for review so we hadn't met with the external auditor yet. Um they did send a draft on Friday which I think has been reviewed internally and um I reviewed it as well and there's some still outstanding questions. Um so it was too soon to put on the agenda for
052any um real discussion. So, um hopefully that will be for our November um meeting. Um part of the audit committee um responsibilities to to review our audit committee charter on an annual basis and that was on the agenda tonight for approval. Um there really no changes in it this um this year. Uh and then the one thing I did want to highlight was uh the in I think it was April May we um engaged the school aid specialist to the state aid calculations um and the state aid that we received to see if there was any money kind of left on the table so to speak. Um and in their review there were estimated to recover $200,000 um and from certain way systems were speaking to one another and the way uh some information was
053filed with the state that we're actually going to be $200,000 extra in state aid um hopefully in the um I think it's to come in the December payment. Um we did the school aid specialist gets 15% on a one-time basis of any recoveries that uh they were able to find. So net the district will receive $170,000. Um and finally the state controller audit they came into review some areas in 2000 summer of 2024. Um there hasn't really been any movement on that. Um I think there were some meetings late last year. um but they've had no formal meeting or findings or um formal exit interview for for that. So that's still sort of open as if you will. Um and that's pretty much everything. >> All right. Thank you, Christine. I think the one thing
054I want to I think one thing that good to mention is you mentioned the extra classroom money. Um and you know why that's a big deal, right? It's it's all our it's all our clubs. So it's everything from a sports team to the French club to everything and at any given time you're talking about over a half a million dollars that's has to be accounted for and tracked correctly. So it's not we're not talking about small amounts of money here. So that's why from an audit audit perspective um that gets a very rightfully so a very close lens on what what's happening and making sure the right the people are being trained correctly on that. I think at one point last year it hit like almost threequarters of a million dollars. So it's a pretty
055big fund in there that is just sitting there. So >> can I just add something? >> Yeah, >> this was interesting to me and as everybody knows I'm still learning here. So I didn't understand the the process by which these vacancies, these critical vacancies that we have that were highlighted how they get filled. And so I asked the question because it's concerning to me some of these are in HR payroll some other places. And it may be interesting for you all to know that um it's not a simple hiring process. The positions are all posted, but they actually all come off the civil service list. Actually, most of them, I don't know if every single one, but the ones we were talking about have to come off of the civil service list. And so, anybody
056that's on a particular civil service list that qualifies for that particular position, they may not actually necessarily qualify for the position, but they qualify to be on the list. So, the business office has to go through um or whoever's hiring has to go through every single person on the civil service uh list. I think in order is the way it was explained, >> some kind of order. >> And each person has to be basically given the opportunity to, you know, respond for an interview, either come to an interview or ghost us, which happens all the time. Um, and it's only after every person that's on that civil service um, list that's for like attached to that position or for that position can the district potentially go out to the public to post for these positions.
057So, there is absolutely no efficiency in hiring for these positions. And that was shocking to me. I'm learning there's not not a lot of efficiency with a lot of things related to schoolboard. um and and uh uh education, but you know, a lot of this is not within the control of the district from what I understand and this was new to me about the civil service positions and uh I appreciate that we had the opportunity to discuss that and you know I think the more we can educate the public on that and that the the efforts are being made uh but it's just not that simple. um you know in those cases if we were to go to the public the person would then have to get certified if it's a civil service position is
058the way I understood it described is they then have to become >> they have to take the service test so it's it's quite complicated um >> you have to score in the test >> to me I walked away with thinking it wasn't for lack of trying I guess is what I would did you conclude the same >> yeah don't turn your mic off facilities any updates on facilities >> your turn >> you got it you're on a I used up all my words already. Um I I also wanted to very much thank Rich Prince. Um I think it's going to be a very good working relationship. I look forward to continuing this. There's going to be a lot of stuff coming. We're going to have a major new capital project coming on the horizon um
059in the next couple of years. And to Jeff's point, one of my primary goals is to really try to be a conduit for the to help educate the district on the way that the the budget cycle works, the different steps in the process, where state ed requires us to go with these things, what things are within the control of the board and the district, what things are not. Um, and I'm hoping to do it in a way that is um intelligible for people that maybe aren't necessarily financially savvy. and because I want us to get to the next cap capital project budget vote and I want us to pass it the first time and I think that that's going to rest on education. So I'm happy to be there and um Rich is doing a
060fantastic job >> policy committee. I mean I know we talked >> nothing going on here >> going on there going on here. Uh yeah, so we had the policies that were on the uh agenda for tonight. Um and so the transportation policy that was approved um there did a question was sent to me right before this meeting and this was actually not a change in that policy. Um but we I think need to look at it again and get a little language because it does say in the policy that um personal vehicles personal cars of teachers and staff shall not be used to transport students except in the event of extenduating circumstances and authorized by the administration. And so I had a question um does that count for teachers driving their own kids and other
061children who are also students. So we just need to provide a little more uh detail in there. Again, this was already in our existing policy. This does not represent a change to the transportation policy. So we discussed the transportation policy and we will discuss it again. And I bring that up because I just want people to know that we've approved a policy. It's in our books. That does not mean that that's there forever until the end of time. we can revisit it and change it as we need it because right policy is sort of the intersection between the law and what happens in the district and so that is a constantly not constantly moving but it is a >> moving experience so I just want to sort of raise that to folks because that just
062came to me about an hour and a half ago um so that was the policy See, also students, our new policy reads, students in kindergarten will only be released to an adult 18 years or older at a bus stop. We did discuss at the policy committee how there are children who are met by uh siblings at the bus stop who may not be 18 or they may be getting off the bus with siblings. Um and again, this is kindergarteners, not just elementary school students. Um so but it was also raised that our transportation um our bus companies require that kindergarteners be released to 18year-old or older. So our policy reads that again how the policy actually manifests in the field. Right? we need to stay in conversation with all of you who are taking kids
063and getting kids home and and seeing how that's working and what we need to change and make sure that kids are safe and sound. Um the other policy that um is much uh discussed and was on the agenda for tonight and that we will discuss again is the fraternization policy. I just wanted to highlight uh some of the changes that we we had a fraternization policy on the books. Um this is an effort to make it clearer. Uh we added definitions for staff and student. We added a um sort of paragraph really saying what is fraternization. um made it clear that inappropriate employee behavior includes all of these things including um frequent personal communication with a student unrelated to coursework or official school matters um which includes voice or textbased communication via phone, email, instant
064messaging, text messaging, gaming or through social networking websites. It is not appropriate if you are a teacher to be interacting with students in that way. Um and that communication with students and this was a lot of discussion over the summer policy committee meetings over the summer in discussion with athletics because we know it has a huge impact on athletics and you know other afterchool um you know school related events you know plays and all sorts of things. All school related communication, academic, sports clubs, etc. between staff and students must be done through district sanctioned platforms as determined by the superintendent or their design. May not happen through other means, including but not limited to text messages, personal email accounts, online video game platforms, or personal social media accounts. If a student reaches out to a
065staff member on a school related issue via a non-school sanctioned platform, the employee will refer the student to communicate instead over a district sanctioned platform. Employees, we are a small community, right? And there are families and school related things and it can be hard to disentangle those things. This is not language in the policy, but this paragraph is employees who have personal connections outside of school with a student's parent or the student themselves. For example, family, friends, coaches of non-school sponsored teams. Right? So, there's also that whole intersection should be mindful of the boundaries set forth in this policy and maintain school related communications on district sanctioned platforms. staff who violate these rules who'll be subject to discipline up to and including discharge. So that is again what that looks like in practice is going
066to be moved towards and staff and professionals in the district are responsible for being professionals and being able to draw those boundaries clearly with children and students um and working that out. So, we discussed at the policy committee several different circumstances and what matters if a student reaches out to you on WhatsApp or that's the way you've got to get in touch with the parent. Um, that these things need to be documented and we need to be conscious of them and be looking for the betterment and of the student experience and the safety and being able to record it. Why we pulled the policy from the is because of this question around reporting. So many people in the district are mandated reporters. There are mandated reporting to CPS and there is reporting child abuse in
067an educational setting. And so I sent it to the lawyers which again we may will still discuss that um but I think it's important to discuss this sort of publicly um because I think it's a distinction that is hard for us sometimes to recognize, but um an employee having acknowledged or reasonable suspicion that another employee may have engaged in appropriate inappropriate contact with a student that may constitute child abuse, specifically child abuse in an educational setting, must report that to must follow district's reporting procedures for such allegations. um failure to bring such information to the prompt attention to the principal of the district's designated compliance officer is subject to appropriate disciplinary action up to including discharge. And so we wanted clarification around if you're a mandated reporter, do you report that directly or do you
068report it to your administrator? And I'm just not because we're going to look at this policy right now, but I want to bring it while everybody's here, but that the response from the attorney today um is uh inappropriate interactions between employees and students would be child abuse in an educational setting, which is different than abuse by a child's parent or guardian. That report is made to the building administrator who completes the child abuse in an educational setting reporting form. That is not a choice of the district. That form is required by state law to be completed. The administrator makes a determination as to whether there is reasonable suspicion of child abuse and informs the superintendent. Only if there is reasonable suspicion would that be reported to law enforcement. And that information is in the law
069that I'd sent her. Mandated reporting to CPS is for cases of suspected child abuse or malreatment by a parent or guardian. So I just bring that up so that we can all sort of understand what those distinctions are and so that when we bring the policy back that we have that language entirely clear. A long report from the policy committee but that is what we discussed. >> Okay. Um, public recognition. This is whatever the first one wasn't. So I don't get yelled at again. >> Is that on agenda? >> Go right ahead. >> Might be too much for you. >> Do my best. My name is Turn the mic on. >> Just make sure your mic's on so online can hear you. Yeah. >> Talk to it closely. >> Right on top. There should be
070a button. >> Oh, no. It's one of the new mics. There you go. It's on. Just pull it a little closer to you. That's all. >> Thank you. Uh Craig Stewart. Um so in the police world, if you're going to conduct a search of a person or a building, uh you have to raise to the level of probable cause. And then when doing that, there is some exceptions to that search. If it's exigent circumstances, subject to arrest or evidence can be destroyed easily. um which then you must get a search warrant from a judge and then your search must stay inside of what that search warrant states. In the 80s the Supreme Court made some adjustments to that so where the general public um does not have to reach probable cause they can go to
071reasonable suspicion which you've been using and that applies to schools as well. So in the school system um it's my understanding well I know for sure that during the mum ball that a teacher was coercing students into blowing into some sort of a breath device which technically is a violation of the fourth amendment protection because they were coerced to do it. Now I wasn't made aware that you guys are going to be using this device. I don't think any parents were for that fact and you must meet reasonable sus reasonable suspicion to do that. So 400 children were there. What was the reasonable suspicion that you had to put that in everybody's face and tell them that they cannot go in the building if they don't blow anything? Also, are you aware of how many
072false positives that device gave? Lots. I have pictures and videos. Was that device calibrated? Was the person that was wandering it around trained? All this stuff is something you guys should look into because what happened that night >> was a violation of their protections. >> So, I don't know who bought it. I don't know who used it. I don't know who who whose idea it was. I know it's not in the policy. I've scoured the policy to uh look and see if you guys had put something in place to say that you're going to be utilizing a a breath sampling device. I have pictures of it if you haven't seen it, but it's an odd device. And all the false positives were sort of laughed off by the person administrating it and telling them to
073keep blowing until they got a satisfactory light, which was great. So, and half the children that were having this done to them, obviously lots of videos were going on, look scared to death because they have this thing shoved in her face and told blowing it, blowing it. You have to blow in it. Blow it. Blow it. Do it. Blow it. Okay. Now, as a child, what's the first thing you're going to do when a when a teacher tells you to do something? You're going to do it. These people don't know. These kids don't know what their what they're giving up by letting this happened. Their their rights are being violated simply because of what the lowhanging fruit of alcohol. Where was the marijuana meter? >> Where was that? Are your are your staff members not
074trained to smell alcohol and where they can go to the individual student? Do they not know the signs of impairment? All I'm saying is you guys have been self-inflicting a lot of stuff. This may be another one. >> So, I would suggest you use caution, maybe have a discussion on it. >> That's all. >> Okay. Thank you. >> Thank you. >> Okay. Um, >> no. Anybody else? Yeah. >> Good evening everyone. Um, and Sari and Mr. Rosy, I know you've been on my board meetings. I heard you clear. Three minutes. >> Just state your name for the people online so they know. >> I'm executive director of the boys and girls of county. Um, I just wanted to take a second. Um, I understand all of his boys been going through the time, energy, and
075effort for the last couple months and appreciate and respect all of it. Just wanted to give I would feel bad if I didn't give a community leader perspective on uh the impact this organization uh and the school district has had um in uh 2020 when COVID hit um under the leadership of Superintendent Ryan Hart and Dannis and I was reached out to about concerns about food education and such and we let a charge. Uh it was a well thoughtout plan with town supervisors and a lot of people around the area. Uh through then we went worked through virtual schooling. Um you know there was a lot of left and rights. Um I was thoroughly impressed with the leadership. Um, and you know, just speaking in general, I know you guys have a lot to work
076through and and I'm ignoring facts that are going through this investigation and such, but just want to be clear that in my experience in my short time, eight years as executive director, um, this leadership has always been on the front line and has done so much for our kids. And I don't want to sound negative in another direction, but the other district I worked with was in radio silence. Um, so the impact that this leadership has had on our kids, um, you know, even similar to when Principal Keller came into Ricardi and helped us with with communication and and work with our after school program in that school, it took off because the communication wasn't there. From what I've learned in my short time is pre whatever it looked like before is is that our
077boys and girls club didn't feel like a part of the school district now. It's direct rel relationship of the leadership that has been here and specifically superintendent or sick. Um, so I understand that there's things that we don't know. Um, and I don't have social media, so I don't have half the information that everyone else has. Um, but I I would have uh felt uh terribly not being able to put the in input on the impact that superintendent has had on our kids. We have more kids than ever participating on school teams in sporting events and even just attending them if they're not a part of it and supporting them. Uh, it's been the biggest change for our organization and our club and if there's I would love to take the credit for it, but
078uh the large leadership there is the leadership of Superintendent Ersk. So, I just want to make sure that was heard. >> Thank you, Mr. Wh. >> Okay. Anybody else? Yes. >> This is definitely the more popular section. The first one is this one. >> That's why we put it at the end. >> Um, good evening. My name is Andrea Vani. Good evening, members of the board, administrators, families, and community members. I'd like to take a moment tonight to speak about the true foundation of our district, our teachers. I'll echo much of what some have already said. However, I find it necessary to shine a light on these individuals, especially in the midst of all of the darkness as of late, whether it be in day-to-day conversation or on social media. The things that I've seen
079on social media, quite frankly, have frightened me. the lack of knowledge that is being spewed by people sitting behind a keyboard. The teachers, administrators, and staff of the Sority Central School District are the heart and soul of our schools. They are the ones who greet our children each morning with warmth, who spark curiosity and confidence, and who help shape not just what our students know, but who they become. Teaching is more than a profession. It is a calling. It requires patience, empathy, creativity, and an unwavering belief in every child's potential. And yes, I'm a little biased as a 20-year veteran teacher, but I'm also a mother of three in the Soviet Central School District. Our teachers dedicate countless hours be beyond the school day, preparing lessons, grading papers, reaching out to families, and finding ways
080to connect with each student. They do this while managing their own lives and families, often sacrificing personal time to ensure that our children have every possible opportunity to learn and grow. That level of devotion deserves our deep appreciation and respect. What's more, the impact of of our teachers, administrators, and staff extends far beyond the classroom walls. They show up at games, concerts, plays, and community events, cheering on their students, offering encouragement and reminding them that they are valued not just as learners, but as people. This kind of support builds confidence, belonging, and trust that last well beyond graduation day. As with any large and diverse organization, there are moments that test us, moments that remind us how complex and human this work truly is. But when we step back and look at the whole picture,
081one truth stands out clearly. The vast majority of our teachers are doing extraordinary work every single day. They are uplifting students, guiding them through challenges, and creating classrooms that are safe, inclusive, and full of possibility. When you walk into a soert classroom, you see commitment in action. You see teachers arriving early, staying late, mentoring, listening, and leading with heart. You see students who feel seen and supported and you see the lasting impact that great teaching has not only on individual children but on families and our entire community. Please celebrate all of our educators no matter their role. Recognize their professionalism, their compassion, and the countless unseen hours they give in service of something greater than themselves. to our teachers specifically. Thank you. Thank you for believing in our students, for giving so much of yourselves,
082and for reminding us that education at its best is built on trust, care, and love for learning. I encourage our community reme members to remember that old proverb, those who live in glass houses should not throw stones. Thank you. >> Thank you, Mr. Viani. >> Thank you. Anyone else? No. Okay. All right. Um a motion to um recess to executive session. We have um a couple of disciplinary issues and a contract discussion. And just by the way, when we reconvene to open session, we will not be voting on anything just for the public's so >> I'll make the motion >> by Miss Gremlia, seconded by Miss Keller. questions. All those in favor? >> I thank Thank you everybody. Appreciate it. >> Thank you. Can I have a motion uh to reconvene to open session? >>
083I'll make it. >> Second, >> Mr. Grimmoleia, seconded by um Elder. Any questions? >> All those in favor? I K.