Saugerties Board of Education Meeting 3/8/2022

001Good evening. I'd like to call this meeting of the board event to order. The emergency exit, sir, to the right, left, and rear room. Uh, Miss Frans, would you call the role, please? Mr. Tonman here. Mrs. Mascll here. Mr. McCclary here. Mr. Wells, Mr. Vanack here. Mr. Mrs. Gage here. Mr. Mooney here. Dr. Hos here. Mrs. Behringer here. Caroline Johansson here. Thank you very much. And um instead of uh the pledge of allegiance, the high school choir is going to do the star spinal battle for us. So please rise. Oh, say can you see by the dawn's early light, what so proud we hel at the twilight last gleaming whose rush stripes and bright stars through the perilous fight for the hearts we were so carelessly streaming and the rockets. The bombs bursting in air

002gave proof through the night that our flag was still there. Oh, say those that stars spangled B and way. [Music] For the land of the free [Music] and the home of the brave. [Applause] Hello, my name is Sophie Turner and I'm a senior at Sardis High School and I'm an officer in both choir and band. I'm also the president of our newly formed music honor society, Tri. We would like to thank all of the superintendent or sorry the superintendent, all of the administrators and the board of education for their endless support of the music department throughout high school. The music department has given me countless wonderful opportunities such as performing in area all state and all county choirs, trips to New York City, and making so many friends. I'm incredibly grateful for the experience music

003department has afforded me. Many of us are also part of the drama club and we would love to extend an invitation to our upcoming musical the first weekend in April. Thank you for your support. Here's a short teaser from the little shop of horrors. [Music] Alarm. [Music] You put in your eight hours for the powers that have always [Music] where the folks are broke. You go down where your life's a joke. You go where you buy your token. You go home to Thank you so much. [Applause] Abra. Thank you. I will entertain a motion to approve the minutes of February 8th, 2022. So moved. Moved by Mrs. Gage. Is there a second? Second. Second by M. Ballinger. Any discussion? None being heard. I'll call for a vote. All those in favor say I. I. Um

004I'll entertain a motion to adjourn into executive session. Motion. Motion by Mr. Mascow. Is there a second? Second by Clary. Any discussion? None be heard. All from the vote. All those in favor say I. I. Thank you for those of you that participated in our tour. The goal was um to focus on our multi-tered student support rooms that we have here at the junior high school. Um, before I get into some details about what you saw tonight, um, I do have with me our student government president, Boston McDonald, who has a few things to say. Hello, my name is Boston McDonald and I'm the president of the junior junior high government and I have a few things to share with you about our goals and successes of this year. Over the span of the 2021

005to 2022 school year, the junior high government and I have accomplished things that I'd like to share with you. Back in winter, we hosted spirit week in the junior high where we handed out necklaces to everyone so that all students could be involved. We also handed out Valentine's bags in February. We'll be hosting a movie month this month with the focus of women's history in the library. Also, in the near future, we'll be holding a skate skating night at the Quantis Ice Rink. We'll have chaperons and snacks to sell, which will make it a great time. We also creating a cafeteria survey for students to do so that we can vote for food that they want to see more or less of during lunch. We had Miss Melville one of our meetings, so we're working

006out with her in consideration of lunch. The reason all these are important is because we want all students to have fun, look forward to coming to school and enjoy school while they're here. We also want to get back to some sort of normaly. So, we've all hosted all these activities in hopes that students could have opportunities that they have had taken away from them due to co. So, our hopes for the future are to execute our goals perfectly, get a required number of volunteers, and advertise better labels to show junior high versus senior high. And we will do this so that both schools are on the same page and we can even collaborate between student governments. Also, we think the highlights for this year were sports, spirit week, and more clubs. These extra activities have

007given opportunities that have also been taken away through co. So, I think this is healthy for all students. Last changes and wishes we wish to see as junior high are working out new lunch plans for students with preferences and health issues. At dance night, we have heard that many students are very happy with the lifting lifting of the mask mandate. In conclusion, we see great things up ahead for our school and we look forward to helping everyone reach success. Thank you from the junior high government. [Applause] I don't know how I'm going to follow that. Thank you, Boston. It meant a lot to me that you wanted to come tonight. Um, so it's been a great year. um starting with the summer workshop that we did as administrators and really being able to focus on

008what our district wants to see and what we want to see as being part of the district. So my um BLT meetings are every other month with the parent and students and every month um with staff to work on the three tenants that are listed on this slide. So leadership and student achievement and connections and also community and transitions. And listed next to that are some of the affirmations that were made at the beginning of the year. We actually kicked off the year with a soft opening. So it was 3 days of focus on the tenants of self-awareness, self-management, and responsible decision-m. So some of those are affirmations that were come up within the classrooms. Um, also at our administrative retreat, we were tasked with writing at least one smart goal for our building. And

009as you can see, um, there was a huge focus on the multi-tiered student support. I really, um, studied the data that was coming out of June as far as student achievement went. I also talked to the elementary schools for students that just were very very intimidated to come up to the junior high, which is every year, but after a year that we had had, it was even more um more anxiety. The sixth grade had had over 35 to 40 students that they had recommended for the summer school. So, I really wanted to build that support in. And also with our federal money, we were able to finally um name an RTI math and an RTI writing program to go along with our RTI literacy program. So, if you've had time to read the smart goal,

010you'll see um I think people thought I was shooting the moon um for 85% of our student population to have a 75% or better GPA, but as of right now at the semester, we're at 87%. And I give very high credit to my teachers, my teaching assistants, everybody in student support for letting us have that. Um, we've added a lot this year and it shows with that data. So again, part of your tour at the beginning of tonight was to show you how we've married um our special ed continuum with our RTI NTSS pyramid. So what was created was the targeted learning lab. What that brings is it almost has turned into an advisor adise period for students that are a part of that. They get to say where they're struggling. We get to focus

011on where they're struggling by looking at data and they also just have an opportunity to have um a period where they can say what they feel but also work on what they need to work on. Um also we have the three RTI labs. So through data we have placed students in RTI writing, RTI math and RTI literacy. And this is just a few bullet points about those. Um I'm extremely proud of all my teachers. They're really dedicated. They actually have the RTI teachers all have a common planning time. So they get together almost every day second period to go over data to discuss um picks and pans if you will of the programs. and it's really been a collaborative unit. So, I'm very proud of that. So, our SEAL, we are in the fifth year

012of positive behavior interventions. It goes by very quickly, but as always, we're student focused. Um, last year I spoke a lot about the interdisciplinary team meetings, which are still occurring every day. the math, the science, the English and the social studies teacher all meet one period a day to talk about um goals and students. Ran rounds is still a part that's when the student support team goes into the inter disciplinary team meeting. So um our social worker, the two guidance counselors, myself, Mr. Molino, the school psychologist, and the nurse all join together um and talk about how we can best support our students. We also still have the bi-weekly progress reports for students at risk and that is a um it's an online document so they fill it out and it gets mailed home. We

013also have brought family of Woodstock for responsible decisionmaking into our health class once every six days. There's a presenter from Family of Woodstock that goes over responsible decision making. talks about it's part of the too good for drugs program but it's too good for destructive decisions um is what they've renamed it for the junior high so they are every seventh grader is participating in that this year in the health class uh as you can see I gave you our tenative brochure for the spring workshop series so the students will be introduced to that next week they will be able to select afterchool workshops and there's a wide range of workshops from ping pong to learning how to crochet. Um, also we have a fitness guest that's coming in to talk about, you know, setting an

014active program for yourselves to get in shape. So, that's that. And then this Friday, um, I haven't we've made a change to the traditional half day of 18-minute periods. We've done this for a couple of years. So, students of the junior high will be participating in workshops. We have yoga. We have an intro to microaggressions. Um we have a um empathy workshop and also um a debate club workshop. So there's a lot of different things for the students to participate in that day this coming Friday. Um so some of the successful data snapshots that I picked for you um I have given kudos to the staff at the faculty meetings. So first quarter I took a look at where the students were in June with their grades and I took a look at our focus

015of MTSS. So as you can see 15% of the students that were placed in an MTSS lab showed um an increase in their GPA and also in seventh grade. And then students that were receiving the extra supports there was an 11% increase in their GPA from the from June to then. I will say um the general population in also grew immensely and I did have a rewards breakfast for anyone that showed academic growth of 10% or more from the June to um to the end of the first quarter because it was very important to recognize that they were getting back into the swing and that we recognized their hard work. Also, um, at this time last year, I was telling you that I had to send 178 student support letters home, um, telling families that

016their students had fallen below expectations, a 68% or less, um, grade point average in two or more of their core area subjects. I only had to send 59 of those home this year. And in that student support letter, it fully outlines our extended school day program. It also invites them to talk to their teachers about credit recovery. and it did invite them to make an appointment for our upcoming parent teacher conferences. It did also let them know that we are looking for a supportive summer school environment again. So, it listed all of those things that can be done ahead of time. So, just a few things um again that I I credit to getting back to normaly as Boston said this year. Um, this past summer school, I think it was a huge addition to

017have the redirect center at summer school as well. So, we brought on a social worker in summer school to build connections and also have that redirect center um ready for students that just weren't quite ready for um the day. Uh, summer school, I took a look, I've already said, at the data from sixth to 7th grade and 7th to 8th grade to really place those students at risk into the targeted learning labs. and the targeted learning lab took off. The RTI skills labs are listed and also um some of you today met some students that are part of the extended school day that was part of the connect and chat group which was actually um formed by our social workers at both the junior high and senior high did a need survey. So a lot

018was asked of the students in that need survey. You know, did they need food? Were they feeling comfortable? did they have struggles coming to junior high making friends? You know, different questions like that. So, those students were actually sought out and invited to the connect and chat group. And then as we move through different conflicts and things that come across our offices, we actually can recommend students to become a part of that. But aside from the connect and chat, there's also targeted math after school Tuesdays and Thursdays. There's an eighth grade um it's the eighth grade executive functioning like organizational skills. There's a seventh grade writing um and there's also an eighth grade writing and executive skills. So those were all hosted and all went home um for parents to sign up. But we also

019every time we have a parent conference they are offered to students and they're also offered to students that through guidance meetings and things like that to take advantage of it. I know that this fall we had a very successful night and I don't know whether you heard about it or not but we were actually able to bring NAMI the um National Alliance for for Mental Health and they did a parent presentation. We were actually served dinner and we had a student social and it was really well attended. So we're looking to do that again this spring. Um a lot of our focus on BLT has been through social media like what social media is what is involved with social media and our students and also screen time. So we are thinking of bringing screenagers and

020screenagers too to our district. Uh, Miss Millinsson, our social worker, is working on what that may look like um for a viewing. And I'm very proud to announce that we're bringing back the transition open house. And that's going to happen at parent teacher conference night this Thursday. So, all sixth grade parents of students with disabilities and 504s were invited to come meet our special ed department and our student support team on Thursday night in the library for an open house. Pause. Next. Did it end? Is there another slide? Yeah, I see it. I'll call your attention. I think the next slide is about the pamphlet that you see on your um the digital digital literacy and communities. Oh, thank you. So, um, so what we're happy to announce the other pamphlet that is on your

021table, not the MTSS pamphlet, but the flexible innovation pamphlet. So, a lot has um I'll talk about digital literacy first, but I was approached by our school librarian because of the social media um awareness that needs to happen and a lot of the conflict is happening online before they get to our building. um and also just make them aware of what they bring to the table when they participate in the digital and in the social media. Um she asked me if she could teach a course on digital literacy and these are the six um focuses of that program and I was extremely happy to have it teacher you know the teacher brought it forward. I think it will make a wonderful addition because right now every seventh grader has at least one study hall and

022every eighth grader has at least one study hall and a number of them I think almost 67% of our eighth graders had two study halls this year because of the change in the schedules. So this course will be every other day for a semester and it will also focus on quality project work and vetting out important sources. So when you're getting assigned a project in class, um you'll be able to have a quality presentation, a quality paper, and look at those sources wisely while learning what you yourself can do to become mindful of your behavior online, but also just being a friend and being respectful of the world around you. So I'm very excited to um have this course presented and hopefully become fruition next year. And in addition to digital literacy, that's for seventh

023graders, so it won't have high school credit yet, is the flexible innovation packet that you um brochure that you have there, which I think is my next slide, I hope. Yay. Segue. So, um, you know, when I came to the helm of the junior high school, there was a huge, um, question about how we could open doors and get every student high school credits that walked through from 7th to from 8th grade to 9th grade in the transition. And my brain started firing. Um, and when I came to Sorres and when I was in junior high, you had a small taste in seventh grade of family and consumer science and of technology. And I thought to bring that back and then create the opportunities, um, I talked to the staff and pitched my idea and

024they jumped on it to be able to, um, welcome students into these multiple pathways. So, this year, seventh grade took a full year of family and consumer science. Eighth grade took a full year of technology. Next year, we're hopeful to have all our ducks in a row and staffing and and funding and be able to have the seventh graders take half year of family and consumer science and a half year of technology. And then in eighth grade, um our eighth graders next year will take a half year of technology because they didn't have that. But we have three courses that our high school departments have designed for our eighth graders that will carry 0.5 high school credits. So the first one is from our marketing department and it's called desktop publishing. And what it is,

025it's almost like a baby brother or baby sister to their college computers course, which I believe next year is going to carry up credit with it. Um so this would be the that's just the definition of career and technical education. Um but what will be they'll be able to start off as 0.5 in a marketing department. Um and all of the other it'll open the door to the 4 plus one um continuum that we have in our marketing department. So some of the key ideas are listed in your pamphlet and also here. Our other new course that we're hoping um to carry out is an introduction to robotics. I know I've heard many of you say that coding and robotics is really important to introduce at the junior high level. Um so the introduction to

026robotics is through the technology department. It will be a discovery and problem solving course. The teams will work together to design a robot and have it go through a myriad of tasks. Also what might come as part of this is we have the Raspberry Pies. We have different programming things that we already have. So it will be an intro to programming and robotics and this would carry another.5 for high school. And then listed in your pamphlet is the 4 plus one. And Mr. Reid and I have been working together to bring forth some of the courses that had to get sidelined, but we're hoping for a new technology teacher. I think we posted for that. So, we're hoping that this will all fall into place. The third choice that an eighth grader would have, um,

027we will be offering the nutrition and food. That's already a triedand-true course, but eighth graders will be allowed to take that to fill their two credits of CTE. Um, I've been looking through all the nice documentation for two years now and I finally found that it was 1.75 credits, but it could be from any department of CTE. So it could be from the health sciences, the marketing department, facts or technology. So we've built this wish list to hopefully let every student that's going from 8th to 9th grade really maximize their potential. I think best self was said a lot of the other night and I really like that so that each student can have choice and kind of pick their path. So I'm very excited to bring that to you tonight and that's just another

028digital literacy because I'm so proud of the course. It just made it twice into the into the presentation. But I think that's my last slide. So any questions? What's the flexibility with sort of getting into these paths and out of these paths? So I think that they can, you know, as ear when we start earlier, they can kind of find where their niche is. So they'll be able to discover and either love it or leave it, right? So, as you have like the intro courses, that's why I think it's important in seventh grade to have the half year and the half year because then they can really feel um feel it out. And actually, the digital literacy course will give them a little snapshot into the marketing um department because they'll be talking about different

029presentations, different search engines, different ways. They'll be looking at websites that work, websites that don't work, you know, things like that. So, I think it was just a way to get a little smattering of everything. um and then give it a try. So next year is the year where technology gets stretched a little bit because we do have to provide the tech 8 to the eighth graders as well. But after that they'll almost be able to choose two of those three courses. So they'll be if they want to do food and nutrition and desktop publishing because they weren't really crazy about the the tech course, they'll be able to do that. You know, things like that. So it's really mixing it up. I know it's kind of a lost art. Um, but do did does

030anyone teach keyboarding anymore? Like just basic typewriting because the the what I noticed with the students is I mean computers aren't going away. there's a lot of like pecking when it comes to typing. Like can you in integrate that somehow into one of these classes where there you're actually like teaching keyboarding skills or is that something that's not Well, I actually think with the change that we're um making at the elementary level, we're looking to build schools within a school for five and fifth and sixth grade. So, I actually think like a keyboarding course would be perfect at the fifth and sixth grade level. So, all of these things that I'm talking about, we are going to be talking about um the potential of bringing some of these programs to our fifth and sixth graders

031as well because when you read the documentation, it's not strictly seventh and eighth grade the CTE requirements. So, we might be able to bridge and really prepare them when they come up here. So, transition is a huge focus on that committee as well. Great. Yeah. And I know um Mr. Wickham did mention keyboarding and the desktop publishing. So they might have a firecracker course like the first two weeks he might have challenges and stuff on that but he definitely wants to teach that to them as well. That's great. Thank you. You're welcome. I I just wanted to comment uh on the multi-tered services. I I think it's great. Um, I think it's great that it's starting at a younger level where um when when kids do get to the the senior high, they're not as

032tentative about seeking out resources because they know the resources are there and they know they work. Um, something that's always upset me, uh, in the eight years I've sat here was the dropout rate, the passing rate, our graduation rate of our special needs population. And I I'm I'm very hopeful and I'm very optimistic that um what you your team and and you know your your entire team has kind of put in place is is going to turn that page and hopefully see a better day for our our kids. So thank you. You're welcome. I mean, being a part of the culturally responsive team, um, one of the first caveats that they mention is an inclusive environment and a welcoming environment. You have to have that first. So, that's really been a focus of our BLT.

033So, I I really respect your validation tonight. Thank you, Mr. Mooney. Thank you, Miss Vil, for that participation. I'll turn it over to Mr. Reinhardt for our winter sports accomplishments. Uh thank you very much um Mr. Tobin. I want just want to take a second. We had a was wonderful to have our winter sports. Um as you know our students lost a lot over the last couple years but it's my I asked um Dom to send me some things for wrestling. Uh Christian Hawk finished third in sections. Um and for the first time ever uh they had female wrestling sectionals. Um, we had a student Savannah, hope I don't say this wrong, Titleback finished first. We had our first ever section champ and Jillian Mills finished second. So, that's just amazing. Um, in basketball, boys,

034Ethan Conrad was named all league. And in girls, Sage Finelli and Molly, hope I didn't say that wrong. If I did, I apologize. Named all league. Um, our girls had a great game at sections. Um, I don't agree with the seven seed. I thought we were much higher than the seven seed, but I didn't get the vote on that. They had a great game Saturday. Um Aaron just text me at the score and our girls won the section in bowling and they're heading to states this week. So thrilled that we were able to have public recognition. Uh, anyone wishing to address the board on topics from the agenda for tonight or in the past month, please approach the podium, state your name and residence and feel free to speak. Good evening. I'm Christine Delar Roza

035residing at 1606 Oldings Highway, Sardis, New York. As the district attempts to navigate itself through what has been presented as an impending financial crisis, it is important for the administration and the board not to confuse what amounts to an explanation on how one intends to ultimately vote with real time open and public dialogue on important issues such as closing an elementary school. Closed doors discussions do not benefit the understanding of the community but rather negatively impact public perception and confidence and contradict the spirit of open meeting laws. I have been addressing this board about the lack of public discussion on questioning or questioning on matters which impact the financial projections and actuals that have presented multiple and presented multiple examples of how the board's actions or inaction on financial decisions have directly impacted the financial

036projections that have been presented to the public. Simply put, the information provided on the business off office office recommendation area of the agenda can provide insights as to how the district is performing against the budget and should have more active discussion than merely consented approvals each month. The primary reason reason for closing a school was projected financial deficits and unsustainable budgets. The last two months board agendas included multiple budget transfer resolutions amounting to over $700,000. As an accountant, I can understand needing to clean up accounts and transferring within budget groupings. But why is no one questioning why there are over $200,000 in transfers from healthcare insurance to unrelated budget lines? Last year, one of the reasons for the favorable budget to actual variance was due to budgeted health insurance rate hikes, which did not materialize.

037Is the district experiencing another favorable variance this year and is reallocating funds to unbudgeted underbudgeted areas? Also, why is no one questioning that in January amounts were moved from the social worker salary lines for Cahill and Moors only to have amounts moved back to these lines in February? There may be very valid reasons for these transfers, but I believe it is important for a community which has just experienced the closure of its elementary school due to financial reasons to have faith in a board which will question these financial decisions, even if only to educate themselves or the public. It would benefit the board to give equal time and emphasis to dialogue on these matters that was given at last month's meeting to the logistics of the upcoming vote on the 2022 23 proposed budget. Thank

038you for your time and I apologize that I may not be able to say the whole meeting but it's my daughter's 10th birthday. Thank you. Anyone else? Yes. Good evening. I'll sign in after I'm done. My name is Amy Mills. I live at 54 Duly Drive. And I just wanted to let the board know, I wanted to let the superintendent know that not only did the girls participate in their very first ever section tournament, they also participated in their very first state tournament. It was this past weekend. And I told Mr. to let you guys know, but we're very proud of our girls, even though one of them is mine. Um, so there were 75 girls from all over the state that participated in the first state tournament that was uh sponsored by the USA

039Wrestling and unofficially the New York State Public High School Athletic Association. Uh there were 75 competitors from Buffalo all the way down to Long Island. They came from schools. They came from different wrestling clubs. And each weight class had three winners. And your very own Jillian Mills from Sarities High School took third in the 132 weight class. Savannah Savannah Titleback also competed. And we also sent two other females from section 9, two girls from Rondow. Um, actually one of the girls that won the 132 weight class at the sectional final, her name is Destiny Walsh. She actually beat Jillian. But what's so unique about women's wrestling is that it's the fastest growing sport in in the state. and I am involved in a task force and we're trying to sanction wrestling in New York State.

04032 states in the nation have sanctioned wrestling for girls. Um there are multiple scholarships available. There's multiple um collegiate opportunities for them, but most of all it's such an underrecognized sport for women. And this being the 50th anniversary of Title 9, I think that it's very important that we give recognition to these girls who participate. Our school currently has, I believe, five girls, couple on the modified, couple on the JV level, couple on the varsity level, and they are the hardest workers in the room. They have so much more to prove. And I hate to be sexist, but they have so much more to prove than the boys do. So if you see these girls in the hallway, just give them a pat on the back. They come home sore. They come home tired. They

041come home with black eyes. They come home with just but they come home with a sense of accomplishment. And one of the things that I noticed after watching these matches is that they don't just go over and, you know, shake the hand. They give each other a hug. They give each other a hug. They leave it all on that mat and they're so grateful that they can participate. So, if you can get out there next season to see them wrestle, I would really appreciate it and they would appreciate your support. I would also like to say that Paulsburg High School became the seventh high school in New York State to recognize girls wrestling and to potentially start a program next year. So hopefully so can be the eighth. Thank you very much. [Applause] She was

042very nervous, right? That was a great comments, especially today being the International Day of Women. Very appropriate. Um, Mr. Reinhardt. Good evening. Uh, thank you for coming up. Uh, I was also prior to becoming a superintendent, I was also a a wrestling coach and then a wrestling official. So, it is a very difficult sport and I'm glad to see it starting to come back cuz as you know for a while the numbers had really dropped. Um, I want to thank Miss Bale for her presentation that was outstanding. I told her about 18 months ago to think outside the box and she definitely had. It's an amazing program. uh middle school is probably one of the most challenging positions as an administrator to transition from somebody who's 11 um to somebody almost ready to take AP

043classes. So, she's just doing a great job. Uh before I start my presentation, I just want to kind of thank the community. This Friday will mark two years from the time we pivoted to 100% remote. Um, I don't know if you guys remember or not, I was in DC picking up my son from his internship. So, that was kind of stressful trying to do a Zoom call, which I'd never done at an airport. Um, I want to thank the community. Uh, this was definitely challenging for our students, our family, and our staffs. I appreciate the community support and patience throughout this. I know that not everybody agreed with all of my decisions. Um, I know some were unpopular, but I think as a community, we did those decisions to keep us moving forward and keep

044our students safe. Um, I'm very confident in the programs that we put in place uh that help our students get back what they've missed. I think uh Ginger did a great job today with her MTS or extended school day. Um, as you can see, we're focusing on SEAL, our students that have learning loss as well as making sure we're having those enrichment programs um for our students that are achieving. And I'm glad we asked the questions about 56. Uh we're going to start those meetings next week to actually look at what other enrichment programs and credits we can start offering in fifth and sixth grade to therefore free up more opportunities um in seventh and eth. Uh lastly, I want to thank all of our stakeholders. There's been an awful lot of changes with cleaning

045protocols, busing protocols, handing out meals, handing out Chromebooks, learning how to use Google. Um so it's been a very busy two years and um it was great Wednesday to walk around and students not have mask on and a sense of normaly. So I wanted to update the the board on our reimagining um so education as always every time I start a meeting I start with our three goals. It's always about student achievement culture climate community uh safety and security. So, as you know, we we took the information from the transportation study. We then looked at our specific lines, our transportation, our bus companies. So, I just wanted the community to know that these will be the three tiers for the fall. Uh obviously, uh junior and senior high will be the first tier. Um Ricardi

046and Grant Morris will be the second tier and Cahill will be the third tier. Um, I told the community as soon as we had that, um, that would get put out and we met yesterday and I wanted the community to know this right away. So, these will be the tiers. Our lines are about 99% done. Um, my goal is to have those out as soon as possible, but I know parents wanted to know which school would be the later start um, due to daycare and drop off transition meetings. So, I've decided I looked at my calendar. So, we'll have Zoom meetings starting the third Wednesday of the month. Uh, they'll be 5 to 6. I'll post those on my daily notice starting tomorrow. Uh the goal of those is to honor our history, particularly Mount

047Mary, and by supporting our students, families as we embark um on this new opportunity. We want to discuss the five six scheduling possibilities for the next two years. Um Ginger had mentioned it. I actually gave some of the administrators to read a book about schools within a school. And I know a lot of people really were looking forward to an opportunity for an intermediate building. We just couldn't make that happen with logistics, geography, and transportation, but we can still do it virtually. So, it's really important that we look at that 56 um and make that an intermediate. We're looking at a a schedule for those students. We're looking at opportunities for more enrichment. And obviously, like Jinger said, the state regulation is the students have to have that 1.75 uh credits, but that can start

048as early as fifth grade. So, we're looking at those opportunities for literacy. Uh we're looking for those opportunities for technology, health, um and other opportunities. We're looking at planning community events going into the spring. Um orientation plan for the spring of 2022. Um people have reached out to us. Can we do something in the spring? Can we run field trips? Um we also want to look at school celebrations and we that continue want to do our research on schools within a school. As far as assigned faculty, um my goal is to have the building principles know what building they're going to be in early next week. Um Dan and Gwendelyn have met with all of the staff in all four elementary schools. So they've met with the staff, talked about preferences, talked about where they

049would like to be next year, what their vision is for their own education, their own philosophy. Um so those assignments will be coming out um as soon as we get done with the principles. We're going to meet with the principles and then we're hoping to get the assignments out to teachers and staff as soon as possible. Like I said, um you know, the job Carol Petal and Kristen Will have done this last year with lack of buses, lack of drivers, um keeping us open, and on top of all of that, they've still done a tremendous job of of reworking our lines. Um like I said, we're hoping to have those as soon as possible. As soon as I have those lines, uh they will get put out. I'll continue with my monthly updates on the

050transition plan to the board. Um, and like I said, we're going to start those meetings on the third Wednesday of the month. I'll have that Zoom on my daily update tomorrow. And obviously at our town hall meetings, uh, which are the third Thursday of the month at 6:30, I'll continually update the community, um, and the board on that. And once again, as we get our transition events, we'll make sure they're publicized uh, for the community to be part of. As far as the per repurposing of the building, um, as you know, um, we started enrollment for our universal prek. Our expectation is to have five sections there next year. We've reached out to community agencies um, for leasing opportunities. We actually did a walk through with Olster Boseies last week um, about renting multiple classrooms

051um, for their needs over at Mount Marian. Um, we met with the Boys and Girls Club to research any possibilities of an extended school day uh for our students that are on our prek program. We're also going to reach out um to other community- based organizations. Parents in the prek program have asked for us to research wraparound programs for a possibility of even of a drop off before school and an extended school day to that. Um, so we're researching that as well. I know that I think that Lisa is meeting with somebody else this week um for another agency that would like to partner with us for more wraparound at Mount Marian and we're going to continue to reach out uh to other agencies in the area uh that may need uh space. Any any

052questions on on the uh transition team meetings that will be starting every Wednesday. Is that starting tomorrow? And also uh who are you looking to be part of those zooms and who is it going to be like an invite or it'll what we'll do is kind of deal with the governance. Um we already have some teachers that it's the third Wednesday so that'll be the 16th. Um that'll be at 5:00. Um same thing you know we're hoping like the the uh principles will reach out to their PTA and their BLTs to make sure we have representation. U we have some teachers that have asked to be on it. Um obviously we want a variety of stakeholders. Um and nice meeting is at 5:00. I know sports are starting soon, but maybe we can get a

053couple students on it as well. So, you know, we want it we want an open invitation. We just don't want it too big where the governance was averaging about 25 to 30, which is nice. Everybody can kind of have input. Um, but we definitely want to get, you know, people who want to help and or help us organize. We have some great ideas. Um, we just want to make sure everything's we put a plan together and make things happen. Any other any other questions? Anybody? Thank you, Mr. Reinhardt. We'll move into board member remarks. Miss Barry, since it's already on, um, first want to thank uh, Mrs. Bale and Mr. Molino, our tour and the presentation as well as uh, Mr. McDonald for uh, giving us a lot of insight into uh, the junior high.

054It was truly in my tenure and I've been here for a bit. Um it's the best tour I think I've ever had of the junior high and the excitement that you're you're bringing forth is just really you can see it and I just want to really thank you. Um the every class we went into was is welcoming and uh engaging and I'm thrilled. So just want to thank you for that. Um so uh also um first thing I sat down and we received brochures as Mrs. Bale mentioned and the one about the CTE flexible uh programming in the future. I had chills and I'm just so excited and I as the uh board representative to Boseis um have been definitely one of the biggest advocates of getting CTE programming within our our building and setting

055up more and more programming that leads to a CTE certificate knowing that um there are schools all across New York State that offer a variety of CTE programming within their buildings And I I still want to support Olter County Boseies. I am still their representative and I do sit on their board. Um but there's programming that's appropriate for Boseies and there's programming that fits so well into everything that Saries is doing and I'm so excited to see more of that happen both at a junior high and a senior high level. So I just really want to thank you all for for taking that forward. Um along those lines with Boseies and uh to the board members, I will be sending you a link right after I finish speaking about um the um FAA airport design

056challenge that our Bosei students won was an international challenge and these are students who came together in September and as you all know from co and everything it's the first time they're getting together in a classroom. They put together their proposal, they submitted it. Um, and there is a v a video of their proposal. You can also see some of the other um some of the other category winners. Um, but our students won at first place internationally and just so exciting to see that kind of situation happen. We have um a robotics group that is going to Hofra and um they've done well at that robotics competition in the past. So we're seeing some good things there. We have students um who are winning in um culinary. They're winning in our um an international space

057station challenges for culinary. We have so many exciting things happening from Boseis and I just really want to continue to um bring those opportunities and those linkages back for soies and and know that we have students from um sovereignties. Uh I I don't know if we've mentioned about our our individuals from our electric um blanking on the word but there are construction individuals who through um the connections here in so Boseis is now internationally being recognized for the work that they're doing at the habitat uh for humanities programs right here in sovereignty. So the international I keep saying this we are internationally being recognized not only for Boseies but the connections that are coming here to Socrates and it just I mean I get goosebumps you know I'm just a volunteer I'm just a mom

058the things that are happening in our education system both here in Socrates and at these are just really exciting so I just want to start there also u for the board members um we know we have just gone through a capital plan um activity Boseies has also just finished or going through that same process. They are now in the same place we are with SED uh requirements and getting those documents in and submitted. So that is also going forward and I will keep trying to come back and let you all know what's happening with their capital plan. So understanding that we went through this process and it was extremely uh involved and labor intensive and so they are now doing this as well. So just to keep you all informed of what's happening. Um, and

059then on a final note to the board members on the Oolster County School Boards Association to which both uh Mr. Mooney and I uh serve, we on Thursday, this Thursday, there is a presentation with our Olster County Executive um Pat Ryan. Thank you. I was going to say Ryan. That's the last name. Um so it should be really exciting. We'll be talking about the county level, mental health, uh, juvenile justice, and, um, one other, uh, social services, the resources that are at the county, and how they can better intertwine with our school districts and keep that dialogue going. We've had them before. It was an amazing presentation. There is a Zoom link, so if you can't come to Newalts, you might miss out on some really good food from Newalts. That's okay. You can still

060participate by Zoom and and be part of the gathering. So, that's it for me. the current teacher. Oh, sure. I'll go. Nope. Yes. Thank you. Um, I know uh I have aged on this board uh because I now have progressive glasses and when I first started I just had reading glasses which was a real challenge. Um I want to thank you Christine. I want to thank you for um showing up and continuing to help us be better. I think you're right. I think we can do better. Um I think the transparency we have now in this district is far beyond what we have had in the past. Um but you're right. Uh we need to and can do better. We get the agenda for the board uh the week prior to the meeting and sometimes

061we send questions. We don't make any decisions behind closed doors. Um, but we may send a question about it and it gets answered. And really what we should do is even if it gets answered at the board, we should say, "Hey, we asked this question and this was our answer." Because I um entirely agree with you um around that and so I thank you for that. Um I want to thank Ginger Veil and Lee Malo for the tour and a great presentation. The flexibility, responsiveness and feeling of compassion in the programs. Um, compassion is really something special and I think it's fabulous. I'm going to go back up to that reading room and spend a week there. Um, I am wanting to let the rest of the board know, I've talked to some folks about

062it. I am not going to run for the board this spring. I am up for election. Um, there are sort of three primary reasons. My daughter is graduating this year. Um my husband retired this past year and I'm able to work remotely and so I really want to be available to explore what that might mean for our family couple months in Bise maybe where I can still work and get paid and um anyway I don't know but I need to make that flexibility for us and um and there are also other ways I want to serve this community. I helped run Art Lab, which was a community-based art program for a decade. Um, and have been on this board for six and there are really other opportunities to provide more direct service in the community

063that I want to explore. I really love my work on the policy committee. Like I went downstairs after the policy committee meeting on Tuesday. I was so jazzed up like my my husband and my daughter are like, "Whoa, what were you just doing?" I was like, we were in the policy committee and we were talking about how we want to make our policies more responsive to the students and teachers in our district. So, um I don't think I can be the chair if I'm not on the board, but um I will certainly be involved. Um and I'm really excited to work with the transition. The third is I think the district is in really good hands and is strong. And I know it's been difficult. Um but none of us as individuals will make or

064break the board or the district. It's really how we work together. um and or don't do that. That will make or break it. Um I just want to I'm taking advantage of this because I can. Uh uh why I ran for the board. Um I really wanted to uh work towards installing educational leadership in the governance team which includes the superintendent and the uh other people in the administration and principles. um leadership that would be characterized by transparency, responsiveness, and a focus on student and teacher learning and engagement, which was in direct contrast to the leadership of favoritism, bullying, and student and teacher compliance that ruled here primarily. There were a lot of really good people doing a lot of really good work, but they were doing it under really hard conditions. I was asked

065for years to run. Um but I refuse to submit to the toxicity of what being on the board meant in those days. And I really want to thank all of you who rose to that challenge and joined the board when it was still pretty toxic and physically aggressively I mean it was anyway so it's not like that anymore. So I want to really just thank everybody that we are here where we are. We have moved from the days of the public being gabbled down, physical aggression and bullying along with a harsh mid-year firing of teachers, including art teachers, librarians, and music teachers, and a slashing of sports with little or no discussion or consideration of the impact due to severe budgetary shortfall to a place where we still have to make difficult budget decisions, but

066they've been marked by ongoing discussions, transparency, and invited public input. Tonight was another example of how we're talking about data. We spent I spent three years on this board asking for data and not getting it and the only data we got was data that looked good and we didn't talk about difficult things, right? So Ginger Veil is talking about kids who are really struggling, right? And people who are having a hard time and how and that that we're not scared to say that, right? um or that there are differences or that we're not at 95% but we're here and we're growing and that's what matters. And so I'm just thrilled about that. I'm proud that we're looking at a librarian in every elementary school and ongoing support for arts and music with a focus on

067social emotional learning. It's critical to remember that art saves lives. I have only one more paragraph. Um there is room on this board for a diversity of opinion. We may not have expressed that as much as we might. Um there are diverse opinions. Uh we have been able to come together and reach consensus on many of the issues facing us. If you are not prepared to work toward consensus, don't run for the board. It doesn't mean not having opinion. It means being able to share them with others, hear others, look at the data together, and to work together to come up with a decision everyone can support. It is only when a board operates together as much as possible that it can most effectively serve the district. not to serve some external political agenda or

068serve a personal vendetta or even to serve a portion of the district. Once we are elected, our job is to serve the entire district to the best of our ability. Um, we are imperfect beings in an imperfect world. But I can say that everyone I've served with has brought their best selves to this work as much as possible and that over the past month um over the past few months, folks have threatened to vote us out. One, voting is never a threat. It is a privilege and a right in this country, which I'm so grateful for. Vote for who you support. Don't just vote against somebody. Stay engaged. Work for good in bettering ourselves, our community, our schools. Energy spent otherwise is wasted. And I just want to end with a story that Ginger um

069so my daughter visited this school at the end of her eighth grade year. an administrator saw her in the hall and said, "Who are you? You don't belong here." Which I would classify as a as a reactive and closed response. And I really feel strongly that we are now at a place where the response might be, "Who are you? I don't know you. How can I help you? Welcome to our school and being more responsive and open." So, I just want to thank everybody for the opportunity to serve. And I'm looking forward to the work ahead. And we have several months before this term is over. So, thank you. Yeah, I'm not going to talk half as long. I just wanted to say um thank you to uh for the tour tonight. I thought it

070was fantastic. Um you know, we go to all the elementary schools. We visit the elementary schools and we get a tour there. We get to see the kids and we get a presentation, but we really don't do that when we come to the high school and we're here all the time. So, um I think it was great. I I really enjoyed it uh very much. Um, I wish I had kids that were still going to go through junior high, but they're they're not. Um, but I'm excited about that because I I look at the programs that you're offering and I I feel like we have spent so much time here. Um, struggling um, and now it feels like there's there's actual product. There's being work that's being done and we can see it and and

071you know, you give us the data. you know, you've increased your numbers even by more than what you, you know, you set out to do. And um I think that's fantastic. I loved all the rooms that we went to. I really appreciate uh learning about the different uh rooms. I I love the reading room. I mean, I want to go there right now. And um and and I think it's it's so great that we offer this to our to our children, you know, that we can say to them, you know, if you're having a rough day or if you're struggling or whatever, you can literally go sit on a bean bag chair and just relax, you know, and and and center yourself again and and figure out what's going on, you know, if you if

072and I know that my kids especially really look for that, you know, they look for that safe place to go. It's really important to have a safe place for these kids to go and I appreciate that. Um I also appreciate the um the the sports kids. Uh I really appreciate the girls, you know, today being International Women's Day. Um I appreciate the singers and the art. Uh and it it's just um we've been struggling for a very long time. At least I have being on the board making these decisions. Um, and it's just nice to see that there are good things that are coming out of of all of these um, hard decisions that we've had to to make. And I still think about it all the time and I still second guess myself all

073the time. And I I I just hope that we're doing the right thing. But I um appreciate everybody very much and I just want people to know that that uh you know we we listen and we take things to heart and we we tried we have tried our best during our times here to make things better and you know just the presentations tonight have have shown us that I think maybe we were in the right direction. So, thank you. Just go down the line. I think so. I, you know, as as a parent when when you go through school, um, usually it's like once a year you meet your kids teacher for 5 minutes or 10 minutes and they tell you about the course. And being a teacher, it's kind of like the night you

074dread. It's the longest night of the year. Um I if you could see the room that they're talking about um it was phenomenal. There was a definite wow factor. Um tonight tonight was a good meeting. Tonight was a good night. Uh there was a lot of things that I saw and heard tonight. Um you know from the tour. It's always great listening to the kids sing. You know it's it's always wonderful. Um and and you know that happens because of community engagement and dedication of all staff. All staff. Um looking at the agenda, I see that there are a lot of people on the agenda that we will approve tonight for retirement. And I would like to thank them for their service and dedication not only to our students but also to our district and

075our community. I wish them well. I wish them um you know happiness in the next stage of their life. I'm somewhat envious. Um but um you know I wish them good fortune and thank everybody for you know coming out and um having an opinion. I could say ditto to everything being the last person, but I I promise I won't. Um, yeah, thank you to the choir. Um, thank you for Boston, the president of the junior high student council for speaking tonight. Um, Ginger and Lee, what what a great tour. um uh you know I've only been on board 5 years but I was at the district for many more than that but that it was really nice seeing those rooms and the support providing for all students and the new programming that you're doing. Thank

076you Mrs. Dilva and Mrs. Corso and Mrs. Millinsson for being here tonight and Miss Milson had some students in that wonderful reading room that was great. Um it's great to have her aboard as one of our um social workers. I really like the snack. I think they changed the name to snack, chat, and connect now. I I could go hang out there and snack and chat and connect. Um get away from my husband for a few hours. Um to the student athletes. Again, kudos. Um especially the the girls. It's nice to see so many girls names there. Um kudos to the boys, too. But again, on this international day of the uh woman. Um, and thank you and best wishes to, yes, all the faculty and staff that are on here that are going to

077retire. Also, best wishes to those people that we are also appointing tonight. And I think that's it. Thank you all for coming. Also, uh, one of our board members, Mr. Wells, is out there in cyerspace. I don't know if he wishes to, uh, comment on anything. Um, I don't know. Can you guys hear me? Yes. All right. Good. Um, I'm sorry that I can't be there in person. Obviously, I wanted to be there tonight to uh to get the opportunity to take a tour of the school as well. It sounds like I missed a uh a really great tour, and I'm sad to hear that, but uh you know, I'm I'm excited. My son is going into junior high next year, so I'm excited about uh some of the things that I'm hearing and seeing

078uh as I'm sitting here, you know, I'm texting him saying, "Hey, you know, this this might be an option next year." And he's getting all excited about it. So the the things that I'm seeing coming up for him is is really awesome and I'm super super excited for him and I'm super excited for all the rest of the students that are going to be coming up and through there as well. Um you know the uh the presentation thank you Ginger for for your presentation tonight. Um everything I I love just seeing it kind of changing the way it has in the past year. year. I mean, you went from 178 uh mailings that you had last year to I think it was 50 something this year. Like, that's just the improvements that we're making in

079a not great environment with CO and whatnot. Um it's it's great to see that as well. Um but, uh you know, congratulations to the the uh retirement. I wish you guys all the best and as Sue said, uh to the new hires as well, I wish you guys the best. um you know and uh Katie um you know good luck after uh after the uh the board I mean for me personally as still kind of the newest member of the board the the entire board has been a huge wealth of knowledge for me um every every person on this board brings like this this amazing amount of knowledge that I'm sometimes overwhelmed by as uh as it's just it's it's crazy to me and Katie you've been like a huge huge part of that uh

080as well as anybody else on the board and and I admire a lot of the things you brought to the table and I I truly appreciate some of the things perspectives that you've given me that you know maybe I didn't have when I when I first started sitting on the board. Um and that that's the wonderful thing about this board is we are very diverse but we we don't always seem more diverse. Um, you know, there are discussions where we don't necessarily agree and but we do kind of come to the the common denominator that we want the school district to continue to get better and continue to grow. And I think that's the one thing that we have um that that helps us continue to look into the future and and make this school

081district a better place for our students and our staff. Um, so that's kind of all I got, but thank you very much for everybody tonight and uh sorry I couldn't be there in person. Thank you, Tim. Um, move to board president's remarks. Um, I want to thank uh Mr. Molino, Miss Vale for the tour, the uh presentation tonight, the students. Uh, we have these two teachers up front here who like uh it just blew me away to see what you're doing. Uh, you know, I was thinking back to my uh time in junior high ducking punches from Sister Mary Francis to see such a warm, nurturing environment. Uh, you know, I I found out there was a math nook, a refuge sit to uh, you know, groove on some math. Like, who knew? Um, and

082you know, the targeted learning like I remember getting sent down to the principal's office cuz uh, my handwriting was sloppy. I was actually punished for having bad handwriting rather than taught how to write correctly. So, to see that u, I know the students in your rooms are in great hands and I know it's uh, above and beyond, you know, just a job. It's it's really a care mission. So it was really uh did my heart to see that tonight. Uh some board meetings not so much. So you know there's the board meetings you go to where uh they're selling torches and pitchforks at half off at some hardware before you come to a meeting. And this wasn't one of them. This was one where you really feel um good about being on the board. U

083the emotion that's coming out of our board members tonight um hopefully is an indication of that. And yet I know on um social media and thank you Mrs. for putting that social media tutorial in there. Um, some of the comments in the past few months uh directed at the board um weren't great, but they also showed uh I think a lack of understanding of what it takes to be on the board. Uh there was one on the parents group uh somebody commented, "Get them all off. They're just there for a paycheck." Well, with the state of the economy, our paychecks aren't too good at being on board. Um, so I we talked to after uh seeing that and um uh Miss Baringer resurrected a presentation of what it takes to be on the board. We're

084going to have three vacancies uh this u coming election in May. So next week there's a board meeting on the 15th and we're fine-tuning that and updating that presentation. If anybody's interested in being on the board, um advise you to maybe come out and see that or talk to one of the board members and so forth. Um, you know, uh, the last couple elections with board members, uh, board members ran uno on oppo opposed. Um, and I'm not sure that's a great thing. I like, uh, to see, you know, uh, some competition out there. So, get the the people who were meant to be on the board, not just to be an apathetic rollover. So, again, thank you so much for uh, teaching that you're doing tonight, for uh, the administration that uh, is pushing

085forward learning uh, for Mr. Reinhardt. um getting um the uh transition of repurposing a school as difficult as that was um there's a lot of good stuff happening in so um you know we uh we'll take your advice to try and become more transparent on some of the financial uh ends of things u and again u as public you can uh email forward our emails are all available on the website if you have questions about things or if there's something you don't understand or would like to see us address um at a board meeting, feel free to uh communicate with us. So, that being said, uh do you guys need to take a break or do you want to keep moving on through the agenda? All right, Grenlin, you're on. So, good evening. Good evening.

086It's on now, right? Okay. So, I'm just going to take a few minutes to give uh a brief update of curriculum and instruction and just ditto to everything. What a joyful night. My eyes welled up to hear the students sing. It's so beautiful to hear live music. I feel like I missed my calling. I'm the youngest of seven. They were all wrestlers. My family's like state champions from Long Island. So, they practiced on me for years. So, just so awesome. What a great night. Not all nights are like this. So, I just want to bask in it with all of you. So to continue with our celebration of joy and learning, I want to share that the ELA lead teachers and Cheryl Nusafero to my knowledge was the assistant superintendent who created the lead teachers

087here in Sogerties. Am I right about that? Sue, you'll be my helper with history. um they helped and collaborated with creating a philosophy of literacy and the reason why we need a philosophy of literacy is because it will be our north star of what we purchase. It will be our north star of our pedagogical practices and what truly matters. And this was an expanded group. We included some social studies teachers, an ENL teacher, and um Trish Pepatone, who this year has been everything. You know, I think at this point she was still a librarian, but maybe interviewing for the dean position. So, she was included as well. So, I just want to read this out loud because in an interview with uh Dan and I had with some of our staff recently, um one of

088our staff members welled up and she said, "I am so proud that we did this." So, the Sogerty Central School District believes that literacy is a human right. Our students will engage in multiple literacies to explore the world and themselves to connect with others and to solve problems within and beyond our community. Literacy instruction in so embraces research and standardsbased instruction. We are committed to providing diverse, innovative, and joyful literacy experiences that prepare each student to be globally literate and reach 21st century success. It's pretty powerful and words matter and those are our teachers words and I'm very proud of the collaborative work that they did as well. So to continue this learning and this thread of preparing globally literate teachers, students, classrooms, schools, and a whole district. We're going to for this Friday, we

089have a half day. We will continue at the secondary level 7 through 12. We will continue working with Dr. Javon Hunter. And we will continue working on expanding our knowledge using the culturally responsive sustaining education framework called the CRS which is the same beautiful document from SED that we're using in our diversity, equity and inclusion committee. It's a powerful framework and it gives a a lot of guidance. So our teachers began looking at it. Uh Dr. Hunter will spend about just shy of an hour and a half with us to continue the thread of thinking what are we already doing and what might be our next steps. Following that, uh Tim and Ginger and I have collaborated in designing department specific workshops and I just want to highlight a few of them because it's pretty

090awesome. So we have the Arburn coming and the Arburn is a wonderful resource sense center. Uh it's the regional bilingual educational resource network. They work out of the state. They have a huge resource. Uh they do so much professional development on English language learners or multilingual learners and it's all free. It's their job and they're such great experts. And um so they're going to do a workshop on English language learners at the secondary level. Often there's some confusion about is it a language acquisition issue or you know what does mastery look like when you come from another country and you're a teenager. It looks very different. And then even more importantly, how do you assess and grade for an English language learner, which is where we need to get to. So, we're going to start

091with the introductory and move into intermediate and eventually we need to build up to how do we assess and grade English language learners who are teenagers. Um, so that's one of the great things that is happening. Uh, we also have our physical education department is going to be creating some student choice units which is pretty awesome. Um Tim is going to facilitate the performing and visual arts and creating common themes so that when you come to a concert there will also be a gallery with a same theme focusing on multiculturalism uh women composers uh unknown composers. So, lots of really neat things uh happening there in the arts. Also, uh one of the neatest things uh is we have Chelsea Defino who is a brand new teacher as you all know here, not a brand

092new teacher in general. um and she's an ambassador for NASA for the STEM department and she needs to do so many hours in professional development and she asked me may I uh share some resources and I had a meeting with uh her uh the person who works with her to oversee her research and his name is Matt Pierce and he is the director of the Gddard Space Institute STEM education. So they are going to work with our science and technology teachers showing all it is a plethora of resources that NASA has for educators. So they will explore all those incredibly free resources then have some time to apply it to their own curriculum. So that's just a taste of what's happening at the secondary level. Really cool, right? I mean, we've got NASA coming on

093Friday. That's cool. Let's celebrate that. Um, so now I want to just pause literally, figuratively, about what we're going to do for elementary. Um, deep breath. We need to attend to our teachers and staff and principles. Um so in lie of the restructuring they need to be attended to. They need to be heard. We need to support one another. So I pitched an idea to Mr. Reinhardt. He was immediately on board. I pitched it to my colleagues. got their support and we are going to support our teachers through listening labs. And the idea is it's a restorative way to really listen to each each other and attend to each other deeply and address the fact that change is very much like grieving. Each one of you has seen that grieving process as a board member.

094And even in my short time here at these meetings, we've seen anger, bargaining, uh depression, and finally or not, acceptance, right? So, they're going to help us move through this change process. And the reason why is our teachers and our staff need to be able to support our students in a positive way. If we think about our world, there are so many incredible things that have happened through change voluntarily and involuntarily. And we want to just pause and do the right thing for our staff. And there is a mountain of work that we need to do in curriculum and it's all going to get done. I promise you. But we just need to attend to everyone's minds and hearts. So I thank you in advance. I felt your support. I'm very sad Dr. Hos about

095hearing your news because I felt your support. Um I'm not going anywhere. I still live. Oh, good. Cuz I have a million committees. Well, we could bring you in on that. No, my house is my best investment, so Okay, good, good, good, good. Um, so that's the plan and I'll be happy to answer any questions. I think it's great that you're doing this because I think that there there is a, you know, I think the staff needs it. I I think, you know, from what I've been hearing, there's a lot of anxiety. Um, you know, it's just like you said, no, nobody really likes change, even if it's necessary, even if it's positive. Um, you know, you can look back on it years later and say that was a good thing that we did that,

096but for right now, it's it's very, um, you know, it's hard. It's really hard for people. And it I, you know, I can't imagine what it's like for people that are having to move buildings or, you know, they're not sure where they're going to go. Um, it's very hard for me to, you know, think that I had a hand in that. So, I I appreciate the fact that you're doing this very much. like I you know I've said appreciate it a hundred times today but I I do I I think it's necessary and um and it means a lot that you're taking the time to you know hit the pause pause button and say you know do what's necessary to to help uh in whatever way you think that they need it and I I

097think that that's great. Excellent. I just want to um echo everything that um Elena has said. Um in regards to the uh the philosophy of literacy, I want to send huge kudos to the expanded ELA and math teacher. Um math. Yes, math. Kathy, you were part of that. Math was part of that, too. Yes. Um it it's very complex. It's initially I was like class a lot of words you know and coming from the board table when you say this is going to be our um our compass for making decisions and for deciding on on purchasing for me it's the big thing about money. Okay, that's a lot of words to then tell me how we're going to spend the money. So um but I do want to I I feel like it it's good.

098It's solid and it really is um shows what we're really as a district trying to get to and in particularly the globally globally literate um and how you've really focused on um that kind of direction for our compass and I've seen it already. So, that's what's really making me excited. And I just want to highlight walking around the the um the halls today and seeing multi-ingual signs describing a window is so welcoming to someone who might not speak English. Just to see their language in the hallways is it was just I was so thrilled to see things like that to know that we have I believe it's a junior high um Japanese arts club 7 to 12 7 to 12 the whole the yes to know that we're really taking in some other cult it's

099we're expanding in the last I want to say four months culturally in so many different ways and it's just so exciting so I just want to thank the committee and and thank all the work that's going in on a daily basis um it's impressive I just um you know I I I think what everybody said is, you know, rings true. I mean, I moved my desk to my classroom and the kids kind of didn't know what to do. Um, and that was like a small change. Is is there anything you need from us as a board to help facilitate this? You know, just you asking is amazing. I certainly will simmer on that. So will my colleagues um and uh you know I appreciate that we feel your support. So thank you so much. You

100know we believe very strongly if the adults are healthy the students will be healthy and that's the goal. One one thing um I've been on the board quite a while and um had a few kids go through the system and I think unfortunately many times when something's raised it it becomes personal and it and it often isn't and if there's anything training wise or you know um any kind of groups that we can work with to let you know I think it's important for the teachers know that but I get like you know staff they're going to feel it's personal when things are questioned and um I think that's huge because you know if they don't feel it's a personal thing it's I think everybody's going to have a better time working together and you

101know let's face it kids you know they feel it's personal when they get spoken to about their grades so it's it's human nature but to get past that um again I think anything we could do to support that I appreciate that thank I'll entertain a motion to approve um items M1 2 3 and items N1 two and three move by Mr. Moody. Is there a second? Miss Gage, any discussion? Miss Barington, just one uh quick item and I I think I'm in the right section. This was for N um oh M3 and it's in regard I just to put on the table um we've had it uh as Katie was saying we had discussion offline um I asked a question and I got answers in regards to um female coaches and I just wanted to

102highlight that um we on the board note that we've discussed this in the as we don't have a lot of female coaches coaching female teams. So when we have a replacement coming up that um we we're noting that you know we had someone come off who was a female coach and we're replacing with a male coach. So just putting on the table that we as a board, it's not a time that we can turn around and say, "Okay, well, we can't approve cuz you know, we need coaches." But this is still a huge issue that we've noted in the past and I just want to if we can just continue to it's important female coaches for female teams. It's important and especially on the international day of Yeah. I just wanted to um say I

103mean these retirements are unbelievable. There's so many staff from you know teachers to uh TAs to um custodial workers and secretaries and aids and all sorts of of people here. We have a lot of people leaving and it's probably many many many years of service and so they should all be thanked and congratulated and you know I wish them all well. Yeah, I I agree with you and I I think u as we come out of co um maybe we can uh one of the things we had talked about for quite a while on the board was the celebration of uh people who are transitioning uh retiring receiving tenure uh maybe new legally hired. So, it would be nice uh towards the end of this academic year to have uh some such thing. Bring some

104people in, have their families, and just really celebrate the uh dedication that they've given to this district. Okay. Any no further discussion? I'll call for a vote. All those in favor say I. I'll entertain a motion for the business software recommendations items 01 through 012. Motion motion by that. Yes. And is there a second by Mr. Rooney discussion? I just have a clarifying question. So we're we're we're approving Tetra Tech first and then reviewing them again for different Yeah, I did. I knew that I but but like we're so we're recruiting them to hire them and then we're approving them and what they're going to do for us is that no two different purposes. So the first one is um amendment to the agreement project at this site. Um, so that's what that agreement is

105for. Okay. Any other discussion? Then being heard, I'll call for a vote. All those in favor to say I. I. Uh, board action discussions items. I will entertain a motion to move item 4 P4 into executive session for discussion right now. No. when we we have an executive session, but I want to take that off the table so we'll continue discussing executive session. So motion motion. Is there a second? Second. Second by Mr. McCclary. Uh any discussion? None being heard. I'll call for a vote. All those in favor say I. I. And I will then entertain a motion to approve items P 1 2 3 5 6 7 8 9 10 11. Moved by Mr. Gage. Second by Mr. McCclary. Any discussion? I I love the the the creative comics club. I think that's fantastic.

106I I wish you guys had that on my first school year because he would have he would have read that. So I think that's wonderful. I just want to say that. And just to follow up, that's exactly I the creative comic club. I am so excited and I was thrilled that we actually got to see one of the comets that they designed. And it truly and what really excited me is um it was about a race and um the drawings of um a milk truck winning the race. And in particular why it struck me is that that actually happened at a Cub Scout meeting here in Saudis with the uh with the cup cars. So, just so you know, it it really struck me. It was great. And thank you. Any other discussion? None being

107here. I'll call for a vote. All those in favor say I. I. I um committee reports uh facilities in. Sure. So, I'm sure people have noticed there are people in the buildings. We actually were able to start the EPC which is great. Um the capital project is I believe we've been assigned a case manager project manager sorry thanks and um so so things are are are moving moving well uh you know things are well underway which is great. Um, speaking of Facebook, um, I saw a lot of comments again about the girl's bathroom with the warm water or not having hot water. I did look into it and there is hot water. Uh, it's just you need to let it run a minute because where the water has to come from. Um, today and yesterday

108I believe it has been turned off. The metering valve has been turned off because they're doing work as far as the EPC goes. So, they're only allowed so many people in an area um because of CO regulations and everything else. So, um there is hot water. It it has been verified. Um so, I just wanted to dispel any rumors that there was not. I did look into it and it has been taken care of. Thank you. That's it. All right. Um we're going to be having a meeting in April, but we don't know when. Uh so to be determined. Okay. We'll get that out on the website. Yes. The enthusiastic policy committee. Well, we already went I know. I already went. No, we met uh this past Tuesday. Or was that just last week? No,

109today's Tuesday. So, it was last week. God, work is really busy. Um and so those are the policies that you have here that we've just approved the first read for. Um really nice conversation. I encourage everybody to look at the attendance policy. I think we've made it um that's a really important point is attendance um is whether they're here or not and how we respond when they're not here and how that all works out. So I think we've come to a really uh good and sort of simple solution that makes it a much more responsive policy. Um, and we are meeting again because we just like to meet so much. So, we're meeting at 5:30 before the meeting next week and you have to give me a policy from the audit committee. And Jane uh

110just gave me a policy on um dealing with uh surplus, right? And to look at that and see if we could have a policy that is better fits our district in terms of how we deal with surplus items. So anyway, next week 5:30 before the special board meeting. Thank you, Dr. Hos. Uh, public recognition. Any member of the public wishing to address the board approach the podium, Lauren Rubberg. Hello, Lauren Rubberg. Nine Darlings Way. Um, I just had a question. As a social studies teacher myself, I taught uh AP world history for 10 years. And I'm not certain on the course offerings for the high school, but with the understanding the cultural we want to we want to move into a an area where we have this cultural understanding. Uh I taught in Long Island.

111So my my teaching experience and my learning experience was, you know, China Institute in Manhattan. Um I was taught to teach the AP World curriculum by the creators of the curriculum. Um, I also graded the world history exam. Um, I don't think we offered the world history course, but I'm curious, do we have like a nine honors course for world history? And I do know we have Euro, but if we're trying to look at the world from a worldly perspective, um, we really need world history courses. Um, and just another observation, we need maps in our schools. We really need maps. So, if we could get maps in our schools, um, all levels, I think it would be great. But, thank you for all you do. Um, I know this has been tremendously difficult, so

112I just wanted to put that out there. Thank you. I love it. Anyone else? All right. I will entertain a motion to recess into executive session. Please move out of J second by Mr. Moody. Any discussion? Everyone being heard. I'll call for those in favor say I. I. We will be coming out