Oct 25, 2023 October 25, 2023 - Business Meeting

I JUST WANT TO SAY I APPRECIATE THAT YOU RECOGNIZED THE MANY ISSUES THAT WE'RE DEALING WITH THERE.

>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

WE'VE BEEN WORKING VERY CLOSELY WITH IN PARTICULAR, FIRE DEPARTMENT ABOUT THE INTERNAL TRAFFIC.

YOU'RE 100% CORRECT ON THAT AND REALLY HAVE MADE STRIDES IN IMPROVING THAT.

I'M GLAD THE BUTTON'S FIXED NOW TOO.

WE HAVE UPCOMING SAFETY MEETINGS.

WE'RE GOING TO BE LOOKING AT THIS IN A NUMBER OF OTHER SAFETY ISSUES TO SEE IF THERE'S MORE COLLABORATION THAT WE CAN DO TO TRY TO CONTINUE TO IMPROVE THE SAFETY CONDITIONS.

>> JUST FOR CLARIFICATION THAT THE CONSTABLES ARE EMPLOYED OR CONTROLLED BY WHICH MUNICIPALITY?

>> BY THE TOWN OF PELHAM.

>> OKAY. THAT'S GOOD TO KNOW.

YOU DON'T KNOW THIS, BUT, ARE WE TALKING TO THEM ABOUT THE CONSTABLES? HAVE THERE BEEN CONVERSATIONS?

>> THERE HAVE BEEN CONVERSATIONS.

I HAVE NOT HEARD THAT EXACT QUOTE THAT THERE'S NO FLEXIBILITY.

THAT CERTAINLY DIDN'T COME FROM ME.

I'M NOT SURE WHERE IT CAME FROM, BUT WE HAVE GOOD LINES OF COMMUNICATION WITH THE TOWN.

>> OKAY.

>> IF I COULD JUST SUGGEST THAT YOU ASSIGN SOMEBODY FROM YOUR BOARD OR FROM YOUR ADMINISTRATION TO WORK ON THIS.

>> I DON'T KNOW WHEN PUBLIC COMMENTS END THEN HOW MUCH BACK-AND-FORTH THE RED IS, WHERE THE PROTOCOL IS, BUT I'D SUGGEST A BLANKET.

WE'LL LOOK INTO IT. I'VE HEARD THAT FOR AWHILE.

I'D SUGGEST PUTTING SOMEBODY ON IT IMMEDIATELY, CHOOSING SOMEBODY AND GIVING THEM THE RESPONSIBILITY TO TAKE CARE OF IT.

[00:10:03]

>> THAT'S WHERE OUR SAFETY COMMITTEE ANSWERS THAT QUESTION.

JIM HEADS UP OUR SAFETY COMMITTEE AND MEMBERS OF THE BOARD OF EDUCATION ARE ON THAT SAFETY COMMITTEE.

THEY WILL TAKE THAT UP.

>> THANKS.

>> TO MY RECORD, I THINK.

[4.1 Superintendent's Report]

>> YEAH, 4.1 IS SUPERINTENDENT'S REPORT.

>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

AGAIN, THANK YOU FOR ADJUSTING TONIGHT.

TONIGHT WAS SUPPOSED TO BE A WORK SESSION, BUT WE'VE POSTPONED THAT AND JUST HAVE A BUDGET DISCUSSION TONIGHT AS PART OF A REGULAR BUSINESS MEETING.

BUT BEFORE WE DIVE INTO THAT, I DON'T KNOW IF PEOPLE REALIZE THAT WE'RE NOT.

THIS WEEK IS NEW YORK STATE SCHOOL BOARD APPRECIATION WEEK.

IN YOUR FOLDER IS A LITTLE CERTIFICATE OF APPRECIATION AND THANKS FROM THE DISTRICT FOR OUR BOARD MEMBERS WHO HAD THE PLEASURE OF COMING TO THIS AND DOING ALL OF OUR COMMITTEE WORK AND OUR BOARD MEETINGS AND THE INCREDIBLE AMOUNT OF TIME THAT THEY INVEST IN BEING HERE ALL FOR THE LARGE SALARY OF ZERO.

[LAUGHTER] I DO THANK YOU REALLY FOR YOUR CONTINUED WORK AND ALL THE TIME AND COMMITMENT THAT YOU INVEST NOT FOR JUST YOUR OWN CHILD'S BENEFIT, BUT FOR THE BENEFIT OF EVERY CHILD IN THE PELHAM SCHOOLS.

PEOPLE WHO RUN FOR SCHOOL BOARD, I ALWAYS FEEL LIKE HAVE A VERY UNIQUE NATURE BECAUSE IT IS NOT ABOUT POLITICS, IT'S ABOUT KIDS, ALL KIDS.

I THINK THAT'S JUST A UNIQUE QUALITY ABOUT IT THAT I THINK PROBABLY MAKES IT ONE OF THE MORE SATISFYING PUBLIC SERVICE OPPORTUNITIES.

THANK YOU ALL FOR HAVING PUT YOURSELVES OUT THERE AND BEING PART OF THE DISTRICT AND FOR EVERYTHING THAT YOU DO ALONGSIDE US EACH DAY.

I DO WANT TO READ A PROCLAMATION INTO THE RECORD THAT GOVERNOR HOCHUL HAS MADE FOR TODAY.

IT IS PROCLAMATION, WHEREAS NEW YORK STATE HAS ONE OF THE BEST PUBLIC EDUCATION SYSTEMS IN THE NATION, WHICH IS COMPRISED OF 731 SCHOOL DISTRICTS, OVERSEEN BY MORE THAN 700 SCHOOL BOARDS WHOSE MEMBERS ARE THE EDUCATIONAL LEADERS IN THEIR COMMUNITIES, DETERMINING POLICIES THAT GOVERN THE OPERATION OF THEIR LOCAL PUBLIC SCHOOL SYSTEMS, AND PROVIDING GUIDANCE FOR A STATEWIDE SCHOOL SYSTEM THAT SERVES NEARLY 2.7 MILLION OF NEW YORK STATE'S CHILDREN.

WHEREAS OUR STATE'S PUBLIC SCHOOLS CONSISTENTLY MAINTAIN HIGH STANDARDS AND EVERY ASPECT OF A STUDENT'S LEARNING EXPERIENCE SO AS TO BEST MEET THE EDUCATIONAL NEEDS OF ALL CHILDREN AND TO EMPOWER THEM TO BECOME INFORMED, PRODUCTIVE CONTRIBUTORS TO SOCIETY IN AN EVER-CHANGING WORLD.

WHEREAS WE RECOGNIZE THE ROLE OF SCHOOL BOARDS AND PARTNERING WITH SCHOOL ADMINISTRATORS AND EDUCATORS TO PROVIDE STUDENTS WITH A SAFE AND HEALTHY LEARNING ENVIRONMENT AND ENSURE OPTIMAL OPPORTUNITIES FOR INTELLECTUAL AND PERSONAL GROWTH.

WHEREAS MEMBERS OF SCHOOL, LOCAL SCHOOL BOARDS ARE COMMITTED TO SERVING THE CHILDREN IN SCHOOLS OF OUR COMMUNITIES AND DEVOTE MANY HOURS TO ELEMENTARY AND SECONDARY PUBLIC EDUCATION AS THEY CONTINUALLY STRIVE FOR IMPROVEMENT, EXCELLENCE, AND PROGRESS IN EDUCATION, RECOGNIZING THAT ALL CHILDREN CAN BE SUCCESSFUL LEARNERS.

WHEREAS THESE DEDICATED INDIVIDUALS ARE STRONG ADVOCATES FOR PUBLIC EDUCATION AND ARE RESPONSIBLE FOR COMMUNICATING THE NEEDS OF THE SCHOOL DISTRICT TO THE PUBLIC, AND THE PUBLIC'S EXPECTATIONS TO THE DISTRICT BY WORKING CLOSELY WITH PARENTS, EDUCATIONAL PROFESSIONALS, AND OTHER COMMUNITY MEMBERS.

WHEREAS DURING SCHOOL BOARD RECOGNITION WEEK, SPECIAL ACTIVITIES AND PROGRAMS WILL BE HELD IN COMMUNITIES ACROSS NEW YORK STATE.

IT IS FITTING TO JOIN AND ACKNOWLEDGING THE COMMITMENT AND CONTRIBUTIONS OF MEMBERS OF LOCAL SCHOOL BOARDS WHO HELPS STRENGTHEN OUR PUBLIC SCHOOLS AND ENSURE THE BEST EDUCATIONAL EXPERIENCE FOR OUR CHILDREN.

NOW THEREFORE, I, ON HER BEHALF, KATHY HOCHUL, GOVERNOR OF NEW YORK STATE, DO HEREBY PROCLAIM SEPTEMBER 16TH-20TH, 2023 AS SCHOOL BOARD RECOGNITION WEEK.

CONGRATULATIONS FROM OUR GOVERNOR.

THANKS FROM MYSELF, THE CABINET, AND OUR ENTIRE DISTRICT FOR ALL YOU DO.

[APPLAUSE] A FEW MORE ITEMS TONIGHT.

I'M STARTING WITH SOME RECOGNITIONS, AND I THINK ON THE HEELS OF OUR COMMUNICATIONS AUDIT, THIS IS SOMETHING THE FOLKS SHOULD BE A LITTLE BIT PROUD OF.

PRIOR TO OUR AUDIT, THE DISTRICT'S SUBMITTED TO INNSBRUCK, THE NEW YORK SCHOOLS PUBLIC RELATIONS ASSOCIATIONS, IT'S THE SAME ORGANIZATION THAT ACTUALLY CONDUCTED OUR AUDIT.

THEY OFFER AWARDS OPPORTUNITIES EACH YEAR.

THE DISTRICT DID SUBMIT, AND PELHAM WAS SELECTED TO WIN THREE OF THOSE COMMUNICATIONS AWARDS FOR WORK DONE IN THE PAST SCHOOL YEAR.

THOSE SPECIFIC AWARDS WERE THE AWARD OF EXCELLENCE FOR OUR BUDGET BOND NEWSLETTER, WHICH WAS DESIGNED AND CREATED BY ALEX WOLF AND BETH POLLOCK, OUR GRAPHIC DESIGNER.

[00:15:01]

WE ALSO WON THE AWARD OF MERIT FOR A STRATEGIC CAMPAIGN FOR THE DISTRICT MEDICAL INCIDENT.

AS YOU MIGHT REMEMBER, THIS WAS FOR THE CRISIS COMMUNICATIONS DURING THE AFTERMATH OF STUDENTS BECOMING ILL AT THE HIGH SCHOOL LAST YEAR.

THAT WAS SUBMITTED FOR THE WORK THAT ALEX AND I DID TOGETHER.

AWARD OF MERIT FOR STRATEGIC CAMPAIGN.

I KNOW THE BOARD WILL REMEMBER THIS AS WELL, THE DEFINING EXCELLENCE CAMPAIGN THAT WE DID THROUGHOUT LAST YEAR, COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT.

THIS WAS PRESENTATIONS, PROMOTIONAL MATERIALS, THE WORLD CAFE COMMUNITY EVENT, THE VIDEO THAT WE USED AS PART OF THE WORK SESSION PANEL DISCUSSION, AND THE BOARD WRAP-UP ARTICLE.

ALL WERE PART AND PARCEL OF THAT COMMUNICATIONS PLAN.

AGAIN, THAT WAS WORK DONE BY MYSELF, DR. BOWMAN, AND ALEX.

CONGRATULATIONS AND EXTREME THANKS TO ALEX.

HE'S NOT WITH US TONIGHT, BUT HE CONTINUES TO JUST DO EXCELLENT WORK AND TO CONTINUE TO WANT TO GROW IN HIS PRACTICE.

HE'S REALLY BEEN JUST LEADING US IN SOME GREAT DIRECTIONS.

HE AND I HAD A CHANCE TO SIT DOWN TODAY AND TO REVIEW OUR PROGRESS ON OUR OWN INTERNAL STRATEGIC PLAN THAT WE'VE CREATED IN HIS AREA RELATED TO THE INITIAL IMPLEMENTATION OF RECOMMENDATIONS FROM THE AUDIT.

IT'S NICE TO SEE WHERE WE ARE ON TRACK, MAKE SOME ADJUSTMENTS AND JUST TO KEEP OURSELVES REALLY ON PAY.

CONGRATULATIONS REALLY TO ALEX AND TO ALL OF US AS A DISTRICT FOR THE PIECES OF THE PUZZLE THAT WE ALL PLAY IN THAT.

ACTUALLY JUST TODAY, THANK YOU TO PAULINE, WHO I SPENT A LOT OF TIME PUTTING OUT SOME EMAILS TODAY TO NOTIFY FOLKS.

WE ARE SO THANKFUL TO THE COMMUNITY FOR FOLKS WHO STEPPED UP AND APPLIED TO BE ON DISTRICT COMMITTEES.

IT'S A GREAT VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITY AS WELL.

TREMENDOUS TURNOUT.

I DON'T HAVE THE EXACT NUMBER, BUT WE ALWAYS HAVE FAR MORE PEOPLE THAT APPLY THAT WE'RE ABLE TO OFFER SEATS TOO, SO WE DO THANK EVERYONE FOR APPLYING.

THOSE NOTIFICATIONS ARE GOING OUT AS WE SPEAK.

WE LOOK FORWARD TO THE INVOLVEMENT OF OUR COMMUNITY AND PARENTS IN OUR ONGOING COMMITTEE WORK.

YOU SHOULD BE EXPECTING TO SEE A LOT MORE COMMITTEE UPDATES AND THE MEETINGS.

ANOTHER EXCITING THING, AND I'M GOING TO GIVE SOME CREDIT TO A GENTLEMAN WHO'S IN THE BACK OF THE ROOM RIGHT NOW WHO'S HERE PROBABLY JUST BECAUSE HE HAD NOTHING ELSE TO DO TONIGHT.

SOME OF YOU MAY REMEMBER WE HAD A RIBBON CUTTING FOR THE NEW SOLENOID (PHONETIC) PLAYGROUNDS A COUPLE OF WEEKS BACK.

WE SAID THE SECOND SET WOULD BE COMING IN THE SPRING.

THE SECOND SET CAME THIS WEEK.

IT IS INSTALLED, THE PLAY IN PLACE, FOUNDATION IS POURED.

IT NEEDS ABOUT 48 HOURS TO CURE, BUT IT SHOULD BE READY TO GO BY SATURDAY, MAYBE EVEN FRIDAY EVENING.

I JUST WANTED TO REALLY THANK JOHN CONDON FOR HIS CONTINUED DILIGENCE IN THAT, REALLY FACILITATING THAT WORK, SEEING THE WINDOW OF OPPORTUNITY WEATHER WISE, TO SEE IF WE PUSHED, WE COULD GET THIS DONE.

ESPECIALLY GIVEN THAT ALL SOLENOID HAS HAD TO ENDURE WITH BROKEN SLIDES AND REALLY PUTTING UP WITH ALL THAT THROUGH LAST YEAR, WE'RE THRILLED THAT THEY NOW HAVE BOTH BRAND NEW SETS INSTALLED AND READY UP AND RUNNING.

THANK YOU TO JIM'S OFFICE TOO FOR HIS INVOLVEMENT IN THAT.

THANK YOU TO MR. JOHNSON FOR THE DESIGN ON THAT AND WORKING WITH PTA.

WE'RE JUST REALLY EXCITED TO HAVE THAT COMPLETE.

ONE STUDENT EXCITING THING TO START OFF THE YEAR WITH.

YOU'RE GOING TO HEAR THIS THROUGHOUT THE YEAR AS WELL AS WE ALWAYS DO.

THE PELHAM MEMORIAL HIGH SCHOOL FORENSICS TEAM, THE FORENSICS SPEECH TEAM COMPETED AT HUGH MCEVOY MEMORIAL TOURNAMENT AT THE BRONX HIGH SCHOOL OF SCIENCE.

THIS PAST WEEKEND, OVER 600 STUDENTS COMPETED IN VARIOUS CATEGORIES.

CONGRATULATIONS GO TO JUNIOR CHRISTOPHER AMIRA FOR WINNING FIFTH PLACE OVERALL IN CONGRESSIONAL DEBATES.

EXCITING FOR CHRIS.

YES, THAT'S THE BEGINNING OF WHAT I'M SURE WILL BE MANY, MANY AWARDS COMING OUR WAY.

ONLY ONE OTHER ITEM I WANTED TO MENTION TONIGHT.

I KNOW THAT THERE WAS A LITTLE BIT OF A CONVERSATION ON SOCIAL MEDIA, JUST GOOD QUESTIONS FOLLOWING CERTAINLY OUR PRESENTATION LAST TIME, BUT THERE WAS A DEBATE ABOUT REGENTS DIPLOMAS.

I JUST WANTED TO REMIND FOLKS, AND MANY FOLKS DO KNOW THIS, THE REQUIREMENTS FOR DIPLOMAS ARE SET BY NEW YORK STATE.

THERE'S REGENTS DIPLOMAS, THERE'S DIFFERENT TYPES OF DIPLOMAS, THERE ARE DIFFERENT PATHWAYS TO DIPLOMAS.

THAT IS ALL OVERSEEN AND DETERMINED AND HANDED TO US THROUGH REGULATION BY NEW YORK STATE.

IF FOLKS HAVE QUESTIONS ABOUT THAT, YOUR SCHOOL GUIDANCE COUNSELOR, BUILDING ASSISTANT PRINCIPAL, THOSE ARE THE BEST PEOPLE TO GO TO WITH THOSE QUESTIONS.

THERE'S A LOT OF NUANCE TO IT.

WHEN WE WERE ALL GOING THROUGH SCHOOL, THOSE OF US WHO WENT TO NEW YORK STATE, IT WAS PRETTY STRAIGHTFORWARD AND SIMPLE.

THERE WAS YOUR FIVE BASICS AND THEN THERE WAS A COUPLE OF OTHER ONES IF YOU WANTED THE ADVANCED REGENTS DIPLOMA.

[00:20:01]

NOW THERE'S A 4+1 PATHWAY SYSTEM AND THERE'S A WEALTH OF OPPORTUNITIES FOR WHAT THAT PLUS ONE MAYBE.

IT REALLY IS BETTER THAN RELYING ON WORD OF MOUTH AND RELYING ON MAYBE EXPERIENCES OF OTHER PEOPLE, ESPECIALLY IF THEIR CHILDREN WENT THROUGH SCHOOL FIVE OR MORE YEARS AGO, THINGS HAVE EVOLVED AND CHANGED A LOT.

I JUST REALLY STRONGLY ENCOURAGED FOLKS TO GO TO THE SCHOOL COUNSELING STAFF.

MIDDLE-SCHOOL SHOULD BE ABLE TO ANSWER THOSE QUESTIONS AS WELL, BUT HIGH-SCHOOL LIVES AND BREATHES THIS.

THEN THERE ARE SOME LOCAL DECISIONS ABOUT THINGS, WHAT TRANSCRIPTS LOOK LIKE, GRADING PRACTICES, THOSE THINGS.

THOSE ARE LOCAL DECISIONS.

QUESTIONS ABOUT THAT CAN BE CERTAINLY ADDRESSED TO TEACHERS OR TO OUR DIRECTORS OF CURRICULUM.

BUILDING ADMINISTRATORS, COUNSELORS CAN ANSWER MANY OF THOSE QUESTIONS AS WELL.

WE DO REVISIT THOSE THINGS FREQUENTLY.

OUR GOAL IS ALWAYS TO POSITION OUR STUDENTS IN THE BEST LIGHT AS WE WANT THEM TO BE AS SUCCESSFUL AS POSSIBLE AT SECURING THOSE POST-COLLEGE PLANS AS WHERE THEY WANT TO BE.

I JUST WANTED TO SHARE THAT INFORMATION.

THAT WRAPS UP MY REPORT FOR TONIGHT.

UNLESS THERE'S ANY QUESTIONS.

>> CAN I JUST ADD, WHILE WE'RE THANKING JOHN, WE HAD A GREAT EVENT AT GLOVER AND THE HUDSON.

JOHN AND HIS TEAM WERE SUPER HELPFUL IN ASSISTING AND BEING FLEXIBLE TO HELP US WITH THE CLEANUP OVER THERE.

JUST WANTED TO GIVE HIM A THANKS FOR THAT TOO, AND JIM.

[LAUGHTER]

>> EXCELLENT.

>> YOU CAN MOVE ON TO THE BUDGET DISCUSSION.

[4.2 Budget Discussion]

>> WITH THAT, WE'RE PLEASED TONIGHT JUST TO OFFER AN EARLY OPPORTUNITY TO HAVE A BIG PICTURE DISCUSSION ABOUT AS WE HEAD INTO BUDGET SEASON, I KNOW FOR THE BUSINESS OFFICE, THE BUDGET VOTE IS USUALLY SECOND TUESDAY, THIRD TUESDAY IN MAY.

THEN THE BUDGET CYCLE STARTS FOR THE NEXT YEAR, PRETTY MUCH THE NEXT DAY.

[LAUGHTER] THIS IS EARLIER THAN WE'VE TRADITIONALLY HAD A CONVERSATION, BUT I THINK WE WELCOME THE OPPORTUNITY NOW FOR A CONVERSATION SO THAT WE CAN UNDERSTAND AS WE HEAD INTO THE MEET OF THAT PROCESS.

REALLY THE BIG PICTURE, WHAT ARE THE BOARD'S PRIORITIES, VALUES, REALLY STRATEGIC THOUGHTS AND IDEAS ABOUT WHAT YOU WANT US TO KEEP IN MIND AS WE HEAD INTO THE BUDGET SEASON.

JIM'S GOT A, JUST A REALLY BRIEF COUPLE OF SLIDES TO TEE US UP FOR THE CONVERSATION, SET A LITTLE BIT OF STAGE OF PROCESS, CONTEXT, TIMING, SOME BIG KEY PIECES OF THE PUZZLE THAT ARE IMPORTANT TO KNOW.

THEN WE'LL OPEN UP FOR A LITTLE BIT OF DISCUSSION.

>> THANK YOU. THERE'S A LOT OF SMALL PRINT HERE FOR MEMBERS OF THE BOARD.

I'VE ALSO E-MAILED THIS PRESENTATION TO YOU WHICH YOU'LL HAVE A PDF OF IT.

FOR MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC THAT'LL BE IN BOARD DOCS AS WELL.

BUT I JUST HAVE A SHORT DECK HERE JUST TO SET THE TABLE ON THINGS WE'RE LOOKING AT AS WE DEVELOP OUR BUDGET.

WE'RE IN THE EARLY STAGES RIGHT NOW.

AS WE LOOK AT THIS BUDGET DEVELOPMENT PROCESS, AS YOU SEE IT IN THE SEPTEMBER, OCTOBER TIME FRAME, REALLY WHAT WE'RE LOOKING AT IS WE'RE WORKING ON THE DEVELOPMENT OF OUR LONG-RANGE PLAN BECAUSE THAT LETS US KNOW DIRECTIONALLY WHERE WE'RE SEEING THINGS WITH FINANCIAL RESULTS AND WHAT TO EXPECT IN THE OUT YEARS.

WE ALSO CAN BEGIN TO SEND REQUESTS OUT FOR BUDGET INFORMATION TO OUR KEY ADMINISTRATORS.

THEN AS YOU SEE HERE IN BOLD, YOU'LL SEE BOARD OF ED INPUT ON POLICY AND BUDGET PRIORITIES.

THAT'S SOMETHING THAT'S PART OF THE DISCUSSION THIS EVENING.

EARLY NEXT WEEK, WE'LL BE SENDING OUT THE BUDGET REQUEST TO EACH OF THE DEPARTMENTS.

THERE'S ABOUT A MONTHS TIME FRAME FOR THOSE DEPARTMENTS TO TURN THOSE REQUESTS AROUND, WILL REQUEST THEM AROUND THE DECEMBER 15TH TIMEFRAME.

WE BUILD IN SOME FLEXIBILITY BECAUSE IT'S VERY BUSY AT THAT TIME A YEAR, BUT CERTAINLY BY THE END OF DECEMBER, WE WON'T HAVE ALL OF OUR BUDGET REQUESTS FROM OUR OUR DEPARTMENTS.

AGAIN, AS YOU SEE THERE IN BOLD, THERE'S SOMETHING THAT SAYS KEY INFO RECEIVED.

THAT IS OUR TRS RATES.

TRS STANDS FOR TEACHERS RETIREMENT SYSTEM.

ALL OF OUR TEACHERS PARTICIPATE IN THE NEW YORK STATE TEACHERS RETIREMENT SYSTEM AS PART [OVERLAPPING].

>> I DON'T KNOW. I'M SORRY IF I MISSED IT.

JIM E-MAILED THIS TO THE BOARD?

>> AS MEMBERS OF THE TEACHERS RETIREMENT SYSTEM, THE SCHOOL DISTRICT HAS TO MAKE A CONTRIBUTION THAT'S ESTABLISHED BY THE TEACHERS RETIREMENT SYSTEM BOARD.

WE SHOULD GET SOME GUIDANCE WITHIN THE NEXT MONTH ON THE RANGE OF THAT.

IN ADDITION TO THAT, WE'LL START HEARING OTHER EARLY INFORMATION IN THE DECEMBER, JANUARY TIMEFRAME.

YOU'RE LOOKING AT BOTH OF THOSE RELATED TO THE CPI, THE CONSUMER PRICE INDEX BECAUSE WE WORK UNDER THE TAX CAP FORMULA SINCE 2012.

[00:25:05]

WE SHOULD BE GETTING A PRELIMINARY NEW YORK STATE BUDGET TO GIVE US AN UNDERSTANDING OF WHAT WE CAN EXPECT PRELIMINARILY AS FAR AS STATE AID, WE PARTICIPATE IN A MEDICAL PLAN, WE SHOULD HAVE AN UNDERSTANDING OF WHAT OUR YEAR-TO-YEAR INCREASE WE CAN EXPECT FROM OUR MEDICAL HEALTH INSURANCE PROVIDER.

THEN ALSO, WE LOOK AT ENROLLMENT PROJECTIONS.

WHERE DO WE SEE OUR ENROLLMENT ON A YEAR-TO-YEAR BASIS.

AGAIN, THAT HAPPENS IN THE JANUARY TIMEFRAME.

ALSO DURING THAT TIMEFRAME, THE SUPERINTENDENT, THE ASSISTANT SUPERINTENDENTS, ADMINISTRATORS, WE ALL MEET AND WE REVIEW THE BUDGET REQUESTS THAT HAPPENED MADE.

IN THE FEBRUARY TIMEFRAME, WILL PROVIDE THE BOARD OF ED WITH THE BUDGET CALENDAR WHICH KIND OF LISTS EACH OF THE SPECIFIC STEPS FOR THE PUBLIC HEARING WHEN THE ELECTION IS HELD, ITEMS SUCH AS THAT.

WE ALSO CONTINUE TO WORK ON THE BUDGET.

AS YOU CAN SEE, WE PROVIDE THAT INFORMATION AT THE END OF THE MUD WEEK BREAK BECAUSE THAT WEEK PROVIDES A LOT OF A LOT OF GOOD TIME FOR THE BUSINESS OFFICE TO PUT THOSE BUDGETS TOGETHER IN PHYSICAL FORMAT THAT WE MAKE AVAILABLE TO THE BOARD.

THEN WE'RE OFF TO THE RACES.

BECAUSE AGAIN, WE'RE FINISHING THE STUDENT CLASS SCHEDULES AGAIN, THOSE ARE THE FINAL TOUCHES ON THE BUDGET.

WE GO BACK THEN WE'RE OFF TO THE RACES BECAUSE THEN THE SUPERINTENDENT PROPOSES A BUDGET.

THE BOARD OF EDUCATION RECEIVES THAT BUDGET AND ASK QUESTIONS AND EVALUATES THAT BUDGET.

FROM THE MARCH TIMEFRAME, LATE FEBRUARY TO THE MID APRIL TIMEFRAME, THAT'S WHEN THE BOARD OF EDUCATION AND THE COMMUNITY HAS THE ABILITY TO HEAR ABOUT THE BUDGET THAT THE SUPERINTENDENTS PROPOSING THAT PRELIMINARY BUDGET RECOMMEND ANY CHANGES AND THEN TO PASS A BUDGET TO PUT BEFORE THE VOTERS.

AS DR. CHAMP SAID, THAT VOTE IS IN THE SECOND, MAYBE IT'S THE THIRD DAY.

> IT MIGHT BE THE THIRD.

>> THE THIRD TUESDAY IN MAY WHEN THAT VOTE GOES BEFORE THE VOTERS.

AGAIN, AS YOU LOOK AT IT, YOU'LL SEE THOSE DIFFERENT THINGS THAT WE LOOK AT THROUGH THIS BUDGET PROCESS AND DEVELOPMENT.

HERE'S THINGS WE'LL LOOK AT IS WHEN WE'RE FACTORS IN DEVELOPING OUR BUDGET.

AGAIN, THE BUDGET BEING IN THE MIDDLE, THERE'S MANY FACTORS AS YOU GO AROUND THIS CIRCLE OF THE BUDGET DEVELOPMENT.

WE'VE GOT COMMUNITY PRIORITIES ARE ANTICIPATING ENROLLMENTS, CURRICULUM MANDATES.

REMEMBER, AS PART OF THE NEW YORK STATE, STATE ED PROVIDES A NUMBER OF MANDATES THAT WE HAVE TO PROVIDE OUR TECHNOLOGY NEEDS OR FACILITY NEEDS AND THE REQUIREMENTS OF A COLLECTIVE BARGAINING AGREEMENTS.

WE ALL SHOP, WE ALL KNOW WHAT'S HAPPENED WITH THE INCREASED COST OF GOODS AND SERVICES.

HOW THAT'S GOING TO IMPACT OUR BUDGET, OUR ANTICIPATED STATE RESOURCES, THAT'S TALKS ABOUT WHAT WE ANTICIPATE OUR STATE AID TO BE.

OUR PROPERTY TAX CAP.

WE HAVE A PRETTY GOOD IDEA WHAT THAT PROPERTY TAX CAP WILL BE USING CERTAIN ASSUMPTIONS BASED ON THE CPI, BUT THAT BECOMES FINALIZED AND THE STATE CONTROLLER'S OFFICE GIVES US THAT NUMBER.

THEN THERE'S SOME OTHER THINGS ABOUT USE OF RESERVE FUNDS, INSTRUCTIONAL GOALS, AND THE VISION OF THE SCHOOL.

THOUGH ALL OF THOSE THINGS ARE LOOKED AT AND PLAY A MAJOR COMPONENT IN DEVELOPING THE BUDGET FOR THE DISTRICT.

AS YOU LOOK AT THIS, THIS IS A WALK DOWN MEMORY LANE.

IN 2008, THERE WAS A GREAT RECESSION.

CERTAINLY IT WAS AN ECONOMIC DOWNTURN AND WE SAW MANY LAYOFFS IN THE INDUSTRY.

WE'VE TALKED ABOUT THE TAX CAP, THE TAX LEVY CAP MANY TIMES, AND THAT BEGAN IN 2012.

THAT'S WHEN THE STATE HAD THE GAP ELIMINATION ADJUSTMENT.

THAT'S ALSO WHEN THE STATE RENEGED ON COMPLYING WITH THE COURT RULING FOR FOUNDATION AID.

THAT'S WHEN FOR MANY YEARS PELHAM WAS UNDERFUNDED BASED ON THAT FORMULA.

THAT CARRIED ON FOR A NUMBER OF YEARS UNTIL JUST REALLY '21, '22, WHEN IN THREE DIFFERENT TRANCHES WE SAW THAT AID INCREASE.

THAT FIRST YEAR IT WAS $850,000 IN STATE AID AND THAT WAS THE BEGINNING OF A THREE-YEAR COMMITMENT.

WE SAW SOME ONETIME FEDERAL DOLLARS THAT WE SAW ABOUT AND WE'VE TALKED ABOUT THROUGH THE BUDGET DEVELOPMENT CYCLE THAT WE'VE USED FOR CERTAIN PROGRAM.

THEN WE'VE HAD IN '22, '23 THE PHASING OF THE FOUNDATION AID, THAT WAS AN ADDITIONAL $1.5 MILLION IN STATE AID TO THE DISTRICT.

THEN THE CURRENT BUDGET YEAR, YOU SEE THE FINAL PHASE IN A FOUNDATION AID PLUS AN ADJUSTMENT OF FOUNDATION OF $2 MILLION.

THE STATE HAS BROUGHT US UP TO THAT FORMULA OVER THE LAST THREE YEARS.

WHAT DID WE DO AS WE DEVELOP THE BUDGET AGAIN, WE'RE LOOKING OUT TO THE '24/'25 THROUGH '27/'28 TIME PERIODS.

CERTAINLY, WE'RE ONLY BUDGETING FOR ONE YEAR.

WE'RE NOT BUDGETING FOR TWO YEARS LIKE SOME INSTITUTIONS DO, NOT SCHOOLS.

EARLY DISCUSSIONS AND EARLY THINGS OF WHAT WE'RE HEARING ABOUT IS THAT WE SHOULD NOT ANTICIPATE ADDITIONAL STATE AID.

IN FACT, NOT AN ADDITIONAL IN PERCENTAGE INCREASE AS WELL,

[00:30:02]

BUT WE SHOULD EXPECT FLAT AID FROM THE STATE YEAR-TO-YEAR.

WE KNOW THAT WE'VE JUST ABOUT EXHAUSTED ALL OF THOSE ONETIME FUNDS.

THEN OF COURSE, YOU'VE WATCHED THE NEWS, READ THE WALL STREET JOURNAL AND THERE'S ALWAYS DISCUSSION OF PERHAPS AN ECONOMIC DOWNTURN AND THINGS THAT CAN IMPACT THAT.

REAL INTEREST RATES BAY.

AGAIN, WILL COST CONTINUES TO INCREASE WHILE WE CONTINUE TO SEE INFLATION WHERE IT IS? WHAT IS ENROLLMENT GOING TO LOOK LIKE IN THE DISTRICT? HOW ARE THE STATE FINANCES? IS THAT GOING TO IMPACT HOW THEY FUND US YEARS MOVING FORWARD.

THEN THE IMPACT OF THE OVERALL GLOBAL ECONOMY. WHAT ARE WE GOING TO SEE.

WE CERTAINLY WE HEAR A LOT ABOUT WHAT'S HAPPENING IN THE WORLD AND WHAT COULD THAT IMPACT BE ON THE LOCAL ECONOMY AND OUR DISTRICT WITH REGARD TO DIFFERENT LEVELS OF FUNDING.

THIS SLIDE THAT YOU SEE NOW IS JUST LOOK AT WHAT OUR CPI WAS OR HAS BEEN GOING BACK TO SEPTEMBER OF '03.

THE CPI FOR 2023 IS PROJECTED AT 3.93 PERCENT BASED UPON THE TAX CAP FORMULA, THE LEVY, SO THE NUMBER THAT WE WILL BE PLUGGED IN, THAT WE WOULD PLUG IN IS 2%.

I THINK WE JUST WANT TO BE MINDFUL AND CAREFUL THAT THE 2% THAT WE'VE TALKED ABOUT IS ONE PORTION OF THE TAX CAP FORMULA.

IT DOESN'T MEAN THAT THE TAX IS GOING TO BE EXCLUSIVELY 25.

THERE'S OTHER FACTORS AND INPUTS AND OUTPUTS.

BUT IT DOES CREATE A CEILING UPON WHICH THE DISTRICT CAN RAISE TAXES WITH A SIMPLE MAJORITY BUDGET.

IF THE DISTRICT SO CHOSE TO GO BEYOND THAT, YOU NEED TO PIERCE A CAP WITH A SUPER-MAJORITY.

IN OUR TIME HERE THAT'S NOTHING THAT THE DISTRICT HAS PROPOSED, AND I DON'T THINK THAT'S ANYTHING THAT'S GOING TO BE DISCUSSED THIS EVENING AT THIS TIME AND NOT ON THE TABLE RIGHT NOW.

AGAIN, JUST LAST BUT NOT LEAST, JUST REALLY OUR KEY DATES AS WE LOOK AT IT, WE'RE DISTRIBUTING OUR BUDGET MATERIALS.

THOSE WILL COME BACK TO US IN MID-DECEMBER.

WE'RE GOING TO REVIEW THAT IN THE JANUARY, FEBRUARY TIMEFRAME, AND THEN THE SUPERINTENDENT WILL PROVIDE THAT TO THE BOARD.

AGAIN, THEN WE'RE OFF TO THE RACES WITH THE LONG BUDGET MEETINGS AND A LOT OF FINANCE COMMITTEE MEETINGS, COMMUNITY INPUT, AND ALIKE. THANK YOU.

>> THANK YOU, JIM. THANKS FOR THAT OVERVIEW.

[NOISE] WE JUST WANTED TO PROVIDE AS CONTEXT, CERTAINLY FOR THE BOARD AS WELL AS THE COMMUNITY.

WANTED AT THAT POINT REALLY TO OPEN IT UP TO CONVERSATION WITH THE BOARD ABOUT, SHARE THE QUESTION THAT I POSED AT THE BEGINNING, WHAT VALUES, OUR PRIORITIES, OUR STRATEGIC DIRECTION WOULD YOU LIKE TO SEE US KEEP IN MIND AS WE HEAD THROUGH THIS PROCESS THAT JIM HAS NOW LAID OUT THROUGH THESE NEXT COUPLE OF MONTHS IN PARTICULAR AS WE WORK TO BEGIN TO ASSEMBLE THE BUDGET FOR NEXT YEAR.

>> I CAN GO FIRST. I'LL BE ON THE TIP OF THE SPEAR.

SO I GUESS, I'VE GOT THREE THINGS ON MY MIND THAT I'D LIKE TO SHARE AND I'VE SAID THIS BEFORE, SO FORGIVE ME IF YOU KNOW WHAT'S COMING, BUT [OVERLAPPING]

>> I WON'T GIVE IT AWAY.

>> THANK YOU. BUT I THINK I'VE SAID SOME OF THESE THINGS IN PUBLIC AND I'LL SAY THEM AGAIN.

SO EVEN IF THERE'S NOT EXCITING, AT LEAST IT'S CONSISTENT.

[LAUGHTER] THE FIRST THING IS OUR, WHAT I CALL OPEX, OUR EXPENDITURE ON RUNNING THE SCHOOLS.

AND WHEN YOU LOOK AT THE SHAPE OF THE CURVE OF OUR EXPENDITURE OVER THE LAST 5, 6 YEARS, IT'S A PRETTY STEEP CURVE.

I THINK EVERYONE ACKNOWLEDGES THAT AND THERE ARE MANY GOOD REASONS FOR THAT.

BUT I DO WORRY ABOUT THE SUSTAINABILITY OF THE CURVE AS IT LOOKS LIKE OVER THE LAST FOUR OR FIVE YEARS.

I THINK IF WE MAINTAIN THAT LEVEL OF GROWTH, THEN IT'S GOING TO PUT PRESSURE ON THE LONG-TERM SUSTAINABILITY OF THE BUDGET AND THE FINANCIAL WELL-BEING OF THE DISTRICT.

AND SO I THINK THIS YEAR IS THE YEAR TO BE AMBITIOUS IN TERMS OF INCREASING OUR EXPENDITURES AND INVESTING IN HEADCOUNT, FRANKLY, BECAUSE THE MAJORITY OF OUR EXPENSES ARE HEADCOUNT.

THAT'S ONE REASON WHY I THINK WE NEED TO PUMP THE BRAKES ON SPENDING THIS YEAR BECAUSE OF THE SUSTAINABILITY.

THE SECOND REASON WHY I THINK WE NEED TO BE QUITE MODERATE IN TERMS OF OUR EXPENDITURE GROWTH IS BECAUSE THIS IS THE STRATEGIC PLAN.

AND IT WOULD SEEM SORT OF PUTTING THE CART BEFORE THE HORSE IF WE BEGAN TO INVEST IN

[00:35:01]

AREAS BEFORE NECESSARILY KNOWING WHAT OUR PRIORITIES ARE AS A DISTRICT ARE FOR THE LONG TERM.

SO I THINK JUST IN TERMS OF TIMING IN RELATION TO STRATEGIC PLANNING CONVERSATIONS THAT'S ANOTHER REASON WHY I DON'T THINK THIS IS THE YEAR TO BE INVESTING HEAVILY IN HEADCOUNT BECAUSE I DON'T KNOW WHAT THOSE AREAS WOULD BE YET.

AND WE AS A COMMUNITY ARE GOING TO WORK ON THAT OVER THE NEXT YEAR.

SO THAT'S MY FIRST BUCKET OR FIRST COMMENT.

THE SECOND COMMENT IS LOOK IN THE FINANCE COMMITTEE, WE LOOK AT LONG-RANGE PLANS, WE LOOK AT LONG-RANGE PROJECTIONS, AND WHAT THE FUTURE COULD LOOK LIKE, AND I WANT TO MAKE A COUPLE OF ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS.

THE FIRST ACKNOWLEDGMENT IS LOOK, I COMPLETELY UNDERSTAND THAT WHEN YOU LOOK OUT INTO THE FUTURE, YOU DON'T HAVE TO MAKE MANY TWEAKS, SO NEGATIVE TWEAKS, UNFAVORABLE TWEAKS TO ASSUMPTIONS AROUND FIXED COSTS LIKE HEALTH CARE, TIME, AND COSTS LIKE STATE AID.

YOU DON'T HAVE TO MOVE THOSE IN THE WRONG DIRECTION VERY FAR.

WHAT IS A VERY HEALTHY PICTURE CAN QUICKLY BECOME UNHEALTHY.

I ACKNOWLEDGE THAT HAVING LARGE RESERVES AND GENEROUS RESERVES GIVES US THE MANEUVERABILITY AS A DISTRICT TO NAVIGATE THOSE CHANGES IN THINGS THAT WE CAN'T CONTROL.

I ALSO ACKNOWLEDGE AND UNDERSTAND THAT ACTUALLY FINDING BIG AMBITIOUS PROJECTS IS DIFFICULT FOR VARIOUS REASONS.

ONE REASON IS WE JUST DON'T HAVE A LOT OF SPACE.

BUILDING THINGS IS DIFFICULT.

IF WE WERE IN TEXAS AND WE WANTED TO EXTEND THE CAFETERIA, IT WOULD BE PROBABLY FAIRLY STRAIGHTFORWARD.

YOU'VE JUST KNOCKED DOWN THE WALL AND BUILD OUT, BUT WE DON'T LIVE IN THAT WORLD IN PELHAM.

SECONDLY, I THINK IT'S HARD TO FIND ONETIME PROJECTS THAT DON'T THEN INCUR RECURRING COST TO OPERATE THE THINGS THAT WE'VE BUILT.

I ACKNOWLEDGE THOSE THINGS THAT MAKE THE APERTURE FOR ONE-OFFS, EXPENDITURES, AND PROJECTS FROM RESERVES QUITE DIFFICULT.

I ACKNOWLEDGE THAT.

THAT BEING SAID, OUR RESERVE'S ALREADY HEALTHY.

I THINK THEY'RE GOING TO BECOME HEALTHIER.

WE'RE GOING TO WRAP UP THE BOND.

I THINK THERE'S GOING TO BE MONEY LEFT OVER THAT'LL GO BACK INTO THE BANK ACCOUNT.

I THINK THE RESERVES ARE GOING TO IMPROVE EVEN FURTHER THAN WHERE THEY ARE TODAY AND WE DO ASPIRE TO EXCELLENCE.

THAT'S WHAT WE DO HERE.

WE SHOULD BE AMBITIOUS IN TERMS OF THE THINGS THAT WE OFFER OUR STUDENTS.

WE SHOULDN'T BE AFRAID TO LOOK AT BOLD AMBITIOUS IDEAS AND WE SHOULD BE COMPETITIVE WITH SURROUNDING DISTRICTS AND DISTRICTS LIKE US.

I DO THINK WE SHOULD THINK CAREFULLY ABOUT THE WAYS IN WHICH WE CAN USE OUR RESERVES TO IMPROVE THE EDUCATION OUR DISTRICT.

THE THIRD THING, AND THEN I'M DONE, I PROMISE, IS AROUND MEASURABILITY.

I KNOW THE DISTRICT IS WORKING ON AN EXPRESSION OF ALL THE GOOD WORK THAT HAS BEEN DONE AND THE WONDERFUL RESULTS AND THE THINGS THAT WE SHOULD BE PROUD OF HAVE COME OUT OF BUDGET CYCLES OVER IN RECENT MEMORY SO WE SHOULD CONTINUE TO DO THAT.

I LOOK FORWARD TO SEEING THE RESULTS OF THAT AND I THINK THAT'LL BE A REALLY GOOD BASIS FOR FUTURE PLANNING.

THANKS FOR LISTENING.

>> I WOULD CONCUR WITH MOST OF THOSE POINTS.

WE ARE IN THIS STRANGE MOMENT THAT WE'RE GOING TO BE DOING STRATEGIC PLANNING THIS YEAR.

BUT THE IMPLICATIONS FOR THE STRATEGIC PLAN WON'T AFFECT THE BUDGET FOR '24/'25.

WHAT'S THE DATE THAT WE THINK WE WILL HAVE COMPLETED ALL THE DISCUSSIONS RELATED TO THE STRATEGIC PLAN BECAUSE IT WOULD BE INTERESTING IF WE DO KNOW WHAT OUR PROJECTED BUDGET WILL BE FOR '24/'25 BEFORE WE FINALIZE THE STRATEGIC PLAN GOING FORWARD.

DO WE HAVE A SENSE OF WHEN WE WILL ACTUALLY FINALIZE THAT?

>> NOT YET. I GUESS IT'S POSSIBLE.

I GUESS IS THE FIRST THOUGHT I HAD.

THE RFP FOR STRATEGIC PLANNING SERVICES IS STILL OUT RIGHT NOW.

WE'RE STILL ACCEPTING RESPONSE.

I THINK WE'VE GOT ANOTHER WEEK, END THE NEXT WEEK.

THEN WE'LL HAVE A REVIEW PROCESS.

I THINK THAT USUALLY IS A COUPLE OF WEEKS FROM THAT POINT AND THEN I WOULD ANTICIPATE AT LEAST A FEW APPLICATIONS FOR US TO REVIEW, POSSIBLY INTERVIEW CONSULTANTS.

>> THIS CALENDAR YEAR?

>> YES. DEFINITELY. I WOULD SAY BEFORE NOVEMBER'S OUT.

>> IT WILL BE IN STRATEGIC PLANNING BY DECEMBER?

[00:40:01]

>> I THINK THAT'S POSSIBLE.

I THINK IT JUST DEPENDS ON THEIR PROCESS.

I THINK SOLIDLY BY JANUARY.

THERE COULD BE SOME INITIAL SETUP OR DISCUSSION PLANNING OR WHATEVER.

BUT I WOULD SAY SOLIDLY BY JANUARY.

>> SO THE PLANNING PROCESS COULD BE DONE BY MAY?

>> YEAH. AGAIN, JUST DEPENDING ON THE PROCESS THAT'S LAID OUT IN THE MILESTONE TIMELINES.

AND I GUESS THAT'S THE CHALLENGE.

I THINK BACK TO LAST TIME, WHICH IS MY ONLY SPECIFIC EXPERIENCE.

I KNOW STEVE MAY HAVE BEEN THERE THE PRIOR YEAR.

WE DID HAVE A DRAFT OF BASICALLY, IN ESSENCE, WHAT WAS BEING RECOMMENDED FROM THE ADMINISTRATORS TO THE BOARD THAT WAS WRAPPED UP IN JUNE? EVEN IF WE WERE TO HAVE IT IN HAND FOR MAY, BY THAT POINT SO MUCH A SET ABOUT THE BUDGET SO TO HONESTLY HAVE IT IN TIME TO IMPACT THE DESIGN IF THEY'RE ASSUMING THERE'S SOMETHING MAJOR, IF THEY'RE SMALL TWEAKS, WE DO HAVE SOME FLEXIBILITY UNTIL BUDGET ADOPTION.

AND EVEN THEN THERE'S ALWAYS A LITTLE BIT OF CHANGE ALONG THE WAY.

I'M TRYING TO THINK TO GIVE YOU I THINK HONESTLY BY JANUARY WE'RE ASSEMBLING IT.

FEBRUARY IS THE FIRST PRESENTATION OF IT TO THE BOARD.

SO THAT REALLY WOULD BE THE TIMEFRAME IN WHICH IF WE SAW SOME SIGNIFICANT DEPARTURE FROM WHERE WE ARE NOW AND WE WANTED TO TRY TO BUILD IT INTO THE NEXT BUDGET.

THAT'S PROBABLY THE TIMEFRAME.

I DON'T KNOW THAT WE WOULD BE FAR ENOUGH DOWN THE ROAD.

>> I THINK THAT'S OKAY.

THE ONLY FRIENDLY AMENDMENT I MAKE TWO WILLS AGREED BEING RELATIVELY CONSERVATIVE FOR '24/'25 IS THAT WE ARE GOING THROUGH A NEGOTIATION FORCE FOR TEACHER SALARIES.

THAT'S OBVIOUSLY AN ANCHOR FOR THE '24/'25.

GOING A LOT BEYOND THAT, WITHOUT DOING STRATEGIC PLANNING, SEEMS LIKE THAT CREATES GUARDRAILS AROUND WHAT WE DO.

>> CAN I JUST ADD ONE THING? ACTUALLY IT WAS A CLARIFYING QUESTION I HAD FOR WILL AS WELL.

I HEAR THAT MESSAGE ABOUT NOT LAUNCHING NEW PLANTS WITHOUT STRATEGIC PLAN AND REALLY LOOKING CRITICALLY AT NOT LOOKING AT GROWTH UNTIL WE GET THAT STRATEGIC PLAN IN PLACE.

I GUESS MY QUESTION TO YOU IS, IF THERE ARE SOME NATURAL CONTINUATIONS OR EXTENSIONS OF CURRENT PROGRAM THAT MAY SHOW AN ASK FOR SOME STAFFING AS WE GO THROUGH THIS PROCESS, DO YOU SEE THAT AS SOMETHING THAT'S NEW AND YOU'RE STEERING US AWAY FROM OR IS THERE AN OPENNESS TO CONTINUED GROWTH OF THINGS THAT WERE ALREADY ON A PATH WITHIN REASON?

>> BUT I MEAN, NOTHING I SAID IS ABSOLUTE.

CLEARLY THERE ARE GREAT IDEAS.

I'M SURE THAT EVERYONE WOULD BE SUPPORTIVE OF.

I MEAN, TO THE EXTENT YOU WANTED SOME DIRECTIONAL ADVICE OR DIRECTIONAL OPINION, AND THIS IS ONLY MY OPINION, OBVIOUSLY.

I LOOK FORWARD TO HEARING DISAGREEMENT, IF ANYONE DISAGREES WITH ME.

IF YOU WANT TO MAKE MATERIAL INVESTMENTS IN HEADCOUNT THAT CHANGED THE COMPLEXION OF OUR BUDGET IN A MATERIAL WAY.

NOW, DOES NOT SEEM LIKE THE YEAR TO BE DOING THAT, BUT THAT'S NOT TO SAY THAT A GOOD IDEA SHOULD BE OFF THE TABLE.

>> JUST TO ADD TO THAT, I THINK IF THERE'S A WAY TO CONTINUE WITH THESE REALLY EXCITING IDEAS AND PROGRAMMING, WHAT'S THE WORD I'M LOOKING FOR, JUST INNOVATION AND GROWTH, BEING AS CREATIVE AS POSSIBLE SO AS TO NOT HAVE TO INCREASE HEADCOUNT.

I KNOW IT'S DIFFICULT. WE'VE HEARD OF SOME REALLY INTERESTING THINGS THAT COULD BE ON THE HORIZON, AND IF WE'RE UP TO ME, WE WOULD DO THEM ALL BECAUSE THEY SOUND AMAZING.

BUT WE CAN. I THINK BEING ABLE TO JUST LOOK AT WHAT ARE THE TOP PRIORITIES OR THE THINGS THAT HAVE BEEN ASKED FOR THE MOST, AND SEEING HOW CAN WE BE CREATIVE IN NOT HAVING TO INCREASE HEADCOUNT OR KEEP IT AT A MINIMUM, THAT WOULD BE ONE THING.

>> I AGREE WITH WHAT PEOPLE HAVE SAID SO FAR.

I THINK ON THAT LAST QUESTION TO ME

[00:45:03]

THAT I'M NOT SURE IF THIS IS WHAT YOU WERE GETTING AT, BUT I KNOW WE'VE TALKED ABOUT AREAS WHERE THERE'S BEEN A LOT OF INTEREST AND THEN THERE'S LIKE A NATURAL PROGRESSION TO WHAT MIGHT COME NEXT AS A RESULT OF CLASSES THAT ARE IN HIGH DEMAND AND THE LIKE.

THEN THE FLIP SIDE OF THAT IS THERE OTHER CLASSES THAT ARE LESS IN DEMAND AS A RESULT IN.

MAYBE THERE'S SOME OPPORTUNITY TO REALLY BE THOUGHTFUL ABOUT WHAT THE TRADE-OFFS ARE AND MAYBE REALLOCATING RESOURCES RATHER THAN JUST GROWING RESOURCES TO FILL THAT NEED.

I DEFER TO OTHER PEOPLE ON WHETHER THEY AGREE WITH THAT OR NOT, BUT THAT'S HOW I THINK ABOUT THAT TOPIC.

THEN THE OTHER THING THAT I WANTED TO TALK ABOUT A LITTLE BIT, WHICH IS A LITTLE MORE, MAYBE PROCESS OR STRATEGIC IN TERMS OF HOW WE THINK ABOUT THIS MORE BROADLY.

IF I WERE DOING THIS FROM SCRATCH, I GUESS, I WOULD SAY, I WOULD WANT THE BOARD TO SIT DOWN AND AGREE AMONGST OURSELVES, UNLIKE A COUPLE OF KEY ACADEMIC PRIORITIES, MAYBE THAT'S WE'RE GOING TO HAVE THE NUMBER OF HIGH SCHOOL KIDS WHO ARE NOT PROFICIENT BY THE END OF SOPHOMORE YEAR.

THAT'S A RANDOM GOAL, BUT AGREEING AMONGST OURSELVES ON WHAT WE THINK IS IMPORTANT IN TERMS OF ACADEMIC GOALS FOR IMPROVEMENT WITHIN THE DISTRICT OVER A PERIOD OF TIME, WHATEVER THAT IS, AND THEN WORKING WITH THE ADMINISTRATION TO UNDERSTAND WHAT WE WOULD NEED TO DO PROGRAMMATICALLY AND IN TERMS OF HEADCOUNT OR WHATEVER IT IS TO MAKE THAT HAPPEN.

THEN START THINKING ABOUT, HOW DO WE FIND THE DOLLARS TO DO THAT? I THINK THAT'LL BE, TO SOME EXTENT, INFORMED BY THE STRATEGIC PLAN, BUT I FEEL LIKE THIS IS ANOTHER LEVEL OF DETAIL BEYOND WHERE THE STRATEGIC PLANS MORE HIGH LEVEL.

BUT WOULD ALSO BE INFORMED BY THE CONVERSATION WE'RE GOING TO HAVE AT THE NEXT MEETING ABOUT STRATEGIC GOALS FOR THE DISTRICT.

BUT I'D LIKE TO SEE SOMETHING ON ACADEMICS THAT'S MAYBE A LITTLE MORE BOARD DRIVEN IN TERMS OF GOAL SETTING AND THEN WORKING WITH THE ADMINISTRATION ON HOW TO MAKE IT HAPPEN.

THAT'S, TO ME, A LONGER-TERM PROJECT TO LOOK AT BUDGETING AND HOW WE'RE DOING IT, AND AN INCREMENTAL CONSIDERATION BEYOND JUST THE PROGRAM THAT WE HAVE IN PLACE AND CONTINUING WITH THE HIGH-QUALITY THAT WE HAVE TODAY.

I DON'T KNOW IF THAT WAS LONG-WINDED, BUT HOPEFULLY HELPFUL.

>> NO, I THINK I KNOW WHERE YOU'RE GOING WITH THAT.

ONE OF THE THINGS THAT I'M WORKING ON THAT REALLY SHARING DURING THAT WORK SESSION IS SOME THEORIES OF ACTION.

CAN WE SAY THAT THAT'S WHAT I'M HEARING.

IF WE WANTED TO ACHIEVE THESE OUTCOMES, WHAT IS OUR THEORY OF ACTION ABOUT IF WE DO THIS, THEN THIS WILL HAPPEN?

>> I AGREE WITH THAT AND AGREEING AMONGST US ON WHAT THE GOALPOST IS THAT WE'RE TRYING TO GET TO.

>> MORE TO COME ON.

>> I HAVE THE SIMILAR THEMES, BUDGET SUSTAINABILITY, JIM TALKED ABOUT STATE AID WILL PROBABLY REMAIN FLAT.

WE HAVE LIKE OUR INTEREST REVENUE STAYING THE SAME, BUT THAT COULD CHANGE AT SOME POINT.

WE REALLY NEED TO BE, IF WE WANT TO KEEP TAX CAP COMPLIANT BUDGETS FOR AS LONG AS POSSIBLE, WE HAVE TO BE MINDFUL OF THE GROWTH RATE WITH REGARDS TO THAT.

THEN NOT ONLY THE STRATEGIC PLAN WE HAVE THIS YEAR, BUT WE'RE ALSO DOING THE FACILITIES PLAN, SO JUST KEEPING THE BUDGET IN A SPOT WHERE WE'RE IN A GOOD POSITION TO BORROW MONEY OR GO IN AND DO SOME BOLD MOVES LIKE YOU WERE SAYING, WITH THE RESULTS OF THE STRATEGIC PLAN AND THE FACILITIES PLAN, THAT'S SOMETHING TO KEEP IN MIND AS WE MOVE FORWARD.

>> I AGREE WITH EVERYTHING EVERYONE PRETTY MUCH HAS SAID, ESPECIALLY WE WILL AND JACKIE.

WE'RE IN A POSITION WHERE WE HAVE TO BE VERY CONSERVATIVE, WE HAVE TO REMAIN HEADCOUNT NEUTRAL.

HOWEVER, WE CANNOT FORGET ABOUT OUR STUDENTS AND WE HAVE TO,

[00:50:05]

LIKE WILSON, THINK BOLD, AND REALLY THINK ABOUT OUR STRATEGIC PLAN THAT'S COMING UP.

WE HAVE GREAT PROGRAMMING. WE SHOULD KEEP THOSE.

WE'RE ALSO IN A POSITION WHERE WE HAVE THESE EXCELLENT RESERVES BECAUSE WE HAVE BEEN CONSERVATIVE FOR MANY YEARS.

WE ALL THOUGHT ABOUT WHEN WILL BE THE TIME TO USE IT? IT APPEARS LIKE, WELL, NOW WE'RE IN A POSITION WHERE IF PERHAPS WE HAVE TO USE THEM, THERE THEY ARE.

WELL, I DO RECOMMEND WE HAVE TO BE EXTREMELY CONSERVATIVE, A HEADCOUNT, NO TRIAL.

I ALSO WANT US TO THINK ABOUT HOW DO WE ALSO IMPROVE AT THE SAME TIME, AND I KNOW THAT'S PROBABLY A VERY BIG CHALLENGE AND A VERY BIG TASK, BUT WE HAVE TO DEFINITELY THINK ABOUT HOW DO WE DEVELOP THESE GREAT PROGRAMS THAT ARE GOING TO GET OUR STUDENTS TO THE TOP.

I KNOW WE KEEP COMPARING OURSELVES TO THESE TOP SCHOOL DISTRICTS AND WE'RE ALMOST THERE.

I MEAN, IF ANYONE SAYS LIKE, WE DON'T MEASURE TO LIKE OTHER SCHOOL DISTRICTS AND LOWER WESTCHESTER.

I WILL PROBABLY DISAGREE RIGHT NOW BECAUSE OF THE LEVEL OUR STUDENTS HAVE ACHIEVED.

I KNOW WE'VE TALKED A LOT ABOUT CLOSING OUT THE BOND PROJECT.

SO YOU'VE MENTIONED THAT.

WELL, IS THERE A DATE WHEN WE'LL HAVE LIKE A NUMBER?

>> WHAT WE HAVE TO DO IS, AGAIN, CLOSE OUT THOSE CONTRACTS AND THEN WE'LL HAVE AN UNDERSTANDING OF WHAT THE UNSPENT FUNDS BE.

MECHANICALLY, I GUESS IT'S PROBABLY A GOOD OPPORTUNITY TO REFRESH PEOPLE WHERE UNSPENT BOND PROCEEDS WOULD GO ON.

UNSPENT BOND PROCEEDS FALL INTO AN ACCOUNT CALLED THE DEBT SERVICE FUND WHICH, AGAIN, IT'S LIKE A RESERVE ITS MONEY IN THE BANK.

IT CAN BE USED TO HELP DIFFUSE OR THE COST OF OUR DEBT SERVICE.

AS YOU LOOK AT, WE HAVE DEBT SERVICE PAYMENTS EVERY YEAR AND ANY OF THOSE UNUSED DOLLARS CAN BE USED STRATEGICALLY TO BE APPLIED AGAINST THAT.

OBVIOUSLY, WHEN YOU USE THAT, YOU'RE NOT RAISING TAXES FOR THAT PARTICULAR PURPOSE.

THE EXISTING BUDGET THAT WE'RE IN RIGHT NOW, THERE WAS A BALANCE TO DEBT SERVICE FUND FROM PRIOR YEARS OF $2 MILLION AND THAT'S BEEN USED, AGAIN, THIS YEAR SO AS TO NOT TAX THE PROPERTY OWNERS OF RESIDENTS AND NON-HOMESTEAD PROPERTIES.

IF THOSE DOLLARS GO UNSPENT OR UNUSED THIS YEAR THROUGH, SAY, A FAVORABLE OPERATING EXPENSES.

THEY'RE AVAILABLE IN A FUTURE YEAR, WHICH IS GOOD.

BUT THE SPECIFIC PURPOSE FOR THE DEBT SERVICE FUND IS REALLY TO BE USED TO HELP BE APPLIED TO THE COST OF YOUR DEBT SERVICE.

IT'S NOT LIKE YOU COULD TAKE THOSE DOLLARS AND USE IT FOR YOUR OPERATING EXPENSES FOR SAY, THE LIGHTS OR UTILITIES OR TRANSPORTATION FOR [INAUDIBLE] OR SOMETHING.

>> BUT WHAT DATE WILL WE KNOW?

>> WELL, THERE'S NOTHING MORE THAT I LIKE TO DO THAN GIVE YOU AN EXACT DATE.

BUT WE'RE WORKING WITH CONTRACTORS WHO ARE AT THE END OF A CONTRACT OR THE END OF A PROJECT.

IT'S DIFFICULT TO HAVE THEM COME IN AND WE'RE WORKING TO DO THAT.

I WOULD SAY MY FIRST GOAL OF WHEN TO DO THAT WAS A YEAR AGO.

OBVIOUSLY, THAT HAS NOT HAPPENED.

I THINK WE'RE PRETTY CLOSE ON PROSPECT TILL RIGHT NOW.

WE'VE CERTAINLY DONE IT AT GLOVER.

WHAT WE NEED TO DO NOW IS CLOSE OUT THE RENOVATION WORK THAT WAS JUST COMPLETED IN THE HIGH SCHOOL HERE AND THEN ALSO AT HUTCHINSON, THERE'S STILL A FEW OUTSIDE ITEMS. AS I THINK ABOUT TOP OF MY HEAD, SOME OF THE PUNCH LIST ITEMS AT THE BUILDING AND THEN TOP OF THE STAIRS AND LINCOLN AVENUE, THERE'S A PIECE OF BLUESTONE.

I LOOK AT IT EVERY TIME WHEN I DRIVE BY WONDERING WHEN THAT'S GOING TO SHOW UP.

BUT AGAIN, IT'S TOUGH TO GET A CONTRACTOR TO SHOW UP WHO'S DONE ALL THAT WORK TO THEN SAY, I'M GOING TO TAKE TIME TO DO THAT EVEN THOUGH IT COULD BE PART OF THEIR RESPONSIBILITY.

IT'S THAT PROCESS OF JUST PUSHING AND PUSHING AND PUSHING.

>> BECAUSE THAT COULD BE MILLIONS OF DOLLARS [OVERLAPPING] CHANGE THE FORECAST.

>> WELL, I CAN CERTAINLY HELP YOU AND HELP THE BOARD AND THE COMMUNITY AS YOU LOOK.

WHEN WE GET TO THE BUDGET CYCLE, WHAT WE'LL HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO LOOK AT THE TAX CAP FORMULA AND AS YOU LOOK AT THAT, IT'S REALLY MADE UP OF TWO DIFFERENT PARTS.

ONE PORTION THAT REALLY TALKS ABOUT THE OPERATING EXPENSES.

AGAIN, YOUR DAY IN AND DAY OUT EXPENSES RELATED TO PERSONNEL, HEALTH CARE, LIGHTS, BOOKS, PENS, PENCILS AND THEN THE OTHER PART THAT'S RELATED TO YOUR CAPITAL EXPENSES, WHICH THAT PART OF IT IS NOT BOUND TO THE 2% TAX CAP FORMULA.

[00:55:04]

AS WE'VE TALKED ABOUT THE $2 MILLION, IF THE BOARD SO SELECTED TO, YOU COULD'VE ASKED THE TAXPAYERS FOR THE DOLLAR EQUAL TO THAT $2 MILLION, WHICH COULD BE A CLOSE TO A 3% INCREASE.

BUT YOU DIDN'T AND THAT'S SAVINGS TO THE TAXPAYER.

WE'RE CONSCIOUS OF ALL OF THE SENSITIVITY TO THAT AND HOPEFULLY, THE ABILITY TO DO THAT.

I THINK WE'VE TRIED TO WORK REALLY HARD IN BUDGET MANAGEMENT TO TRY TO PRESERVE THOSE DOLLARS SO THAT THEY'RE AVAILABLE.

>> IS THERE ANYTHING THAT WE CAN DO TO TRY TO EXPEDITE CLOSING OUT THE PROJECT?

>> I THINK YOU'RE ASKING ME IS A GOOD LUBRICANT TO KEEP IT MOVING. YES.

>> JUST IN TERMS OF THE TAX LEVY PERCENT INCREASE, I THINK LAST YEAR WAS 2.07, I THINK.

>> IT SOUNDS RIGHT.

>> BUT I THINK AROUND 2% IS [OVERLAPPING] AN ACCEPTABLE NUMBER, TWO OTHER PEOPLE HAVE ANY THOUGHTS ABOUT?

>> AS I SAY, THERE'S A COUPLE OF DIFFERENT COMPONENTS TO THAT TAX CAP FORMULA.

PART OF IT IS YOUR OPERATING EXPENSES, THERE'S ALLOWABLE EXCLUSIONS.

I TALKED ABOUT OUR PENSION EXPENSES.

IF OUR PENSION EXPENSES EXCEED A YEAR-OVER-YEAR GROWTH OF 2%, LET'S SAY THE PENSION CONTRIBUTED IS [NOISE] 10%.

IF IT GOES TO 12.1%, YOU'D GET A 0.1% EXCLUSION FOR THAT PORTION OF THE INCREASE AND THEN THAT WOULD BE PART OF A TAX CAP-COMPLIANT BUDGET.

THERE'S ALSO WITH GROWTH FACTOR THAT'S APPLIED BY THE NEW YORK STATE OFFICE OF REAL PROPERTY.

WE DON'T KNOW EXACTLY WHAT THAT IS, BUT THAT'S BASED ON ECONOMIC DATA RELATED TO PROPERTY TRANSACTIONS THAT OCCUR IN PELHAM.

THAT'S AGAIN ONE OF THOSE NUMBERS THAT'S PROVIDED IN THE UPCOMING WEEKS TO HELP US AGAIN, GIVE US A BETTER UNDERSTANDING OF WHAT THAT NUMBER IS GOING TO LOOK LIKE AS FAR AS AN ALLOWABLE TAX INCREASE THAT REMAINS TAX CAP COMPLIANT.

>> I THINK TO ME, A TARGET FOR THE TAX LEVY PERCENT INCREASE SHOULD BE AROUND 2%.

OUR NEXT MEETING, WE'RE DISCUSSING, WHAT IS THE PLAN FOR THAT EXACTLY?

>> THE NEXT MEETING I THINK IS REGULAR BUSINESS MEETING.

>> YOU WERE SAYING THAT WORK SESSION?

>> WE'RE GOING TO DO A WORK SESSION ON NOVEMBER 29TH AND REALLY THAT'S TO TAKE A LOOK AT, TRYING TO COME UP WITH A CATCHY NAME FOR IT, BUT BASICALLY HIT THE INVESTMENTS FROM THE LAST TWO STRATEGIC PLANS.

A LOOK AT THE STORY OF THE PELHAM SCHOOLS FOR THE LAST 10 YEARS AND THE INVESTMENTS THAT WERE MADE OVER THOSE LAST TWO STRATEGIC PLANS AND HOW THE STUDENT EXPERIENCE AND THE TEACHING AND LEARNING EXPERIENCE HAS EVOLVED OVER THOSE YEARS.

IT'S A LITTLE BIT OF PELHAM'S PAST, PRESENT AND PROBABLY PLANTING SOME SEEDS FOR FUTURE.

AGAIN, KNOWING THAT WE'RE HEADING INTO STRATEGIC PLANNING AND TRYING TO HIGHLIGHT SOME OF THOSE FOUNDATIONAL PIECES THAT WE THINK HAVE BEEN MOST BENEFICIAL TO STUDENTS AND I THINK THAT PROVIDE FOUNDATION THAT WE WANT TO CONSIDER BUILDING UPON AS WE MOVE FORWARD.

WE'RE GOING TO TRY TO MAKE IT A LITTLE BIT MORE INTERACTIVE THAN AS OPPOSED TO JUST THE PRESENTATION.

BUT WE'RE STILL WORKING ON STRUCTURE FOR THAT.

>> BUT IT DOES SEEM VERY IMPORTANT, IF WE'RE TALKING ABOUT KEEPING HEADCOUNT NEUTRAL, WE CAN'T JUST THINK ABOUT THE DIRECT DOLLAR AND CENT COST.

>> EXACTLY.

>> THERE'S ALSO THE OPPORTUNITY COST OF HOW SOME OF THOSE DOLLARS COULD BE DEPLOYED MAYBE IN DIFFERENT WAYS.

I THINK IT MAKES SENSE, ESPECIALLY IN THE LAST YEAR OF THE STRATEGIC PLAN TO DO AN EVALUATION [OVERLAPPING] AND ASSESSMENT.

I DON'T KNOW IF IT'S SUMMATIVE OR FORMATIVE. I GUESS IT'S SUMMATIVE

>> WELL, IT'S DEFINITELY QUALITATIVE. [LAUGHTER].

>> OKAY.

>> IT SHOULD BE FORMATIVE BUT SUMMATIVE, THEN YOU'RE ENDING EVERYTHING.

>> OKAY.

>> WELL, IT'S END OF THE STRATEGIC PLAN.

>> THAT'S MY.

>> HOW ABOUT WE CALL IT A BENCHMARK POINT, POINT ALONG THE WAY IN THE PROCESS I THINK THAT WAS WHAT I SAW IS THE BEAUTY OF THE LAST TWO PLANS IS THEY WERE DIFFERENT, BUT THEY WORKED HAND IN HAND.

STEVE, I'M GOING TO RECYCLE IT WHEN WE DO THE WORKSHOP, BUT STEVE WOULD COME UP WITH A GRAPHIC AT THE TIME, REALLY A BRIDGE FROM ONE PLAN TO THE NEXT THAT HIGHLIGHTED WHERE THOSE THROUGH LINES WERE OF THINGS THAT WERE STARTED UNDER ONE PLAN

[01:00:01]

THAT CONTINUED THROUGH THE NEXT.

I THINK WHAT I'M HOPING YOU'LL SEE IS THOSE THREE LINES IN PARTICULAR REALLY HAVE RESULTED IN A SIGNIFICANTLY DIFFERENT EXPERIENCE IN SOME CASES FOR STUDENTS AND FOR TEACHERS THAN WHAT WAS IN PLACE BEFORE.

I'M GOING TO SAVE THE HIGHLIGHTS OF THAT, BUT JUST A REALLY EXCITING, I THOUGHT IT WAS A REALLY PRODUCTIVE ADMINISTRATIVE CABINET MEETING BECAUSE A LOT OF THIS IS ALSO CELEBRATORY.

WHETHER FOLKS HAVE BEEN ADMINISTRATORS WITH US FOR THE LAST ONE YEAR, TWO YEARS, OR 15 YEARS.

EVERYBODY'S HAD THEIR FINGERPRINTS ON THIS AND A HAND IN THE WORK.

SO I THINK IT WAS NICE TO SEE WHAT WE SET OUT TO DO AND NOW WHAT THE EXPERIENCE OF, ESPECIALLY FOR A STUDENT IS.

WHETHER IT'S OUR ELEMENTARY SCHOOLS, STUDENTS MOVING INTO THE SECONDARY YEARS OR THE EXPERIENCES THAT OUR HIGH SCHOOL KIDS NOW HAVE AND HOW THAT DIFFERS FROM WHERE WE WERE 5-10 YEARS AGO.

I THINK HOPEFULLY WILL HIT THE MARK ON WHAT YOU'RE LOOKING FOR TO SEE THAT INVESTMENT AND HOW IT'S GROWN.

>> [OVERLAPPING] MY ONLY OTHER THING.

>> I DIDN'T MEAN TO CUT YOU OFF.

>> THIS I'M GOING TO LIKE, TOTALLY DO A U-TURN.

BUT WE HAVE HEARD A LOT FROM KINDERGARTEN PARENTS ABOUT THE EXPERIENCE AND THE KINDERGARTEN CLASS AND CLASS SIZE, SO THAT'S ANOTHER TOPIC ON MY MIND.

>> YEAH. IT'S A TOPIC ON OURS AS WELL.

I THINK WE TALKED IN FINANCE COMMITTEE I HAVEN'T HEARD THE WORD COME UP YET TODAY.

BUT I THINK AS WE HEAD INTO THE BUDGET PROCESS, AND I APPRECIATE THE FACT THAT PEOPLE HAVEN'T ASKED FOR A HARD AND FAST.

NO, BECAUSE I THINK WE'RE GOING TO HAVE TO GRAPPLE WITH SOME COMPETING PRIORITIES OF WHERE RESOURCES NEED TO GO.

BUT I THINK SCRUTINY WAS THE WORD I WAS THINKING FOR.

WE RECOGNIZE THAT IF THERE ARE GOING TO BE ANY CONSIDERED ADS, THAT THERE'S GOING TO BE A HEIGHTENED LEVEL OF SCRUTINY ON WHAT THOSE ARE FOR AND WHY.

BUT I DO THINK THAT IS SOMETHING THAT WILL HAVE TO BE GRAPPLED WITH AS PART OF THE DISCUSSION.

SO IT'S ON OUR MINDS TOO.

WELL, THANK YOU VERY MUCH. I THINK THIS IS VERY HELPFUL.

I THINK JIM AND I HAVE GOT A CLEAR PICTURE.

WE'LL COMPARE NOTES AFTERWARDS, DOUBLE CHECK, BUT I REALLY APPRECIATE THE EARLY GUIDANCE AND WE WILL DO OUR BEST TO COME BACK AND DELIVER ON THAT.

>> 4.3 IS BOARD OF EDUCATION COMMITTEE REPORTS.

[4.3 Board of Education Committee Reports]

>> I MEAN, WE JUST TALKED ABOUT FINANCE, [BACKGROUND] BUT WE DID MEET. WAS IT YESTERDAY?

>> YESTERDAY. YES.

>> YESTERDAY MORNING. WE TALKED ABOUT FUND BALANCE PROJECTION.

I THINK WE ALSO TOUCHED ON THAT AND IN OUR COMMENTS.

WE ALSO REVIEWED A FIVE YEAR FINANCIAL PROJECTION LOOKING AT SCENARIOS OF HOW THE FINANCIAL PICTURE COULD LOOK DEPENDING UPON TWEAKING OR CHANGING VARIOUS ASSUMPTIONS.

AGAIN, I THINK THAT FED INTO CERTAINLY ONE OF MY COMMENTS, BUT THOSE WERE THE TWO AREAS THAT WE DISCUSSED.

>> WE ALSO HAD AUTHENTIC LEARNING YESTERDAY, THE FIRST AUTHENTIC LEARNING COMMITTEE MEETING.

WE WENT OVER MEETING DATES FOR THE COMMITTEE TO MEET.

WE ALSO WENT OVER COURSE PROPOSALS.

THIS IS THE TIME OF YEAR WHERE THE ADMINISTRATORS AND THE PRINCIPLES, THEY BRING IDEAS FOR NEW COURSES FOR NEXT YEAR.

WE WENT THROUGH THEM IN SOME DETAIL.

IT WAS ACTUALLY A GREAT MEETING.

I'LL JUST LIST OFF THE NAMES OF THE COURSES.

THEY'RE STILL IN DEVELOPMENT AND UNDER DISCUSSION, BUT THERE'S A SUPER SOCIOLOGY COURSE.

THAT IS A COURSE WHERE YOU'D GET COLLEGE CREDIT.

A SONGWRITING COURSE THAT WOULD BE PART OF THE ENGLISH DEPARTMENT.

AP COMPUTER SCIENCE A.

THERE'S ALREADY AP COMPUTER SCIENCE, I THINK BASIC PRINCIPLES OR PRINCIPLES.

THIS IS THE FOLLOW-ON AP COURSE TO THAT NINTH-GRADE DISCOVERY TRANSITION, WHICH IS MY UNDERSTANDING, A COURSE, THAT WOULD HELP THE KIDS ADJUST TO HIGH-SCHOOL, THE TRANSITION BETWEEN EIGHTH AND NINTH GRADE, AND THEN A SENIOR INTERNSHIP PROGRAM, POTENTIALLY.

[01:05:05]

INTERESTING AND RELATED TO THE FINANCE DISCUSSION.

SOME OF THOSE, THEY HAD ALREADY WENT THROUGH HOW, IF SOME OF THE COURSES WOULD REQUIRE ADDITIONAL HEADCOUNT OR COULD THEY HAVE A TEACHER WHO'S ALREADY IN PLACE TO TAKE ON THAT COURSE.

THEY'RE THINKING THROUGH THAT NOW.

>> POLICY.

>> IN THE POLICY SECTION.

>> WHAT'S THAT?

>> IN THE POLICY SECTION. WE'LL DO IT LATER.

>> SUPERINTENDENTS [OVERLAPPING].

>> WE'LL DO IT DURING POLICY SECTION OF THE AGENDA,.

>> THERE'S [INAUDIBLE].

>> ASSISTANT SUPERINTENDENT'S UPDATE ON AUTHENTIC LEARNING.

WE'RE NOT DOING THAT TODAY, NEVER MIND.

ASSISTANT SUPERINTENDENT'S UPDATE ON THE WHOLE CHILD.

[4.5 Assistant Superintendent's Update on The Whole Child]

>> GOOD EVENING. JUST IN SPECIAL EDUCATION, OUR ELEMENTARY ICT COACH WAS HERE JUST YESTERDAY, OUR SECONDARY ICT COACH IS HERE TOMORROW.

WE'RE BUSY WORKING WITH THE CONSULTANTS.

THE GOALS FOR THE VISITS REALLY ARE TO WORK ON THE PRACTICE OF THE MODELS, THE USE OF COAL PLANNING TEMPLATES, HOW TO CREATE BARRIER FREE LESSONS, HETEROGENEOUS GROUPINGS.

THEY DO CLASSROOM VISITS AS WELL SO THEY COULD OBSERVE THE TEACHERS IN PRACTICE AND OFFER FEEDBACK AS WELL TO THEM SO THEY ARE BUSY.

OUR NEXT VISITS WILL BE IN DECEMBER.

LAST FRIDAY, MR. [INAUDIBLE], DR. RUBERO AND I ATTENDED THE TRI-STATE SPECIAL ED CONSORTIUM MEETING.

TRI-STATE, SINCE YOU'VE HEARD, IS A CONSORTIUM NOT JUST OF WESTCHESTER, BUT CONNECTICUT AND NEW JERSEY SCHOOLS.

IT'S A GOOD OPPORTUNITY FOR US TO GET TOGETHER TO DISCUSS TRENDS AND HEAR WHAT'S HAPPENING.

THE MAIN TOPIC OF DISCUSSION WAS THE AGING OUT STUDENTS, THE CHANGE TO 22, WHICH I SHARED WITH THE BOARD PREVIOUSLY, AND THE IMPACT OF WHAT EVERYBODY'S ANTICIPATING THAT MIGHT BE.

THIS IS CURRENTLY UNFUNDED MANDATE FROM NEW YORK STATE.

THIS TYPICALLY INVOLVES OUR STUDENTS WITH DISABILITIES WHO ARE ALTERNATELY ASSESSED, SO WHAT YOU MIGHT CONSIDER FOUNDATIONS OF LEARNING STUDENTS.

THE IMPLICATIONS ARE DIFFERENT FROM JUST A PROGRAM PLANNING PERSPECTIVE.

WE DON'T SEE IMPACTS FOR US RIGHT NOW.

FOR THAT OUR NUMBERS ARE SMALL.

IT'S NOT LIKE WE'RE CREATING ADDITIONAL SECTIONS, BUT WHERE WE DID TALK ABOUT IS THERE ARE MOMENTS AND WE DO HAVE SOME STUDENTS THAT THEIR NEEDS ARE GREATER THAT THEY'RE SERVICED OUT OF DISTRICT, AND WE GET STATE AID BACK FOR THOSE STUDENTS.

TYPICALLY, IT'S SOMETHING THROUGH WHAT WE CALL STACKING.

RIGHT NOW THERE IS NO PLAN.

IF A STUDENT STAYS TILL 22, THAT WE'RE GOING TO GET THAT EIGHT BACK.

THAT'S THE BIG TOPIC OF DISCUSSION.

WHAT WE'RE TRYING TO DO AS A GROUP IS LOBBY THROUGH OUR COUNCIL FOR ADMINISTRATORS, ESPECIALLY EDUCATION.

TALK TO NEW YORK STATE EDUCATION DEPARTMENT ASKING SUPERINTENDENTS AS WELL TO TALK TO YOU, THE STATE EDUCATION DEPARTMENT ABOUT THE PLAN.

WHAT IS THE PLAN? I THINK THE UNFORTUNATE PART OF THIS IS THIS IS AN OFFSHOOT THAT THE ADULT SYSTEM IS VERY LACKING IN RESOURCES RIGHT NOW.

THERE HAS BEEN A PUSH BACK FOR SCHOOL DISTRICTS TO ABSORB THE SUPPORT FOR THESE STUDENTS WHO THEY AREN'T A LOT OF RESOURCES ON THE ADULT SIDE.

RIGHT NOW WE'RE IN A GOOD POSITION.

IT'S NOT GOING TO IMPACT US FOR SEVERAL YEARS TO COME, BUT JUST SOMETHING TO SHARE.

THAT'S ANOTHER FUN FACT AS WE THINK ABOUT BUDGET AND FUTURE PROJECTS.

ALSO, LAST TUESDAY I ATTENDED A CRISIS RESPONSE TEAM CONSORTIUM THAT WE'RE ALSO A PART OF WITH SOUTHERN WESTCHESTER BOCES PELHAM JOINT LAST YEAR.

IT'S PART OF A CRISIS TEAM OF OTHER DISTRICTS IN THE COUNTY.

THERE'S ABOUT 17 SCHOOL DISTRICTS THAT ARE INVOLVED IN THAT NOW.

WHAT THAT IS IS THE ABILITY.

WE TRAIN PEOPLE, EVERY DISTRICT TRAINS PEOPLE.

IF THERE IS A CRISIS THAT MAY OCCUR WHERE A DISTRICT MAY NEED MORE SUPPORT THAT THEY HAVE IN-HOUSE, YOU CAN CALL UPON THE DISTRICT TO DEPLOY PEOPLE.

FOR EXAMPLE, LAST YEAR, EASTCHESTER WENT THROUGH SOMETHING THAT THEY NEEDED A LOT MORE SUPPORT THAT THEY HAD AVAILABLE WITH THEIR IN-HOUSE RESOURCES AND TEAM MEMBERS FROM OTHER DISTRICTS WERE DEPLOYED TO BE A SUPPORT.

IT'S A GOOD MODEL TO BE A PART OF.

GOOD OPPORTUNITY FOR OUR STAFF TO GET TRAINED ON IMPORTANT TOPICS WHEN IT COMES TO CRISIS AND HOW TO BE PREPARED FOR THEM WHEN THEY OCCUR.

ALSO RESPONSIVE CLASSROOM, WE HAD OUR SECOND ONE DAY WORKSHOP TRAINING THIS MONDAY ON SUSTAINING MOMENTUM.

[01:10:02]

WE'VE GOT TWO MORE WORKSHOPS PLANNED FOR THIS YEAR IN THE SPRING.

EARL WAS HERE WORKING WITH A COHORT OF TEACHERS ON MONDAY.

THE NEXT TWO WORKSHOPS ARE GOING TO BE ABOUT CONNECTING MORNING MEETING TO ACADEMICS.

THAT'LL BE PRETTY EXCITING HOW WE'RE GOING TO EXPAND THE IDEA OF THAT TO IMPACT ON ACADEMICS.

LOOKING FORWARD TO THAT.

IN THE COUNSELING DEPARTMENT, WE KNOW WE TALKED ABOUT THE COMPUTER-BASED PSAT THAT JUST OCCURRED.

THOSE SCORES FOR SOPHOMORES AND JUNIORS WILL BE RELEASED TO THE COLLEGE BOARD IN BATCHES BEGINNING NOVEMBER 6.

WHEN THOSE SCORES ARE READY, THEY'LL BE POSTED ON THE COLLEGE BOARD WEBSITES AND FAMILIES WILL BE ALERTED DIRECTLY.

>> I'M SORRY TO INTERRUPT.

>> DO YOU KNOW [OVERLAPPING] I KNOW AM ASKING FOR MY DAUGHTER.

>> I DON'T KNOW HOW COLLEGE BOARD [LAUGHTER] DECIDES HOW THEY RELEASE THINGS.

I GUESS IT'S [OVERLAPPING] BASED ON HOW THEY'RE DOING THINGS INTERNALLY, AND I'M NOT SURE HOW THAT'S GOING TO WORK THIS YEAR BASED ON THE FACT THAT IT WAS ALL COMPUTER-BASED TESTING.

THEY HAD A LOT OF GLITCHES ON THEIR OWN SIDE, SO IT WILL BE INTERESTING TO SEE HOW THAT WORKS, HOW IT ROLLS OUT IF IT EXPEDITE BATCHES COMING OUT FASTER OR NOT.

>> ON OCTOBER 23RD, WE HAD THE JOINT COLLEGE FAIR, WHICH WAS HELD IN EASTCHESTER.

THERE ARE OVER 100 COLLEGES THERE, IT WAS VERY WELL ATTENDED.

I HEARD VERY POSITIVE FEEDBACK, WHICH IS GREAT.

NEXT YEAR, IT WILL BE HOSTED HERE, SO THAT'S EXCITING.

WE HAD ALSO LAST NIGHT, THE FINANCIAL AID NIGHT.

WE HAD MR. MATT MALATESTA, WHO IS THE VICE PRESIDENT OF ENROLLMENT FOR UNION COLLEGE, WHO GAVE A REALLY INFORMATIVE INFORMATIONAL SESSION FOR OUR PARENTS ON FINANCIAL AID, WHICH IS DAUNTING.

FOR THOSE OF YOU WHO'VE BEEN THROUGH THIS, WHO'VE HAD COLLEGE STUDENTS.

HE TALKED A LOT ABOUT THE CHANGES TO FAFSA, AND THERE'S THE FAFSA SIMPLIFICATION ACT WHICH JUST HAPPENED, WHICH IS CHANGING THE FAFSA FORM FOR THIS YEAR.

I THINK IT'S GOING FROM 108-46 QUESTIONS, WHICH HOPEFULLY WILL MAKE IT BETTER FOR PARENTS, BUT THERE'S A PRETTY SIGNIFICANT OVERHAUL THE PROCESS.

THE CHALLENGE FOR THIS YEAR WITH THE FAFSA FOR PARENTS WHO WILL BE APPLYING IS THAT THE FORM DOESN'T COME OUT UNTIL LATE DECEMBER OR SOME POINT IN DECEMBER.

FOR THOSE PARENTS WHO ARE APPLYING WITH KIDS FOR EARLY DECISION, THEY REALLY HAVE TO THINK ABOUT WHAT'S THE COST OF WHERE THEY'RE APPLYING FOR EARLY DECISION? BECAUSE ONCE YOU APPLY EARLY DECISION, YOU HAVE TO WITHDRAW YOUR COLLEGE APPLICATIONS TO OTHER SCHOOL, SO YOU'RE MAKING A COMMITMENT.

THAT'S GOING TO BE THE CHALLENGE FOR THIS YEAR.

THERE'S ALSO A NEW AID FORMULA THAT THEY'RE USING, IT'S A SAI, STUDENTS AID INDEX WHICH IS DIFFERENT WHAT THEY'VE USED BEFORE AND WHAT'S DIFFERENT ALSO ABOUT FAFSA THIS YEAR IS, THEY ARE NOT COUNTING IN WHEN THEY'RE THINKING ABOUT FAMILY CONTRIBUTION IF YOU HAVE MULTIPLE KIDS IN COLLEGE, THAT'S GOING AWAY.

THE CSS PROFILE STILL CONSIDERS NUMBERS OF STUDENTS IN COLLEGE.

WHEN YOU'RE APPLYING FOR COLLEGES, YOU'RE GOING TO ASK.

SOME OF THE GREAT PIECES OF ADVICE THAT HE GAVE AS WELL AS WHEN YOU GO IN COLLEGE VISITS WITH YOUR STUDENT, STOP IN THE FINANCIAL AID OFFICE, ASK QUESTIONS, ASK ARE THEY A NEED-BASED SCHOOL? DO THEY GIVE MERIT SCHOLARSHIPS? WHAT TYPE OF LOANS ARE THEY EXPECTING AS PART OF THEIR PACKAGES, AND ARE THEY USING THE FAFSA, THE CSS PROFILE OR COMBINATION OF BOTH? IT'S A PRETTY COMPLEX PROCESS.

THANKFULLY, WHEN I HAD TO GO THROUGH IT, MY HUSBAND DID IT, SO I DIDN'T KNOW MUCH ABOUT IT, BUT IT IS EVER CHANGING.

BUT I THINK THE BIG TAKEAWAYS WERE JUST, MAKE SURE YOU ASK QUESTIONS WHEN YOU GO ON COLLEGE VISITS.

A LOT OF TIMES I WAS GUILTY OF IT, I DIDN'T STOP AT FINANCIAL AID OFFICES WHEN I DID MY TOURS, BUT IT'S IMPORTANT TO THINK ABOUT THAT.

HE ALSO SAID, WHICH WAS ALSO REALLY GOOD ADVICE.

"DON'T WAIT TO THE SPRING OF YOUR CHILD'S SENIOR YEAR TO FIGURE OUT WHAT YOU CAN AND CAN'T AFFORD BECAUSE THE LAST THING YOU WANT TO DO IS TO BE ABLE TO SAY TO YOUR STUDENTS, YOU'VE GOTTEN HERE BUT YOU CAN'T GO THERE." REALLY JUST THINKING ABOUT YOUR SITUATION AND PLANNING IS THE BEST WAY TO GO THROUGH THE PROCESS.

IN THE WORLD OF NURSING, THE NURSE COORDINATOR AND I ARE WORKING ON REVIEWING UPDATED CONCUSSION MANAGEMENT.

WE'VE GOT SOME NEW CONCUSSION MANAGEMENT PROTOCOLS GUIDELINES

[01:15:02]

THAT CAME OUT LAST YEAR FROM THE STATE, WHICH HAD TO DO WITH RETURN TO ATHLETICS.

JOE TOOMBS AND I MET LAST WEEK, WE'RE MEETING AGAIN THIS WEEK TO TALK ABOUT WHAT WE NEED TO DO AND HOW WE NEED TO, IF WE NEED TO ADJUST ANYTHING.

WE'RE ALSO GOING TO BE WORKING WITH OUR DISTRICT MEDICAL DIRECTOR, DR. LUIGI AS FAR AS HOW OUR STAFFS TRAINED IN NARCAN, THERE ARE THREE OPTIONS THAT THE STATE GIVES US TO TRAIN, 1,2, AND 3.

RIGHT NOW WE'RE IN OPTION 3 SCHOOL, WHICH MEANS WE USE OTHER COMMUNITY-BASED ORGANIZATIONS TO TRAIN OUR STAFF AND WE RELY ON THEM FOR OUR SUPPLY.

WE'RE GOING TO WORK WITH DR. LUIGI TO TALK ABOUT BEING AN OPTION 1 SCHOOL, WHICH MEANS WHERE OUR OWN TRAINERS, SO OUR INTERNAL PEOPLE WILL GET TRAINED.

HE IS THE MEDICAL DIRECTOR, CAN WRITE OUR INTERNAL ORDERS AND WE CAN GET OUR SUPPLY DIRECTLY FROM THE STATE.

IT'S NOT HAVE TO GO THROUGH THIRD PARTIES, BUT THERE'S AN APPLICATION PROCESS THAT WE'LL HAVE TO WORK ON WITH HIM, SO WE WILL GO THROUGH THAT AS WELL.

>> DO YOU KNOW WHY THEY HAVE THESE THREE DIFFERENT LEVELS?

>> I THINK THEY ARE JUST OFFERING DIFFERENT OPTIONS, HOW THEY WANT TO TRAIN SOME DISTRICTS, WANT TO USE OTHER COMMUNITY-BASED ORGANIZATIONS LIKE WESTCHESTER COUNTY DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH, ST. VINCENT HOSPITAL.

THEY DON'T, I GUESS, WANT TO DEAL WITH HAVING TO TRAIN INTERNALLY.

THERE WILL BE A PROCESS, WE'LL HAVE TO TRAIN OUR OWN PEOPLE TO DO IT LIKE OUR NURSE COORDINATOR, OR MAYBE [NOISE] OUR SAFETY DIRECTOR.

IT'S NOT COMPLEX TO TRAIN SOMEONE HOW TO USE NARCAN AND IT'S FAIRLY SIMPLE.

IT'S A [OVERLAPPING] WHAT'S THE OTHER TECHNICAL TERM? IT'S A NASAL INJECTOR, NASAL SPRAY.

SO IT'S NOT COMPLEX, BUT IT'S THE WAY THEY'VE ORGANIZED IT, SO THEY DON'T FORCE YOU INTO ONE WAY.

I THINK ORIGINALLY WHEN THIS CAME OUT, IT SEEMED A LITTLE BIT MORE DAUNTING TO BE OUR OWN TRAINING SCHOOL, BUT HAVING GONE THROUGH THIS NOW AND SEEING IT OVER SEVERAL YEARS, I DON'T THINK THAT WOULD BE THE CASE, AND I THINK WE CAN WE CAN DO IT EASILY ON OUR OWN.

>> THANK YOU. 4.6 IS EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR'S UPDATE ON HUMAN RESOURCES.

>> THAT'S IT.

[4.6 Executive Director's Update on Human Resources and Learning]

>> HI. GOOD EVENING. SO JUST A FEW THINGS TO NOTE ON THE AGENDA THIS EVENING.

SO WE DO A FEW LEAVE OF ABSENCES THAT WE'RE RECOMMENDING THE BOARD APPROVE.

IT'S A DIFFERENT TREND FROM I THINK WHEN I STARTED HERE.

I GUESS SUPPOSED TO WHEN I MY FIRST CHILD WAS BORN IN 15 YEARS AGO, I DIDN'T TAKE PATERNITY LEAVE.

I DID NOT TAKE TIME TO ATTEND TO MY DAUGHTER, WHICH WAS PROBABLY NOT THE SMARTEST IDEA, BUT WE DO HAVE SOME MEMBERS OF OUR TEACHING STAFF WHO WILL, AND WE WISH THEM ALL THE BEST AND THEY'LL RETURN SHORTLY, BUT MEANWHILE, WE HAVE TO DO ADJUSTMENTS TO SOME TEACHERS WHO MAY BE TAKEN OVERDOSE A COVER FOR THOSE CLASSES FOR THE SHORT-TERM.

AND WE'RE ONLY TALKING MAYBE A FEW WEEKS, NOT LONG-TERM.

WE ACTUALLY HAVE TO RECOMMENDING THAT LEAVE REPLACEMENT WHO'S BEEN WITH US FOR A FEW YEARS, MITCHELL GREGARIOUS AND MATT.

SHE'S BEEN WITH US IN THE PAST WITH SOME LEAVE REPLACEMENTS, SO SHE'S FULFILLING ONE OF THE ROLES THAT WILL BE WHEN THE TEACHER IS ON LEAVE.

BUT THE BOTTOM LINE IS THAT, WHAT I REALLY WANT TO SHARE IS THAT THE ADMINISTRATORS AND TEACHERS HAVE REALLY STEPPED UP, HELP THEIR COLLEAGUES, BUT ALSO THEY'VE DONE SOME GREAT JOB OF FINDING SOME DEEPER PLACEMENTS.

THAT'S ONE OF THOSE CONSTANT SEARCHES, BUT IF WE WANT SAY ABOUT WHAT LIFE HERE IN PELHAM WAS 10 YEARS AGO.

WE DIDN'T REALLY HAVE THOSE TYPE OF LEAVES BEFORE, BUT WE'RE SEEING MORE AND MORE OF THAT TODAY, WHICH I FIND GREAT AND FASCINATING.

ANOTHER LEAVE AS YOU MAY KNOW, THAT'S PENDING IS CARRIED DR. TAI TONY WILL BE TAKING A LEAVE OF ABSENCE FOR SHORT-TERM.

HOPEFULLY, IT SHOULD BE RETURNING IN FEBRUARY.

WE'RE VERY HAPPY TO RECOMMEND RICH SUPREME WAS A FORMER AP HERE, FORMER PRINCIPAL, UPPER CONTAINERS, LOUIS BURROW IN THE HIGH SCHOOL AND ALSO IN THE MIDDLE-SCHOOL UP THERE.

HE SERVED AS OUR LEAVE LAST YEAR BEFORE CARE WAS HIGHER.

WE'RE HAPPY THAT HE'S RETURNING AND HE'S LOOKING FORWARD TO IT.

SO THAT'S, I THINK I'VE CREATED JUST A BETTER LEVEL OF STABILITY FOR US DEFINITELY FOR THE HIGH SCHOOL.

IN TERMS OF AS YOU KNOW, OUR STAFF CLIMATE SURVEY STARTED, LAUNCHED TWO MONDAYS AGO.

WE HAVE SOME NEW NUMBERS, WE HAVE ABOUT 37% OF OUR TEACHERS HAVE RESPONDED, AND ABOUT ALMOST 18% OF OUR NON-INSTRUCTIONAL STAFF, CLERICAL AND SUPPORT STAFF AND MONITORS HAVE PARTICIPATED.

WE SEND OUT REMINDERS WEEKLY AND WE HOPE TO GET SOME MORE PARTICIPANTS.

BUT BASED ON WHAT I'VE HEARD FROM MY CONSULTANT, THOSE NUMBERS AREN'T BAD.

[01:20:05]

LET'S JUST SAY IN TERMS OF THE RETURN, BUT WE'D LIKE TO SEE MORE PARTICIPATION.

WE HAVE CONSTANT REMINDERS AND WE REACH OUT TO MAKE SURE THAT WE GET MORE PARTICIPATION IN THAT SURVEY.

BUT I THINK HE'S BEEN PLEASED THAT THE CONSULTANT, SO I'M HAPPY TO HEAR THAT, BUT I STILL WANT TO SEE MORE GREATER PARTICIPATION.

>> WHEN WE'VE DONE THESE SURVEYS?

>> YEAH.

>> IN MY CORPORATE LIFE, THERE'S ALWAYS UNDERLYING CONCERNS AROUND ANONYMITY.

PEOPLE NEVER TRUST THE CLAIM [OVERLAPPING] IS TRULY ANONYMOUS THEN ALREADY DOUBLED DOWN ON THAT MESSAGE.

>> YES, DEFINITELY. I THINK THAT'S WRITTEN ABOUT TWO OR THREE TIMES IN [LAUGHTER] THE WHICH IS TRUE BECAUSE WE HAVE NO IDEA.

IT'S NOT A GOOGLE SURVEY, SO IT'S NOT SOMETHING, THAT ARE YOU COLLECTING EMAIL ADDRESSES?

>> IN MY UNDERSTANDING IS WE'RE NOT EVEN GOING TO BE GETTING THE RAW DATA, WE'RE GOING TO BE GETTING A REPORT WITH AN ANALYSIS OF THE DATA, SO THAT'S AN ADDED LAYER OF ANONYMITY.

>> I THINK IT'S GOOD START, BUT WE WILL SEE IMPROVEMENT OVER TIME AS WELL.

THEN THIS WEEK THE NEW TEACHERS WILL BE MEETING AGAIN, WE'D MEET WITH THEM MONTHLY.

ON THURSDAY AFTERNOON WE'LL BE TALKING ABOUT THE FRONTLINE MANAGEMENT SYSTEM AND TALKING ABOUT HOW THEY COLLECT AND HOW THEY ACTUALLY SUBMIT THEIR ATTENDANCE, PROFESSIONAL LEARNING MODULE, HOW THEY SUBMIT FOR COURSE APPROVALS, AND DIFFERENT WORKSHOPS THROUGH THE DIFFERENT BIASES THAT WE MAY HAVE.

WE'RE GOING TO TALK ABOUT THE CLASSROOM OBSERVATION AND EXPERIENCE AND ALSO PRINCIPLES.

JANINE, CURRENT RACIAL GARCIA WANT TO THANK THEM FOR THEIR GOING TO BE JOINING US TO TALK ABOUT PARENT-TEACHER CONFERENCES AND ALSO THE ELEMENTARY POOR CARD SPECIFICALLY.

THAT'S JUST A LITTLE BIT OF WHAT'S HAPPENING IN MY WORLD.

>> CAN I JUST SAY SOMETHING ABOUT THE SURVEY?

>> THE FIRST YEAR IS ALWAYS THE HARDEST YEAR FOR PEOPLE TO GET A FEELING THAT THIS IS ANONYMOUS, THAT THEIR DATA OR WHATEVER THEY'RE SAYING IS NOT NECESSARILY GOING RIGHT BACK TO A MANAGER.

SO THOSE NUMBERS ARE RIGHT IN LINE WITH A FIRST YEAR SURVEY.

HOPEFULLY WHEN WE LAUNCHED THIS NEXT YEAR, WE'LL SEE A SUBSTANTIAL INCREASE ESPECIALLY WE TAKE ACTION WITH WHAT IS SAID TODAY FOR NEXT YEAR.

>> YES. WELL, IT'S GOOD TO HEAR. THANK YOU.

>> FINALLY, ASSISTANT SUPERINTENDENT'S UPDATE ON FINANCE AND FACILITIES. ANYTHING?

[4.7 Assistant Superintendent's Update on Finance and Facilities]

>> I'LL TRY TO KEEP IT BRIEF. I THINK WE HAD A NICE DISCUSSION EARLIER ABOUT OUR UPCOMING WORK PLAN.

WE TALKED ABOUT SOME SAFETY ISSUES.

WE HAD SOME NICE TRAINING TODAY AT THIS CAMPUS WITH THREAT ASSESSMENT TEAMS. CONSULTANT FROM [INAUDIBLE] SPENT THE MORNING PROVIDING THAT TRAINING TO THOSE TEAMS. THAT WAS IN OUR PPS GROUP, SO THAT WAS REALLY TERRIFIC.

AGAIN, WE'RE WE'RE WORKING TO CONTINUOUSLY EXPAND AND BUILD OUR CAPACITY AS A DISTRICT.

WE'RE VERY GRATEFUL FOR THAT.

THIS EVENING, WE'VE GOT TWO TREASURES REPORTS FOR JULY AND AUGUST.

OF COURSE WE'RE PUSHING THOSE FORWARD NOW THAT THE BOARD HAS ACCEPTED THE END OF YEAR AUDIT FOR THE 2023 FISCAL YEAR, INCLUDED IN THAT.

IT ALSO INCLUDED WITH THE AUDIT IS TO RESERVE REPORT, BUT WE HAVE THE THE COMPLETED RESERVE REPORT IN THE AUGUST TREASURER'S REPORT AS WELL, AND THAT'S BEEN PROVIDED TO THE BOARD.

WE WORKED WITH FRIENDS AND PELHAM SPORTS REGARDING THE WEIGHT ROOM RENOVATION PROJECT.

WE'VE GOT A REGULAR DIALOGUE AND WE'RE WORKING ON HOPEFULLY SECURING A GRANT AS WELL THROUGH ASSEMBLYWOMAN AMY PAULIN'S OFFICE TO HELP DEFRAY SOME OF THAT COST.

THAT'S SOME WORK THAT WE HAVE TO DO.

WE'RE FAMILIAR WITH THE PROCESS.

WE'VE DONE THIS BEFORE AND WE'RE GOING TO WORK WITH THEM ON THAT AS WELL, HOPEFULLY TO SEE SOME EARLY CHANGES IN THE FEBRUARY TIMEFRAME WITH HOPEFULLY GETTING ONE ROOM IN PROGRESS.

THE OTHER ONE IS GOING TO REQUIRE A LITTLE BIT OF A HEAVIER LIFT DUE TO THE HVAC REQUIREMENTS AND USE OF SPACE, SO IT'S GOING TO HAVE TO GO THROUGH STATE EDUCATION DEPARTMENT.

TIMEFRAME FOR THAT WOULD PROBABLY BE THE SUMMER TIMEFRAME.

BUT AGAIN, WE'RE MEETING REGULARLY AND I THINK WE'VE GOT VERY GOOD OPEN LINES OF COMMUNICATION THERE.

THAT'S ABOUT IT TONIGHT.

>> JIM, CAN I ASK YOU A QUESTION?

>> A FEW WEEKS AGO, MAYBE LAST WEEK, THERE WERE SOME PEOPLE WORKING OUTSIDE THE DOORS.

WAS THAT PART OF THE GRANT THAT WE RECEIVED?

>> THAT WAS NOT PART OF THE GRANT.

ACTUALLY, THAT WAS PART OF IS OUR ACCESS CONTROLS THAT WE HAVE THROUGHOUT ALL OF OUR BUILDINGS.

WHEN THE ORIGINAL SYSTEM WAS PUT IN MORE THAN SEVEN YEARS AGO, PROBABLY ABOUT 10 YEARS AGO, PART OF THAT SYSTEM WAS WIRELESS AND PART OF THE SYSTEM WAS WIRED.

IN THAT TIME PERIOD IN THE LAST YEAR AND A HALF,

[01:25:02]

THE WIRELESS PORTION OF IT HAS FAILED IN SOME BUILDINGS, LEAVING THE DOORS IN A LOCKED POSITION, SO THEY'RE NOW LEAVING A SENATE PRECARIOUS POSITION.

BUT IT MAKES IT VERY INCONVENIENT FOR PEOPLE THAT WANT TO COME IN THROUGH CERTAIN DOORS USING THEIR ACCESS CONTROLS.

WHAT WE'RE LOOKING TO DO IS TO HARD WIRE ALL OF THOSE DOORS.

WHAT YOU'VE SEEN IS YOU'VE SEEN THOSE PEOPLE HARDWIRING THOSE WIRELESS ACCESS POINTS.

WITH THE, AGAIN, THE IDEA THAT WE'RE GOING TO HAVE AN UPDATED SYSTEM AND IT'LL LAST A LITTLE BIT LONGER.

AGAIN, I WASN'T HAPPY WITH THE RELIABILITY OF THE WIRELESS SYSTEM AND PROBABLY DUE TO THE AGE AND THE DIFFICULTY IN GETTING PARTS.

WE'RE VERY CLOSE TO TURNING ON THE NEW WIRED SYSTEM.

THAT INCLUDES SOME OF OUR GATES AS WELL.

SOME OF OUR GATES, WE'VE DUG TRENCHES.

WE'VE GOT CONDUIT RUNNING AND WE REALLY WANT TO HAVE ALL OF THAT HARD WIRED, GREATER RELIABILITY FOR US.

>> WE CAN MOVE ON TO FINANCIAL REPORTS AND MOTIONS AND I WOULD ACCEPT

[6. Financial Reports and Motions]

A MOTION TO APPROVE ITEM 6.1-6.3 AS A CONSENT AGENDA.

>> IF I CAN MAKE A POINT OF CLARIFICATION, MR. PRESIDENT, I'M SORRY.

IT'S THE AUGUST AND SEPTEMBER TREASURER'S REPORT, I BELIEVE I SAID JULY AND AUGUST.

>> THANK YOU. ANY OTHER COMMENTS OR QUESTIONS? ALL IN FAVOR? ANY OPPOSED ABSTENTIONS? THEN I WILL ACCEPT A MOTION TO ACCEPT DONATION.

THE ACTION STATES RESOLVED THAT UPON THE RECOMMENDATION OF THE SUPERINTENDENT OF SCHOOLS, THE BOARD OF EDUCATION DOES HEREBY ACCEPT THE MONETARY DONATION OF $7,841 FOR A SMART TECHNOLOGY FOR MUSIC CLASSROOMS GRANT, AND THAT GRATITUDE BE BESTOWED UPON ITS DONOR, THE PELHAM EDUCATION FOUNDATION.

>> I'LL READ THIS.

ALSO, THE BOARD OF EDUCATION, DOES HEREBY ACCEPT THE MONETARY DONATION OF $25,480 FOR THE PELHAM MEMORIAL HIGH SCHOOL ACADEMY PLUS PROGRAM FOR THE 2023/24 SCHOOL YEAR AND THAT GRATITUDE BE BESTOWED UPON ITS DONOR, THE FRIENDS OF THE PELHAM CIVIC ASSOCIATION.

ANY OTHER COMMENTS ABOUT THAT?

>> NO, WE'RE REALLY JUST CONTINUE TO BE THANKFUL FOR THE GENEROSITY IN THE PELHAM EDUCATION FOUNDATION, THEY'VE BEEN A GREAT SUPPORT TO US.

>> ALL IN FAVOR? ANY OPPOSED ABSTENTIONS? NO. THAT BRINGS US TO POLICY MONITORING AND GOVERNANCE.

[7.1 Policy 8260 - Title 1 Parent and Family Engagement (First Reading)]

DO YOU WANT TO COVER THE FIRST DR.

CHAMP WITH DO THE FIRST READING TITLE 1, PARENT AND FAMILY ENGAGEMENT.

>> THANK YOU. SO THIS IS THE TITLE 1, PARENT AND FAMILY ENGAGEMENT POLICY IS ONE THAT WE ARE REQUIRED BY STATE LAW TO, MAYBE FEDERAL LAW ACTUALLY TO APPROVE ON AN ANNUAL BASIS, BRING TO THE BOARD FOR APPROVAL ON AN ANNUAL BASIS.

WE REVIEWED THIS WITH THE POLICY COMMITTEE, WE CHECKED IN WITH THE PRINCIPALS OF THE SCHOOLS THAT ARE CONSIDERED TITLE 1 SCHOOLS FOR THIS YEAR, WHICH IS HUTCHINSON MIDDLE SCHOOL AND HIGH SCHOOL.

THEY HAVE ALL CONFIRM THAT THEY HAVE OR ARE IN PROCESS OF COMPLETING ALL THE REQUIREMENTS OF THE POLICY.

IT'S COMING TO YOU WITH NO RECOMMENDED CHANGES FOR TONIGHT.

JUST SO FOLKS KNOW, AS FAR AS TITLE 1, THE WAY THAT THAT WORKS, THEY WERE ALLOCATED FEDERAL FUNDING THAT DR.

BOWMAN'S OFFICE APPLIES FOR EACH YEAR THROUGH NEW YORK STATE BUSINESS PORTAL.

AS PART OF THAT PROCESS, WE DETERMINE WHICH BUILDINGS ARE CONSIDERED TITLE 1 BUILDINGS.

SO TO DO THAT, IT'S AS SIMPLE AS TAKING THE AVERAGE OF THE FREE AND REDUCED LUNCH RATE FOR THE DISTRICT AND THEN IDENTIFYING WHICH BUILDINGS HAVE A HIGHER PERCENTAGE OF STUDENTS THAN THE DISTRICT AVERAGE, AND THOSE THEN BECOME YOUR TITLE 1 SCHOOLS.

SO THOSE FUNDS ARE THEN ALLOCATED TO THOSE BUILDINGS.

SOME YEARS THE MIDDLE-SCHOOL HAS BEEN INCLUDED, IT'S BEEN AWHILE SINCE THEY HAVE, BUT THEY ARE INCLUDED THIS YEAR, AND HIGH SCHOOL AS WELL IS SOMETIMES AND SOMETIMES OUT, THEY ARE IN AGAIN AS THIS YEAR AS A TITLE 1 SCHOOL.

>> IT'S A FIRST READING.

>> ANY QUESTIONS, LET ME KNOW. THANK YOU.

[01:30:04]

>> THERE WERE TWO OTHER ITEMS THAT NEITHER OF WHICH WE'VE DECIDED OUR POLICY IS YET, BUT THE FIRST WAS A DISCUSSION ABOUT CELL PHONES.

THERE'S BEEN A LOT OF DISCUSSION ABOUT WHAT'S THE IMPACT OF ACCESS TO MOBILE DIGITAL DEVICES AND SOCIAL MEDIA DURING THE SCHOOL DAY FOR STUDENTS? TODAY WE HAVE DIFFERENT PRACTICES AT OUR MIDDLE SCHOOL AND HIGH SCHOOL AND SOME OF THE LARGER DISCUSSION GOING ON ACROSS THE COUNTRY AND IN NEW YORK, I THINK IT'S JUST ACCELERATING.

SOME OF YOU MAY HAVE SEEN I SENT IT TO ALL THE BOARD MEMBERS, BUT JUST YESTERDAY, 30 STATE ATTORNEY GENERALS FILED A FEDERAL LAWSUIT AGAINST META, INCLUDING THE NEW YORK ATTORNEY GENERAL, ALLEGING THAT THE COMPANY VIOLATED FEDERAL CHILD PRIVACY PROTECTIONS BY KNOWINGLY MAKING THEIR SOCIAL MEDIA SERVICES MORE ADDICTIVE AND LYING ABOUT THE EFFECTS OF THEIR SERVICES ON CHILDREN'S MENTAL HEALTH AND THEN JUST TWO WEEKS AGO, NEW YORK STATE UNVEILED A BI-PARTISAN BILL TO PROTECT YOUNG PEOPLE UNDER 18 FROM POTENTIAL MENTAL HEALTH RISKS BY PROHIBITING MINERS FROM ACCESSING ALGORITHM BASED SOCIAL MEDIA FEEDS LIKE TIKTOK AND INSTAGRAM, UNLESS THEY HAVE EXPLICIT PERMISSION FROM THEIR PARENTS.

ALL OF THIS IS ON TOP OF A GROWING MOVEMENT, I THINK NATIONALLY, IN WHICH SCHOOLS ARE RE-EVALUATING WHETHER OR NOT TO ALLOW KIDS TO BE ABLE TO ACCESS DIGITAL DEVICES DURING THE SCHOOL DAY.

JUST GIVEN THE DOCUMENTED IMPACT ON DISTRACTION, FOCUS, BULLYING, MENTAL HEALTH ISSUES.

WE REALLY JUST STARTED AN INITIAL CONVERSATION.

AGAIN, RIGHT NOW WE DON'T HAVE EXPLICIT POLICY.

IT'S MORE PRACTICE AT BOTH THE MIDDLE AND HIGH-SCHOOL.

I THINK WE WANT TO KICK OFF AN INCLUSIVE PROCESS WHERE WE INVITE LOTS OF DIFFERENT STAKEHOLDERS.

ESPECIALLY FROM THE MIDDLE SCHOOL, WHERE TODAY THERE'S ESSENTIALLY A BAN ON DIGITAL DEVICES DURING THE WHOLE DAY.

BUT AT THE HIGH SCHOOL THERE'S THIS PROHIBITIONS OF CELL PHONE USE DURING CLASS TIME UNLESS THERE'S A SPECIFIC THAT THE TEACHER HAS SAID THERE'S AN ACADEMIC NEED.

BUT THEY ARE ALLOWED IN OTHER PARTS OF THE DAY.

I THINK WE WANT TO HAVE A FRUITFUL, ROBUST DISCUSSION TO SEE WHAT WE WANT TO DO TO BRING THE MIDDLE SCHOOL AND HIGH SCHOOL IN ALIGNMENT IS A POLICY OR PRACTICE? I THINK ALL TBD, BUT THAT WE JUST INITIATED THAT CONVERSATION IN THE POLICY COMMITTEE.

>> I WOULD JUST ADD I HAD A VERY BRIEF FOLLOW-UP WITH MR. MARKOWITZ.

HE REMINDED ME THAT THEIR SITE-BASED TEAM ACTUALLY TOOK THIS QUESTION UP LAST YEAR AND THAT WAS THAT CONVERSATION IS WHAT LED THEM TO THEIR CURRENT PRACTICE.

THEY'VE HAD SOME SCHOOL LEVEL WITH THE SITE-BASED TEAM THAT DOES HAVE THE SHARED STAKE HOLDERS, A SMALL GROUP AND HAS A ELECTED SHARE STAKEHOLDER REPRESENTATION.

THERE HAS BEEN SOME CONVERSATION ALREADY AT THAT LEVEL ABOUT IT TO BRING THEM TO WHERE THEY ARE AND CERTAINLY I THINK TO YOUR POINT, IF THERE'S GOING TO BE A CONSIDERED CHANGE, I THINK THAT BROAD STAKEHOLDER FEEDBACK WOULD BE VERY IMPORTANT.

IT WAS DEFINITELY A LOT OF DIFFERENT PERSPECTIVES ON THIS.

>> IAN I KNOW YOU JUST MENTIONED MIDDLE SCHOOL, HIGH SCHOOL, HOWEVER, I THINK THE PROBLEM NOW IS INVADING OUR ELEMENTARY SCHOOL? [LAUGHTER]

>> YEAH.

>> I KNOW BECAUSE IN FIFTH GRADE NOW THEY'RE SENDING MANDATES, HOMEWORK IN THE ELEMENTARIES, THE SMARTWATCHES.

>> IT'S THE WATCHES.

>> THE KIDS TO HAVE CELL PHONES SO WHILE WE THINK IS AN UPPER SECONDARY CAMPUS SITUATION, IT IS SLOWLY COMING DOWN INTO THE ELEMENTARY SCHOOLS.

I KNOW RIGHT NOW THERE'S I GUESS A GUIDELINE OF WHAT THE PRINCIPLES PUT OUT THERE.

I WOULD LIKE TO SEE A MORE INTO A PRACTICE.

>> I THINK THAT THAT IS THE BENEFIT OF THE POLICY WHERE IT COULD EVEN IF IT'S JUST CODIFYING WHAT IS CURRENTLY IN PRACTICE, THAT WOULD BE A TOOL TO BRING THE CONSISTENCY AND HELP ADMINISTRATORS IN FORCE AND EXPECTATION AND THEN CERTAINLY THE QUESTION.

>> BUT TOTALLY CONCUR THIS.

I ONLY MENTIONED MIDDLE AND HIGH SCHOOL, BUT ABSOLUTELY THIS IS ELEMENTARY AS WELL.

>> FUNNY ENOUGH, WHILE WE'VE BEEN TALKING AND I I PROMISE I DIDN'T STAGE THIS OUT OF THE CORNER OF MY EYE, THERE WAS A BOOK OVER THERE IN THE MIDDLE SCHOOL LIBRARY CALLED ATTENTION DEFICIT, HOW TECHNOLOGY HAS HIJACKED OUR ABILITY TO CONCENTRATE.

IT'S GOT A VERY EVOCATIVE COVER [LAUGHTER] IT'S NOT EVEN A MOBILE DEVICE. IT HAD GOT YOUR ATTENTION.

>> MOVE TO THE SIDE, JULIAN, LET ME HONE IN RIGHT NOW THAT.

[01:35:01]

[LAUGHTER]

>> BUT IN ALL SERIOUSNESS, WHAT IS THE MECHANIC FOR BRINGING IN OR HAVING A INCLUSIVE DISCUSSION? HEARING DIFFERENT STAKEHOLDERS OPINIONS IN A WAY THAT CAN THEN HAVE A VERY CRISP OUTCOME.

IS THAT MEETING LIKE THIS? IS IT WITHIN THE POLICY COMMITTEE? HOW DO WE FUNCTIONALLY DO THAT?

>> THAT COULD BE DONE A LOT OF DIFFERENT WAYS.

I HAVEN'T HAD TIME TO REALLY TALK IT OUT YET WITH CERTAINLY WITH THE HIGH SCHOOL ADMINISTRATION TO SEE WHAT THEY WOULD OFFER AS STRATEGIES FOR THAT.

BUT I THINK WE CAN CERTAINLY, IF YOU GIVE ME SOME TIME TO TALK WITH THEM, WE CAN COME UP WITH SOMETHING.

I DO KNOW THAT THIS CAN BE A VERY HOT TOPIC FOR ALL THE REASONS.

BUT LET ME DO SOME WORK ON PUTTING TOGETHER SOME APPROACH TO THAT.

I DO THINK CERTAINLY THE STARTING POINT BEING THE POLICY COMMITTEE SAYING, LOOK, WE WANT TO CONSIDER A POLICY ON THIS.

WE WANT TO GET SOME SAMPLES.

WE WANT TO DO SOME SURVEYING AND SEEING WHAT OTHER SCHOOLS ARE DOING, HOW THEY'RE HANDLING IT, RESEARCH ARTICLES.

BUT THEN THE POLICY COMMITTEE COULD SAY, LOOK, WE NEED SOME STAKEHOLDER INVOLVEMENT, CAN THE DISTRICT WORK TO SET UP A SERIES OF ENGAGEMENT OPPORTUNITIES, WHETHER THAT'S THE STUDENT GOVERNMENT, SITE-BASED TEAM, PTA MEETING OR SPECIFIC MEETINGS ABOUT THE TOPIC IN PARTICULAR, A LOT OF DIFFERENT APPROACHES, BUT I'M SURE WE CAN COME UP WITH ONE THAT WOULD PROVIDE THAT BROAD OPPORTUNITY.

I DO THINK WORKING THROUGH THE COMMITTEE TO START DO WE WANT A POLICY YES OR NO? GETTING THE FEEDBACK AND THEN BRINGING THE FEEDBACK BACK TO POLICY TO THEN SHAPE THE POLICY.

BUT I THINK IT IS IMPORTANT THAT WE GET THOSE VOICES BECAUSE THE OTHER DETAIL THAT MR. MARKOWITZ REMINDED ME OF IS WHEN HIGH-SCHOOL VISION WORK SESSION WAS HERE, THERE WERE SOME, AS IAN MENTIONED, SOME TEACHERS WHO DID ARTICULATE A REAL DESIRE FOR THE STUDENTS TO HAVE THE PHONES ACCESSIBLE FOR USE IN SCHOOL, ESPECIALLY, I THINK IF I REMEMBER IT BEING SCIENCE TEACHERS IN PARTICULAR.

>> PHYSICS. [OVERLAPPING].

>> THE DATA COLLECTION, VARIOUS TOOLS ON IT THAT ARE FAR SUPERIOR THAN ANYTHING THEY'RE GOING TO HAVE IN THE CLASSROOM.

I THINK THOSE ALL THE VALID PERSPECTIVES THAT WE NEED TO BE SURE TO TAKE INTO CONSIDERATION.

>> I THINK THE BALANCE WHEN WE THINK ABOUT, BECAUSE IT IS INTERESTING THESE CASES THAT ARE NOW BEING BROUGHT FORTH LINKING CELL PHONE USE AND ADDICTION TO MENTAL HEALTH ISSUES.

WE JUST HAVE TO FIGURE OUT WHAT THE RIGHT BALANCE IS TO HAVING THOSE TOOLS OF MEASUREMENT VERSUS WHAT THE FLIP SIDE OF WHAT IT ALSO INVITES.

>> WHAT DOES IMPLEMENTATION LOOK LIKE? I MEAN, EASY FOR US TO TALK ABOUT.

WE'RE NOT THE ONES IN THE SCHOOL WHO HAVE TO DO THE IMPLEMENTATION.

BECAUSE THE POLICY IS ONLY AS GOOD AS ITS IMPLEMENTATION.

HOW DOES THAT WORK? WHAT HAPPENS IF A STUDENT BREACHES POLICY, WHAT'S THE PUNISHMENT? IF THERE IS A PUNISHMENT? YOU CAN'T SAY PUNISHMENT, BUT IT'S A NUANCED SUBJECT.

THEN THE SECOND TOPIC.

BUT NEW YORK STATE HAS RELEASED REVISED GUIDELINES REGARDING TRANSGENDER STUDENTS.

AS THESE GUIDELINES ARE ADVISORY ONLY.

WE BEGAN THE DISCUSSION POLICY AS TO WHETHER OR NOT THESE GUIDELINES CREATE CONFLICTS WITH OTHER DISTRICT POLICY AND PRACTICE OR INCREASE LEGAL RISK IN ANY WAY.

WE'RE STILL AT THE EARLY STAGES DISCUSSING THE BEST PATH FORWARD.

>> WE CAN MOVE ON TO SUPERINTENDENTS PERSONNEL RECOMMENDATIONS

[8. Superintendent's Personnel Recommendations]

AND I WOULD SUGGEST THAT OR ACCEPT A MOTION TO CONSIDER ITEMS 8.1 THROUGH 8.3 AS A CONSENT AGENDA.

>> ANY COMMENTS OR QUESTIONS?

>> NO. NOTHING SPECIFIC.

>> ALL IN FAVOR? AYE.

>> AYE. [OVERLAPPING]

>> ANY OPPOSED OR EXTENSIONS? I'LL NEXT ACCEPT A MOTION TO APPROVE A PARENT MEMBER COMMITTEE ON SPECIAL EDUCATION.

[9. Approval of Committee on Special Education (CSE) and Committee on Preschool Special Education (CPSE) Members]

>> YOU CAN EXPLAIN. WOULD YOU JUST PROVIDE A BRIEF EXPLANATION OF WHAT THAT IS?

[01:40:02]

>> SURE, WHILE IT'S NOT A REQUIREMENT, PARENTS ARE ALLOWED TO REQUEST PARENT MEMBERS TO BE A PART OF THEIR MEETING.

THESE ARE TYPICALLY PARENTS WHO OUR RESIDENTS OF THE DISTRICT AND HAD A CHILD THAT HAD AN IEP WITHIN THE LAST FIVE YEARS.

THEY GO THROUGH A TRAINING TO BE A PARENT MEMBER AND THEY'RE THERE TO BE A SUPPORT TO A PARENT DURING A CPSE OR CAC MEETING? WE HAVE SEVERAL. IF A PARENT REQUESTS FOR A PARENT MEMBER TO ATTEND THE MEETING, WE ROTATE THROUGH OUR LIST OF PARENT MEMBERS, SO IT'S ALWAYS HELPFUL WHEN WE COULD ADD TO THE LIST OF VOLUNTEERS.

>> DO I HAVE A MOTION?

>> ANY OPPOSED, ABSTENTIONS? NO. ANYTHING FOR NEW BUSINESS? THEN I WILL ACCEPT A MOTION TO ADJOURN.

>> ALL IN FAVOR?

>> AYE. [OVERLAPPING]