>> WELCOME. I'D LIKE TO CALL TO ORDER THE BOARD OF EDUCATION MEETING OF JUNE 18.
[2. Public Session - 7:30 p.m.]
[00:00:07]
PLEASE STAND FOR THE PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE.>> I PLEDGE ALLEGIANCE TO THE FLAG OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, AND TO THE REPUBLIC FOR WHICH IT STANDS, ONE NATION UNDER GOD, INDIVISIBLE, WITH LIBERTY AND JUSTICE FOR ALL.
>> I'LL ASK MR. ROE FOR A REITERATION OF THE EXECUTIVE SESSION MOTIONS.
>> WE ENTERED EXECUTIVE SESSION FOR THE PURPOSE OF DISCUSSING INDIVIDUAL STUDENT RECORDS AS WELL AS INDIVIDUAL EMPLOYEES.
>> WELCOME. WE HAVE A LOT OF SPECIAL GUESTS HERE TONIGHT, INCLUDING REPRESENTATIVES FROM BOCES AND STUDENTS TO BE RECOGNIZED AND MRS. CLAIRE CUERFORD, WHO WERE ALSO WELCOMING TO THE PELHAM FAMILY.
LOOKING FORWARD TO HEARING FROM EVERYBODY TONIGHT.
WITH THAT, I'LL MOVE ON TO APPROVAL OF THE MINUTES AND I'D ASK FOR
[3. Approval of Minutes]
A MOTION TO APPROVE 3.1 THE MINUTES FROM APRIL 17.WITHOUT FURTHER ADO, WE'LL MOVE ON TO OUR STUDENT RECOGNITIONS, AND I'M GOING TO HAND OVER THE MEETING TO MR. ROE.
[4.1 Student Recognition]
WE ARE GOING TO HAVE TO GO A LITTLE BIT OUT OF ORDER TONIGHT SO THANKS, EVERYONE FOR YOUR PATIENCE, BUT ALSO TRYING TO BE RESPECTFUL OF GUESTS AND FOLKS THAT HAVE GUESTS HERE IN DIFFERENT CONFLICTS.
I WOULD LOVE TO INVITE MR. BECK TO MEET ME AT THE MICROPHONE.
I KNOW THAT THE BOARD IS VERY MUCH AWARE MANY OF OUR MEETINGS, I'M COMING WITH KUDOS AND PRAISE FOR OUR PELHAM MEMORIAL HIGH SCHOOL FORENSIC SPEECH TEAM.
THEY CONTINUE TO FIRE ON ALL CYLINDERS AND TO REALLY CONTINUE TO ACHIEVE AT HIGH LEVELS, REPRESENTING OUR DISTRICT LOCALLY AROUND THE STATE AND AROUND THE COUNTRY.
TONIGHT, WE'RE VERY PLEASED TO HONOR TWO STUDENTS AS 2024 NATIONAL FINALISTS AT THE FORENSIC SPEECH NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP TOURNAMENT.
I'M GOING TO LET MR. BECK TELL US A LITTLE BIT MORE ABOUT THAT, AND THEN WE'LL GIVE THEM THEIR CERTIFICATE.
>> THANK YOU, DR. CHAMP, AND THANK YOU BOARD OF EDUCATION FOR HAVING US.
WE HAVE TWO STUDENTS HERE, JUNIOR CHRIS O'MARA, AND SENIOR ISAAC LEAF, ALONG WITH THEIR COACH FOR THE RHETORIC EVENTS, WHICH IS MR. NEIL SCHLEIFER.
WE TRAVEL TO CHICAGO FOR THE NCFL 72ND GRAND NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP.
IN ORDER TO QUALIFY, IT'S ALMOST AN AWARD ON ITS OWN, BECAUSE THE STUDENT MUST BE THE TOP SIX FINISHERS IN STATEN ISLAND, NEW YORK CITY, AND WESTCHESTER REGION, WHICH IS VERY COMPETITIVE.
EVERY SATURDAY, WE GO AGAINST REGIS, SCARSDALE, STUYVESANT, BYRON HILLS, BRONX SCIENCE, AND THOSE ARE THE ONES THAT USUALLY ARE PLACING NATIONALLY AS WELL.
THIS YEAR, WE HAD A RECORD FOR QUALIFIERS.
WE HAD TWO JUNIORS, LIAM GINSBURG AND JEREMY TAM IN DUO INTERP, WHICH I HANDLE AS AN INTERP COACH THEN WE HAD IN CONGRESSIONAL DEBATE, WHICH IS A RHETORICAL EVENT, CHRIS AND ISAAC.
THE TOURNAMENT WAS HELD OVER MEMORIAL DAY WEEKEND.
MR. SCHLEIFER SERVED AS PARLIAMENTARIAN FOR THE MIDWEST SCHOOLS.
WE HAD 2,341 STUDENTS THERE, 527 SCHOOLS PRESENT.
ELIMINATING OVER THE WEEKEND TO OCTOS, QUARTERS, SEMIS, AND BOTH THESE GENTLEMEN MADE FINALS.
PELHAM WAS THE ONLY NEW YORK SCHOOL TO HAVE TWO STUDENTS MAKE THE FINAL ROUND YES, VERY MUCH.
[APPLAUSE] AT THE END OF THE DAY, WHEN ALL THE DUST WAS SETTLED AND HANDING OUT THE AWARDS, MR. SCHLEIFER AND I WERE VERY HAPPY THAT ISAAC WAS 14TH IN THE NATION, AND CHRISTOPHER WAS SEVENTH IN THE NATION.
ISAAC WILL BE ATTENDING DUKE UNIVERSITY NEXT YEAR, BUT WE BOTH, MR. SCHLEIFER AND I BOTH HOPE THAT WE ARE BACK NEXT YEAR WITH CHRIS AND MORE FINALISTS, BECAUSE THEY TRULY EMBODY THE BOTO OF THE SPEECH LEAGUE, WHICH IS LEADERSHIP THROUGH SPEECH.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH. [APPLAUSE]
[00:05:13]
>> YES. WE'RE GOING TO CHANGE THE ORDER.
I'M VERY EXCITED TO HAVE A PRESENTATION TONIGHT BY THE SOUTHERN WESTCHESTER BOCES TEAM,
[4.3 Southern Westchester BOCES Presentation]
I THINK, LED BY EILEEN MILLER.>> HAROLD COLES. I WOULD JUST WELCOME, PLEASED TO HAVE DR. HAROLD COLES, A VERY TRUSTED COLLEAGUE AND FRIEND TO ME.
WE'VE WORKED TOGETHER I THINK EVER SINCE I CAME TO PELHAM.
>> HAROLD HAS BEEN AT BOTH SEAS, AND IT'S BEEN A GREAT RESOURCE AND SUPPORT FOR ALL THOSE YEARS.
AS OUR DISTRICT SUPERINTENDENT FOR SOUTHERN WESTCHESTER, BOCES IS VERY PLEASED TO HAVE YOU AND YOUR TEAM HERE.
WELCOME, AND WE LOOK FORWARD TO HEARING YOUR PRESENTATION TONIGHT.
>> THANK YOU. THANK YOU AGAIN FOR ALLOWING US TO COME TO YOUR SCHOOL TO BE A PART OF YOUR BOARD MEETING.
WE HAD A WONDERFUL OPPORTUNITY THIS YEAR TO MEET WITH SEVERAL BOARDS AND SEVERAL BOARD MEMBERS THAT ARE HERE TODAY, OUR BOARD PRESIDENT JOHN PHILIP BERNIE IS HERE ALONG WITH CHERYL BRADY AND LEEN MILLER, WHO WERE HERE REPRESENTING OUR BOARD.
WE'VE COME TO TALK ABOUT THE SERVICES AND SUPPORT THAT WE HAVE OUR BOCES I THINK THAT WE HAVEN'T HAD AN OPPORTUNITY TO BE ABLE TO DO THIS, TO BE ABLE TO SHARE WITH YOU DIRECTLY.
WE TALK WITH OUR SUPERINTENDENTS ALL THE TIME WITH THE CSA MEETINGS, BUT THIS IS AN OPPORTUNITY FOR YOU HEAR ABOUT THE WORK THAT WE DO.
I'M JUST RUNNING THROUGH OUR MISSION REAL QUICKLY, PART OF WHAT WE ARE ACCOMPLISHING WITH OUR WISHES THAT WE PROVIDE SERVICES FOR OUR SCHOOL DISTRICTS THAT CANNOT PROVIDE SERVICES FOR THEMSELVES.
OUR INTENT IS TO BE ABLE TO PROVIDE TRUSTED QUALITY SERVICES FOR OUR COMMUNITY.
OUR MISSION IS TO MAKE SURE THAT WE HAVE HIGH QUALITY EXPERIENCES FOR OUR STUDENTS.
WE LOOK AT TRYING TO VALUE COLLABORATION AND VALUE THAT RELATE TO TRUST AND RESPECT WITH EXCELLENCE BEING THE FOCAL POINT OF WHAT WE'RE TRYING TO ACCOMPLISH.
OUR INTENT IS TO TRY TO PROVIDE SERVICES THAT YOU CANNOT PROVIDE FOR YOURSELF AND THE WAY THAT WE CAN SUPPORT YOU AND WHAT WE ARE WE DOING.
ONE OF THE THINGS THAT WE FOCUS ON OUR GOALS, WE'RE CONSTANTLY LOOKING AT HOW WE CAN IMPROVE OURSELVES.
THERE ARE THINGS HAPPENING IN EDUCATION CHRONICALLY THAT HAVE AN IMPACT ON EDUCATION.
WE TRY TO MAKE SURE THAT WE ARE THERE AT THE FOREFRONT TRYING TO PROVIDE SERVICES SUPPORT SO SCHOOL DISTRICTS CAN JUMP INTO CUTTING EDGE EXPERIENCES ALONG THE WAY.
I WILL GIVE YOU A QUICK OVERVIEW OF WHAT BOCES IS.
BOCES WAS ESTABLISHED IN 1948, AND AT THIS POINT, THERE'S 37 BOCES LEFT IN NEW YORK STATE.
EACH ONE OF THE BOCES HAS BEEN DIVIDED UP INTO A JMT REGION, WHICH IS A JOINT MANAGEMENT TEAM REGION.
OUR REGION IS THE LOWER HUDSON REGION, AND EACH ONE OF THOSE 12 REGIONS THAT HAVE BEEN ESTABLISHED HAVE A REGIONAL INFORMATION CENTER, AND REGIONAL INFORMATION CENTER PROVIDES SUPPORT SERVICES FOR SCHOOL DISTRICTS IN OUR REGION THAT RELATE TO EDUCATIONAL TECHNOLOGY, NETWORKING, AND SOFTWARE SUPPORT FOR OUR SCHOOL DISTRICTS, OUR REGIONAL INFORMATION CENTER IS THE LOWER HUDSON REGIONAL INFORMATION CENTER.
PART OF WHAT WE TRY TO ACCOMPLISH HERE AT OUR BOARD OF COOPERATE EDUCATION IS LIKE ASS I SAID EARLIER, IS TRY TO COME UP WITH PROGRAMS THAT ARE CUTTING EDGE, BUT ALSO THAT ARE IMPACTFUL AND RELATED TO THE NEEDS OF THE DISTRICT.
THE IMPORTANCE OF WHAT BOCES WAS CREATED FOR IS TO PROVIDE SERVICES FOR DISTRICTS THAT CANNOT PROVIDE THEM ON THEIR OWN.
THROUGH THE COLLABORATIVE NATURE OF THE WORK THAT WE DO, WE CAN HAVE PARTNERSHIPS CREATED THAT ALLOW SERVICES TO BE PROVIDED FOR SCHOOL DISTRICTS SO THAT THEY DON'T HAVE TO WORRY ABOUT DOING THEM ON THEIR OWN.
IT WINDS UP BEING A WAY TO BE COST EFFECTIVE AND AFFORDABLE AND TRYING TO FOCUS ON TRYING TO MAKE SURE THAT WE'RE STILL CONSTANTLY IMPROVING UPON WHAT WE'RE DOING.
BEING A DISTRICT SUPERINTENDENT, WHAT DOES THAT MEAN? PART OF MY RESPONSIBILITIES IS I WORK DIRECTLY WITH THE COMMISSIONER OF EDUCATION IN PROVIDING SUPPORT, SERVICE, REGIONAL EDUCATIONAL SUPPORTS, AND ALL THE THINGS THAT ARE HAPPENING IN STATE THAT EDUCATION WISE HAS A FOREFRONT SUPPORT.
I HAVE TWO ROLES WITH THAT PIECE.
PART OF IT IS I WANT TO BRING A LIAISON WITH THE COMMISSIONER, BUT ALSO I'M A THOUGHT PARTNER WITH THE SCHOOL DISTRICTS HERE.
DR. CHANCE IS PROBABLY ONE TO WORK CLOSELY WITH, BUT ALSO PROVIDE THE INFORMATION WE TAKE BACK TO THE COMMISSIONER ABOUT REGIONAL ISSUES AND CONCERNS THAT MIGHT BE HAPPENING, AND/OR IF THERE'S SOMETHING THAT A BOARD IS TRYING TO ACCOMPLISH THROUGH THEIR SUPERINTENDENT AND RUNNING INTO ROADBLOCKS TO BE A PERSON THAT WOULD BE THERE TO HELP REMOVE THE ROADBLOCKS AND HELP WITH A PROCESS GOING FORWARD.
WE ALSO WIND UP BEING A LIAISON WITH THE PRIVATE PUBLIC SCHOOLS AS WELL.
BUT THE OTHER PIECE THAT WE WIND UP DOING IS THE SIX YEAR SUPERINTENDENT.
WE AS PART OF THE COMMISSIONERS REGULATION, SUPERINTENDENT, PROVIDE SUPERINTENDENT SEARCHES FOR THE REGIONS WE'RE IN.
[00:10:03]
WE ALSO LOOK AT PROVIDING SUPPORT SERVICES FOR STAFF DEVELOPMENT FOR OUR BOARDS, AND LOOKING AT PROVIDING BOARD ADMINISTRATIVE RELATIONSHIP TRAINING AND WORK AND SUPPORT.WE DO COLLABORATIVE WORK WITH STATE EDUCATION DEPARTMENT, LOOKING AT MANAGEMENT OF THE PLANNING, AND WE ALSO WORK WITH SCHOOL BOUNDARIES AND REGIONAL MERGERS THAT MIGHT BE HAPPENING IN THE SCHOOL IN REGION.
ANY QUESTIONS? WELL, NEXT PERSON UP IS OUR ASSISTANT SUPERINTENDENT FOR EDUCATIONAL SERVICES, JAMES GRADO JUNIOR AND HE'S GOING TO TALK ABOUT OUR CTE PROGRAMS AND SUPPORTS.
>> I'M JAMES GRADO, ASSISTANT SUPERINTENDENT FOR EDUCATIONAL SERVICES AND THIS IS THE CTE SLIDE.
CAREER SERVICES, OUR CTE CAMPUSES IN VALHALLA.
YOU HAVE 23 STUDENTS ENROLLED THERE THIS YEAR IN A VARIETY OF PROGRAMS. THAT'S UP FROM LAST YEAR, AND WORD ON THE STREET IS THAT YOU'RE BUYING A FEW MORE SEATS NEXT YEAR.
DON'T KNOW THAT THAT'S CONFIRMED BUT AS YOU ARE ALL WELL AWARE, CTE IS A GREAT OPPORTUNITY FOR STUDENTS TO GET COLLEGE, GET HIGH SCHOOL CREDIT, GET PREPARED FOR COLLEGE AND GET ENTRY LEVEL EMPLOYMENT SKILLS, AND THEY GO OFF TO COLLEGE.
THEY GO RIGHT INTO THE WORKFORCE, SOMETIMES THEY DO BOTH, SOMETIMES THEY GO RIGHT INTO THE MILITARY.
THIS IS JUST A QUICK LITTLE SNAPSHOT.
YOU HAVE STUDENTS IN ANIMAL SCIENCE, AUTOMOTIVE TECHNOLOGY, COMMERCIAL ART, PLUMBING AND ELECTRICAL, SECURITY, LAW, AND POLICING AND PROBABLY OTHERS SO THAT'S JUST A LITTLE SNAPSHOT.
THE CTE PROGRAM, AGAIN, IT'S GROWING, BUT YOU DO PARTICIPATE AND THE STUDENTS GET WORK BASED LEARNING OPPORTUNITIES AS WELL AGAIN, AS WE'RE ON THE STREET IS, YOU HAVE MORE STUDENTS THAT ARE INTERESTED.
THERE'S A LOT OF OPPORTUNITIES FOR CTE STUDENTS.
WE HAVE A VARIETY OF PROGRAMS IN OUR OWN BOCES SITES, AS WELL AS A PROGRAM IN IRVINGTON.
YOU HAVE FOUR STUDENTS IN OUR PROGRAMS THIS YEAR, WHICH IS PROBABLY A GOOD THING FOR YOU BECAUSE YOU'RE SUPPORTING THEM EITHER AT YOUR HOME DISTRICT OR IN OTHER LOCATIONS.
BUT WE HAVE, IT'S HARD TO READ FROM THIS ANGLE BUT TSP THERAPEUTIC SUPPORT PROGRAM.
WE HAVE ALSO A CAD COMMUNICATION ACADEMIC DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM, AUTISM SPECTRUM DISORDER, AND AN INTENSIVE DAY TREATMENT, WHICH IS A PROGRAM WHERE STUDENTS WHO ARE HAVING SOME ANXIETY OR TROUBLE AT SCHOOL COULD COME TO BOCES FOR 30, 60 OR 90 DAYS AND THEN RETURN TO THEIR HOME DISTRICT.
AT A GLANCE ON THIS SIDE EMBEDDED PROGRAMS, WE HAVE ALL OF THESE SERVICES EMBEDDED IN ALL OF OUR PROGRAMS. WE ALSO HAVE A 612 PROGRAM AT IRVINGTON MIDDLE SCHOOL HIGH SCHOOL.
SOME STUDENTS ATTEND OUR PROGRAMS, AT MAINSTREAM IN TWO PROGRAMS AT IRVINGTON AND TRACY IS WELL AWARE OF THESE PROGRAMS. IF YOU HAVE STUDENTS THAT WE COULD SERVE.
BACK ONE. ADULT AND COMMUNITY SERVICES.
SOMETIMES THIS IS A LITTLE KNOWN FACT ABOUT SOUTHERN WEST HESTER BOCES IN EVERY BOCES RUNS AN ADULT AND COMMUNITY SERVICES PROGRAM.
WE OFFER ESL CITIZENSHIP PROGRAMS, GED PREP FOR ADULT STUDENTS WHO ARE NEW TO THIS COUNTRY.
WE ALSO OFFER A WIDE VARIETY OF VOCATIONAL TRAINING FOR ADULT STUDENTS.
SOME STUDENTS WHO ARE NEW TO THE COUNTRY GET A CERTAIN LEVEL OF ENGLISH SKILLS AND THEY GO RIGHT INTO OUR ADULT PROGRAMS FOR CAREER PATHWAY.
IT'S A PRETTY EXTENSIVE PROGRAM.
SERVING ABOUT 1,500 STUDENTS LAST YEAR, IT WILL BE ON THE INCREASE, DROPPED AFTER COVID, BUT ON ITS WAY BACK AND WE HAVE SITES ALL AROUND THE COUNTY AS WELL AS OUR OWN BOCES PROGRAMS. THAT'S THE QUICK OVERVIEW.
NEXT IS DR. LYONS, OUR CHIEF OPERATING OFFICER.
>> GOOD EVENING, EVERYONE. I'M GOING TO BE PINCHATING FOR OUR EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF OUR LOWER HUDSON REGIONAL INFORMATION CENTER, DOCTOR MCDONELL, AND SHE WASN'T ABLE TO JOIN US TONIGHT.
BUT ESSENTIALLY, WE HAVE WHAT'S CALLED THE LHRIC.
THEY PROVIDE TECHNOLOGY SERVICES ACROSS 60 PLUS DISTRICTS ACROSS THREE COUNTIES, ROCKLAND, PUTNAM, AND WESTCHESTER.
PELHAM IS CERTAINLY ONE OF THE DISTRICTS THAT UTILIZES THE SERVICES OF THE LHRIC SO WHAT YOU HAVE HERE IS JUST AN ARRAY OF SERVICES THAT THE LHRIC PROVIDES TO ITS COMPONENT DISTRICTS.
I'M NOT GOING TO READ ALL THOSE TO YOU, BUT IT'S PRETTY MUCH SUP TO NUTS, EVERYTHING YOU CAN IMAGINE INVOLVED, ESPECIALLY NOWADAYS, THE NEEDS OF DISTRICTS INVOLVING SECURITY.
AGAIN, JUST CONTINUING ON WITH SOME OF THE SERVICES THAT WE PROVIDE, EVERYTHING FROM NETWORK SUPPORT, INTERNET, DATA, VOICE SERVICES.
TYPICALLY, DISTRICTS HAVE WHAT'S CALLED VOICE OVER IP SERVICES WITH THEIR PHONE SYSTEM, PHYSICAL SECURITY, HARDWARE REPAIR PRETTY MUCH
[00:15:03]
ANYTHING YOU CAN IMAGINE ALONG THE TECHNOLOGY SPECTRUM.WE ALSO PROVIDE NUMEROUS SOFTWARE SUPPORTS, FINANCIAL SUPPORT SERVICES, STUDENT SUPPORT SERVICES YOUR DATA MANAGEMENT SYSTEM THAT YOU USE FOR YOUR STUDENTS TO KEEP DATA ON ACHIEVEMENT, GRADES, ETC, AND THEN ALSO ON THE FINANCIAL SIDE AS WELL AND YOU CAN SEE ALSO HOW YOU COMMUNICATE WITH YOUR PARENTS, YOUR AUTOMATED CALL OUT SYSTEMS. ALL OF THESE THINGS CAN BE SERVICED THROUGH THE LOWER HUDSON REGIONAL INFORMATION CENTER.
I MENTIONED DATA SERVICES, STATE REPORTING.
YOU CAN IMAGINE WITH THE EXTENSIVE STATE TESTING PROGRAM.
THERE ARE MANY, MANY REQUIREMENTS THAT THE STATE NEEDS IN TERMS OF EACH DISTRICT, SUPPLYING THE DATA UP TO THE STATE.
THE LHRIC HELPS TO CONSOLIDATE THOSE REPORTS, CREATE THOSE REPORTS, AND GET THEM UP IN A TIMELY MANNER, WHICH IT'S QUITE A BIT, JUST AS AN EXAMPLE, WE HAVE 400,000 ACROSS THE 60 PLUS DISTRICTS, 400,000 TESTS ARE SCANNED AND SCORED EACH YEAR SO IT'S A PRETTY BIG OPERATION.
THEN WE ALSO HAVE AN INSTRUCTIONAL TECHNOLOGY DIVISION, WHICH REALLY FOCUSES ON CLASSROOM INSTRUCTION AND HOW TO INTEGRATE TECHNOLOGY INTO THE INSTRUCTIONAL REALM.
THIS IS PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT WHERE WE HOST PROFESSIONAL DEVELOP.
WE ALSO WILL GO OUT TO DISTRICTS AND HELP WITH INTEGRATION AND HELP WITH THE TRAINING OF STAFF IN TERMS OF INSTRUCTIONAL TECHNOLOGY IN THE CLASSROOM.
>> IN ADDITION, MOVING ON FROM THE LYRIC, WE DO HOST THE CENTER FOR INTERSCHOLASTIC ATHLETICS.
PELHAM IS PART OF SECTION 1 ATHLETICS AND COMPETES IN A VARIETY OF VARSITY, JV, AND MODIFIED SPORTS.
THE BIGGEST FUNCTION, ALTHOUGH SOUNDING SOMEWHAT MUNDANE, THAT SECTION 1 PROVIDES IS THE SCHEDULING OF CONTESTS AND THE ASSIGNING OF OFFICIALS.
IF YOU CAN JUST IMAGINE THE NUMBER OF COMPETITIONS AND MEETS AND SUCH THAT HAPPEN RIGHT HERE AT PELHAM, MULTIPLY THAT OVER 70 PLUS DISTRICTS ACROSS THE REGION, OFFICIALS SCHEDULING ALL OF THAT IS DONE THROUGH SECTION 1, AND WE HANDLE ALL THE LOGISTICAL END OF THAT.
WE ALSO MAKE SURE THAT THE OFFICIALS GET PAID.
THERE'S A LOT OF LOGISTICAL PIECES THAT GO ON BEHIND THE SCENES FOR THE ATHLETIC PROGRAM.
IN ADDITION TO PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT FOR COACHES AND SOME OTHER FUNCTIONS BEING A LIAISON FROM THE STATE ATHLETIC ASSOCIATION, QUITE A BIT GOES ON IN THE CENTER FOR INTERSCHOLASTIC ATHLETICS.
WE ALSO HAVE A SCHOOL COMMUNICATIONS DIVISION THAT WORKS WITH DISTRICTS ON PUBLIC RELATIONS, CRISIS COMMUNICATIONS, ETC, IF THE DISTRICT CHOOSES TO SUBSCRIBE TO THAT SERVICE.
OF COURSE, NOWADAYS, COMMUNICATIONS ARE MORE IMPORTANT THAN EVER.
WE ALSO HAVE A VERY LARGE PROFESSIONAL LEARNING AND CURRICULUM SUPPORT DIVISION.
THE ARRAY OF SERVICES GO FROM VERY QUICK, 15-20 MINUTE, IT COULD BE ONLINE, PODCAST STYLE LEARNING, ALL THE WAY TO ONGOING DISTRICT PARTNERSHIPS WHERE OUR FOLKS ARE EMBEDDED IN THE DISTRICT AND HELPING ON A DAILY OR WEEKLY BASIS, AND EVERYTHING IN BETWEEN ON EVERY TOPIC IMAGINABLE, SPECIFICALLY FOCUSING ON STATE ED INITIATIVES WHERE DISTRICTS NEED TO IMPLEMENT THINGS, HELPING THEM TO UNDERSTAND THE REQUIREMENTS AND HOW TO IMPLEMENT THEM EFFECTIVELY IN THEIR DISTRICT.
WE ALSO HOUSE THE HUDSON VALLEY RBERN, WHICH IS ESSENTIALLY TO SERVICE STUDENTS THAT ARE BILINGUAL AND ARE ENGLISH LANGUAGE LEARNERS.
THIS IS ACTUALLY A GRANT-FUNDED PROGRAM THAT IS HOUSED AT SOUTHERN WESTCHESTER BOCES AND THE SERVICES ARE FREE OF CHARGE BECAUSE THEY ARE GRANT-FUNDED THROUGH THE STATE.
THEY DO TREMENDOUS WORK ALL OVER THE REGION AS FAR NORTH AS SULLIVAN COUNTY, UP IN THE CATSKILLS, AND DOWN THROUGH ORANGE COUNTY, AND OF COURSE, ALL THE SURROUNDING AREAS.
THEY DO QUITE A BIT OF WORK WITH A FAIRLY SMALL STAFF, BUT THEY DO TREMENDOUS WORK, AND AGAIN, EVERYTHING FROM PROFESSIONAL LEARNING TO COMING OUT ON CONFERENCE DAYS AND SPEAKING TO TEACHERS AND OTHER STAFF, JUST DO TREMENDOUS WORK, AND AGAIN, FREE OF CHARGE.
WE DO A LOT OF WORK, EVERYTHING FROM THE NUTS AND BOLTS OF FIRE SAFETY SYSTEMS, AND DOOR HARDWARE, AND LOCKS, AND SECURITY SYSTEMS TO SAFETY PLANS.
WE ASSIST DISTRICTS IN CREATING THEIR SAFETY PLANS AND KEEPING THEM UP TO DATE, AIR QUALITY, WATER QUALITY, ETC, SO QUITE A BIT OF WORK HAPPENS IN THAT CENTER AS WELL.
OUR LIBRARY SYSTEM, AGAIN, ALSO PARTIALLY FUNDED BY THE STATE, BUT WE SUPPORT ALL OF THE LOCAL LIBRARIANS, SCHOOL MEDIA SPECIALISTS, AGAIN, THROUGH CURRICULUM SUPPORT, PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT.
[00:20:01]
ALSO, ALL THE SUBSCRIPTIONS, ACTUALLY, WE'RE IN THE LIBRARY, WHICH IS APPROPRIATE.MANY OF THE ONLINE SUBSCRIPTIONS AND SERVICES THAT LIBRARIANS USE TO PROVIDE INFORMATION FOR STUDENTS FLOW THROUGH BOCES AT A GREAT COST SAVINGS BECAUSE THEY ARE BID OUT ON THE STATE LEVEL.
AS OPPOSED TO YOU GOING OUT INDIVIDUALLY AND TRYING TO PURCHASE ALL THESE THINGS, YOU'RE ABLE TO DO IT ON A COOPERATIVE BID THROUGH BOCES, AND IT SAVES QUITE A BIT OF MONEY.
I'M GOING TO TURN IT OVER TO OUR CLOSER, MR. TIBBETTS, OUR ASSISTANT SUPERINTENDENT FOR BUSINESS.
HE'S GOING TO BRING US HOME AND FINISH THIS UP. THANK YOU.
>> MAYBE I'LL ASK WHILE HE'S COMING, WOULD YOU BE ABLE TO GIVE US A COPY OF THIS PRESENTATION?
WE THOUGHT WE A HARD COPY IN THE FOLDER.
I'LL SEND IT DIGITALLY. IT'S NOT IN THE FOLDER, BUT WE'LL SEND IT DIGITALLY.
>> GOOD EVENING, EVERYONE. I'M STEVE TIBBETTS.
I'M THE ASSISTANT SUPERINTENDENT FOR BUSINESS AND ADMINISTRATIVE SERVICES.
THESE ARE JUST SOME OF THE OTHER SERVICES THAT WE OFFER AT SOUTHERN WESTCHESTER BOCES.
ALSO IN YOUR PACKET ON THE LEFT-HAND SIDE, THERE ARE A COUPLE DOCUMENTS, ONE IS AN EXCEL LANDSCAPE SHEET, WHICH SHOWS THE PURCHASES OF PELHAM OVER THE PAST FIVE YEARS OF HISTORY AND ALSO THE BOCES AID THAT'S BEEN GENERATED ON THOSE SERVICES.
THE OTHER PORTRAIT SHEET IS THE BY SERVICE, JUST A APPROXIMATION OF THE A-GENERATED PER SERVICE.
THAT'S ON THE LEFT-HAND SIDE OF YOUR FOLDER.
THAT IS IT. ANY QUESTIONS? THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
>> YEAH. I THANK YOU FOR TAKING THE TIME TO COME.
I REMEMBER WHEN I FIRST CAME TO THE DISTRICT, AND WHEN JIM AND I GO AROUND DOING OUR BUDGET PRESENTATIONS, WE OFTEN TALK ABOUT IT, WHEN WE CAME TO THE DISTRICT, THERE WERE 10 SEATS ALLOCATED TO BOTH SEATS FOR VOCATIONAL PROGRAMS. BOTH OF US KNOWING THE VALUE, ESPECIALLY OF VOCATIONAL PROGRAMS, REALLY WANTED TO OPEN THE DOORS TO OUR STUDENTS.
I REMEMBER WHEN EILEEN MILLER WAS ON OUR BOARD, SHE WAS ALWAYS AN ADVOCATE OF THAT.
IT'S EXCITING TO SEE HER THEN MOVE TO THE BOCES BOARD TO CONTINUE THAT PASSION AND THAT CONNECTION TO PELHAM.
REALLY EXCITED TO BE ABLE TO PARTNER.
I KNOW THROUGH INSTRUCTIONAL TECHNOLOGY, IN PARTICULAR, THERE'S BEEN A MAJOR GROWTH THROUGH THE WORK OF MR. SABALOS, OUR DIRECTOR OF TECHNOLOGY AND PARTNERSHIP.
I THINK HAVING DENNIS LAURO WORKING WITH YOU ALL FOR A WHILE TOO, THAT PELHAM CONNECTION REALLY WAS NICE AND STRONG.
WE REALLY APPRECIATE THE PARTNERSHIP THAT YOU OFFER.
THANK YOU FOR TAKING THE TIME TO COME AND SHARE YOUR PROGRAMS WITH US.
IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS, FEEL FREE TO REACH OUT AND THANK YOU FOR HAVING US.
>> I JUST WANT TO ADD TOO ONE MORE THING THAT THE CITY PROGRAM HAS STUDENTS THAT [OVERLAPPING] STAY IN PROGRAMS, BUT IT'S TOO LATE THIS YEAR.
BUT NEXT YEAR, YOU HAVE AN OPEN INVITATION TO COME TO THE DISTRICT DURING THE DAY AND SEE THE STUDENTS IN WORK, AND SEE THE WORK THAT THEY ARE ACTUALLY DOING AND ACTUALLY SAMPLES FROM THE CUISINE THAT THEY ARE DOING AS WELL.
>> THAT'S RIGHT. THEY ALWAYS SEND AN INVITATION TO THE BOARD, SO WE'LL BE SURE TO CIRCULATE THAT AROUND FOR ANYONE WHO WANTS TO SEE. THANK YOU SO MUCH.
>> HOW DOES IT WORK IF A STUDENT, IN THEIR CLASS SCHEDULE, IF THEY WANT TO DO THIS? HOW IS SPACE MADE?
>> USUALLY JUNIORS TEND TO GO, I FORGET IF IT'S AM OR PM, AND SENIORS TEND TO GO THE OTHER HALF OF THE DAY.
THEY SCHEDULE IT TO WHERE IF STUDENTS ARE IN THEIR FIRST YEAR OF THE PROGRAM, SECOND.
THEN WHEN WE BUILD OUR MASTER SCHEDULE, WE KNOW WHICH STUDENTS HAVE APPLIED TO BOCES FOR PROGRAMS, WHICH GRADE, AND THEN WE ARE SURE TO PUT THE REQUIRED COURSES IN THE OPPOSITE PORTION OF THE DAY.
WE DESIGN OUR MASTER SCHEDULE TO WORK HAND IN HAND WITH BOCES.
>> THERE ARE CERTAIN CREDITS THAT STUDENTS ACTUALLY CAN EARN IN SCHOOL, IT'S HIGH SCHOOL CREDITS AS WELL AND BECAUSE OF ARTICULATION WITH COLLEGE AND UNIVERSITIES, THEY'RE ALSO LEARNING COLLEGE CREDIT AS WELL.
>> FOR EXAMPLE, WE KNOW THAT JUNIORS AND SENIORS HAVE TO TAKE ENGLISH 11, ENGLISH 12 AND US HISTORY AND NICO GOV, THOSE WILL BE SCHEDULED IN THE MORNING SO THAT WHATEVER THEY NEED FOR THEIR GRADUATION REQUIREMENTS SIT THERE SO THEN THE AFTERNOON IS FREE.
THERE ARE CERTAIN COURSES, AS DR. COLE SAID, CAN ALSO FULFILL AN ENGLISH CREDIT.
THEY WORK THE MASTER SCHEDULE AROUND SO THAT KIDS CAN GO.
WE DO HAVE 27 STUDENTS GOING NEXT YEAR.
[00:25:05]
>> WE HAVE AN EXCITING ANNOUNCEMENT TO MAKE.
>> WE'VE GOT A LOT GOING ON IN THIS MEETING AND WE APPRECIATE THE FAMILIES WHO ARE SO PATIENTLY WAITING FOR THE HONORS.
THOSE ARE COMING UP WHEN THE RIGHT TIME COMES, BUT AS PART OF THOSE HONORS, CERTAINLY, WE'LL BE RECOGNIZING SOME BOARD MEMBERS WHO ARE RETIRING TONIGHT AS WELL AS A COUPLE OF OUR CABINET ADMINISTRATORS WHO WILL BE MOVING ON.
WE WILL BE DOING THAT IN A LITTLE BIT LATER, BUT IN THE RE ARRANGING THAT IS THIS EVENING, WE ALSO WANTED TO MAKE A MOTION TO MOVE A PERSONNEL ITEM.
AS I THINK ALL OF US KNOW, DR.
BOWMAN IS COMPLETING HER SECOND YEAR IN THE DISTRICT.
SHE WILL BE LEAVING VERY SHORTLY TO HEAD TO GARDEN CITY, A LITTLE CLOSER TO HOME, AND WE WILL BE WISHING HER WELL.
TONIGHT, WE ARE PLEASED TO HAVE THE INDIVIDUAL THAT I'LL BE RECOMMENDING TONIGHT TO THE BOARD TO REPLACE HER, AND THAT IS MISS. CLARE COMERFORD.
SHE'S WITH [APPLAUSE] US TONIGHT IN THE AUDIENCE.
I FORGOT TO WARN HER THAT IF SHE WANTED TO SAY SOMETHING THAT I'D GIVE HER THE OPPORTUNITY.
I'M GOING TO GIVE HER A MINUTE TO THINK ABOUT THAT IF YOU WANT TO SAY JUST SOMETHING NICE AND WELCOMING, BUT I'LL GIVE YOU A MOMENT.
[LAUGHTER] SORRY, ONE OF THE FIRST LEARNING LESSONS ABOUT ME.
[LAUGHTER] I KNOW, I DO APOLOGIZE.
SO EVERYONE KNOWS, WE WORKED WITH SCHOOL LEADERSHIP, PROFESSIONAL SEARCH CONSULTANT ORGANIZATION THIS YEAR BECAUSE WE REALLY AGAIN WANTED TO FIND SOMEONE TO TAKE THE BATON AND RUN WITH IT.
DR. BOWMAN HAS MOVED INTO A POSITION THAT WAS ORIGINALLY SHARED BETWEEN DR. GARCIA SHARED BOTH PERSONNEL AND CURRICULUM AND REALLY GREW SO MUCH OF THE PROGRAM THAT IS TODAY IN PELHAM.
WE WERE ABLE TO RECONFIGURE AND SPLIT THAT INTO TWO POSITIONS A COUPLE OF YEARS AGO, WHICH BROUGHT DR.
BOWMAN INTO THE DISTRICT TO TAKE AGAIN THAT WORK AND THEN TO CONTINUE THAT NEXT LAP AND MOVE IT FORWARD.
WHILE IT'S BITTER SWEET, IT'S ALSO WONDERFUL TO HAVE SOMEONE WHO WE BELIEVE HAS A SHARED VISION, SHARED VALUES, AND IS SOMEONE WHO'S GOING TO BE ABLE TO TAKE THAT BATON AND CARRY US THROUGH THE NEXT LAP AROUND THE TRACK.
THROUGH THAT SEARCH PROCESS, SCHOOL LEADERSHIP SOLICITED A BROAD POOL OF CANDIDATES.
I THINK IT WAS, I WANT TO SAY, IT WAS CLOSE TO 100 CANDIDATES, AT EXTENSIVE SCREENINGS, MORE IN DEPTH INTERVIEWS, REFERENCE CHECKS, BROUGHT A SLATE OF CANDIDATES TO ME THAT THEY THOUGHT MIGHT BE A GOOD FIT FOR PELHAM.
WE REVIEWED THOSE ALL IN DEPTH AND SELECTED THE TOP CANDIDATES FROM THAT POOL TO THEN COME TO A SHARED STAKEHOLDER COMMITTEE.
THEN AFTER THAT, THE TOP CANDIDATES FROM THERE CAME TO MEET WITH MY CABINET AND MYSELF AND WITH THE BOARD AS WELL.
I THANK THE BOARD AND I THINK EVERYONE WHO'S INVOLVED IN THAT TIME IN THAT SEARCH PROCESS.
THAT THOROUGH SEARCH PROCESS, WE BELIEVE, HAS NETTED THE NEXT GREAT LEADER FOR PELHAM.
WELCOME, MISS. COMERFORD. I WOULD INVITE YOU UP.
IF YOU'D LIKE AND REALLY DON'T FEEL LIKE YOU GOT TO SAY MUCH.
JUST WELCOME AND LOOKING FORWARD TO HAVING YOU COME ON BOARD.
>> THANK YOU SO MUCH. IT'S AN HONOR AND A PRIVILEGE TO BE HERE TONIGHT AND TO JOIN THIS EXCITING TEAM AND THE PELHAM COMMUNITY TO JOIN A SCHOOL DISTRICT, WHO HAS SUCH A GREAT REPUTATION AND PLACES AN EMPHASIS ON CONTINUOUS IMPROVEMENT, LEVERAGING THE STRENGTH OF THE COMMUNITY, AS WELL AS CREATING A SENSE OF BELONGING FOR ALL IS REALLY IMPORTANT, AND I'M HONORED TO BE HERE.
THANK YOU SO MUCH. I'VE BEEN ADVISED BY EILEEN TO SAY THAT I AM NOT RELATED TO THE COMERFORD'S IN PELHAM.
[LAUGHTER] MAYBE BACK IN THE 1500S AT SOME POINT, BUT I'M UNAWARE OF ANY RELATIVES I HAVE HERE IN TOWN, BUT THANK YOU SO MUCH.
>> THANK YOU SO MUCH, CLARE. [APPLAUSE]
>> [INAUDIBLE] HAVE A VOTE ON IT NOW?
>> THEN DEFINITELY [INAUDIBLE]
>> I BELIEVE THAT WOULD BE ITEM NUMBER 9.1.
[9.1 Motion to Approve Schedule A - Instructional]
JUST MAKE SURE.>> EVERYONE CAN PLEASE REVIEW 9.1.
IT'S THE MOTION TO APPROVE SCHEDULE A, WHICH INCLUDES THE APPOINTMENT OF CLARE COMERFORD.
>> I THINK JACKIE ON THE SECOND. ALL IN FAVOR?
>> CONGRATULATIONS, DR. COMERFORD. [APPLAUSE]
>> CONGRATULATIONS. THANK YOU SO MUCH.
WE WELCOME YOU TO JUST STAY AND ENJOY THE REST OF THE MEETING.
ALSO UNDERSTAND IF YOU DO HAVE OBLIGATIONS THIS EVENING, YOU'LL BE HERE MANY LATE NIGHTS WITH US [LAUGHTER] AND OTHER DAYS,
[00:30:02]
SO WE'LL LET YOU OFF THE HOOK TO GO CELEBRATE AND ENJOY. THANK YOU.>> YOU'RE STARTING AUGUST 1ST.
>> THANK YOU. YES. DR. BOWMAN WILL BE SEEING US THROUGH THE END OF THIS MONTH AND MISS.
COMERFORD WILL BE JOINING US AS OF AUGUST 1ST. GREAT.
>> WE JUST DO COMMITTEE REPORT?
>> OR LET ME START MY PRESENTATIONS.
>> I THINK NEXT WE'LL MOVE TO THE YEAR END REPORT,
[5.1 Superintendent's Year End Report]
WHICH IS WITHIN MY REPORTS, OF COURSE.>> IT'S OKAY. NO PROBLEM. THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
AS THIS IS OUR LAST BOARD MEETING OF THE YEAR, IT'S A PERFECT OPPORTUNITY TO DO OUR YEAR END REPORT ON GOALS.
I KNOW THAT THE BOARD IS WELL AWARE OF THIS, BUT THIS IS A REMINDER FOR ANYONE WHO MAY BE JUST JOINING IN.
THE BOARD, WE ALWAYS MEET EACH YEAR AND RETREAT IN THE SUMMER TO TALK ABOUT OUR GOALS FOR THE YEAR, BOARD DEVELOPMENT, ETC.
THIS YEAR, AS PART OF SETTING THOSE GOALS, WE TOOK A MORE STRUCTURED APPROACH.
OUR CONSULTANTS THAT WE WORK WITH HELPED US TO SET REALLY THREE AREAS OF GOALS AND THOSE AROUND FACILITIES AND FINANCE, ACADEMICS, AND CLIMATE, AND COMMUNICATIONS.
THROUGHOUT THE YEAR, I'VE BEEN REPORTING ON THOSE.
TONIGHT IS JUST A QUICK SUMMARY ON THOSE ITEMS. CERTAINLY, THEY ENCOMPASS PIECES OF OUR STRATEGIC PLAN, WHICH IS ALSO COMING TO THE CONCLUSION AFTER FIVE YEARS.
AGAIN, THANKS TO THE BOARD, AND THE CABINET, AND THE MANY STAKEHOLDERS WHO WERE INVOLVED IN THE STRATEGIC PLANNING PROCESS, WHICH WE'LL BE TALKING ABOUT AFTERWARDS.
>> THESE ARE OUR THREE GOAL AREAS THAT WE'VE BEEN FOCUSED ON THROUGHOUT THE YEAR.
THIS YEAR, WE ALSO PUT IN PLACE A QUARTERLY REPORT TO TRY TO HELP CONNECT THOSE DOTS FOR THE BOARD SO THAT AT THE CABINET LEVEL, WE CAN REPORT TO THEM OUT ON HOW THE WORK IS PROGRESSING TOWARDS THOSE GOALS.
IN THE FINANCE AND FACILITIES AREA, THESE WERE THE OUTCOMES THAT WERE IDENTIFIED AS OUR TARGET FOR THE YEAR SO REVIEWING RESERVES, BUILDING CONDITIONS SURVEY, LOOKING AT ENROLLMENT, SPACE, CLASS SIZES, THINKING ABOUT A FIVE YEAR FACILITIES PLAN AND UNDERSTANDING OUR FINANCIAL OPTIONS AS WE MOVE FORWARD.
PROGRESS THIS YEAR TOWARDS THOUGH, SO VARIETY OF HOW THAT WE WENT TO ACCOMPLISH THOSE GOALS SO WE DO HAVE A COMPLETE UPDATED DEMOGRAPHIC STUDY THAT WILL INFORM OUR CONTINUED WORK AROUND FACILITIES.
WE DID A REUTILIZATION STUDY AS WELL.
OUR ARCHITECT DID THAT WE'LL BE REVIEWING THAT AT THE FACILITIES COMMITTEE, WHICH I THINK WE'RE JUST SCHEDULING FOR NEXT WEEK.
WEDNESDAY MORNING OF NEXT WEEK WITH A COUPLE OF OUTSTANDING ITEMS, ONE BEING THAT REUTILIZATION.
ALSO, THROUGHOUT THE YEAR, WE'VE LOOKED AT ENROLLMENT AND CLASS SIZES AND THAT'S IN PARTNERSHIP WITH THE DEMOGRAPHICS, AS WELL AS LOOKING AT WHAT DO WE EDUCATIONALLY WANT TO SEE FOR OUR YOUNGEST LEARNERS, AND WHAT IS OUR SPACE ALSO CONSTRAINING US WITH? HOW DO WE NAVIGATE THOSE PIECES? WE DID INTENTIONALLY DECIDE THIS YEAR TO KEEP KINDERGARTEN AND FIRST GRADE CLASS SIZES A LITTLE BIT SMALLER, WANTING TO INVEST IN THAT EARLY EDUCATION.
THE FACILITIES COMMITTEE HAS MET MULTIPLE TIMES THROUGHOUT THE YEAR WE ARE AWAITING THE FINAL BUILDINGS CONDITIONS REPORT THAT WILL HELP THEN BE THE ROADMAP FOR THE FIVE YEARS PLAN.
AGAIN, WE'RE HOPING TO GET AN UPDATE ON THAT AT OUR FACILITIES COMMITTEE NEXT WEEK.
IN THE FINANCE REALM ON THIS PARTICULAR GOAL, WE WERE PLEASED TO REPORT AND THE BOARD KNOWS THIS, WE'VE SETTLED BOTH A TEACHERS ASSOCIATION CONTRACT AND ADMINISTRATORS ASSOCIATION CONTRACT THIS YEAR, AND WE ARE A VERBAL AGREEMENT LEVEL WITH A CIVIL SERVICE WITH OUR BUILDING SERVICES THAT HAS TO GO YET TO RATIFICATION, BUT WE ARE HOPEFUL THAT WE WILL BE CLOSING THAT PROCESS OUT AS WELL AND OUR APPRECIATIVE FOR OUR PARTNERS IN THE BARGAINING UNITS AND THEIR COLLABORATION ON THAT WORK.
VERY THANKFUL THAT OUR BUDGET PASSED ON MAY 21ST, THANKS TO THE DEVELOPMENT AND PARTNERSHIP WITH THE BOARD, BUT MOST IMPORTANTLY, THE SUPPORT OF OUR COMMUNITY THAT CONTINUES TO REMAIN STRONG AND ALONG WITH THAT, WAS THE APPROVAL OF A CAPITAL EXPENDITURE TO REPLACE THE TURF ON GLOVER FIELD.
AS WE KNOW, OUR NEW STRATEGIC PLAN WILL BE PRESENTED TONIGHT.
WE LOOKED AT THE DRAFT LAST TIME, TODAY WE'LL BE LOOKING AT AGAIN FOR ADOPTION FOR THAT TO BECOME OUR NEW PLAN, EFFECTIVE JULY 1.
LOOKING INTO THE COMMUNICATIONS AND CLIMATE GOAL AREA, WE DID LOOK TO REVIEW AND IMPLEMENT RECOMMENDATIONS FROM THE COMMUNICATIONS AUDIT, FROM THE CLIMATE SURVEYS, AND TO FIND WAYS TO START HAVING MORE CONVERSATION AROUND THE BOARD TABLE, MORE PUBLIC CIVIL CONVERSATION, MAYBE DIFFICULT CONVERSATION, BUT TO BE A MODEL OF THAT CIVIC ENGAGEMENT FOR OUR STUDENTS AND COMMUNITY, AND TO CREATE AN ENVIRONMENT WHERE EVERYONE FEELS THEY BELONG.
PROGRESS ON THAT THROUGHOUT THE YEAR WE STARTED WITH
[00:35:03]
SOME KEY COMMUNICATIONS TOOLS THAT WERE RECOMMENDED BY THE COMMUNICATION AUDIT AS WELL AS THE STRATEGIC COMMUNICATIONS PLAN THAT CAME FROM THAT.YOU SEE HERE JUST A COUPLE OF SAMPLES OF SOME OF THE INFORMATIONAL PIECES THAT WE PUT OUT AT THE BEGINNING OF THE YEAR.
IN LOOKING AT THE STAFF CLIMATE SURVEY, OUR GOAL COMING OUT OF WORKING WITH THAT CONSULTANT WAS TO CONTINUE TO DO WHAT'S WORKING SO IDENTIFY THOSE PRACTICES THAT ARE WORKING WELL AND REPLICATE AND EXPAND THOSE.
THAT'S BEEN OUR WORK THROUGH THE SPRING WE WILL BE LOOKING MORE AT THAT IN THE COMING YEAR.
WE ALSO OUR BUILDINGS AT THE SECONDARY LEVEL, BOTH ADMINISTERED STUDENT CLIMATE SURVEYS, THAT IS AN ANNUAL PRACTICE SO WE'LL BE CONTINUING TO REVIEW THOSE, AND EACH OF THE BUILDINGS THEN RESPONSE TO THAT WITH VARIOUS INITIATIVES AT THE SCHOOL LEVEL TO TRY TO SHIFT THAT DATA IN POSITIVE WAYS.
IN THE STRATEGIC COMMUNICATIONS PLAN, A VARIETY OF DIFFERENT THINGS THAT WE'VE IMPLEMENTED IN ADDITION TO WHAT YOU SEE THERE, WHICH ARE THE DISTRICT INFORMATION BROCHURE AND CRISIS COMMUNICATIONS BROCHURES, PROBABLY THE BIGGEST LIFT THAT WE IMPLEMENTED THIS YEAR WAS PARENT SQUARE AS A NEW COMMUNICATIONS TOOL TO STREAMLINE THAT SO THANKS TO ALEX WOLF AND THE HARD WORK THAT HE HAS PUT IN THERE, WORKING WITH THE ADMINISTRATIVE TEAM, JOHN SABALOS, AND OUR PRINCIPALS, IN PARTICULAR, TO GET THAT LAUNCHED AT THE BUILDING LEVEL AND THE DISTRICT LEVEL, AND WE HAVE PLANS NOW TO MOVE THAT TO THE TEACHER LEVEL OF THE FALL, PREDOMINANTLY, YOU'LL SEE THAT BEING USED BY OUR ELEMENTARY TEACHERS.
BUT TRYING TO ALSO LOOK AT ARE THERE WAYS WITH CLUBS AND DIFFERENT ACTIVITIES THAT WE MAY BE ABLE TO IMPLEMENT THAT IN THE FUTURE.
INTERNALLY, WE'VE ALSO IMPLEMENTED STAFF NEWSLETTERS THIS YEAR AS A WAY TO TRY TO IMPROVE INTERNAL COMMUNICATIONS SO THAT FOLKS IN THE ORGANIZATION UNDERSTAND WHAT ARE SOME OF THE BIG INITIATIVES THAT ARE GOING ON DISTRICT WIDE.
I'VE EXPANDED FROM MY NORMAL JUST VISITS TO SCHOOL TO DOING ACTUAL LUNCHEONS WITH STAFF, CONTINUING WITH MY STUDENT ADVISORY COUNCILS ON A REGULAR BASIS.
EVEN ACTUALLY WITHIN THE COMMUNICATIONS GOAL IS PROBABLY ONLY ALEX AND I KNOW THIS, BUT THERE WERE SOME RECOMMENDED TARGETS OF LEVEL OF VOTE SUPPORT.
IF YOU'RE TRYING TO IMPROVE YOUR COMMUNICATIONS AROUND YOUR BUDGET, VOTE, ONE METRIC OF LOOKING AT THAT IS, WHAT IS THE PASSAGE RATE OF YOUR VOTE? THAT WAS ONE THING AND I BELIEVE YOU SUCCESSFULLY ACHIEVED THAT GOAL, WE ACHIEVED THAT GOAL THIS YEAR.
THAT JUST GIVES US A LITTLE INDICATION OF THE EFFECTIVENESS OF OUR COMMUNICATIONS AROUND THE BUDGET.
TURNING TO ACADEMICS, ANOTHER GREAT AREA OF GROWTH, AND OUR OUTCOMES HERE REALLY TO CREATE SYSTEMS FOR REVIEW OF STUDENT GROWTH AND ACHIEVEMENT AND MONITORING OF SOCIAL EMOTIONAL MENTAL HEALTH ISSUES AS WELL SO WE'RE LOOKING AT BOTH THE ACADEMIC AS WELL AS THE WELL BEING SIDE FOR STUDENTS.
WITHIN THIS YEAR, AGAIN, AS I MENTIONED, WE WORKED WITH THE BOARD SMART GOALS AS A NEW STRUCTURE TO OUR GOAL.
ADMINISTRATIVELY, WE HAVE GOALS THAT FLOW DOWN FROM THOSE BOARD GOALS.
AS YOU REMEMBER, DR. BOWMAN PRESENTED FOR US BACK IN OCTOBER, STUDENT OUTCOMES FROM THE PRIOR YEAR, A SNAPSHOT OF VARIOUS METRICS THAT DEMONSTRATE HOW OUR STUDENTS ARE ACHIEVING.
ONE OF THE BIGGEST ACCOMPLISHMENTS, I THINK IN THIS REALM THIS YEAR IS OUR CONTINUED GROWTH IN THE MTSS PROCESS.
THE ESTABLISHMENT OF A DISTRICT WIDE COMMITTEE AND THE CREATION OF AN MTSS PLAN FOR THE DISTRICT, WHICH THE BOARD ADOPTED AT OUR LAST MEETING.
THAT WILL BE THE FRAMEWORK THAT WILL CONTINUE TO STRENGTHEN OUR WORK AROUND INSTRUCTION AND AROUND INTERVENTIONS SO THAT WE'RE MAKING SURE THAT ALL OF OUR STUDENTS ARE GETTING THEIR NEEDS MET FROM THE GET GO FROM THE TIME THAT THEY COME INTO OUR SCHOOLS THROUGHOUT, AND GIVES US A SYSTEM FOR SEEING THEM THROUGH DIFFERENT LENSES AND TRYING TO IDENTIFY THOSE NEEDS AND FILL THE GAPS.
AS PART OF THAT IMPORTANT WORK, WE'VE SEEN AN EXPANSION IN BRANCHING MINDS AS ONE INTERNAL FACING DATA DASHBOARD, TO USE ONE OF OUR WORDS, WHICH HAS REALLY BEEN A GREAT INSTRUCTIONAL TOOL FOR OUR TEACHERS AND FOR OUR PRINCIPALS TO WORK AND TO LOOK AT DATA, THEY CAN LOOK BY CLASS, BY GRADE LEVEL, BY SCHOOL AT WHAT'S GOING ON WITH STUDENTS, WHERE ARE THE STUDENTS IN MOST NEED, TEARING THOSE STUDENTS FOR LEVELS OF INTERVENTION AND MAKING SURE THAT THEY'RE GETTING THE INTERVENTION SUPPORTED.
IT ALSO PROVIDES RESOURCES FOR IDEAS ABOUT, INTERVENTIONS THAT COULD BE OF USE.
ADDITIONALLY, ON THIS YEAR, WE BROUGHT ON DATABASE AS A COMPONENT AND MODULE OF INFINITE CAMPUS.
AGAIN, THANKS TO DR. BOWMAN FOR FINDING THAT FROM COLLEAGUES I THINK IN LONG ISLAND WHO WERE USING THAT.
I THINK WE'RE ONE OF THE FIRST, IF NOT THE FIRST IN WESTCHESTER USING THAT TOOL THAT WORKS SEAMLESSLY WITH INFINITE CAMPUS AND GIVES US A LOT MORE EASE OF REPORTING BASED ON THAT TABLEAU INTERFACE IN BETWEEN.
WE WILL CONTINUE TO BE USING THAT IN THE YEAR GOING FORWARD. WHAT'S AHEAD? I'VE ALREADY MENTIONED SOME OF THESE THINGS, BUT STRATEGIC ACTION PLANNING IS NEXT.
MY NEXT PRESENTATION TONIGHT WILL BE JUST A QUICK REVIEW OF THE STRATEGIC PLAN SO REALLY EXCITING AND IMPORTANT WORK THAT'S NEXT IS JULY 1ST AND 2ND, OUR CONSULTANTS WILL BE COMING BACK AND I'LL BE MEETING WITH THEM AND THE ENTIRE ADMINISTRATIVE TEAM, AND WE WILL START TO CRAFT THE WORK AND THE IMPLEMENTATION PLAN FOR THE STRATEGIC PLAN.
[00:40:03]
ALSO, AS WE GET THAT BUILDING CONDITION SURVEY, THAT'S GOING TO THEN BE THE ROADMAP FOR US TO DESIGN THE FIVE YEAR FACILITIES PLAN AND THE FUNDING WRAP AROUND THAT SO THAT I BELIEVE WILL BE A LARGE PART OF OUR WORK TOGETHER AS A GOVERNANCE TEAM IN THE COMING YEAR.COMMUNICATION STRATEGIC PLAN WAS A MULTI YEAR PLAN THIS SUMMER, WE'LL ASSESS THE EFFECTIVENESS OF THOSE TOOLS THAT WE PUT IN PLACE AND WE'LL BE LOOKING FOR THOSE NEXT STEPS TO CONTINUE TO BUILD THAT OUT TO CONTINUE TO STRENGTHEN COMMUNICATION, STRENGTHEN TRUST WITHIN THE ORGANIZATION, AND SEE HOW WE CAN CONTINUE TO HONE OUR WORK THERE.
AS WELL, WE TALKED ABOUT BEFORE LOOKING AT THE RESULTS THAT WE GOT THIS PAST SPRING FROM THE CLIMATE SURVEY.
THANK YOU TO DR. GARCIA FOR LEADING THAT WORK WITH THE TEAM FROM THE ADMINISTRATOR.
LOOKING AT THOSE RESULTS AND IN THE COMING YEAR, THINKING ABOUT, AGAIN, HOW DO WE LOOK AT THOSE BEST PRACTICES, CONTINUE WHAT IS WORKING WELL, AND FIND NEW WAYS TO CONTINUE TO SPAN THAT? EXPAND THAT TO CONTINUE TO STRENGTHEN THE BELONGINGNESS AND WELLNESS THAT IS NOW A KEY PIECE OF OUR STRATEGIC PLAN.
FINALLY, CONTINUING THE GROWTH OF USE AND DATA SYSTEMS, AS I MENTIONED BEFORE.
WE'VE GOT THE FOUNDATION, WE'VE GOT THE STRUCTURES NOW IT'S TIME TO GROW ON THAT AS WE MOVE FORWARD.
THAT ACTUALLY IS THE YEAR END IN A BRIEF REVIEW.
ANY QUESTIONS FROM THE BOARD ON THAT?
>> JUST TO COMMENT THAT THE DISTRICT DID A TREMENDOUS AMOUNT OF PLANNING WORK THIS YEAR, AND I WAS MOST APPRECIATIVE OF THE PLAN WE HAD AROUND THAT AND THE WAY WE WERE KEPT INFORMED OF PROGRESS AND PARTICIPATION. THANK YOU.
>> YOU MAY HAVE MENTIONED IT, BUT I MAY NOT.
DID YOU MENTION THE CLIMATE SURVEY? I THINK THAT WAS A REAL HIGHLIGHT BOTH FOR STUDENTS, EMPLOYEES, AND WE SHOULD DO THAT REGULARLY.
I THINK IT WAS VERY ILLUMINATING AND GOOD TO SEE.
I GUESS, MR. ROTH QUESTION, DO WE WANT TO GO WITH BOARD REPORTS?
[5.2 Board of Education Committee Reports]
THIS IS ACTUALLY AN ACTION ITEM SO I'M THINKING MAYBE WE CAN GO AHEAD WITH OUR BOARD REPORTS OR WE CAN GO STRAIGHT INTO THIS.>> JUST GO STRAIGHT INTO THAT [OVERLAPPING]
>> STRATEGIC PLAN, AS I MENTIONED A MOMENT AGO, THIS WAS A BIG YEAR IN THIS REGARD, WRAPPING UP THE EXISTING STRATEGIC PLAN, BRINGING THAT TO A CLOSE IN THESE LAST REMAINING DAYS OF THE SCHOOL YEAR, WHICH ARE BRIEF.
AS OF JULY 1, START THE WORK ON THE NEW PLAN.
APPRECIATE AGAIN, THE ENTIRE BOARD INVOLVEMENT THIS YEAR WE WORKED WITH NEW CONSULTANTS THIS YEAR, SLIGHTLY DIFFERENT APPROACH, BUT THEY WERE VERY FLEXIBLE IN THEIR APPROACH, WHICH WAS GREAT BECAUSE IT GAVE US A CHANCE TO REALLY BE THOUGHTFUL ABOUT WHO NEEDED TO BE AROUND THE TABLE, TO GET THE RIGHT VOICES, THERE TO GET THE RIGHT EXPERTISE, AND IDEALLY GAIN BUY IN FROM THE ENTIRE ORGANIZATION AND LEARNING COMMUNITY HERE IN PELHAM.
AGAIN, FOR OUR DISTRICT, WHERE WE HAVE A VERY TALENTED AND DIVERSE STUDENT BODY WE WANTED TO CRAFT SOMETHING THAT REALLY REFLECTED THE VALUES OF OUR COMMUNITY TO REALLY DEFINE A CLEAR MISSION AND VISION AND VALUES, WHICH WE DIDN'T HAVE BEFORE.
WE HAD A VISION, BUT IT WAS A LITTLE BIT OUTDATED, AS WE'VE TALKED ABOUT, AND WE DIDN'T HAVE OTHER CLEARLY ARTICULATED MISSION AND VALUES SO IT WAS A GREAT OPPORTUNITY TO WORK WITH [INAUDIBLE] FOR THEM TO WALK US THROUGH THAT PROCESS.
THE ORGANIZATIONAL READINESS WAS REALLY THE PREPARATION AND THE COLLECTION OF DATA, QUANTITATIVE, QUALITATIVE AND DATA REPORTS.
INCLUSIVE ENGAGEMENT WAS THE INVOLVEMENT PARTIALLY, THAT WAS THE FOCUS GROUP INVOLVEMENT, BUT THEN THE INCLUSIVE ENGAGEMENT OF THE SHARED STAKEHOLDER GROUP TO COME AROUND AND LOOK AT THAT DATA AND HELP TO IDENTIFY WHAT ARE THE THEMES, STRENGTHS, AND WEAKNESSES THAT THEN POINT US TOWARDS IN THE DIRECTION OF OUR MISSION VISION VALUES AND STRATEGIC PLAN GOALS.
I PART OF PHASE 3 THAT'S WHERE WE REALLY PUT PEN TO PAPER AND WORKED IN GROUPS TO IDENTIFY WHAT THE LANGUAGE BEHIND THOSE WOULD BE, WHAT THE FOCUS AREAS WOULD BE, AND THEN WHAT THE OBJECTIVES BEHIND EACH PRIORITY AREA WOULD BE AND THAT BRINGS US TO TONIGHT, WHICH IS ADOPTION OF THAT PLAN, THAT'S WITHIN PHASE 3, PHASE 4 WILL THEN BE THE JULY 1ST WORK WITH THE ADMINISTRATIVE TEAM.
AS PART OF THAT WORK, WE WILL BE IDENTIFYING THE DIVISION VALUES AND MISSION GIVE US THE WHY.
THE PRIORITIES GIVE US THE WHAT, AND THEN THE JULY 1ST WORK WITH THE TEAM WILL GIVE US THE HOW.
HOW ARE WE GOING TO ACCOMPLISH THOSE? AS THEY SHOWED US THROUGHOUT THE PROCESS, WE STARTED WITH THAT BASE LEVEL, WHICH IS REALLY GOVERNANCE, POINTING STRATEGIC DIRECTIONS FORWARD BASED ON DATA, BASED ON MISSION VALUES AND VISION AND NOW WE'VE MOVED UP.
TONIGHT WE'LL BE ADOPTING THIS AND THEN MOVING INTO THAT MANAGEMENT PIECE,
[00:45:03]
AS I SAID WITH THE ADMINISTRATORS FLESHING OUT THE DETAILS.WE'VE ALREADY COVERED THIS, I'M GOING TO PASS BY THAT.
JUST TO REVIEW THE PARTICIPANTS SO WE HAD INDIVIDUAL INTERVIEWS OF DISTRICT ADMINISTRATION, SUPERINTENDENT AND BOARD OF EDUCATION.
FOCUS GROUPS, HAD 140 PEOPLE THAT PARTICIPATED IN OUR FOCUS GROUPS, AND THAT WAS ACROSS ADMINISTRATORS, PARENTS, STAFF, FAMILIES, DIFFERENT SUBGROUPS OF FAMILIES AND STUDENTS AS WELL.
STUDENTS WERE NOT INCLUDED, THIS WAS ADULTS.
IT WAS STUDENTS THAT WE BROUGHT INTO THE OVERALL WORK SESSIONS WHERE WE COULD HEAR STUDENT VOICE.
STUDENTS WERE ALSO ADMINISTERED SURVEYS, SO THAT WAS ANOTHER OPPORTUNITY FOR US TO HEAR THEIR VOICE THERE.
THE SUMMARY OF ALL THE VARIETY OF STRENGTHS THAT WE REVIEWED LAST TIME IN THE SAKE OF TIME.
I'M NOT GOING TO GO INTO THOSE THE BOARD HAS THIS PRESENTATION.
THEN CHALLENGES AND OPPORTUNITIES FOR GROWTH SO AGAIN, HERE WE SAW FACILITIES, WE SAW CONTINUED RENEWED FOCUS ON STUDENT ACHIEVEMENT.
LOOKING AT PATHS OTHER THAN THE TRADITIONAL FOUR YEAR FOR COLLEGE SO IT'S WONDERFUL TO HAVE BOTH THESE HERE AS OUR PARTNER TO PROVIDE AND EXPAND OUR OPPORTUNITIES BEYOND JUST THINKING ABOUT COLLEGE.
MENTAL HEALTH, WORK LIFE BALANCE, KEY PIECES OF CONCERN.
CONCERNS ABOUT HIRING IN THE FUTURE OF MAINTAINING THE HIGH STANDARDS FOR OUR STAFF AND THE HIGH LEVEL OF BELONGING AND CONNECTION AND JOB SATISFACTION THAT OUR STAFF FEEL IN OUR SCHOOLS, AND CERTAINLY CONCERNS ABOUT EQUITY OF EXPERIENCE AND OPPORTUNITY ACROSS THE ELEMENTARY SCHOOLS.
WE HAD GREAT SURVEY RESULTS SO AGAIN, WE APPRECIATE THE INVOLVEMENT OF OUR COMMUNITY ON THAT, AND THAT REALLY HELPED US TO KNOW THAT IT WAS SOLID RELIABLE DATA THAT WE WERE GETTING AND REGARDING SOME STRENGTHS THAT CAME OUT OF THAT, TECHNOLOGY INTEGRATION, SAFE SCHOOLS, EFFECTIVE TEACHERS AND ADMINISTRATORS AND SUPPORT STAFF, HIGH STANDARDS FOR STUDENTS AND STUDENTS BEING ON TRACK FOR WHAT'S NEXT, BE AT THE NEXT GRADE LEVEL, ULTIMATELY COLLEGE AND WORK AFTER SCHOOL.
THEN IT ALSO HELPED TO POINT US TO ADDITIONAL AREAS SO TOP RATED PRIORITIES FOR THE FUTURE, THEY SHOWED US ALSO STRONG PROGRAMS IN THE DISTRICT BEING SCIENCE, SOCIAL STUDIES, HISTORY, FINE ARTS, INTRAMURALS, ATHLETICS, ENGLISH LANGUAGE ARTS, VERY WELL ROUNDED, TO ME, THAT'S WHAT CAME OUT VERY LITTLE THAT IS LEFT OUT OF THAT LIST.
THEN FROM OUR STUDENTS REPORTED HAVING AT LEAST ONE TRUSTED ADULT, AND THAT THERE WERE EFFORTS TO MAKE SURE THAT MINORITY STUDENTS WERE ENCOURAGED TO PARTICIPATE IN EXTRACURRICULARS AND CLUBS.
ALSO EFFORTS FOR MINORITY STUDENTS TO HAVE EQUAL OPPORTUNITY PARTICIPATE IN ADVANCED PROGRAMMING, WHICH HAS BEEN IMPORTANT TO US WE WANT HIGH EXPECTATIONS FOR ALL STUDENTS AND OPPORTUNITIES FOR ALL STUDENTS SO THEY CAN FIND THEIR PLACE IN PELHAM AND FEEL THEY BELONG AND THEY HAVE EVERY TOOL THAT THEY NEED TO SUCCEED.
MOVING ON TO THERE WAS OUR TIMELINE OF WORK, WE'RE GOING TO GO PAST THAT.
THE PARTICIPANTS SO AGAIN, THAT LARGE GROUP, WE WERE REALLY APPRECIATIVE FOR THE 12 HOURS THAT FOLKS TOOK OUT OF THEIR DAY TO BE HERE TOGETHER AND DO VERY THOUGHTFUL COLLABORATIVE WORK.
THOSE ARE THE STEPS THAT WE WENT THROUGH, WHICH BRINGS US TO THE END PRODUCT, OUR MISSION.
THIS HAS BEEN OUR MOTTO FOR MANY YEARS NOW WE'RE MAKING IT OFFICIAL.
MISSION INSPIRING A STANDARD OF EXCELLENCE FOR ALL STUDENTS.
IT IS MEMORABLE, SHARABLE, INSPIRATIONAL, AND THAT TONIGHT WITH THE BOARD'S APPROVAL WILL BECOME OUR OFFICIAL MISSION.
VISION, THE PELHAM SCHOOL COMMUNITY CHALLENGES AND INSPIRES OUR STUDENTS TO BECOME KNOWLEDGEABLE, CREATIVE, AND CRITICAL THINKERS WHO MAKE ETHICAL CHOICES.
WE EMPOWER STUDENTS TO EXPLORE AND PURSUE THEIR OWN PATH TO EXCELLENCE.
WE EMBRACE DIVERSITY, FOSTER BELONGING FOR ALL, AND EMPHASIZE SERVICE AND CITIZENSHIP.
WE PROMOTE WELL BEING AND PROVIDE A SUPPORTIVE ACADEMIC ENVIRONMENT DISTRICT WIDE.
OUR GOAL IS TO PREPARE STUDENTS WITH SKILLS TO ADAPT AND FLOURISH IN A CHANGING WORLD.
THAT'S VERY WELL CRAFTED AND A GOOD AMALGAM OF OUR HISTORY.
LOT OF OUR CURRENT VISION, LOT OF OUR PREAMBLE, OF LAST COUPLE OF STRATEGIC PLANS REALLY BROUGHT FORWARD AND RESHAPED INTO A MORE CONCISE AND CLEAR VISION.
>> OUR VALUES. WE HAVE NOT HAD IDENTIFIED VALUES, AND HERE AGAIN, SOME REALLY TOP QUALITY WORK FROM OUR TEAMS. OUR VALUES LEAD TO EXCELLENCE, COMMUNITY AND BELONGING, WELLNESS AND BALANCE, LEARNING AND GROWTH, PAIRED SETS OF WORDS THAT ARE RELATED.
GROUNDED IN A CULTURE OF RESPECT, SERVICE, INCLUSIVITY, AND COLLABORATION INFORMED BY TRADITION, WHERE ALL VOICES MATTER.
EVERY SINGLE WORD WITHIN THAT IS VERY INTENTIONAL AND CAME FROM THE CONVERSATIONS AND THE DATA THAT WE CALLED TOGETHER.
WELLNESS AND BALANCE, PROMOTED AND SUPPORTED BY AN ENVIRONMENT COMMITTED TO THE DEVELOPMENT OF OVERALL WELL BEING.
[00:50:01]
THEN LEARNING AND GROWTH EMPOWERED BY A RIGOROUS AND RELEVANT ENVIRONMENT THAT FOSTERS CRITICAL THINKING, FLEXIBLE PROBLEM SOLVING.I THINK THOSE ARE ALL VALUES FOR US TO BE PROUD OF AND THAT CAN REALLY BE THE CORE OF OUR DECISION MAKING GOING FORWARD.
IN THE SHORT VERNACULAR, PERSONAL GROWTH AND ACHIEVEMENT, BELONGING AND WELLNESS, FACILITIES, AND SUSTAINABLE LEARNING ENVIRONMENTS.
WHEN WE LOOK UNDER THOSE, WE SEE THE DETAIL, THE OBJECTIVES THAT WE ARE GOING TO THE WHAT, OF WHAT WE HOPE TO ACCOMPLISH, AND THIS IS WHAT WE'LL BE WORKING WITH IN JULY TO DETERMINE THE HOW.
FOSTERING HIGH EXPECTATIONS AND PROVIDING SUPPORT FOR ALL STUDENTS AND STAFF, SO THEY DEVELOP THEIR PASSIONS AND INTERESTS AS THEY PURSUE THEIR FULL POTENTIAL.
MAINTAIN AND DEVELOP ROBUST AND WELL ROUNDED PROGRAMS ACROSS LEVELS AND DISCIPLINES WITHIN AND BEYOND THE FORMAL CURRICULA, INCLUDING EARLY CHILDHOOD, ACADEMICS, ARTS, EXTRACURRICULAR ENRICHMENT, ATHLETIC, SERVICE, AND CITIZENSHIP.
CONTINUE TO DEVELOP EVIDENCE-BASED, FOCUSED INTERVENTIONS AND SUPPORTS THAT MEET THE NEEDS OF ALL LEARNERS, AND RECRUIT HIGHER RETAIN AND DEVELOP HIGH QUALITY DIVERSE STAFF TO ENSURE EXCEPTIONAL LEARNING EXPERIENCES FOR ALL.
NORMALLY, I DON'T SIT AND READ THE WHOLE SLIDE.
[LAUGHTER] I APOLOGIZE FOR THAT, BUT GIVEN THE IMPORTANCE OF THE SMALL TEXT AND WANTING IT TO REALLY TO BE PUBLIC ON THE RECORD THAT'S WHY I'M DOING THIS.
FOSTER BELONGING FOR STUDENTS, STAFF, AND FAMILIES THROUGH INCLUSIVE PRACTICES, AND EQUITABLE OPPORTUNITIES.
HANSON SUPPORT SYSTEMS THAT FOSTER THE OVERALL WELL BEING OF ALL STUDENTS AND STAFF, PROMOTE A CULTURE THAT BALANCES PERSONAL GROWTH, ACHIEVEMENT, AND WELL BEING FOR ALL STUDENTS AND STAFF, AND CULTIVATE A CULTURE OF DIGNITY, KINDNESS, AND CIVILITY.
FINALLY, IN FACILITIES AND SUSTAINABLE LEARNING ENVIRONMENTS, EVALUATE, DEVELOP, AND IMPLEMENT SUSTAINABLE, SHORT, MID AND LONG TERM PLANS FOR FACILITIES MODERNIZATION, EXPANSION, AND FLEXIBLE USE.
ALIGN THE USE OF SPACE AND TIME TO THE CURRICULAR, EXTRACURRICULAR, AND DISTRICT ALIGNED COMMUNITY PRIORITIES.
REVIEW AND UPDATE IS NEEDED, DISTRICT PRACTICES, POLICIES, PROCEDURES, AND STAFFING TO ENSURE SAFETY, HEALTH, AND WELL BEING, PHYSICAL, DIGITAL, EMOTIONAL, ETC.
FINALLY, CREATE SPACES THAT CULTIVATE HUMAN COLLABORATION, AND CONNECTION.
I'VE MENTIONED THESE NEXT STEPS WOULD BE BOARD APPROVAL TONIGHT, STRATEGIES DEVELOPMENT JULY 1ST AND 2ND, AND SOME PHOTOS FROM OUR WORK TOGETHER THAT REALLY HIGHLIGHTED THE GREAT CONVERSATIONS AND WONDERFUL PEOPLE THAT WERE PART OF THAT.
I'M GOING TO GO BACK TO THIS LAST SLIDE BECAUSE IT'S THE MOST DETAILED.
I KNOW THE BOARD HAS HAD A COUPLE OF WEEKS TO THINK ABOUT THIS SINCE OUR FIRST DRAFT PRESENTATION.
BEFORE WE ADOPT, WE CERTAINLY WANT TO PROVIDE THE OPPORTUNITY FOR SOME CONVERSATION AROUND IT.
SEE IF THERE'S ANY FINAL TWEAKS THAT WE WANT TO TAKE A LOOK AT, AND THEN HOPEFULLY MOVE TO ADOPTION AND BE READY TO GO AND OFF TO A NEW PLAN.
>> FIRST, I'D LIKE TO SAY THANK YOU TO THE COMMUNITY.
WE HAD GREAT SUPPORT FROM BOTH FACULTY AND STAFF AND ALSO FROM THE BROADER COMMUNITY IN BUILDING THIS STRATEGIC PLAN.
I DID HAVE ONE THING, I WAS INVOLVED WITH THE GROUP THAT PUT TOGETHER THE STRATEGIC OBJECTIVES FOR THE FACILITIES PIECE OF THIS.
THE LAST BULLET UP THERE WAS ONE THAT I THOUGHT WAS IMPORTANT, BUT NEVER FELT LIKE WE QUITE GOT THE WORDS RIGHT AND I SHARED WITH THE BOARD EARLIER SOME THOUGHTS ON HOW WE MIGHT REVISE IT.
I THOUGHT WHEN WE WENT THROUGH THE CELL PHONE POLICY, WE ENDED UP HAVING SOME LANGUAGE THAT WAS PRETTY SIMILAR IN CONCEPT, BUT GOT THE CONCEPT A LITTLE BETTER.
I WOULD LIKE TO SUGGEST THAT AS A TWEAK TO THIS.
I THINK THE LANGUAGE THAT WE HAVE THAT I SUGGEST REPLACING THAT LAST BULLET WITH WOULD BE SOMETHING LIKE MAINTAIN PHYSICAL SPACES AND PROVIDE OPPORTUNITIES THAT FACILITATE COLLABORATION AND HUMAN CONNECTION BETWEEN STUDENTS AND FACULTY.
I THINK THAT TOUCHES ON BOTH THE SPACES THAT WE HAVE, HOW WE USE THEM, AND THE IMPORTANCE OF THESE CONNECTIONS BOTH BETWEEN STUDENTS AND BETWEEN STUDENTS AND FACULTY.
GIVEN THAT THIS IS GOING TO BE A FIVE-YEAR ROADMAP FOR US, I'D LIKE TO SEE US THINK ABOUT MAKING THAT CHANGE.
>> I CONCUR. I THINK IAN MAY HAVE BEEN THE SOURCE OF THE BETTER WORDS.
[00:55:02]
>> I CAN MAKE A MOTION AND I CAN GIVE THE WORDS TO VALERIE.
>> THAT'S WHAT I WOULD SUGGEST THAT IF THE BOARD IS GOOD WITH THAT, THEN WHEN WE DO ADOPT IT, WE'LL ADOPT IT WITH THE SUGGESTIONS AS RECOMMENDED WHICH YOU WOULD THEN PROVIDE TO VALERIE. WE'LL GET IT DONE.
>> CAN YOU READ THAT ONE MORE TIME FOR ME?
>> I JUST DON'T WANT TO HEAR IT AGAIN.
>> MAINTAIN PHYSICAL SPACES AND PROVIDE OPPORTUNITIES THAT FACILITATE COLLABORATION AND HUMAN CONNECTION BETWEEN STUDENTS AND BETWEEN STUDENTS AND FACULTY.
BECAUSE I THINK THE FACE TO FACE WAS REALLY FOCUSED ON THE CELL PHONE.
THE CELL PHONE POLICY, BUT HERE THERE ARE OTHER KINDS OF CONNECTION THAT WE MIGHT WANT STUDENT COLLABORATION.
>> WELL DONE? I THINK IT'S A REALLY GOOD DOCUMENT.
>> DO YOU FEEL YOU HAVE ENOUGH DIRECTION AS IT RELATES TO PRIORITIZATION, THE ORDER OF THESE THINGS? HOW DO YOU THINK ABOUT THAT?
>> THAT IS SOMETHING I'LL BE MEETING WITH THE CONSULTANTS NEXT WEEK TO THINK ABOUT APPROACH FOR.
SHE'S ALREADY PLANNING, MONICA IN PARTICULAR, SHE IS GOING TO BE COMING.
SHE SAID SHE'S ALREADY BEEN WORKING ON A PLAN FOR THE TWO DAYS WITH THE ADMINISTRATORS.
I THINK WE'RE GOING TO NEED TO START WITH UNPACKING THESE A LITTLE BIT.
THANKFULLY, A LOT OF THE ADMINISTRATIVE TEAM WAS PART OF THIS PROCESS.
I THINK THEY'RE ALREADY GOING TO HAVE BEEN PART OF THOSE CONVERSATIONS AND BE ABLE TO PROVIDE A GOOD BACKGROUND ON WHERE THEY CAME FROM WHAT THE INTENT WAS.
I THINK THAT'S GOING TO HELP US.
THEN WE'RE GOING TO HAVE TO PROBABLY A LOT OF IT IS PROBABLY TIMELINE, A LOT OF THINGS OUT.
WHERE DO WE START, WHAT NEEDS TO PROCEED THIS TO GET TO THAT?
>> I THINK WE'VE GOT A GOOD FOUNDATION TOO WITH OUR CURRENT PROGRAMS THAT ARE IN PLACE TO SEE WHERE DO WE ALREADY HAVE THAT FOUNDATION AND WHERE IS THIS AN EXTENSION AND THEN WHERE DOES THIS MAYBE DIRECT US TO PIVOT A LITTLE BIT.
>> I THINK WE WILL BE ABLE TO TAKE IT AND PUT IT INTO ACTION FOR SURE.
>> [NOISE] I'LL JUST SAY THAT AND SHE ALREADY MENTIONED IT.
I JUST WANT TO THANK EVERYONE, NOT ONLY THOSE WHO PARTICIPATED IN THE FOCUS GROUPS AND THE SURVEYS, BUT THE GROUP THAT CAME TOGETHER FOR ALL THOSE HOURS.
THEY CAME READY TO GO FROM DAY ONE, AND DID THEIR HOMEWORK BECAUSE WE HAD HOMEWORK TO DO IN BETWEEN THOSE MEETINGS, AND REALLY PUT THEIR HEART AND SOUL INTO THIS.
I'M REALLY PROUD THAT WE WERE ABLE TO BE A PART OF THAT.
I'LL THANK THE STUDENTS, THE ONES THAT PARTICIPATED IN THE SURVEY, BUT THE ONES WHO ALSO CAME AND SPENT TWO DAYS? YEAH, TWO FULL DAYS WITH US ON THE PLAN.
>> I WOULD JUST ECHO THE THANKS.
THANKS TO THE BOARD FOR YOUR TIME.
I KNOW ALL OF YOUR WORK AND I KNOW IT WAS A BIG SACRIFICE TO BE HERE, BUT I APPRECIATE YOUR COMMITMENT TO IT AND TAKING THE TIME TO PRIORITIZE.
THANK YOU TO MY CABINET, WHO WAS ALL ACTIVELY INVOLVED AS WELL IN LEADING THE WORK AND BEING AN ACTIVE VOICE, AND TO ALL OF THE FOLKS ON THAT SLIDE, THE ADMINISTRATORS, THE TEACHERS, AND THE STUDENTS WHO REALLY WERE HERE.
IT WAS JUST SUCH A THOUGHTFUL GROUP OF PEOPLE WHO REALLY CAME.
LIKE I SAID, THEY DID THE WORK, THEY PREPARED, THEY WERE HERE TO REALLY CONTRIBUTE AND RECOGNIZE THAT THEIR VOICE DID MATTER IN DIRECTING THE FUTURE OF THE DISTRICT.
MANY THANKS TO THEM. THANKS TO OUR FACILITATORS AS WELL.
IT'S A PLAN I THINK WE CAN ALL BE PROUD OF.
>> THEN I GUESS YOU NEED TO TAKE A MOTION.
>> I'LL MAKE THE MOTION, AND THEN YOU'LL SUGGEST THE LANGUAGE FORMALLY.
>> RESOLVED. PUT A MOTION FORWARD THAT THE BOARD OF EDUCATION OF THE PELHAM UNION FREE SCHOOL DISTRICT DOES HEREBY APPROVE THE 2029 STRATEGIC PLAN.
>> WITH EDITS THAT IS GOING TO ARTICULATE?
>> I GUESS YOU WANT ME TO MAKE A MOTION ON THAT? I MOVED THAT THE AMENDMENT TO THE STRATEGIC PLAN THAT I DESCRIBED EARLIER BE ADDED OR MADE TO THE STRATEGIC PLAN AS PRESENTED.
YEAH. THE LANGUAGES MAINTAIN PHYSICAL SPACES AND PROVIDE OPPORTUNITIES THAT FACILITATE COLLABORATION AND HUMAN CONNECTION BETWEEN STUDENTS AND BETWEEN STUDENTS AND FACULTY?
>> WE HAVE A FIVE-YEAR STRATEGIC PLAN? [APPLAUSE]
[01:00:03]
>> NOW WE JUST HAVE FIVE YEARS OF WORK TO DO.
>> IS ANYONE HERE FOR PUBLIC COMMENT?
[6. Communications and Comments from the Public]
[BACKGROUND]>> HI. ELIZABETH ALDERMAN, 659 ELI AVENUE.
I'M JUST BACK AFTER THE LAST MEETING TO CIRCLE BACK AROUND THE CALENDAR.
I REVIEWED THE THREE CALENDARS THAT WERE SUBMITTED THAT YOU GUYS WILL BE VOTING ON TONIGHT, AND I JUST WANT TO SAY A FEW WORDS BEFORE THE VOTE HAPPENS.
I'M GOING TO REFER TO THEM AS CALENDARS 1, 2, 3 BECAUSE THAT'S JUST AN EASY WAY TO KEEP TRACK OF THEM.
CALENDAR 3 BASICALLY JUST REMOVES THE HALF DAY FROM THE DAY BEFORE THANKSGIVING.
I WAS SURPRISED TO SEE THAT ON THERE BECAUSE THAT'S THE ONE HALF DAY THAT'S UNIVERSALLY LOVED AND I KNOW I HAD COMMUNICATED THAT NO ONE WANTS TO SEE THAT TAKEN AWAY.
PEOPLE ARE JUST GOING TO TAKE THEIR KIDS OUT THAT DAY ANYWAY SO I DON'T THINK IT REALLY SERVES THE FACULTY OR THE COMMUNITY THAT WELL.
THERE'S NO CHANGE TO END OF YEAR OR HALF DAYS.
CALENDAR 3 WAS REALLY INTERESTING.
I DIDN'T SEE THAT COMING AND I'D LOVE TO GET MORE INFORMATION AROUND THAT.
WHAT IT DOES IS IT TAKES THREE SNOW DAY HOLD EMERGENCY HOLDS THAT NORMALLY WE WOULD USE DURING THE WEEK OF APRIL BREAK IF WE HAD MORE THAN TWO SNOW DAYS, AND IT PUTS THEM AT THE END OF THE SCHOOL YEAR.
BASICALLY, I JUST WANT TO KNOW IF I'M UNDERSTANDING THIS CORRECTLY.
IF IT WERE THIS YEAR, FOR EXAMPLE, WE WOULD HAVE NO SCHOOL NEXT WEEK.
INSTEAD OF THAT THREE DAY HALF DAY, AM I READING THAT RIGHT?
>> YEAH. WE ONLY TO USE THE TWO SNOW DAYS.
BUT YES, THAT'S WHAT THE PROPOSITION OF THAT CALENDAR IS IF WE HAD THREE REMAINING SNOW DAYS, THE BOARD WOULD HAVE THE OPTION THEN OF GIVING BACK UP TO THREE.
>> LIKE IF WE DIDN'T USE THEM, AND I WAS CURIOUS BECAUSE THOSE THREE HALF DAYS AT THE END OF THE YEAR WERE NEGOTIATED IN THE TEACHERS CONTRACT.
>> NO, THE STAFF WOULD STILL COME.
THE STUDENTS JUST WOULD NOT HAVE TO COME.
>> I SEE. SO INSTEAD OF HAVING THE HALF DAYS, THEY BASICALLY GET A FULL DAY TO CLEAN UP TO THEIR CLASSROOM.
THAT'S PERSONALLY VERY INTERESTING TO ME.
I'M FASCINATED AND WOULD BE CURIOUS TO HEAR WHAT OTHER PEOPLE THINK ABOUT THAT BECAUSE THAT'S WHAT WE WERE ASKING FOR IS CALENDAR 4, WHICH ISN'T ON THE TABLE, BUT IT IS THE MORE MEASURED OPTION, WHICH IS BASICALLY REALLOCATING A HALF DAY FROM PROFESSIONAL LEARNING TO AFTER SCHOOL ONLY.
THEN MAYBE TAKING IT SLOWLY AT THE END OF THE YEAR BY FOR EXAMPLE, NOT USING EASTER MONDAY AND HAVING EVERYONE GET OUT AT THE END OF REGIONS INSTEAD OF REGIONS RAINY DAY.
SO SPLITTING THE DIFFERENCE. THIS IS MORE.
IT DOES COME OUT OF INSTRUCTIONAL TIME, AND I THINK PEOPLE ARE AWARE OF THAT.
IT'S FEWER, WE WENT FROM 181 DAYS TO 178.
BUT YEAH, I APPRECIATE THE EXPLANATION.
I'M REALLY CURIOUS TO SEE HOW EVERYBODY VOTES TONIGHT. THANK YOU.
>> I THOUGHT THERE WAS THE OTHER HAND.
>> I KNOW WE'RE STILL WAITING FOR MICHAEL,
[4.2 Recognition of Board Members Michael Owen-Michaane and Ian V. Rowe and Administrators Dr. Alice Bowman and Dr. Steven Garcia]
BUT I THINK WE WE'LL MOVE FORWARD WITH THE RECOGNITIONS 4.2.>> IT IS ALWAYS A BITTER SWEET EVENING WHEN WE GET TO THE END OF DEDICATED SERVICE OF OUR BOARD MEMBERS.
WE'RE GOING TO WAIT FOR DOCTOR OSH.
WE'RE GOING TO START BY RECOGNIZING MR. IAN ROE, WHO'S COMPLETED HIS THIRD YEAR OF SERVICE ON THE BOARD.
I WANT TO BEGIN BY READING A RESOLUTION INTO THE RECORD FOR TONIGHT, AND THEN WE'LL HAVE GOT SOME GIFTS.
WE'LL DO A LITTLE BIT TALKING. EMBARRASS THEM JUST A LITTLE BIT, BUT ALL IN GOOD CONSIDERATION.
RESOLUTION, WHEREAS THE BOARD OF EDUCATION RECOGNIZES MR. IAN ROE, BOARD OF EDUCATION TRUSTEE 2021-24, VICE PRESIDENT 2022-2024, FOR HIS THREE YEARS SERVING ON THE PELHAM BOARD OF EDUCATION INCLUDING TWO AS VICE PRESIDENT.
WHEREAS MR. ROE WON ELECTION TO THE SCHOOL BOARD IN 2021 AND MADE AN IMMEDIATE IMPACT BRINGING HIS YEARS OF EXPERIENCE AS A SCHOOL LEADER.
WHEREAS MR. ROE HAS BEEN STEADFAST IN ENSURING THAT DECISIONS ARE DRIVEN BY DATA AND HELPING TO CREATE SMART GOALS FOR THE DISTRICT, ALLOWING PROGRESS TO BE TRACKED AND FOSTERING GROWTH.
[01:05:02]
WHEREAS MR. ROE HAS BEEN A CRITICAL VOICE AND LEADER IN THE FACILITIES, AUTHENTIC LEARNING, CULTURAL COMPETENCE, AND POLICY COMMITTEES, AND HAS BEEN A STRONG SUPPORTER OF SPECIAL EDUCATION STUDENTS BY SERVING AS THE BOARD LIAISON DE SEPTA.WHEREAS MR. ROE STEPPED UP TO SERVE IN BOARD LEADERSHIP, HAVING BEEN ELECTED VICE PRESIDENT IN HIS SECOND YEAR AS TRUSTEE.
WHEREAS IN HIS ROLE AS VICE PRESIDENT, MR. ROE HAS WORKED TO ENSURE THE DISTRICT CONTINUES TO MAKE PROGRESS IN A VARIETY OF AREAS, FOCUSED ON IMPROVING STUDENT OUTCOMES, AND CREATING OPPORTUNITIES FOR STUDENTS TO EXCEL.
WHEREAS MR. ROE HAS BEEN A STRONG ADVOCATE FOR IMPROVING STUDENTS' MENTAL HEALTH AND CREATING POSITIVE DISTRACTION FREE LEARNING ENVIRONMENTS FOR ALL STUDENTS.
WHEREAS MR. ROE HAS HIS LENT IMMENSE KNOWLEDGE AND EXPERIENCE IN EDUCATION TO THE DISTRICT STRATEGIC PLANNING PROCESS, LEADING TO THE DEVELOPMENT OF THE PELHAM PUBLIC SCHOOLS SOON TO BE ADOPTED FIVE YEAR ROADMAP, JUST ADOPTED.
WE IT THEREFORE RESOLVED THAT THE PELHAM BOARD OF EDUCATION ON BEHALF OF PELHAM STUDENTS, ADMINISTRATORS, TEACHERS, AND RESIDENTS, HEREBY EXPRESSES ITS GRATITUDE TO MR. IAN ROE.
ALTHOUGH WE WILL MISS HIS LEADERSHIP PERSPECTIVE, AND ABILITY TO CONSIDER COMPLEX TOPICS, AS WELL AS HIS DEDICATION TO THE PELHAM PUBLIC SCHOOLS AND COMMITMENT TO HELPING STUDENTS REACH THEIR FULL POTENTIAL, WE WISH HIM THE VERY BEST IN HIS NEXT CHAPTER.
[APPLAUSE] WITH THAT, I ALSO ON BEHALF OF THE DISTRICT WANT TO GIVE OUR TRADITIONAL GIFT.
I'LL LET YOU OPEN IT. I DON'T KNOW HOW LONG THIS HAS BEEN A TRADITIONAL GIFT FOR BOARD MEMBERS, BUT IT'S A COMMEMORATIVE BELL.
FOR YOU HAVE TO REMEMBER YOUR YEARS OF SERVICE.
[LAUGHTER] WHEN NOBODY AT HOME IS LISTENING, YOU CAN RING IT.
>> OSCAR CAMI, YOU CAN'T USE THIS. THANK YOU.
>> YOU MUST LOOK AT THAT T SHIRT.
[BACKGROUND] THAT IS MY MIDDLE NAME, YES.
>> NOTHING AS FUN AS THAT ONE, BUT SOME PELHAM SWAG FOR YOU TO SPORT AROUND THE FIELDS AND THE HALLS.
>> TO BE USED ON A WEDNESDAY NIGHT.
>> TO BE USED ON A WEDNESDAY NIGHT.
GOSH. WELL, THANK YOU, EVERYONE.
IT'S BEEN A GREAT HONOR AND I LOVE KIDS.
I LOVE PELHAM. I WILL NOT BE A FAR AWAY.
IF I CAN BE OF HELP TO DARREN AND KATHERINE AS WELL AS WELL AS THE TEAM, I BLEED PELHAM.
>> I KNOW FOLKS MAY WANT TO SAY JUST A FEW WORDS.
I JUST WANT TO THANK YOU FOR YOUR SERVICE AND YOUR PARTNERSHIP.
ESPECIALLY, I THINK THIS LAST YEAR, WE WERE HITTING OUR STRIDE.
>> I DO APPRECIATE REALLY YOUR THOUGHTFULNESS ABOUT THINGS.
I DON'T KNOW HOW YOU WRITE AS QUICKLY AS YOU WRITE, AND I REMEMBER WHEN YOU FIRST GOT ON THE BOARD SAYING THAT YOU PROCESS THROUGH WRITING.
>> THAT PROVED TO BE 100% TRUE.
BUT I THINK THAT WAS THE GOOD PART ABOUT GETTING TO WORK TOGETHER AND LEARNING ONE ANOTHER AND KNOWING ONE ANOTHER REALLY HELPS TO MAKE THE CONNECTIONS AND FIND THE COMMON GROUND.
>> I VERY MUCH APPRECIATED YOUR LEADERSHIP AND YOUR WORK AND WISH YOU ALL THE BEST.
>> IT'S BEEN GREAT TO WORK WITH YOU AS WELL THROUGH SCARY, GREAT CHALLENGES OVER THE LAST THREE YEARS.
>> GOSH. [LAUGHTER] EVERYONE GETTING SOFTY.
>> IAN, I WANT TO EXPRESS MY GRATITUDE FOR YOUR SERVICE ON THE BOARD OF EDUCATION.
I'VE ALWAYS APPRECIATED OUR DISCUSSIONS ON VARIOUS TOPICS, WHETHER WE AGREED OR WE DISAGREED.
HEARING YOUR POINT OF VIEW, ESPECIALLY WITH YOUR BACKGROUND IN EDUCATION WAS INVALUABLE.
I'M GRATEFUL FOR THE RESPECTFUL AND COLLEGIAL RELATIONSHIP THAT WE DEVELOPED, AND YOUR DEDICATION TO STUDENTS AND THEIR SUCCESS HAS BEEN EVIDENT THROUGHOUT YOUR TENURE.
I WISH YOU ALL THE BEST IN YOUR FUTURE ENDEAVORS.
>> IAN, I THINK WHAT I'M GOING TO MISS MOST ABOUT YOU, ISN'T AS MUCH THE IDEAS THAT YOU BROUGHT TO THE TABLE, BUT THE FACT THAT YOU BROUGHT IDEAS TO THE TABLE.
I JUST REALLY ENJOYED DEBATING WITH YOU ON ALL MANNER OF ISSUES.
ALTHOUGH I DIDN'T ALWAYS AGREE WITH YOU,
[01:10:01]
I ALWAYS CAME AWAY FROM THE CONVERSATION, HAVING QUESTIONED MY ASSUMPTIONS, HAVING THOUGHT CAREFULLY ABOUT WHAT I WAS SAYING.I CAN'T THINK OF ANYONE WHO IT FITS BETTER THAN YOU, AND THAT IS YOU'RE A MASTER OF DISAGREEING AGREEABLY, WHICH IS PERHAPS SOMETHING THAT NATIONALLY WE COULD LEARN FROM AND DO A BETTER JOB AT.
I WILL MISS GOING AT IT WITH YOU AND THANK YOU FOR YOUR SERVICE.
>> THANK YOU. I'M WORKING ON IT NATIONALLY.
>> IAN, THANK YOU FOR YOUR SERVICE TO THE PELHAM BOARD OF EDUCATION.
IT WAS GREAT WORKING WITH YOU IN THIS CAPACITY.
I ENJOYED IT, AND I MOST APPRECIATE YOUR EXPERTISE IN EDUCATION, HOW YOU HOLD FIRM ON BASIC PRINCIPLES, YOUR LOVE OF KPIS, SMART GOALS, AND DATA TO DRIVE SMARTER DECISION-MAKING.
I'M ALSO SURE THAT YOUR FAMILY WELCOMES YOU BACK TO REGULAR PELHAM LIFE WITH THEM.
>> I'LL SAY I'VE CERTAINLY ENJOYED SERVING WITH YOU.
IT'S BEEN QUITE AN ADVENTURE OVER THE PAST THREE YEARS AND REALLY A PLEASURE TO WORK TOGETHER AND BECOME FRIENDS.
YOU'VE BROUGHT A LOT IN TERMS OF THOUGHT LEADERSHIP WITH YOUR EXPERIENCE IN YOUR SCHOOL AND AS A REALLY NATIONAL THOUGHT, AND I HAVE TO PUT IN A PLUG FOR AGENCY.
>> WHICH I READ AND IT'S A GREAT BOOK, AND EVERYBODY SHOULD GET A COPY.
>> ONE OF THE PERKS OF THIS ROLE, WHICH THERE AREN'T MANY, WE GET TO MEET PEOPLE WE USUALLY WOULDN'T IN PELHAM.
I'VE TOLD THIS TO MANY OF YOU.
I DIDN'T KNOW YOU OR YOUR FAMILY AND GOT TO KNOW THEM, AND WHAT A WONDERFUL FAMILY AND YOU.
AND IT'S BEEN A PLEASURE SERVING WITH YOU.
AGAIN, I DON'T HAVE A BACKGROUND IN EDUCATION, BUT IT'S ALWAYS INTERESTING TO SEE SOMEONE WHO DOES IN THEIR OPINION.
IT IS NOT SOMETHING I ENJOYED.
[LAUGHTER] HAVING SOMEONE ON THE BOARD WHO WRITES SO ELOQUENTLY WAS REALLY GREAT. I WILL MISS YOU.
I'LL MISS BOUNCING IDEAS OF OFF YOU BECAUSE I KNEW IT WAS NOT NECESSARILY WHAT I WAS THINKING AND YOU CAME AT IT FROM A DIFFERENT PERSPECTIVE.
I'M SURE YOUR FAMILY WOULD ENJOY HAVING YOU BACK AT CANTINA ON A WEDNESDAY.
>> THANK YOU FOR YOUR SERVICE.
>> PEOPLE AROUND THE TABLE HAVE SAID MOST OF THE THINGS THAT I'VE WANTED TO SAY ALREADY.
WILL DID A GREAT JOB AND A LOT OF THE THINGS THAT I WAS THINKING ABOUT IN TERMS OF HAVING CONVERSATIONS ON REAL ISSUES AND BEING THOUGHTFUL ABOUT IT AND BEING CONSIDERATE ABOUT IT AND NOT TRYING TO SCORE POINTS, BUT DOING IT THE RIGHT WAY, WHICH I THINK IS REALLY IMPORTANT, AND BEING WILLING TO HAVE A LONG MEETING HERE AND THEN WALK OUTSIDE AND HAVE A SOMEWHAT LONG CONVERSATION AFTERWARDS BECAUSE YOU'RE REALLY ENGAGED WITH THE ISSUES AND WANTED TO THINK THROUGH THEM AND TALK ABOUT THEM.
HOPEFULLY, WE'LL CONTINUE TALKING ANYWAY.
>> PERFECT TIMING. BACK JUST IN TIME.
DR. OWEN-MICHAANE, OUR PRESIDENT.
I'M GOING TO READ A RESOLUTION IN YOUR HONOR AS WELL.
WHEREAS PELHAM BOARD OF EDUCATION RECOGNIZES DR. MICHAEL OWEN-MICHAANE, BOARD OF ED TRUSTEE, 2001-2024, PRESIDENT, 2022-2024, FOR HIS THREE YEARS SERVING ON THE PELHAM BOARD OF EDUCATION, INCLUDING TWO AS PRESIDENT, AND WHEREAS DR. OWEN-MICHAANE WAS SELECTED IN 2021 AND IMMEDIATELY LENT HIS EXPERTISE AS A MEDICAL PROFESSIONAL TO ENSURING THE PELHAM PUBLIC SCHOOLS WAS SUCCESSFUL IN NAVIGATING THE ONGOING THE COVID 19 PANDEMIC.
AND WHEREAS DR. OWEN-MICHAANE WAS RELENTLESSLY FOCUSED ON ADDRESSING LEARNING LOSS AND HELPING EACH CHILD REACH THEIR OWN PERSONALIZED DEFINITION OF EXCELLENCE.
WHEREAS DR. OWEN-MICHAANE MADE A DISTINCT IMPACT ON THE DISTRICT THROUGH HIS SERVICE AND LEADERSHIP ON THE POLICY, WELLNESS, FACILITIES, AND SAFETY COMMITTEES, WHILE ALSO SERVING AS THE BOARD LIAISON TO PELHAM MIDDLE SCHOOL AND PELHAM MEMORIAL HIGH SCHOOL,
[01:15:02]
AND WHEREAS IN JUST HIS SECOND YEAR AS TRUSTEE, DR. OWEN-MICHAANE WAS ELECTED PRESIDENT OF THE BOARD AND SERVED IN THAT ROLE FOR TWO YEARS, PROVIDING LEADERSHIP AND STABILITY FOR THE DISTRICT.WHEREAS DR. OWEN-MICHAANE, IN HIS ROLE AS PRESIDENT HAS WORKED TO DEVELOP DISTINCT GOALS FOR THE BOARD AND DISTRICT AS A WHOLE, FOCUSING ON BOTH SHORT AND LONG-TERM SUCCESS.
WHEREAS DR. OWEN-MICHAANE HAS SERVED AS A VOICE FOR THE COMMUNITY AND HAS WORKED TO DEVELOP AND PASS THREE SUCCESSFUL BUDGETS THAT BALANCE THE NEEDS OF THE DISTRICT WHILE BEING RESPECTFUL OF THE IMPACT ON TAXPAYERS.
AND WHEREAS DR. OWEN-MICHAANE HAS BEEN AN INSTRUMENTAL VOICE IN THE DEVELOPMENT OF THE DISTRICT'S FORTHCOMING STRATEGIC PLAN, WHICH AIMS TO CONTINUE THE PELHAM PUBLIC SCHOOLS LEGACY AS ONE OF THE PREMIER EDUCATIONAL SYSTEMS IN THE REGION.
BE IT THEREFORE RESOLVED THAT THE PELHAM BOARD OF EDUCATION ON BEHALF OF PELHAM STUDENTS, ADMINISTRATORS, TEACHERS, AND RESIDENTS, HEREBY EXPRESSES ITS GRATITUDE TO DR. MICHAEL OWEN-MICHAANE.
ALTHOUGH WE WILL MISS HIS LEADERSHIP, CANDOR, FOCUS, AND DRIVE TO ENSURE THE PELHAM PUBLIC SCHOOLS ARE A SOURCE OF PRIDE WHERE ALL STUDENTS CAN BE SUCCESSFUL, WE THANK HIM FOR HIS SERVICE AND WISH HIM THE BEST LUCK IN HIS FUTURE ENDEAVORS.
[APPLAUSE] THAT IS THE GIFT OF THE TRADITIONAL BILL.
>> FOR YOUR SERVICE. THANK YOU.
>> AGAIN, I WILL KICK THINGS OFF.
IT TAKES A COUPLE OF YEARS TO GET ONE'S FEET UNDER YOU.
>> WE'RE NOT DONE WITH THE GIFTS. [OVERLAPPING].
>> REALLY, I'VE APPRECIATED AS YOU'VE GROWN INTO THE ROLE AND WE'VE GROWN INTO OUR WORKING RELATIONSHIP TOGETHER.
I SEE HOW YOU LISTEN, YOU HEAR, YOU LEARN, AND HOW YOU REALLY HAVE INTERNALIZED SO MUCH OF THE MANY THINGS THAT HAVE BEEN PRESENTED OVER THE TIME IN YOUR SERVICE HERE, AND I REALLY APPRECIATE THAT THAT MODELS THE LIFELONG LEARNER THAT WHETHER IT'S TEACHER, AN ADMINISTRATOR OR A BOARD MEMBER SITTING IN A GOVERNANCE ROLE, THAT LIFELONG LEARNING IS SOMETHING TO MODEL AND TO VALUE.
I VERY MUCH APPRECIATED THAT ABOUT YOU.
ONE OF THE THINGS THAT ALWAYS STRIKES ME IS YOUR WAY TO REALLY CUT THROUGH NONSENSE AND FOCUS ON THE ISSUE, AND THE WAY THAT YOU SKILLFULLY USE POLICY AS A WAY TO RESOLVE MANY THINGS.
AGAIN, IN A GOVERNANCE ROLE, I THINK A TALENT TO BE ABLE TO SEE WHAT IS A WAY THAT WE CAN USE THIS AS A TOOL TO HEAR THE CONCERNS, MEET THE NEED, BUT CRAFT SOMETHING THAT'S GOING TO BE WORKABLE AND COMMUNICATES A VALUE AND A MESSAGE ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD.
THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR YOUR SERVICE.
THANK YOU FOR YOUR PARTNERSHIP AND BEST OF LUCK.
NOW, IT'S DEFINITELY BEEN A LEARNING EXPERIENCE, AND I REMEMBER WHEN I FIRST STARTED SAYING WHY I LOVE LEARNING NEW THINGS, AND THERE WAS SO MUCH TO LEARN ABOUT SCHOOL DISTRICTS.
YOU DID CAPTURE LIFELONG LEARNING, AND WOW, JUST SPARKLING.
>> I FEEL LIKE THINGS THAT I GOT INVOLVED FOR, I DID MAKE SOME IMPACT AND ACCOMPLISHED SOME OF THOSE GOALS AND REALLY WAS AN HONOR TO BE ABLE TO SERVE IN THAT WAY. THANK YOU.
>> SURE. I'LL START OVER HERE.
[BACKGROUND] A COUPLE OF THINGS.
ONE, DOING THIS JOB JUST ON THE BOARD IS A LOT OF TIME.
BEING THE PRESIDENT IS LIKE A WHOLE ANOTHER LEVEL.
DOING THIS JOB AS PRESIDENT WITH FIVE SMALL KIDS IS LIKE OUT OF CONTROL.
WHEN I JOINED THE BOARD, I GUESS, I DON'T KNOW.
FOR SOME PEOPLE, I KNEW PEOPLE A LITTLE BIT OR NOT BUT HAD PRECONCEIVED NOTIONS ABOUT WHAT THEY MIGHT BE LIKE.
I NEVER KNEW WHAT YOU WERE GOING TO THINK ABOUT AN ISSUE BECAUSE IT ALWAYS FELT LIKE YOU WERE REALLY TRYING TO START WITH FIRST PRINCIPLES AND WORK IT THROUGH, AND I THINK THAT'S A GREAT THING. I APPRECIATED THAT.
I KNEW YOUR FAMILY AND THE FIVE WONDERFUL KIDS, BUT I NEVER WORKED WITH YOU IN ANY CAPACITY AND ANY VOLUNTEER WORK.
[01:20:04]
I GOT TO KNOW YOU HERE.WE'RE NEW YORKERS, AND THE ONE THING I LEARNED FROM YOU WAS SLOW IT DOWN.
EVERY TIME AN ISSUE CAME UP, I WOULD BE LIKE, GIVE IT SOME TIME, THEN LOOK AT MICHAEL.
AND THEN YOU WILL COME UP WITH THIS LASER FOCUS QUESTIONS THAT WOULD JUST TURN THE ENTIRE ISSUE AND MADE ME LOOK AT IT IN A DIFFERENT WAY.
I'M GOING TO HAVE TO START THINKING THAT WAY.
I'M GOING TO HAVE TO START TIMING MYSELF TO GIVE MYSELF SOME TIME BEFORE I SPEAK SO I CAN INTERNALIZE IT AND PROCESS IT AND DIGEST IT AND PUT IT OUT THERE AGAIN.
I DID LEARN A LOT FROM WORKING WITH YOU.
AGAIN, I APPRECIATE THE FACT THAT YOU WERE THE PRESIDENT.
IT'S A WHOLE DIFFERENT LEVEL OF WORK.
I KNOW YOU'RE GOING TO GO ON AND SPEND TIME WITH FIVE KIDS.
YOU'RE ALWAYS WELCOME TO COME BACK ON THOSE DATES THAT YOU WANT TO TAKE A BREAK.
MICHAEL, WE'VE GOT TO KNOW EACH OTHER VERY WELL OVER THE LAST THREE YEARS, AND IT IS IMPORTANT TO NOTE THAT, THE PRESIDENCY OF THE BOARD IS AN ELECTED POSITION AMONGST BOARD MEMBERS.
IT'S A RECOGNITION OF YOUR LEADERSHIP.
THANK YOU FOR THAT. I DO VERY MUCH APPRECIATE THE WAY YOU THINK.
I THINK THAT THE TRANSFERABILITY OF YOUR SKILLS FROM A MEDICAL PERSPECTIVE, I THINK THERE IS A WAY OF THINKING OF DIAGNOSING A PROBLEM, WHAT ARE THE POTENTIAL ROOT CAUSES, AND THEN FORMULATING STRATEGIES OR A SET OF INTERVENTIONS, AND I THINK YOU WERE ABLE TO BRING THAT TO THIS POSITION.
I THINK THAT'S JUST A REALLY IMPORTANT WAY OF THINKING ABOUT ANYTHING, BUT PARTICULARLY ON A BOARD OF EDUCATION WHERE THERE'S RARELY A SILVER BULLET ANSWER.
ALMOST EVERYTHING HAS TRADE-OFFS, AND SO YOU HAVE TO BE ABLE TO WEIGH THOSE THINGS, AND I THINK THE WAY THAT YOU'VE THOUGHT ABOUT THESE KINDS OF ISSUES IS JUST VERY IMPORTANT.
>> MICHAEL, THANK YOU FOR YOUR SERVICE.
I REALLY ENJOYED WORKING WITH YOU ON THE BOARD OF EDUCATION, AND I MOST APPRECIATE YOUR HIGH LEVEL OF PREPAREDNESS FOR ANY MEETING OR CONVERSATION, YOUR WILLINGNESS TO LISTEN TO OTHERS.
YOU'RE A GREAT LISTENER. THANK YOU.
AND OF COURSE, YOU'RE LASER-FOCUSED ON THE ACADEMIC SUCCESS OF OUR STUDENTS.
THANK YOU, AND I'M SURE YOUR FAMILY IS HAPPY TO HAVE YOU BACK AS WELL. THANK YOU.
>> MICHAEL, WE DO OWE YOU A BIG DEBT OF GRATITUDE, NOT JUST FOR THE MIND-BOGGLING VOLUME OF HOURS THAT YOU'VE PUT INTO THIS OVER THE YEARS, BUT NO ONE IS MORE COMMITTED TO THE LONG-TERM HEALTH AND FORTUNES OF THE DISTRICT THAN YOU.
NO ONE HAS THOUGHT MORE CAREFULLY ABOUT DECISIONS THAN YOU.
YOU WOULD NEVER MAKE A DECISION FLIPPANTLY OR MAKE A RECOMMENDATION WITHOUT THINKING IT THROUGH.
NO ONE CARES MORE ABOUT THE WELL-BEING AND THE SUCCESS OF OUR STUDENTS THAN YOU AND I REALLY BELIEVE THAT.
I THINK THAT IN THE FINAL ANALYSIS, YOU SHOULD BE PROUD OF LEAVING THE DISTRICT IN A BETTER POSITION THAN WHEN YOU FOUND IT.
>> THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME AND IT'S BEEN A REAL PLEASURE WORKING WITH YOU.
>> I ECHO EVERYTHING MY COLLEAGUES HAVE SAID.
I WANT TO SAY THANK YOU FOR YOUR DEDICATION AS PRESIDENT, BECAUSE JUST WATCHING WHAT YOU HAVE TO DO AS PRESIDENT, I CAN APPRECIATE THE AMOUNT OF WORK THAT YOU'VE HAD TO PUT IN.
YOUR COMMITMENT TO MAINTAINING OUR FOCUS ON ACADEMIC EXCELLENCE HAS BEEN CRUCIAL.
I CAN REMEMBER A NUMBER OF CONVERSATIONS YOU AND I HAVE HAD ABOUT OTHER THINGS AND YOU BRINGING IT BACK TO WHY YOU WERE ELECTED AND WHAT YOUR FOCUS WAS.
I THOUGHT THAT WAS ALWAYS HELPFUL TO KEEP IN MIND.
I'VE APPRECIATED YOUR EFFORTS TO ENSURE THAT OUR STUDENTS' EDUCATIONAL ACHIEVEMENTS REMAINED A TOP PRIORITY NO MATTER WHAT WE WERE DISCUSSING.
THANK YOU FOR ALWAYS KEEPING THE NEEDS OF THE KIDS AT THE FOREFRONT, AND I WISH YOU ALL THE BEST.
>> THANK YOU SO MUCH. WELL, I'M SPEECHLESS. THANK YOU ALL.
[LAUGHTER] THANK YOU TO MAURICE FOR BEING MY BIGGEST SUPPORTER.
IT'S BEEN A PLEASURE AND AN HONOR TO SERVE.
[01:25:03]
THANK YOU. [APPLAUSE]>> YOU GOT SOME DISTRICT SWAG.
>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH. [LAUGHTER] GREAT.
>> JUST A COUPLE MORE HONORS IF FOLKS WOULD INDULGE US AND THAT IS TWO OTHER VERY IMPORTANT PEOPLE SITTING AT THE TABLE TONIGHT WHO ARE HERE FOR THEIR LAST TIME TONIGHT.
WE DON'T HAVE PROCLAMATIONS AND SWAG.
WE WILL BE HAVING A LITTLE OFFICE OPEN HOUSE 21ST, I THINK IT IS.
BOARD MEMBERS, YOU ARE INVITED TO JOIN US.
BUT I JUST WANTED TO TAKE A COUPLE OF MINUTES TO RECOGNIZE DR. GARCIA.
STEVE HAS BEEN WITH THE DISTRICT 11 YEARS, SEVEN YEARS OF MY ENTIRE TIME HERE.
I'M SO MUCH OF WHAT IS IN PLACE ON THE CURRICULAR SIDE, TEACHING, AND LEARNING SIDE REALLY WAS BUILT BY STEVE.
I THINK IT DESERVES THE RECOGNITION THAT IT IS.
THE INNOVATION, THE PROGRAMMATIC GROWTH, SUPPORT EVEN THE STRUCTURE OF OUR CURRENT ADMINISTRATIVE TEAM.
THEN EVERYTHING HAVING TO DO WITH THE WHOLE PERSONNEL SIDE FOR ALL THOSE YEARS UP UNTIL THE LAST TWO YEARS IS WORK THAT STEVE HAS COMMITTED TO AND DONE FAITHFULLY AND DONE WELL.
I THINK WE ALL KNOW THAT THE PEOPLE WHO WORK HERE ARE THE HEARTBEAT OF WHAT MAKES OUR DISTRICT SO GREAT.
I THINK YOU SHARED RECENTLY, YOU'VE HIRED OVER 30% OF THE DISTRICT STAFF, WHICH IS AN ACCOMPLISHMENT AND THAT'S WHO WE ARE, IT'S WHAT WE DO.
WITHOUT OUR PEOPLE, WE WOULD NOT BE THE DISTRICT THAT WE ARE.
STEVE, THANK YOU FOR YOUR PARTNERSHIP, THANK YOU FOR YOUR WORK.
YOU HAVE INCREDIBLE INSIGHT INTO PEOPLE AND INTO SYSTEMS AND ORGANIZATIONS, AND YOU'VE BUILT SOME GREAT THINGS HERE, AND I KNOW THAT YOU'RE GOING TO DO THE SAME HAULINTON.
VERY BITTERSWEET BUT YOU'VE LEFT A STRONG LEGACY HERE THAT IS A FOUNDATION THAT WE WILL BE ABLE TO BUILD ON FOR YEARS TO COME SO THANK YOU FOR EVERYTHING.
>> THANK YOU SO MUCH. IT'S A GREAT DISTRICT, AND I WAS HAPPY TO BE PART OF IT FOR THIS AMOUNT OF TIME.
I JUST WANT TO THANK THE COMMUNITY AND PEOPLE THAT WORK HERE, THE BOARDS OF EDUCATION I'VE WORKED WITH OVER THE PAST 11 YEARS.
IT'S A THIRD OF MY CAREER OVER A THIRD OF MY CAREER.
THIS IS THE DISTRICT I WOULD LOVE TO SEND MY KIDS TO.
THAT REALLY IS A TESTAMENT TO THE PEOPLE THAT WORK HERE AND THE WORK THAT'S DONE HERE.
I JUST WANT TO SAY THANK YOU TO EVERYONE
>> I HAVE SOMETHING. I FEEL LIKE I'VE KNOWN YOU FOR QUITE A WHILE SINCE MY KIDS STARTED HERE.
I WANTED TO JUST TAKE A MOMENT TO ACKNOWLEDGE THE INCREDIBLE IMPACT YOU'VE HAD IN YOUR ROLE WITHIN THE DISTRICT.
I DON'T KNOW IF YOU'RE GOING TO REMEMBER THIS, BUT I'LL ALWAYS REMEMBER YOUR EFFORTS WHEN MY KIDS WERE YOUNG, I WAS ON SITE-BASED COUNCIL.
YOU WERE BRAND NEW AND YOU MET WITH SITE-BASED COUNCIL REPRESENTATIVES TO HELP US FIGURE OUT HOW TO BE THE MOST EFFECTIVE.
I WAS ON SITE-BASED COUNCIL, I WASN'T SURE IF I REALLY KNEW WHAT SITE-BASED COUNCIL FULLY INVOLVED.
YOU WERE INSTRUMENTAL IN EXPOSING ME TO WHAT THAT WAS ABOUT.
YOU ALSO TAUGHT ME ABOUT DIFFERENTIATED LEARNING I HAD NO IDEA WHAT THAT MEANT.
I WAS ALWAYS IMPRESSED WITH THE TIME YOU TOOK TO LISTEN BECAUSE WE'VE HAD MANY CONVERSATIONS OVER THE YEARS.
CONVERSATIONS ABOUT IMPLEMENTING SUGGESTIONS FROM COMMITTEES THAT WE'VE BEEN ON TOGETHER WERE ALWAYS INSIGHTFUL AND PRODUCTIVE, AND I ALSO WISH YOU THE BEST IN YOUR NEW ROLE.
>> MAY I? THANKS. STEVE, SO YOU WERE THE FIRST PERSON TO OCCUPY THE ROLE OF EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF HUMAN RESOURCES AND LEADERSHIP.
[5.5 Executive Director's Update on Human Resources and Leadership]
IN DOING SO, YOU DEMONSTRATED WHAT AN ESSENTIAL ROLE IT IS AND WHY WE HAVE IT.ONE OF THE THINGS THAT STRUCK ME ABOUT YOU IS YOUR JUST EXTRAORDINARY GRASP OF THE 300 EMPLOYEES IN THE DISTRICT.
YOU COULD NAME ANYONE WHO WORKS HERE, AND STEVE WOULD HAVE COMMENTARY AND INSIGHT INTO THAT PERSON.
YOU TRULY KNEW THE COMMUNITY HERE.
YOU KNEW OR YOU KNOW YOUR MATERIAL.
YOU SET THE TONE FOR EXCELLENCE AND EVEN FOR A SPURS FAN.
I WILL MISS YOU AND I WISH YOU EVERY SUCCESS.
>> I CAN'T REALLY ADEQUATELY EXPRESS HOW MUCH OF A LASTING IMPACT THAT YOU'VE MADE ON PELHAM SCHOOLS SO I'LL TRY.
YOUR TIME HERE HAS SPANNED MULTIPLE STRATEGIC PLANS.
[01:30:02]
HOW MANY TWO OR THREE?>> I DON'T WANT TO COUNT THIS ONE BUT THESE TWO YES.
>> TWO IN THE CREATION OF THIS ONE. AS DR.
CHAMP MENTIONED, YOU PLAYED A ROLE IN THE HIRING AND DEVELOPMENT OF A LARGE PROPORTION OF THE STAFF HERE.
THAT'S REALLY AMAZING AND CONGRATULATIONS AND WISH YOU THE BEST IN YOUR NEW ROLE.
>> I REMEMBER WHEN WE FIRST MET IN YOUR OFFICE AND I COULD TELL THAT YOU CARED A LOT AND YOU WERE REALLY PASSIONATE ABOUT PELHAM SCHOOLS AND WANTING THE BEST FOR PELHAM.
I THINK, AS LEARNING WHAT WAS ACCOMPLISHED OVER THE PAST TWO STRATEGIC PLANS AND ALL OF THE ADDITIONAL PROGRAMS THAT WERE ADDED THAT YOU WERE SO MUCH INVOLVED WITH REALLY LEAVING A LEGACY HERE.
I THINK I AGREE WHEN WE'VE HEARD, GIVE FEEDBACK ABOUT TENURE CANDIDATES AND ALL OF THAT, THAT YOU REALLY KNOW THE PEOPLE IN-DEPTH, AND YOU CARE SO MUCH ABOUT THE SUCCESS OF THE TEACHERS IN THE SCHOOL DISTRICT.
YOU'VE MADE A BIG IMPACT AND I REALLY HOPE THAT YOU'RE HAPPY AND SUCCESSFUL IN YOUR NEXT STEPS.
>> THANK YOU, MIKE. APPRECIATE THAT.
>> DR. GARCIA, I WOULD ECHO EVERYTHING.
RUNNING SCHOOLS, I KNOW HOW DIFFICULT IT IS TO FIND OUTSTANDING TALENT AND JUST BUILDING SYSTEMS AND STRUCTURES TO MAKE YOUR SCHOOL SYSTEM ATTRACTIVE.
I THINK WHEN WE SAW THE CLIMATE SURVEY EARLIER THIS YEAR, I HOPE THAT YOU SAW IN THAT REALLY A REFLECTION OF YOUR WORK OVER THE LAST 11 YEARS BECAUSE THE RESULTS WERE OUTSTANDING IN TERMS OF THE LEVEL OF SATISFACTION, THE LEVEL OF THE TEACHERS WHO'VE BEEN HERE FOR A PERIOD OF TIME, THEIR LEVEL OF JUST KNOWING THAT THIS IS A VERY SPECIAL DISTRICT.
I WISH YOU WELL IN THE NEXT JOURNEY, AND, JUST GREAT THANKS.
>> STEVE, YOU WERE THE FIRST PERSON I MET WHO REPRESENTED THE PELHAM SCHOOL DISTRICT AT OPEN HOUSE FOR KINDERGARTEN IN PROSPECT HILL.
HE WAS TALKING ABOUT CURRICULUM FOR KINDERGARTEN.
A, B, CS, HOW TO PLAY, GET ALONG.
I REALLY ENJOY YOUR TALK TO THE PARENTS.
IT WAS WELL RECEIVED. EVERYBODY WAS REALLY EXCITED.
AS WE CAME INTO THE DISTRICT AND NOW MANY YEARS LATER, WE LOOK BACK AND REALLY THINK, WOW, STEVE REALLY DID SPEAK ABOUT WHAT THIS DISTRICT COULD DELIVER AND HAS DELIVERED FOR OUR CHILDREN.
AS AN HR PROFESSIONAL, I WOULD LIKE TO THANK YOU FOR TAKING ON THAT ROLE.
IT IS A HARD ROLE, BUT YOU DO KNOW EVERYONE IN THIS DISTRICT.
THAT'S A TESTAMENT FOR SOMEONE WHO REALLY CARES ABOUT THEIR PEOPLE BECAUSE YOU ARE ABLE TO REALLY ARTICULATE ANYTHING ABOUT ANYONE WHENEVER ASKED.
I THINK YOU'RE GOING TO DO WELL WHERE YOU GO AND THANK YOU WISH YOU THE BEST.
>> WHEN I THINK BACK ON YOUR TIME HERE, PEOPLE HAVE TALKED ABOUT THE IMPACT THAT YOU'VE HAD IN TERMS OF A THIRD OF THE DISTRICT BEING PEOPLE THAT YOU HIRED.
WHEN I THINK OF ALL THE TIME THAT DR.
BOWMAN SPENDS ON ACADEMIC STAFF AND CURRICULUM, AND WE'LL BE TALKING ABOUT HER IN A BIT, UNFORTUNATELY.
BUT UNFORTUNATELY, FOR US, THAT YOU'RE LEAVING.
[LAUGHTER] I THINK OF NINE YEARS OF YOU DOING BOTH THOSE JOBS, AND WHAT COMMITMENT THAT MUST HAVE TAKEN TO COME TO THE OFFICE EVERY DAY AND KNOW THAT YOU HAVE SO MUCH PILED UP ON YOUR PLATE.
THAT WAS ALL BEFORE MY TIME ON THE BOARD, BUT THANK YOU FOR YOUR DEDICATION FOR ALL THAT TIME AND WISH YOU ALL THE BEST.
>> THANK YOU FOR THE KIND WORDS, I DEFINITELY APPRECIATE IT.
IT'S HARD TO REFLECT ON THAT TIME BUT LIKE I SAID BEFORE, IT WAS SUCH A PLEASURE TO WORK HERE.
>> FINALLY, I JUST WANT TO ACKNOWLEDGE DR.
BOWMAN. SHE HAS BEEN WITH US NOW TWO YEARS.
I THINK MOST FOLKS KNOW I GO BACK A LITTLE BIT LONGER WITH DR.
BOWMAN. WE DID HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO WORK TOGETHER IN SEWANHAKA CENTRAL HIGH SCHOOL DISTRICT FOR A COUPLE OF YEARS.
IN EDUCATION, YOU NEVER KNOW WHOSE PATH YOU'RE GOING TO CROSS AGAIN.
[01:35:03]
IT'S ALWAYS WISE NOT TO BURN BRIDGES [LAUGHTER] BUT THANKFULLY, IT'S WONDERFUL TO MEET CERTAIN PEOPLE AGAIN WHEN THEY COME BACK INTO YOUR LIFE WITH NEW OPPORTUNITIES PRESENT.ALICE, I THINK CAME TO PELHAM AT JUST THE RIGHT TIME, ON THE VERGE OF RECREATING THIS NEW STRUCTURE, KNOWING THE VALUE OF THE TEACHING AND LEARNING PIECE AND THE HR PIECE, BUT ALSO WANTING TO INVEST IN THAT SO THAT WE CAN REALLY MOVE THE DISTRICT FORWARD.
I'D SAY ALSO KNOWING THAT WE HAD A VERY DATA-MINDED BOARD COMING INTO PLACE TO FIND SOMEBODY LIKE YOU WHO IS A SELF-PROFESSED DATA GEEK, WHO WAS AN ENGLISH TEACHER BY PROFESSION AND LOVED NUMBERS WAS LIKE THE UNICORN.
[LAUGHTER] IT'S JUST BEEN WONDERFUL TO HAVE YOU HERE TO COME AS A TRUSTED PARTNER, TO HAVE SOME HISTORY, I THINK IS ALWAYS A WONDERFUL THING ON THE PERSONAL LEVEL BUT THEN THAT ALSO TRANSLATES INTO THE PROFESSIONAL.
TO HAVE SOMEONE WHO CAN COME AND BE THAT TRUSTED PARTNER TO REALLY LISTEN AND HEAR THE NEEDS OF THE ADMINISTRATORS HEAR THE DESIRES AND THE WANTS AND WHAT THEY'RE ASKING FOR, AND TO HEAR THE NEEDS OF THE BOARD AND WHAT THEY ARE ASKING FOR AS THEY SEEK TO GOVERN THE DISTRICT EFFECTIVELY AND TO REALLY CONTINUE TO PUSH US FARTHER TO DO OUR WORK.
YOU JUST BROUGHT THE WHOLE PACKAGE OF EVERYTHING IN SUCH A BEAUTIFUL WAY.
THAT I THINK HAS HELPED OUR CABINET.
IT'S HELPED OUR ADMINISTRATIVE TEAM.
IT'S GIVEN THE BOARD THE TOOLS THAT THEY NEEDED TO FEEL CONFIDENT THAT WE ARE DOING THE GOOD WORK TOGETHER AND THAT THE DISTRICT IS MOVING IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION.
I WILL JUST VALUE YOUR FRIENDSHIP AND YOUR PROFESSIONAL COACHING.
[LAUGHTER] ALICE IS ONE OF THOSE PEOPLE WHO CAN COME AND SHUT THE DOOR AND TELL ME WHAT I NEED TO HEAR.
THAT'S NOT JUST ABOUT OTHER PEOPLE, IT'S WHAT I NEED TO HEAR ABOUT ME.
YOU NEED PEOPLE LIKE THAT IN YOUR LIFE, AND I WILL MISS THAT, BUT I KNOW THAT GARDEN CITY IS INHERITING A TREMENDOUS ASSET.
I JUST WISH YOU ALL THE BEST YOU AND YOUR FAMILY AND ALL OF YOUR FUTURE PURSUITS.
I KNOW YOU'RE GOING TO DO GREAT THINGS SO THANK YOU.
>> YOU'VE RENDERED ME SPEECHLESS.
I WANT TO THANK THE BOARD AND THE DISTRICT AND MY COLLEAGUES FOR HAVING TAKEN A LEAP OF FAITH IN ME TWO YEARS AGO AND FOR HAVING PROVIDED ME WITH SUCH A WELCOMING ENVIRONMENT.
MY HOPE HAS BEEN OVER THE COURSE OF THE TWO YEARS THAT I'VE BEEN HERE TO PROVIDE A SERVICE FOR THE CHILDREN OF THE PELHAM COMMUNITY.
IN SO DOING, I HAVE DEVELOPED A NUMBER OF RELATIONSHIPS WITH THE PEOPLE OF THE COMMUNITY AND A DEEP APPRECIATION FOR WHAT MAKES PELHAM SUCH A SPECIAL PLACE.
THIS IS A BITTERSWEET MOMENT FOR ME, WHICH I'VE ARTICULATED SINCE FEBRUARY WHEN ALL OF THIS CAME TO FRUITION.
I'M CERTAINLY EXCITED ABOUT THE NEXT CHAPTER IN MY LIFE, BUT I AM ABSOLUTELY STRUGGLING WITH THE IMPENDING END OF NEXT WEEK.
I JUST WANT TO SAY THANK YOU TO EVERYONE HERE.
IT HAS BEEN A TREMENDOUS HONOR AND A PRIVILEGE TO BE PART OF THIS COMMUNITY AND SOMETHING THAT I WILL TAKE WITH ME WHEREVER I GO, HAVING GROWN BOTH PERSONALLY AND PROFESSIONALLY FROM HAVING BEEN WITH THIS COMMUNITY FOR THE TIME THAT I'VE BEEN HERE.
THE CALIBER OF THE FACULTY AND STAFF HERE IS TRULY REMARKABLE, AND EVERY DAY THAT I'VE WORKED WITH, ESPECIALLY WHEN I THINK OF THE PEOPLE OF MY CORE TEAM AND I THINK OF JOHN CAVALS AND DR. CALLAHAN, AND DR. THOMPSON, IN PARTICULAR.
I'VE LEARNED SO MUCH FROM THEM ABOUT BEING ABLE TO BE IN THREE PLACES AT ONE TIME AND BEING ABLE TO BE PROFESSIONAL IN EVERY CIRCUMSTANCE THAT REQUIRES IT, BUT ALWAYS AT THE HEART OF EVERYTHING, PUTTING KIDS FIRST.
THAT'S REALLY IF I THINK ABOUT PELHAM, I THINK ABOUT THAT KIDS, THEY'RE FIRST HERE.
THE FIRST, THEIR LAST, THEIR EVERYTHING IN BETWEEN, AND THAT'S A BEAUTIFUL THING. THANK YOU.
>> I WAS GOING TO SAY YOU HEARD THIS FROM ME MANY TIMES.
I DO NOT LIKE IT, BUT I UNDERSTAND.
WE WERE SO HAPPY. I THINK AS A BOARD TO HAVE YOU, YOU WERE SO DASH-MINDED AND THE NUMBERS, WHICH WE LOVE.
I SAID, THIS BOARD IS VERY HEAVILY ON NUMBERS AND SHOWING US THE DATA.
I KNOW YOU'RE GOING TO MAKE WONDERFUL SUPERINTENDENT ONE DAY.
[01:40:01]
I JUST KNOW YOU WILL, SO I DO WISH YOU THE BEST.>> I DON'T AGREE WITH IT. [LAUGHTER]
I CAME INTO THIS ROLE TELLING PEOPLE, I AM NOT AN EDUCATOR.
THAT'S NOT MY BACKGROUND, BUT I FELT REALLY GOOD ABOUT COMING IN AND QUICKLY FEELING LIKE I HAD CONFIDENCE IN WHAT DR.
BOWMAN HAD TO SAY WHEN IT CAME TO ACADEMIC ISSUES.
THEN WHEN I FOUND OUT THAT SHE WAS MAKING A TWO-HOUR COMMUTE TO GET HOME AFTER OUR BOARD MEETINGS, I WAS LIKE, THIS IS UNBELIEVABLE.
I JUST WANT TO SAY, THANK YOU FOR WHAT YOU'VE DONE IN TWO YEARS THAT'S BEEN A VERY TOPSY-TURVY WORLD FOR ACADEMICS AND TEACHING AND CURRICULUM AND TO BE A CALM VOICE THROUGH IT ALL, HAS BEEN REALLY GREAT, AND I WISH YOU ALL THE BEST.
>> DR. CHAMP KNOWS THIS WHEN I FIRST GOT ON THE BOARD.
I THINK I ASKED A DATA QUESTION AND HE SENT ME THIS EMAIL ABOUT, WELL, WE'VE GOT THIS INFORMATION ON THIS EXCEL SPREADSHEET AND THIS INFORMATION ON THIS EXCEL SPREADSHEET.
OH MY GOD. IT JUST BECAME CLEAR THERE WAS A GREAT OPPORTUNITY. WHEN DR.
BOWMAN CAME ON, YOU WERE SAYING THINGS LIKE DATA MATTERS AND HAVING A WELL-FUNCTIONING DASHBOARD AND INSTALLING DATABASE AND ALL THE THINGS THAT YOU HAVE DONE.
THAT'S PART OF THE INFRASTRUCTURE OF A HIGH FUNCTIONING DISTRICT, AND THAT IS SOMETHING YOU SHOULD BE VERY PROUD IN ADDITION TO EVERYTHING ELSE, SO THAT CERTAINLY SPOKE TO ME. THANK YOU.
>> I'LL ALWAYS REMEMBER MEETING WITH YOU AND JACKIE.
I'M SORRY, IF I'M STEALING YOUR ANECDOTE, [OVERLAPPING] BUT WHEN WE REALLY SAW THE EVIDENCE OF LEARNING LOSS, THAT THERE WAS A DECLINE IN TEST SCORES, AND YOU WERE PRETTY NEW AND SAYING, WE'VE GOT TO FIX THIS RIGHT AWAY, AND YOU RAN WITH IT, WE SAW THE RESULTS, THE FOLLOWING YEAR GETTING KIDS CAUGHT UP.
I'M JUST VERY GRATEFUL TO YOU FOR TAKING LEADERSHIP IN A NEW, CHALLENGING SITUATION, GETTING TO KNOW ALL THE PEOPLE, ALL THE PLAYERS, AND FIGURING OUT HOW TO DELIVER FOR THE STUDENTS, SO THANK YOU SO MUCH.
>> I ECHO WHAT'S MICHAEL SAYING.
YOU WERE HERE AT THE RIGHT MOMENT WHEN THE DISTRICT NEEDED TO CONTINUE TO COME BACK AFTER COVID.
YOU WERE HERE FOR THAT AND DID SO GREAT FOR THE DISTRICT, SO THANK YOU FOR THAT.
I WISH YOU THE BEST IN YOUR NEW ROLE.
I'M HAPPY THAT YOU GET TO SPEND MORE TIME WITH YOUR FAMILY AND NOT AS MUCH TIME ON THE LONG ISLAND EXPRESSWAY.
>> DR. BOWMAN, I THINK ONE OF THE REASONS WHY I'M GOING TO MISS YOU IS BECAUSE I FEEL A CERTAIN KINSHIP WITH YOU.
WE BOTH HAVE DEGREES IN ENGLISH LITERATURE, AND WE BOTH STILL VALUE THE IMPORTANCE OF NUMBERS.
NOT JUST AS A BOARD MEMBER, BUT IN MY 10-YEAR EXPERIENCE OF BEING A PARENT, I CAN'T THINK OF ANYONE WHO'S MADE MORE OF AN IMPACT ON THE DISTRICT IN SUCH A SHORT PERIOD OF TIME.
YOUR ENERGY JUST MADE THIS PLACE A BETTER ENVIRONMENT TO WORK IN, JUST AS A BOARD MEMBER.
YOUR PUBLIC PRESENTATIONS ON PERFORMANCE, AND THEN THE PRESENTATIONS WE SAW PRIVATELY AS BOARD MEMBERS, I THOUGHT WERE ABSOLUTELY BEST IN CLASS AND WERE INCREDIBLY VALUABLE JUST FOR ME AS SOMEONE WHO'S TRYING TO UNDERSTAND HOW THE DISTRICT FUNCTIONS.
YOU'VE MADE A VERY IMPRESSIVE IMPACT IN A SHORT PERIOD OF TIME.
YOU'LL BE SORELY MISSED, AND I JUST WISH YOU EVERY HAPPINESS IN THE NEW CHAPTER OF YOUR CAREER.
>> DR. BOWMAN, I WANT TO EXPRESS MY DEEP GRATITUDE FOR THE TREMENDOUS JOB YOU'VE DONE OVER THE PAST TWO YEARS.
I'LL ALWAYS REMEMBER FROM DAY 1, MY IMPRESSION OF YOU WAS HOW MUCH OF A LISTENER YOU WERE ARE AND WERE,
[01:45:04]
AND THAT WAS IN MY ROLE AS A PTA LEADER.I REMEMBER YOU REACHING OUT AND REALLY WANTING TO LISTEN, SO THAT LEFT A LASTING IMPRESSION ON ME.
YOUR WORK IN DATA, AS EVERYONE'S ALREADY SAID, OBVIOUSLY, CURRICULUM AND PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT HAS BEEN EXCEPTIONAL EVEN WITH WHAT I KNOW TO BE A SIGNIFICANT WORKLOAD THAT YOU HAVE.
WE'LL MISS YOUR DEDICATION AND CONTRIBUTIONS, AND I WISH YOU ALL THE BEST IN YOUR SHORTER COMMUTE.
I'M NOT SURE THAT WITH THE SAME CONCENTRATION, I'VE BEEN IDENTIFIED AS SOMEONE WHO IS SO HEAVILY INTO DATA, BUT I GUESS, THESE OPPORTUNITIES REALLY DO PUT A MIRROR UP IN FRONT OF YOU AND MAKE YOU REALIZE THAT, YES, THAT IS PART OF WHO I AM.
I APPRECIATE EVERYTHING THAT HAS BEEN SAID TONIGHT AND I MOSTLY WANT TO SAY THANK YOU.
ALSO, I KNOW THAT YOU'RE IN GOOD HANDS MOVING FORWARD, AND I'M ALWAYS AROUND MY PHONE NUMBER IS NOT CHANGING, [LAUGHTER] AND I'M HAPPY TO HELP IN ANY WAY.
I WILL MISS IT HERE TREMENDOUSLY.
>> WE'VE TAKEN SOME BIG TOURS IN OUR MEETING, BUT I THINK THIS BRINGS US BACK [OVERLAPPING] TO COMMITTEE REPORTS.
>> DO YOU WANT TO COVER IT IN YOUR UPDATE?
>> EXPEDITE. THAT SOUNDS LIKE A GOOD IDEA. RECOVERY FINANCE.
I THINK THAT WAS IT FOR COMMITTEES.
ASSISTANT SUPERINTENDENTS REPORT UPDATE. I'M SORRY.
[5.3 Assistant Superintendent's Update on Authentic Learning]
>> YES. THE LAST REPORT FROM DR. BOWMAN.
>> ONE OF THE THINGS THAT IS VERY EXCITING THAT HAS JUST ENDED ITS PILOT YEAR IS OUR SEAL OF CIVIC READINESS PROGRAM.
LAST WEEK ON TUESDAY, MR. MARC SIRICO'S AP GOVERNMENT STUDENTS PRESENTED THEIR CIVIC ACTION PROJECTS FOR THE SEAL OF CIVIC READINESS IN THE HIGH-SCHOOL, AND THERE WAS A CELEBRATION THAT WENT ALONG WITH THAT.
I HAVE TO SAY THAT THAT IS THE CULMINATING WORK OF A COMMITTEE OF PEOPLE LED BY DR. THOMPSON OVER THE COURSE OF YEARS, VERY MUCH PREDATING MY TIME HERE IN PELHAM, BUT I THINK THAT THE TIMING OF THIS ACCOMPLISHMENT IN THE ROLLOUT OF THE SEAL OF CIVIC READINESS IS VERY IMPORTANT.
ALSO LOOKING FORWARD TO NEXT YEAR AND YEARS AFTER REALLY POSITIONING ALL OF THE STUDENTS IN THE DISTRICT TO HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO GRADUATE WITH THAT SEAL.
IMPORTANT TO NOTE WITH THAT IS THAT WITH THE CHANGES THAT ARE COMING DOWN FROM THE STATE WITH THOSE BLUE RIBBON COMMISSION, THESE SEALS ARE BECOMING MORE AND MORE IMPORTANT AND PROMINENT TO DISTINGUISH STUDENTS AS WELL AS DISTRICTS.
I THINK THAT HAVING HAD THE FORESIGHT TO MAKE SURE THAT WE WERE POISED TO DO THAT WAS SOMETHING THAT REALLY DR. THOMPSON DESERVES A BOATLOAD OF CREDIT.
THAT LEADS ME, OF COURSE, INTO OUR UPDATE FROM THE NEW YORK STATE BLUE RIBBON COMMISSION.
ONE OF THE FOUR PROPOSED TRANSFORMATIONS, THE GOVERNOR AND THE BLUE RIBBON COMMISSION ARE LOOKING TO ADOPT THE NEW YORK STATE PORTRAIT OF A GRADUATE, WHICH, IN THE EDUCATION WORLD, IS SOMETHING THAT MANY, MANY DISTRICTS ACROSS THE COUNTRY HAVE ADOPTED, AND IT REALLY DOES SPEAK TO THE WORK OF OUR STRATEGIC PLAN,
[7.1 Superintendent's Report - Strategic Plan Presentation]
BUT JUST HAS A MARKETING KIND OF THING THAT GOES ALONG.MUCH OF WHAT'S GOING ON WITH THE PORTRAIT OF A GRADUATE IS REALLY VERY MUCH EMBEDDED IN OUR STRATEGIC PLAN, REDEFINING CREDITS, AND HOW STUDENTS CAN ACCUMULATE CREDITS TOWARDS GRADUATION, SUNSETTING CERTAIN DIPLOMA ASSESSMENT REQUIREMENTS, AKA, SOME REGENTS EXAMS, AND MOVING TO ONE DIPLOMA AS OPPOSED TO THE ADVANCED REGENTS DIPLOMA, THE REGENTS DIPLOMA, THE LOCAL DIPLOMA.
SPEAKING OF REGENTS EXAMS, WE ARE IN THE MIDST OF ADMINISTERING OUR REGENTS EXAMS IN JUNE.
HOWEVER, ONE THING TO NOTE IS THAT IF YOUR CHILD TAKES REGENTS, IT'S NOT LIKE IT USED TO BE WHERE YOU FIND OUT WHAT THE GRADE WAS WITHIN 24 HOURS.
NOW THERE'S A SYSTEM WHERE THEY HAVE TO SCAN EACH OF THE SCORE SHEETS INTO [INAUDIBLE], AND THEN THERE'S A CONVERSION CHART THAT COMES 24 HOURS
[01:50:02]
LATER WHEN THE RESULTS COME AND THEN YOU GET THE GRADE, SO IT TAKES A WHILE.PLEASE BE PATIENT, BUT WE ARE EXPECTING OUR RESULTS BEFORE RATING DAY, WHICH IS NEXT WEDNESDAY.
ON MONDAY, JUNE 3RD, WE HAD OUR SECOND ANNUAL PELHAM SCIENCE AND ENGINEERING FAIR AT HUTCHINSON SCHOOL, WHERE FOURTH GRADERS FROM ACROSS THE DISTRICT WERE INVITED TO SHOWCASE THEIR SCIENCE AND ENGINEERING PROJECTS THROUGHOUT THE YEAR, MANY OF WHICH CAME FROM THE KIDS FOR POSITIVE CHANGE INITIATIVE, WHICH WAS PART OF A PEF GRANT THIS YEAR THAT REALLY BROUGHT THE KIDS FOR POSITIVE CHANGE FROM PROSPECT HILL SCHOOLS TO ALL OF THE ELEMENTARY SCHOOLS IN THE DISTRICT AND NOT JUST FOURTH GRADE, BUT FOURTH AND FIFTH GRADE.
THAT HAS BEEN AN EXCELLENT THING THAT IS A NEW TRADITION.
I THINK ONCE YOU'VE GONE THROUGH THE SECOND YEAR, YOU'VE GOT A TRADITION AND NOW YOU'VE GOT A TRADITION.
AGAIN, AT THE RISK OF BEING TOO REPETITIVE, I WANT TO THANK THE BOARD AND THE CABINET, DR.
CHAMP, THE COMMUNITY FOR YOUR BELIEF IN ME OVER THE COURSE OF THE LAST TWO YEARS AND ALLOWING ME THE OPPORTUNITY TO BECOME PART OF THE COMMUNITY.
I WILL SORELY MISS MY TIME HERE AS I MOVE FORWARD TO SHORTER COMMUTE ON ONE SIDE OF A BRIDGE, BUT CERTAINLY A VERY DIFFERENT PLACE, AND SO THANK YOU.
[5.4 Assistant Superintendent's Update on The Whole Child]
>> I DID SHARE WITH THE BOARD, I WON'T GO THROUGH ALL OF THE NUMBERS, BUT YOU HAVE A SUMMARY OF WHERE WE'RE SITTING WITH MEETINGS, AND WHEN I LOOKED AT IT TONIGHT AND I TOTALED UP BETWEEN INITIAL CSC, CPSCS, ANNUAL REVIEWS, 504S, INITIALS AND ANNUALS, IT'S CLOSE TO 800 MEETINGS, SO IT'S A LOT OF WORK.
I HAVE TO START BY THINKING WITH MY SECRETARY, LOIS MASELLI BECAUSE FOR ONE INDIVIDUAL TO COORDINATE THAT VOLUME OF PAPER AND MEETINGS AND PACKETS AND ORGANIZATION AND DATES AND GOOGLE MEETING LINKS, SHE'S JUST AN INCREDIBLE HUMAN BEING AND WORKS LIKE NO ONE ELSE I KNOW, SO THANK YOU TO HER.
I ALSO HAVE TO THANK DR. ROBERTO AND MR. LAU AND EDIE BARISH, WHO'S OUR PART-TIME CSC CHAIRPERSON.
THE AMOUNT OF WORK THAT THEY DO AT HELPING ORGANIZE THIS PROCESS IS JUST ALSO DAUNTING AND I COULDN'T DO WHAT I DO WITHOUT THEIR SUPPORT, AS WELL AS THE ADDITIONAL PSYCHOLOGISTS AND COUNSELORS THAT ALSO CHAIR MEETINGS.
IT'S JUST A TREMENDOUS UNDERTAKING, AND FROM THE TEACHERS, TO THE COUNSELORS, TO THE CASE MANAGERS, IT'S A TEAM EFFORT, AND IT JUST MAKES ME FEEL SO THANKFUL, PROUD, AND LUCKY TO BE PART OF SUCH A VERY SPECIAL PPS AND SPECIAL EDUCATION DEPARTMENT, SO THANK YOU TO ALL THOSE PEOPLE.
OUR LAST ELEMENTARY ICT COACHING VISIT IS SCHEDULED FOR THIS THURSDAY, THE 20TH, SO WE WILL HAVE SOME SHIFTS IN CO-TEACHING TEAMS NEXT YEAR AT HUTCH, SO WE'RE GOING TO GET A JUMP START ON DOING WORK TO PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT WITH THEM AND HAVING THE TEAMS START TO ACCLIMATE TO ONE ANOTHER.
I ALSO MENTIONED TO THE BOARD A COUPLE OF MONTHS AGO, EVERY DISTRICT, AS PART OF IDA REQUIRES EACH STATE TO HAVE A STATE PERFORMANCE PLAN.
PART OF THAT STATE PERFORMANCE PLAN IS INDICATORS THAT DISTRICTS GET EVALUATED ON, AND WE ROTATE THROUGH THESE INDICATORS.
THIS YEAR, WE HAVE INDICATOR 8, WHICH IS ABOUT PARENT INVOLVEMENT IN THE SPECIAL EDUCATION PROCESS.
STATE EDUCATION DEPARTMENT PARTNERS WITH POTSDAM INSTITUTE FOR APPLIED RESEARCH, WHO WE RECEIVED ALL THE SURVEYS.
WE MAIL OUT THE SURVEYS TO PARENTS.
THE SURVEYS GO RIGHT TO POTSDAM, AND THEY GIVE US FEEDBACK ON HOW WE'RE DOING AND PARENT INVOLVEMENT IN THE PROCESS.
FOR ALL PARENTS OF STUDENTS THAT ARE INVOLVED IN SPECIAL EDUCATION, YOU WOULD HAVE RECEIVED THOSE SURVEYS IN THE MAIL A LITTLE OVER TWO AND A HALF WEEKS AGO.
WE NEED A CERTAIN AMOUNT OF SURVEYS ANSWERED TO BE IN COMPLIANCE.
I HOPE WE GET 100% PEOPLE RESPONDING, BUT PARENTS OUT THERE, IF YOU CAN TAKE A LOOK AT THAT SURVEY AND RESPOND, YOUR FEEDBACK IS REALLY IMPORTANT TO US AS A DEPARTMENT.
HOPEFULLY, WE WILL BE SENDING REMINDERS AS WELL.
IN THE COUNSELING DEPARTMENT AND WE GREAT MIND THINK ALIKE BECAUSE I WAS GOING TO TALK ABOUT THIS AS WELL, WE'RE ON THE MIDST OF OUR REGENTS ADMINISTRATION, STARTED THE FIRST WEEK OF JUNE.
AGAIN, ALSO A BIG UNDERTAKING.
THERE'S A LOT OF ORGANIZATION THAT IS INVOLVED IN SETTING THAT UP, ALSO NOT ONLY PROCTORING, BUT MAKING SURE OUR STUDENTS WITH DISABILITIES IN 504 PLANS ARE SET UP TO
[01:55:02]
HAVE THE ACCOMMODATIONS THEY NEED TO BE SUCCESSFUL IN THAT PROCESS.YOU MENTIONED THE NEW GRADUATION MEASURES INITIATIVE.
I GAVE A LINK TO THE BLUE [INAUDIBLE] COMMISSION, SO YOU CAN TAKE A LOOK AT IT AS A BOARD IF YOU WANT TO SEE WHAT THOSE HIGHLIGHTED CHANGES ARE.
OUR JUNIOR STUDENTS ARE WORKING WITH COUNSELORS ON FINALIZING THEIR COLLEGE LISTS ON NAVIANCE AND SUBLATING THEIR OR JUNIOR QUESTIONNAIRES, WHICH ALLOWS OUR COUNSELORS TO WRITE THEIR SENIOR COLLEGE RECOMMENDATIONS.
JUST ALSO FINAL NOTE FOR SENIORS, FINAL TRANSCRIPTS WILL BE MAILED TO COLLEGES IN JULY.
THEN IN REGARDS TO NURSING, JUST A COUPLE OF QUICK UPDATES.
THIS SPRING, ALL SCHOOLS RECEIVED AN UPDATE FROM STATE ED REGARDING GUIDELINES FOR MANAGING ALLERGIES AND ANAPHYLAXIS.
THAT'S FOR OUR STUDENTS WHO REALLY DEAL WITH EPIPENS.
WE ARE REVIEWING THIS UPDATED GUIDANCE AND COMPARING IT WITH CURRENT DISTRICT POLICY, SO WE MAY HAVE TO DO SOME TWEAKS IN REGARDS TO OUR POLICY, BUT BASICALLY, SCHOOLS WHO CHOOSE TO PROVIDE AND MAINTAIN EPI AUTO-INJECTORS, WHICH WE DO, WE GET THEM FOR FREE THROUGH THE STATE.
WE JUST NEED TO MAKE SURE THAT WE TRAINED ANY VOLUNTEERS THAT WANT TO.
WE DO THAT ANYWAY AS A MATTER OF COURSE, AT OUR FACULTY MEETINGS IN THE FALL, OUR NURSES TALK ABOUT EPIPEN USE AND SHARE WRITTEN MATERIAL AS WELL.
JUST IN CLOSING, I'M TERRIBLE AT GOODBYES.
I DON'T LIKE THEM, BUT I ALSO WANT TO EXPRESS MY THANK YOU TO YOU, MR. ROWEN, TO YOU, DR. O'MICHAANE.
BEING A NEW PERSON THAT JOINED THE DISTRICT AND WORKING WITH TWO YEARS AGO, IT'S A LITTLE SCARY, BUT THERE'S NOTHING MORE IMPORTANT TO AN ADMINISTRATOR THAN HAVING A SUPPORTIVE BOARD.
MY EXPERIENCE HAS BEEN SO FAR WITH ALL OF YOU THAT IT'S JUST BEEN VERY SUPPORTIVE FOR ME AND MY SEAT, AND YOU'RE TWO OF THE SMARTEST INDIVIDUALS THAT I'VE MET.
YOU SHARE THEM IN A WAY THAT IS NON-THREATENING AND INVITES DISCOURSE AND DISCUSSION AND REALLY ENCOURAGES US ALL TO BE BETTER AT WHAT WE DO.
I KNOW I APPRECIATE THAT FROM MY SEAT, AND I AM NOT SAYING GOODBYE.
[LAUGHTER] TO STEVE AND TO ALICE, THAT ONE, [LAUGHTER] I'M WITH MS. MARRERO ON THIS.
I DON'T AGREE, BUT I UNDERSTAND, AND I'M REALLY GOING TO MISS WORKING WITH THE TWO OF YOU, AND WISH YOU ALL THE BEST, AND YOU WILL BE REALLY MISSED.
I UNDERSTAND, BUT I'M NOT HAPPY, BUT WISH YOU THE BEST.
I THINK IT'S BEEN A GREAT ACHIEVEMENT FOR THE DISTRICT, AT LEAST THIS PAST YEAR, WE SETTLED THE ADMINISTRATIVE ASSOCIATION CONTRACT, AND NOW WE'RE ASKING THE BOARD TO APPROVE THE TEACHERS ASSOCIATION CONTRACT, WHICH CHERYLN AND JIM, WE'VE DONE I THINK DID A GREAT JOB, REALLY WORKING WITH THE VERY COLLABORATIVE GROUP OF TEACHERS.
I'LL NEVER MEET A BETTER GROUP OF TEACHERS IN MY CAREER WHEREVER I GO, AND THEN HOPEFULLY WE'LL HAVE A VERBAL AGREEMENT WITH THE MAINTENANCE GROUP WITH JIM THE LEAD ON THAT ONE, TOO.
THOSE ARE SOME REALLY BIG HIGHLIGHTS.
I'M VERY PROUD OF THAT WORK, AND THAT'S GREAT.
WE'LL CONTINUE HIRING SOME TEACHERS FOR THIS BOARD MEETING, BUT ALSO PREPARING FOR THE JULY BOARD MEETING.
STILL WORKING ON IT. I THINK WE'RE REALLY IN GOOD SHAPE FOR THE BEGINNING OF SCHOOL YEAR. THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU. FINANCE AND FACILITIES.
>> I'LL GO FROM HERE. THANK YOU SO MUCH.
LAST WEEK, WE DID HOLD TWO COMMITTEE MEETINGS.
WE HAD AN AUDIT COMMITTEE MEETING ON THE 13TH OF JUNE.
IN THAT MEETING, OUR EXTERNAL AUDITOR TEAM, CHRIS KOPF, PARTNER FOR PKF O'CONNOR DAVIES, RAN THROUGH THE PROCEDURES AND THE PROCESS FOR THE EXTERNAL AUDIT, WHICH THEY'RE GOING TO START SOME OF THEIR PRE-WORK NEXT WEEK AND THEN THE AUDIT WILL BEGIN THE SECOND WEEK IN JULY.
ALL THE AUDIT COMMITTEE MEMBERS MINUS MRS. TISA WERE PRESENT AT THAT MEETING.
THEN FOLLOWING THAT MEETING, WE HELD A FINANCE COMMITTEE MEETING.
DURING AT THAT POINT IN TIME, WE TALKED ABOUT A NUMBER OF THINGS.
ONE OF THE THINGS WE TALKED ABOUT WAS YEAR-END '23 '24 FUND BALANCE PROJECTIONS.
[02:00:05]
THAT'S ONE OF THE ITEMS THAT'S ON THIS EVENING'S AGENDA, AND IT'S ONE OF THOSE THINGS THAT'S BROUGHT BEFORE THE BOARD EVERY YEAR.IT'S PART OF WHAT WE HAVE TO DO AS PART OF THE CLOSING PROCEDURES AS PART OF THE YEAR, AND THAT IS WHAT WE WANT THE FUND BALANCES TO LOOK LIKE AS A DISTRICT AT YEAR-END, WHERE THOSE DOLLARS ARE ALLOCATED.
AS YOU LOOK AT THOSE FUND BALANCES AND THOSE REQUESTS, YOU'LL SEE THERE'S SOME PRETTY WIDE CORRIDORS TO PROVIDE THE DISTRICT WITH SOME OPTIONS AS FAR AS ALLOCATING THOSE FUND BALANCE RESERVES AT YEAR-END.
THIS IS AGAIN, CONSISTENT WITH PRACTICE THAT THE BOARD HAS HAD OVER THE PAST FEW YEARS.
YEAR-OVER-YEAR, WE ARE FORECASTING A DEFICIT OF $1.5 MILLION.
THIS IS NOT AN UNPLANNED DEFICIT BECAUSE IF YOU RECALL, THERE IS A USE OF ONE-TIME MONEY IN THIS YEAR'S BUDGET.
$2,000,000 OF THAT WAS FOR THE HVAC REPLACEMENT FOR THIS STRUCTURE, WHICH WE'RE FEELING IT.
[LAUGHTER] WE'RE GOING TO NEED IT.
IT HASN'T HAPPENED YET, WHICH IS GOOD.
THAT'S INCLUDED IN THAT 1.5 MILLION DOLLAR DEFICIT, AND INCLUDED IN THAT AS WELL, YOU PROBABLY WOULDN'T THINK ABOUT, THAT IS THE $850,000 FOR THE TURF FIELD REPLACEMENT AT GLOVER.
ONCE THAT PROJECT WAS APPROVED BY THE VOTERS, THE FOLLOWING DAY, IT BECOMES PART OF THE FINANCIALS FOR THE CURRENT FISCAL YEAR.
THAT'S A LITTLE BIT DIFFERENT AND THAT'S WHY IT WOULD BE REFLECTED IN OUR BOOKS FOR THE CLOSE OF THIS YEAR.
BUT AGAIN, IT'S AN ANTICIPATED AND KNOWN ONE-TIME USE OF THOSE DOLLARS.
ABSENT THOUGH, I THINK WE OBVIOUSLY WE'D SEE A SLIGHT SURPLUS AND THE FAVORABLE QUANT FACTORS IN OUR BUDGET THIS YEAR.
OUR REVENUE, WE CERTAINLY SAW OUR INTEREST INCOME OVER-PERFORM AND OUR STATE AID CAME IN A LITTLE BIT HIGHER THAN ORIGINALLY WHAT WE EXPECTED IN PARTICULAR, OUR EXPENSE-DRIVEN AID, WHICH IS THAT BOSS AID THAT MR. TIBBETTS SHOWED US EARLIER.
I THOUGHT THAT WAS INTERESTING TOO.
AS YOU LOOKED AT OUR PURCHASING OVER THE LAST FEW YEARS, IT'S GONE UP BY ABOUT $1 MILLION, BUT I THINK YOU'VE ALSO SEEN OUR EXPENSE-DRIVEN AIDS HAVE GONE UP BY ABOUT $700,000, AND WE KNOW THIS HAPPENS, BUT IT'S NICE FOR THAT TO BE DEMONSTRATED IN THE INFORMATION SHARED WITH THE BOARD, THAT THAT EXPENSE-DRIVEN AID IS REALLY BENEFICIAL TO US, AND THOSE ARE THINGS THAT WE LOOK FOR IN THE TAX CAP ENVIRONMENT.
WE ALSO HAVE AN AUDIT COMMITTEE MEETING PLANNED FOR LATER THIS WEEK TO SPEAK WITH OUR INTERNAL AUDITOR.
THEY JUST WEREN'T AVAILABLE LAST WEEK, SO THE COMMITTEE WAS GRACIOUS ENOUGH TO HAVE ANOTHER MEETING ON THURSDAY.
WE'VE BEEN WORKING HARD, AGAIN, AS FAR AS YEAR-END CLOSE ON THIS EVENING'S BUDGET.
LIKE I MENTIONED, YOU HAVE THOSE DRAFT RESERVE ALLOCATIONS.
THERE'S A TRANSFER REQUEST WHICH REALLY TALKS ABOUT TWO DIFFERENT ITEMS, ONE IS JUST SOME COSTS DRIVEN BY IEP, THE OTHER IS FOR OUR RESIDENCY INVESTIGATOR.
WE'VE SHARED SOME INFORMATION WITH THE BOARD ABOUT THOSE RESIDENCY INVESTIGATIONS, WHICH WE'VE BEEN WORKING ON THIS YEAR.
CERTAINLY THERE'S A LOT OF WORK THAT'S BEEN DONE.
THERE'S ALWAYS BE WORK TO BE DONE, AND WE WORK WITH AN INVESTIGATOR, AND AGAIN, WE'RE FOLLOWING OUR PRETTY TRADITIONAL PATTERN OF EXPENDITURES TO PRE-PANDEMIC LEVELS, BECAUSE, OF COURSE, IF YOU RECALL DURING THE PANDEMIC WHEN PEOPLE WERE ALL OVER THE PLACE AND WORKING REMOTELY, THERE WAS JUST A LITTLE BIT DIFFERENT FACTOR AS TO WHERE WE WERE.
GRADUATION TENT IS UP, SO WE'RE EXCITED FOR THAT.
IT SEEMS LIKE EVERYBODY LOVES DRIVING BY THE SCHOOL WHEN THEY SEE THAT TENT UP TOO. WE ARE FORTUNATE.
AGAIN, THIS IS SOMETHING THAT'S CHANGED OVER THE LAST FEW YEARS WHERE WE HAVE THOSE MOVING UP CEREMONIES FOR ELEMENTARY SCHOOLS, AND IF YOU WANT TO KNOW HOW SMALL THEY LOOK, THEY REALLY LOOK SMALL INSIDE THOSE TENTS, [LAUGHTER] BUT IT'LL BE VERY NICE ON SATURDAY MORNING, CERTAINLY, AS BOARD MEMBERS, I THINK SATURDAY AND ALL THESE MOVING UP CEREMONIES ARE ONE OF THOSE REALLY MOST ENJOYABLE MOMENTS AS BOARD MEMBERS, AND I KNOW YOU CERTAINLY ALL ENJOY THAT.
DR. OWEN-MICHAANE AND TO MR. ROE, CERTAINLY, THANK YOU FOR YOUR SERVICE, AND IT'S BEEN A PLEASURE WORKING WITH YOU OVER THE LAST THREE YEARS.
TIME REALLY DOES FLY, WHICH IS INTERESTING, AND CERTAINLY, A LOT OF PEOPLE KNOW THIS AND NOT EVERYONE ALWAYS REALIZES IT BUT ONE PERSON SITS AT THE BOARD BUT THE WHOLE FAMILY REALLY SUPPORTS THE PERSON SITTING AT THE TABLE, AND THERE'S THOSE LOT OF NIGHTS WHERE YOU'RE NOT HOME FOR DINNER, AND YOU'RE AT A BOARD MEETING, OR YOU'RE IN EXECUTIVE SESSION, OR YOU'RE TAKING A PHONE CALL, AND CERTAINLY WE RECOGNIZE THOSE THAT WORK THAT THE BOARD MEMBERS PUT IN AND THE SACRIFICE THAT YOUR FAMILIES PUT IN DURING THAT TIME AS WELL.
IT'S AN OPPORTUNITY TO ACKNOWLEDGE THEM AS WELL AND THE TIME THAT THEY PUT IN BECAUSE THEY ALL DESERVE BELLS, PROBABLY TOO, [LAUGHTER] OR AT LEAST MINI BELLS IN MAKING THAT ALL WORK.
THEN TO MY COLLEAGUES, TO ALICE AND THE OTHER ONE, I'LL SAY IT THAT WAY, I CERTAINLY APPRECIATE MY TIME WORKING WITH BOTH OF YOU AS COLLEAGUES.
[02:05:07]
APPRECIATED YOUR CANDOR, YOUR INTELLIGENCE, YOUR PERSPECTIVE, AND CERTAINLY, AS WE KNOW, WE'LL ALWAYS HAVE THAT CONNECTION AND, ALICE, YOU'LL BE MY ONLY FRIEND-IN-LAW FROM LONG ISLAND, [LAUGHTER] AND I EXPECT TO SEE STEVE.WHEN I GO TO ROBERT MOSES BEACH OR SOMETHING, I'LL THINK OF ALICE.
I'LL PROBABLY SEND YOU A TEXT THAT I'M ON THE SIDE OF THE BRIDGE AND ASK YOU FOR DIRECTIONS.
BUT AGAIN, I WISH YOU ALL WELL, BUT WE KNOW YOU'RE GOING TO DO WELL.
YOU'RE REALLY WONDERFUL PEOPLE TO WORK WITH, AND I'M CERTAINLY GOING TO MISS WORKING WITH BOTH OF YOU.
THANK YOU FOR THE TIME WORKING WITH YOU.
>> WE'VE ALREADY DONE 6.1 AND 7.1.
>> I THINK WE CAN MOVE TO CALENDAR.
[7.2 Motion to Approve Calendar for the 2024-25 School Year]
>> CALENDAR? MAYBE TAKE 7.2 AS A SEPARATE THING.
>> SWEET. I DON'T THINK WE CAN INITIALLY TAKE A MOTION YET? DO WE NEED TO DECIDE?
>> YOU KNOW WHAT? YOU'RE RIGHT. LET ME PREFACE THE MOTION.
AS WAS MENTIONED EARLIER, WHAT WE SHARED FOR YOU, WE WENT BACK AND THOUGHT ABOUT IT AND TRIED TO GET A LITTLE BIT CREATIVE, SO WHAT YOU DO HAVE THERE IS THREE OPTIONS.
ONE IS THE SAME CALENDAR THAT WAS PROPOSED BEFORE THAT WAS THE PROPOSAL THAT HAD BEEN BROUGHT THROUGH OUR NORMAL PROCESS.
CALENDAR B IS THE REMOVAL OF THE DAY BEFORE THANKSGIVING.
YES, UNIVERSALLY NOT POPULAR, BUT IT IS THE ONE THAT ACTUALLY PRESERVES PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT TIME AND ADDS INSTRUCTIONAL TIME.
THE THIRD OPTION, AND I GUESS PART OF THIS IS I'M NOT GOING TO FEEL COMFORTABLE RECOMMENDING SOMETHING THAT'S GOING TO REMOVE PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT TIME, IDEALLY I'M NOT COMFORTABLE WITH SOMETHING THAT'S REMOVING INSTRUCTIONAL TIME EITHER, SO I'M GIVING THE BOARD OPTIONS, AND I KNOW THAT THERE ARE VERY VARIOUS COMPETING INTERESTS.
WE HAVE OPTIONS, WE'LL TRY TO FIND THE ONE THAT REALLY BEST MEETS THE NEEDS OF EVERYONE, SO THE THIRD OPTION, REALLY WHAT THAT PROPOSES IS WHAT WE TALKED ABOUT EARLIER, BY CONTRACT, OUR TEACHERS WORK 185 DAYS A YEAR, AND THAT'S GENERALLY IN MOST DISTRICTS WHAT DRIVES THE FRAMEWORK OF ANY CALENDAR, THE STATE HAS A MINIMUM OF 180 CONTRACTS FOR THE TEACHERS IS 185, SO THAT FIVE IS WHERE WE GET OUR SNOW DAYS.
IN THE CONTRACT, AS WE'VE TALKED ABOUT BEFORE, THE FIRST TWO OF THOSE, IF WE USE THEM, THEN WE HAVE THE CONTINGENCY DAYS BEFORE THE MEMORIAL DAY WEEKEND, IF WE USE ONE, THEN ONE OF THOSE BECOMES AN INSTRUCTIONAL DAY, IF WE USE THE SECOND ONE, THE SECOND ONE BECOMES AN INSTRUCTIONAL DAY.
THAT'S OUR FIRST TWO, SO THAT IS REMAINING THE SAME.
BUT THAT DOES LEAVE US WITH THREE ADDITIONAL SNOW DAYS IN THE BANK.
WHAT OPTION C PROPOSES AND SOME DISTRICTS DO THIS, SO IT'S NOT SOMETHING UNHEARD OF, BUT SOME DISTRICTS WOULD, IN ANY GIVEN YEAR, IF THERE ARE REMAINING SNOW DAYS, BOARD COULD DECIDE TO GIVE BACK UP TO AS MANY AS THERE ARE AND WE WOULD STILL MEET A 180-DAY OBLIGATION.
WE WOULD STILL MEET OUR HOURLY OBLIGATION TO THE STATE BECAUSE THERE'S A DAY AND AN HOUR OBLIGATION AT THE ELEMENTARY LEVEL, WE EXCEED THAT HOURLY OBLIGATION.
WE DO HAVE SOME TIME THERE THAT WOULD BE FLEXIBLE.
THAT IS THE THIRD ONE AND WHAT THAT WOULD THEN PROVIDE IS SAY A YEAR LIKE THIS WHERE WE STILL HAVE THREE REMAINING SNOW DAYS, THE BOARD COULD DECIDE THEN TO GIVE ALL OF THOSE BACK.
I SHOULD CLARIFY THIS WOULD BE GIVING THEM BACK FOR STUDENT ATTENDANCE.
WE WOULD STILL BE LOOKING FOR ALL STAFF TO ATTEND BUT INSTEAD OF THOSE BEING HALF INSTRUCTIONAL DAYS AND HALF TEACHER WORK DAYS, THEY WOULD BECOME FULL TEACHER WORK DAYS AT THE ELEMENTARY LEVEL.
IF THERE WERE EXAMS GOING ON STILL AT THE SECONDARY LEVEL, THOSE WOULD HAVE TO GO ON AS NORMAL BECAUSE MANY OF THOSE, THEY'RE ALL RELATED TO STUDENT GRADES.
THIS REALLY WOULD JUST POTENTIALLY BE AN OPPORTUNITY TO POTENTIALLY GIVE BACK AT THE ELEMENTARIES.
IF WE HAD ONE REMAINING DAY, YOU'D HAVE THAT OPTION.
IF YOU HAD TWO, YOU COULD GIVE UP TO TWO, IF WE HAD THREE, YOU COULD GIVE UP TO THREE.
THAT'S OPTION C. I PUT ALL THREE OPTIONS THERE, SO THE BOARD HAD THE CHANCE TO CONSIDER THEM ALL AND THEN WHEN IT COMES TO MAKING A MOTION, WE WOULD NEED SOMEONE ON THE BOARD TO MAKE A MOTION TO PASS ONE OF THESE VERSIONS.
YOU HAVE TO TALK ABOUT IT, FIND CONSENSUS AND MAKE A PROPOSAL TO ADOPT ONE OF THEM.
>> COULD YOU, IN A SIMPLE WAY, JUST DISCUSS THE PROS AND CONS OF EACH ONE OF THESE?
>> I'D SAY OPTION A IS SIMILAR TO WHAT WE HAVE THIS YEAR.
[02:10:01]
>> THAT MAINTAINS THE LEVEL, AND I THINK WE DID REMOVE ONE HALF-DAY AT THE ELEMENTARY LEVEL FROM WHAT WE HAD THIS YEAR.
YOU REMEMBER WE HAD A HALF-DAY BEFORE THE HOLIDAYS IN DECEMBER?
>> THAT WAS PARTLY JUST BECAUSE OF THE WAY THE HOLIDAYS FELL.
WE PUT THAT IN OUT OF CONSIDERATION THAT FAMILIES SIMILAR TO THANKSGIVING MIGHT WANT TO GET A HEAD START ON HOLIDAY, SO IT REMOVES THAT.
IT MAINTAINS THE SAME LEVEL OF PLCS AS WE HAVE THIS YEAR.
IT REMAINS THE SAME STRUCTURE THAT WE'VE HAD FOR STUDENT DAYS.
AGAIN, IT'S THE SAME TRADITIONAL ONE THAT WE'VE HAD FOR THE LAST FEW YEARS.
>> IT GETS RID OF ONE HALF-DAY?
>> ONE HALF-DAY FROM WHAT WE EXPERIENCED THIS YEAR.
>> OPTION B IS AS THE ORIGINAL PROPOSAL EXCEPT IT TAKES AWAY THE HALF-DAY BEFORE THANKSGIVING, AND CHANGES IT TO A 15-MINUTE STAGING DRILL DISMISSAL.
>> WHICH STILL CHECKS THE BOX FOR ALLOWING US TO DO THE DRILL, BUT IT GIVES BACK INSTRUCTIONAL TIME.
IT'S ONE HALF-DAY OUT OF THE CALENDAR.
>> THE PROFESSIONAL LEARNING TIME STAYS THE SAME, COUPLE HOURS MORE INSTRUCTIONAL TIME, BUT IT DOES LOSE THE EARLY START FOR THANKSGIVING.
>> I GUESS THOSE WOULD BE THE PROS IS, MORE INSTRUCTIONAL TIME, THE CON IS THE LOSS OF THAT TRAVEL TIME BEFORE THANKSGIVING.
>> THEN THE PROS AND CONS OF THE THIRD.
AGAIN, IT MAINTAINS THE PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT TIME.
IT MAINTAINS EVERYTHING ELSE ABOUT THE CALENDAR WITH THE EXCEPTION OF IT DOES GIVE THE ABILITY TO USE THOSE UNUSED SNOW DAYS AT THE END OF THE YEAR, WHICH WOULD THEN ADDRESS ADDITIONAL HALF-DAY CONCERNS THAT WERE RAISED AS WELL AS HEAT CONCERNS THAT WERE RAISED.
THAT, I THINK, IT DOES DECREASE SOME INSTRUCTIONAL TIME.
PROS IS, ADDRESSES SOME OF THE CONCERNS THAT HAVE BEEN RAISED HERE THAT WE'VE BEEN ASKED TO THINK ABOUT.
THE CON IS IT DOES REDUCE SOME INSTRUCTIONAL TIME. [OVERLAPPING]
>> IS THAT INSTRUCTIONAL TIME THAT'S REDUCING AT THE END.
>> AT THE END OF THE SCHOOL YEAR.
>> AT THE END OF THE END OF SCHOOL. NEXT WEEK.
>> WOULD IT BE FAIR TO SAY THAT THAT THAT INSTRUCTIONAL TIME IS PROBABLY LESS VALUABLE? YOU WOULDN'T WANT TO SAY THAT?
>> I'M NOT GOING TO SAY THAT. WHAT I WILL SAY IS MANY CAMPS DO START EARLY.
>> MANY STUDENTS ARE GONE THAT LAST WEEK ANYWAYS.
IT'S NOT IDEAL, IT'S NOT WHAT WE WANT, BUT CERTAINLY FAMILIES MAKE THE CHOICES, AND IT HAS PROBABLY A LESSER IMPACT THEN THAN IT MAY HAVE EARLIER TIMES IN THE YEAR.
>> DO YOU THINK TEACHERS COULD USE THAT TIME IN A WAY THAT'S MORE THAN JUST PACKING UP, COULD THERE BE A GREATER FUNCTIONAL USE?
>> I'M SURE THERE COULD. WE HAVEN'T HAD ANY CONVERSATIONS ABOUT THAT, BUT I'M SURE IF THE OPPORTUNITY WAS THERE, I THINK THE TIME WOULD BE WELL USED.
>> THREE HALF DAYS WOULD HAVE BEEN CLASS TIME THAT YOU COULD USE FOR PLC.
>> ABSOLUTELY. I THINK EVEN PREPARATION, DAY TO DAY MEETING.
I'M SORRY, ENDING FOR THE FOLLOWING YEAR.
I'M CONFIDENT IT WOULD GO TO GOOD USE.
I CAN'T TELL YOU WHAT THAT IS NOW BECAUSE WE HAVEN'T HAD THE CONVERSATION.
BUT THE ONE THING THEY WOULD HAVE TO RETOOL, I KNOW TEACHERS DO OFTEN DO SPECIAL THINGS IN THAT LAST WEEK AS PART OF IT.
A LOT OF DISTRICTS HAVE THAT SAME HALF DAYS FOR THE LAST SEVERAL DAYS.
THERE'D HAVE TO BE ADJUSTMENTS WE'D HAVE TO MAKE, GIVE NOTICE WELL IN ADVANCE SO IF THEY COULD ADJUST.
>> I'D SAY ONCE WE'RE FREE AND CLEAR WITH WEATHER.
>> HERE'S A LITTLE BIT OF CHALLENGE.
I'LL THROW IT OUT THERE NOW BECAUSE WE'RE IN THE MIDST OF A HEAT WAVE.
THOSE ARE EMERGENCY DAYS, TECHNICALLY.
THEY'RE NOT JUST FOR SNOW DAYS, SO THERE IS A POSSIBILITY THAT ONE COULD USE THOSE DAYS IF THERE WERE A SEVERE HEAT EMERGENCY AND COULD CLOSE INSTEAD OF HAVING SCHOOL.
I THINK WE WOULD HAVE TO HAVE A CONVERSATION AND WE WOULD HAVE TO MAKE A DECISION ABOUT, ARE WE FAR ENOUGH IN THE YEAR, ARE WE CONFIDENT ENOUGH IN WHERE WE ARE THAT WE CAN EXPEND THOSE? THAT'S WHY I SAID IT AS YOU COULD GIVE UP TO THREE DEPENDING ON HOW MANY YOU HAVE REMAINING BECAUSE IT MIGHT BE A YEAR WHERE WE ONLY HAVE ONE LEFT OR TWO LEFT, OR IT MIGHT BE A YEAR MAYBE WE HAVE THREE BUT WE WANT TO KEEP ONE IN THE BACK POCKET IN CASE WE DO HAVE A SIGNIFICANT HEAT DAY, OR HURRICANE COMES THROUGH, OR YOU NEVER KNOW, EARTHQUAKE TAKES SOMETHING OUT.
>. I THINK IT'S A CREATIVE PROPOSAL AND RESPONSIVE TO THE CONCERNS.
>> DR. CHAMP AND I HAD SOME EXCHANGE ON THIS.
I DO LIKE CALENDAR C. THE ONE THAT TAKES AWAY THE SNOW DAYS AT THE END, NOW ALL THIS CONTINGENT, I GUESS, WITH NO SNOW.
>> RIGHT. REMEMBER, THE KIDS THINK THAT I'M FROM ALASKA, SO I AM LOATHED TO CALL SNOW DAYS.
[02:15:01]
[LAUGHTER]>> BUT I DO THINK THAT THAT MAINTAINS THE PROFESSIONAL TEACHING FOR OUR TEACHERS, THE PROFESSIONAL LEARNINGS THAT THEY HAVE TO DO, PLUS IT ALSO HELPS WITH CONCERNS WE'VE HEARD ALL YEAR, WHICH IS CAMPS, THE SCHOOL YEAR GOING SO LATE AND SOME HEAT, ESPECIALLY IN OUR VERY OLD FACILITIES THAT DO NOT HAVE ACS TODAY.
I DO LIKE THAT PROPOSAL, AND I WOULD LIKE FOR THE BOARD TO CONSIDER THAT PROPOSAL.
>> I JUST HAD ONE QUESTION ABOUT THE NUMBER OF DAYS.
IT'S 180 DAYS THAT THE STUDENTS HAVE TO BE IN, RIGHT?
>> YEAH. IT'S TECHNICALLY 176 PLUS WE CAN COUNT UP TO FOUR SUPERINTENDENTS DAYS AND OR PARENT TEACHER CONFERENCES.
>> THAT WAS EXACTLY MY QUESTION, SO THAT EXPLAINS IT.
>> THEN THE FOUR ADDITIONALS, THAT ALL COUNT TOWARDS 180.
>> I'LL MAKE A MOTION TO PUT FORWARD CALENDAR C, THE SNOW DAY PROPOSAL.
>> ANY OTHER COMMENTS OR QUESTIONS? ALL IN FAVOR?
>> THAT MOTION CARRIES UNANIMOUSLY.
>> THANK YOU FOR THINKING OUT OF THE BOX ON THAT ONE.
>> THANK YOU FOR YOUR ADVOCACY.
>> THANK YOU-ALL VERY MUCH. [LAUGHTER] A LOT OF PEOPLE [INAUDIBLE].
>> DON'T HOLD IT AGAINST ME IF I MAY HAVE TO CALL SOME EARLY RELEASES BEFORE THIS WEEK IS OUT.
[LAUGHTER] WE'VE SOLVED IT FOR NEXT YEAR, BUT THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
>> SHOULD WE DO A CONSENT AGENDA FOR SOME OF THE NEXT ITEMS?
>> I THINK WE'RE GOOD. I'M SORRY, WE CAN DO THE MOTION FIRST AND THEN I'LL HIGHLIGHT.
>> YOU WANT TO GO THROUGH 7.3-7.15.
I HAVE A MOTION TO CONSIDER 7.2-7.15 AS A CONSENT AGENDA.
>> I JUST WANTED TO HIGHLIGHT AGAIN, DR. GARCIA HAD MENTIONED TONIGHT ON APPROVAL IS THE MEMORANDUM OF AGREEMENT WITH THE PELHAM TEACHERS ASSOCIATION. AGAIN, THANKS TO THEM.
LITERALLY, AS STEVE SAID, PROBABLY, THIS IS THE MOST POSITIVE COLLECTIVE BARGAINING RELATIONSHIPS WITH TEACHER' UNION I'VE EVER EXPERIENCED IN ANY OF MY DISTRICTS, SO REALLY THANKS TO THEM.
A NEW NEGOTIATING TEAM UNDER THE GUIDANCE OF MARK FINEGAN AS ONE OF REALLY HIS LAST ACTS AS PRESIDENT BEFORE HE RETIRES, SO WE'RE REALLY APPRECIATIVE TO THEM.
I PUT THAT BEFORE THE BOARD TONIGHT FOR APPROVAL.
ADDITIONALLY, I WANT TO JUST NOTE THAT WE'RE ALSO APPROVING AN AGREEMENT WITH DR. SUSAN GAINIE AND DEBRA [INAUDIBLE], OUR CONSULTANTS THAT I MENTIONED EARLIER.
THEY'RE COMING BACK TO DO OUR BOARD RETREAT THIS SUMMER, SO WE'RE EXCITED TO CONTINUE TO WORK WITH THEM.
THEN FINALLY, JUST AN EXCITING TRIP TO NOTE, THE PELHAM HIGH SCHOOL PERFORMING ENSEMBLES ARE HEADING TO NASHVILLE NEXT YEAR FOR PERFORMANCE AND EDUCATIONAL TRIP.
>> I DON'T KNOW, DR. BOWMAN, IF YOU HAPPEN TO KNOW.
LET ME SEE IF IT'S IN THE PROPOSAL, THE NASHVILLE TRIP.
I KNOW MR. VON BAKOV WAS WAS LEADING THE CHARGE ON THIS.
THAT'S IT, I JUST WANTED TO HIGHLIGHT THOSE ITEMS.
>> ANY OTHER COMMENTS OR QUESTIONS?
[7.3 Motion to Approve 2023-2024 Budget Transfers]
[7.4 Motion to Establish a Tax Certiorari Reserve Fund for Assessment Year 2023]
[7.5 Motion to Appropriate Funds to/from the Tax Certiorari Reserves from/to the General Fund-Unassigned Fund Balance]
[7.6 Motion to Approve Increase to the General Fund Expenditure and Revenue Budgets]
[7.7 Motion to Appropriate Funds to/from the Employee Benefit Accrued Liability Reserve Fund (EBALR) from/to the General Fund-Unassigned Fund Balance]
[7.8 Motion to Approve Appropriation of Funds from the General Fund-Unassigned Fund Balance to the Retirement Contribution Reserve Fund]
[7.9 Motion to Approve the Retirement Contribution Reserve Fund Proposed Five Year Use Schedule for Fiscal Years 2023-24 through 2027-28]
[7.10 Motion to Approve Appropriation of Funds from the General Fund-Unassigned Fund Balance to the Retirement Contribution Reserve Sub-Fund for Teachers’ Retirement System (TRS)]
[7.11 Motion to Approve the Retirement Contribution Reserve Sub-Fund for TRS Proposed Five Year Use Schedule for Fiscal Years 2023-24 through 2027-28]
[7.12 Motion to Approve the Debt Service Fund Proposed Five Year Use Schedule for Fiscal Years 2023-24 through 2027-28]
[7.13 Motion to Approve Memorandum of Agreement with the Pelham Teacher's Association]
[7.14 Motion to Approve an Agreement with Dr. Susan Guiney and Deborah Raizes]
[7.15 Motion to Approve Pelham Memorial High School Travel Study Trip to Nashville, Tennessee - March 13, 2025 to March 16, 2025]
ALL IN FAVOR OF APPROVING 7.3-7.15.>> THAT'S APPROVED UNANIMOUSLY.
>> I FOUND WHAT I WAS LOOKING FOR.
I KNEW THE DETAIL WAS IN HERE.
THAT TRIP IS FOR THE JAZZ BAND, CHAMBER CHORUS AND ORCHESTRA.
ORCHESTRA HAS NOT TRAVELED IN THE PAST, SO WE'RE EXCITED TO SEE THE ORCHESTRA NOW TRAVELING ON THE TRIP.
>> I'LL ACCEPT A MOTION TO ACCEPT A DONATION.
[7.16 Motion to Accept a Donation]
[02:20:05]
RESOLVED THAT UPON THE RECOMMENDATION OF THE SUPERINTENDENT OF SCHOOLS, THE BOARD OF EDUCATION OF THE PELHAM UNION FREE SCHOOL DISTRICT DOES HEREBY ACCEPT THE MONETARY DONATION OF $10,000 FOR GRANT 2409, SAFER CHOICES ASSEMBLIES, AND PARENT PROGRAM, AND THAT GRATITUDE BE BESTOWED UPON ITS DONOR, THE PELHAM EDUCATION FOUNDATION.
THE BOARD OF EDUCATION HEREBY AUTHORIZES THE DISTRICT TO ENTER INTO ANY RELATED AGREEMENTS TO PROCURE THE GOODS OR SERVICES REQUIRED UNDER THE TERMS OF THE GRANT.
SIZABLE DONATION TO MAKE GOOD DECISIONS.
>> I'M GOING TO ABSTAIN BECAUSE THIS IS A PELHAM TOGETHER.
>> ANY OPPOSED? ANY ABSTENTIONS? NOTED. THE MOTION CARRIES. POLICY.
[8.1 Policy 7316 - Digital Device Use (Second Reading)]
>> POLICY, WE TOOK A SIMILAR APPROACH HERE.
I SPOKE WITH OUR ATTORNEY ON THIS JUST FROM A PROCEDURAL PERSPECTIVE.
SIMILAR TO THE CALENDARS, I ASKED HER TO LOOK, WE'VE GOT THIS POLICY WE'RE CONSIDERING WITH TWO DIFFERENT OPTIONS.
WHAT'S YOUR ADVICE AS FAR AS PROCEDURES, AND SHE SAID THE EASIEST WOULD DO SIMILAR TO WHAT WE DO CALENDAR.
SPLIT INTO TWO OPTIONS, HAVE THE BOARD REVIEW BOTH, DISCUSS BOTH, AND THEN IDEALLY THERE'D BE CONSENSUS FOR A MOTION TO APPROVE ONE.
WE CAN'T HAVE TWO DIFFERENT POLICIES AT THE SAME TIME, SO WE'RE GOING TO HAVE TO STEER TOWARDS ONE.
WHAT I WOULD RECOMMEND IS DISCUSSION AND A MOTION ABOUT WHICH OF THE TWO TO MOVE TO THIRD READING.
CERTAINLY NOT AN ADOPTION TONIGHT, BUT A MOTION OF WHICH OF THE TWO TO MOVE TO THIRD READING.
THAT WAS BASED ON ADVICE OF COUNSEL.
JUST FOR A REMINDER, THE STARTING POINT OF BOTH OF THESE IS THE SAME.
THE TEXT AT THE BEGINNING IS ALL THE SAME, DEFINITIONS, ALL DISTRICT SCHOOLS.
THE DIFFERENCE IS IN HOW THE POLICY WOULD BE PLAYED OUT AT THE HIGH SCHOOL.
THE OPTION A IS THE SAME ONE THAT WAS OPTION A IN THE ORIGINAL PROPOSAL FROM LAST TIME, THAT DIGITAL DEVICES ARE NOT TO BE USED BY STUDENTS DURING INSTRUCTIONAL TIME, WHICH INCLUDES IN CLASSROOMS AND ANY OTHER AREAS OF THE BUILDING BEING USED FOR TEACHING AND LEARNING.
WE DID THAT PURPOSEFULLY THINKING IT MIGHT BE ASSEMBLIES, PRESENTATIONS, SPEAKERS, PHYSICS, EXPERIMENTS IN THE HALLWAY.
IT COULD BE ANY THINGS WHERE INSTRUCTION IS OCCURRING AND ATTENTION IS NEEDED.
EXCEPT AS FOLLOWS, PRE-APPROVED MEDICAL AND, OR INSTRUCTIONAL PURPOSES DOCUMENTED BY THE DISTRICT, AND PRE-AUTHORIZED PURPOSES BY THEIR TEACHER OR SCHOOL OFFICIAL IN THE CLASSROOM FOR AN IDENTIFIED INSTRUCTIONAL PURPOSE.
TEACHERS AND OTHER SCHOOL OFFICIALS WILL MAKE CLEAR TO STUDENTS WHEN THEY ARE TO BE PRE-AUTHORIZED TO USE THEIR DIGITAL DEVICES IN THE CLASSROOM FOR SUCH LIMITED INSTRUCTIONAL PURPOSES.
I WILL SAY A QUESTION WAS RAISED ABOUT, WOULD THAT POTENTIALLY HAVE ANY FERPA OR STUDENT PRIVACY ISSUES? I DID FORWARD THE QUESTION ON TO THE ATTORNEYS.
I DID NOT GET AN ANSWER YET ON THAT, BUT I'M SURE THEY WILL RESPOND TO THAT AND GIVE US SOME GUIDANCE ABOUT THAT. THAT'S OPTION A.
OPTION B THEN OBVIOUSLY IS THE OTHER OPTION THAT WAS BEING CONSIDERED FOR HIGH SCHOOL.
AGAIN, TO GO TO THE END OF OPTION B, DIGITAL DEVICES ARE ALLOWED TO BE USED BY STUDENTS IN SCHOOL BUILDINGS DURING THE SCHOOL DAY ONLY AS FOLLOWS, PRE-APPROVED MEDICAL AND, OR INSTRUCTIONAL PURPOSES, AND PRE-AUTHORIZED PURPOSES BY THEIR TEACHER OR SCHOOL OFFICIAL.
TEACHER OR SCHOOL OFFICIALS WILL MAKE CLEAR TO STUDENTS WHEN THEY'RE BEING PRE-AUTHORIZED, ETC.
THE MAIN DIFFERENCE IS INSTRUCTIONAL SPACES VERSUS THROUGHOUT THE SCHOOL DAY.
IT'S PROBABLY THE SIMPLEST WAY TO SAY IT.
>> I HAVE SOME THOUGHTS ON THIS, IF I MAY.
I'M IN FAVOR OF THE MORE RESTRICTIVE POLICY, AND I'D LIKE TO EXPLAIN WHY.
ONE OF THE ODD THINGS ABOUT BEING ON THE BOARD OF EDUCATION IS WE SPEND A LOT OF TIME TALKING ABOUT STUDENTS.
IT'S IMPORTANT WORK AND IT NEEDS TO BE DONE.
BUT WE'RE NOT IN THE BUILDING ANY MORE THAN ANY OTHER PARENT.
WE NEVER REALLY SEE THE STUDENTS.
SOMETIMES IT CAN FEEL A BIT DISCONNECTED AND A BIT ABSTRACT. EXCUSE ME.
RECENTLY, I WAS HERE IN THE MIDDLE SCHOOL FOR STRATEGIC PLANNING WHEN THE STUDENTS WERE IN THE BUILDING,
[02:25:01]
AND IT WAS JUST A REALLY UPLIFTING EXPERIENCE.YOU MAY REMEMBER, ACTUALLY, DR. SHEMPI, I TEXTED YOU ABOUT HOW HAPPY IT MADE ME.
THE REASON WHY IT WAS SO UPLIFTING WAS BECAUSE THERE WERE KIDS MILLING ABOUT.
THEY SEEMED HAPPY AND THEY WERE ENGAGING WITH EACH OTHER.
IT WAS JUST THIS MASS OF LIFE, OF GENUINE HUMAN INTERACTION.
IT WAS JUST TRULY WONDERFUL, BECAUSE WE VERY RARELY SEE IT.
I SAW IT AND IT WAS VERY UPLIFTING.
AROUND THE SAME TIME, I WAS ALSO IN THE HIGH SCHOOL FOR A FOCUS GROUP, AND IT WAS A VERY DIFFERENT EXPERIENCE.
WHAT I MEAN BY THAT IS I SAW STUDENTS IN HALLWAYS AND IN CORNERS, JUST HEADS DOWN, LOOKING AT THEIR PHONES.
IT WAS VERY DIFFERENT AND NOT IN A POSITIVE WAY.
NOW, WHEN I MAKE THAT COMPARISON, I KNOW THAT AN OBVIOUS RESPONSE WOULD BE THAT IS A COMPLETELY SPURIOUS COMPARISON TO MAKE BECAUSE THE HIGH SCHOOL IS JUST INHERENTLY A DIFFERENT ENVIRONMENT TO THE MIDDLE SCHOOL, AND HIGH SCHOOLERS ARE JUST DIFFERENT CREATURES OR DIFFERENT STUDENTS TO MIDDLE SCHOOLERS.
YOU CAN'T MAKE THE COMPARISON.
IT'S GOT NOTHING TO DO WITH CELL PHONES, BUT I THINK IT DOES.
THE REASON WHY I THINK IT HAS PARTLY TO DO WITH SMARTPHONES IN THE SCHOOL IS RIGHT IN FRONT OF US.
I WOULD IMPLORE HIGH SCHOOL PARENTS TO TAKE A MOMENT, TAKE A FEW MINUTES AND FIGURE OUT HOW TO SEE THE USAGE OF THEIR KIDS, WHICH YOU CAN DO ON THE NATIVE TOOLS ON YOUR PHONES.
I THINK YOU WILL SEE HOW MUCH TIME THEY ARE SPENDING ON PHONES, WHEN THEY'RE DOING IT AND WHAT THEY'RE DOING.
THOSE THREE THINGS, I THINK ARE WORTH EVERYONE LOOKING AT.
TO GIVE A BIT OF A SPOILER ALERT, I THINK WHAT YOU MAY SEE IS HOW MUCH TIME THEY'RE SPENDING ON THE PHONES A LOT.
WHEN THEY'RE DOING IT A CONSTANT TRICKLE THROUGHOUT THE SCHOOL DAY.
WHAT THEY'RE DOING ON THEIR PHONES? IT'S LARGELY SOCIAL MEDIA.
I JUST THINK THESE DEVICES HAVE A CHOKE HOLD ON OUR KIDS.
I FIND IT INTERESTING AND STRANGE THAT ONE OF THE THINGS I REALLY LIKE ABOUT THE PELHAM COMMUNITY IS HOW WE AS A COMMUNITY REALLY PRIORITIZE THE WELL BEING OF OUR KIDS AND HOW THEY'RE FEELING AND THEIR MENTAL WELL BEING.
I JUST FIND IT CURIOUS THAT WE AS A COMMUNITY AREN'T AS ALARMED AS I THINK WE SHOULD BE ABOUT THE AMOUNT OF TIME THAT KIDS ARE SPENDING ON THEIR PHONES THROUGHOUT THE DAY.
10, 15, 20 YEARS FROM NOW, IN THE FINAL RECKONING, DO YOU THINK THAT OUR GENERATION OF ADULTS WILL BE COMMENDED FOR HOW WE HANDLED OUR KIDS' USAGE OF CELL PHONES.
TO ME, IT'S OBVIOUS THAT CELL PHONES IN THE SCHOOL SETTING, THEY JEOPARDIZE AND THEY REDUCE HUMAN INTERACTION.
THEY'VE CREATED NEW AVENUES FOR BULLYING DURING THE SCHOOL DAY THAT DIDN'T EXIST PRIOR TO CELL PHONES.
EVEN WHEN THESE PHONES ARE NOT BEING USED, WHEN THEY'RE IN A POCKET OR WHETHER IN A BAG, JUST THE PHONE BEING THERE, I BELIEVE MAKES IT HARDER FOR THE KIDS TO FOCUS.
I JUST HONESTLY THINK THAT WE HAVE DROPPED THE BALL.
BUT LET ME EXPLAIN WHO I MEAN BY WE.
I MEAN BOARDS OF EDUCATION ACROSS THE COUNTRY.
I MEAN ADMINISTRATORS ACROSS THE COUNTRY.
I INCLUDE ALL OF US IN THAT WITH THE EXCEPTION ACTUALLY OF TEACHERS, BECAUSE I FIND IT HARD TO MANAGE THE SCREEN TIME OF ONE TEENAGER IN A HOUSE, SO I CAN BARELY IMAGINE WHAT IT'S LIKE TO MANAGE 15 TEENAGERS OR HUNDREDS OF THEM IN A BUILDING.
I THINK WE'VE ACTUALLY LET OUR TEACHERS DOWN OVER THE YEARS.
THERE ARE SO MANY REASONS WHY PHONES I THINK DON'T BELONG IN OUR SCHOOLS.
I THINK PHONES ARE INCONSISTENT WITH OUR MENTAL HEALTH OBJECTIVES.
I THINK THEY'RE INCONSISTENT WITH OUR LEARNING OBJECTIVES.
I THINK THEY ARE INCONSISTENT WITH THE VALUES THAT WE FEEL ARE IMPORTANT IN OUR SCHOOLS.
[02:30:04]
IT WAS EITHER LAST WEEK OR THE WEEK BEFORE THERE WERE A COUPLE OF FIGHTS BROKE OUT IN THE HIGH SCHOOL, AND FIGHTS WILL HAPPEN.THEY ALWAYS HAVE, THEY ALWAYS WILL, BECAUSE KIDS MAKE BAD DECISIONS THAT THEY WILL REGRET. IS IT RIGHT? IS IT FAIR THAT WHEN A STUDENT DOES MAKE A BAD DECISION, THAT THEIR BEHAVIOR IS IMMEDIATELY FILMED, IT'S IMMEDIATELY SHARED ACROSS THE ENTIRE STUDENT BODY, ACROSS THE ENTIRE COMMUNITY, AND IT'S JUST THERE FOREVER.
IF MY KID DID SOMETHING FOOLISH, I WOULDN'T WANT THAT RECORDED FOR POSTERITY.
HOW IS THAT COMPATIBLE WITH OUR DESIRE FOR THIS TO BE A DISTRICT OF CHARACTER? ON THIS ISSUE, I DON'T THINK I'M ALONE ON FEELING THIS WAY.
I THINK YOU'RE SEEING THE INCREASING NUMBER OF COMMUNITIES SAYING ENOUGH IS ENOUGH.
MORE THAN 200 SCHOOL DISTRICTS NOW SUING THE MAJOR SOCIAL MEDIA COMPANIES.
I THINK WE SHOULD JOIN THAT EFFORT.
GOVERNOR HOCHUL IS ALSO PROPOSING LEGISLATION TO PROHIBIT CELL PHONES IN SCHOOLS.
WHEN YOU LOOK AT POLICIES IN LOCAL PRIVATE SCHOOLS, IT IS A MIXED BAG.
SOME PROHIBIT PHONES THROUGHOUT THE DAY, SOME DON'T.
BUT THE NUMBER THAT DO PROHIBIT THE PHONES THROUGHOUT THE ENTIRE DAY, THAT NUMBER IS ONLY INCREASING.
REGIS IMPLEMENTED THAT POLICY JUST TWO WEEKS AGO, AND I WILL BET THAT MORE FOLLOWS SUIT.
IT'S NOT JUST PRIVATE SCHOOLS, THERE ARE PUBLIC HIGH SCHOOLS THAT ARE PROHIBITING CELL PHONE USE THROUGHOUT THE DAY.
COINCIDENTALLY TODAY, THE NATION'S SECOND LARGEST SCHOOL DISTRICT IN LOS ANGELES, THEIR BOARD VOTED TO PROHIBIT CELL PHONE AND SOCIAL MEDIA USE FOR OVER 429,000 K-12 STUDENTS DURING THE SCHOOL DAY.
I DON'T KNOW ANY MORE DETAIL OTHER THAN THAT HEADLINE.
NATALIE MADE A GREAT POINT IN THE LAST BOARD MEETING THAT WE ARE, AS A DISTRICT, GENERALLY VERY FORWARD LOOKING.
THERE ARE MANY EXAMPLES OF THAT, HOW WE'RE FORWARD LOOKING IN TERMS OF THE PROGRAMS WE OFFER, HOW WE STRUCTURE LEADERSHIP POSITIONS.
WE'RE FORWARD LOOKING IN THAT.
THERE ARE MANY EXAMPLES OF HOW WE'RE FORWARD LOOKING, BUT FOR SOME REASON, SOME OF US ARE RELUCTANT TO BE ON THE LEADING EDGE OF THIS ISSUE.
I THINK WE SHOULD BE ON THE LEADING EDGE OF THIS ISSUE.
I COMPLETELY ACKNOWLEDGE IT'S GOING TO BE DIFFICULT.
I THINK IT'S GOING TO TEST OUR RESOLVE.
BUT IF WE TRULY HAVE OUR STUDENTS WELL BEING AT HEART, WHICH I BELIEVE WE DO, I THINK WE SHOULD TAKE ON THE CHALLENGE, AND I THINK WE SHOULD DO IT PROPERLY.
I THINK OUR STUDENTS WILL ULTIMATELY IN THE YEARS TO COME, THANK US FOR IT.
THANK YOU FOR LETTING ME GET THAT OFF MY CHEST.
I'M ALSO IN SUPPORT OF THE MORE STRINGENT POLICY.
I DO STAY UP AT NIGHT, BELIEVE IT OR NOT, THINKING, WHAT IS IT THAT WE'RE NOT LOOKING? WHAT ARE WE MISSING AS A BOARD OR WHAT ARE WE MISSING? BECAUSE I WOULD THINK EVERY SINGLE PARENT WOULD WANT TO SUPPORT THIS.
WHEN YOU HAVE GOVERNORS AND GOVERNMENTS IN DIFFERENT COUNTRIES AND NOW LA SAYING, WE'RE GOING TO BAN CELL PHONES.
WE DON'T KNOW HOW WE'RE GOING TO DO IT, BUT WE ARE GOING TO BAN THEM.
THAT LEADS ME TO BELIEVE THERE'S SOMETHING THERE.
THERE'S MANY STUDIES THAT HAVE COME OUT THAT HAVE SAID, THIS IS A PROBLEM, LET'S ADDRESS IT.
I TOO WANT TO FIND OUT WHAT IS IT THAT WE'RE MISSING.
WHY ARE THERE SOME PEOPLE THAT ARE HESITANT TO GO ALL IN THIS? BECAUSE FOR ALL WE KNOW RIGHT NOW WITH ALL THE STUDIES, THIS IS A GOOD THING.
WE'RE GOING TO DO SOMETHING THAT'S GOING TO AFFECT OUR KIDS TO BE BETTER, TO DO BETTER.
LOOK, I GET IT WHEN PEOPLE SAY, WELL, YOU DON'T HAVE TO GIVE YOUR KIDS A CELL PHONE, YOU COULD LOCK DOWN THEIR SOCIAL MEDIA.
ALL THAT IS WELL AND IT'S GOOD, AND WE COULD ALL PERSONALLY DO THAT.
BUT WHEN YOU USE A CELL PHONE IN THE SCHOOL, IT'S NOT JUST THE PERSON WHO'S USING IT, WE'LL MENTION, THE FIGHT GOT VIDEOTAPE.
IT'S NOT JUST AFFECTING IF MY CHILD HAS A CELL PHONE OR YOUR CHILD DOESN'T HAVE A CELL PHONE, IT AFFECTS THE ENVIRONMENT, SO EVERYBODY IS IN IT.
BECAUSE OF THAT, I JUST THINK WE HAVE TO HAVE A POLICY WHERE'S AWAY FOR THE DAY.
I KNOW THAT'S THE WAY SCARSDALE DOES IT.
I DON'T WANT TO START TAKING IT FROM PEOPLE AND LOCKING IT UP SOMEWHERE.
I TRUST THAT OUR KIDS WILL BE SMART ENOUGH TO DO THAT AND THAT THEY WILL USE IT WHEN THEY GO OUTSIDE.
I KNOW PEOPLE HAVE SAID, WELL, WE HAVE THIS OPEN CAMPUS.
I WAS PICKING UP SOME LAWN SIGNS FOR FIFTH GRADE THE OTHER DAY AND I ENDED UP AT A STARBUCKS.
HAPPENS TO BE A STARBUCKS THAT A PRIVATE SCHOOL USES, AND THERE WERE A LOT OF KIDS THERE FROM THIS PRIVATE SCHOOL, SO THEY HAVE AN OPEN CAMPUS AS WELL.
I GOT TO TALKING WHILE I WAS WAITING FOR MY DRINK AND THEY WERE LIKE,
[02:35:04]
NO, WE CANNOT USE OUR CELL PHONES.I WAS LIKE, WELL, HOW DO YOU CONNECT TO COME OUT FOR LUNCH AND MEET FRIENDS? THEY JUST LIKE, OH, WE MAKE ARRANGEMENTS BEFOREHAND.
YOU COULD GO OUT AND MEET WITH YOUR FRIEND AT A STARBUCKS DOWN THE CORNER FROM YOUR SCHOOL WITHOUT IT NECESSARY HAVING TO HAVE A CELL PHONE IN THE SCHOOL.
SOME OF THE KIDS WERE USING THEIR CELL PHONES WHILE THEY WERE SITTING DOWN AND EATING.
SOME OF THEM WEREN'T. THEY WERE TALKING, THEY WERE ENGAGED.
I JUST FEEL IT'S GOING TO BE HARD, BUT WE'VE FACED HARDER CHALLENGES IN THE SCHOOL.
WE HAVE, AND WE'VE DONE IT, AND I HAVE TRUST THAT WE COULD DO THIS.
>> WHAT I'LL SAY IS I DON'T DISAGREE WITH EITHER OF YOU AT ALL.
I DON'T. WHAT IS ON MY MIND ARE A FEW THINGS.
ONE IS IMPLEMENTATION, AND WHAT I WOULD WANT TO SEE IS A PROCESS BY WHICH WE APPROACH THIS IN A WAY WHERE WE KNOW WE CAN BE AS SUCCESSFUL AS POSSIBLE.
DOES THAT LOOK LIKE WHAT YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT, WELL, ABSOLUTELY NO CELL PHONES, MAYBE.
BUT WHAT I KNOW, WE HAVE A NEW ADMINISTRATOR COMING INTO THE HIGH SCHOOL.
WE HAVE GUIDELINES IN PLACE THAT I BELIEVE WE CAN GIVE MR. LLEWELLYN AND DR. TITONE AN OPPORTUNITY TO ACTUALLY IMPLEMENT CONSISTENTLY ACROSS THE HIGH SCHOOL.
I THINK WE CAN ALSO LOOK AT WHAT ARE THE THINGS THAT CELL PHONES DO THAT ARE POSITIVE, AND WHAT ARE WE GOING TO DO TO FIND REPLACEMENTS FOR THOSE POSITIVE THINGS.
[NOISE] I DON'T DISAGREE WITH WHAT YOU'RE BOTH SAYING AT ALL.
IT'S MORE ABOUT, AND I THINK YOU ALL KNOW ME, BY NOW, I ALWAYS TALK ABOUT THE APPROACH BY WHICH WE DO SOMETHING.
I THINK IT'S A HUGE CHANGE AND IT WOULD BE DIFFICULT, 100%.
I THINK THAT WE COULD LOOK AT THIS COMING YEAR AS AN OPPORTUNITY TO PUT IN PLACE A POLICY THAT MIRRORS THE GUIDELINES, AND ALSO LOOK AT ALL THESE QUESTIONS WE HAVE ABOUT, WHAT ARE WE GOING TO DO ABOUT OPEN CAMPUS.
WHAT ARE WE GOING TO DO ABOUT THIS? WHAT ARE WE GOING TO DO ABOUT THIS? ALL THESE SITUATIONS WHERE CELL PHONES COME INTO PLAY AND TALK ABOUT ADDRESSING THOSE.
CELL PHONES, WHETHER WE LIKE IT OR NOT, ARE A SOURCE OF CONNECTION FOR EVERYONE, BUT FOR STUDENTS, FOR KIDS.
WHAT CAN WE DO CULTURALLY AS A SCHOOL? LET ME BACK UP A SECOND.
I SEE US AS A BOARD AS AN ENTITY THAT SAYS, IN THIS EXAMPLE, YOU KNOW WHAT, WE THINK THERE'S AN ISSUE WITH CELL PHONES.
WE THINK THERE'S A MAJOR ISSUE.
CLEARLY, THE COUNTRY THINKS THERE'S AN ISSUE.
THEN I LOOK TO THE ADMINISTRATION TO ACTUALLY LOOK FOR THEIR GUIDANCE, LOOK FOR THEIR EXPERTISE.
IF WE LOOK AT THIS COMING YEAR AND SAY, WE DO WANT A POLICY IN PLACE THAT SOLIDIFIES THE GUIDELINES SO THAT IT MAKES IT THAT MUCH EASIER TO ENFORCE WHAT THE GUIDELINES ARE AND WE'D LIKE YOU TO TAKE A LOOK AT WHAT CAN BE DONE TO FIND REPLACEMENTS FOR THOSE CONNECTIONS.
WHEN THERE'S THE OPTION OF LOOKING AT YOUR CELL PHONE OR DOING SOMETHING ELSE, YOU WANT TO DO THAT SOMETHING ELSE.
WE COULD USE THIS COMING YEAR TO GIVE THE ADMINISTRATION A CHANCE TO DO THAT.
I COULD ENVISION A POINT WHERE IT'S UNHEARD OF TO TAKE YOUR PHONE OUT, JUST LIKE YOU'RE IN THE THEATER, YOU DON'T TAKE YOUR PHONE OUT IN THE THEATER.
MY FOCUS MORE IS ON SUCCESSFUL IMPLEMENTATION AND SETTING THINGS UP TO BE SUCCESSFUL AND NOT FAIL FROM THE START.
THOSE ARE SOME OF MY THOUGHTS RIGHT NOW.
>> I'LL GO. I'M ALIGNED WITH YOU, AMARI IN THAT I DO NOT DISAGREE AT ALL WITH WHAT WILL AND NATALIE SAID;
[02:40:01]
THE IMPACT OF CELL PHONES AND SOCIAL MEDIA, THE NEGATIVE IMPACT IS REAL.BUT I'M OF THE MIND OF I'M READY TO MEET THE DISTRICT AND THE COMMUNITY WHERE THEY ARE ON THIS RIGHT NOW.
I THINK THROUGH THE DISCUSSIONS WE'VE HAD, I THINK THAT THERE'S ALIGNMENT THAT CELL PHONE SHOULD BE AWAY IN CLASSROOMS, AT ASSEMBLIES, AND OTHER EDUCATIONAL SITUATIONS, BUT I DON'T THINK THERE'S AN ALIGNMENT YET ON FULLY BANNING THE USE OF PHONES DURING THE SCHOOL DAY AT THE HIGH SCHOOL.
AGAIN, I AGREE WITH YOU, AMARI.
I THINK WE CAN GET TO THAT POINT WITH THE RIGHT PROGRAMMING AND INITIATIVES AROUND TEACHING KIDS AND FAMILIES ABOUT HOW TO DO THAT.
BUT I DON'T THINK THAT SHOULD BE THE STARTING POINT FOR THE POLICY AT THIS TIME.
I DO BELIEVE THAT PARENTS DO HAVE SOME POWER HERE.
THEY CAN CHOOSE NOT TO GIVE THEIR CHILD A CELL PHONE TO BRING TO SCHOOL OR THEY CAN MANAGE SOCIAL MEDIA.
I'M OF THE SAME MIND AS AMARI, AND LET'S TAKE OUR TIME IN GETTING THE IMPLEMENTATION RIGHT AND GETTING EVERYONE TO THE PLACE WHERE THERE'S NO CELL PHONES USED IN SCHOOLS.
>> I GUESS I CAN SEE BOTH SIDES.
I THINK IT IS A REAL PROBLEM AND CALLS FOR MAYBE MORE BOLD ACTION.
BUT I WORRY ABOUT THE IMPLEMENTATION.
I DO FEEL LIKE IF WE WANT TO MAINTAIN PELHAM AS A SPECIAL PLACE AND REALLY DISTINCT, MAYBE IT DOES MAKE SENSE TO DO SOMETHING MORE BOLD.
BUT THEN I ALSO COME BACK TO MORE CONCRETE EXAMPLES, AS A HYPOTHETICAL, I'LL JUST SAY A SCIENCE RESEARCH STUDENT THAT NEEDS TO SCHEDULE A MEETING WITH AN EXTERNAL MENTOR, AND THE ZOOM DOESN'T WORK AND MAYBE THERE'S A PHONE CALL AND A TEXT MESSAGE AND YOU BORROW YOUR FRIEND'S MACBOOK TO DO THE ZOOM BECAUSE YOU CAN'T DO THE ZOOM ON YOUR CHROMEBOOK.
MAYBE THAT COULD BE COVERED UNDER THE MORE STRINGENT POLICY LIKE A PREAUTHORIZED USE OF A DIGITAL DEVICE.
BUT I JUST WORRY THAT THERE MAY BE LEGITIMATE USES OF PHONES DURING THE SCHOOL DAY FOR SOME OF THE AUTHENTIC LEARNING EXPERIENCES THAT MAYBE WE HAVEN'T FULLY CONSIDERED.
>> I'LL LET YOU HAVE THE LAST WORD.
[LAUGHTER] WE'VE TALKED A LOT ABOUT THIS IN POLICY.
WE'VE HAD MEETINGS MOST OF THE YEAR, I THINK, WHERE THIS TOPIC HAS COME UP.
I AGREE WITH NATALIE AND WILL IN TERMS OF THE TARGET FOR WHERE WE OUGHT TO BE HEADED.
BUT I AGREE WITH THE OTHERS WHO HAVE SPOKEN IN TERMS OF WHERE WE ARE NOW AND WHERE WE CAN GET TO IN THE SHORT TERM.
WE HAD SOME PRETTY THOROUGH CONVERSATIONS WITH THE INCOMING ADMINISTRATORS FOR THE HIGH SCHOOL AND WHAT THEY THOUGHT IMPLEMENTED OR IMPACTED STUDENT LEARNING AND WHAT WAS REALISTIC TO BE IMPLEMENTED.
I THINK THEIR TAKE WAS VERY MUCH THAT THE WORK TO TRY TO SOLVE THAT PROBLEM IS NOT AT ALL WORTH THE IMPACT ON STUDENTS OF TAKING THOSE COUPLE MINUTES OF PERIOD OUT OF THEIR HANDS.
BUT THE IMPACT OF MAKING SURE THAT PHONES ARE REALLY AWAY DURING CLASSROOM TIME IS REALLY VALUABLE AND SOMETHING THAT COULD BE IMPLEMENTED,
[02:45:02]
AND THAT WE COULD LOOK TO THE ADMINISTRATORS TO HOLD THEM ACCOUNTABLE FOR BECAUSE THAT'S SOMETHING THEY BELIEVE THEY CAN DO.THEN I THINK WHAT'S IMPORTANT ABOUT THE POLICY IS THAT WE INCLUDED AN EXPECTATION THAT WE WOULD BE RE-EVALUATING IT AND LOOKING AT IT EACH YEAR AND POTENTIALLY CHANGING IT, AND SO HAVING A PATH THERE TO BE CONTINUING THIS CONVERSATION AND SEEING WHAT WE CAN DO TO MOVE TOWARDS SOMETHING THAT IMPLEMENTS A LOT OF THE THINGS THAT PEOPLE HAVE BEEN TALKING ABOUT IN TERMS OF BOTH A TARGET AND HOW WE FIND ALTERNATIVE THINGS FOR STUDENTS TO BE DOING INSTEAD OF LOOKING AT THEIR PHONES.
>> WELL, I THINK A COUPLE OF THINGS.
ONE IS, I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT TO NOTE THAT THE TWO POLICIES THAT ARE ON THE TABLE, NEITHER ONE OF THEM ARE BANS.
A LOT OF THE DISCUSSION THAT WE'RE TALKING ABOUT WAS HAPPENING IN LOS ANGELES, WHOLE COUNTRIES ARE MORE EXTREME THAN WHAT WE ARE PROPOSING HERE BECAUSE WE'RE TRYING TO FIND THIS RIGHT BALANCE OF WHAT ARE THE LEGITIMATE USES THAT TEACHERS OR OTHERWISE WOULD WANT WHILE ALSO PROTECTING AGAINST SOME OF THE ISSUES THAT WE KNOW THAT EXIST, AND TO YOUR POINT ABOUT WHAT ARE WE REPLACING WITH? THAT'S WHY THE FIRST BULLET POINT, I DO THINK IS SO IMPORTANT IN BOTH POLICIES; THIS IDEA THAT WE'LL MAINTAIN PHYSICAL SPACES AND PROVIDE OPPORTUNITIES THAT FACILITATE FACE-TO-FACE COLLABORATION AND HUMAN CONNECTION BETWEEN STUDENTS AND BETWEEN STUDENTS AND FACULTY THAT DO NOT REQUIRE NOR ENCOURAGE THE USE OF A DIGITAL DEVICE.
I REALLY HOPE THAT THAT'S NOT A THROWAWAY BULLET, THAT THE DISTRICT IS REALLY GOING TO LOOK FOR WAYS TO LESSEN THE NEED.
>> WE JUST PUT IT IN THE STRATEGIC PLAN.
>> WHAT'S THAT? [LAUGHTER] THIS LANGUAGE IS ALSO IN THE STRATEGIC PLAN, AND IT'S NOT INSIGNIFICANT.
WE'LL MENTION TODAY THAT LOS ANGELES HAS DECIDED ON A FULL BAN.
THE SURGEON GENERAL WHO HAD ALREADY ISSUED A WARNING YESTERDAY SAID THE THREAT SOCIAL MEDIA POSES TO CHILDREN REQUIRES URGENT ACTION, AND HE'S DEMANDING THAT CONGRESS PUT A WARNING LABEL ON THE APPS AS IT DOES WITH CIGARETTES AND ALCOHOL.
IT'S JUST REALLY HARD TO JUST CONTINUE TO HEAR THESE MESSAGES OVER AND OVER AGAIN.
IT REALLY DOES, I THINK GOVERNOR HAKEL IS GOING TO MOVE FORWARD WITH A BAN.
ALMOST WHETHER WE LIKE IT OR NOT, IT IS VERY LIKELY THAT FROM A STATE PERSPECTIVE, SHE WILL REQUIRE A POSITION THAT'S EVEN MORE EXTREME THAN WHAT WE ARE PUTTING FORTH.
WHAT I'VE BEEN SPENDING SOME TIME ON BECAUSE I'VE ACTUALLY REACHED OUT TO DISTRICTS WHO GRAPPLED WITH THIS DECISION FOR THOSE WHO'VE MADE MORE RESTRICTIVE POLICIES, AND THE FEEDBACK HAS BEEN INCREDIBLE.
WE DIDN'T REALIZE HOW ADDICTED THE KIDS WERE.
OH, MY GOD, WE WERE SO EXCITED TO BE ABLE TO SPEND TIME TOGETHER.
THE DISTRICT CREATED GAMES AND OTHER WAYS FOR US TO INTERACT.
WE WERE JUST SPENDING SO MUCH MORE TIME.
I WOULD ENCOURAGE YOU ALL TO JUST REACH OUT TO ANY OF THESE DISTRICTS, WHETHER IT BE THE NEW PRIVATE SCHOOLS, WHY ARE THEY'RE GOING IN THIS DIRECTION.
BECAUSE THEY'RE GRAPPLING WITH THE SAME THINGS, AND YET WITHIN A VERY SHORT PERIOD OF TIME, IMPLEMENTING MORE RESTRICTIVE POLICIES, AGAIN, NOT NECESSARILY A BAN.
BUT THEY'RE FEELING IMMEDIATE POSITIVE RESPONSE FROM STUDENTS, FROM TEACHERS, FROM FACULTY.
AGAIN, I KNOW LAST WEEK OR WE TALKED ABOUT IT, WE SAID THE FEEDBACK WAS MIXED, BUT CERTAINLY, THE COMMENTARY THAT WE GOT FROM OUR OWN TEACHERS HERE, TALKING ABOUT THE CHALLENGES OF WHAT THEY CALL A TRUE ADDICTION, IT'S AT THE CORE OF MENTAL HEALTH ISSUES, IT'S AT THE CORE OF SOME OF OUR ACADEMIC ISSUES WHERE THEY EXIST, AND SO I JUST THINK IT'S INCUMBENT UPON US TO BE BOLD.
I DO THINK THAT IF THE BOARD SAID WE WANT A MORE RESTRICTIVE POLICY, I ACTUALLY HAVE GREAT CONFIDENCE IN DR. TITONE AND DR. LLEWELLYN THAT THEY, ALONG WITH THE FACULTY, WOULD RISE TO THE OCCASION.
I KNOW THAT THEY SAID IMPLEMENTATION IS HARD, AND DR. LLEWELLYN HAS ACTUALLY BEEN IN A MIDDLE SCHOOL WHERE HE'S SEEN THE BENEFIT OF NOT HAVING CELL PHONES AT THE CENTER OF THE STUDENT EXPERIENCE.
I HAVE A FEELING THEY'RE YEARNING FOR LEADERSHIP FROM US.
I THINK IT'S AN OPPORTUNITY TO DO SOME GREAT THINGS FOR KIDS.
IT'LL BE HARD INITIALLY, BUT I THINK THE BENEFITS WILL RAPIDLY COME FROM
[02:50:04]
A MORE RESTRICTIVE POLICY THAT'S NOT A BAN THAT TRIES TO DO THE THINGS THAT ARE IN OPTION B.>> JUST ANOTHER THING THAT OCCURS TO ME ABOUT OPTION B.
THAT SECOND BULLET, PRE AUTHORIZED PURPOSES BY THEIR TEACHER OR OTHER SCHOOL OFFICIAL.
IT COULD BE INTERPRETED PRETTY BROADLY.
BUT I GUESS IT WOULD REQUIRE BEING MINDFUL ABOUT WHAT WOULD BE THE PURPOSE OF USING YOUR DEVICE AND MAYBE YOU SAY, LISTENING TO MUSIC WHILE YOU'RE STUDYING IS A PRE-AUTHORIZED USE OR LISTENING TO A PODCAST IS A PRE-AUTHORIZED USE OR CORRESPONDING WITH YOUR SCIENCE RESEARCH MENTOR, BUT YOU COULD THINK, BUT IT SHIFTS IT FROM BEING ANYTHING GOES TO LET'S THINK THROUGH THIS IN A CAREFUL WAY.
WHAT ARE THE USES THAT ARE BENEFICIAL?
>> I ALSO WANT TO MAKE A CLARIFICATION.
WHEN WE TALK ABOUT CELL PHONES, WE'RE NOT TALKING ABOUT NOT DOING THE CURRICULUM ON [OVERLAPPING] DIGITAL LITERACY BECAUSE WE DO DO THAT, AND IT'S IMPORTANT.
LOOK, WE LIVE ON THE 21ST CENTURY.
THIS IS NOT SOMETHING WE'RE GOING TO GET AWAY FROM.
WHAT WE'RE TALKING ABOUT IS PROHIBITING THE USE OF THESE LITTLE THINGS THAT ARE ATTACHED TO OUR HANDS AND FIT.
I LIKE THE LITTLE ONE BECAUSE IT FITS IN MY HAND.
THAT'S WHAT WE'RE TALKING ABOUT. WE'RE NOT TALKING ABOUT NOT TEACHING KIDS HOW TO USE AI OR HOW TO USE THE INTERNET OR HOW TO USE ANY OF THE GREAT THINGS THAT WE RELY ON TO LIVE.
THAT'S NOT WHAT THE DISCUSSION IS ABOUT.
I THINK THAT CONTINUES AS IT IS TODAY BECAUSE WE ARE PREPARING KIDS TO LIVE IN THE REAL WORLD.
IN THE REAL WORLD, THEY WILL USE ONE OF THESE TO DO EVERYTHING IN LIFE.
BUT THEY DON'T NECESSARILY NEED TO LIVE IN THE REAL WORLD BY USING ONE OF THESE EVERY SINGLE SECOND.
I THINK THAT'S WHAT THE DISTINCTION REALLY IS, IS CAN WE PUT THESE AWAY FROM THE HOURS OF 8:00-12:00 AND THEN 1:00-3:00? UNLESS YOU HAVE A PRE AUTHORIZED USAGE.
BUT WE'RE NOT SAYING PUT AWAY THE LEARNING THAT YOU WOULD NEED TO DO ON ANOTHER DEVICE THAT WOULD ENABLE YOU TO LEARN HOW TO OPERATE IN THE REAL WORLD? BECAUSE I SEE THOSE THINGS AS VERY DIFFERENT.
>> IT'S THE SECOND BULLET POINT.
THE DISTRICT SHALL ADDRESS THE NEW YORK STATE K-12 LEARNING STANDARDS FOR COMPUTER SCIENCE AND DIGITAL FLUENCY WITH A FOCUS ON DIGITAL CITIZENSHIP IN DEVELOPMENTALLY APPROPRIATE WAYS.
TO YOUR POINT, WE THOUGHT ABOUT THAT IN PARTICULAR.
>> THE FIRST BULLET POINT, WHICH I REALLY LIKE, THE DISTRICT SHALL MAINTAIN PHYSICAL SPACES AND PROVIDE OPPORTUNITIES THAT FACILITATE FACE TO FACE COLLABORATION AND HUMAN CONNECTION BETWEEN STUDENTS AND BETWEEN STUDENTS AND FACULTY THAT DO NOT REQUIRE NOR ENCOURAGE THE USE OF A DIGITAL DEVICE.
I LOVE IT. WE PUT IT IN THE STRATEGIC PLAN [LAUGHTER] IT'S PERFECT.
BUT WE HAVE TO FACE THE REALITY THAT WE HAVE A PHYSICAL SPACE ISSUE.
LET'S IMAGINE WE PUT IN OPTION B.
WHAT ARE WE FACED WITH THEN? WHAT IS THE ADMINISTRATION FACED WITH IN TERMS OF FINDING THESE OPPORTUNITIES AND MAINTAINING THESE PHYSICAL SPACES FOR THIS CONNECTION, FOR THIS FACE TO FACE CONTACT? I SUPPORT, AGAIN, I THINK IT SEEMS LIKE WE ALL AGREE IN GENERAL, AROUND THE ISSUES AND THE CONCERNS AND THE PROBLEMS CONNECTED TO OUR PHONES AND SOCIAL MEDIA.
FOR ME, IT'S ABOUT THE FACT THAT WE WANT TO, FOR INSTANCE, MAINTAIN PHYSICAL SPACES FOR THAT CONNECTION.
LET'S TAKE THIS YEAR AND FIND THOSE SPACES.
WHERE ARE THOSE SPACES? WHAT ARE WE GOING TO DO? WHAT CAN BE DONE TO ACTUALLY REPLACE THE DESIRE FOR A STUDENT TO BE ON THEIR PHONE WITH A DESIRE FOR A STUDENT TO INSTEAD I DON'T KNOW, PICK UP A BOARD GAME OR MAYBE THERE'S A FOOSBALL TABLE SOMEWHERE OR I DON'T KNOW, SOMETHING LIKE THAT.
THAT THE PHONE IS A LESS APPEALING OPTION BECAUSE OUR PHONES ARE NOT GOING ANYWHERE.
[02:55:03]
DR. TITONE, CAN RISE TO WHATEVER OCCASION IS PLACED IN FRONT OF THEM.I JUST THINK THAT WE CAN BE VERY DELIBERATE ABOUT THE CONNECTEDNESS AND BELONGING THAT WE WANT STUDENTS TO FEEL WHILE AT THE SAME TIME, KEEPING IN MIND, YOU KNOW WHAT? EITHER A, GOVERNOR HOCHUL IS GOING TO TELL US THE PHONES ARE GOING AWAY ANYWAY, SO THEN THERE'S NOT MUCH, THE ANSWER IS THERE FOR US, OR B, WE THINK WE MIGHT WANT TO GO IN THAT DIRECTION OR EVERY YEAR, WE'RE RE EVALUATING BECAUSE WE MIGHT BE GOING IN THAT DIRECTION.
WHAT CAN WE DO TO IMPROVE THE CULTURE, IMPROVE THE CONNECTION, IMPROVE THE OPPORTUNITY FOR STUDENTS TO HAVE CHOICES OTHER THAN THEIR PHONES SO THAT IF AND WHEN THERE IS, AND I'LL SAY BAN, BUT I KNOW IT'S NOT A BAN, IT'S ACTUALLY SUCCESSFUL?
>> I DON'T KNOW IF WE'RE ALLOWED TO DO THIS, BUT I'D BE CURIOUS TO HEAR WHAT FOLKS IN THE AUDIENCE, IF THAT'S THE RIGHT WORD [OVERLAPPING] IF THEY'RE HERE.
IF THEY'RE HERE TO EXPRESS THEMSELVES ON THIS ISSUE, SEEING AS WE'RE TALKING ABOUT IT NOW, WE WANT TO INVITE PUBLIC COMMENT. ARE WE ALLOWED TO DO THAT?
>> IF ANYONE HAS PUBLIC COMMENT RELATED TO THIS ISSUE, PLEASE COME AND TAKE THE MIC.
>> HI. EILEEN MILLER, 232 EASTLAND AVENUE.
I WAS JUST REALLY PLANNING TO LISTEN, BUT I FEEL REALLY STRONGLY THAT HIGH SCHOOL KIDS ARE SOMETIMES 18-YEARS-OLD AND THEY'RE ADULTS, AND TO SUGGEST THAT YOU'RE GOING TO MONITOR THEIR CELL PHONE USE IN SCHOOL, BY NOT LETTING THEM HAVE THE CELL PHONE IS TO ME COMPLETELY INCONGRUOUS WITH WHO THEY ARE.
I THINK YOU CAN GET THEM TO KEEP IT IN THEIR BAGS.
I THINK THAT MOST KIDS AGREE THAT THEY SHOULDN'T HAVE IT OUT IN CLASS, ESPECIALLY IF A TEACHER SAYS, WE'RE NOT USING CELL PHONES TODAY OR WHATEVER IT IS THAT THEY DO.
I THINK THAT KIDS DO WELL WHEN THEY'RE RESPECTED.
I TOTALLY HEAR THAT YOU GUYS ARE THE BOARD, YOU'RE THE ADULTS IN THE ROOM, AND I THINK THAT THIS LARGELY COMES DOWN TO A MATTER OF THE WHAT AND THE HOW.
THE WHAT IS, YOU GUYS BELIEVE THAT THERE'S A CELL PHONE PROBLEM.
THE WHOLE COUNTRY BELIEVES THERE'S A CELL PHONE PROBLEM.
THE HOW, I THINK IS UP TO THE ADMINISTRATORS.
I TOTALLY HEAR WHAT YOU'RE SAYING THAT YOU DID THIS SURVEY AND YOU GOT THIS INFORMATION, AND I HAVEN'T SEEN THAT COME BACK YET SO MUCH.
EVERYTHING THAT I'VE HEARD ABOUT IT, THERE WEREN'T THAT MANY PEOPLE RESPONDING.
I DON'T THINK IT WAS AN OVERWHELMING MAJORITY OF TEACHERS WHO SAID, WE NEED HELP FIXING THIS PROBLEM IN OUR CLASSROOMS IN THE HIGH SCHOOL.
IF THAT'S THE CASE AND I'M WRONG, THEN I THINK WE SHOULD HELP THE TEACHERS.
BUT IN THE MEANTIME, I THINK YOU'RE AT A GREAT MOMENT RIGHT NOW.
THERE'S A NEW PRINCIPAL COMING, THE WHOLE VIBE OF THE HIGH SCHOOL COULD CHANGE, THE ENTIRE CULTURE CAN CHANGE, AND I WOULD LET THAT PLAY OUT.
MR. LLEWELLYN IS AN INCREDIBLY TALENTED ADMINISTRATOR.
I THINK THAT YOU OWE HIM THE RESPECT TO LET THAT PLAY OUT THE WAY THAT HE SEES IT.
HE WAS QUOTED AS SAYING THAT HE DOES NOT THINK THAT THERE NEEDS TO BE A BAN.
I'M REACTING TO THAT AND WHAT I ASSUME, I THINK IF ALL OF HIS TEACHERS WERE BEGGING FOR A BAN, WE'D KNOW ABOUT THAT.
MAYBE YOU GUYS KNOW ABOUT IT? THAT'S POSSIBLE.
I JUST THINK THAT THE HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS NEED TO BE TAUGHT HOW TO MANAGE AND THAT'S NOT SOMETHING THAT THE BOARD CAN PUT INTO A POLICY AND MAKE WORK.
I AGREE WITH THE WAY AMARI PUT IT THAT YOU WANT TO SET YOURSELF UP FOR SUCCESS AND MR. LLEWELLYN UP FOR SUCCESS.
IN THE WAY THAT HE SEES THAT THESE THINGS CAN PLAY OUT AND WORK, I THINK THAT'S WHAT YOU GUYS NEED TO TAKE TO HEART. THAT'S WHAT I WOULD SAY.
THANK YOU, EVERYONE, FOR YOUR SERVICE.
I'M MOSTLY HERE TO LISTEN BECAUSE I AM COMPELLED BY THE ARGUMENTS ON BOTH SIDES.
[03:00:03]
WHAT I THINK IS IRONIC ABOUT THE HIGH SCHOOL IS, WILL AND I TALKED ABOUT THIS.IT'S ACTUALLY A PHONED PERMISSIONED ENVIRONMENT.
I KNOW THERE'S GUIDELINES, BUT WHEN YOU HAVE AN UBER EATS CART OUTSIDE, IF YOU HAVE GRADE LEVEL GROUPS THAT ARE COMMUNICATING ON GROUPMES.
IF YOUR STUDENT GOVERNMENT IS COMMUNICATING VIA SNAPCHAT, YOU HAVE SET UP THE BUILDING TO SAY, YES, WE WANT YOU TO DO THIS.
THIS IS HOW WE'RE EXPECTING YOU TO COMMUNICATE.
THE HORSE IS OUT OF THE BARN, IS IT TOO LATE TO CLOSE THE DOORS? I DON'T KNOW.
BUT MY BIGGEST FRUSTRATION AS THE PARENT OF AN INTROVERTED NINTH GRADER IS STARTING YOUR NINTH GRADE EXPERIENCE IN A LUNCH PERIOD WHEN YOU DON'T HAVE ANY FRIENDS AND YOU DON'T KNOW ANYBODY.
THE BUILDING IS A LONELY PLACE IF YOU'RE ON THAT SPACE ON THE SOCIAL HIERARCHY.
YES, SAYING THE PHONE INHIBITS THAT, BUT ABSENT FROM COVID.
HE'S THE FIRST ONE TO SAY, I'M A COVID KID.
I WOULD LOVE TO GET HIM TO A POINT WHERE HE IS OFF THAT DEVICE.
BUT I ALSO KNOW THAT THERE ARE PARTS OF HIS DAY IN THAT BUILDING THAT ARE VERY DIFFICULT.
HAVING THE OPPORTUNITY TO LISTEN TO HIS HEAD PHONES IS VERY HELPFUL FOR HIM.
I ALSO DON'T WANT THEM RUNNING OUT OF THE BUILDING WHEN THEY'RE TENTH GRADERS AND ON TO HAVE AN EXCUSE TO BE ON THEIR PHONES.
LISTEN, IT'S ALL OVER THE PLACE.
I DON'T WANT THEM USED IN THE CLASSROOM.
I'LL EVEN SAY BAN IN THE CLASSROOM. THAT'S FINE TOO.
BUT I DO THINK AS WE MOVE THESE KIDS ALONG, MAYBE THE NINTH GRADERS HAVE A DIFFERENT SET OF EXPECTATIONS.
THEN AS YOU GO, AND I ALSO HAVE A JUNIOR WHO DRIVES MY CAR TO SCHOOL AND COMES HOME AT SECOND PERIOD AND DROPS MY CAR OFF AND THEN GOES BACK TO SCHOOL.
THE LEAVING AND COMING OUT OF THE BUILDING AS YOU GO THROUGH SCHOOL, AS YOU'RE A JUNIOR AND SENIOR ALSO LOOKS VERY DIFFERENT THAN WHAT HAPPENS WHEN YOU'RE IN NINTH AND TENTH GRADER.
PUTTING THE STOP SIGN UP IN SUCH A BIG WAY, THERE'S SO MANY NUANCED IMPACTS OF IT THAT I SUPPORT THE IDEA OF HOW DOES THIS UNFOLD OVER THE NEXT YEAR IN ALL OF THESE INSTANCES.
BUT ALSO TRYING TO DISCIPLINE THE KIDS AND ENFORCE WHAT'S GOING ON NOW BECAUSE I JUST DON'T THINK THERE'S A TON OF ENFORCEMENT.
I THINK THIS IS A GREAT OPPORTUNITY TO SEE WHAT ENFORCEMENT NEEDS TO LOOK LIKE TOO.
AGAIN, HAPPY TO SPEAK, BUT REALLY JUST MORE TO LISTEN AND TO SUPPORT THE CONVERSATION. THANK YOU.
>> [LAUGHTER] I THINK WE NEED A MOTION THEN OF WHICH DIRECTION TO HEAD.
I CAN'T MAKE A MOTION [LAUGHTER]
>> MOTION TO MOVE FORWARD, ONE OR THE OTHER OPTION.
>> SORRY. I'LL MAKE A MOTION TO MOVE FORWARD WITH THE RESTRICTION IN THE CLASSROOMS.
>> YEAH, I DON'T HAVE IT IN FRONT OF ME, BUT WHICHEVER ONE WAS THAT.
>> THEN I'LL SECOND IT. I THOUGHT I MADE THE MOTION, BUT THAT'S OKAY.
>> WE'RE VOTING TO MOVE FORWARD WITH OPTION A TO THE THIRD READING?
>> CORRECT. THAT'S THE MOTION.
>> ANY OTHER COMMENTS OR QUESTIONS ABOUT THAT? THIS WOULD BE NOT MOVING FORWARD WITH OPTION B.
>> THERE'LL BE A SEPARATE MOTION TO DO THE REVERSE.
>> WELL, I GUESS IF THE FIRST MOTION DOESN'T PASS, THEN WE WILL HAVE TO HAVE A MOTION FOR THE SECOND.
>> ALL IN FAVOR OF MOVING FORWARD WITH OPTION A?
>> ABSTENTIONS? NO. THAT MOTION FAILED 3-4.
>> THEN YOU NEED A MOTION TO MOVE.
>> DOES SOMEBODY WANT TO MAKE A MOTION TO MOVE FORWARD WITH OPTION B?
>> MOTION TO MOVE FORWARD FOR THIRD READING WITH OPTION B, THE MORE RESTRICTIVE POLICY, BUT NOT A BAN [LAUGHTER]
[03:05:06]
>> [OVERLAPPING] THE KIDS WILL HAVE THEIR CELL PHONES ON THEIR PERSON, BUT NOT USING THEM.
>> OTHER THAN PRE AUTHORIZED USES.
>> WHICH COULD BE A LOT OF THEM.
>> WE HAVE A MOTION. DO WE HAVE A SECOND?
>> ANY OTHER COMMENTS OR QUESTIONS? ALL IN FAVOR OF MOVING FORWARD WITH OPTION B?
>> I'M FINE EITHER WAY IN TERMS OF MOVING FORWARD.
I'M A THREE [LAUGHTER] [OVERLAPPING] I THINK WE HAVE TO DO SOMETHING.
>> YEAH. IT MOVES FORWARD WITH FOUR.
>> I GUESS WHICH ARE YOU, A YAY OR NAY?
>> I CAN BE A YAY, THAT'S FINE.
>> SENTENCE NO, SO THAT MOTION CARRIED 5:2.
>> NOW, THIS DOESN'T MEAN BECAUSE WE STILL HAVE A THIRD READING THAT THIS CANNOT DEVELOP INTO WHERE WE DEFINE WHAT PRE-APPROVED IS AND HOW THAT LOOKS LIKE, AND THAT THEN WHEN YOU GO TO IMPLEMENT THAT WE GIVE EVERY SUPPORT WE HAVE TO GIVE TO ENSURE THAT THIS IS DONE WELL AND DONE RIGHT.
I DON'T THINK WE'RE IN THE POLICY OR IN THE STATE WHERE WE'RE TAKING AWAY PEOPLE'S CELL PHONE AT THE DOOR.
BUT IT BECOMES A CULTURE OF PUT IT AWAY IN YOUR BACKPACK.
>> WHAT I WOULD JUST SAY TO THAT, I THINK WE'VE GOT A COUPLE OF WEEKS TO THINK ABOUT THIS BETWEEN NOW AND THEN.
BUT I THINK PEOPLE HAVE RAISED GOOD POINTS.
IT IS A CULTURE CHANGE AND CULTURE CHANGE IS VERY DIFFICULT.
HAVING BEEN A HIGH SCHOOL PRINCIPAL BEFORE, I LOOK AROUND THE TABLE AND OTHER ADMINISTRATORS, ANY SIGNIFICANT CHANGE IN STUDENT BEHAVIOR IS SIGNIFICANT WORK.
STEVEN AND I TALKING THE OTHER DAY, PUTTING IN A NEW ATTENDANCE POLICY BOTH OF US HAVE EXPERIENCED AND THAT DOMINATES A YEAR.
THIS TYPE OF APPROACH WILL DOMINATE ALL THAT THEY DO FOR THE YEAR.
WILL THEY RISE TO THE OCCASION? YES. WILL WE IMPLEMENT WHATEVER POLICY THE BOARD WANTS? OF COURSE, THAT'S OUR JOB TO DO, AND WE WILL DO THAT.
BUT UNDERSTAND THAT WILL BE A SIGNIFICANT CULTURE CHANGE, AND IT WILL REQUIRE SIGNIFICANT RESOURCES, AND THERE WILL HAVE TO BE, AS WE'VE ALREADY SAID, A HOLISTIC APPROACH TO THIS, THE POSITIVE, OF COURSE.
BUT THERE WILL HAVE TO BE CONSEQUENCES THAT COME WITH THIS.
THERE WILL HAVE TO BE ENFORCEMENT, AND THERE WILL HAVE TO BE SUPPORT FOR THE ENFORCEMENT OF THE POLICY.
I THINK THOSE ARE IMPORTANT THINGS TO THINK ABOUT AS WELL, WHEN YOU TALK ABOUT WHAT IS THE CULTURE THAT WE WANT TO CREATE FOR THE STUDENTS? NOTHING HAPPENS IN A VACUUM AND ESPECIALLY WHEN YOU'RE TRYING TO CHANGE BEHAVIOR AND ESPECIALLY WHEN YOU'RE TRYING TO CHANGE THE BEHAVIOR OF ADOLESCENTS IN A SCHOOL ENVIRONMENT.
>> I THINK ALSO WE'RE TAKING AWAY THE AGENCY OF THE ADMINISTRATORS FROM ACTUALLY DEALING WITH THIS IN THE COMING YEAR.
I UNDERSTAND THIS IS WHAT WE DO AS A BOARD, AND WE'RE NOT GOING TO ALWAYS AGREE.
BUT WE'RE POTENTIALLY TAKING THAT AWAY FROM THEM WITH A VOTE LIKE THIS.
>> WHAT DO YOU MEAN EXACTLY? NOT ALLOWING THEM TO MAKE THE DECISION OF WHETHER THEY ALLOW CELL PHONES OR NOT WITHIN THEIR CLASSROOM SETTING?
>> NO. NOT ALLOWING THEM TO ENFORCE A RULE THAT RIGHT NOW IS NOT BEING ENFORCED AND SEEING THE POSITIVE BENEFITS OF THAT, OF WHAT WOULD THAT BE LIKE IF ALL THE TEACHERS FELT SUPPORTED? BECAUSE WE DID THE TEACHER SURVEY, AND IT WAS NOT CLEAR.
I READ IT AS RIGHT DOWN THE LINE.
I FEEL STRONGLY THAT WE DON'T RUN THE SCHOOL, THE ADMINISTRATION RUNS THE SCHOOL, AND SO FROM DAY 1, THIS CELL PHONE CONVERSATION HAS COME FROM US AS A BOARD.
IT HASN'T COME FROM THE DISTRICT.
I'M NOT SAYING I HAVEN'T SAT IN WELLNESS COMMITTEE MEETINGS WHERE WE'VE DISCUSSED THE IMPACT OF SOCIAL MEDIA AND CELL PHONES AND ATTENTION AND WHATNOT.
BUT WE'VE BEEN DRIVING THIS, AND I THINK THAT HAS BEEN PART OF THE PROBLEM, IF I'M BEING COMPLETELY HONEST.
I THINK IF YOU WERE TO PULL ALL OF PELHAM, I DON'T THINK YOU'D GET MANY PEOPLE WHO SAY, NO, CELL PHONES ARE GREAT,
[03:10:01]
AND I WANT TO TALK TO MY KIDS ALL DAY LONG AND FACE TIME THEM ALL DAY LONG.BUT I THINK WHAT'S HAPPENED IS, THIS IS BEING DRIVEN FROM THE START BY THE BOARD, AND BECAUSE OF THAT, IT SETS IT UP DIFFERENTLY THAN IF THE ADMINISTRATION CAME TO US OR CAME TO DR.
CHAMP AND SAID, LOOK, WE HAVE A PROBLEM.
WE'VE GOT, WHATEVER THE PROBLEMS ARE, GRADES ARE GOING DOWN, BEHAVIORAL ISSUES.
WE NEED SOMETHING TO BE DONE ABOUT CELL PHONES BECAUSE THIS IS AN ISSUE.
THEN THE RESPONSIBILITY GOES BACK TO THE ADMINISTRATION TO DEAL WITH, HOW DO WE FIX THIS WITH OUR SUPPORT? THAT I FEEL IS PART OF WHY I THINK IT'S CONFUSING FOR US TO LOOK AT THE COMMUNITY AND SAY, HOW DO YOU NOT SUPPORT THIS? BECAUSE I GET IT. YOU AND I DISCUSSED THIS EARLY ON, HOW IS IT THAT PEOPLE WE WOULD THINK, IF YOU'RE GOING TO MAKE ASSUMPTIONS, WOULDN'T SUPPORT SOME RESTRICTION, I'LL CALL IT, NOT A BAN.
I THINK IT COMES DOWN TO THE FACT THAT THE BOARD DOESN'T RUN THE SCHOOLS.
WE DON'T. THE ADMINISTRATION RUNS THE SCHOOLS.
BY DOING THIS, I BELIEVE WE'RE SETTING A MESSAGE TO THE ADMINISTRATION COMING INTO THE HIGH SCHOOL SAYING, DO AS I SAY.
AGAIN, I'LL SAY IT AND I'VE SAID IT A MILLION TIMES, I DON'T DISAGREE THAT THERE'S A PROBLEM.
IT'S THE APPROACH, AND I WANT OUR ADMINISTRATORS TO FEEL LIKE WE HAVE CONFIDENCE IN THEM TO ADDRESS AN ISSUE.
IF WE HAVE IN THIS POLICY A STATEMENT THAT SAYS, WE'RE GOING TO LOOK AT IT EACH YEAR, THEN THAT ACKNOWLEDGES THE FACT THAT THIS IS EVER CHANGING AND THIS IS A SITUATION WHERE WE HAVE VERY CAPABLE ADMINISTRATORS WHO IN MR. LUELLEN'S CASE IS COMING FROM A BUILDING WHERE THERE IS A CELL PHONE BAN.
THINKING BACK ON THE RESULTS OF THE SURVEY, IT WAS MIXED FROM THE TEACHERS.
ALL THE TEACHERS DIDN'T SAY IT WAS A PROBLEM, SO IT CONCERNS ME THAT WE WOULD TAKE IT UPON OURSELVES TO SET A POLICY KNOWING THAT THAT INFORMATION IS NOT COMPLETELY CLEAR.
>> JUST TO GIVE YOU MY TWO CENTS ON THAT.
FOR ME, THIS ISSUE CAME UP REALLY AFTER THE HALLOWEEN INCIDENT IN THE HIGH SCHOOL TWO PLUS YEARS AGO, THAT TOTALLY INVOLVED CELL PHONES AND SOCIAL MEDIA.
I HEAR WHAT YOU'RE SAYING ABOUT THE ADMINISTRATION, AND I THINK WE'RE GOING TO BE IN REALLY GOOD HANDS WITH MR. LLEWELLYN AND DR. TITONE.
BUT THERE REALLY WAS A SERIOUS SAFETY INCIDENT THAT CAME DOWN TO THIS, TO ME AS LIKE THE ROOT CAUSE.
I THINK THERE DOES HAVE TO BE SOME RESPONSE TO THAT.
>> I HEAR YOU. WHAT WE'RE SENDING, I FEEL WE'RE SENDING A MESSAGE TO THEM SAYING, YOU DIDN'T REALLY FIGURE THIS OUT, WE'RE GOING TO DO IT FOR YOU.
I DON'T THINK THAT EXUDES A SENSE OF PARTNERSHIP OR BELIEF OR CONFIDENCE IN WHAT THEY'RE CAPABLE OF DOING.
>> I WOULD JUST EXPRESS I HAVE A LOT OF CONFIDENCE IN THEM.
AGAIN, THE POLICY IS NOT EVEN DETERMINED YET.
IT STILL NEEDS TO BE WRITTEN, BUT IT'S NOT A LACK OF CONFIDENCE.
IT'S A RECOGNITION OF THE ADDICTION THAT I THINK THERE'S AN INCREDIBLE AMOUNT OF EVIDENCE. I THINK DR.
CHAMP, YOU EVEN SAID YOU WOULD BENEFIT FROM A POLICY,
[03:15:03]
THAT WAS PART OF THE IMPETUS FOR EVEN PUSHING THIS.THE PROVISION TO REVIEW EVERY YEAR IS IN THE POLICY, INCLUDING REVIEWING WHAT WE'RE TALKING ABOUT NOW, BECAUSE AGAIN, I THINK WE'VE TRIED TO TAKE A LOT OF STEPS IN THE LANGUAGE OF THE POLICY ITSELF TO MAKE IT RESPONSIVE, ACCOUNTABLE.
BUT AGAIN, WE'RE NOT EVEN VOTING ON THE ACTUAL POLICY, WE'RE JUST VOTING ON WHAT TO GO FORWARD WITH A THIRD READING.
>> WE'RE SAYING IT'S NOT A BAN, BUT I'M GOING TO USE THE WORD FEEL, EVEN THOUGH THE POLICY THAT WE'RE MOVING FORWARD WITH FEELS LIKE A BAN.
I GUESS IN THE NEXT ITERATION, I'D LIKE TO SEE, AND I THINK I TALKED ABOUT THIS THE LAST TIME WHEN YOU WEREN'T HERE.
WELL, JUST A LITTLE MORE OF WHAT THOSE EXCEPTIONS MIGHT LOOK LIKE.
MICHAEL, YOU WERE ALLUDING TO THAT AS WELL.
WHAT SOME OF THE USES OF CELL PHONES THAT WILL BE ALLOWED IN THE HIGH SCHOOL.
>> I THINK PRE-AUTHORIZED USES THAT THOSE TWO WORDS CAN DO A LOT OF WORK, ACTUALLY.
>> I WOULD SAY IT CERTAINLY WOULD TAKE SOME TIME TO DEVELOP SOME OF THE LEVEL OF DETAIL AND SOME OF THE LEVEL OF DETAIL MAY NOT BE NECESSARY FOR A POLICY PER SE, MAYBE MORE IN THE IMPLEMENTATION.
I'M JUST TRYING TO BE SENSITIVE TO THE FACT THAT WE'RE WRAPPING UP THE SCHOOL YEAR, AND I DON'T WANT TO MAKE PROMISES THAT I CAN'T KEEP ABOUT INFORMATION I CAN BRING NEXT TIME GIVEN THE LOAD THAT'S ON THE PLANE OF THE ADMINISTRATORS.
BUT I HEAR WHAT YOU'RE SAYING AND I APPRECIATE THAT.
>>THAT JUST MAKES ME EVEN MORE CONCERNED.
>> SORRY. THAT JUST MAKES ME A LITTLE MORE CONCERNED.
I'M NOT SAYING I WANT TO PUT MORE AT THE SPEED AT WHICH WE'RE DOING THIS WITHOUT HAVING MORE FULSOME DISCUSSION ON WHAT IT LOOKS LIKE IN PRACTICE.
>> BUT I THINK WHAT THAT LOOKS LIKE, THEN THAT'S WHERE YOU LEAVE IT TO THE ADMINISTRATORS.
CHAMP AND HER EXPERTISE AND THE CABINET.
>> YES, I UNDERSTAND. I'M NOT SAYING WE'D HAVE A FULL IMPLEMENTATION PLAN, BUT JUST SOME GENERAL IDEA OF WHAT THIS IS GOING TO LOOK LIKE, I THINK IS IMPORTANT.
>> IT'S A HUGE CULTURE SHIFT, WHICH IS WHY WE'RE TALKING ABOUT THIS BECAUSE THERE'S A HUGE CULTURAL PROBLEM, AND WE'RE LOOKING AT TWO MONTHS BASICALLY BETWEEN NOW AND SEPTEMBER.
THERE ARE THINGS THAT WE'RE NOT EVEN THINKING OF RIGHT NOW THAT ARE GOING TO HAVE AN IMPACT ON DIFFERENT PARTS OF THE ADMINISTRATION.
I KNOW WE'RE NOT VOTING ON IT TONIGHT.
BUT I WOULD LIKE TO HAVE SEEN US TAKE AN APPROACH WHERE THERE'S A TASK FORCE THAT LOOKS AT, WHAT IF WE HAVE A BAN? WHAT DOES THAT MEAN THEN? RIGHT NOW, STUDENTS USE THEIR PHONES TO ACCESS WEBSITES THAT THEY CANNOT ACCESS FOR WHATEVER REASON.
THEN WHAT DOES THAT MEAN FOR THE TECHNOLOGY DEPARTMENT? WHAT CHANGES DO THEY NEED TO MAKE SO THAT THOSE WEBSITES CAN BE ACCESSED? I CAN'T EVEN THINK OF ALL THE SCENARIOS BECAUSE I'M NOT IN THE SCHOOL.
I'M NOT RUNNING THE SCHOOL, I'M NOT IN THE CLASSROOM.
I DON'T KNOW WHAT THE TEACHERS ARE DEALING WITH.
THEY KNOW WHAT THEY'RE DEALING WITH, AND SO TWO MONTHS NOW WITH A NEW STRATEGIC PLAN CONCERNS ME.
>> MAYBE I'M OVERTHINKING THIS, BUT IT SEEMS LIKE IT'S NOT JUST A FLICK OF A SWITCH.
>> I'M SORRY. BECAUSE IT IS NOT A FLICK OF THE SWITCH, THE WAY I ENVISION THIS IS, AND AGAIN, NOT AN ADMINISTRATOR, NOT THE ONE THAT'S GOING TO IMPLEMENT THIS.
BUT WHAT MAKES US THINK THAT ITS 0-100 IN TWO SECONDS? I AM SURE THERE'S GOING TO BE VARYING DEGREES OF INTRODUCING THIS SITUATION? HEY, WE ARE GOING TO HAVE A NEW POLICY.
THE FIRST COUPLE OF WEEKS ARE GOING TO BE ROUGH.
I DON'T WANT ANY KID TO BE PER SE, THROWN OUT OF SCHOOL BECAUSE YOU USE A CELL PHONE DURING THE FIRST TWO WEEKS.
IT'S GOING TO TAKE SOME TIME OF HEY, REMINDER, THE CULTURE IS CHANGING, REMINDER, CHANGE TAKES TIME.
[03:20:02]
WE WON'T HAVE CELL PHONES NO, YOU CAN'T USE YOUR CELL PHONE IN THE HALLWAY.THAT MAY TAKE 2-3 WEEKS, MAYBE A MONTH WHERE YOU HAVE TO REMIND PEOPLE THIS IS JUST NOT WHAT YOU DO ANYMORE UNTIL PEOPLE GET IT.
CAN'T USE MY CELL PHONE IN THE HALLWAY ANYMORE OR IN THE BATHROOMS AND GO FROM THERE.
I DON'T ENVISION THAT DAY 1, EVERYONE'S GOING TO PUT THEIR CELL PHONES IN THEIR BACK POCKET.
REALISTICALLY, IT'S JUST NOT GOING TO HAPPEN.
BUT THAT WE COULD CONTINUOUSLY SAY, HEY, REMINDER, THIS IS THE NEW WAY OF DOING THINGS.
PUT YOUR CELL PHONE IN YOUR BACK POCKET, PLEASE.
>> WHEN I SAY WE, I MEAN THE ADMINISTRATORS COULD SAY THAT TO THE KIDS BECAUSE THEY'RE THE ONES THAT ARE GOING TO DO THE MORNING MEETINGS OR FOLLOW THAT POLICY.
>> THAT DAY 1, I THINK IF IT WERE LIKE THAT DAY 1, I THINK THAT WE'D BE GOOD.
>> STEVE, JOE, YOU GUYS CAN GO. IT'S LATE.
>> THANK YOU SO MUCH. SAFE RIDES HOME.
I KNOW WE WANT TO CONTINUE THIS CONVERSATION, SO I DIDN'T NEED TO INTERRUPT THERE, BUT NO [INAUDIBLE].
>> AGAIN, I JUST WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT YOU HAVE THE SUPPORT YOU NEED TO GET THIS DONE.
LET'S SAY THE GOVERNMENT COMES BACK TOMORROW AND SAYS, NEW YORK STATE, THAT'S IT, YOU'RE DONE, NO CELL PHONES.
HOW WILL WE IMPLEMENT IT? HOW WOULD THE DISTRICT IMPLEMENT IT? THEY WILL HAVE TO COME UP WITH A PLAN.
I WISH HE WOULD SAY EVERYBODY GETS A FREE FLIP PHONE, AND THEN WE'LL BE DONE.
BUT WHAT HAPPENS IF THAT COMES, WHICH MAY BE A REALITY?
>> IT MAY BE, BUT IT'S NOT THE REALITY TODAY, AND WE HAVE THE ABILITY TO ACTUALLY PUT OUR TRUST IN THE ADMINISTRATION TO COME UP WITH A PLAN THAT WORKS AT A PACE THAT IS URGENT, BUT ALSO TAKES INTO ACCOUNT EVERYTHING ELSE THAT NEEDS TO HAPPEN BETWEEN NOW AND SEPTEMBER.
>> I DON'T WANT TO BELABOR THIS. I THINK MY SENSE IS THERE'S A REAL ISSUE IN THE HIGH SCHOOL WITH CELL PHONES.
I KNOW MY VOTES WERE A LITTLE WEIRD, BUT IT FELT TO ME LIKE WE SHOULD BE DOING SOMETHING ON THIS.
>> REALISTICALLY, I THINK NOT THIS FALL BUT NEXT FALL, BY THEN, THE STATE WILL HAVE PASSED A RULE, LAW, SOMETHING AROUND THIS.
GAVIN NEWSOM IS PROPOSING SOMETHING TODAY IN CALIFORNIA FOR A BAN STATEWIDE, IT'S HAPPENING.
I THINK WE WILL BE BETTER ABLE TO PREPARE FOR IT IF WE DO IT IN STEPS.
BUT I THINK WE HAVE TO START DOING SOMETHING, JUST THE STATUS QUO ISN'T GOING TO WORK.
>> I AGREE, AND I THINK THAT THE CONVERSATION WE'VE BEEN HAVING FOR MONTHS IS US DOING SOMETHING.
>> I THOUGHT THE FIRST VERSION WAS MORE ALIGNED TO DOING IT STEP-WISE.
>> THAT IS WHERE I WAS COMING FROM.
>> SEE I READ THE FIRST POLICY ACTUALLY MORE LENIENT THAN WHAT WE HAVE, THE GUIDELINES WE HAVE TODAY.
>> I GUESS I'VE BEEN THINKING ABOUT THAT A LOT BECAUSE I KNOW THAT HAS JUST COME UP.
ON PAPER, THE ESPOUSED PROCEDURES, YES, BUT THE ENACTED PROCEDURES, NO.
>> I THINK IT WOULD DEFINITELY BE AN INCREMENTAL STEP FORWARD.
WHAT'S WRITTEN HERE AND WITH THE INITIAL IMPLEMENTATION PLANS WE'VE ALREADY TALKED ABOUT, I THINK WOULD BE A SIGNIFICANT CHANGE WITH OPTION A.
BUT YEAH, ON PAPER, IT LOOKS LIKE IT'S LESS, BUT IN REALITY, IT WOULD BE MORE.
>> I GUESS ONE THING ALONG THOSE LINES WAS ACTUALLY THE PLACES WHERE THE SURVEYS IDENTIFIED ISSUES WERE CLASSROOMS, WERE THE DIFFICULTY ON TEACHERS FROM UNEVEN ENFORCEMENT, MAKING IT HARD FOR TEACHERS TO TRY TO PUSH IT IN THE CLASSROOMS. BUT THE PASSING TIME NOT AN ISSUE, ACTUALLY COMMENTS FROM TEACHERS ABOUT STUDY HALLS BEING THE EFFORT WAS MORE DISTRACTING THAN THE ACTUAL USE, AND THAT THAT WAS SOMEPLACE WHERE WE MIGHT WANT TO THINK ABOUT LOOSENING EXPECTATIONS.
I DON'T KNOW THAT IT'S ACROSS THE BOARD AS CLEAR-CUT IS.
>> THAT COULD BE THE PRE-APPROVED AND SOME OF IT [OVERLAPPING].
>> MAYBE THAT'S THE RIGHT COMPROMISE, BUT I DON'T KNOW.
DO THE PEOPLE WHO ARE PUTTING FORWARD OPTION B THINK THAT YOU DON'T HAVE TO SAY NOW,
[03:25:05]
BUT DOES PRE-APPROVED MEAN STUDY HALLS CAN BE PRE-APPROVED? IF THAT'S WHAT THE ADMINISTRATION THINKS IS A FINE USE BECAUSE IT'S NOT DISTRACTING OTHER STUDENTS.>> TO ME, I NEED TO DO A FINES RESEARCH AND I'M AT STUDY HALL, AND ALL IT TAKES IS, HEY, TEACHER, CAN I LOOK SOMETHING UP BECAUSE THE CHROMEBOOK DOESN'T ALLOW ME TO? TO ME, IT'S A CONVERSATION.
IT'S KIND OF ASKING AND SAYING, HERE'S MY INTENT.
WHICH I THINK WE DO IN DIFFERENT PLACES.
I'M AN ADULT, BUT WHEN I'M TRAVELING TO IMMIGRATION, I BETTER NOT WHIP UP THAT PHONE BECAUSE I GET SCREAMED AT AND THEY TAKE ME AND TELL ME TO GO BACK OUT AND NOT ENTER THAT AREA BECAUSE THAT'S A CELL PHONE-FREE AREA.
THERE ARE A NUMBER OF PLACES WHERE WE JUST CANNOT USE THE CELL PHONE FOR, COURTHOUSE, THERE'S A NUMBER OF AREAS.
TO ME, IT'S JUST, HEY, IF I NEED TO USE IT, I'LL ASK FOR IT.
>> I WOULD SAY THE CHALLENGE TO THAT IS THEN YOU'RE THEN PUTTING THE TEACHER IN THE ENFORCEMENT ROLE AGAIN.
THE MORE VARIABILITY YOU ADD TO IT.
THAT'S IN EITHER CASE, EITHER POLICY A OR POLICY B, THE MORE THAT YOU'RE DEFERRING, YOU'RE PUTTING THE TEACHERS BACK IN THE ENFORCEMENT SITUATION.
I COULD EASILY ARGUE EITHER OF THE POLICIES BECAUSE THE MORE CONSISTENT IS THE SECOND ONE WHERE THERE'S NO VARIABILITY OR LITTLE VARIABILITY.
[OVERLAPPING] I THINK THE CHALLENGE, AND I HEAR WHAT AMARI IS SAYING, IS IF THE PERSPECTIVE OF THE ADMINISTRATORS WAS THE INCREMENTAL APPROACH IS THE ENFORCEABLE ONE FROM THEIR PERSPECTIVE AND THEIR RECOMMENDATION, YOU USED THE WORD AGENCY, AND THAT'S WHAT I HEARD WHEN YOU SAID THAT, THEY'RE SAYING THIS, BUT WE'RE SAYING THAT.
I JUST THINK THAT THERE'S WISDOM THERE.
WHATEVER IS SET UP HAS TO BE STRUCTURED TO BE ENFORCEABLE, KNOWING WE HAVE ONE PRINCIPAL, ONE ASSISTANT PRINCIPAL, A FANTASTIC BUT SOMEWHAT SKELETAL MONITOR STAFF.
WE WANT OUR TEACHERS TEACHING AND NOT POLICING CELL PHONES.
IN THE MIDDLE OF ALL THAT, HOW DO WE SET UP SOMETHING THAT CAN ACTUALLY BE SUCCESSFUL AND IMPROVE THE CLIMATE? BECAUSE I THINK WE ARE ALL AGREED, WE ALL WANT TO SEE AN IMPROVEMENT IN THIS.
I THINK SOMEBODY SAID IT EARLIER, IT'S JUST THE HOW.
WE'RE JUST DIFFERING ON THE HOW.
DO WE WANT AN INCREMENTAL STEP OR DO WE WANT A BOLD, ALL-THE-WAY STEP?
>> SO WE'LL GO TO THE THIRD READING.
>> WE STAND AT THIS POINT [OVERLAPPING].
>> THE QUESTION WOULD BE, IT'S THE POLICY COMMITTEE MEETING AGAIN, I GUESS, OR NO?
>> NO, AND I GUESS THE QUESTION WOULD BE WHAT WOULD YOU WANT TO SEE DIFFERENT FOR A THIRD READING THEN? I THINK THAT'S IMPORTANT BEFORE WE LEAVE, IF WE'RE LEAVING HERE, ARE PEOPLE LOOKING TO SEE SOMETHING DIFFERENT ON THE THIRD READING?
>> I DON'T WANT TO PUT THE PRESSURE ON YOU TO COME UP WITH A SNOW DAY PROPOSAL FOR THIS TOO.
>> SHE CAME UP WITH A GREAT ONE.
>> [OVERLAPPING] YOU CAME UP WITH A GREAT COMPROMISE OR GREAT OUT-OF-THE-BOX THINKING THERE.
>> THE ONLY THING THAT COMES TO MIND FOR ME BECAUSE I THINK THAT THE IDEA OF PRE-AUTHORIZED BY THE TEACHER OR OTHER DISTRICT OFFICIAL REALLY OFFERS QUITE A LOT OF FLEXIBILITY.
BUT THE ONLY OTHER THING OCCURRED TO ME WAS, THERE'S NO, AT LEAST THE WAY I READ IT, IMPLEMENTATION DEADLINE OR SCHEDULE.
I DON'T KNOW IF THAT COULD BE PUT MORE CLEAR, LIKE THIS IS TO BE IMPLEMENTED AT THE PACE AS DETERMINED BY THE SUPERINTENDENT OR SOMETHING LIKE THAT.
>> YEAH. I DON'T KNOW THAT IT'S NECESSARY.
ANY CHANGE LIKE THIS, ESPECIALLY A MAJOR CHANGE, YOU'VE GOT TO DO IT OUT OF THE GATE ON DAY 1, PERIOD, END OF STORY.
THERE'S EVEN, WE TALK ABOUT DIFFERENT EXPECTATIONS FOR DIFFERENT GRADE LEVELS, THAT'S NOT REALISTIC.
IF YOU HAD KIDS IN DIFFERENT HALLWAYS AND DIFFERENT HOUSES, AND DIFFERENT FLOORS, YEAH.
BUT IN THIS WHERE YOU'VE GOT 9-12 CO-MINGLED IN THE SAME HALLWAYS, THERE'S NO PHASING.
>> IT'S ALL OR NONE. FOR WHATEVER IT IS, IT'S GOT TO BE ALL OR NONE FOR THERE TO BE ANY CHANCE OF IT BEING CONSISTENTLY ENFORCED.
I APPRECIATE THE FLEXIBILITY ON THAT, I DO.
I KNOW WHERE YOU'RE TRYING TO GO WITH THAT, BUT THAT'S JUST THE REALITY. IT'S GOT TO BE FROM DAY 1.
>> WE DIDN'T LISTEN TO MR. ROE AND DR. TITONE. THAT'S IT.
>> WAS THAT AT THE POLICY COMMITTEE? THERE THEY WERE [OVERLAPPING]?
[03:30:01]
>> THAT DOESN'T SIT WELL WITH ME AT ALL.
>> I GUESS THAT DOESN'T REALLY MATCH THE WAY I RECALL WHEN THEY DID COME TO THE POLICY MEETING.
I DON'T REMEMBER THEM GIVING US REALLY A CLEAR ANSWER OTHER THAN THAT THEY WOULD IMPLEMENT WHATEVER WAS APPROVED.
>> WELL, I THINK THERE WAS ALSO QUESTIONS THAT WERE ASKED TO THEM FOR A SUBSEQUENT MEETING, AND I MET WITH THEM AND BROUGHT THOSE ANSWERS BACK TO THE POLICY COMMITTEE [OVERLAPPING].
>> YEAH, WE RECEIVED AN EMAIL.
>> PROBABLY MORE CLEAR, THAT ONE.
>> I THINK WE'VE DONE A GREAT JOB THROUGHOUT THE YEAR OF GUIDING THE DISTRICT AND DEFERRING TO THE ADMINISTRATION AS THE EXPERTS.
BUT FOR THIS PARTICULAR ISSUE, WE'VE JUST NOT DONE THAT, AND THAT'S DISAPPOINTING TO ME.
[9.2 Motion to Approve Schedule C - Instructional]
[9.3 Motion to Approve Schedule C - Non-Instructional]
DO WE HAVE A MOTION TO APPROVE 9.2 AND 9.3?>> I'M GOING TO ABSTAIN BECAUSE I KNOW AN INDIVIDUAL ON ONE OF THESE.
>> ANY OPPOSED AND ABSTENTION.
>> OH, SORRY. I WAS [INAUDIBLE].
>> OKAY. DO WE HAVE A MOTION TO APPROVE SCHEDULE D,
[10.1 Motion to Approve Schedule D – Committee on Special Education (Confidential)]
COMMITTEE ON SPECIAL EDUCATION?[11.1 New Business]
>> I DID JUST WANT TO ASK A QUICK FOLLOW-UP.
I SHARED WITH THE BOARD PROPOSAL OF A LONG-TERM PLAN TO HELP PROVIDE BETTER SUPPORT STRUCTURE FOR THE ATHLETICS PROGRAM.
CERTAINLY, NOT ASKING YOU TO DECIDE ON THE ENTIRE THING NOW, THAT'S REALLY PART OF A, I THINK, BROADER CONVERSATION THROUGH STRATEGIC PLANNING, BUT DID WANT TO ASK JUST SOME ANY THOUGHTS OR FEEDBACK ON THE PROPOSAL TO CREATE A POSITION THAT WOULD BE A LARGER ATHLETIC COORDINATOR, EQUIPMENT MANAGER SCHEDULE POSITION? THAT WAS ONE ITEM THAT I WAS LOOKING TO WORK WITH THE UNION TO CREATE, AND THEN ALSO THERE WAS A POSITION TO SUPPORT THE FITNESS ROOM AS WELL.
>> NOW, WOULD THE FITNESS ROOM BE SUPPORTED AT LEAST FIRST YEAR FROM LEFTOVER MONEY FROM FRIENDS OF PELHAM SPORTS?
>> YES, FRIENDS OF PELHAM SPORTS ARE GIVING US SOME ADDITIONAL FUNDS TO SUPPORT WHATEVER NEEDS ARE FOR THE ROOM.
>> THEN AFTER THAT, IT WOULD BE COMING FOR US?
>> IT WOULD BE THE DISTRICT'S RESPONSIBILITY.
THAT WOULD GIVE US A GOOD YEAR TO TEST THE MODEL, THE APPROACH.
>> I SAW THE SCHEDULE THAT YOU PROVIDED.
>> YEAH, AND I KNOW MR. [INAUDIBLE] IS LOOKING TO REALLY TO TRACK METRICS ON THAT TOO TO SEE HOW MANY KIDS ARE USING IT, HOW WE ARE ACCESSING IT, SO WE CAN TRY TO TWEAK IT TO BE AS SUCCESSFUL AS POSSIBLE.
>> I JUST WANT TO SAY THERE WAS A GOOD BREAKDOWN BETWEEN FEMALE SPORTS AND MALE SPORTS, SO IT WASN'T JUST ALL FOOTBALL AND BOYS LACROSSE THAT ARE USING THIS, IT'S A BIG SCHEDULE WITH THE FEMALE TEAMS USING THIS SPACE AS WELL.
I JUST WANT TO PUT THAT OUT THERE BECAUSE I TOOK A LOOK.
I'M FULLY SUPPORTIVE OF GIVING HIM SUPPORT BECAUSE WE'VE HEARD ALL YEAR LONG THAT IT'S REALLY HARD TO SCHEDULE, ESPECIALLY BECAUSE WITH THE WEATHER, WE HAVE TURF FIELD, SO I DO KNOW OTHER SCHOOLS LIKE COMING HERE BECAUSE WE COULD SUPPORT HAVING GAMES IN THE RAIN OR RIGHT AFTER IT'S RAINED A LOT.
SOMETIMES THEIR FIELDS OR GRASS, AND IT'S HARD FOR THEM TO PLAY GAMES THERE.
IF YOU NEED TO SPEND TWO OR THREE HOURS JUST CHANGING FIVE GAMES, IT DOES EAT INTO YOUR SCHEDULE.
I'M FULLY SUPPORTIVE OF PROVIDING THAT, I GUESS, FTE OR IN THE FUTURE.
IT'S GOING TO TURN INTO A FULL [OVERLAPPING].
>> THE WAY WE'RE STRUCTURING IT, FOR THIS COMING YEAR, THE HOPE WAS TO HAVE A STIPEND AND HAVE SOMEONE,
[03:35:03]
WE HAPPEN TO HAVE AN INDIVIDUAL WHO SCHEDULE-WISE, IT WOULD WORK OUT AND HE ALSO HAS THE TALENT FOR THAT KIND OF WORK.>> YEAH, I THOUGHT THE COMPELLING PIECE OF THE PROPOSAL WAS JUST LOOKING AT THE INCREASE IN ATHLETIC PROGRAM.
>> OVER THE YEARS, THE NUMBER OF STUDENTS WHO ARE NOW ENGAGING ATHLETICS NOW VERSUS 10 YEARS AGO, I THINK IT WAS THE TIME PERIOD.
BUT THE HEADCOUNT HAS REMAINED COMPLETELY FLAT.
THE COMPLEXITY HAS INCREASED, BUT THE RESOURCE TO MANAGE IT HASN'T, SO I THINK IT'S A GOOD PROPOSAL.
>> I THINK IT WOULD BE GREAT TO HEAR A LITTLE BIT FROM JOE AT SOME POINT ON WHAT HE ENVISIONS BEING ABLE TO DO WITH HIS FREE TIME?
>> YEAH. [LAUGHTER] THAT WHY I ASKED HIM TO MAKE SURE TO TRY TO NOTE IN THERE.
YES, THIS IS MOVING, BUT WHAT IS THAT NOW GOING TO ENABLE YOU TO DO? HE'D BE HAPPY TO COME TO A MEETING AND TALK MORE ABOUT IT.
WE'LL MOVE AHEAD WITH AT LEAST THE INITIAL STEPS BECAUSE WE NEED TO NEGOTIATE SOME STIPENDS WITH THE UNIONS.
A LOT OF THOSE CONVERSATIONS HAVE STARTED, BUT WE'LL HOPE TO HAVE THOSE TO YOU AT THE JULY 2ND MEETING BECAUSE FALL SCHEDULING IS ACTUALLY ALREADY HAPPENING.
WE WANT TO GET THAT WORK IN PLACE, SO THANK YOU FOR YOUR SUPPORT OF THOSE.
THAT'S IT FOR ME ON NEW BUSINESS. THANK YOU.
>> ANY OTHER PUBLIC COMMENTS? OKAY.
[12. Communications and Comments from the Public]
>> CAN I JUST SAY SOMETHING BEFORE WE ADJOURN? I JUST WANT TO THANK THE PELHAM EDUCATION FOUNDATION.
I KNOW WE THANK THEM EVERY TIME THEY MAKE A DONATION, BUT I THINK IT'S OUR LAST MEETING AND I REALLY WOULD LIKE TO THANK THEM.
THEY'VE BEEN INCREDIBLE PARTNERS TO US.
I FEEL LIKE EVERY WEEK WE HAVE A MEETING, WE READ SOMETHING INTO THE RECORDS OF THEM DONATING OR SPONSORING A PROGRAM.
I'M ALSO THEIR LIAISON, SO I DO KNOW THEY DO GOOD WORK AND I JUST WANTED TO SAY, THANK YOU FOR A GREAT YEAR AND I KNOW THE BOARD LOOKS FORWARD TO CONTINUING TO WORK WITH THEM.
>> THANK YOU TO THE COMMUNITY FOR SUPPORTING PF.
>> [INAUDIBLE] YOU DON'T GET A VOTE. [LAUGHTER]
>> WE ARE ADJOURNED.
* This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.