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[2. Public Session - 7:30 p.m.]
LET'S RISE FOR THE PLEDGE.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.
NATALIE, WILL YOU REITERATE OUR EXECUTIVE SESSION MOTION? SURE. WE MET IN EXECUTIVE SESSION TO DISCUSS THE PROPOSED ACQUISITION, SALE OR LEASE OF REAL PROPERTY.
I'M LOOKING FORWARD TO TONIGHT'S MEETING.
FIRST OFF, WE GET TO CELEBRATE OUR STUDENTS WHO ARE EXPLORING THEIR OWN PATHS TO EXCELLENCE AS WE HONOR OUR NATIONAL MERIT SEMIFINALISTS AND PARTICIPANTS OR ALTERNATES IN NYSSMA ALL-STATE PERFORMANCES.
I'M ALSO EXCITED TO HEAR FROM DR.
FITZGERALD ABOUT THEIR TRIP TO ALBANY THIS WEEK TO SEE MR. JOHNSON RECEIVE HIS PRINCIPAL OF THE YEAR AWARD AT THE BOARD OF REGENTS, ALSO AN INCREDIBLE ACHIEVEMENT.
ALSO TONIGHT WE HAVE OUR AUDITORS HERE.
THEY WILL PRESENT FINDINGS OF THEIR ANNUAL AUDIT OF THE DISTRICT'S FINANCIALS.
IT IS IMPORTANT IN REASSURING FOR THE BOARD TO HEAR FROM A THIRD PARTY WITH EXPERIENCE WITH MANY OTHER SCHOOL DISTRICTS, THAT OUR DISTRICT IS BEING RUN IN A FISCALLY SOUND MANNER AND FOLLOWING BEST PRACTICES.
AS AS PART OF OUR FINANCE COMMITTEE UPDATE, I THINK JIM AND WILL WILL SHARE A LITTLE ON HOW WE WILL CONSIDER OPTIONS FOR FINANCING, OUR DISTRICT'S FACILITIES UPDATES, AND THAT WE WILL DO A DEEPER DIVE ON THIS ON THAT TOPIC AT OUR NEXT BOARD MEETING.
AND HERE ARE SOME JUST ADDITIONAL UPDATES.
WE HAD A RECORD TURNOUT, I THINK I'M CALLING IT A RECORD TURNOUT OF OUR BOARD OF OUR BOARD COFFEE AT J CAFE LAST WEEK, WHICH ALSO SERVED AS A MEET AND GREET FOR MISS COMERFORD AND DR.
AND THEN I HAVE ONE FINAL UPDATE ON FRIDAY, MAYOR MULLEN AND I WILL HAVE A PRIVATE DISCUSSION, ALONG WITH THE LAWYERS, REGARDING THE VILLAGE'S STORMWATER PROJECT AT JULIAN'S PLAYGROUND.
I THANK THE MAYOR FOR HIS WILLINGNESS TO ENGAGE WITH ME.
WITH THAT, LET'S GET STARTED WITH OUR STUDENT RECOGNITION.
[3.1 Student Recognition]
THANK YOU VERY MUCH.I'M GOING TO ACTUALLY MOVE OVER TO THE OTHER MICROPHONE, AND I'M GOING TO INVITE MR. LLEWELLYN, OUR PELHAM MEMORIAL HIGH SCHOOL PRINCIPAL, TO JOIN ME THERE [APPLAUSE].
AS I'M, AS WE JUST SAID, HONORING OUR STUDENTS IN THEIR INDIVIDUAL PATHS TO EXCELLENCE IS SOMETHING THAT IS PROBABLY ONE OF THE BIGGEST JOYS THAT WE CAN HAVE AS EDUCATORS. AND IT'S ALWAYS EXCITING TO ME TO SEE, ESPECIALLY I WAS A HIGH SCHOOL PRINCIPAL, SO HIGH SCHOOL IS NEAR AND DEAR TO MY HEART, AND IT'S THE TIME WHEN YOU FINALLY SEE STUDENTS COMING INTO THEIR OWN, HAVING ACHIEVED REALLY ALL THAT HAS BEEN BUILT ON THE FOUNDATION OF ELEMENTARY SCHOOL AND MIDDLE SCHOOL, FINDING THEIR NICHE, FINDING THEIR STRENGTHS, FINDING THEIR TALENTS AND KNOWING WHAT THOSE NEXT STEPS MIGHT BE AND PUTTING THEIR, KIND OF PUTTING THEIR NOSE TO THE GRINDSTONE TO DELIVER ON REALLY WHAT THEY KNOW THEY CAN PRODUCE, THAT'S GOING TO POSITION THEM FOR THAT NEXT STEP BEYOND HIGH SCHOOL AND INTO COLLEGE FOR MOST OF OUR STUDENTS.
NATIONAL MERIT SCHOLARSHIP COMPETITION IS SOMETHING THAT THAT IS BEEN IN PLACE FOR MANY, MANY YEARS AND STUDENTS ARE IDENTIFIED BASED ON THEIR PSAT SCORES. SO WE HAVE BEEN REALLY FORTUNATE IN PELHAM TO GENERALLY HAVE FOLKS IDENTIFIED EACH YEAR.
THIS YEAR I THINK THIS IS THE SAME WAY WE HAD A BANNER BOARD COFFEE.
THIS IS PROBABLY ONE OF OUR BIGGEST GROUPS OF COMMENDED STUDENTS THIS YEAR.
SO WE'VE GOT A FULL HOUSE TONIGHT, WHICH IS REALLY EXCITING.
SO WE HAVE TWO DIFFERENT GROUPS OF STUDENTS THAT WE'RE GOING TO RECOGNIZE.
AND AS I CALL YOUR NAME, I'D INVITE YOU TO COME FORWARD AND I'M GOING TO HAVE MR. LLEWELLYN HELP ME HAND OUT CERTIFICATES.
SO I'M GOING TO GIVE THESE TO YOU.
OKAY. OKAY. SO OUR FIRST GROUP OF STUDENTS BEING HONORED TONIGHT.
AND I SHOULD SAY TOO, BEFORE I GET TO THE NAMES.
CONGRATULATIONS, MOMS AND DADS AND FAMILIES, THEY WOULD NOT BE HERE WITHOUT YOU.
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SO LET'S GIVE YOUR PARENTS A HAND BEFORE WE GIVE YOU YOUR CERTIFICATES [APPLAUSE].SO THANK YOU TO THEM FOR THEIR COMMITMENT TO TO HELPING YOU TO ACHIEVE AT SUCH A HIGH LEVEL.
SO FIRST, TURNING TO OUR NATIONAL MERIT SEMIFINALISTS.
THEY ARE AMONG 16,000 STUDENTS, ONLY 16,000 STUDENTS ACROSS THE COUNTRY, TO BE NAMED SEMIFINALISTS BY SCORING AMONG THE HIGHEST IN THEIR RESPECTIVE STATES ON THE PSAT NATIONAL MERIT SCHOLARSHIP QUALIFYING TEST.
SEMIFINALISTS NOW HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY OPPORTUNITY TO BE NAMED A NATIONAL MERIT FINALIST, THOSE COME OUT IN THE SPRING, AND EARN A CHANCE TO RECEIVE ONE OF 06,870 NATIONAL MERIT SCHOLARSHIPS, TOTALING NEARLY $26 MILLION.
SO WE WILL BE LOOKING FORWARD TO THE SPRING TO SEE IF SOME OF THESE NAMES COME BACK.
SO PLEASE JOIN ME IN CONGRATULATING THE FOLLOWING FOUR STUDENTS.
AND AGAIN, I WOULD ASK THEM TO INVITE THEM TO COME UP TO GET THEIR CERTIFICATE.
AND WE'LL STAY UP HERE BECAUSE WE'RE GOING TO WANT TO DO A PICTURE TOO, AS ALWAYS.
SO PLEASE JOIN ME IN CONGRATULATING ALEXANDRA HERZOG [APPLAUSE].
AND UNFORTUNATELY, CARAROSE VITALE CAN'T BE WITH US TONIGHT, BUT WE WANT TO RECOGNIZE HER AS WELL.
AND MR. LLEWELLYN WILL ACCEPT THAT FOR HER.
SO CONGRATULATIONS ONCE AGAIN TO OUR GROUP [APPLAUSE].
IF YOU WOULDN'T MIND MAYBE WE'LL STEP BACK OVER HERE FOR A PICTURE.
WE'LL LET YOU GUYS GO RIGHT IN THE MIDDLE.
AND OUR NEXT GROUP OF STUDENTS ARE THE NATIONAL MERIT SCHOLARSHIP COMMENDED STUDENTS.
THESE 12 STUDENTS AGAIN, THIS IS ONE OF OUR BIGGEST GROUPS IN HISTORY, IN MY MODERN HISTORY.
THESE 12 STUDENTS HAVE BEEN NAMED COMMENDED STUDENTS IN THE NATIONAL MERIT PROGRAM.
THEY PLACED AMONG THE TOP 50,000 STUDENTS WHO ENTERED IN THE COMPETITION NATIONALLY.
WE'RE SO PROUD OF THEM, AND WE BELIEVE THAT THEIR EXCEPTIONAL ACADEMIC PROMISE IS ONLY BEGINNING NOW AS THEY MOVE ON TO COLLEGE, WE FULLY EXPECT TO SEE EVEN GREATER ACCOMPLISHMENTS THEN.
WE'RE GOING TO INVITE THEM UP ONE AT A TIME, BEGINNING WITH RENEE AI [APPLAUSE].
UMA KANCHARLA [APPLAUSE] IS NOT ABLE TO BE WITH US TONIGHT.
CHRISTOPHER O'MEARA [APPLAUSE].
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OKAY. AND WHILE WE'RE GIVING OUT AWARDS, WE HAVE ANOTHER GROUP OF PRESTIGIOUS AWARDS TO GIVE OUT THIS EVENING.SO THIS NEXT AWARD IS ALSO SOMETHING NEAR AND DEAR TO MY HEART.
AND I'M VERY PROUD TO ANNOUNCE WE HAD THREE PELHAM MEMORIAL HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS THIS YEAR WHO EARNED RECOGNITION AS PARTICIPANTS OR ALTERNATES IN THE UPCOMING NYSSMA ALL-STATE PERFORMANCES, THAT'S NEW YORK STATE SCHOOL MUSIC ASSOCIATION.
THIS IS THE HIGHEST LEVEL OF MUSIC ACHIEVEMENT THAT STUDENTS CAN RECEIVE IN NEW YORK STATE.
SO PLEASE JOIN ME IN CONGRATULATING THE FOLLOWING STUDENTS.
GRACE WAS SELECTED AS A PARTICIPANT IN VOCAL JAZZ.
THERE SHOULD BE A CERTIFICATE IN THAT SAME FOLDER.
IN VOCAL JAZZ, JAZZ SOPRANO VOICE.
OKAY. NEXT SAMANTHA BONANNO [APPLAUSE].
SAMANTHA WAS SELECTED AS ALTERNATE FOR SOPRANO TWO.
ELLIOT WAS NOT ABLE TO BE WITH US TONIGHT, BUT WE CONGRATULATE HIM ANYWAYS.
HE WAS ORIGINALLY SELECTED [APPLAUSE] AS AN ALTERNATE FOR BOTH TRUMPET AND VIOLIN.
BUT HE'S NOW BEEN ACCEPTED AS A FULL PARTICIPANT IN THE ALL-STATE SYMPHONIC BAND ON TRUMPET.
SO CONGRATULATIONS TO ELLIOTT AS WELL [APPLAUSE].
CONGRATULATIONS TO THESE FINE MUSICIANS AND TO THEIR MUSIC TEACHERS OUR WONDERFUL MUSIC DEPARTMENT, MRS. ABESHOUSE, MR. FROUNDJIAN AND MR. BOCHOVE.
AND AGAIN, THANK YOU, FAMILIES, FOR COMING OUT FOR THIS SPECIAL HONOR.
THE DISTRICT ADMINISTRATORS, WE ENJOY IT TOO.
THIS IS THE RESULTS OF SO MUCH WORK, ESPECIALLY AT THE HIGH SCHOOL LEVEL.
SO MANY YEARS OF OUTSTANDING WORK ON SO MANY PEOPLE'S PART.
CONGRATULATIONS TO OUR STUDENTS.
WE WISH YOU A FOND FAREWELL, A FOND FAREWELL IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO GO ON.
CONGRATULATIONS AGAIN [APPLAUSE].
OKAY. I'D LIKE TO INVITE O'CONNOR DAVIES TO GIVE THE ANNUAL AUDIT PRESENTATION.
[3.2 O'Connor Davies Annual Audit Presentation]
THANK YOU FOR COMING, SCOTT.NOTHING CLEARS OUT A ROOM LIKE AN AUDIT PRESENTATION.
WE WERE JUST. WE WERE JUST MAKING THAT JOKE [LAUGHTER].
I ALWAYS THINK THE BIG CROWDS ARE FOR ME WELL, NO. IT'S ALWAYS GREAT TO FOLLOW YOU KNOW, VERY VERY GOOD STUDENTS.
OKAY, SO I'M SCOTT OLING, I'M A PARTNER WITH PKF O'CONNOR DAVIES, AND I'M HERE TONIGHT TO GO OVER WITH YOU THE RESULTS OF THE ANNUAL FINANCIAL AUDIT THAT MY FIRM CONDUCTED FOR THE SCHOOL DISTRICT FOR THE YEAR THAT ENDED JUNE 30TH OF 2024.
WE WENT OVER THIS OR I WENT OVER THIS WITH THE AUDIT COMMITTEE LAST WEEK IN VERY BIG DETAIL.
SO TONIGHT IS REALLY MORE JUST FOR THOSE WHO MIGHT BE WATCHING AT HOME.
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FUND, WHICH IS YOUR PRIMARY OPERATING FUND.SO WE BEGIN WITH WHAT OUR REQUIRED COMMUNICATIONS, WHAT YOUR FOLKS RESPONSIBILITIES ARE AS RELATES TO THE AUDIT INVOLVE, YOU KNOW, SELECTING AND IMPLEMENTING APPROPRIATE ACCOUNTING POLICIES, MAKING SURE THAT THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS THAT WE'RE AUDITING ARE DONE IN ACCORDANCE WITH WHAT'S KNOWN AS U.S.
GENERALLY ACCEPTED ACCOUNTING PRINCIPLES.
YOU HAVE TO HAVE AND MAINTAIN PROPER INTERNAL CONTROL OVER YOUR FINANCIAL OPERATIONS, BECAUSE IF THE CONTROLS ARE NOT GOOD, THEN THE NUMBERS COMING OUT OF IT WILL WILL NOT BE GOOD.
YOU HAVE NUMEROUS FINANCIAL LAWS, REGULATIONS, CONTRACTS, AGREEMENTS THAT THAT YOU ARE REQUIRED TO DO ALONG WITH ALL YOUR OTHER COMPLIANCE REQUIREMENTS.
WHAT OUR RESPONSIBILITIES ARE FOR THE AUDIT IS PRIMARILY TO DELIVER THE FINANCIAL STATEMENT.
AND WITHIN THAT FINANCIAL STATEMENT, YOU GET THREE AUDITOR'S OPINIONS.
ALL RIGHT. SO THE MAIN AUDITOR'S OPINION IS ON THE REGULAR FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FOR THE DISTRICT.
AND WE'VE ISSUED WHAT'S KNOWN AS AN UNMODIFIED OR A CLEAN OPINION ON THAT.
THAT'S THE HIGHEST FORM OF ASSURANCE AN AUDITOR CAN PROVIDE ANY CLIENT.
YOU ALSO, AS A SCHOOL DISTRICT, ARE REQUIRED TO HAVE A YELLOW BOOK AUDIT, WHICH IS A FEDERAL TERM.
WE ARE REQUIRED TO COMMUNICATE ANY FRAUD OR ILLEGAL ACTS IF WE COME ACROSS THEM.
THANKFULLY, I CAN REPORT WE DID NOT COME ACROSS ANY OF THOSE.
THE AUDIT ACTUALLY BEGAN BACK IN JUNE IN THE SPRING, WHERE WE DO SOME PRELIMINARY AUDIT WORK WHERE WE, YOU KNOW, REVIEW YOUR, YOUR CLAIMS PAYING PROCESS, PAYROLL PAYING PROCESS AND SO FORTH.
YOU'RE ONE OF OUR FIRST SCHOOL AUDITS UP ON THE CALENDAR EACH YEAR.
YOU GET THE BOOKS CLOSED BASICALLY IN TWO WEEKS AFTER JUNE 30TH.
AND WE'RE HERE FOR THAT WEEK IN JULY, AND THEN THE AUDIT IS COMPLETED LATER THAN THAT.
AND THAT'S PRIMARILY DUE TO DELAYS FROM NEW YORK STATE.
SO NOW TO GO OVER THE NUMBERS.
THIS IS A VERY HIGH LEVEL OVERVIEW OF YOUR NUMBERS.
ALL OF THIS INFORMATION IS IN THE FULL AUDIT REPORT THAT HAS BEEN PROVIDED TO YOU.
BUT AT A HIGH LEVEL, YOU ESTIMATED REVENUES WHEN YOU ADOPTED THE BUDGET OF ABOUT $86 MILLION.
SO ON THE EXPENDITURE SIDE, YOU ALSO GENERATED A NICE POSITIVE VARIANCE OF $2.3 MILLION.
YOU ACTUALLY ANTICIPATED SPENDING MORE THAN YOU WERE GOING TO TAKE IN.
THAT WAS A PLANNED USE OF OF YOUR PREVIOUSLY ACCUMULATED FUND BALANCE THAT YOU HAD.
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PRIMARILY SOME TRANSFERS OUT TO TO CAPITAL AND SO FORTH.SO THE PLANNED USE OF FUND BALANCE WAS ABOUT $4.8 MILLION.
SO YOUR FUND BALANCE DID GO DOWN $1.2 MILLION.
YOU DID $2.2 MILLION BETTER THAN YOUR PLAN OKAY.
SO AND WE'LL GO OVER THIS IN A KEY SLIDE IN A COUPLE OF SLIDES.
BUT THE $1.2 MILLION REDUCTION OF FUND BALANCE YOU STARTED THE YEAR WITH $22.6 MILLION.
OBVIOUSLY, LIKE ALL OTHER SCHOOLS OR MOST SCHOOLS IN WESTCHESTER, THE PROPERTY TAX LEVY IS THE PRIMARY REVENUE SOURCE AND SCHOOL TAX RELIEF REIMBURSEMENT, OR THE STAR PROGRAM IS THE PORTION OF PROPERTY TAXES, PEOPLE'S PROPERTY TAXES, THAT ARE ACTUALLY PAID BY THE STATE TO YOU.
THOSE NUMBERS AS YOU CAN SEE, THERE'S NO VARIANCE WITH THE BUDGET.
AS A SCHOOL DISTRICT IN WESTCHESTER, YOU'RE GUARANTEED 100% OF YOUR TAXES.
THE TOWN IS RESPONSIBLE FOR BILLING AND COLLECTING THOSE TAXES AND WHETHER THEY COLLECT THEM OR NOT, YOU GET YOUR MONEY AND THEY HAVE TO GO AFTER ANYBODY WHO, WHO OR BUSINESSES THAT DON'T PAY.
THE THIRD NUMBER IS SALES TAX.
WESTCHESTER COUNTY HAS AN AGREEMENT WITH ALL THE SCHOOL DISTRICTS AND MUNICIPALITIES IN THE COUNTY, OTHER THAN THE BIG MUNICIPALITIES LIKE YONKERS, NEW ROCHELLE, WHO HAVE THEIR OWN SALES TAX DEALS.
SO WESTCHESTER SHARES APPROXIMATELY 25% OF ITS TOTAL SALES TAX COLLECTIONS WITH EVERYBODY.
THE SHARING IS BASED ON CENSUS.
SO THE GOOD NEWS IS THAT YOU ESTIMATED ABOUT $1.3 CAME IN SLIGHTLY HIGHER AND SLIGHTLY HIGHER THAN LAST YEAR AS AS THE ECONOMY CONTINUES TO GROW. YOU CHARGE TUITION FOR FOR OUT OF DISTRICT STUDENTS.
SO IT WAS PRETTY CLOSE TO LAST YEAR, SLIGHTLY DOWN.
I THINK THIS PAST YEAR FINALLY GOT THERE.
OBVIOUSLY, STATE AID IS MADE UP OF MANY COMPONENTS, INCLUDING THE FOUNDATION AID, BUT TRANSPORTATION, BUILDING EXCESS COST AID, ALL THE ALL THESE DIFFERENT THINGS. SO YOU WOULD ESTIMATED ABOUT $12.7 CAME IN AT $13.4 SO YOU DID BETTER THAN EXPECTED THERE.
AND A VERY LARGE JUMP FROM THE STATE AID FROM THE PREVIOUS YEAR OF $10.7 MILLION.
USE OF MONEY AND PROPERTY IS JUST THE NEW YORK STATE TERM FOR BASICALLY INTEREST EARNINGS.
AND AS YOU CAN SEE, WHEN INTEREST RATES HAVE BEEN HIGH THIS PAST YEAR, YOU WERE ABLE TO GENERATE ABOUT $1.7 WELL OVER WHAT YOU EXPECTED IN THE BUDGET, WELL OVER WHAT YOU TOOK IN LAST YEAR.
SO MOST LIKELY WE'VE SEEN THE PEAK OF, OF THIS NUMBER.
AND THEN BECAUSE SOME OF THESE OTHER REVENUES DID SO WELL AND DID BETTER THAN YOU HAD PLANNED, YOU HAD ALSO PLANNED TO BRING IN FROM ONE OF YOUR OTHER FUNDS, YOUR DEBT SERVICE FUND, $2.1 MILLION TO HELP OFFSET YOUR DEBT PAYMENTS THIS YEAR.
IT WAS DETERMINED BASED ON, YOU KNOW, THE POSITIVE RESULTS FROM THESE OTHER THINGS, THAT THE MONEY WOULD STAY IN DEBT SERVICE AND BE USED, YOU KNOW, IN A FUTURE YEAR WHERE MAYBE SOME THINGS WON'T BE AS GOOD.
SO VERY, VERY GOOD RESULT FROM THE REVENUE SIDE.
AND THIS SLIDE JUST GIVES YOU A THREE YEAR HISTORY OF THESE REVENUES.
SO AS I SAID THE PROPERTY TAX AND THE STAR MONEY YOU KNOW KIND OF COMBINED.
AND WHAT YOU NOTICE AND YOU KNOW WE SEE THIS AT ALL SCHOOLS IS THE STAR MONEY IS DROPPING.
AND THAT'S PRIMARILY BECAUSE OF A CHANGE THAT NEW YORK MADE TO THE STAR LAW, YOU KNOW, A COUPLE OF YEARS AGO WHERE NOW NEW HOMEOWNERS, ANYBODY WHO LIKE, BUYS SOMEBODY'S HOUSE INSTEAD OF AND ASSUMING THEY QUALIFY INCOME LIMIT WISE, INSTEAD OF THAT MONEY BEING A CREDIT ON THEIR TAX BILL AND COMING TO YOU FROM NEW YORK STATE, THE FOLKS PAY THE FULL SCHOOL TAX AND THEN
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GET THEIR OWN CHECK FROM DIRECTLY FROM NEW YORK STATE.SO AS HOUSES, YOU KNOW, TURN OVER OVER TIME, YOU KNOW, THIS WILL PROBABLY CONTINUE TO DECREASE.
AND IF THEY CHANGE INCOME LIMITS AND SO FORTH.
BUT YOU BUDGET THE FULL AMOUNT OF THE TOTAL SO YOU COULD SEE YOU'VE HAD A PRETTY STEADY, YOU KNOW, MODERATE INCREASE IN YOUR TAX LEVY, YOU KNOW, TAX CAP COMPLIANT AND SO FORTH.
AND THEN YOU SEE THE TREND ON THE OTHER REVENUES AS WELL.
SO NOW WE FLIP TO THE EXPENDITURE SIDE OF THE EQUATION.
THESE ARE ABOUT 5 OR 6 OF THE MAIN CATEGORIES THAT YOU HAVE.
OBVIOUSLY YOUR BUDGET IS VERY DETAILED.
YOU HAVE HUNDREDS OF DIFFERENT LINES WHEN YOU ADOPT THE BUDGET.
SO I JUST PICKED OUT, YOU KNOW, THE 5 OR 6, YOU KNOW, BIGGEST ONES IN THERE.
OPERATION AND MAINTENANCE OF PLAN IS REALLY ALL THE BUILDINGS AND GROUNDS TYPE COSTS.
YOU COULD SEE THIS YEAR YOU SPENT ABOUT $5.9 MILLION.
THERE'S USUALLY A LOT OF MONEY ENCUMBERED ON THIS LINE AT MOST SCHOOL DISTRICTS.
SO MOST OF THAT ENCUMBRANCE IS PROBABLY ALREADY SPENT AT THIS POINT IN TIME.
AND AGAIN, YOU KNOW, THOSE COSTS WERE UP ABOUT $500,000 FROM THE PREVIOUS YEAR.
TEACHING REGULAR SCHOOL IS THE MAIN TEACHING CODE.
SO IT'S REALLY THE COST FOR ALL TEACHER SALARIES REALLY ALL CLASSROOM RELATED COSTS.
SO THOSE CAME IN AT ABOUT $32 MILLION THIS YEAR, COMPARED TO ABOUT $30.6 MILLION LAST YEAR.
AGAIN, A LOT OF IT HAS TO DO WITH CONTRACTUAL SALARY INCREASES, STEP INCREASES AND SO FORTH.
PROGRAMS FOR STUDENTS WITH DISABILITIES.
WE SEE THAT GENERALLY EVERYWHERE AS A TREND AS WELL.
TRANSPORTATION. ALL THE BUSSES FOR THE DISTRICT $1.6 MILLION THIS YEAR, ABOUT $1.2 MILLION.
WE'VE SEEN THAT WITH A LOT OF THE BUS CONTRACTS THIS YEAR THAT THE COST IS GOING UP.
SO, YOU KNOW, JUST TO FIND BUS DRIVERS AND SO FORTH.
SO THIS YEAR ABOUT $18.6 MILLION COMPARED TO $17.5.
THE MAJORITY OF THAT INCREASE OF COURSE WAS WAS IN HEALTH INSURANCE.
SOME OF IT YOUR SPECIAL AID FUND FOR YOUR GRANTS.
SO YOU SEE A SPIKE UP THIS YEAR.
AND THAT WAS LIKE A PLANNED USE OF YOUR FUND BALANCE TO SEND MONEY TO THE TO THE CAPITAL FUND FOR YOUR, YOU KNOW, CAPITAL TYPE PROJECTS. SO AGAIN, A THREE YEAR HISTORY OF JUST THESE, YOU KNOW, 5 OR 6 MAJOR EXPENDITURE CODES.
BUT THAT WAS A PLANNED CAPITAL USE OF MONEY.
SO IF YOU KIND OF BACK THAT OUT, IT KIND OF CONTINUED THE TREND.
LIKE 66-69, IT WOULD HAVE BEEN ABOUT 72.
SO AGAIN, JUST NORMAL, YOU KNOW, COST OF LIVING INCREASES AND SO FORTH.
THIS TO ME IS THE MOST IMPORTANT SLIDE OF THE DOZEN OR SO SLIDES I HAVE.
SO AFTER YOU TAKE IN YOUR REVENUES AND YOU HAVE YOUR EXPENDITURES, THIS IS WHAT YOU'RE LEFT WITH.
IT'S ESSENTIALLY YOUR SAVINGS ACCOUNT.
SO AS WE SAID ON THE OTHER SIDE, AT THE BOTTOM OF THE 24 COLUMN, YOU SEE THE $21.4 MILLION, YOU KNOW, DOWN FROM THE $22.6 MILLION LAST YEAR, BUT PRETTY SIMILAR TO THE TOTAL FROM TWO YEARS AGO.
SO FUND BALANCE IS BROKEN DOWN INTO, AS YOU CAN SEE IN THIS DISTRICT, MANY POTS.
SO THE FIRST PART OF FUND BALANCE IS NON SPENDABLE FOR PREPAID.
SO IT'S IN FUND BALANCE, BUT YOU DON'T HAVE THE CASH, SO IT GETS SET ASIDE SO $2.3, BUT THE BIGGEST CHUNK OF YOUR $21 MILLION FUND BALANCE, ABOUT 60% OF IT OR SO, MAYBE MORE, MATH.
$12.7 MILLION OF THE $21 MILLION ARE IN RESTRICTED CATEGORIES.
RESTRICTED FUND BALANCE IS ONLY ALLOWED UNDER GENERAL MUNICIPAL LAW OR EDUCATION LAW.
BUT NONE OF THESE CAN HAPPEN WITHOUT BOARD ACTION.
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SO ONE OF THE THINGS YOU HAVE, THE BIGGEST ONE WITHIN THAT GROUP IS TAX CERTIORARI.SO THIS IS MONEY THAT'S SET ASIDE.
SO SHOULD YOU HAVE TO MAKE REFUNDS TO BUSINESSES OR INDIVIDUALS.
YOU'VE ALREADY SET ASIDE MONEY FOR THAT.
YOU WOULDN'T HAVE TO TAX PEOPLE IN THE FUTURE TO RAISE MONEY FOR THAT.
YOU HAVE A SMALL AMOUNT FOR UNEMPLOYMENT BENEFITS, A SMALL AMOUNT FOR WHAT'S CALLED EMPLOYEE BENEFIT ACCRUED LIABILITY, WHICH IS VACATION SICK TIME THAT WOULD BE OWED TO FOLKS WHEN THEY, YOU KNOW, WHEN THEY LEAVE THE DISTRICT.
YOU THEN HAVE TWO NUMBERS THERE RELATED TO THE EMPLOYEES RETIREMENT SYSTEM.
YOU'RE ALLOWED TO SET MONEY ASIDE.
THERE'S NO LIMIT CURRENTLY IN THE LAW.
SO YOU CAN SET MONEY ASIDE AND USE THESE FUNDS TO HELP PAY YOUR EMPLOYEE RETIREMENT SYSTEM BILL.
YOU'VE USED $800,000 OF THE AMOUNT THAT WAS IN THERE OF THE TOTAL OF ABOUT $3.3 MILLION IN YOUR BUDGET IN 24-25. SO YOU'RE USING THIS POT OF MONEY TO HELP OFFSET THAT PORTION OF YOUR COST THAT'S IN YOUR BUDGET FOR THIS UPCOMING YEAR.
THEN YOU'VE ALSO SET ASIDE MONEY FOR THE TEACHERS RETIREMENT SYSTEM.
THERE ARE LIMITATIONS ON THIS ONE.
THEN YOU CAN'T ADD MORE TO IT.
SO YOU HAVE $2.1 MILLION AVAILABLE TO HELP OFFSET YOUR TEACHER'S RETIREMENT BILL.
THAT'S YOUR BIGGER PENSION BILL.
CURRENTLY, THE RATES ARE ABOUT 10% OF OF CERTIFIED PAYROLL.
BUT IN YEARS PAST AND JIM KNOWS, YOU KNOW, THEY WERE AS HIGH AS 20%.
SO IMAGINE HAVING A BUDGET DOUBLE THE AMOUNT.
SO IF THE STOCK MARKET PERFORMS POORLY AND THE PENSION SYSTEM LOSES VALUE IN THEIR PENSION, THEY'RE GOING TO COME TO YOU FOR FOR MORE MONEY AND MORE CONTRIBUTION. SO THIS IS A POT THAT YOU WOULD BE ABLE TO USE TO HELP OFFSET SHOULD THAT INCREASE, YOU KNOW, BE BE SIGNIFICANT.
YOU DID USE $180,000 IN THIS BUDGET THAT YOU'RE IN NOW TO OFFSET, YOU KNOW, PROPERTY TAXES.
AND THEN A COUPLE OF SMALL ONES FOR PROPERTY DAMAGE REPAIR.
AND THEN YOU DID USE AND WE SAW A BIG TRANSFER OUT TO TO THE CAPITAL FUND THIS YEAR.
YOU DID TAKE DOWN YOUR FUTURE CAPITAL RESERVE AND ARE USING THAT MONEY FOR YOUR PLANNED PROJECTS.
SO THAT WAS PRIMARILY ONE OF THE BIG DRIVERS OF WHY THE THE FUND BALANCE WENT DOWN THIS YEAR.
SO THERE'S YOUR TOTAL $12.7 MILLION.
AND THEN IN ADDITION TO THE NUMBERS UP TOP WHERE YOU GAVE BACK $800,000 FOR ERS AND $180,000 FOR TRS, YOU ALSO TO THE PROPERTY YOU KNOW, TAXPAYERS GAVE BACK ANOTHER MILLION OR TWO.
SO IF YOU PUT ALL THOSE PIECES TOGETHER, JIM, WHAT IS THAT ABOUT TWO ABOUT $2.3.
SO IN OTHER WORDS, THE BUDGET YOU ADOPTED FOR 24-25 OR ASKED THE VOTERS TO APPROVE, YOU PLAN ON SPENDING ABOUT $2.3 MILLION MORE THAN THE REVENUES YOU'RE GOING TO TAKE IN.
HOPEFULLY, LIKE THIS YEAR, YOU KNOW, THINGS WILL COME IN BETTER.
YOU'LL SPEND LESS THAN YOU ANTICIPATED.
SO THAT'S $2.6 OF THE FUND BALANCE.
THAT NUMBER IS ONLY ALLOWED TO BE 4% OF YOUR NEXT YEAR'S BUDGET.
AND AS YOU CAN SEE BASED ON THE BOTTOM IT IS SO YOU HAVE THE MAXIMUM AMOUNT YOU CAN HAVE IN THERE.
SO IT'S REALLY A VERY NICE FINANCIAL PICTURE.
AND THEN AS WE GET TO THE END HERE, THESE ARE SOME OF THE OTHER FUNDS THAT I MENTIONED.
THE CAPITAL PROJECTS FUND STARTED THE YEAR WITH $5.7 MILLION IN IT.
AND THEN THERE WAS SPENDING THIS YEAR OF ABOUT $2.3.
SO YOU NOW STILL HAVE ABOUT $6.2 MILLION IN THERE AS OF JUNE 30TH.
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SO YOU MOVED EXACTLY WHAT WAS IN THERE.THE SCHOOL LUNCH FUND FOR THE LUNCH PROGRAM YOU BROUGHT IN $991,000 THIS YEAR, YOU SPENT ABOUT $1.1.
SO THE FUND BALANCE IS DOWN TO $171,000.
I THINK SOME OF IT WAS EQUIPMENT TYPE PURCHASES, WHICH IS WHAT THE SCHOOL LUNCH FUND BALANCE.
YOU'RE NOT ALLOWED TO HAVE TOO MUCH IN THERE, OTHERWISE THE STATE WILL SLAP YOU ON THE WRIST.
YOU'RE SUPPOSED TO SPEND IT TO IMPROVE THE LUNCH PROGRAM.
SO THAT'S JUST THE REVENUE AND EXPENSE ACTIVITY FOR THAT.
AND THEN YOU HAVE A PERMANENT FUND WHERE SOME FOLKS DONATED MONEY IN THE PAST TO THE DISTRICT, AND THEIR STIPULATION WAS, YOU CAN'T USE THE MONEY THAT WE GAVE YOU, BUT THE INTEREST THAT YOU EARN ON IT, YOU CAN USE FOR THE PURPOSES THAT WE TOLD YOU FOR SCHOLARSHIPS OR WHATEVER THE PURPOSE IS. SO THERE WAS JUST A SMALL AMOUNT OF REVENUE FROM INTEREST EARNINGS AND WHAT WAS PROVIDED IN DIFFERENT SCHOLARSHIPS.
AND THEN FINALLY, JUST TO SHOW YOU WHERE YOU CURRENTLY ARE WITH YOUR DEBT AND DEBT SERVICE, YOU CURRENTLY HAVE FIVE BONDS OUTSTANDING GOING BACK TO 2016.
SO YOU CURRENTLY HAVE ON EXISTING DEBT, YOU HAVE $67 MILLION OUTSTANDING THAT OBVIOUSLY HAS TO GET PAID BACK TO BONDHOLDERS. AND THE BOTTOM PART SHOWS YOU THE FIRST FIVE YEARS, HOW MUCH PRINCIPAL AND INTEREST YOU ARE REQUIRED TO TO PAY BACK THE BONDHOLDERS EACH YEAR.
AND THAT'S GENERALLY WHAT WE SEE AT MOST OF THE SUBURBAN SCHOOL DISTRICTS THAT WE AUDIT.
SO YOU'RE RIGHT IN LINE WITH THAT.
SO THAT'S BASICALLY ALL I HAD.
AND I'D BE GLAD TO TAKE ANY QUESTIONS THAT THAT YOU HAVE.
IF YOU DON'T MIND, GO BACK TO THE YOUR FAVORITE SLIDE WITH THE RESERVES.
EVEN IF YOU TAKE OUT THE THE PORTIONS THAT ARE LIKE ERS AND TRS FOR NEXT YEAR, THE THE NON I CAN'T READ IT FROM HERE. BUT THE TOP LINE, THE PREPAIDS AND THE ASSIGNED RESERVES, WHICH ARE THOSE SORT OF THREE LINES, ARE ALL BASICALLY LIKE PREPAIDS FROM THIS YEAR.
THIS YEAR'S BUDGET THAT ARE BEING SPENT NEXT YEAR.
SO WE TALK ABOUT LIKE A $21 MILLION RESERVES, BUT $5 MILLION OF THAT IS REALLY SORT OF JUST CARRY OVER FROM ONE MONTH TO THE NEXT AND IS BEING SPENT OVER THE SUMMER.
AND I THINK WHEN PEOPLE LOOK AT THESE RESERVES, THEY DON'T NECESSARILY ALWAYS APPRECIATE THAT.
THANK YOU. WHILE WE'RE ON THE SUBJECT OF FUND BALANCE AND RESERVES.
SO BIG KIND OF PROJECT FOR THE FOR THE DISTRICT AND FOR THE BOARD THIS YEAR IS WE'VE JUST CONCLUDED A FACILITIES CONDITION SURVEY AND THAT SURVEY IN COMBINATION WITH CHANGES IN, YOU KNOW, DEMOGRAPHICS AND CAPACITY ISSUES, MEANS THAT WE ARE NOW WE NOW WE NOW FIND OURSELVES AT THE EARLY STAGES OF A CAPITAL BOND FEASIBILITY PROJECT.
AND GENERALLY, HOW DO YOU THINK OUR FINANCIAL POSITION YOU KNOW HOW DO YOU THINK OUR FINANCIAL RESULTS POSITION US FOR, FOR THAT AND SPECIFICALLY HOW DO THE HOW DOES THE HOLDING AND USE OF RESERVES PLAY INTO THE, YOU KNOW, THE BOND DECISIONS THAT WE HAVE TO MAKE? YEAH. WHAT I WOULD SAY AND, YOU KNOW, YOU CAN CERTAINLY TALK WITH YOUR, YOU KNOW, YOUR BOND, YOU KNOW, YOUR ADVISORS, YOUR CAPITAL, YOU KNOW, CAPITAL MARKETS ADVISORS AND BOND COUNSEL AND SO FORTH, THAT THIS IS MORE OF THEIR SPECIALTY.
[00:40:04]
INTO ISSUING DEBT, YOU KNOW, AND ESPECIALLY SIGNIFICANT DEBT FOR FOR A BIG PROJECT, HAVING GOOD RESERVES WHEN WHEN THE BOND MARKET VALUES THOSE BONDS AND YOU GET BOND RATINGS FROM A MOODY'S OR A STANDARD AND POOR'S RATING SERVICE, YOU WOULD END UP MOST LIKELY WITH A HIGHER RATING.YOU KNOW, MAYBE IT'S A POINT THAT I DON'T KNOW THAT THOSE FOLKS WOULD KNOW, BUT OBVIOUSLY EVEN LIKE A 10TH OF A POINT, BECAUSE OF YOUR FINANCIAL POSITION OVER A BOND THAT WILL PROBABLY HAVE A 20 YEAR LIFE AND YOU'RE GOING TO BE PAYING, YOU KNOW, 20 OR 30 YEARS OF INTEREST ON A 10TH OF A PERCENT YOU KNOW, WOULD BE, YOU KNOW, COULD BE HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS OR MILLIONS OF DOLLARS.
SO I THINK THIS BODES WELL FOR YOU, YOU KNOW, GOING FORWARD, YOU KNOW, FOR THAT PURPOSE.
COOL. SO I WHEN WE WHEN WE REVIEWED IT IN FINANCE COMMITTEE, I THINK WE CALCULATED THE, THE DEBT SERVICE IS CURRENTLY 6 OR 7% OF THE BUDGET.
CAN YOU JUST SPEAK TO AM I WRONG? YEAH. SO YOUR DEBT SERVICE RIGHT NOW FOR THIS YEAR IS $4.7 PLUS THE $1.8, SO ABOUT $6.5 MILLION.
CAN YOU SPEAK TO WHETHER THAT'S.
I THINK YOU KNOW EVERY EVERY DISTRICT IS DIFFERENT.
SO I ALWAYS KIND OF LOOK AT IT AS WHAT PERCENTAGE OF THE BUDGET IS DEBT SERVICE TAKING, RIGHT.
BECAUSE, YOU KNOW, IT'S KIND OF LIKE THE FEDERAL DEFICIT.
YOU KNOW, EVENTUALLY, YOU KNOW, WHAT THE DEBT SERVICE THAT THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT IS PAYING IS A HUGE AMOUNT OF THE ANNUAL BUDGET AND AT SOME POINT IS PROBLEMATIC.
AND THEN FOR THE BOARD, WE'LL ALSO HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY WITH CAPITAL MARKETS ADVISORS AT A FUTURE MEETING WHO CAN PROVIDE SOME MORE CAPITAL MARKET VIEWPOINT AND SOME INFORMATION, AS WELL AS TO WHAT TO EXPECT ON A BOND MARKET.
WHAT THAT REALLY MEANS IT'S JUST LIKE YOU ON YOUR HOME MORTGAGE, RIGHT? IF YOU HAD A MORTGAGE THAT WAS AT 5% AND NOW YOU CAN GET A MORTGAGE AT 4%, YOU'RE GOING TO GO TO THE BANK AND REFINANCE IT TO HAVE LOWER PAYMENTS.
THAT'S EXACTLY WHAT THE DISTRICT DID.
THAT'S WHAT IN GOVERNMENT TERMS IS CALLED A REFUNDING BOND.
YOU GOT RID OF THE OLD DEBT AND TOOK OUT NEW DEBT AT LOWER INTEREST.
AND THE ONLY DIFFERENCE THERE IS WE DON'T EXTEND TERM.
SO IT'S NOT LIKE A LIKE A HOMEOWNER TO YEAR 20 YOU CAN GO OUT ANOTHER 30.
THAT'S THAT'S NOT WHAT WE'RE PERMITTED TO DO.
NO. SO WE MAINTAIN THE SAME TERM RIGHT.
ONE FINAL QUESTION I THINK I KNOW THE ANSWER, BUT I'M GOING TO ASK IT ANYWAY, WHICH IS, YOU KNOW, YOU TALKED ABOUT THE TIMELINE AND YOU SAID WE WERE ONE OF THE FIRST DISTRICTS TO BE AUDITED. DID YOU? SOUNDS LIKE, YOU KNOW, YOU WERE ON A FAIRLY ACCELERATED TIMELINE.
DID YOU GET EVERYTHING YOU NEEDED? YES. DID YOU FIND IT IN GOOD ORDER? YES. JIM AND JACKIE AND THE REST OF THE FINANCE TEAM ARE REALLY WONDERFUL.
AND YOU, YOU ALMOST HAVE TO BE IF YOU'RE READY FOR AN AUDIT TWO WEEKS AFTER THE FISCAL YEAR ENDS.
SO THAT'S A LOT OF WORK IN THOSE TWO WEEKS TO GET US A SET OF BOOKS THAT WE COULD START AUDITING TWO WEEKS AFTER THE YEAR ENDS, HAVING ALL BANK RECONCILIATIONS DONE, HAVING PAYABLES BOOKED, RECEIVABLES BOOKED, ALL THIS STUFF, AND THEN WE GET TO SIT AROUND AND WAIT FOR NEW YORK STATE.
THEY DID NOT ISSUE THE PENSION INFORMATION THAT WE NEEDED TILL FRIDAY AT 4:00 BEFORE LABOR DAY.
SO WE KIND OF DO ALL THESE AUDITS FROM JULY THROUGH AUGUST.
[00:45:02]
WE GET THROUGH PROBABLY 80% OF OUR SCHOOL DISTRICT AUDITS AND CAN'T ISSUE ANY OF THEM.AND THEN EVERYBODY GETS THE DATA DUMP THE SAME DAY.
EVERYBODY SENDS US THE STUFF AND SAYS, CAN WE HAVE OUR REPORT TOMORROW? NO, WE CAN'T DO IT.
BUT IT TAKES TIME TO MAKE SURE ALL THOSE NUMBERS GET INTO THE REPORT PROPERLY.
AND THEN ONCE WE DO THAT, MY FOLKS DO THAT FOR ME AND THEN I REVIEW THE REPORT.
THEY HAVE TO PUT THAT TOGETHER.
AND THEN IN ADDITION TO ALL THAT, YOU KNOW, WE'VE ALSO WORKED ON THE EXTRA CLASSROOM AUDIT REPORT.
SO THAT AND THAT HAS ALL BEEN NOW COMPLETED AT THIS POINT.
SALUTE TO JACKIE VIGIL FOR SETTING YOU UP.
OKAY, I WISH I COULD CLONE HER, TO BE HONEST WITH YOU.
SO ONE OF THESE STUDENTS COULD FIGURE OUT HOW TO DO THAT.
WE TALKED ABOUT THE DEBT SERVICES.
WERE THERE ANY OTHER RECOMMENDATIONS OR BENCHMARKS THAT ARE WORTH CALLING OUT, OR THAT YOU WOULD WANT US TO BE THINKING ABOUT FOR THE FUTURE? I HONESTLY, I DON'T THINK SO.
I THINK YOU'RE IN VERY GOOD HANDS HERE WITH YOUR FINANCE TEAM.
AND, YOU KNOW, THERE'S ALWAYS LIKE A PLAN OF USING THE FUND BALANCE, YOU KNOW, USING A SIGNIFICANT AMOUNT OF FUND BALANCE IN ONE YEAR, BUT USING IT FOR A ONE TIME PURPOSE IS OKAY.
USING A SIGNIFICANT AMOUNT OF FUND BALANCE TO HELP, YOU KNOW, LOWER A TAX LEVY OR NOT CUT YOU KNOW, SPENDING IS NOT A GOOD THING BECAUSE THEN ONCE YOU RUN THROUGH THAT, WHAT ARE YOU GOING TO DO THE NEXT YEAR? SO USING, YOU KNOW, IF YOU GENERATED MORE THAN YOU THOUGHT.
AND NOW, HEY, WE HAVE A ONE TIME PURPOSE.
HEY, WE REALLY NEED TO REDO THE ROOF.
YOU KNOW, ON ON THIS SCHOOL, YOU APPROPRIATE THE FUND BALANCE.
YOU DON'T HAVE TO TAX THE FOLKS TO DO THAT.
YOU GENERATED THIS MONEY THAT YOU DIDN'T THINK YOU WERE GOING TO HAVE.
YOU USE IT FOR A ONE TIME PURPOSE.
AND THOSE ARE JUST SOME ITEMS THAT WERE OBSERVED AS PART OF THEIR THEIR WORK THAT'S NON-MATERIAL, BUT CERTAINLY THINGS THAT RELATED TO STRENGTHENING OUR INTERNAL CONTROLS AND PROCESSES. AND THAT'S EXACTLY WHAT WE WILL ASK THE BOARD TO APPROVE THAT.
THAT WAS DISCUSSED AT THE AUDIT COMMITTEE AS WELL.
THESE WERE AUDIT REPORTS ARE ALL FILED WITH THE OFFICE OF STATE COMPTROLLER BY OCTOBER 15TH.
YOU HAVE TO YEAH THERE'S A PORTAL FOR THE STATE EDUCATION DEPARTMENT.
THEY HAVE ALL JIM HAS ALL THE ELECTRONIC COPIES OF THE STUFF.
WELL. SO THAT'S ALSO A PART OF THE REQUIREMENT.
YOU'RE WELCOME. THANK YOU SCOTT.
[3.3 Superintendent's Report]
SUPERINTENDENTS REPORT.SO WE'RE LOOKING FOR GREAT THINGS.
I JUST WANTED TO MENTION ONE MORE ACCOLADE TONIGHT.
WE'RE INVITING HER TO A FUTURE MEETING, BUT WE FOUND OUT THIS PAST WEEK THAT MAGGIE.
EXCUSE ME. MAGGIE HORNER WON THE PRESTIGIOUS CON ED SCHOLASTIC SPORTS AWARD, WHICH IS ONE OF THE CONSIDERED THE BIGGEST SCHOLAR ATHLETE AWARD IN THE AREA.
SHE'S A SWIMMER AND SHE'S JUST REALLY A WONDERFUL, A NICE PERSON, A VERY SMART YOUNG LADY.
REALLY HARD WORKING, SO EXCITED FOR HER AND LOOKING FORWARD TO HONORING HER AT AN UPCOMING MEETING.
ADDITIONALLY, THIS MONTH, A COUPLE THINGS GOING ON.
[00:50:08]
OUR BUILDINGS AND GROUNDS FOLKS.THEY ARE SECOND TO NONE OF ANY DISTRICT I'VE EVER BEEN IN.
THEY ARE JUST TOP NOTCH START TO FINISH.
I'VE SAID IT BEFORE AND I'LL SAY IT AGAIN.
AND THEY WORK DAY IN AND DAY OUT SO HARD.
SO WE JUST WANT TO CONTINUE TO EXTEND THANKS TO THEM AND APPRECIATION FOR ALL OF THE WONDERFUL THINGS THEY DO TO TAKE CARE OF OUR STUDENTS AND OUR STAFF, AND TO MAKE THAT MAKE SURE THAT THE BUILDINGS ARE READY.
BECAUSE, AS JIM SAYS, WE KNOW SCHOOL WILL OPEN WHETHER WE'RE READY FOR IT OR NOT IT'S OPENING.
THEY MAKE SURE THAT WE ARE ALWAYS READY.
OCTOBER IS ALSO DIGITAL CITIZENS MONTH, CITIZENSHIP MONTH, DIGITAL CITIZENSHIP MONTH.
I WANTED TO EXTEND TO MISS DELMASTRO, OUR INSTRUCTIONAL TECHNOLOGY STAFF DEVELOPER MR. SEBALOS AND DR. CALLAHAN, WHO OVERSEE TECHNOLOGY TEACHERS AND SUPPORT THEM ACROSS THE K12 CONTINUUM AS THEY WORK TO IMPLEMENT DIGITAL LITERACY SKILLS ACROSS THE CURRICULUM. I HOPE I'M NOT STEPPING ON TOES OF PELHAM TOGETHER ON THIS.
I JUST WANTED TO ALSO SHARE EXPRESS THANKS TO THEM FOR THEIR PARTNERSHIP ON A SERIES OF EVENTS AND ACTIVITIES THAT THEY'RE PUTTING TOGETHER THIS MONTH FOR THE [INAUDIBLE] IN PARTNERSHIP WITH THE DISTRICT TO PROMOTE HEALTHY HABITS FOR STUDENTS AND FAMILIES.
SO RIGHT HERE AT THE SCHOOLS, SPEAKING FOR US, OUR STUDENTS ACROSS THE SPECTRUM ARE TAUGHT DIGITAL CITIZENSHIP CURRICULUM THROUGHOUT THE SCHOOL YEAR, NOT JUST IN OCTOBER, BUT WE DO LIKE TO FEATURE IT IN OCTOBER.
THEY EXPERIENCE LESSONS THAT FOCUS ON RESPONSIBLE AND SAFE ONLINE BEHAVIOR AT THE ELEMENTARY LEVEL, STUDENTS MAY BE INTRODUCED STUDENTS ARE INTRODUCED TO DIGITAL CITIZENSHIP CONCEPTS SUCH AS ONLINE SAFETY, PROTECTING PRIVATE INFORMATION, MEDIA BALANCE, CYBER BULLYING, CARING FOR DEVICES THROUGH THROUGH LESSONS THAT ARE TAUGHT WITHIN LIBRARY CLASS BY OUR DISTRICT ELEMENTARY LIBRARIAN.
IN TECHNOLOGY CLASS AT THE MIDDLE SCHOOL, STUDENTS GET TO GO IN A DEEPER DIVE INTO TOPICS SUCH AS DATA PRIVACY, MEDIA LITERACY, MANAGING THEIR DIGITAL HABITS WITH SPECIAL ATTENTION GIVEN TO ISSUES LIKE DIGITAL MEDIA AND THE BRAIN.
POSTING ON SOCIAL MEDIA, PHISHING, RECOGNIZING INTERNET HOAXES, AND FINDING CREDIBLE NEWS SOURCES.
ONCE YOU GET INTO HIGH SCHOOL, YOU START TO SHIFT AIR INTO EXCUSE ME THIS MORE SPECIFIC COURSES YOU GET THINGS IN HEALTH CLASS TOPICS LIKE EXCUSE ME IN HEALTH HUMANITIES AND SOCIAL STUDIES CLASSES.
OUR HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS THEN EXPLORE INTRODUCED TO AND EXPLORE RELATIONSHIPS BETWEEN DIGITAL CITIZENSHIP AND MENTAL HEALTH, MEDIA LITERACY, CIVIL DISCOURSE AND GAINING A BETTER UNDERSTANDING OF THE CHALLENGES AND OPPORTUNITIES IN THE DIGITAL WORLD.
AND OF COURSE, OUR MIDDLE SCHOOL IS A COMMON SENSE MEDIA SCHOOL.
SO I JUST SHARE ALL OF THAT AND I KNOW SOME MORE THAT SIMILAR INFORMATION IS GOING TO BE PUSHED OUT IN SOME UPCOMING COMMUNICATIONS IN PARTNERSHIP WITH PELHAM TOGETHER, BECAUSE I KNOW FOLKS DON'T OFTEN KNOW ALL THAT THAT GOES ON IN SCHOOL, AND THEY SEE STUDENTS AND THEY SEE SOME OF THE ISSUES OR CONCERNS.
THEY DON'T REALIZE WE'RE DOING IT.
SO I WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT FOLKS KNOW THAT WE'RE DOING IT.
BUT IT IS SOMETHING THAT THE DISTRICT HAS BEEN TAKING VERY SERIOUSLY FOR QUITE SOME TIME.
SO AGAIN, THANKS TO THOSE FOLKS WHO HAVE BEEN LEADING THAT CURRICULAR WORK FOR MANY YEARS.
SO THAT COMMITTEE IS WILL BE UP AND RUNNING THIS YEAR.
A LOT OF DISTRICTS ARE JUMPING TO WRITING AI POLICIES, WE ARE NOT.
BECAUSE FOR A LOT OF REASONS, ONE OF THEM BEING AI, IS SUCH AN EVOLVING TECHNOLOGY.
BY THE TIME YOU ACTUALLY GET A POLICY THROUGH THREE THREE READINGS, WE'VE MOVED FAR BEYOND THE LIMITS OF THE TECHNOLOGY, BUT ALSO ONE OF THE KEY APPROACHES THAT A LOT OF DISTRICTS HAVE TAKEN AND THAT WE ARE TAKING, IS FOCUSING ON LOOKING AT OUR ACADEMIC AND ACADEMIC INTEGRITY POLICIES AND THINGS THAT ARE NOT NECESSARILY SPECIFICALLY DIGITAL LITERACY, BUT SPEAK TO THE CORE AND THE SKILLS AND THE INTEGRITY THAT WE WANT TO TEACH OUR STUDENTS IN THE DIGITAL WORLD.
SO SO THAT COMMITTEE IS GOING TO BE LOOKING AT THAT.
I WILL ADD AS WELL, I SEE WHERE I PUT IT IN HERE.
[00:55:07]
STARTING A BOOK STUDY.I KNOW THERE MIGHT BE MIXED OPINIONS ON THIS BOOK, BUT I'M JUST GOING TO PUT IT OUT THERE ANYWAYS, WE'RE GOING TO READ IT AND WE'RE GOING TO, YOU KNOW, READ SOME OPPOSING OPINIONS AS WELL. BUT AT THE ADMINISTRATIVE LEVEL, WE'RE GOING TO DO A BOOK STUDY THIS THIS YEAR ON THE ANXIOUS GENERATION, JONATHAN HAIDT, IT'S A BOOK THAT A LOT OF FOLKS ARE READING.
AND AGAIN, PART OF OUR OWN LOOK AT SOCIAL MEDIA, DIGITAL DEVICE USE.
WHAT DOES IT MEAN FOR US? WHAT ARE ITS IMPLICATIONS FOR US AS EDUCATORS IN OUR SCHOOLS? AND I WILL LET THE BOARD KNOW.
WE'VE WE'VE BROUGHT ALL OF YOU COPIES AS WELL.
SO AS SOON AS THOSE ARRIVE, WE'LL BE SHARING THOSE WITH YOU.
YOU KNOW, SHOULD YOU WANT TO HAVE ANY CONVERSATIONS AROUND THAT.
AND AGAIN, JUST USE IT TO INFORM THINKING.
THANK YOU. SO YES, SORRY WE DIDN'T WE WANTED TO HAVE THEM FOR FOR DIGITAL CITIZENSHIP MONTH.
WE DIDN'T JUST GET THE ORDER IN TIME.
AND THIS IS I KNOW THAT ANNEMARIE COULD SPEAK MORE VERBOSELY ABOUT IT, BUT PELHAM TOGETHER, IN PARTNERSHIP WITH ALL THESE EFFORTS, IS ALSO BRINGING BACK THE DISCONNECT TO RECONNECT, WHICH IS REALLY EXCITING.
SOME OF YOU MAY REMEMBER THAT FROM A FEW YEARS BACK, WHERE LOCAL BUSINESSES ARE PARTNERING TO SUPPORT EFFORTS FOR PEOPLE TO PUT THEIR PHONES AWAY AND ENJOY A MEAL WITH YOUR FAMILY AND FRIENDS SANS PHONE.
CORRECT. SO MORE WILL DEFINITELY BE COMING FROM THEM ABOUT THAT.
A COUPLE MORE ITEMS BEFORE I TURN THE MIC BACK OVER.
FITZGERALD AND I ACCOMPANIED HIM UP TO THE BOARD OF REGENTS MEETING.
AND WE WERE UP THERE YESTERDAY AT THE STATE EDUCATION OFFICES, INVITED RIGHT INTO THE BOARD OF REGENTS MEETING, WHERE THEY HONORED HIM AND OUR HIGH SCHOOL PRINCIPAL FROM THE UPSTATE AREA. SO IT WAS REALLY EXCITING TO BE THERE WITH HIM, TO BE PART OF THAT RECOGNITION, TO BE HONORED BY A BOARD OF REGENTS MEMBER WHO HAD ACTUALLY KNOWN HIM EARLIER IN HIS CAREER, AND WAS THRILLED THAT I THINK IT WAS PROBABLY ABOUT 10, 15 YEARS LATER THAT THEY CROSSED PATHS AGAIN WITH HIM BEING PRINCIPAL OF THE YEAR AND HER BEING A BOARD OF REGENT MEMBER.
IT WAS A GREAT CHANCE TO RECONNECT AS WELL WITH THE COMMISSIONER OF EDUCATION.
SO SO SOMEONE I HAD THE FORTUNATE I WAS FORTUNATE TO HAVE ON MY DISSERTATION COMMITTEE.
SO IT'S FOSTERED A LONG STANDING, REALLY WONDERFUL OPPORTUNITY TO GET TO KNOW HER AND FOLLOW HER CAREER AND TO BENEFIT FROM HER WISDOM AND YEARS OF EXPERIENCE.
SO WE GOT TO SPEND A LITTLE TIME UP THERE WITH HER, TOO.
REALLY EXCITING. SO THAT WAS OUR WAY OF CELEBRATING OUR PRINCIPALS MONTH WITH MR. JOHNSON. REALLY EXCITED ABOUT THAT.
THIS IS MY, I HAVE TWO MORE THINGS I WANT TO MENTION.
IT IS WONDERFUL TO HAVE OUR FAMILIES BACK IN OUR SCHOOLS.
I STILL THINK ABOUT THE YEARS WHERE WE COULDN'T DO THAT.
SO EVERY OPPORTUNITY TO HAVE OUR FAMILIES IN THEIR SCHOOLS IS WHEN WE LOOK FORWARD TO GETTING TO COME IN, MEETING WITH TEACHERS, SEEING THE CLASSROOM SPACES THAT OUR STUDENTS WHERE OUR STUDENTS SPEND THEIR DAYS.
SO WE'RE THRILLED FOR THE THE LARGE TURNOUT THERE.
HE STARTS WORK ON THAT EARLY, I THINK, IN JUNE, AND THAT TAKES THROUGHOUT THE SUMMER.
SO IT'S A VERY COMPLEX PUZZLE TO PUT TOGETHER.
BUT THANK HIM FOR HIS EFFORTS.
WHAT'S YOUR STORY? IN ADDITION TO THE NORMAL BOARD COFFEES TRACY AND I MISS ARE ACTUALLY GOING TO BE HOSTING A COFFEE AND CONVERSATION FOR PARENTS OF OUR STUDENTS WITH SPECIAL NEEDS.
JUST A CHANCE TO KIND OF HAVE A MORE INFORMAL FORUM TO SPEAK WITH THEM.
SO WE'RE TARGETING NOVEMBER 15TH FOR THAT.
WE'RE HOPING TO BE AT CHASE STATION.
YOU'LL BE HEARING MORE FROM THAT.
WE JUST WANTED TO PUT THAT ON EVERYONE'S RADAR AND JUST LOOK FORWARD TO A MORE INFORMAL OPPORTUNITY TO SIT AND SPEAK WITH OUR OUR PARENTS AND GET TO KNOW ONE ANOTHER BETTER AND HEAR THE CONCERNS ON THEIR MIND.
AND FINALLY, SCHOOL SAFETY CERTAINLY CONTINUES TO BE A PRIORITY FOR US DAY IN AND DAY OUT.
[01:00:03]
SO THANKS TO THE ADMINISTRATORS HERE, THE STAFF WHO CAME OUT, TOM DRAKE, OUR FIRST RESPONDERS WHO WERE VERY QUICKLY ON THE SITE.AND I THINK FOLKS KNOW THAT AT THIS POINT IT WAS NOT THE NEW AMBULANCE.
I THINK IT'S REALLY IMPORTANT, IT WAS THE FIRST QUESTION AFTER, IS EVERYBODY SAFE? B WAS WAS IT THE NEW ONE? SO NO, THANKFULLY IT WAS NOT.
BUT IT REALLY SHOWS THE THE BENEFIT OF SYSTEMS. I THINK WE FIRST THAT WAS BEFORE ARRIVAL.
THAT WAS WHILE MANY STAFF WERE STILL ARRIVING.
STUDENTS WERE EN ROUTE TO SCHOOL.
TOO LATE FOR US TO THINK ABOUT DOING THINGS LIKE DELAYING SCHOOL.
BUT THE FOLKS WHO WERE HERE KNEW THE PROTOCOL, QUICKLY COMMUNICATED THE NEEDED INFORMATION, CAME UP WITH A CONTINGENCY PLAN, AND REROUTED ANY STUDENTS COMING TO THE MIDDLE SCHOOL UP THROUGH THE HIGH SCHOOL HAD A PLACE TO KEEP THEM SAFE AND CONTAINED UNTIL IT WAS SAFE TO BRING THEM BACK.
AND EVEN PRIOR EXPERIENCES FROM LONG BEFORE JIM OR I WERE EVEN HERE.
WE'VE HEARD ABOUT A BUS FIRE THAT HAPPENED HERE WAY BACK WHEN.
LESSONS LEARNED FROM THAT ACTUALLY CAME IN HANDY HERE, BECAUSE AS SOON AS THAT SCENARIO OF THE VEHICLE ON FIRE WITH POTENTIALLY TOXIC SMOKE COMING FROM IT THE ADMINISTRATORS AND THE BUILDING STAFF KNEW TO SHUT THE HVAC SYSTEMS DOWN, SO WE WEREN'T THEN PUMPING TOXIC AIR INTO THE SCHOOLS.
SO LESSONS LEARNED AT EVERY OPPORTUNITY.
AND WE REALLY APPRECIATE THE OPPORTUNITY TO TO DEBRIEF AND TO TO WORK TOGETHER AS A TEAM ON THAT.
I THINK WE'RE AT THE MIDDLE SCHOOL, HIGH SCHOOL TODAY.
YOU CAN ANTICIPATE, WINK, WINK A COUPLE MORE TO COME IN THE NEXT COUPLE DAYS.
SO FOLKS SHOULD BE SEEING THAT AND THEIR PARENTS SQUARE NOTIFICATIONS.
ALSO, WHAT WE'VE DONE INTERNALLY IS WORKED WITH OUR PSYCHOLOGIST.
TRACY TOOK THE LEAD ON THAT WITH TOM DRAKE AND CAME UP WITH KIND OF A SCRIPT OR SOME TALKING POINTS OF HOW WE WANT TO SPEAK WITH STUDENTS AHEAD OF DRILL, SO GIVING THEM A HEADS UP, REMINDING THEM WHY WE PRACTICE THE DRILLS, WHAT THE PURPOSE IS, HOW THE PROTOCOLS ARE MEANT TO KEEP THEM SAFE, HOW THEY'RE CONDUCTED, AND THEN ALSO RESOURCES THAT ARE AVAILABLE TO STUDENTS FOR ADDITIONAL SUPPORT.
BECAUSE WE KNOW THAT THESE KINDS OF THINGS CAN PRODUCE STRESS AND ANXIETY.
SO THANK YOU TO TRACY AND THE TEAM FOR HELPING WITH THAT.
AND I WILL END THERE AND PASS IT BACK TO YOU FOR THE REST OF THE MEETING.
CAN I ADD ONE THING? JUST I WANTED TO SAY HOW GREAT IT WAS TO SEE EVERYTHING THAT THE DISTRICT IS DOING FOR DIGITAL LITERACY MONTH.
IT'S ACTUALLY IN THE EXAMINER BECAUSE THERE'S A PRESS RELEASE.
I THINK IT SHOULD BE THERE NOW BECAUSE THERE WAS A COMBINED PRESS RELEASE WITH THAT ALONG WITH THE WORKSHOPS THAT PELHAM TOGETHER IS DOING. BUT THE LIST OF ALL THE THINGS THAT THE DISTRICT SHARES WITH THE STUDENTS.
AND LIKE YOU SAID, NOT JUST FOR THE MONTH OF OCTOBER, BUT ONGOING WAS EXTENSIVE.
AND AND I THINK YOU'RE RIGHT, I THINK IT'S THE DISTRICT'S VERY BUSY DOING THE WORK SOMETIMES IT'S, YOU KNOW, IT'S HARD TO THEN QUOTE UNQUOTE, ADVERTISE THE WORK THAT YOU'RE DOING.
SO I REALLY COMMEND THE STAFF AND THE TECHNOLOGY DEPARTMENT BECAUSE IT WAS AMAZING TO SEE EVERYTHING THAT WAS ON THAT LIST. WE'RE STARTING AT KINDERGARTEN, LIKE GOING FROM K TO 12.
SO YEAH, I JUST WANT TO SECOND THAT.
SO THAT'S GREAT. WHEN IT TRANSFERS IN LEARNING, THAT'S THAT'S SUCCESS.
YEAH. YOU MENTIONED THERE'S A COMMITTEE THAT'S LOOKING INTO DIGITAL DEVICE LITERACY USAGE.
HOW'S THAT COMMITTEE? IS THAT A IN SCHOOL COMMITTEE FROM FACULTY OR WHO'S ON THE COMMITTEE? I THINK THAT'S STILL IN THE PROCESS OF BEING PUT TOGETHER.
MR. LLEWELLYN IS HEADING THAT UP.
I THINK WE WANTED TO GET SCHOOL UP AND RUNNING, AND HE'S GOING TO BE ASSEMBLING, AND I DO I'M CONFIDENT IT WILL BE A SHARED STAKEHOLDER COMMITTEE, PROBABLY PREDOMINANTLY INTERNAL FOLKS, BUT I DO KNOW THEY PLAN TO INVOLVE STUDENTS AS WELL.
I DON'T KNOW TO WHAT DEGREE THEY'RE GOING TO TAP INTO PARENTS AS WELL.
I THINK IT'S LIKELY PREDOMINANTLY INTERNAL.
ALL RIGHT. THANK YOU. NEXT WE HAVE BOARD OF EDUCATION COMMITTEE REPORTS.
[3.4 Board of Education Committee Reports]
[01:05:09]
WE HAD FINANCE AUDIT.I DON'T KNOW, I MEAN, I THINK WE COVERED IT PRETTY THOROUGHLY.
ON FINANCE COMMITTEE WE MET WITH AN ADVISOR THAT THE DISTRICT HAS RETAINED TO HELP PLAN THROUGH THE VARIOUS SORT OF STRATEGIES AS IT RELATES TO CAPITAL PROJECTS AND BORROWING.
THERE ARE TWO SORT OF TRANCHES OF DEBT COMING UP.
AND THERE ARE KIND OF DIFFERENT WAYS IN WHICH WE COULD, THE DISTRICT COULD BORROW YOU KNOW, OVER THE COMING YEARS INTERACTING WITH THAT DEBT COMING, YOU KNOW, MATURING IN WAYS THAT WOULD HAVE DIFFERENT IMPLICATIONS FOR OUR ABILITY TO SPEND MONEY, OUR ABILITY TO TAX. SO LOTS OF MOVING PIECES AND JUST A GENERAL HIGH LEVEL DISCUSSION AROUND AROUND SOME OF THE STRATEGIES THAT WE COULD DEPLOY.
YES. AND WE'LL HAVE A BOARD MEETING AT OUR NEXT BOARD MEETING.
WE'LL HAVE TIME DEDICATED TO TALKING.
TALKING ABOUT THAT IN MORE DETAIL.
YEAH. THE SAME REPRESENTATIVE FROM CAPITAL MARKETS WILL BE IN ATTENDANCE THAT NIGHT.
WE DIDN'T KNOW WE'RE STILL WORKING OUT, I THINK IF IT'S IN PERSON OR REMOTE.
DID WE HAVE ANY OTHER COMMITTEES? NO. SO I THINK WE'RE JUST AND I WOULD SAY WE ARE JUST GETTING A LOT OF THESE UP AND RUNNING.
WE'RE WAITING FOR ONE MORE PIECE OF PUZZLE FOR THE ADMINISTRATIVE MEMBERSHIP.
AND THEN I THINK I KNOW THAT EMAILS ARE ALREADY GOING OUT WITH THOSE FIRST ROUNDS OF MEETINGS.
SO I JUST WANTED TO ADD TOO BECAUSE THERE WERE A FEW QUESTIONS DID COME.
SO THANK YOU TO THE COMMUNITY.
I KNOW JACKIE HAS ALREADY MENTIONED THIS AS WELL.
I JUST WANTED TO REITERATE THAT TOO.
IT WAS IT'S ALWAYS A DIFFICULT, DIFFICULT DECISION.
SO WHAT WE TRY TO DO IS STRIKE A BALANCE BETWEEN FOLKS WHO HAVE BEEN ON THE COMMITTEE.
SO IF YOU DIDN'T, IF YOU WEREN'T SEATED ON A COMMITTEE, WE'RE VERY SORRY.
WE APPRECIATE YOU TAKING THE TIME TO THROW YOUR HAT IN THE RING.
AND WE'LL LOOK FORWARD TO TO THOSE COMMITTEES GETTING UP AND RUNNING.
AND I'M SURE WE'LL HAVE A LOT MORE TO REPORT ON WITHIN THE NEXT MONTH.
[3.5 Assistant Superintendent's Update on Personal Growth and Achievement]
ASSISTANT SUPERINTENDENTS UPDATE ON PERSONAL GROWTH AND ACHIEVEMENT.ONE ELEMENT THAT SEEMS TO SPANNED ALL SUBJECT AND GRADE LEVEL GRADE LEVELS IS A COMMITMENT TO ENGAGING STUDENTS IN AUTHENTIC LEARNING EXPERIENCES THAT CONNECT THEIR LEARNING IN THE CLASSROOM TO THE COMMUNITY AND THE REAL WORLD.
RESEARCH STRONGLY SUPPORTS THE IMPORTANCE IN THIS AND FOSTERING DEEPER ENGAGEMENT, IMPROVED UNDERSTANDING AND LONG LASTING KNOWLEDGE RETENTION, AS WELL AS THE FOSTERING OF THOSE EVER IMPORTANT TRANSFERABLE SKILLS THAT STUDENTS CAN USE IN SCHOOL, IN ONE CLASSROOM, IN ANOTHER, AND THEN BEYOND.
SO THROUGH THAT LENS, I'LL SHARE SOME OF THE HIGHLIGHTS OF WHAT'S BEEN GOING ON IN THE DISTRICT FOR THE PAST TWO WEEKS, WHICH HAVEN'T BEEN FULL TWO WEEKS, BUT OR AND EVEN BEYOND. SO AS WE SPOKE ABOUT A LITTLE EARLIER, WE HAD THE STUDENTS HERE TONIGHT, WHICH WAS AWESOME.
13 STUDENTS WILL BE PARTICIPATING IN THE AREA ALL-STATE ENSEMBLES THIS FALL IN SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA, STRING ORCHESTRA, CONCERT BAND, MIXED CHOIR, AND TREBLE CHOIR. ALL OF THESE STUDENTS WERE CHOSEN FOR THESE ENSEMBLES BASED ON THEIR SOLO PERFORMANCES NYSSMA PERFORMANCES LAST SPRING.
AND THEN WE HONORED TONIGHT THE THREE STUDENTS WHO WERE ADMITTED TO ALL-STATE GRACIE KIAMIE, SAMANTHA BONANNO, AND ELLIOT LEVINE, WHO WAS FIRST AN ALTERNATE BUT NOW FORMALLY ACCEPTED FOR THE TRUMPET.
IN THE FINE ARTS, HALLOWEEN WINDOW PAINTING IS TOMORROW 65 AP STUDENTS.
I HOPE TO PROVIDE SOME PHOTOS OF THAT.
AND THANKS TO THE PTA FOR FUNDING THE NECESSARY SUPPLIES FOR THIS ENDEAVOR.
AND THEN THIS PAST WEDNESDAY, WORKING ARTIST ANNA CONWAY VISITED AP ART CLASSES TO TALK ABOUT HER WORK AND HER PROCESS AS A PROFESSIONAL ARTIST.
THE AP HISTORY AND AP ART AND ADVANCED ART STUDENTS ARE TAKING A TRIP TO THE MET ON OCTOBER 24TH.
[01:10:02]
HOLLOW. OVER 250 STUDENTS PEOPLE ATTENDED BECAUSE IT WAS ELEMENTARY STUDENTS, SO 250, PROBABLY INCLUDES PARENTS. THE FIRST STEM MOVIE NIGHT ON MONDAY THEY SCREENED THE IRON GIANT AT THE PELHAM PICTURE HOUSE.IN OUR WORLD LANGUAGE PROGRAM.
REALLY PROUD OF OUR FOREIGN LANGUAGE IN ELEMENTARY SCHOOLS TEAM.
A WORLD LANGUAGE COORDINATOR FROM JERICHO, LONG ISLAND, HEARD ABOUT THE GREAT WORK THAT THEY'RE DOING HERE IN PELHAM AND INVITED THEM TO PROVIDE PROFESSIONAL LEARNING TO THEIR STAFF IN LONG ISLAND.
SO KUDOS TO THE TEAM FOR THAT.
AND THEN FOR HISPANIC HERITAGE MONTH MONTH STUDENTS IN SPANISH 4 HONORS, HONORS AND SUPA RESEARCHED AND GAVE PRESENTATIONS IN SPANISH ON PROMINENT HISPANIC FIGURES IN THE UNITED STATES. SPANISH 4 CLASSES ARE EXPLORING AND PRESENTING ABOUT THE MANY CONTRIBUTIONS OF FAMOUS HISPANICS AND THEN ALSO IN MIDDLE SCHOOL FRENCH CLASS.
AND THEN IN PE CLASSES, I'LL HIGHLIGHT SOME FIFTH GRADERS.
FIFTH GRADERS ACROSS PELHAM ARE DOING SOME AWESOME THINGS.
THEY WILL EVENTUALLY USE THESE THE DATA FROM THIS DATA COLLECTION TO INFORM THE CREATION OF THEIR FIFTH GRADE FITNESS PROGRAMS, AND THEY WILL SET GOALS ACROSS THE YEAR AND IN THE SPRINGTIME, THEY WILL EVALUATE THEIR OWN RESULTS AND IN THE PROCESS, LEARN FITNESS VOCABULARY AS WELL AS HOW TO PERFORM EXERCISES WITH THE CORRECT FORM, WITH QUALITY OVER QUANTITY BEING THE AT THE FOREFRONT.
AND THEN LASTLY, LAST NIGHT WAS ELEMENTARY CURRICULUM NIGHT HELD THE PROSPECT HILL SCHOOL FOR ALL, FOR ALL PARENTS AND FAMILIES IN GRADES K THROUGH FIVE.
DR. CALLAHAN, MISS SHORT AND MISS DELMASTRO WELCOMED PARENTS IN THE BEGINNING WITH A BROAD OVERVIEW OF SCIENCE, SOCIAL STUDIES AND TECHNOLOGY EDUCATION IN PELHAM AND THEN PARENTS WERE INVITED TO ATTEND BREAKOUT SESSIONS LED BY OUR MATH STAFF DEVELOPER BETH FINKELSTEIN AND OUR ELA STAFF DEVELOPER, KATE ALEX.
THE CARE AND THOUGHTFULNESS THAT WENT INTO THE TEAM AND THAT THEY PUT INTO EVERY DETAIL.
IT GAVE PARENTS A REAL GLIMPSE INTO THE STUDENT'S LIFE AND WORLD AT SCHOOL, AND IT WAS CLEAR TO ME, AND I'M SURE TO THE OTHER PARENTS, THAT OUR STUDENTS ARE IN THE HANDS OF THESE TALENTED PROFESSIONALS WHO ARE DEEPLY COMMITTED TO USING RESEARCH BASED PRACTICES TO CREATE THE BEST AND MOST SUPPORTIVE LEARNING ENVIRONMENTS POSSIBLE.
SO THANKS TO THE TEAM FOR CREATING SUCH A GREAT EXPERIENCE FOR PARENTS.
I KNOW I'M GOING. I'M EXCITED.
NEXT WE HAVE ASSISTANT SUPERINTENDENTS UPDATE ON BELONGING AND WELLNESS.
[3.6 Assistant Superintendent's Update on Belonging and Wellness]
HI. GOOD EVENING.SO IN ADDITION TO SPENDING A LOT OF MY TIME PAYING ATTENTION TO COMPLIANCE AND LAW AND THE LEGAL PART OF SPECIAL EDUCATION, WE ALSO CLOSELY IN THE DEPARTMENT WATCH NUMBERS AND TRENDS.
AND WE'RE PROBABLY GOING TO START BUDGET DEVELOPMENT NEXT MONTH.
SO IN THINKING ABOUT WHAT'S COMING AHEAD, I DID WANT TO SHARE WITH THE BOARD SOME OF THE THINGS THAT WE'RE SEEING VERY EARLY ON ALREADY REGARDING TREND WISE WITH OUR CPSE STUDENTS.
FOR THOSE OF YOU THAT WERE ON THE BOARD LAST YEAR, YOU KNEW WE HAD A PRETTY LARGE CPSE AMOUNT OF STUDENTS THAT WERE COMING IN THIS YEAR. AND WE HAD TO TALK ABOUT WHETHER WE WERE OPENING A SECOND 812 SECTION FOR OUR SPECIAL CLASSES.
THE 812 CLASS THAT WE DO HAVE IN COLONIAL IS FULL.
AND WE DID END UP SENDING THEM TO ADDED DISTRICT PROGRAMS. AND WHEN WE TALK ABOUT HIGH NEEDS, WE TALK ABOUT STUDENTS WITH PRETTY SIGNIFICANT PHYSICAL DISABILITIES WHO NEED ENVIRONMENTS THAT WE MAY NOT BE SET UP TO HAVE.
[01:15:07]
SOME OF THOSE STUDENTS MAY BE DECLASSIFIED ON THAT ROAD FROM PRESCHOOL TO GENERAL EDUCATION TO SCHOOL AGE.AND OF THAT NUMBER, SOME OF THEM ARE PRETTY SIGNIFICANT IN THEIR NEEDS.
SO I WANTED TO PUT THAT ON THE BOARD'S RADAR IN LIEU OF THE PRESENTATIONS WE WERE TALKING ABOUT FACILITIES USE, THIS LOVELY PRESENTATION HERE.
BECAUSE THE THE CHALLENGE ALSO IS IF WE HAVE TO ADD ANOTHER CLASS.
WHERE? IN WHAT BUILDING? SO THAT'S SOMETHING THAT WE'RE GOING TO NEED TO TAKE A LOOK AT AND WATCH THIS CLOSELY AS IT UNFOLDS.
AND AS I GET MORE OF A HANDLE ON THIS WITH DR.
WE'LL TRY TO GIVE AS ACCURATE PROJECTIONS TO THE BOARD AS POSSIBLE.
IN SPEAKING WITH YOUR COLLEAGUES AROUND THE REGION, ARE OTHER DISTRICTS SEEING SIMILAR PATTERNS? VERY MUCH SO.
THE CPS NUMBER CPS NUMBERS ARE GROWING.
DR. RIBEIRO WAS ON A CALL, I THINK, LAST WEEK WITH MARINA VOGEL, WHO HEADS CPSE FOR THE COUNTY, AND KATE MITTELMAN, WHO IS AN ASSISTANT COMMISSIONER AT THE COUNTY.
AND BASICALLY THE MESSAGE WAS THEY'RE STRUGGLING WITH PROVIDERS.
AND IF WE NEED PROVIDERS, SCHOOL DISTRICTS, YOU BETTER LOOK TO HIRING RELATED SERVICE PROVIDERS TO SUPPORT STUDENTS WITH CPSE NEEDS.
AND THAT'S NOT SOMETHING WE'VE PLANNED FOR OR FUNDED FOR.
WHAT WHAT COULD HAPPEN IS WE COULD BECOME A CPSE VENDOR, WHICH WOULD STILL ALLOW US TO GET SOME REIMBURSEMENT BACK FROM THE COUNTY BECAUSE THEY CAN'T PROVIDE PROVIDERS. BUT THE OVERALL TREND, IT'S A GROWING NUMBER, GROWING POPULATION.
THERE AREN'T PROVIDERS OUT THERE.
I'M NOT QUITE SURE WHAT THE TRENDS ARE ABOUT.
SO, YOU KNOW, FROM A GLOBAL KIND OF SOCIOLOGICAL MEDICAL STANDPOINT, I DON'T KNOW WHAT THAT'S ABOUT.
IT'S OUR RESPONSIBILITY TO FIND THOSE STUDENTS AND TO WE HAVE WE HAVE ALL OF THE CPSE RESPONSIBILITY.
HOWEVER, WHEN THERE AREN'T ENOUGH PROVIDERS, THAT DOESN'T INDEMNIFY THE SCHOOL DISTRICT'S RESPONSIBILITY TO COME UP WITH A SOLUTION. AND WE'VE BEEN GOING DOWN THIS ROAD FOR ABOUT THREE YEARS.
SO SO ONE SOLUTION MIGHT BE HAVING ANOTHER CLASSROOM.
SO THAT'S OUR THAT'S OUR KIDS TRANSITIONING.
SO OUR OWN PHYSICAL THERAPISTS, OUR OWN SPEECH PATHOLOGISTS HAVING TO PROVIDE THESE RELATED SERVICES BECAUSE THE AGENCIES ARE NOT ABLE TO DO IT.
AND THE PROBLEM IS ALSO THE REIMBURSEMENT RATES FOR THE COUNTY ARE LOW.
SO THEY CAN'T GET THEY CAN'T HIRE PROVIDERS.
BUT DO WE HAVE ENOUGH LIKE OUR OWN PEOPLE WHO CAN THEN DO THAT BESIDES THE WORK WE HAVE THEM DOING? I'D HAVE TO LOOK AT THE VOLUME OF NEED.
MY MY KNEE JERK ANSWER WOULD BE PROBABLY NOT.
NOW WE COULD LOOK TO AGAIN HIRE OUR OWN.
[01:20:02]
AND AGAIN, BUT WE WANT TO BECOME A PROVIDER SO THAT THE COUNTY CAN REIMBURSE US IN SOME WAY FOR THE MONEY WE'RE GOING TO LAY OUT FOR SERVICING THOSE STUDENTS.SO IF WE HIRE OUR OWN, WE COULD POSSIBLY THEN BILL BACK.
CORRECT. BUT IF WE HIRE OUR OWN WE ARE ALSO TALKING ABOUT HEALTH INSURANCE BENEFITS.
SO IT'S GOING TO BE SORT OF A COST ANALYSIS.
WHAT MAKES THE MOST SENSE TO REMEDY THIS PARTICULAR CHALLENGE FOR US? YES, THIS IS ALL VERY PRELIMINARY, BUT TRACY'S BEEN DOING A LOT OF DEEP THINKING ABOUT IT AND PROACTIVE THINKING.
BUT IT'S GOOD TO THINK ABOUT IT NOW BECAUSE WE KIND OF STARTED DISCUSSING BUDGETS.
RIGHT. IN ORDER TO PREPARE FOR THE FOLLOWING YEAR.
AND. AND THE RIGHT? THE OTHER. THE STUDENTS THAT ARE TRANSITIONING WHO MAY HAVE US TIP TO ANOTHER CLASS.
THAT'S WHAT WE'RE GOING TO LOOK AT.
I NEED TO GET A SENSE OF WHO THOSE KIDS ARE, WHAT THEIR NEEDS ARE.
CAN WE OPEN ANOTHER CLASS? YES. BUT THE QUESTION I SAID TO DR.
CHAMP THE OTHER DAY IS WHERE? LIKE YOU SAID, IF THERE'S A TREND, WHAT DOES THAT LOOK LIKE THREE FIVE YEARS FROM NOW? CORRECT. YEAH. AND THAT'S THAT'S I THINK WHAT WE'RE ALL WONDERING, RIGHT.
AND IS THIS A BUBBLE OR IS THIS THE NEW NORMAL? THE CONVERSATION FOR YOU ALL AS A BOARD IS YOU START TO GRAPPLE ABOUT YOUR FACILITIES AND BOND DISCUSSIONS.
AND THE OTHER THING, TOO IS, YOU KNOW, I MEAN, THIS IS NOT MY REALM, THIS IS FOR YOU GUYS TO DECIDE.
BUT WE ALSO WE WANT SOME BREATHING ROOM, TOO, RIGHT? BECAUSE WE IF WE KEEP REACTING AND TRYING TO JIMMYING THINGS THAT THAT ISN'T A SUSTAINABLE ANSWER EITHER.
SO WHEN IT COMES TIME, I THINK TO THINK LONG TERM ABOUT FACILITIES, HOW DO WE EITHER HAVE CONTINGENCY SPACE. WE ALWAYS TALK ABOUT MONEY, CONTINGENCIES.
FOR THE 812 CLASSES, PUTTING ASIDE SPACE DOES THAT REQUIRE SPECIAL STAFFING? LIKE IS IT BEYOND JUST A REGULAR ELEMENTARY SCHOOL SPECIAL ED TEACHER OR IS IT? [INAUDIBLE] RIGHT, I MEAN, IT WOULD BE A SPECIAL EDUCATION TEACHER, RIGHT? THAT HAS THAT CERTIFICATION.
BUT WHEN IF WE WOULD HAVE TO HIRE SOMEONE BECAUSE WE'RE ADDING A NEW CLASS, WE'RE GOING TO WANT TO LOOK FOR SOMEONE WHO HAS GOT EXPERIENCE IN A SPECIFIC WHEELHOUSE WITH STUDENTS THAT, YOU KNOW, HAVE MORE CHALLENGING DEVELOPMENTAL DISABILITIES, AGAIN, NONVERBAL, USING AAC COMMUNICATION DEVICES WHO HAVE PHYSICAL NEEDS.
SOME OF OUR KIDS HAVE THINGS CALLED DRIFTING CHAIRS, WHICH ARE SPECIAL, SPECIALIZED CHAIRS THAT LIFT THEM IF THEY DON'T HAVE TRUNK CONTROL OR PHYSICAL CONTROL, DEPENDING ON A MEDICAL CONDITION, HELP THEM SIT UP.
WE TALKED ABOUT THE HEARING ASSISTANCE FOR SOME STUDENTS.
IT HELPS. IT HELPS THE KIDS, AND IT'S A WONDERFUL OPPORTUNITY TO GET THEM TO COMMUNICATE.
IN ADDITION, I WANTED TO MENTION THAT GREG LAU, OUR SECONDARY SUPERVISOR OF SPECIAL EDUCATION, HE'S WORKING IN COLLABORATION WITH HIS COLLEAGUES IN SCARSDALE, BRONXVILLE AND TUCKAHOE IN ORGANIZING A OPWDD TRANSITION FAIR.
SO THAT'S OFFICE OF PEOPLE WITH DEVELOPMENTAL DISABILITIES, AND THAT'S ORGANIZING AGENCIES THAT WORK WITH A VERY SPECIAL POPULATION TO SPEAK WITH FAMILIES ABOUT RECREATION OPPORTUNITIES, THAT COULD BE AFTER SCHOOL CLUBS, THAT COULD BE SUMMER CAMPS, THAT COULD BE DANCE, THAT COULD BE MUSIC, ANYTHING THAT MIGHT BE AVAILABLE TO THEM THAT IS FUNDED THROUGH OFFICE OF PEOPLE WITH DEVELOPMENTAL
[01:25:06]
DISABILITIES.SO I THANK HIM FOR ORGANIZING THAT.
THAT'S GOING TO BE HELD NOVEMBER 12TH AT SCARSDALE HIGH SCHOOL THIS YEAR.
CAN I JUST TAKE A SECOND TOO, I WANT TO JUST ACKNOWLEDGE GREG AND THANK HIM FOR DOING THAT WORK, BECAUSE I KNOW THERE ARE QUITE A FEW FAMILIES IN PELHAM WHO ARE USING OR WANTING TO ACCESS OR WANTING TO KNOW MORE ABOUT HOW TO ACCESS OPWDD AND WHAT THAT CAN DO AND MEAN FOR THEIR FAMILIES, AND MOST IMPORTANTLY, FOR THEIR CHILDREN TO HAVE THAT ENRICHED EXPERIENCE AND HAVE ACCESS TO THAT.
SO THIS IS A REALLY IMPORTANT THING THAT GREG IS DOING.
SO THIS IS REALLY NICE FOR THEM.
IN 504 WORLD ON MONDAY, OCTOBER 7TH, AT OUR ADMINISTRATIVE CABINET MEETING, I INVITED OUR NEW 504 CONSULTANT, STEPHANIE LOPEZ FROM CIRCUIT CONSULTING AND STEPHANIE ROEBUCK, A LOT OF STEPHANIE'S, FROM KEANE AND BEANE TO TALK TO THE ADMINISTRATIVE TEAM AROUND 504 ACCOMMODATION PLANS.
IT'S BEEN SEVERAL YEARS SINCE THERE'S BEEN A DEEP DIVE IN PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT ON 504 IN THE DISTRICT, AND WITH THE INCREASE THAT WE'VE BEEN SEEING, ESPECIALLY AT THE SECONDARY LEVEL IN 504 PLANS, I THINK WHEN I DID AN ANALYSIS A COUPLE OF YEARS AGO, IT WAS ABOUT A 37% INCREASE ALONE IN SECONDARY, WHICH IS HIGH BUT TREND WISE, VERY SIMILAR TO WHAT WE'RE SEEING ACROSS THE COUNTY.
I THOUGHT IT WAS A GOOD OPPORTUNITY AND A RELEVANT OPPORTUNITY AT THIS POINT TO REVISIT THIS WORK.
SO THE FOCUS OF THE WORK WITH THE CONSULTANT AND THE LEGAL TEAM WILL BE TO MAKE SURE THAT WE'RE ALL HAVING THE SAME UNDERSTANDING ABOUT 504 AND THE COMPLIANCE GUIDELINES THAT DIRECT US IN THAT WORLD.
WHO'S ELIGIBLE FOR PLANS PROVIDING PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT TO THE STAFF THAT CHAIR MEETINGS HOW TO DEVELOP A WELL WRITTEN PLAN, EVOLUTION OF PLANS. AND OF COURSE, COMPLIANCE AND BEST PRACTICES.
SO I'M EXCITED ABOUT THAT WORK.
IN TERMS OF SEL, ON OCTOBER 1ST, THERE WAS A PARENT PRESENTATION THAT WAS HOSTED BY PELHAM TOGETHER WITH MIKE DOMNITZ FROM THE CENTER FOR RESPECT. THE FOCUS OF HIS WORK WAS AROUND DATING, INTIMACY, SAFETY, AND RELATIONSHIPS.
IT WAS I DON'T KNOW IF ANYONE SAW IT.
IT WAS A GREAT EVENT FOR PARENTS.
AND THEN I DIDN'T GET A CHANCE TO SEE THE ASSEMBLIES, BUT THE FEEDBACK THAT I SAW THAT LAURA SHARED WITH HIM, BECAUSE HE DOES GIVE STUDENTS AND PARENTS SORT OF EXIT SURVEYS. HE LOOKS FOR CERTAIN PERCENTAGES, WAS SO POSITIVE.
THE KIDS SEEMED TO HAVE GOTTEN SO MUCH OUT OF IT.
SO THANKS TO PELHAM TOGETHER FOR FOR PULLING THAT WAS IT ALL THE STUDENTS IN THE HIGH SCHOOL, ALL THE GRADES? YES 9 THROUGH 12. I HEARD GREAT FEEDBACK ABOUT THAT EVENT FROM THE PARENTS AND THE STUDENTS WHO WENT TO THE ASSEMBLY.
SO YES, IT WAS I DON'T WANT TO INTERRUPT, BUT I CAN I CAN ADD.
SURE. WELL, ONE, I WANT TO THANK THE PELHAM EDUCATION FOUNDATION FOR FUNDING IT, BUT THE SO I WAS THERE FOR THE STUDENT WELL, I WAS THERE FOR BOTH, BUT FOR THE STUDENT ASSEMBLIES, THE GIVEN THE TOPIC, IT WAS, YOU KNOW, I DIDN'T KNOW WHAT TO EXPECT, HOW THE STUDENTS WOULD REACT.
AND THEY WERE COMPLETELY MESMERIZED BY HIM.
HE, YOU KNOW, HE'S AN AMAZING SPEAKER.
HE SPEAKS ACROSS COLLEGE CAMPUSES, HE SPEAKS FOR BUSINESSES.
AND THEY ASK LOTS OF QUESTIONS.
THEY WANTED TO TAKE SELFIES WITH HIM AT THE END, AND HE GAVE AWAY BOOKS AND T-SHIRTS.
HE DID IT FOR THE PARENTS AS WELL.
BUT AN EXIT SURVEY FOR THE STUDENTS.
AND THEY RESPONDED I DON'T HAVE THE EXACT NUMBER, BUT IT WAS SOMETHING ABOVE 97%.
AND WITH ALL THESE QUESTIONS SUCH AS, YOU KNOW, I WILL LET FRIENDS KNOW THAT I'M HERE FOR THEM SHOULD THEY NEED SUPPORT BECAUSE OF SOMETHING THAT'S HAPPENED THAT WAS INAPPROPRIATE IN A RELATIONSHIP.
OR I WILL ASK BEFORE I MAKE A MOVE BASICALLY IS, YOU KNOW, THE WAY HE WAS, YOU KNOW, TALKING ABOUT
[01:30:07]
IT. SO IT SEEMED VERY, VERY POSITIVE.IT WAS. YEAH. I WISH I HAD HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO SEE HIM WHEN MY KIDS WERE TEENAGERS BECAUSE HE REALLY TOOK A TOPIC THAT MOST OF US GROWING UP, I DON'T KNOW HOW WELL YOUR PARENTS DID WITH THAT.
IT'S A HARD CONVERSATION, RIGHT? HE REALLY GAVE SOME AMAZING CONCRETE WAYS TO TALK TO YOUR YOUR KIDS ON THIS TOPIC AND HOW TO DO IT AND WHEN TO DO IT.
YEAH, HE WAS GREAT. I THINK HE'S A KEEPER AND A BRINGER BACKER.
YEAH. AND I ALSO, I KNOW I WEAR A FEW HATS THESE DAYS, BUT JUST COMMENDING THE DISTRICT FOR THESE CONVERSATIONS I KNOW AND BRINGING WE'VE BEEN TRYING TO BRING HIM TO THE AREA OR TO THE SCHOOLS FOR A YEAR.
SO IT TOOK SOME TIME TO GET HIM HERE.
BUT RIGHT AWAY THE HIGH SCHOOL WAS ON BOARD.
AND I WOULD SAY IN MOST YES, AT HOME IT'S NOT EASY.
BUT MOST SCHOOLS ARE NOT TOUCHING ON THIS NECESSARILY IN THE WAY THAT THAT HE DID.
SO HE DID IT IN SUCH A GREAT WAY.
YEAH. AND HIS BIG ADVICE TO PARENTS WAS DON'T LIKE THAT NIGHT ASK SO HOW WAS THE ASSEMBLY? BECAUSE THEY'RE NOT GOING TO WANT TO TELL YOU ABOUT IT.
BUT HE GAVE GREAT, YOU KNOW, GREAT ADVICE FOR PARENTS IN GENERAL.
SO, SO ON THE HEELS OF THAT TOO ON MONDAY, MR. LLEWELYN AND MISS SABIA, MR. FARRELL, [INAUDIBLE] OUR HIGH SCHOOL SOCIAL WORKER, DID MEET WITH ANNEMARIE AND LAURA AND KIM FROM PELHAM TOGETHER.
SO WE'RE VERY EXCITED ABOUT THE PARTNERSHIP.
FOR EXAMPLE, ONE OF THEIR INTERNS IS BILINGUAL.
LAST YEAR SHE RAN GROUPS FOR OUR ESL STUDENTS IN MIDDLE SCHOOL AND HIGH SCHOOL.
AND MIRIAM HIGASHI IS THE SECONDARY EMAIL TEACHER, SAID IT WAS GREAT.
IT WAS SO HELPFUL FOR THE STUDENTS.
SO WE'RE GOING TO USE UTILIZE THAT PERSON AGAIN.
THIS ANOTHER INTERN THAT IS BILINGUAL THIS YEAR.
SO IT'S A GREAT OPPORTUNITY FOR US TO TAP IN ADDITIONAL RESOURCES.
WE TALKED ABOUT WHAT WE'RE GOING TO BE THE FOUR PARENT EVENTS THIS YEAR.
SO WE KNOW THAT ONE OF THEM IS ALREADY UNDERWAY.
THAT'S A SERIES OF THREE VIRTUAL.
WE'RE HOPING THAT THE LAST ONE WILL BE IN PERSON.
AND I THINK THAT TOPIC IS VERY RELEVANT.
IT'S ON FRIENDSHIP AND TEXTING.
SO WE'RE FIGURING OUT IF THAT CAN BE IN PERSON, IN PERSON.
AND SOME OF THE OTHER TOPICS THAT WE'RE THINKING ABOUT AGAIN, AND, YOU KNOW, IT'S WHAT IS RELEVANT TO US AND, AND, YOU KNOW, PELHAM TOGETHER LISTENING TO WHAT WE'RE SEEING, BOOTS ON THE GROUND AND THEN HELPING US FIND SPEAKERS.
WE'RE GOING TO TALK ABOUT ANOTHER TOPIC MAYBE DEVELOPING OUR CHILDREN AS LEADERS.
HOW DO WE DO THAT? ANXIETY AND SCHOOL AVOIDANCE.
BECAUSE THERE'S A COUPLE OF OTHER BIG, BIG, BIG TICKET ITEMS THAT WE'RE SEEING.
AGAIN, AS I MENTIONED, WE'RE GETTING READY FOR PSAT ADMINISTRATION ON OCTOBER 16TH.
AGAIN, ALL SOPHOMORES AND JUNIORS ARE EXPECTED TO TAKE THE EXAM.
I WANTED TO REMIND EVERYONE, OCTOBER 21ST IS OUR JOINT COLLEGE FAIR WITH PELHAM AND EASTCHESTER.
THAT'S GOING TO BE HELD 7 TO 8:30 IN THE MIDDLE SCHOOL GYM.
ANOTHER THING I WANTED TO MENTION, AS OF JULY 1ST, THE BOARD OF REGENTS AMENDED A REGULATION ABOUT THE COMPLETION OF FEDERAL AND STATE FINANCIAL AID APPLICATIONS AND REPORTING THAT WE HAVE TO DO TO THE STATE REGARDING OUR SENIORS WHO APPLY FOR EITHER FAFSA DREAM, WHICH IS ANOTHER FINANCIAL AID FOR RELIEF AND EDUCATION FOR ALIEN MINOR ALIEN MINORS, AND ALSO ANYONE SENIOR WHO HAS CHOSEN TO WAIVE AN APPLICATION.
SO WE ARE REQUIRED NOW, AS OF JULY 1ST OF THIS YEAR, TO REPORT TO STATE ED AT THE END OF THE YEAR OF OUR SENIORS WHO APPLIED AND WHAT DID THEY APPLY FOR.
IN ADDITION, AS PART OF THE AMENDMENT, WE ALSO HAVE TO MAKE SURE THAT WE ARE PROVIDING RESOURCES TO OUR FAMILIES ON FAFSA AND HOW TO NAVIGATE THAT VERY COMPLEX PROCESS.
SO, MR. FARRELL AND I MET TODAY ABOUT HOW WE'RE GOING TO TACKLE MAKING SURE WE ARE HITTING ALL THE POINTS WE NEED TO HIT AS FAR AS COMPLIANCE WITH THE
[01:35:09]
REGULATIONS. ALSO, JUST TO MENTION TOO MR. FARRELL'S MEETING WITH CIVICS THIS FRIDAY TO PLAN THEIR SERIES OF CAREER SEMINARS FOR THIS YEAR.WHAT ARE THE THINGS OUR STUDENTS ARE INTERESTED IN? AND THEY TAKE THAT DATA AND THEY HELP BUILD PANELS FOR OUR KIDS.
SO WE'RE ABLE TO PROVIDE EXPERIENCES IN AREAS THAT THEY WANT TO LEARN MORE ABOUT.
GOOD HANDWASHING WITH SOAP AND WATER, THE MOST SIMPLE AND EFFECTIVE WAY TO STOP THE SPREAD OF GERMS. SO ALL OF THE NURSES ARE WORKING WITH THEIR PRINCIPALS TO MAKE SURE THEY'RE MAKING ANNOUNCEMENTS IN THE BUILDING THAT DAY, SENDING INFORMATION IN THE PRINCIPAL NEWSLETTERS TO REMIND OUR STUDENTS GOOD HYGIENE IS THE BEST WAY TO STAY HEALTHY.
OKAY, WE CAN MOVE TO EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR'S UPDATE ON HUMAN RESOURCES AND LEADERSHIP.
[3.7 Executive Director's Update on Human Resources and Leadership]
THANK YOU. GOOD EVENING.SO MY HEARTFELT THANKS TO [INAUDIBLE] FOR THIS HELP.
WE'RE REALLY EXCITED TO HAVE HER JOIN US.
AS DR. CHAMP MENTIONED, OCTOBER SHINES A SPOTLIGHT ON TWO MAJOR STAFF CELEBRATIONS.
SO OCTOBER 2ND WAS NATIONAL CUSTODIANS DAY.
THEIR TIRELESS EFFORTS ENSURE THAT OUR LEARNING ENVIRONMENTS ARE CLEAN, SAFE AND WELCOMING FOR OUR STUDENTS AND FOR OUR STAFF ALIKE, AND FOR MAINTAINING SPOTLESS CLASSROOMS TO CREATING A HEALTHY ATMOSPHERE, INCLUDING HANDWASHING.
EACH OCTOBER, WE ALSO CELEBRATE NATIONAL PRINCIPALS MONTH, WHICH HONORS THE INDISPENSABLE ROLE PRINCIPALS PLAY IN SHAPING, WELCOMING, VIBRANT, AND DATA DRIVEN EDUCATIONAL ENVIRONMENTS THAT PRIORITIZE RELATIONSHIPS AND EMPOWER BOTH TEACHERS AND STUDENTS TO THRIVE.
IT WAS AN HONOR TO ACCOMPANY MR. JOHNSON TO ALBANY, BUT I THINK IT'S ALSO IMPORTANT TO RECOGNIZE THE AND HOW INCREDIBLY FORTUNATE WE ARE TO HAVE THE MOST DEDICATED, COLLABORATIVE AND VISIONARY PRINCIPALS HERE IN PELHAM IN ALL FOUR OF OUR ELEMENTARY SCHOOLS, IN OUR MIDDLE SCHOOL, AND IN OUR HIGH SCHOOL.
OUR PELHAM PRINCIPALS HAVE THIS UNWAVERING COMMITMENT AND DETERMINATION THAT INSPIRES ALL OF US.
THEY ARE LEADERS THAT EMBODY THE ESSENCE OF LIFELONG LEARNING, SERVING AS ROLE MODELS FOR BOTH STUDENTS AND STAFF AND THEIR TRANSFORMATION TRANSFORMATIVE LEADERSHIP HAS LEFT A LASTING MARK ON THE CORE OF TEACHING AND LEARNING WITHIN OUR SCHOOLS, WITH THEIR INFLUENCE REACHING EVERY ASPECT OF THE EDUCATIONAL EXPERIENCE AND SIGNIFICANTLY ENHANCING STUDENT SUCCESS.
IT HAS TRULY BEEN A PRIVILEGE OVER THE LAST NINE YEARS NOW TO WORK ALONGSIDE SUCH EXCEPTIONAL PRINCIPALS IN OUR SHARED OUR SHARED PURSUIT OF EXCELLENCE FOR ALL STUDENTS.
AS WE RECOGNIZE THEIR CONTRIBUTIONS THIS MONTH, I ENCOURAGE ALL OF OUR PRINCIPALS TO ACTUALLY TAKE A MOMENT TO REFLECT ON THAT PROFOUND IMPACT THAT THEY'VE MADE, BOTH WITHIN AND BEYOND THE CLASSROOM.
SO THAT'S IT FOR MY REPORT TODAY.
THANK YOU. AND I WANT TO GIVE A GIVE A BIG THANKS TO OUR CUSTODIANS AND TO OUR PRINCIPALS.
I HOPE THEY ENJOY THEIR OR ENJOYED THEIR DAY AND THEIR THE PRINCIPAL ITS PRINCIPALS MONTH.
IT IS. YES. THEY GET A DAY IN THE SPRING.
YES. YEAH. OKAY JIM ASSISTANT SUPERINTENDENTS UPDATE ON
[3.8 Assistant Superintendent's Update on Facilities and Sustainable Learning Environments]
FACILITIES AND SUSTAINABLE LEARNING ENVIRONMENTS.ALL RIGHT. THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
AND OBVIOUSLY, EARLIER THIS EVENING WE HEARD ABOUT OUR ANNUAL AUDIT.
[01:40:01]
AND SCOTT OLING FROM PKF O'CONNOR DAVIES.SO THAT WAS REALLY GREAT TO HEAR THAT THAT FOLLOWED OUR AUDIT AND FINANCE COMMITTEE MEETING THAT WE HAD LAST WEEK, WHERE WE TALKED ABOUT THIS EXTERNAL AUDIT AS WELL AS THE BEGINNING PHASES OF BOND FEASIBILITY.
AND AT THE NEXT BOARD MEETING, WE'LL HAVE RICK YANCEY FROM CAPITAL MARKETS ADVISORS TO PROVIDE MUCH OF THE SAME INFORMATION TO THE BOARD AND TO THE GREATER COMMUNITY. KIND OF EXPLAIN THE PROCESS OF THAT.
WE LOOK AT AS PART OF THE FINANCING AND SIZING UP THE SIDE, KIND OF SIZING UP WHAT, WHAT A BOND COULD LOOK LIKE, AND LOOKING AT THE INCREMENTAL INCREMENTAL TAX IMPACT TO THE TAXPAYER.
SO HE'LL BE ABLE TO SHARE SOME OF THAT.
SPECIAL THANKS TO EVERYONE IN THE DISTRICT, REALLY, ABOUT GETTING THE EXTERNAL AUDIT OUT.
CERTAINLY YOU HEARD ABOUT ALL THE GREAT PEOPLE IN THE BUSINESS OFFICE, AND THEY'RE TERRIFIC.
BUT WE ALSO HAVE TO THANK OUR ALL OF OUR PARTNERS THROUGHOUT THE DISTRICT BECAUSE WE'RE CALLING THEM UP, ASKING THEM ABOUT OPEN PURCHASE ORDERS, WHETHER WHERE THE BILLS ARE, IF THEY NEED TO ROLL IT OVER AND EVERYTHING ELSE.
AND IT'S ALSO GREAT TO WORK WITH GOOD PEOPLE.
SO WE'RE HAPPY TO HAVE WE'RE HAPPY TO TO HAVE THAT.
AND I WANT TO MAKE SURE WE ACKNOWLEDGE THOSE PEOPLE TOO.
SO THANK YOU FOR GIVING ME THAT OPPORTUNITY.
TODAY WE HAD OUR FIRST LOCKDOWN DRILL AT THE HIGH SCHOOL MIDDLE SCHOOL.
SO I THINK IT WENT SUCCESSFUL.
ONE OF THE NICE THINGS WE'VE BEEN ABLE TO DO IS PARTNERING WITH OUR LOCAL PUBLIC SAFETY AGENCIES.
AND THAT'S, AGAIN, SOMETHING WE'VE TRIED TO DO JUST TO KIND OF INCREASE OUR SAFETY POSTURE.
AND THE THE WORKING TOGETHER IS IS VERY POSITIVE.
AND CERTAINLY WE'RE WE'RE VERY GRATEFUL FOR THAT AS WELL.
NEXT WEEK I WAS INVITED TO FLOWER POWER FOR THE CUP OF COFFEE.
DR. CHAMP AND I ALWAYS HAVE A JOKE.
OUR [INAUDIBLE] BETS ARE ALWAYS OVER A CUP OF COFFEE, SO WE'LL SEE WHAT'S GOING TO HAPPEN.
SO I THINK IT'LL BE A NICE OPPORTUNITY.
LAST YEAR I WAS ABLE TO GO TO TALK ABOUT SAFETY AS WELL.
AND I'M SURE WE'LL HAVE PLENTY TO TALK ABOUT AT THE FOLLOWING MEETING FOR THAT.
AND THAT CORRECTIVE ACTION PLAN, WHICH I WHICH I MENTIONED BEFORE, ALL THESE ITEMS, ONCE APPROVED, ARE THEN SUBMITTED TO THE STATE OFFICE OF THE COMPTROLLER SO THAT WE MAKE SURE EVERYTHING IS ON FILE WITH THE STATE, AND THEN PUT THESE ITEMS UP ON THE DISTRICT'S WEB PAGE ON THE BUSINESS OFFICE PAGE, AS WE HAVE IN ALL PREVIOUS YEARS.
OKAY. ANY I DON'T THINK THERE ARE ANY, BUT ANY COMMUNICATIONS AND COMMENTS FROM THE PUBLIC.
[5. Financial Reports and Motions]
I THINK WE COULD TAKE.DO I HAVE A MOTION? AND THEN WE CAN TALK ABOUT IT.
MOTION TO APPROVE 5.1 THROUGH 5.6.
OKAY. JIM, YOU JUST WENT THROUGH WHAT SOME OF THESE ARE.
IS THERE ANY ANYTHING ELSE YOU WANT TO POINT OUT.
AND OTHERWISE I'LL GO TO THE DONATION AS WELL.
NO. THANK YOU. I MEAN, WE HAVE WE'VE GOT A BUDGET TRANSFER JUST AS THE BEGINNING OF THE YEAR.
BUDGET TRANSFER. WE'VE GOT THE DETAIL IN THE BACK UP THERE, AND THEN THE REST OF THE AUDIT REPORTS AND A RESOLUTION FOR A HEARING OFFICER, WHICH IS SOMETHING WE DO REGULARLY EVERY YEAR.
OKAY. WE HAVE A DONATION FROM THE PELHAM EDUCATION
[5.6 Motion to Accept a Donation]
FOUNDATION. SO BE IT RESOLVED THAT UPON THE RECOMMENDATION OF THE SUPERINTENDENT OF SCHOOLS, THE BOARD OF EDUCATION OF THE PELHAM PELHAM UNION FREE SCHOOL DISTRICT DOES HEREBY ACCEPT THE MONETARY DONATION OF $4,079.86 FOR GRANT NUMBER 2501, UNPLUG AND ENGAGE. AND THAT GRATITUDE, GRATITUDE BE BESTOWED UPON ITS DONOR, THE PELHAM EDUCATION FOUNDATION, THE BOARD OF EDUCATION, THE BOARD OF EDUCATION OF THE PELHAM UNION FREE SCHOOL DISTRICT HEREBY AUTHORIZES THE DISTRICT TO ENTER INTO ANY RELATED AGREEMENTS TO PROCURE THE GOODS OR SERVICES REQUIRED UNDER THE TERMS OF THE GRANT.SO THANK YOU TO THE PELHAM EDUCATION FOUNDATION.
ARE THERE ANY COMMENTS OR QUESTIONS?
[01:45:02]
NO, BUT NOT COMMENTS.AM I GETTING THAT RIGHT? THE. AND PING PONG PADDLES AND BALLS AND ADIRONDACK CHAIRS.
THAT'S GREAT. IT'S PRETTY COOL, I LOVE THAT.
CAN GROW UP AND BECOME A PICKLEBALL PLAYER AFTER.
YEAH. AND THEN IT COULD TURN INTO A SPORT AND OTHER ACTIVITIES THAT PEOPLE COULD DO.
ALL IN FAVOR? AYE. ANY OPPOSED? ANY ABSTENTIONS? THE MOTIONS THE MOTIONS CARRY.
OKAY, SO NEXT WE COULD TAKE 6.1 A MOTION TO I'LL TAKE A MOTION TO APPROVE 6.1 TO 6.4.
[6. Superintendent's Personnel Recommendations]
SO MOVED.ANY ANY QUESTIONS? OKAY. ALL IN FAVOR? AYE. ANY OPPOSED? ANY ABSTENTIONS? NONE. OKAY, 7.1.
[7.1 Motion to Approve Schedule D - Committee on Special Education (Confidential)]
CAN I HAVE A MOTION TO APPROVE A SCHEDULE D? SO MOVED. SECOND.ANY OPPOSED? ANY ABSTENTIONS? NO. DO 8.1.
DO WE HAVE NEW BUSINESS? NOPE. NO, WE HAVE NO COMMUNICATIONS AND COMMENTS FROM THE PUBLIC.
OKAY. I'LL TAKE A MOTION TO ADJOURN.
THANK YOU ALL. HAVE A GOOD NIGHT.
THANK YOU.
* This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.