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[00:00:01]

OKAY. OKAY.

THANK YOU. GOOD AFTERNOON, EVERYONE, AND WELCOME TO THE BOARD OF EDUCATION MEETING FOR DECEMBER 18TH, 2025.

[1. Public Session - 4:00 p.m.]

LET'S RISE FOR THE PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE.

OKAY. WE DID NOT HAVE EXECUTIVE SESSION TODAY.

SO WE HAVE A BRIEF BUSINESS MEETING TODAY, AFTER WHICH WE'LL BE MOVING TO A DIFFERENT LOCATION FOR OUR MIDYEAR MEETING, RETREAT OR WORKING SESSION.

SOME OF YOU MAY HAVE NOTICED WE'VE SHIFTED FROM CALLING THIS A RETREAT TO A WORKING SESSION.

IN THIS INSTANCE, THIS CHANGE WAS MADE FOR PRACTICAL REASONS.

THE GOAL IS STILL FOR US TO GATHER AS A BOARD AND FOCUS ON HOW TO BEST COLLABORATE TOWARD OUR GOALS, SPECIFICALLY, TODAY'S SESSION WILL FOCUS ON UNDERSTANDING AND INTERPRETING THE DISTRICT'S STUDENT PERFORMANCE DATA.

ADDITIONALLY, WE'LL DISCUSS A DECISION MAKING APPROACH FOR PRIORITIZING FACILITIES UPDATES.

THE PELHAM EXAMINER RAISED CONCERN ABOUT WHETHER WE ARE MEETING OPEN MEETING REQUIREMENTS FOR OUR MEETING THIS EVENING.

AND WE ARE. THE MEETING WAS PROPERLY NOTICED AND IS A PUBLIC MEETING, AS IT HAS ALWAYS BEEN.

FURTHERMORE, OUR ABILITY TO HOLD RETREATS AND WORKING SESSIONS REMAINS INTACT AS BOTH OUR MEETING TYPES RECOGNIZED BY NSBA AND BOTH OUR CUSTOMARY MEETINGS HELD BY THE PELHAM BOARD OF EDUCATION, IN ADDITION TO OUR REGULAR BUSINESS MEETINGS.

I'D ALSO LIKE TO PROVIDE AN UPDATE ON THE HVAC SITUATION AT THE MIDDLE SCHOOL.

THE NEED FOR A NEW HVAC SYSTEM AT THE MIDDLE SCHOOL IS REAL AND HAS BEEN A LONG STANDING PRIORITY.

THE COMMUNITY ALLOCATED FUNDS FOR THE REPLACEMENT FOR ITS REPLACEMENT TWO YEARS AGO.

AND IT'S PLANNED FOR INSTALLATION THIS SUMMER.

ON MONDAY MORNING, A FAN BROKE AND CUT A COIL, WHICH CAUSED FLOODING IN SEVERAL CLASSROOMS. THE ISSUE HAS BEEN REPAIRED TEMPORARILY AND MORE EXTENSIVE REPAIRS WILL TAKE PLACE DURING THE HOLIDAY BREAK.

I ALSO WANT TO ADDRESS THE EMERGENCY DISMISSAL SITUATION.

THE SAFETY OF OUR STUDENTS WAS TOP PRIORITY.

IN COLLABORATION WITH THE BUILDING TEAM AND TOM DRAKE, OUR SECURITY CONSULTANT, REUNIFICATION PLAN WAS QUICKLY PUT INTO ACTION.

ABOUT 700, ABOUT 700 OR SO STUDENTS WERE SAFELY DISMISSED FROM THE GYM WITHIN AN HOUR, ENSURING THEY WERE RELEASED ONLY TO AUTHORIZED INDIVIDUALS. THIS CAN BE CONSIDERED A SUCCESS AND I RECOGNIZE IT WAS A HUGE INCONVENIENCE TO FAMILIES, SO I THANK THEM FOR THEIR PATIENCE AND FOR THEIR SUGGESTIONS ON HOW TO IMPROVE THE EFFICIENCY OF THE DISMISSAL.

AFTER EVERY INCIDENT, THE TEAM CONDUCTS A DEBRIEF TO IDENTIFY WAYS TO IMPROVE AND AGAIN, IT IS CENTERED ON STUDENT AND STAFF SAFETY.

I'LL LET DOCTOR CHAMP SPEAK TO ANY OUTCOMES OR NEXT STEPS COMING FROM THAT DEBRIEF, AND THEN I'LL JUST END MY REMARKS WITH A VERY BIG THANK YOU TO THE MIDDLE SCHOOL AND TOM DRAKE FOR COORDINATING THE DISMISSAL, AND TO OUR FACILITIES TEAM FOR GETTING A QUICK HANDLE ON THE FLOODING CAUSED BY THE HVAC.

THANK YOU. YEAH. THANK YOU, JACKIE AND I WILL JUST ADD TO THAT.

I APPRECIATE AND SHARE THAT, THANKS TO EVERYONE AS WELL.

IT WAS ONE OF THOSE DAYS WHERE YOU JUST STAND BACK AND ARE AMAZED AT THE INCREDIBLE STAFF AND FACULTY THAT WE HAVE.

EVERYBODY STEPPED UP.

PEOPLE CAME FROM OTHER BUILDINGS FROM AROUND THE DISTRICT, AND ALL HANDS WERE ON DECK AND WORKING TOGETHER SEAMLESSLY TO MAKE SURE THAT THINGS WERE TAKEN CARE OF.

AND AS YOU SAID, AS EXPEDITIOUSLY AS WE COULD.

OBVIOUSLY, THE TIMING OF THIS COULD NOT HAVE BEEN WORSE.

THE WEATHER COULD NOT HAVE BEEN WORSE.

WE HAD FOLKS FROM UP COUNTY WHO LIVE IN AREAS WHERE THERE WAS SNOW AND ICE AND WERE NOT ABLE TO GET TO WORK, SO WE HAD A LOT OF CHALLENGES GOING ON.

BUT DESPITE THAT, THE TEAM CAME TOGETHER AND DID AN OUTSTANDING JOB IN A VERY SHORT AMOUNT OF TIME.

SO AS YOU SAID, WE'VE CONTINUED TO MEET AS A TEAM MULTIPLE TIMES TO DEBRIEF LESSONS LEARNED.

THE FARTHER OUT YOU GET, YOU KNOW, THE CLEARER THE PICTURE CAN BECOME AND THINGS YOU CAN DO DIFFERENTLY.

AND JUST A COUPLE OF CLEAR, ACTIONABLE THINGS I WANTED TO SHARE WITH THE BOARD TONIGHT THAT SO FAR THAT WE'VE ARRIVED AT.

AND I THINK THAT IT WILL HELP SOME OF THE CORE ADDRESS, SOME OF THE CORE ISSUES, REFINING OUR UNIFICATION PROCESS TO ENSURE THAT ALL STUDENTS ARE ACCOUNTED FOR AND SAFE, THAT IS GOING TO BE FIRST, ALWAYS ACCOUNTED FOR AND SAFE, AND THEN, OF COURSE, DISMISSED AS SAFELY AND EXPEDITIOUSLY AS POSSIBLE.

UNDERSTAND, EFFICIENCY IS NOT GOING TO BE OUR FIRST PRIORITY IN THESE SITUATIONS, EVEN IF IT IS NOT A SUPER CRISIS KIND OF SITUATION.

ACCOUNTABILITY AND SAFETY WILL ALWAYS BE FIRST, BUT THEN WE CAN ALWAYS LOOK TO SEE ARE THERE WAYS THAT WE CAN BE MORE EFFICIENT? SO THAT'S WHAT WE'RE TALKING ABOUT.

AND ALSO WANTING TO ACCOUNT FOR THE PARENT DIFFERENT PARENT GUARDIAN PREFERENCE BECAUSE WE ARE WALKING DISTRICT AND THERE'S A LOT OF VARIABILITY AND THINGS CAN CHANGE FROM TIME

[00:05:03]

TO TIME. SO HAVING AN EXPEDITIOUS PROCESS THAT ACCOUNTS FOR ALL STUDENTS SAFETY AND MEETS PARENTS NEEDS.

SO WE'RE FINDING OUR PROCESSES.

WE'RE ALSO THEN LOOKING TO BETTER ALIGN OUR COMMUNICATIONS WITH THOSE PROCESSES SO THAT WE CAN PROVIDE MORE INFORMATION EARLIER ABOUT THINGS LIKE SIGN OUT PROCEDURES, LOCATION IDENTIFICATION, EMERGENCY CARDS, ALL THE THINGS THAT PARENTS WILL NEED TO KNOW TO MORE EFFICIENTLY EXPEDITE THAT PROCESS AS WELL.

AND THEN ONE ADDITIONAL PIECE THAT'S ALREADY BEEN PUT IN PLACE IS WE'VE ASKED ALL OF OUR BUILDING EMERGENCY TEAMS, OUR BERT TEAMS, TO IDENTIFY ONE PERSON TO BE THE COMMUNICATIONS LIAISON, AND THAT'S SOMEONE WHOSE JOB IT IS TO WORK EXPLICITLY.

CONNECT WITH ALEX TO BE THE PERSON THINKING ABOUT COMMUNICATIONS, TO BE THE PERSON THAT CAN GO HELP GET THE INFORMATION THAT WE MAY NEED, OR IF WE SENSE THAT THERE'S A NEED FOR COMMUNICATING OUT, TO HAVE SOMEONE ON THE GROUND WHO'S HERE AND WHOSE ROLE IT IS TO BE THINKING AND BEING THE HANDS AND FEET TO THAT WORK.

SO THOSE ARE THE THINGS RIGHT NOW THAT WE THINK CAN IMPROVE, SHOULD WE NEED TO DO A REUNIFICATION AGAIN.

SO JUST AGAIN WANT TO THANK EVERYBODY.

JIM'S ALREADY IN THE PROCESS OF SETTING UP A SAFETY COMMITTEE MEETING FOR JANUARY, WHERE WE CAN DEBRIEF ON THIS IN A LITTLE BIT MORE DETAIL WITH THE COMMITTEE AND MEMBERS OF THE BOARD. AND THANKS THE BOARD TO.

I KNOW WE WERE ABLE TO DEBRIEF WITH MEMBERS OF THE BOARD FOLLOWING THE INCIDENT AS WELL.

SO APPRECIATE EVERYONE'S FEEDBACK AND PATIENCE.

AND JUST THANKS TO EVERYONE FOR ALL THE HARD WORK.

THANK YOU. YEAH. I JUST WANT TO ECHO THAT.

I MEAN, THE SAFETY AND LIKE, THE FACT OF MOVING 700 STUDENTS AGAIN, IT'S LIKE, YOU DON'T KNOW WHAT HAPPENS BEHIND THE SCENES WHEN YOU'RE IN THE MIDST OF IT ALL.

SO I JUST WANT TO ECHO, YOU KNOW, THE DISTRICT, THE STUDENT BODY AND THE STAFF TO ACTUALLY BE ABLE TO DO THAT SAFELY AND SECURELY AND QUICKLY. SO THOSE ARE LIKE YOU SAID, IT'S LIKE THE NUMBER ONE.

AND THE OTHER THING IS AGAIN, JUST BEING ABLE TO DEBRIEF LIKE, AND HAVING A CULTURE OF LIKE ALWAYS TRYING TO DO BETTER OR WHERE CAN WE IMPROVE.

AND I THINK THAT'S THE REALLY KEY THING BECAUSE YOU CAN SIT AND CREATE EVERY POSSIBLE SCENARIO, YOU KNOW, LIKE.

AND THAT'S ALL YOU'LL DO IS SITTING DOWN SAYING LIKE, WELL, THIS COULD HAPPEN AND THIS COULD HAPPEN.

AND SO IN THE MOMENT, YOU CAN NEVER, EVER KNOW EXACTLY WHAT THAT EMERGENCY IS GOING TO BE.

AND SO THAT SORT OF LIKE REGROUP THAT, THAT, THAT, THAT MAKING ADJUSTMENTS AS WE GO.

I THINK IT'S, YOU KNOW, I'M, I WAS REALLY PLEASED TO HAVE THOSE DISCUSSIONS AND BE ABLE TO KIND OF CONTRIBUTE TO THAT AND THAT YOUR OPENNESS, YOU KNOW, LIKE TO THAT.

SO I JUST WANTED TO ADD TO THAT.

IT WAS IT WAS A BIG I MEAN, I WAS IN THE MIDST OF IT AS A PARENT, YOU KNOW.

SO TO SEE IT ON THE OTHER END TOO WAS EXTRAORDINARY.

AND THE TEAM WAS REMARKABLE.

THANK YOU. THANK YOU.

OKAY. OKAY. OKAY.

DO YOU HAVE MORE, OR SHOULD WE KNOW THAT WE'RE DIVING IN? YEAH. OKAY. DIVING IN. OKAY.

WE CAN GET STARTED ON THE BRIEF AGENDA.

DO. WE CAN TAKE 2.1.

[2. Financial Reports and Motions]

WE'LL TALK ABOUT IT A LITTLE BIT, BUT WE'LL TAKE 2.1 TO 2.4.

DO I HAVE A MOTION TO TAKE 2.1 TO 2.4 AS A CONSENT.

APPROVE THEM AS A CONSENT AGENDA.

SO MOVED. CAN I? THERE'S A MOTION 2.3 HAS MOTION TO ACCEPT DONATIONS.

SO I DON'T KNOW. YEAH, WELL I WILL.

OKAY. YEAH. YEAH.

WE DON'T HAVE TO HAVE IT AS A SEPARATE MOTION, BUT WE DEFINITELY WANT TO MEET IT.

BUT WE WANT TO TALK ABOUT IT.

YEAH. SO DO I HAVE A MOTION TO TAKE AS 2.1 TO 2.4 AS A CONSENT AGENDA? SO MOVED. SECOND.

OKAY. LET'S TALK ABOUT THESE A LITTLE BIT.

JIM, DO YOU WANT TO TALK ABOUT THE TREASURER'S REPORT OR.

OH, AGAIN THE TREASURER REPORTS ARE OCTOBER TREASURER REPORT.

SO AGAIN JUST LISTING OUR CASH POSITION AND YOU'LL SEE OUR INTEREST RATES HAVE BEEN DECLINING, BUT WE'VE BEEN SEEING AT THE FED, AND I HAVEN'T SEEN TODAY'S ACTION, BUT THEY'RE TALKING ABOUT ANOTHER REDUCTION TODAY, SO THAT'LL IMPACT US LATER DOWN THE ROAD WITH OUR USE OF MONEY FOR NEXT YEAR.

BUT AGAIN, WE HAD WE HAD PRICED IN SOME OF THESE CHANGES HAPPENING THIS YEAR.

WE'VE GOT SOME BUDGET TRANSFERS RELATED TO OUR RETIREMENTS BECAUSE WHEN OUR TEACHERS RETIRE, THEY ARE ENTITLED TO AN INCENTIVE.

SO THIS FUNDS THE INCENTIVE BASED ON THOSE RETIREMENTS THAT WE'RE AWARE OF.

WE HAVE A TRANSFER FROM OUR CONTINGENCY TO ADDRESS THE ISSUE THAT HAPPENED IN MIDDLE SCHOOL ON MONDAY.

SO THAT'LL TAKE CARE OF THE WORK.

YOU SEE ABOUT $100,000.

100, $100,000.

YEAH. BUT WE DON'T EXPECT IT TO EXCEED THAT BUT UP IN THAT NEIGHBORHOOD.

AND THEN WE'VE GOT SOME ADDITIONAL NEED FOR, FOR HOME TUTORING AND YOU SEE THERE'S ONE OTHER ITEM I APOLOGIZE AND TUITION. SO THOSE ARE ALL AND SOME ARE INSTRUCTION.

SO JUST REGULAR TRANSFERS.

BUT THOSE ARE WHAT THEY'RE RELATED TO.

YOU SEE THERE ON THE BOTTOM IN THE DETAIL FOR WHERE THEY'RE ALLOCATED TO.

SO THANK YOU.

[00:10:04]

I'LL SKIP JUST TO TALK ABOUT THE AGREEMENT IN 2.4.

JUST VERY QUICKLY, TO ADDRESS THAT, WE'RE REVISING THE FIFTH GRADE FIELD TRIP.

THE GOAL WITH OUR FIELD TRIPS OVER THE LAST COUPLE OF YEARS HAS BEEN TO FOCUS ON CURRICULAR AND STRATEGIC PLAN RELATED OBJECTIVES IN DESIGNING OUR DISTRICT GUARANTEED EXPERIENCES FOR STUDENTS.

SO LAST YEAR, THE GROUP, THE FIFTH GRADE WENT TO BOUNDLESS ADVENTURES AND I THINK KIDS HAD A NICE TIME, BUT IT DIDN'T.

WE WERE TRYING TO ACCOMPLISH HAVING ALL FIFTH GRADES GO TOGETHER AND START MORE OF THOSE BONDING EXPERIENCES ACROSS THE GRADE LEVEL, AND THE VENUE WASN'T BIG ENOUGH FOR THEM TO GO ALL TOGETHER SO THAT THERE WAS A LOT OF LINES.

SO I REALLY DIDN'T ACCOMPLISH THAT GOAL.

SO THEY FOUND CHELSEA PIERS IN CONNECTICUT AS A LOCATION THAT CAN ACCOMMODATE THE ENTIRE FIFTH GRADE AT ONCE.

SO WE CAN START TO BUILD TOWARD.

WE'VE GOT FIELD DAY, FIFTH GRADE FIELD DAY.

THIS WILL BE ANOTHER FULL FIFTH GRADE DISTRICT WIDE TRIP.

AND THEN IT'S NOT ON THIS AGENDA, BUT A LITTLE A LITTLE TEASE.

THE NEXT AGENDA PEF JUST APPROVED A GRANT FOR THE WE ARE PELHAM GRANT THAT WE'VE BEEN WORKING ON WITH THE SCHOOL CULTURE COACHES AND THE BUILDING PRINCIPAL, IS ON TONIGHT AND DID MAKE IT ON. GREAT.

YEAH. YES. OKAY.

I'M GOING TO READ IT. RIGHT. SO REALLY EXCITED.

THAT WILL GIVE US A THIRD OPPORTUNITY THIS YEAR TO BRING ALL THE FIFTH GRADERS TOGETHER TO GET TO KNOW ONE ANOTHER.

AND THAT WILL BE AN INTENTIONAL TRIP GOING TO HUTCHINSON.

ONE OF THE PURPOSES OF BUILDING THAT DOUBLE GYMNASIUM IS WE KNEW THAT IT WOULD GIVE US OPPORTUNITIES TO BRING ALL KIDS TOGETHER DISTRICT WIDE TO BENEFIT FROM THE SCHOOL.

SO WE'RE GOING TO BUS THE KIDS FROM THE OTHER SCHOOLS FOR A HALF DAY TRIP TOGETHER.

THE SCHOOL CULTURE COACHES ARE GOING TO WORK TO THEY'VE THEY ARE WORKING AND HAVE DESIGNED DIFFERENT ACTIVITIES, TEAM BUILDING ACTIVITIES TO GET THE STUDENTS INTEGRATED WITH STUDENTS FROM OTHER SCHOOLS, USING THE BACKGROUND OF MORNING MEETING AND RESPONSIVE CLASSROOM APPROACHES AND SOME ART PROJECTS AND DIFFERENT TEAM BUILDING ACTIVITIES TO GET THEM TO KNOW ONE ANOTHER.

ACROSS THE SCHOOLS.

WE'RE ALSO GOING TO INVITE STUDENTS, TEN MIDDLE SCHOOL AND TEN HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS TO COME DOWN AND SERVE AS PEER MENTORS AND TO HELP FACILITATE THE PROJECTS, ALONG WITH THE TEACHERS AND THE SCHOOL CULTURE COACHES.

SO REALLY EXCITED ABOUT THE EVENT AND THE WORK THAT THEY'VE DONE THERE.

OUR HOPE THE GRANT WAS FOR THIS YEAR FOR DUE THAT'S FOR ONE TRIP FOR FIFTH GRADE.

OUR HOPE FOR NEXT YEAR IS TO EXPAND THAT TO POTENTIALLY TWO FOR FIFTH GRADE AND ONE FOR THIRD AND ONE FOR FOURTH, OR MAYBE TWO FOR THIRD.

WHATEVER WE CAN COORDINATE BETWEEN NOW AND THEN.

THE ULTIMATE GOAL IS TO HAVE TWO TRIPS FOR EVERY SCHOOL, TWO TRIPS FOR A YEAR FOR GRADES THREE, GRADES FOUR AND GRADES FIVE, AND DO THE SAME THING.

BRING THEM TOGETHER.

INTENTIONAL TEAM BUILDING, STRENGTHENING CONNECTIONS FOR BELONGING ACROSS THE DISTRICT.

AND THAT THAT BECOMES PART OF OUR NORMAL TRADITION IN PELHAM, SO THAT THE KIDS ARE HAVING INTENTIONAL EXPERIENCES IN PELHAM WITH ONE ANOTHER AS PART OF WE'RE ALL PART OF PELHAM. THEY EVEN HAVE A REALLY COOL T SHIRT THAT ANITA ADOLPHUS DESIGNED AS AN ARTIST.

IT'S GOT ALL FOUR MASCOTS FROM THE ELEMENTARY SCHOOLS WITHIN A BIGGER PELICAN.

SO IT SAYS WE ARE ALL PELICANS AT HEART.

VERY CUTE. SO WE'RE EXCITED ABOUT ALL THOSE EVENTS.

AND THIS ALL THIS ALL JUST DIRECTLY CONNECTS TO OUR STRATEGIC PLAN.

SO THAT'S BOTH OF THOSE ITEMS TONIGHT TO SPEAK TO THOSE.

OKAY. BEFORE WE VOTE, CAN I JUST PICK UP ON WHAT JIM SAID? YEAH. OF COURSE. THAT DATA POINT I THINK THAT EVERYONE THAT IT COST EXCUSE ME, $100,000 IN THE BLINK OF AN EYE WHEN THE THERE WAS A PROBLEM ON THE ROOF.

I THINK THAT'S A DATA POINT.

THAT IS A DAY OF SCHOOL.

YEAH. AND A DAY OF SCHOOL IS USEFUL TO CONSIDER AS WE THINK ABOUT AS WE COLLECTIVELY US AS A BOARD, ALL THE STAKEHOLDERS COMMUNITY THINKS ABOUT INVESTING IN FACILITIES IN THE COMING BOND.

BECAUSE I THINK, YOU KNOW, WE COLLECTIVELY ALWAYS TRY AND KICK THE CAN DOWN THE ROAD TO, TO NOT SPEND MONEY.

AND IF YOU KIND OF GET THAT JUDGMENT WRONG, THEN, YOU KNOW, THAT'S A TEACHER'S SALARY JUST IN A DAY SCHOOL IN THE BLINK OF AN EYE.

SO I THINK JUST THAT I WASN'T AWARE OF THAT NUMBER.

AND I THINK IT'S A USEFUL ONE TO KEEP IN MIND.

YEAH. AND THE TIMING IS EVERYTHING, BECAUSE WE DID TAKE BUDGET OUT TWO YEARS AGO AND THE NEW IT'S NOT INSTALLED YET, AND THAT'S NOT DUE TO THE DISTRICT. THAT'S DUE TO THE TIME IT TAKES TO PERMIT TIME IT TAKES TO GET THE EDUCATION.

EDUCATION. YEAH. YEAH.

TO GET THE WORK ON IT.

AND WHEN WE CAN WORK ON IT, YOU CAN'T WORK ON IT WHILE THE KIDS ARE IN SCHOOL.

IT HAS TO BE DURING THE SUMMER.

SO THAT'S WHY WE HAVE TO MAKE THESE DECISIONS SO EARLY.

BECAUSE I THINK SOMETIMES THE COMMUNITY QUESTIONS, YOU KNOW, TAKE THE TURF FIELD OR WHATEVER.

WHY NOW? WHY NOW? IT'S NOT YET AT A POINT WHERE IT NEEDS TO BE REPLACED.

BUT KNOWING THIS, WE HAVE TO MAKE THESE DECISIONS 2 OR 3 YEARS IN ADVANCE, KNOWING THAT IT TAKES THIS LONG.

YEAH. AND INFRASTRUCTURE IS USUALLY NOT VISIBLE.

NO ONE'S GOING DOWN TO OUR BOILERS.

IT'S NOT SOMETHING THEY COME WHEN THEY, YOU KNOW, COME TO DROP OFF THEIR KIDS AT SCHOOL.

BUT IT'S SOMETHING THAT'S NEEDED AND THEY'RE QUITE OLD.

[00:15:02]

AND IF WE DON'T ADDRESS IT ASAP, THEY'RE GOING TO EVENTUALLY HAVE THE SITUATION LIKE WE HAD ON MONDAY, WHICH WE CANNOT AFFORD.

YEAH. AND I THINK THAT'S A REALLY GOOD THING TO BRING UP AS WE TALK ABOUT IT.

RIGHT. LIKE, SO WHAT'S THE IMPLEMENTATION TIMELINE.

RIGHT. SO TO REALLY BE ABLE TO MAKE SURE WE'RE CLEAR ON THAT, THAT THE DECISIONS TODAY DON'T GET IMPLEMENTED OR SOME OF THEM CAN.

AND WHEN CAN THEY REALLY KIND OF LIKE BE REALIZED.

SO I THINK THAT'S GOING TO BE A KEY FACTOR IN SOME OF THE DECISIONS THAT WE'RE GOING TO MAKE.

YES. PROACTIVE VERSUS REACTIVE.

YES. CAN I JUST HIGHLIGHT THE OTHER GRANTS THE PDF SUPPORTED LAST.

OH, YES. YES. THANKS, CLAIRE.

YESTERDAY OR THE DAY BEFORE.

DAY BEFORE. YES.

SO, YOU KNOW, THE PELHAM EDUCATION FOUNDATION HAS BEEN VERY GENEROUS IN RESPONDING TO REQUESTS FROM FACULTY AND STAFF THIS YEAR.

DOCTOR CHAMP HIGHLIGHTED THE MAJOR GRANT THAT THEY APPROVED FOR THE TWO YEAR BELONGING PROJECT.

THAT WILL BE VERY INTENTIONALLY BRINGING STUDENTS TOGETHER TO START INTEGRATING THEM BEFORE THEY COME TO THE MIDDLE SCHOOL.

BUT ALSO THERE'S MICRO-GRANTS THROUGH PELHAM EDUCATION FOUNDATION, AND THEY APPROVED TWO OF THE OTHER NIGHT.

AND ONE WAS FOR, YOU KNOW, A TWO YEAR HARP RENTAL.

SO RENTING A HARP TO KIND OF ENHANCE AND ENRICH OUR ORCHESTRAL EXPERIENCE.

WE DO HAVE A HARPIST IN DISTRICT, AND OTHER STUDENTS WILL BE EXPOSED TO THE HARP AND WILL BE ENCOURAGED TO PLAY IT AS WELL.

AND THEN THIS, THE STUDENTS CAN ALL BENEFIT FROM ADDING A HARP TO THE ORCHESTRA FOR AT LEAST THE NEXT TWO YEARS.

THAT'S VERY MUCH APPRECIATED AS WE PILOT HARP IN PELHAM.

AND THEN THE NEXT IS ANOTHER MICRO GRANT FOR THE FOUNDATIONS OF LEARNING CLASSROOM, WHICH IS A HYDROPONIC FLEX FARM, WHICH STUDENTS WILL ALL CONTRIBUTE TO INTEGRATED INTO THE LEARNING EXPERIENCE TO GROW PRODUCE AND OTHER PLANTS, ETC..

FOR THE YEARS TO COME.

AND THE PELHAM EDUCATION FOUNDATION APPROVED THE COST OF THE FARM AND ALSO THREE YEARS OF SUPPLIES FOR THE FARM.

THANKS. GREAT GRATITUDE CHILD EDUCATION FOUNDATION PARTNERS AND LEARNING.

I'D LIKE TO SECOND THAT.

I LOVE THE FACT THAT THEY TAKE SUCH GOOD CARE.

NOT ONLY ARE THEY VERY GENEROUS, BUT THEY TAKE SUCH A LIKE A CARE TO EXAMINE EVERY GRANT THAT IS BEING ASKED OF THEM.

AND REALLY A DEEP DISCUSSION ON HOW THIS WILL BENEFIT THE COMMUNITY.

SO I JUST THANK YOU TO EVERYONE WHO VOLUNTEERS FOR THEIR TIME FOR THAT, BECAUSE IT IS DEEP, MEANINGFUL WORK THAT THEY'RE DOING.

SO THANK YOU PELHAM EDUCATIONAL FOUNDATION.

OKAY. WITH THAT, I WILL ACTUALLY READ THE DONATION AND GRANT RESOLUTIONS BEFORE WE BEFORE WE VOTE ON 2.1 TO 2.4.

BE IT RESOLVED THAT UPON THE RECOMMENDATION OF THE SUPERINTENDENT OF SCHOOLS, THE BOARD OF EDUCATION OF THE PELHAM UNION FREE SCHOOL DISTRICT DOES HEREBY ACCEPT A DONATION OF $1,105 TO BE USED TO PURCHASE BOOKS FOR THE HUTCHINSON SCHOOL SPECIAL BOOK PROGRAM, WHICH ALLOWS FAMILIES TO COMMEMORATE A SPECIAL EVENT OR.

MILESTONE IN THE LIFE OF A STUDENT BY GIFTING BOOKS IN THEIR NAMES, AND THAT GRATITUDE BE BESTOWED UPON THEIR DONOR.

THE HUTCHINSON SCHOOL COMMUNITY.

SO THANK YOU TO THE HUTCHINSON SCHOOL COMMUNITY FOR THAT DONATION.

THE BOARD OF EDUCATION OF THE PELHAM UNION FREE SCHOOL DISTRICT AUTHORIZES THE SUPERINTENDENT TO ACCEPT FUTURE DONATIONS FOR THIS PURPOSE DURING THE 2024-2025 SCHOOL YEAR.

AND THEN WE HAVE 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 ANY GOODS OR SERVICES REQUIRED UNDER THE TERMS OF THE DONATION.

OKAY, THIS IS THE ONE.

AND HERE'S THE SECOND ONE.

WE WERE TALKING ABOUT THE PELHAM EDUCATION FOUNDATION AND ARE VERY GRATEFUL TO THEM FOR THEIR GRANTS.

BE IT FURTHER 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 FOLLOWING MONETARY DONATIONS AND THAT GRATITUDE BE BESTOWED UPON ITS DONOR, THE PELHAM EDUCATION FOUNDATION.

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 GRANTS.

THE HARP. THE HARP RENTAL GRANT IS FOR $5,450.

THE GROWING TOGETHER GRANT IS FOR $5,820, AND THE WE ARE PELHAM GRANT IS FOR $42,280.

SO THANK YOU TO THE HUTCHINSON SCHOOL COMMUNITY AND THE PELHAM EDUCATION FOUNDATION.

SO WITH THAT, I WILL ALL IN FAVOR OF APPROVING 2.1 TO 2.4.

AYE. AYE.

ANY OPPOSED? ANY ABSTENTIONS? NO. OKAY.

[3. Superintendent's Personnel Recommendations]

[00:20:01]

IF WE MOVE ON TO SECTION THREE.

DO I HAVE A MOTION TO TAKE 3.1 TO 3.4 AS CONSENT AGENDA.

SO MOVED. SECOND.

OKAY. DO WE WANT TO? IS THERE ANYTHING TO DISCUSS HERE? OR IF ANYONE HAS ANY COMMENTS OR QUESTIONS.

3.33. YEAH.

3.13. YEAH.

JUST HIGHLIGHTING TWO MORE RETIREMENTS.

I THINK WE MAY HAVE MENTIONED THESE TO THE BOARD PRIOR BUT ADDING TO THE LIST.

ANNA BROWN FROM OUR WORLD LANGUAGES DEPARTMENT AT THE HIGH SCHOOL WILL BE RETIRING.

NOT IN JUNE. SHE'S ACTUALLY GOING TO CONTINUE TO WORK FOR THE DISTRICT THROUGH DECEMBER OF NEXT SCHOOL YEAR.

BUT FORMALLY ANNOUNCING THAT RETIREMENT NOW TO GIVE US A LONG LEAD TIME.

AND THEN ALSO ANDY SCOTT.

MANY OF YOU, IF YOU'VE GOT OLDER CHILDREN, MAY KNOW ANDY, A LONG TIME BELOVED SOCIAL STUDIES TEACHER.

SO HE'S FORMALLY RETIRING AS WELL IN APRIL THIS YEAR.

SO WE THANK THEM FOR ALL OF THEIR INCREDIBLE WORK.

AND HIS WORK WILL CONTINUE, WHICH IS THE NICE PART.

WE GET HER FOR ANOTHER YEAR BUT JUST REALLY WISH THEM BOTH WELL.

I KNOW IT'S ALWAYS A DIFFICULT DECISION, BUT THEY'VE BEEN INCREDIBLE IN THEIR WORK FOR THE DISTRICT OVER ALL THESE YEARS.

IN ADDITION TO THAT, JUST SOME OF YOUR TYPICAL PERSONNEL APPOINTMENTS, STIPENDS COORDINATORS FOR DIFFERENT PROGRAMS, SUBSTITUTE TEACHERS, OBSERVERS, ETC..

THEY'RE LIKE THERE'S LIKE STUDENT TEACHING WHERE THEY GO IN AND ACTUALLY PRACTICE TEACH.

BUT OFTEN THEY MAY BE REQUIRED TO JUST GO AND OBSERVE CLASSES PRIOR TO THAT.

SO, THEY STILL NEED TO BE PROPERLY COMMISSIONED TO DO THAT.

THAT'S IT.

I THINK CAN I JUST ADD ONE MORE THING TO THAT IS WELL, WE'VE TALKED A LOT ABOUT TEACHER RETIREMENTS.

WE DO HAVE A TA WHO WILL BE RETIRING AT THE END OF AUGUST.

SO CASEY PASCARELLA HAS PUT IN FOR HER RETIREMENT.

AND WE WISH HER WELL, BUT SHE HAS HAD AN INCREDIBLE IMPACT ON OUR STUDENTS AS WELL.

THANK YOU. OKAY.

ANY COMMENTS? QUESTIONS? ALL IN FAVOR? AYE.

ANY OPPOSED? ANY ABSTENTIONS? OKAY. 4.1.

[4.1 Motion to Approve Schedule D - Committee on Special Education (Confidential)]

DO I HAVE A MOTION TO APPROVE A SCHEDULE D? SO MOVED. SECOND.

ALL IN FAVOR? AYE. AND THEN 5.1.

IS THERE ANY NEW BUSINESS? NO. AND DO WE? NEXT IS COMMUNICATIONS AND COMMENTS FROM THE PUBLIC.

NO. OKAY.

ALL RIGHT, THEN I'LL TAKE A MOTION TO ADJOURN.

SO MOVED. SECOND.

AND RECONVENE.

I'M SORRY. WORK SESSION? YES. I'LL TAKE A MOTION TO ADJOURN AND RECONVENE INTO A WORK SESSION.

SO MOVED. SECOND.

ALL IN FAVOR? AYE. THANK YOU.

THANK YOU. THANK YOU.

* This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.