Sep 03, 2025 September 3, 2025 - Business Meeting

>> DOES ANYONE HAVE ANY COMMENTS OR QUESTIONS ON THE MEETING MINUTES FROM AUGUST 7TH OR AUGUST 26TH? ALL IN FAVOR?

NONE OPPOSED TO THOSE MOTIONS, CARRY.

NEXT, WE CAN MOVE TO DR.

CHAMP'S SUPERINTENDENT'S REPORT.

[4.1 Superintendent's Report - Superintendent's Opening of School Report]

>> GREAT. I JUST REMEMBERED ONE THING TOO, IF I DIDN'T SAY IT BEFORE, WITH OUR STUDENT EX OFFICIO MEMBER, UNFORTUNATELY, FOR THEM, THEY DON'T HAVE A VOTING ROLE.

IT'S JUST IMPORTANT FOR THE COMMUNITY TO KNOW THAT THEY DON'T HAVE A VOTING ROLE, THEY CAN'T COME TO EXECUTIVE SESSION, EITHER.

BUT I THINK KATHRYN SAID IT VERY ELOQUENTLY, STUDENT VOICE AT THE TABLE IS GOING TO BE REALLY IMPORTANT AND POWERFUL.

I'M GOING TO SHIFT DOWN TO THE PODIUM FOR THE NEXT PORTION TO GO THROUGH OPENING OF SCHOOL REPORT.

THIS WAS A JOINT EFFORT BECAUSE NOTHING HAPPENS UNDER THE POWER OF ONE PERSON HERE.

I KNOW, IT'S GOING TO BE NICE TO HAVE ONE OF OUR STUDENTS.

WE'RE EXCITED, AND THIS HAS BEEN INCREDIBLY POSITIVE AND COHERENT OPENING OF SCHOOL.

ONE OF THE THINGS THAT WE WORKED ON AS AN ADMINISTRATIVE TEAM THIS YEAR FROM THE CABINET AND EXTENDED INTO THE ENTIRE ADMINISTRATIVE CABINET, WE'RE REALLY TRYING HARD TO FOCUS ON COHERENCE THIS YEAR, AND TO REALLY ALIGN OUR EFFORTS THAT WE'RE REALLY POWERFULLY MOVING TOGETHER IN A UNIFIED DIRECTION.

I THINK WE'RE ALREADY SEEING THE BENEFITS OF THAT BECAUSE EVERYTHING THAT WE DID OVER THE COURSE OF THE WEEK AHEAD, THE SUMMER PLANNING UP IN TWO, AND THEN THE WEEK AHEAD OF SCHOOL OPENING, AND THEN SCHOOL ACTUALLY OPENING, WE'RE ALREADY SEEING THAT ALIGNMENT DAY IN AND DAY OUT.

[00:10:02]

IT WAS A VERY POSITIVE, VERY EXCITING OPENING OF SCHOOL.

THE THINGS THAT WE DID AHEAD OF TIME, TO PLAN.

THROUGHOUT THE SUMMER, FOLKS DON'T KNOW WHAT WE DO.

WE DO A LOT OF THINGS DURING THE SUMMER.

IT'S ONE OF THE ONLY TIMES WE GET TO ACTUALLY SIT AND THINK AND REFLECT DEEPLY AND COLLABORATE TOGETHER TO HAVE TIME TO THINK ABOUT, WHAT DID WE ACHIEVE AND ACCOMPLISH IN THE PRIOR YEAR? HOW DO WE SET OUR PRIORITIES AND GOALS FOR THE NEXT YEAR? THAT SUMMER, WE WORKED TOGETHER, BEGAN WITH A DEBRIEF OF LAST SCHOOL YEAR WITH OUR ADMINISTRATIVE TEAM ON JUNE 30TH AND JULY 1S, WHERE WE CELEBRATED, CAME TOGETHER, AND REALLY TOOK STOCK OF WHAT WE HAD ACCOMPLISHED IN THE YEAR AND WHAT WERE THE NATURAL NEXT STEPS.

IN THAT, WE THEN TALKED ABOUT, WHERE DO WE WANT TO GO FOR THE UPCOMING YEAR? WHAT DO WE WANT OUR THEME AND OUR FOCUS TO BE? WE SET OUR DISTRICT FOCUS THROUGH THAT, AND THEN WE ALSO HAD AN ADMINISTRATIVE RETREAT ON MONDAY, AUGUST 25TH, TO ROUND THAT OUT.

THROUGHOUT THE SUMMER, WE HAD, AND ACTUALLY A LARGE PART OF LAST SCHOOL YEAR, AN AI USER GROUP, WHICH ARE GOING TO BE SEEING THE BENEFITS OF, AS WE GO THROUGH THIS COMING YEAR, A GROUP OF FACULTY WHO ARE REALLY CUTTING EDGE ON THINKING ABOUT AI.

WHAT DOES THAT MEAN FOR US AS PROFESSIONALS? WHAT DOES IT MEAN FOR US AS EDUCATORS? WHAT DOES IT MEAN FOR OUR STUDENTS? WHAT SHOULD THE ROLE OF AI BE IN OUR SCHOOLS? THROUGHOUT THE SUMMER, WE HAD FACULTY ENGAGED IN 84 CURRICULUM WRITING PROJECTS ACROSS THE SPECTRUM OF THE CURRICULUM SUBJECTS AND ALL GRADE LEVELS AS WELL TO ALIGN, REVIEW, AND UPDATE OUR CURRICULUM, CONTINUE TO IMPROVE LEARNING EXPERIENCES FOR OUR STUDENTS ACROSS THE DISTRICT.

WE ALSO WERE PLEASED TO CONTINUE TO OFFER, THANKS TO THE BOARD SUPPORT IN THE BUDGET, A ROBUST SUMMER PROGRAM, SUMMER STARS, WHICH IS FOR OUR ELEMENTARY STUDENTS WHO ARE IN NEED OF SOME EXTRA ACADEMIC SUPPORT IN THE SUMMER, EXTENDED SCHOOL YEAR FOR OUR SPECIAL EDUCATION STUDENTS PER THEIR IEP, RUNNING SOME MIDDLE SCHOOL PROGRAMS FOR STUDENTS WHO NEED SOME AN EXTRA BOOST IN ACADEMICS, AND SOME WHO EVEN WANT TO BE ABLE TO ACCELERATE INTO ALGEBRA AND GET AHEAD ON THE MATH TRACK.

THOSE WERE ALL ACTUALLY HELD THIS YEAR.

NORMALLY, THEY'RE AT THE MIDDLE SCHOOL.

THIS YEAR, THEY WERE ALL HELD AT HUTCHINSON BECAUSE OF CONSTRUCTION GOING ON AT THE MIDDLE SCHOOL.

ALL THAT SUMMER WORK THEN CULMINATED IN THE WEEK BEFORE THE OPENING OF SCHOOL WITH A ADMINISTRATIVE RETREAT, NEW TEACHER ORIENTATION, FOLLOWED BY TWO FULL DAYS OF PROFESSIONAL LEARNING AND SUPERINTENDENTS CONFERENCE DAYS.

AS I SAID BEFORE, OUR ADMINISTRATIVE TEAM REALLY SPENT SOME DEEP, THOUGHTFUL TIME COLLABORATING THIS SUMMER, AND THROUGH THAT CAME UP WITH OUR THEME FOR THIS YEAR, SYSTEMS OF SUPPORT FOR ALL STUDENTS.

WE TOOK OUR STRATEGIC PLAN, AND WHAT WE FELT WERE THE IMPORTANT NEXT STEPS TO BUILD ON THAT AND TRIED TO FIND A UNIFYING THEME THAT WE COULD ANCHOR ALL OF OUR WORK AROUND.

AS I'VE SHARED WITH THE BOARD AS WELL AND WE SHARED IT AT OPENING DAY, WE USE STEPHEN COVEY'S BIG ROCKS THEORY TO REALLY FOCUS OUR WORK, AND THAT MEANING, IDENTIFY WHAT ARE THE BIG MOST IMPORTANT THINGS THAT WE NEED TO ACCOMPLISH THIS YEAR.

GET REALLY CLEAR ON THEM, FOCUS ON THEM FIRST, AND THEN ALL THE OTHER SMALLER THINGS AND ACTIVITIES OF THE DAY-TO-DAY CAN FILTER IN AROUND THOSE.

IF YOU START WITH THOSE AT THE CORE, WE'LL FIT IT ALL IN.

WE'LL BE ABLE TO GET IT ALL DONE.

IF WE DON'T FOCUS ON THOSE FIRST, THAT TIME IS GOING TO GET PULLED INTO OTHER THINGS THAT ARE LESS IMPORTANT.

WE REALLY HELD TIGHT TO THAT THEME OF SYSTEMS OF SUPPORT FOR ALL STUDENTS, AND REALLY IN OUR PLANNING FOR COHERENCE HELD TIGHT TO OUR BIG ROCKS, AND WE'RE STARTING TO ROLL THOSE PLANS OUT NOW.

THOSE THREE BIG ROCKS FOR US THIS YEAR ARE CONTINUATION OF OUR MULTI-TIERED SYSTEMS OF SUPPORT.

SORRY FOR ALL THE EDUCATIONEES, BUT THAT'S THE SYSTEM WHERE WE USE DATA TO INFORM INSTRUCTION AND TO IDENTIFY WHERE STUDENTS NEED, WHETHER IT'S SUPPORT OR ENRICHMENT, IDENTIFY THOSE NEEDS, AND THEN WORK AS EDUCATORS TO MEET THOSE NEEDS.

IT'S BUILDING MORE SYSTEM AROUND THAT SO THAT WE'RE MORE INTENTIONALLY AND CONSISTENTLY APPLYING THAT. [OVERLAPPING]

>> DR. CHAMP, JUST TO CLARIFY TOO, THE MTSS, MULTI-TIERED SYSTEMS OF SUPPORT, HAVE A CLASSROOM LEVEL, ALL OF OUR CLASSES?

>> YES. THANK YOU.

>> IT'S HAPPENING AND YOU MIGHT NOT HEAR ABOUT IT.

>> THAT'S VERY TRUE.

>> OR HEAR PEOPLE TALK ABOUT WHAT IS HAPPENING, ALL THAT STUFF.

>> YES, AND IT'S EMBEDDED IN WHAT WE DO. IT'S AN EXCELLENT POINT.

INSTRUCTIONAL TECHNOLOGIES, WE'RE EXPLORING A VARIETY OF THEM.

AI, AS I'VE MENTIONED, WE'RE DEEPENING OUR USE OF BRANCHING MINDS.

OUR SCHOOL COUNSELING DEPARTMENT HAS SHIFTED FROM NAVIANCE TO SCOIR AS A NEW SYSTEM THAT MANY SCHOOLS ARE USING.

THEY'RE FINDING IT MORE USEFUL FOR STUDENTS IN THE CAREER AND COLLEGE PROCESS, SO DEVELOPING OUR FACULTY SKILL AROUND THOSE AREAS.

THEN ALSO A BIG THEME THAT YOU'RE GOING TO BE HEARING OVER THE NEXT SEVERAL YEARS AS WE UNPACK THE NEW YORK INSPIRES INITIATIVE, THAT CAME OUT OF THE BLUE RIBBON COMMISSION.

THEY MADE A SERIES OF RECOMMENDATIONS, THEY'VE ADOPTED A NEW PROFILE OF A GRADUATE OF NEW YORK STUDENTS.

NOW, PREDOMINANTLY, IT'S GOING TO BE A HUGE WORK OVER THE NEXT FOUR YEARS OF UNPACKING WHAT THAT LOOKS LIKE, HOW THAT IMPACTS OUR SCHOOL SYSTEM.

[00:15:01]

INITIALLY, IT'S GOING TO IMPACT GRADUATION REQUIREMENTS, BUT YOU'LL SEE THAT IT REALLY HAS K-12 IMPLICATIONS AS WE WORK AS A SYSTEM.

THEN FINALLY, THROUGHOUT OUR ADMINISTRATIVE PLANS, A COUPLE OF TIMES, WE TOOK THE BACK-TO-THE-FUTURE APPROACH.

WHERE DO WE WANT TO BE A YEAR FROM NOW? WHAT DID WE DO TO GET THERE, HYPOTHETICALLY, AND THEN MARKED OUR WORK PLANS TO THAT.

WE'LL TALK MORE ABOUT THAT LEADER IN THIS PRESENTATION.

NEW TEACHER ORIENTATION. DR. FITZGERALD, PLANNED AN OUTSTANDING DAY OF TRAINING FOR OUR TEACHERS, 16 NEW TEACHERS AND TEACHING ASSISTANTS, BEGINNING CERTAINLY WITH A GREETING BY PRESIDENT OF THE BOARD AND MYSELF, TO SET A TONE AND DIRECTION FOR THE YEAR.

THEN PARTICIPANTS EXPERIENCED DIFFERENT TRAININGS AND INFORMATION SESSIONS THROUGHOUT THE YEAR, SO THANKS TO DR. FITZGERALD, TO MR. SEBALOS, MS. DELMASTRO FOR THEIR TECHNOLOGY SESSION, THE TECH DEPARTMENT, JIM RICKEY AND THE BUSINESS OFFICE.

THANKS TO JEANNETTE CONNOLLY, OUR MENTOR TEACHER, WHO JUST DOES AN AMAZING JOB OF SUPPORTING OUR TEACHERS AND REALLY TEACHING THEM WHAT PELHAM IS ALL ABOUT, AND SUPPORTING THEM AS THEY TRANSITION TO OUR SCHOOLS.

>> THROUGHOUT THE DAY, THEY EXPERIENCED A VARIETY OF DIFFERENT LEARNING OPPORTUNITIES, COLLABORATION OPPORTUNITIES, AND ALL OF IT MEANT TO MODEL AND REALLY SEND A MESSAGE ABOUT WHO WE ARE AND WHAT WE'RE ABOUT.

THANK YOU FOR THAT WORK, PREPARING THEM, AND WHAT WAS A VERY SHORT SUMMER AND A VERY FAST WEEK OF TRAINING.

AFTER TUESDAY'S NEW TEACHER ORIENTATION, WE THEN TRANSITION TO TWO DAYS OF PROFESSIONAL LEARNING ON SUPERINTENDENTS CONFERENCE DAYS.

THANKS TO OUR PTA COUNCIL FOR, AGAIN, HOSTING BREAKFAST FOR EVERYONE, IT'S ALWAYS APPRECIATED.

CUP OF COFFEE AND A BAGEL GO A LONG WAY TO GET THINGS STARTED AS THE SUMMER COMES TO AN END.

WE HAVE GREETINGS FROM A VARIETY OF DIFFERENT FOLKS, OUR ALPHABET SOUP.

WE'VE GOT OUR BOARD OF EDUCATION, THE TEACHERS' ASSOCIATION OF PELHAM, PELHAM PTA COUNCIL, AND THE PELHAM EDUCATION FOUNDATION, ALL KEY ORGANIZATIONS THAT SUPPORT OUR WORK AS A DISTRICT.

WE APPRECIATED THEIR PRESENCE AND THEIR GREETINGS.

WE ALSO HAVE THE GREAT OPPORTUNITY TO CELEBRATE OUR 25 AND 30-YEAR EMPLOYEES.

WE HAD THE BIGGEST BATCHES OF TEACHERS RETIRE LAST YEAR, AND YET WE STILL HAD PROBABLY THE BIGGEST GROUP PORT OF PEOPLE ACHIEVING 25 AND 30 YEARS, SOMETHING TO VERY MUCH BE PROUD OF THE LONGEVITY THAT OUR EDUCATORS STAY WITHIN OUR SCHOOL SYSTEM.

IT'S FUN TO SEE THEM TOO.

SO MANY OF THEM REMEMBER WHEN THEY STARTED.

ONE OF THEM SENT ME A PICTURE.

BETH FINKELSTEIN WAS ONE OF OUR 30-YEAR HONOREES.

SHE SENT ME A PICTURE OF HER, EMILY KAISER, AND HUTCHINSON.

>> DE VICO.

>> JEN DE VICO. THE PICTURE THAT WAS IN THE PELHAM WEEKLY AT THEIR NEW TEACHER ORIENTATION 30 YEARS AGO, PAPER COPY.

THEY HAVEN'T AGED A DAY, BY THE WAY.

[LAUGHTER] BUT REALLY EXCITING, JUST A REALLY JOYOUS TIME TO CELEBRATE AND VALUE THE EMPLOYEES WHO HAVE COMMITTED THEMSELVES TO PELHAM FOR THEIR CAREER.

THEN TWO DAYS FULL OF PROFESSIONAL LEARNING SESSIONS, THANK YOU TO CLAIRE WHO TOOK THE LEAD ON FACILITATING ALL THAT.

OUR ADMINISTRATIVE TEAM, TRACY AND HER DEPARTMENT, TREMENDOUS JOB OF FILLING IT IN.

I THINK IT WAS PROBABLY THE MOST ROBUST DAY OF PROFESSIONAL LEARNING THAT I REMEMBER IN MY NINE YEARS, IT'S MY NINTH OPENING IN PELHAM.

THERE WAS SO MANY MEANINGFUL SESSIONS, INTENTIONAL SESSIONS, COHERENT SESSIONS ALL ALIGNED AROUND THOSE BIG ROCKS.

EVERYONE GOT TO TOUCH SOME PIECE OF THOSE GOALS ON DAY 1 AS WE KICKED OFF THE YEAR.

OF COURSE, BOARD OF EDUCATION, YOU PROVIDED US LUNCH THAT DAY, SO THANK YOU.

THANKS TO WHITSONS TOO.

WANDA DOES A FANTASTIC JOB.

THIS YEAR'S THEME WAS GREEK, SO WE HAD STUFFED PEPPERS AND STUFFED EGG PLANT AND KEBABS, AND PITA WAS REALLY FANTASTIC.

THESE ARE JUST SOME OF THE THEMES.

I'M NOT GOING TO READ THEM ALL TO YOU, BUT SOME OF THE THEMES THAT WERE STREWN THROUGHOUT THE TWO DAYS OF LEARNING. WE ALREADY TALKED ABOUT AI.

CASEL IS A TERM YOU'RE GOING TO BE HEARING A LOT FROM US, AND THAT'S THE COLLABORATIVE FOR ACADEMIC, SOCIAL, AND EMOTIONAL LEARNING.

THAT IS THE FRAMEWORK THAT WE ARE USING TO SUPPORT OUR SOCIAL AND EMOTIONAL LEARNING SYSTEMS THROUGHOUT THE DISTRICT.

YOU'RE GOING TO HEAR A LOT MORE FOCUS ON THAT THIS YEAR, ESPECIALLY AS WE DEEPEN OUR WORK ON MULTI-TIERED SYSTEMS OF SUPPORT.

WE FOCUSED HEAVILY ON THAT LAST COUPLE OF YEARS ON THE ACADEMIC SIDE, SO INTERVENTIONISTS DATA TO DRIVE INSTRUCTION, WHERE STUDENTS FALLING BEHIND ACADEMICALLY AND WHERE DO THEY NEED STRENGTHENING.

WE'RE GOING TO REALLY DELVE DEEPER NOW INTO BUILDING OUT THE SOCIAL AND EMOTIONAL LEARNING SIDE OF THAT SAME SYSTEM.

THE CASEL FRAMEWORK ALIGNS VERY CLOSELY WITH THE NEW YORK PROFILE OF A GRADUATE, THAT WAS JUST ADOPTED.

THE SKILLS THAT WE BUILD THROUGH CASEL WILL BE THE SKILLS THAT STUDENTS ARE GOING TO NEED AS THEY APPROACH GRADUATION.

THOSE ARE MORE OF THE SOFT SIDE OF THINGS, THE SELF-AWARENESS, RELATIONSHIP SKILLS, SELF-MONITORING, THINGS LIKE THAT.

THAT ARE IMPORTANT LESSONS IN JUST HUMAN DEVELOPMENT THAT WE ALSO NEED TO BE INTENTIONAL ABOUT AND LOOK FOR WAYS TO BUILD AND ASSESS THROUGHOUT STUDENTS' TIME HERE.

[00:20:02]

WE'RE ALSO GOING TO BE SPENDING TIME DEVELOPING A PLAN FOR THAT, LOOKING AT RESOURCES TO STRENGTHEN OUR IMPLEMENTATION THERE.

A COUPLE OF THINGS THERE, YOU CAN READ FOR YOURSELF.

MOVING INTO THE PPS REALM, A LOT OF THIS WORK DOES OVERLAP BETWEEN ACADEMIC AND PPS BECAUSE YOU HAVE TO BE EMOTIONALLY AVAILABLE IN ORDER TO LEARN, SO WE HAD A LOT OF COMMONALITY ACROSS.

ONE THING THAT WE DID ADD THIS YEAR AS ONE OF OUR UPDATED POLICY WORK FROM LAST YEAR, WE UPDATED THE RESTRAINT AND TIME-OUT POLICY, AND PART OF THAT WAS STATE REQUIREMENT TO PROVIDE TRAINING FOR ALL STAFF EVERY YEAR.

PART OF THAT IS WE FOUND A GREAT VIDEO THAT WE'VE ADDED NOW TO THE REPERTOIRE OF TRAINING COMPLAINTS, TRAINING THAT OUR FOLKS NEED TO DO.

THE GREAT PART IS THAT IT'S ALIGNED TO THE CASEL FRAMEWORK.

AGAIN, IT WAS ALIGNED, COHERENT, AND FITS IN WITH THE WORK THAT WE'RE DOING.

ALL STAFF ADMINISTRATORS, THROUGH SECURITY MONITORS, SPECIAL ED MONITORS, ALL STAFF WILL BE PARTICIPATING IN THAT.

WE GAVE TIME ON THAT DAY, AND SOME FOLKS DID IT THAT DAY.

WE'VE GIVEN DEADLINES BY WHICH THAT NEEDS TO BE DONE ALONG WITH THE OTHER COMPLIANCE TRAINING THAT'S REQUIRED.

WE'RE CONTINUING TO SUPPORT TEACHERS IN UNDERSTANDING AND LEARNING MORE ABOUT 504 PLANS.

THAT'S ONE OF THE BIGGEST AREAS OF GROWTH, SO WE WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT WE'RE FULLY EDUCATED AROUND THAT AND UNDERSTAND ITS PURPOSE AND GOALS SO THAT PEOPLE CAN PLAY A VERY MEANINGFUL ROLE IN THE PROCESS.

WE CONTINUED WITH ADDITIONAL TRAINING FROM OUR BEHAVIOR SPECIALISTS THAT WE CONTRACT WITH.

OUR PSYCHOLOGIST TOOK A DEEPER DIVE INTO SOME OF THE SOCIAL AND EMOTIONAL LEARNING PROGRAMS THAT WE MAY CONSIDER AS PART OF THIS FOCUS.

THEN ONE OF THE OTHER THINGS THAT WAS MENTIONED AT OUR BOARD MEETING LAST TIME, OUR PSYCHOLOGISTS AND CLINICIANS SPEND A LITTLE BIT OF TIME WORKING WITH UNDERSTANDING THE NEW MENTAL HEALTH CLINIC MODEL THAT WILL BE COMING TO US THIS FALL.

WE'LL TALK MORE ABOUT THAT AS IT GETS CLOSER AS WELL.

THEN WE MOVE INTO THE FACILITIES AND OPERATIONS PART OF THE SHOW.

THE CORE OF WHAT WE DO IS WHAT WE DO IN THE CLASSROOMS WITH OUR KIDS.

AT THE SAME TIME, OUR FACILITIES CONTINUE TO NEED ANNUAL TENDING, WHICH THEY DO, AND OUR FACILITIES STAFF DOES A GREAT JOB.

I'M GOING TO LET JIM BRAG ABOUT THEM IN JUST A MINUTE.

THIS IS ALL THE NORMAL MAINTENANCE AND UPKEEP OF OUR BUILDINGS.

WE'RE NOT TALKING YET ABOUT CAPITAL PROJECT IMPROVEMENT PLANS, THAT'S STILL DOWN THE ROAD, BUT JUST THIS SUMMER, WITH SEVERAL DIFFERENT PROJECTS GOT DONE, SOME WITH IN-HOUSE, SOME EXTERNAL FOLKS.

ONE OF THE IN-HOUSE PROJECTS THAT WE'RE REALLY PROUD OF AT COLONIAL, AS FOLKS KNOW, AS WE PROVIDED MORE INSTRUCTIONAL SUPPORTS FOR OUR STUDENTS.

WE TALKED ABOUT THIS A LOT DURING CAPITAL PROJECT.

YOU NEED MORE SMALL INSTRUCTION SPACE, SO ONE OF THE THINGS THAT WE'VE NEEDED AT COLONIAL WAS SPACE FOR SPEECH ROOM.

STATE HAD FINALLY APPROVED THOSE PLANS, AND THIS SUMMER, WORK HAS STARTED ON THAT, AND OUR IN-HOUSE CREW IS WORKING ON THAT.

THAT'S WHAT YOU SEE THERE. IT'S THE BACK ROOM OF THE LIBRARY.

IF YOU'VE BEEN IN THE LIBRARY, THERE'S A BACK AREA SUBDIVIDING IT INTO A SPACE FOR A COUPLE OF DIFFERENT PURPOSES, ONE OF THEM BEING SPEECH ROOM AND PART OF IT BEING TEACHER WORK AREA.

LOTS OF TREES ARE EVALUATED EVERY YEAR, PRUNED.

WE HAD A COUPLE THAT NEEDED TO COME DOWN JUST TO MAINTAIN SAFETY AND SECURITY.

OUR FACILITIES TEAM WORKED WITH CONTRACTORS TO DO THAT AND MAKE SURE EVERYTHING WAS IN SHAPE OR COMING BACK.

WE'RE ALWAYS PROUD OF OUR FLOORS.

I KNOW THAT SOUNDS SILLY, BUT THE SMELL OF WAX AND THE GLOSS THAT LOOKS LIKE SHINY AS THE SURFACE OF WATER ARE A MATTER OF PRIDE FOR OUR CUSTODIANS.

THEY REALLY DO TAKE A LOT OF PRIDE IN IT.

IT'S REALLY EXCITING TO COME BACK TO SEE THESE FLOORS LITERALLY LOOKING LIKE NEW.

I KNOW JIM PROBABLY COULD TELL US THE NUMBER OF SQUARE FEET, MILES THEY WALKED IN THE SUMMER.

[BACKGROUND] I PUT YOU ON THE SPOT.

SORRY. DON'T ASK QUESTIONS YOU DON'T KNOW ANSWERS TO, MY MISTAKE.

BUT REALLY, THE GUYS DO A WONDERFUL JOB.

VERY OFTEN, THEY CAN CLEAN THE BUILDINGS AND SHIFTS.

THEY CAN DO MAYBE A THIRD FLOOR, THEN A SECOND FLOOR, BUT WE THINK ABOUT THE SUMMER USE THAT WE HAVE.

HUTCHINSON, IN PARTICULAR, HAD ALL THE SUMMER PROGRAMS THIS YEAR.

HUTCHINSON WAS NOT AVAILABLE FOR FULL CLEANING UNTIL?

>> ONE WEEK BEFORE.

>> ONE WEEK BEFORE SCHOOL OPENED, AND THAT'S OUR BIGGEST PHYSICAL SQUARE FOOTAGE ELEMENTARY SCHOOL.

A TREMENDOUS AMOUNT OF WORK HAS TO BE DONE IN A VERY SHORT AMOUNT OF TIME, A LOT OF JUGGLING OF PROGRAMS THROUGHOUT THE SUMMER, AND OUR CUSTODIANS DO A FANTASTIC JOB WORKING WITH JOHN CONDON, MANAGING NOT JUST THE ANNUAL CLEANING, BUT ALSO ANY OF THE MORE MAJOR PROJECTS THAT HAVE TO GO ON THIS SUMMER.

ONE OF THOSE, OF COURSE, BEING OUR INVESTMENT THAT THE COMMUNITY APPROVED A COUPLE OF YEARS AGO, AND THAT WAS THE INSTALLATION OF THE ALMOST TWO MILLION DOLLAR HVAC SYSTEMS ON THE ROOF OF THE MIDDLE SCHOOL.

I KNOW JIM WAS HOLDING HIS BREATH FOR QUITE A FEW MINUTES WHILE THAT UNIT HUNG OVER ON A CRANE OVER THE MIDDLE SCHOOL.

[00:25:03]

>> I THINK THAT'S THE PICTURE I TOOK.

>> IT COULD BE.

>> YES. [LAUGHTER]

>> BECAUSE I WAS DRIVING BY.

>> I WANTED TO SEE IT.

>> I WAS DRIVING BY.

>> TWENTY-FOUR THOUSAND POUNDS SWINGING ABOVE.

[OVERLAPPING]

>> IT WAS INCREDIBLE.

>> EIGHT TIMES. BUT I KNOW THE BOARD HAD A CHANCE TO SEE THOSE FIRSTHAND ON OUR FACILITIES TOUR.

WE WERE REALLY EXCITED. THOSE WERE ORIGINAL UNITS THAT WERE BEING REPLACED.

I'M REALLY EXCITED TO HAVE THESE.

THEY'RE UP, THEY'RE RUNNING.

I'M STILL FINISHING UP SOME DETAILS ON CONNECTIONS, BUT VERY THANKFUL TO FINALLY HAVE THOSE.

I KNOW THE BOARD HAS UNDERSTOOD NOW THE PROCESS OF STATE AT APPROVALS AND ALL THAT.

THESE ARE THE UNITS THAT WERE APPROVED BY THE VOTERS.

>> TWO YEARS AGO.

>> A LITTLE OVER TWO YEARS AGO.

THAT'S HOW THINGS GO IN THE SCHOOL.

WE'RE REALLY APPRECIATIVE FOR THE COMMUNITY FOR HAVING APPROVED THOSE AND FOR THE WORK THAT WAS DONE TO GET THOSE IN PLACE.

ANOTHER HIGH INTEREST AREA, THESE ARE THE 90 CELL PHONE LOCKERS THAT WERE PURCHASED TO SUPPLEMENT OUR SHORTAGE IN LOCKERS AT THE HIGH SCHOOL.

AS YOU ALL KNOW, WE STARTED THE NEW LAW THAT WAS PUT IN PLACE, CELL PHONE BANS AT THE SCHOOL.

THAT WENT INTO PLACE HERE, AND JUST LIKE IMPLEMENTING OF ANY RULES, WE DO IT.

THE EXPECTATION IS THAT ALL STUDENTS AT THE SECONDARY LEVEL THAT THE PHONES GO IN THEIR LOCKERS.

WE WERE SHORT ABOUT 40 LOCKERS AT THE HIGH SCHOOL, SO WE DID EXPLORE GETTING REGULAR LOCKERS BECAUSE THEY COULD BE MULTI-PURPOSE.

THE LEAD TIME ON THEM WAS EXTREMELY LONG.

THE COST WAS MORE SIGNIFICANT, SO WE FOUND THESE LOCKERS.

JIM AND MR. LLEWELLYN WORKED TOGETHER TO FIND THOSE.

THESE HAVE BEEN INSTALLED DOWN BY WHAT USED TO BE THE OLD BUSINESS OFFICE.

IT'S NOW NEAR THE FOUNDATIONS OF LEARNING ROOM, RIGHT ON THIS LEVEL, JUST AROUND THE OTHER SIDE.

THEY ARE BASICALLY BEING ASSIGNED TO SENIORS WHO DON'T HAVE LOCKERS.

WE'RE STILL WAITING FOR SOME NAME PLATES TO GO ON, BUT THESE ARE GOING TO GO INTO SERVICE VERY QUICKLY.

IN THE MEANTIME, THE STUDENTS HAVE BEEN MADE VERY CLEAR THAT THE BAN IS STILL IN PLACE.

THOSE PHONES ARE TO BE IN THEIR BAGS UNTIL SUCH TIME THESE LOCKERS ARE AVAILABLE.

>> HOW WAS THE FIRST FEW DAYS?

>> I TALKED TO MR. LLEWELLYN, AND HE SAID, OVERALL, IT'S BEEN GREAT.

HE'S NOT SEEN ANY IN CLASSES.

THEY'VE HAD A FEW STUDENTS SENT DOWN TO THE OFFICE, A LITTLE BIT OF ADJUSTMENT PERIOD.

I THINK MOST OF THAT IS COMING FROM CAFETERIA OR A LITTLE BIT IN THE HALLWAY.

BUT WE HAVE TO REMEMBER WE HAVE THREE GRADE LEVELS OF STUDENTS WHO ARE USED TO HAVING THEM IN THE HALLWAY, IN THE CAFETERIA FOR AT LEAST A YEAR OR TWO, THREE YEARS.

IT'S A LOT OF CHANGING OF HABITS, BUT SO FAR SO GOOD.

EMERSON MAY HAVE SOME THOUGHTS THAT I'M NOT GOING TO PUT HER ON THE SPOT.

>> I DIDN'T WANT TO DO THAT EITHER WAY.

>> IF YOU DO HAVE ANY THOUGHTS. [OVERLAPPING]

>> SO FAR, IT IT SEEMS REALLY FINE.

PEOPLE UNDERSTAND THE RULES.

I THINK THE BUILDING'S BEEN VERY COMMUNICATIVE.

JUST TO REMIND FOLKS, IF PARENTS NEED TO REACH THEIR CHILDREN, CALL THE MAIN OFFICE.

THEY'LL GET A MESSAGE TO THE CHILD, THE SAME WAY THAT WE ALWAYS USED TO DO IT.

IF A CHILD NEEDS TO CONTACT THEIR PARENT, COME TO THE MAIN OFFICE, THEY'LL LET HIM USE A PHONE, THEY CAN CALL THEIR PARENT.

MY FAVORITE PART OF TUESDAY WAS SEEING STUDENTS WALK AROUND THE HALL WITH PAPER SCHEDULES.

[LAUGHTER] THE ADMINISTRATORS PRINTED THOSE OUT TO DISTRIBUTE AT THE BEGINNING BECAUSE STUDENTS USUALLY JUST LOOK AT THEIR PHONES FOR THEM.

IT REALLY WAS STEPPING BACK A LITTLE BIT TO KEEP SAYING 1993.

>> TO THE '90S.

>> BUT IT WORKS.

IT WORKED THEN, IT WORKS NOW.

WE'LL DEFINITELY KEEP UPDATES ON THAT.

MR. LLEWELLYN'S GOT A COMMITTEE THAT IS GOING TO BE OVERSEEING THE IMPLEMENTATION THROUGHOUT THE YEAR AND JUST MONITORING AND REVISING AS THINGS GO, SO OFF AND RUNNING.

I DIDN'T HEAR FROM ANYONE RATTING THEIR CHILDREN OUT, TEXTING DURING SCHOOL.

>> THAT WAS MAIN. [LAUGHTER]

>> I THINK IT'S WORKING.

>> ONE PHONE CALL BETWEEN EIGHT O'CLOCK AND THREE O'CLOCK, AND I'M RATTING YOU OUT. [LAUGHTER]

>> WELL DONE.

>> DO YOU HAVE ANY PARENTS WHO ARE RATTING THEIR KIDS OUT? [LAUGHTER]

>> ONE OF THE OTHER BIG PROJECTS OF THE SUMMER, OF COURSE, WAS THE REPLACEMENT OF THE TURF AT THE GLOVER COMPLEX.

BEAUTIFUL JOB, THE DESIGN IS GREAT.

THE WORK WENT REALLY QUICKLY ACCORDING TO PLAN, FIELD'S UP AND RUNNING AND IN USE ALREADY. THERE YOU GO.

>> IT LOOKS BEAUTIFUL.

>> DONE BEFORE AUGUST.

WE APPRECIATE THE COMMUNITY'S FLEXIBILITY AROUND THAT AND ALL THE HARD WORK THAT WENT INTO MAKING THAT READY TO GO.

[BACKGROUND] THAT'S RIGHT. AS YOU FLY INTO, IS IT LAGUARDIA OR JFK?

>> LAGUARDIA.

>> LAGUARDIA FLYING TO JFK, YOU CAN NOW SEE VERY PROUDLY THE PELHAM PELICANS.

ON SCHOOL SAFETY FRONT, A LOT OF WORK, OF COURSE, IS DONE EACH YEAR ON THIS AS WELL.

WE'RE APPRECIATIVE TO CONTINUE HAVE TOM DRAKE WORKING WITH US FROM ALTERIS.

HE COORDINATED, WORKED WITH FACILITIES DEPARTMENT WITH JIM'S OFFICE TO MAKE SURE THAT OUR SYSTEMS ARE UP AND RUNNING, DID A LOT OF TESTING OVER THE SUMMER.

WE ALSO MADE SURE THAT OUR SECURITY MONITORS, BOTH THOSE THAT ARE INTERNAL, AS WELL AS THOSE FROM ALTERIS, GOT TRAINING AS WE GET READY TO OPEN SCHOOL.

THEY WERE HERE RECEIVING A LOT OF THE SAME TRAINING THAT OTHER FOLKS WERE AS WELL.

[00:30:03]

SOME SHIFTS IN STAFFING AS WELL IN THE SUMMER, WHICH IS TYPICAL.

YOU MAY NOTICE SOME NEW FACES FROM OUR GREETERS.

WE DID A LITTLE BIT OF MOVEMENT THERE, SO WE'RE EXCITED AND FOLKS SEEM HAPPY TO GET A FRESH START AND SEE DIFFERENT WAY THAT SCHOOLS DO THINGS.

WE'RE REALLY APPRECIATIVE TO THEM FOR THEIR HARD WORK AND THE WARM WELCOME THAT THEY PROVIDE ALL OF OUR FAMILIES EACH DAY.

THIS YEAR, SAFETY TEAM MEMBERS WERE BRIEFED ON A COUPLE OF ANNUAL TRAINING THINGS, STOP THE BLEED, RADIO PROTOCOLS, NARCAN PROTOCOLS.

THEY ALSO PARTICIPATED IN THAT COMPLETION OF THE CRISIS PREVENTION INTERVENTION.

THAT'S THE DE-ESCALATION TRAINING THAT WE TALKED ABOUT.

AS JIM HAS SAID BEFORE, THEIR JOB IS A HANDS-OFF JOB, SO TO EQUIP THEM WITH SKILLS FOR VERBAL DE-ESCALATION IS CRITICALLY IMPORTANT.

>> I'M SORRY. BEFORE WE MOVE ON FROM SAFETY, JIM AND DR.

CHAMP, THERE WERE SEVERAL TRAGIC SITUATIONS THAT OCCURRED BEFORE THE START OF OUR SCHOOL YEAR.

IS ALTERIS DOING WHAT THEY NORMALLY DO, GATHERING INFORMATION AND ENSURING THAT WHATEVER PROTOCOLS WE HAVE IN PLACE ARE AS STRONG AS POSSIBLE?

>> YEAH. I WOULD SAY THEY'RE ALWAYS GREAT ABOUT GIVING US NOTICES.

THEY USUALLY GET PRETTY MUCH AS IMMEDIATE TIME ACTION REAL LIFE.

AS SOON AS THINGS COME OUT, THEY'RE USUALLY ONE OF THE FIRST TO GET IT.

THEY DO DISTRIBUTE OUT TO US PRETTY QUICKLY WHAT HAPPENED SO WE CAN UNDERSTAND THE SITUATION.

ALSO WITH THAT, THEY USUALLY PAIR IN THE LESSONS LEARNED AND ANY ADJUSTED ADVICE THAT THEY MAY GIVE US.

THIS YEAR, I THINK WE'VE ALREADY DONE ONE.

I THINK WE HAVE A SECOND REQUIRED UPDATE TO OUR SAFETY PLANS.

>> FOR CARDIAC.

>> THAT'S RIGHT.

>> FOR CARDIAC COMPONENT, AND THE OTHER ONE IS [INAUDIBLE].

WE MADE ONE CHANGE FOR THIS, AND WE'RE GOING TO HAVE TO BRING IT BACK TO THE BOARD FOR THE NEXT CHANGE.

>> [OVERLAPPING] I THINK IT WAS CARDIAC.

>> IS IT CARDIAC?

>> YES. THAT WAS BECAUSE THE STATE LAW CHANGED.

>> AFTER WE'D ALREADY STARTED THE PROCESS.

THAT'S WHAT THEY'VE BEEN GREAT AT, KEEPING US UP TO DATE ON THE STATE CHANGES, BUT ALSO LESSONS LEARNED FROM ANY CRISIS SITUATION.

I WANT TO, ONCE AGAIN, THANK OUR LOCAL POLICE DEPARTMENTS.

THEY REACHED OUT BEFORE THE START OF SCHOOL, HAVING SEEN THE SAME TRAGIC EVENTS AND JUST PROACTIVELY WANTED TO BE HERE TO MAKE SURE THAT THE STUDENTS, PARENTS, STAFF, EVERYONE FELT A LITTLE BIT HEAVIER PRESENCE AS A LAYER OF COMFORT.

>> WE DEFINITELY THANK THEM FOR THAT. THANK YOU.

>> THEY'VE BEEN ALWAYS AMAZING TO WORK WITH.

>> WHAT I KNOW, TOM, DRAKE WILL BE MEETING WITH OUR BIRT TEAMS WITHIN THE FIRST COUPLE OF WEEKS OF SCHOOL.

THE BIRT TEAMS ARE THE BUILDING EMERGENCY RESPONSE TEAMS. THOSE ARE EXACTLY THE PEOPLE THAT YOU WANT TRAINED AND UP TO SPEED ON ANY NEW STRATEGIES THAT WE SHOULD BE KEEPING IN PLACE, BECAUSE THERE YOU GO TO PEOPLE WHEN SOMETHING HAPPENS, FROM THE SMALLEST MEDICAL THING TO, TO A WORST CASE SCENARIO.

THE COMMUNICATIONS DEPARTMENT.

WE ARE CONTINUING WITH SEVERAL OF OUR EFFORTS THAT EMANATED OUT OF THE COMMUNICATIONS AUDIT FROM SEVERAL YEARS AGO.

UPDATED AND REDISTRIBUTED OUR POCKET BROCHURE, AND EMERGENCY GUIDE TO GO OUT TO PARENTS AND STAFF, AND TO PARENTS, RESPECTIVELY.

WE'VE PROVIDED MORE PARENT SQUARE TRAINING FOR OUR ELEMENTARY TEACHERS ON OPENING DAYS, CONTINUING TO EVOLVE THEIR SKILL AND USE WITH THAT.

WORKING TO UPDATE OUR WEBSITE.

SOMETHING THAT ALWAYS NEEDS TENDING AND WE'RE DOING OUR BEST TO KEEP THAT UP AND UP TO COMPLIANCE.

ONE OF THE THINGS THAT ALEX WOLF, OUR DIRECTOR OF COMMUNICATIONS DOES REALLY REGULARLY IS CHECK IN WITH OUR BUILDING AND PRINCIPALS, IN PARTICULAR, BECAUSE THEY ARE A KEY SOURCE OF INFORMATION THROUGHOUT THE YEAR.

WORKING WITH THEM TO PROVIDE SUPPORT, ANYTHING THAT THEY NEED AND HELP THEM TO DEVELOP THEIR SKILLS, SO THAT WE'RE ALWAYS WORKING TO MAKE SURE THAT OUR COMMUNICATION IS AS EFFECTIVE AS POSSIBLE.

ONE OF THE EXCITING THINGS IN COMMUNICATIONS THEIR OWN, WARD, I THINK WE'RE EXCITED ABOUT THIS TOO.

YOU MAY REMEMBER TO A LITTLE OVER TWO YEARS AGO WHEN WE DID THE FULL COMMUNICATIONS AUDIT.

PART OF THAT WAS ADMINISTERING THE SCOPE SURVEY, WHICH WAS THE QUANTITATIVE PART OF THE SURVEY TO THE ENTIRE PELHAM COMMUNITY.

WE WILL BE AGAIN DOING THAT THIS FALL.

IT'LL GIVE US A CHANCE TO MEASURE OUR PROGRESS ON RESULTS FROM A LITTLE OVER TWO YEARS AGO.

WE'RE EXCITED ABOUT THAT AND I LOOK FORWARD TO HEARING MORE ABOUT THAT, AND YOU WILL LIKELY WE'LL BE TALKING ABOUT THAT AT UPCOMING BOARD MEETINGS AS WELL.

BEFORE I FINISH THAT OUT, I WANT TO SHOW YOU ONE MORE THING THAT I'VE BEEN WORKING ON THAT I THINK ALSO FITS THE THEME OF THE OPENING OF SCHOOLS.

IF WE GO TO OUR DISTRICT WEB PAGE, THE DISTRICT TAB, AND OUR STRATEGIC PLAN LINK, I'M NOT USED TO THIS TOUCHPAD, SO YOU HAVE TO EXCUSE ME.

[00:35:06]

THERE WE GO. WE SEE OUR PROGRESS DASHBOARD LINK IS A LITTLE BIT HIGHER THAN IT USED TO BE. IT GETS BETTER.

[LAUGHTER] WE'RE JOKING ABOUT THIS.

BUT ONE OF THE THINGS THAT WE TALKED ABOUT AND WE MET IN OUR RETREAT.

HOW DO WE MAKE THE METRICS MORE VISIBLE? MOVED IT UP TO MAKE A LITTLE BIT MORE VISIBLE.

AS THE BOARD IS AWARE HERE, THIS IS OUR LANDING PAGE FOR OUR STRATEGIC PLAN DASHBOARD.

WE'VE GOT AN INDICATORS TAB AND STRATEGIES TAB.

I JUST WANT TO TAKE A MINUTE OR TWO TO LOOK AT THOSE BECAUSE THOSE HAVE BEEN UPDATED PARTIALLY FOR THIS YEAR.

WE'VE TALKED ABOUT TRYING TO UPDATE MORE REGULARLY.

IN MY MIND, I'M SEEING ABOUT THREE DIFFERENT TIMES OF YEAR WHERE YOU CAN EXPECT UPDATES.

THIS TIME OF YEAR WOULD BE MOSTLY YOUR DEMOGRAPHIC AND ANY OF THE BIG LARGER OUTCOMES FROM THE PRIOR SCHOOL YEAR, GRADUATION RATE, PERFORMANCE ON EP EXAMS, ETC.

LATER IN THE FALL. DR. CUERFORD, WILL DO OUR STUDENT OUTCOMES PRESENTATION IN NOVEMBER.

AFTER THAT, WE'LL GET ANOTHER BATCH OF UPDATES ON THE BULK OF THE ACADEMIC INDICATORS.

THEN AS WE APPROACH THE BUDGET SEASON, THERE MAY BE THINGS THEN IN THE FINANCE FACILITIES CATEGORY THAT YOU WOULD THEN SEE UPDATES THERE AS WELL.

WHAT WE DO HAVE UPDATED, DISTRICT CHARACTERISTICS.

THESE ARE ALL THIS TOP SECTION IS UPDATED AS OF THE END OF LAST SCHOOL YEAR.

THESE ARE REFLECTIVE OF THE 24, 25 SCHOOL YEAR.

YOU'VE GOT OUR ENROLLMENT FROM LAST SCHOOL YEAR, 22,827, ETC, 26% OF OUR STUDENTS GOING ON TO COLLEGE, 96%, 91 OF THOSE ARE GOING TO FOUR YEAR COLLEGES, 5% GOING TO TWO YEAR COLLEGES, AND YOU GET SOME DEMOGRAPHIC UPDATES THERE AS WELL.

THEN WHEN YOU GET DOWN TO PERSONAL GROWTH AND ACHIEVEMENT, SOME OF THESE, I KNOW THAT WE SHARED WITH THE BOARD RECENTLY, OUTCOMES FROM OUR HIGH SCHOOL.

HAVING RECEIVED US NEWS AND WORLD REPORT, WE RANKED IN THE TOP 3% OF HIGH SCHOOLS NATIONALLY, 5% IN NEW YORK STATE, SO THAT'S RANK OF 426.

THAT'S BEEN UPDATED, GRADUATION RATE, STUDENT ATTENDANCE, ETC, AVERAGE SAT SCORE FROM LAST SCHOOL YEAR.

NUMBERS OF STUDENTS IN DUAL ENROLLMENT, WHICH WE KNOW PARTICIPATION IN COLLEGE LEVEL COURSES IS ONE OF THE BEST PREPARATIONS FOR COLLEGE.

WHAT WE DID SEE IS GROWTH IN ALMOST ALL OF THESE NUMBERS THIS PAST YEAR.

IT'S REALLY SOMETHING TO CELEBRATE THAT ALSO, I'M SURE, IS A BIG PIECE OF WHY OUR RANK IN THE US NEWS AND WORLD REPORT, REALLY MOVED UP SIGNIFICANTLY.

MOST OF THAT HAS BEEN UPDATED.

WE'RE STILL WORKING ON SOME UPDATES AS WE GET DOWN HERE INTO THE SCIENCE RESEARCH, ATHLETICS, CLUBS, ETC.

WE DON'T HAVE GREAT SYSTEMS IN PLACE YET FOR EASILY CAPTURING THAT INFORMATION, SO FOLKS ARE GOING THROUGH A LITTLE BIT OF MORE OF A OLD SCHOOL APPROACH TO FINDING THAT, BUT WE'RE GOING TO GET THOSE AND GET THAT UPDATED FOR YOU AS WE WANT TO CONTINUE TO MONITOR THOSE, AND IT GIVES US A CHANCE TO THINK ABOUT HOW DO WE BUILD BETTER SYSTEMS. AS I SAID, THE PERFORMANCE DATA, THAT WILL BE UPDATED, PROBABLY ABOUT DECEMBER, LATE NOVEMBER, EARLY DECEMBER.

THEN WE GET INTO THE BELONGING WELLNESS.

WE'VE UPDATED SOME OF THIS AS WELL.

TEACHER ATTENDANCE RATE, TEACHERS WITH FOUR YEARS OF EXPERIENCE OR MORE.

WE'VE GOT A VERY EXPERIENCED TEACHING STAFF, NUMBER OF SENIORS WHO HAVE COMPLETED THE SEAL OF CIVIC READINESS, SENIOR EXIT SURVEY.

THAT'S BEEN UPDATED CLIMATE SURVEY.

WE'RE JUST WAITING FOR THE MIDDLE SCHOOL RESULTS THERE, BUT THAT SHOULD GO UP NEXT WEEK.

>> I HAVE A QUESTION.

MAYBE I'VE ASKED THIS BEFORE, BUT THE SEAL OF CIVIC READINESS, WHY IS THAT IN BELONGING AND WELLNESS?

>> THAT'S A GREAT QUESTION.

I'M GOING TO GO BACK TO THE [OVERLAPPING].

>> I CAN MAKE.

>> I KNOW [OVERLAPPING] I WAS JUST LOOKING THROUGH THE THE ORIGINAL WORK PLAN THAT WE CRAFTED, AND THAT'S WHERE IT WAS AND IT WAS INTENTIONALLY PUT THERE.

I THINK THE CONNECTION AND THE REASON FOR PUTTING IT THERE IS, IF YOU'RE TRYING TO HELP STUDENTS FIND A CONNECTION TO SCHOOL AND WHERE THEY REALLY FEEL IT'S RELEVANT AND THEY BELONG, PART OF THAT COMES FROM A PERSONAL CONNECTION AND PASSION.

I THINK IT'S DEFINITELY ACADEMIC IN NATURE, BUT IT'S TAKING SOMETHING THAT'S VERY PERSONAL TO THEM AND HELPING THEM FIND THAT REAL LIFE AUTHENTIC CONNECTION TO THEIR WORK.

I THINK BECAUSE IT WAS TAPPING INTO THAT SIDE OF THEM AS DEVELOPING HUMAN BEINGS.

I THINK THAT'S WHY WE ULTIMATELY PUT IT IN THAT SECTION.

>> THAT'S A GOOD REASON.

[LAUGHTER]

>> THEN, AGAIN, YOU CAN SEE SOME OF THESE OTHER INDICATORS THERE.

THE OTHER THING I WANTED TO HIGHLIGHT TOO, THIS WAS PROBABLY WHERE EVEN MORE UPDATING WAS DONE JUST THIS PAST WEEK.

WE WANT TO DO IS UPDATE IT FOR THIS YEAR'S STRATEGIC OBJECTIVES.

STILL, AGAIN, AIMING FOR THE SAME PRIORITY AREAS OF THE STRATEGIC PLAN, BUT I WANTED TO HIGHLIGHT HERE, WHAT ARE THE ACTUAL STEPS THAT WE'RE WORKING ON THIS YEAR? WE ARE MAKING SOME JUDGMENT CALLS ON COMPLETION RATES

[00:40:01]

BECAUSE SOME OF THESE THINGS ARE FIVE YEARS IN THE MAKING.

WE'VE DONE SOME WORK ON SOME OF THEM.

WE'RE JUST STARTING SOME ASPECTS THIS YEAR, OR IN SOME CASES, WE'RE STARTING OVER, IF IT'S SOMETHING THAT WE OFFER PARENT WORKSHOPS IN PARTNERSHIP WITH PELHAM TOGETHER EVERY YEAR.

THERE WAS 100% COMPLETED LAST YEAR, BUT WE'RE STARTING THIS YEAR OVER, SO WE WANT TO GIVE OURSELVES SOME ROOM FOR.

HERE YOU CAN SKIM THROUGH THESE AT YOUR LEISURE.

YOU SEE HERE ARE THEMES THAT I'VE ALREADY MENTIONED BEING REITERATED TO YOU, SO CLEAR SYSTEMS OF SUPPORT FOR ALL STUDENTS EXPLORING AND PLANNING FOR THE CHANGES COMING FROM NEW YORK STATE INSPIRES AND INTEGRATING INSTRUCTIONAL TECHNOLOGY.

THOSE WERE OUR THREE BIG ROCKS FOR THIS YEAR.

YOU CLICK ON THE STRATEGY WORD THERE AT THE RIGHT.

IT GIVES YOU THE DROP DOWN WITH MORE SPECIFICS ABOUT HOW ARE WE GOING TO ACHIEVE THOSE.

WORKING ON OUR MTSS ACADEMIC PLAN, TRAINING ALL STAFF IN THAT PROCESS AND CONDUCTING REGULAR DATA TEAMS. THIS YEAR, WE'RE GOING TO TRY ADDING TO THAT REPERTOIRE, THE BUILDINGS HAVE REGULAR DATA TEAM MEETINGS.

WE'RE GOING TO TRY DISTRICT LEVEL DATA TEAM MEETINGS THIS YEAR TO TRY TO CONTINUE TO SUPPLEMENT AND BUILD THAT SYSTEM AND CULTURE OF DATA.

GOING INTO THE PLANNING FOR NEW YORK STATE INSPIRES, YOU CAN SEE SOME EFFORTS THERE, INTRODUCING IT TO ALL STAFF, SEEING THE IMPLICATIONS FOR US, ASSESSING THAT, LEVERAGING OUR COMMITTEES TO DO WORK AROUND, WHAT ARE THE CHANGES THAT WE NEED TO IMPLEMENT IN OUR SYSTEM, AND HOW DO WE GO ABOUT DOING THAT, AND HOW DO WE CONTINUE TO EVOLVE OUR PEDAGOGICAL PRACTICES ACCORDINGLY.

GOING INTO THE INSTRUCTIONAL TECHNOLOGIES.

A LOT OF THAT'S TRAINING, AS I MENTIONED BEFORE, THE USER GROUP FROM AI HAS ALREADY BEEN A BIG BOOST IN THAT AREA.

CONTINUING TO TRAIN STAFF, CREATING GUIDELINES FOR AI USE WITH STUDENTS IN ADDITION TO HELPING STAFF KNOW HOW TO TACKLE IT.

THERE'S JUST SOME MORE LEVEL DETAIL FOR YOU THERE.

GOING INTO BELONGING IN WELLNESS.

AGAIN, YOU'VE GOT THAT SYSTEMS OF SUPPORT THEME IS CONTINUING HERE AND THESE OTHER STRATEGIES PRIORITY AREA OBJECTIVES, REALLY CARRIED OVER FROM PRIOR YEARS BECAUSE THESE ARE MUCH MORE ONGOING TYPES OF ACTIVITIES.

IN THE SEL REALM, TRAINING ALL STAFF AND CASTLE, USING THAT CASTLE ALIGNED DE ESCALATION STRATEGY.

AGAIN, YOU'RE SEEING HOPEFULLY THE THEMES IN THE CONNECTION THAT WE'RE MAKING ACROSS OUR WORK.

WE'RE CONTINUING TO BE ACTIVELY INVOLVED IN THE [INAUDIBLE] GRANT CONSORTIUM THAT'S THROUGH BOSIS, AND IT'S CONSORTIUM OF DISTRICTS THAT ARE ALL WORKING ON THIS [INAUDIBLE] FROM RECOVERY FROM THE PANDEMIC ACRONYM.

IT'S FOCUSING ON THE MTSS ON CASTLE ON SOCIAL EMOTIONAL LEARNING, ALL THOSE THEME THINGS THAT WE'RE ACTIVELY INVOLVED WITH.

THEN PROMOTING INCLUSIVITY.

WE'VE BEEN DOING A LOT OF WORK IN THIS AREA OVER SEVERAL YEARS.

WE'RE CONTINUING A LOT OF THE EFFORTS THAT WE'VE STARTED THERE.

LOOKING AT OUR STUDENT CLIMATE SURVEYS.

WE'VE LOOKED AT THOSE UNPACKED THOSE.

BUILDINGS ARE DOING THINGS TO ADDRESS WHAT THEY'RE SEEING IN THEM.

WE'RE LOOKING HOW CAN WE REVISE AND REFINE THOSE TO GET EVEN BETTER DATA GOING FORWARD, TO CONTINUE TO RESPOND ACCORDINGLY, AND THEN CONTINUING TO SUPPORT THINGS LIKE RESPONSIVE CLASSROOM, OR DIFFERENT MENTORING PROGRAMS THAT WE HAVE AND EFFORTS TO BUILD CONNECTIONS AMONG STUDENTS.

THEN AS WELL, HOW DO WE CONTINUE TO PARTNER WITH OUR COMMUNITY AND STRENGTHEN PARENT CONNECTIONS AND PROVIDE LEARNING OPPORTUNITIES FOR PARENTS AND FAMILIES THAT ARE MEANINGFUL TO THEM.

FINALLY, MOVING INTO THE FACILITIES, SUSTAINABLE LEARNING.

FIRST ONE IS GOING TO BE OUR BIGGEST ONE OF THE YEAR, I THINK, AND THAT IS IMPLEMENTING OUR CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT BONDS, $98 MILLION WORTH OF WORK BRINGS A LOT OF WORK WITH IT.

THIS IS REALLY GOING TO BE OUR DESIGN YEAR, SO THERE'S GOING TO BE A LOT OF COMMUNICATIONS PLAN DEVELOPED AND ROLLED OUT, A LOT OF DESIGN WORK, SO ENGAGEMENT WITH THE COMMUNITY, ESPECIALLY THINKING OF THE [INAUDIBLE] PROJECT.

WE'RE GOING TO BE DOING A LOT OF WORK THERE.

THEN WORKING WITH THE CONSTRUCTION PROFESSIONALS BOND STEERING COMMITTEE TO ALIGN THE WORK SCHEDULES, PROJECTS, GET EVERYTHING IN PLACE.

WE'RE GOING TO BE DOING A LOT OF FOCUS IN THAT AREA.

THE THE SECOND ONE HERE IS REALLY RELATED TO IN PARTICULAR THE CELL PHONE ROLE, HOW DO WE CONTINUE TO BUILD IN PERSON CONNECTIONS, CREATE SPACES AND OPPORTUNITIES FOR KIDS TO CONNECT.

THIRD ONE, OF COURSE, IS POLICY.

I PUT US BACK TO ZERO, SID.

I'M SORRY. [LAUGHTER] STARTING OVER.

[OVERLAPPING] YOU HAD 49 POLICIES IN ONE YEAR.

GOING TO ANOTHER YEAR OF GOOD POLICY WORK AHEAD WITH US.

AGAIN, CONTINUING OUR DISTRICT SAFETY AND SAFETY PRACTICES.

I JUST WANTED TO HIGHLIGHT THOSE BECAUSE THOSE REALLY ARE VERY MUCH.

THESE ARE THE ACTIVITIES THAT WE'RE GOING TO BE FOCUSING ON THIS YEAR.

THEY'RE ALIGNED TO THE STRATEGIC PLAN, THEY'RE ALIGNED TO OUR BIG ROCKS.

I KEEP SAYING, AND I'M GOING TO REGRET SAYING IT BECAUSE I KNOW I'M GOING TO HAVE TO DO IT AT SOME POINT.

THE GOAL HERE, AND I KNOW THE BOARD KNOWS THIS JUST FROM THE LEADERSHIP PERSPECTIVE IS TO REALLY ALIGN OUR WORK SO THAT WE STAY FOCUSED ON IT AND NOT TAKE EVERY GOOD IDEA THAT COMES OUR WAY.

WHICH MEANS WE MAY HAVE TO SAY NO FROM TIME TO TIME TO EVEN REALLY GOOD IDEAS.

[00:45:05]

WE ALWAYS APPRECIATE THE COMMUNITY, WE APPRECIATE THEIR RESOURCES, BUT WE REALLY WANT TO WORK HARD TO STAY FOCUSED SO WE CAN DELIVER ON WHAT WE'RE HOPING TO ACCOMPLISH.

I HOPE YOU LIKE THE NEW UPDATED DASHBOARD?

>> YES. IT'S GOOD.

>> THAT IS GREAT. THANK YOU.

>> I LIKE THAT IT'S HIGHER [INAUDIBLE]

>> THE BUTTON.

>> YOU CAN'T MISS IT.

>> DR. [INAUDIBLE], CAN I ASK YOU A QUICK QUESTION ABOUT GOING BACK TO CELL PHONES? I KNOW WE FOCUS A LOT ON THE HIGH SCHOOL.

I KNOW THERE ARE ELEMENTARY KIDS WHO ALSO WILL HAVE CELL PHONES.

THE MIDDLE SCHOOL IS COVERED.

DO YOU KNOW IF THERE WERE ANY CHANGES THAT NEEDED TO BE MADE MADE AT THAT LEVEL FOR PHONES OR WATCHES AND THAT SORT OF THING?

>> I DON'T THINK THERE WERE SIGNIFICANT CHANGES NEEDED.

I DO KNOW THE MIDDLE SCHOOL.

I THINK THEY HAD GOTTEN AWAY FROM USING LOCKERS.

PARTICULARLY, I WANT TO SAY FOR EIGHTH GRADE.

THEY DID HAVE TO RESUME GOING BACK TO USE OF GUTTERS.

THE KIDS IN THE MIDDLE SCHOOL WERE ALWAYS IN A PHONE FREE ENVIRONMENT, BUT THEY KEPT IT IN THEIR BAGS [INAUDIBLE] SEVEN YEARS.

I THINK THAT'S PROBABLY THE BIGGEST CHANGE.

>> DO WE HAVE BOARD OF EDUCATION COMMITTEE REPORTS? I DON'T THINK WE'VE HAD A [OVERLAPPING] COMMITTEE.

>> TAKING THAT OFTEN.

>> WE MIGHT NEXT TIME.

>> WE HAVE A BOND STEERING COMMITTEE COMING? [OVERLAPPING]

>> DO WE HAVE ANY COMMUNICATIONS AND COMMENTS FROM THE PUBLIC? ARE YOU LEAVING?

>> THANKS SO MUCH. [OVERLAPPING] THANK YOU SO MUCH.

>> WELCOME. LET'S SEE. WE LOOK FORWARD TO IT.

>> GOOD NIGHT.

>> I DON'T THINK WE HAVE COMMUNICATIONS AND COMMENTS FROM THE PUBLIC.

WE CAN MOVE TO 6.1. DO I HAVE A MOTION TO APPROVE THE 2025, 2026 ORGANIZATIONAL CHART?

[6.1 Motion to Approve the 2025-2026 Organizational Chart]

>> JUST DOUBLE UP ON ALL.

>> SECOND. [LAUGHTER].

>> I'LL JUST HIGHLIGHT REALLY NOT MANY CHANGES, CHANGE OF TITLE FOR ALEX WOLF TO DIRECTOR OF COMMUNICATIONS.

[LAUGHTER] THE ADDITION OF THE PPSL LIAISON, WHICH IS VERY SIMILAR TO THE STAFF DEVELOPER TYPE POSITION.

SOMEONE WITHIN THE TEACHERS BARGAINING UNIT WHO'S ON SPECIAL ASSIGNMENT, IN THIS CASE, WORKING SPECIFICALLY UNDER TRACY HOLTS.

>> GREAT.

>> THEY'RE ALREADY INSEPARABLE, I SHOULD ADD.

I VERY MUCH APPRECIATE THAT AND THAT IS A GRANT FUNDED POSITION.

>> ANY COMMENTS OR QUESTIONS ON THE OR CHART? ALL IN FAVOR?

>> NONE OPPOSED. THE ORG CHART IS APPROVED.

WE CAN MOVE TO 6.2.

[6.2 Motion to Approve and Adopt the 2025-2026 Board of Education Goals]

DO I HAVE A MOTION TO APPROVE AND ADOPT THE 2025 2026 BOARD OF EDUCATION GOALS?

>> WE SHOULD TAKE A FEW MINUTES TO DISCUSS THE GOALS.

WE STARTED THE GOALS IN OUR RETREAT LAST WEEK.

>> WE'LL TALK A LITTLE BIT ABOUT FINALIZING THEM AND HOPEFULLY APPROVING THEM.

>> THANK YOU, VAL, FOR PUTTING SOME SCREENSHOTS ON THERE SO THE FOLKS COULD SEE WHAT WE'RE LOOKING AT.

I DO HAVE THE LIVE DOCUMENT, AND IF YOU'D LIKE ME TO DO SOME EDITING WHILE WE TALK ABOUT IT.

>> MAYBE THE BEST THING WOULD BE TO JUST TALK THROUGH SOME OF THE CHANGES THAT OCCURRED AND MAKE SURE WE'RE ALIGNED ON THEM.

ONE IS THE GOAL CATEGORY.

WE STARTED WITH JUST COMMUNICATIONS.

I THINK IN TALKING TO PEOPLE, AND THEN ALSO SOME OF MY FEEDBACK, WE ADDED STUDENT OUTCOMES TO THAT, SO THAT IT'S REALLY A DUAL GOAL CATEGORY OF STUDENT OUTCOMES AND COMMUNICATIONS, BOTH EQUALLY IMPORTANT.

THEN THE ACTUAL GOAL ITSELF REFLECTS THAT, SO WE ADDED LANGUAGE.

TOGETHER, THE BOARD AND SUPERINTENDENT WILL SUPPORT THE CONTINUED ENHANCEMENT OF STUDENT OUTCOMES.

THAT'S THE NEW PART, AS WELL AS DEEPEN COMMUNITY UNDERSTANDING OF THE VALUE PROVIDED BY THE PELHAM PUBLIC SCHOOLS.

WE TALKED AT LENGTH IN THE RETREAT ABOUT ENSURING THAT THE COMMUNITY HAS THE RIGHT INFORMATION,

[00:50:03]

HAS ENOUGH INFORMATION TO TRULY UNDERSTAND ALL OF THE GREAT LEARNING AND OUTCOMES FOR OUR STUDENTS HERE IN THE DISTRICT.

THAT'S WHY COMMUNICATIONS CAME THROUGH SO STRONGLY IN OUR BOARD GOALS.

WE UPDATED THE OBJECTIVES TO REFLECT THE BOARD GOAL.

THE FIRST ONE, BUILD ON THE DISTRICT'S CULTURE OF EDUCATIONAL EXCELLENCE SO THERE'S AN EXISTING CULTURE OF EDUCATIONAL EXCELLENCE BY FOSTERING CONTINUOUS IMPROVEMENT IN PROGRAMS, SUPPORTS, AND LEARNING ENVIRONMENTS THAT PROMOTE STUDENT SUCCESS.

THEN THE SECOND OBJECTIVE EFFECTIVELY DEMONSTRATE THE VALUE OF THE PELHAM PUBLIC SCHOOLS AND ITS POSITIVE IMPACT ON STUDENT SUCCESS TO THE BROADER COMMUNITY.

THERE ARE MANY OF US WHO KNOW, BUT THE COMMUNITY THAT SUPPORTS PELHAM SCHOOLS THROUGH THEIR SCHOOL TAXES, WE WANT THEM TO UNDERSTAND AS WELL.

ANY COMMENTS OR QUESTIONS, OR CHANGES, DR.

CHAMP HAS THE MASTER.

>> I LIKE IT.

>> I LIKE IT, I THINK A ADDRESSES THE TWO THINGS THAT CAME UP IN CONVERSATION IN REGARDS TO CENTERING IT RIGHT TO THE STUDENT OUTCOMES.

WHAT I REALLY LIKED IS SUPPORTING THE CONTINUED ENHANCEMENT THAT LIVES IN BOTH OF THE OBJECTIVES AND THE GOALS, BECAUSE WE DID TALK ABOUT WE'RE ALL SO PROUD OF WHAT WE'VE ACCOMPLISHED, AND SOME OF THE DATA THAT SUPPORTS THAT.

HOWEVER, TO ALWAYS CONTINUE TO LOOK AT WHERE CAN WE BUILD, WHERE CAN WE IMPROVE, HOW DO WE MAINTAIN WHAT WE'VE DONE? I REALLY HAVE NO CHANGES.

I ACTUALLY THINK THAT YOU'VE HIT IT RIGHT ON THE HEAD.

>> THAT LANGUAGE WORKS BECAUSE IT ACKNOWLEDGES HOW WELL WE'RE DOING AND AT THE SAME TIME, THE REALITY THAT THERE ARE ALWAYS THINGS THAT WE CAN CHANGE, DO BETTER, ALTER.

I THINK THAT LANGUAGE REALLY COVERS.

>> MAYBE TWO.

>> I ONLY HAVE THIS PART OPEN.

IF WE LOOK AT THE BOTTOM PART.

IT TALKS THROUGH THE SUB-GOALS, WE CALL THEM OUTCOMES HERE, IN SUPPORT OF THOSE OBJECTIVES AND THE OVERARCHING GOAL.

WE HAVE, I GUESS, SUB-GOALS IN THE AREAS OF COMMUNICATIONS, FINANCES, AND DATA.

>> WE CALL THEM DELIVERABLES.

>> YES, DELIVERABLE.

SOME OF THIS YOU SPOKE A LITTLE BIT ABOUT THE SCOPE SURVEY EARLIER.

FROM A COMMUNICATION STANDPOINT, WE ESSENTIALLY HAVE A LIST OF THINGS WE WANT TO ACHIEVE THIS YEAR, THE DELIVERABLES WITH RESPECT TO THAT.

ONE IS RE-ADMINISTERING THE SCOPE SURVEY.

SO THAT'LL HAPPEN, AND I THINK YOU SAID NOVEMBER, AND CONDUCT A GAP ANALYSIS, IDENTIFY WHAT THE DISTRICT IS CURRENTLY DOING, AND WHAT THE COMMUNITY FEELS IT NEEDS TO RECEIVE, JUST SO WE'RE DOING I MEAN, I KNOW FROM BEING ON THE BOARD FOR A WHILE NOW THAT THE COMMUNICATIONS HAVE MADE ENORMOUS PROGRESS IN THE DISTRICT, BUT AGAIN, LIKE WE WERE SAYING, THERE'S ALWAYS ROOM TO IMPROVE.

WE ALWAYS SEE CERTAIN SITUATIONS THAT WE LEARN FROM, THAT WE COULD HAVE POTENTIALLY COMMUNICATED BETTER OR IN A DIFFERENT WAY.

WE REALLY WANT TO UNDERSTAND WHERE THE GAPS ARE AND APPLY SOME SOLUTIONS TO THAT.

>> I THINK IT'S ALWAYS A MOVING TARGET, TOO.

I THINK THAT'S ONE OF THE MANY CHALLENGES IN COMMUNICATIONS, ESPECIALLY IN A SOCIAL MEDIA-DRIVEN WORLD.

>> YEAH, I THINK QUESTION AND I MEAN, I THINK WHEN WE LOOK AT THE SCOPE SURVEY AND WITHIN A YEAR, I DON'T KNOW HOW WE WOULD DO IT BECAUSE IT SOUNDS LIKE WE'VE GOT THE STRATEGIES, WE CAN IDENTIFY THE AREAS, AND SOMETIMES IT'S NOT ABOUT MORE COMMUNICATIONS, IT'S JUST ABOUT THE TYPE OR IN WHAT WAY.

HOW WITH THE OUTCOME OF DEMONSTRATING THE VALUE, UNDERSTANDING, PUTTING THE FACTS OUT THERE? I GUESS MY QUESTION WOULD BE, AFTER WE'VE GONE THROUGH ALL OF THAT, WE PUT IN THE STRATEGIES, HOW WILL WE KNOW, WILL THERE BE SOMETHING BUILT IN, MAYBE SOME TESTS OR SOME COMMUNITY OUTREACH ALONG THE WAY TO REALLY, AGAIN,

[00:55:01]

CONTINUE TO IMPROVE THE STRATEGIES OR EVOLVE THE STRATEGIES, OR REALLY THINK ABOUT HOW WILL WE KNOW?

>> HOW DO WE MEASURE? I DID PUT IF YOU'LL NOTICE, AND IT'S IN A SEPARATE.

THERE'S TWO OR THREE FILES IN THE SECOND FILE, IF YOU GO DOWN.

I ADDED ANOTHER ROW, IT'S HOW DO WE MEASURE.

THIS IS REALLY TO BE DETERMINED, AND WITH ALL OF YOUR SUPPORT ON WHAT MAKES SENSE FOR THE DISTRICT.

BUT CERTAIN THINGS I PUT THERE IS FOOD FOR THOUGHT, IT'S THE PARTICIPATION RATE IN THE SCOPE SURVEY.

IDENTIFYING THE GAPS AND DEVELOPING A PLAN TO ADDRESS THEM, AND THEN SOME SORT OF POST-IMPLEMENTATION CHECK.

WHAT THAT LOOKS LIKE, I WOULD LOOK TO ALEX. THEN, DR.

CHAMP TO FIGURE OUT WHAT THAT MIGHT BE, WHAT'S POSSIBLE, AND HOW WE CAN DO IT.

>> I DO THINK SOME OF THAT, IF I REMEMBER CORRECTLY.

WE'RE NOT DOING THE FULL AUDIT, BUT THE SURVEY ITSELF CERTAINLY WILL IDENTIFY AREAS OF STRENGTH, AREAS OF GROWTH, AREAS THAT WE CAN LOOK TO OPTIMIZE.

WITHIN THAT, THEY GENERALLY IN THE PAST, HAVE GIVEN SOME SUGGESTIONS OF HOW TO DO THAT.

F ALEX, IF YOU WANT TO PUT YOU ON THE SPOT, BUT IF YOU WANT TO BE.

>> YOU DON'T NECESSARILY HAVE TO KNOW IT.

>> NO. I MEAN, A COUPLE OF KEY POINTS ON THE SCOPE SURVEY, AND WHAT WE DID WITH THE FULL AUDIT LAST TIME AROUND, THE SURVEY IS A PORTION OF THAT.

WHAT'S GREAT ABOUT THE SCOPE SURVEY IS IT'S NATIONALLY BENCHMARKED.

YOU'LL SEE HOW YOU'RE FARING AS COMPARED TO DISTRICTS WHO HAVE TAKEN IT ACROSS THE DISTRICT, BUT ALSO BECAUSE WE RAN IT NOW THREE YEARS AGO.

WE'LL SEE WHERE THE EFFORTS THAT WE'VE PUT IN PLACE HAVE LED US AND WHERE MAYBE THEY'RE FALLING SHORT, OR MAYBE AREAS WHERE WE'RE DOING REALLY WELL, AND THEN WE CAN LOOK AT IT AND SAY, LET'S LOOK AT OUR STRATEGIC COMMUNICATIONS PLAN, LET'S LOOK BACK AT THE AUDIT RECOMMENDATIONS, LET'S PUT A LITTLE BIT MORE ENERGY HERE, WE'RE GOOD HERE, LET'S FOCUS THERE.

WE'LL BE ABLE TO HAVE THOSE CONVERSATIONS AND SEE WHERE WE WANT TO GO WITH IT.

HOPEFULLY THAT [OVERLAPPING].

>> THE NICE THING I WOULD SAY ABOUT THIS PROCESS, AND ALEX HAS BEEN JUST GREAT ABOUT REALLY BEING VERY FAITHFUL TO IT, IS IT GAVE US NOT ONLY THE AUDIT, BUT IT GAVE US A ROADMAP OF A STRATEGIC PLAN.

THERE WAS A LOT MORE INTENTIONALITY BEHIND IT, AND I THINK TO YOUR POINT, NOW THAT WE GET DATA NOW THAT'S ON THREE YEARS LATER.

WE KNOW WHAT WE'VE INTENTIONALLY CHANGED AND DONE, AND FROM WHERE WE FOCUSED OUR EFFORTS.

I THINK WE'LL BE ABLE TO MORE EASILY SEE THOSE CORRELATIONS COMES A GREAT POINT, AND THEN THAT'LL HELP US TO FIGURE OUT WHERE DO WE GO FROM THERE AND HOW DO WE ASSESS IT? BECAUSE THE SCOPE SURVEY IS NOT SOMETHING THAT'S DESIGNED TO BE GIVEN SIX MONTHS LATER A YEAR LATER. THEY RECOMMEND, I THINK.

>> YEAH. THE RECOMMENDATION IS TO RUN IT EVERY TWO YEARS, AND RECOGNIZING TO THAT EVENTS THAT ARE HAPPENING BEYOND OUR WALLS ARE ALSO GOING TO HAVE AN IMPACT ON PERCEPTIONS OF SCHOOL DISTRICT AND THINGS THAT ARE GOING ON.

IF YOU HAVE A MAJOR CRISIS TWO WEEKS BEFORE THE SURVEY IS ADMINISTERED, THAT'S SOMETHING THAT YOU HAVE TO CONSIDER IN THERE AS WELL.

THEY SPEAK TO THAT, THOSE THINGS, ESPECIALLY IN THE AUDIT REPORT, BUT IT SHOULD BE A NICE SNAPSHOT, AND LOOKING FORWARD TO IT.

>> I HAVE A QUESTION ABOUT, I DON'T KNOW IF IT'S FOR YOU, ALEX, OR JUST US.

THE GAP ANALYSIS, THAT'S SEPARATE FROM WHAT IS LEARNED FROM THE SCOPE SURVEY?

>> I THINK THE SCOPE SURVEY IS GOING TO GIVE US SOME INSIGHTS INTO THAT.

I GUESS THEY [OVERLAPPING]

>> WE WOULD USE IT AS [OVERLAPPING]

>> I THINK IT WILL HELP INFORM.

I DON'T THINK OUR RESULTS ARE GOING TO COME WITH AN UPDATED SET OF RECOMMENDATIONS.

THAT'S A SEPARATE PRODUCT, THAT'S MORE ALONG THE LINES OF THE AUDIT, WHICH YOU [OVERLAPPING] LAST TIME.

THIS IS MORE OF A STATUS CHECK, BUT THEN WE'LL BE ABLE TO USE THOSE RESULTS TO DO SOMETHING LIKE THAT.

>> YEAH, BECAUSE I'M JUST READING AT A GAP ANALYSIS, IDENTIFY WHAT THE DISTRICT IS CURRENTLY DOING AND WHAT THE COMMUNITY FEELS IT NEEDS TO RECEIVE.

FOR EXAMPLE, WHAT THE COMMUNITY FEELS IT NEEDS TO RECEIVE IS THAT INFORMATION WE'RE EXPECTED TO THEN GET FROM THIS READMINISTERING THE SCOPE SURVEY, IS THAT THE IDEA, OR AM I MISUNDERSTANDING?

>> I THINK IT WILL GIVE US SOME OF THAT.

IT IS QUANTITATIVE, SO WE HAVE TO SUPPLEMENT WITH SOME QUALITATIVE?

>> EXACTLY.

>> MAYBE I GUESS.

>> ONE OF THE THINGS I CHANGED ON HERE, AND IT REALLY IS A WORDING THING, IS I USED IN THE IMPACT OF INACCURATE INFORMATION INSTEAD OF MISINFORMATION BECAUSE MISINFORMATION TO ME IMPLIES THAT SOMEONE IS DELIBERATELY DELIVERING THE WRONG INFORMATION ABOUT SOMETHING.

[01:00:03]

THAT MAY BE THE CASE IN CERTAIN INSTANCES, BUT MUCH OF THE TIME IT'S A MISINTERPRETATION OR THEY JUST DIDN'T FIND THE INFORMATION IN THE RIGHT SPOT.

>> I THINK THAT'S SMART ALSO BECAUSE I THINK MISINFORMATION IS JUST THAT WORD IS SO HEAVILY USED IN OUR WORLD THAT I LIKE.

>> YES. FROM THAT PERSPECTIVE, I LIKE INACCURATE, I THINK THAT COVERS IT.

>> NOT USING IT.

>> I AGREE.

>> WE'RE GOOD WITH COMMUNICATIONS, SOUNDS LIKE.

IF WE MOVE TO FINANCES, THE OUTCOMES OR DELIVERABLES ARE FAIRLY STRAIGHTFORWARD.

ONE IS TO CONTINUE TO HAVE SUCCESSFUL BUDGET VOTES.

WE ALSO WANT TO BE ABLE TO WE TALKED ABOUT BEING ABLE TO ARTICULATE A FIVE-YEAR FINANCIAL PLAN.

NOW, JIM, EVERY YEAR.

>> FIVE-YEAR FORECAST.

>> WE DEVELOP A FIVE-YEAR FORECAST.

I THINK WHAT MORE WE'RE TALKING ABOUT IS THE NARRATIVE AROUND THAT AND HAVE THAT AVAILABLE TO PEOPLE, SO THEY UNDERSTAND THE TRENDS AND THE THINGS WE'RE LOOKING AT WHEN WE'RE LOOKING FIVE YEARS OUT.

I'M PROBABLY BORROWING FROM SOMETHING YOU ALWAYS SAY THE MINUTE THE FIVE-YEAR FORECAST GETS POSTED.

IT'S OUTDATED, AND THAT'S LIKE IN ANYONE'S JOB.

THAT'S FIVE-YEAR STUFF, BUT IT'S JUST GOOD TO HAVE THAT ON EVERYONE'S RADAR.

>> I GUESS I HAVE A QUESTION, AND THE FIVE-YEAR SOUNDS GOOD, BUT JUST GIVEN THIS MOMENT IN TIME, I SAW THE THREE CROSSED OUT IS FIVE, AGAIN, REASONABLE TO BE ABLE TO GO OUT THAT FAR VERSUS THREE, TWO, FIVE.

WELL, I MEAN, I FEEL THAT IS ALWAYS A MOVING TARGET TOO IN OUR WORLD, FIVE IS [OVERLAPPING].

>> I THOUGHT WE SHOULDN'T HAVE A RANGE, AND THEN I ALSO [OVERLAPPING] YOU WANT IT TO BE MORE LONGER TERM?

>> WE DO, IT'S MORE OF A QUESTION THAN, LET'S NOT DO IT FOR JIM AROUND THE LONG TERM, GIVEN SO MUCH UNCERTAINTY.

HOW FEASIBLE IS THAT?

>> WE PREPARED THAT AND SHARED THAT WITH THE BOARD THE LAST FEW YEARS.

I THINK WITH THE RIGHT COMMUNICATION, I THINK PART OF THAT FIVE-YEAR PLAN IS COMPLETELY RELEVANT, BUT AS WE HEARD, THE FURTHER YOU GO OUT, YOU LESS RELIABLE.

>> LESS RELIABLE.

>> THERE YOU GO.

>> BUT I THINK IT'S STILL IMPORTANT TO LOOK AT IT, TILL WE SEE THESE THINGS OUT THERE ON THE HORIZON, AND THAT'S IMPORTANT.

IF WE HAVE SOMETHING LIKE DEBT SERVICE FALLING OFF IN FIVE YEARS, THOSE ARE THINGS THAT WE CAN THEN SEE AND FORECAST, AND PUT ON THE MAP FOR FOLKS.

WHAT OUR HEALTH INSURANCE IS GOING TO DO YEAR AND IN YEAR OUT BASED ON EXPERIENCE FROM THE PRIOR YEAR OR THE PRIOR THREE YEARS? OF COURSE, THOSE THINGS ARE LESS ACCURATE AT THAT POINT IN TIME, BUT I THINK I THINK IT'S TOTALLY WITHIN RANGE TO HAVE A FIVE-YEAR OUTLOOK.

THAT'S WHAT WE'VE DONE WE HAVE THIS YEAR, AND THEN WE'VE GOT AN OUTLOOK.

WE'VE SHARED WHAT OUR FORECASTS ARE BASED ON, WHAT OUR ASSUMPTIONS ARE.

>> YOU CAN AGREE WITH THE ASSUMPTIONS, YOU CAN DISAGREE WITH THE ASSUMPTIONS.

THAT'S PART OF THE FORECAST, THOUGH.

THAT'S PART OF THE ENTIRE EXERCISE, WHICH IS AN IMPORTANT PART OF THE EXERCISE.

THAT'S WHY THE OFFICE STATE CONTROLLER REALLY ENCOURAGES PUTTING THESE FIVE-YEAR PLANS TOGETHER SO THAT BOARDS AND THE COMMUNITY ARE AWARE OF WHAT'S THERE, THAT YOU'RE LOOKING AT IT, AND THAT YOU'RE NOT JUST LOOKING AT WHAT'S IN FRONT OF YOU EVERY YEAR.

EVERY YEAR, YOU'RE DOING THIS.

THIS IS WHAT'S IN FRONT OF US THIS YEAR, BUT ALSO THIS IS WHAT WE SHOULD KEEP AN EYE ON TO THE FUTURE.

>> AGREE 100%, SO THANK YOU.

>> JACKIE, WE'RE TALKING HERE WITH THIS GOAL OR THIS DELIVERABLE.

TAKING NUMBERS AND TURNING IT INTO LANGUAGE INTO A STORY, IS THAT WHAT WE'RE SAYING? JUST SO THE COMMUNITY UNDERSTANDS, BECAUSE WE ALREADY VIEWING OUR PLAN.

>> BECAUSE RIGHT NOW IT'S WHAT IS ON THE SPREADSHEET.

>> IT'S NOT LIKE WE DON'T DO IT.

>> IT IS JUST HAVE AN EXPLANATION THAT'S EASY TO UNDERSTAND.

>> SURE.

>> EASY-ISH. [LAUGHTER]

>> WE'RE COMING UP ON THAT TIME PERIOD.

>> COMMUNICATION-ISH.

>> I THINK WE SHARE A SMALL COMMUNICATION, A MEMO, SOMETIMES AN ACCOMPANYING MEMO ON WHAT THAT IS.

THERE'S CERTAINLY THINGS WE CAN ADD TO IT, WHICH WOULD ADD TO THE FLAVOR OF THAT.

YOU CAN INCLUDE YOUR ENROLLMENT FORECASTS.

[01:05:02]

THINGS LIKE THAT ARE HELPFUL.

WE COULD SHARE IF THE OFFICE OF STATE CONTROLLER HAS A MID YEAR BUDGET ANALYSIS.

THOSE ARE THINGS THAT CAN BE IMPORTANT OR ANY TYPES OF INFORMATION THAT WE MAY USE IN FORMING OUR ASSUMPTIONS.

WE COULD USE THINGS THAT WE MAY FIND FROM OUR BENEFIT PROVIDER IF THAT'S HELPFUL AS WELL.

SO THOSE ARE THINGS THAT WE CAN ADD.

IT'S ALWAYS PART OF IT.

IT MAY NOT ALWAYS BE SEEN IN THE FINAL PRODUCT, BUT THOSE ARE THINGS WE CAN PROVIDE AS ADDITIONAL INFORMATION.

>> YOU'RE USING ALL OF THAT TO PUT THE FORECAST TOGETHER, AND I THINK IT'S A MATTER OF HELPING THE COMMUNITY UNDERSTAND IN PLAIN LANGUAGE THAT WHAT THE DISTRICT IS DOING ALREADY TO COME UP WITH THE FIVE-YEAR PLAN.

>> YEAH, AND IT'S FAIR TOO WELL.

>> WITH THE CAVEAT THAT IT GETS UPDATED EVERY YEAR.

>> EXACTLY.

>> YES. [OVERLAPPING].

>> NOT SENT.

>> BUT AGAIN, AND THERE ARE THINGS THAT WE HAVE A PRETTY GOOD RECORD OF WHERE WE KNOW IF WE HAVE SETTLED CONTRACTS, WE KNOW THOSE COST LIVING INCREASES ARE GOING TO BE YEAR TO YEAR.

THOSE ARE THINGS WHERE WE DO HAVE THAT INFORMATION, AND THAT'S WHERE WE COULD BE MORE ACCURATE FOR IF WE KNOW SOMETHING'S HAPPENING DOWN.

BUT CERTAIN THINGS WE'RE GIVEN EXPENSES TO EVERY YEAR, YOUR PENSION EXPENSE OR YOUR HEALTHCARE, THOSE ARE A LITTLE BIT MORE UNPREDICTABLE FROM TIME TO TIME, BUT THAT'S WHERE WE ALSO COMMUNICATE THAT IN OUR CORRESPONDING COMMUNICATION SO THAT WE CAN SHARE WITH THE READER, THESE ARE SOME RISKS THAT WE COULD SEE HAPPENING.

STATE AID. DO WE EXPECT TO SEE GROWTH? DO WE NOT EXPECT TO SEE GROWTH? MINUS, NEUTRAL, POSITIVE.

WHAT DO WE EXPECT TO SEE? WE CAN MAKE AN ASSUMPTION THAT WE ANTICIPATE TO STAY WITHIN THE THE TAX CAP.

WHEN YOU DO THAT, THERE'S SOME PREDICTABILITY TO THAT REVENUE FLOW WE RECEIVE.

AGAIN ON THE REVENUE SIDE, SALES TAX.

AGAIN, THERE'S SOME PREDICTABILITY TO THAT, AND WE'LL HAVE SOME BASIS OF ASSUMPTIONS THAT WE'RE HAPPY TO SHARE WITH THE READER FOR THAT.

>> WELL, LIKE YOU SAID, EVEN IF IT'S NOT FOR SURE, IT ALLOWS THOSE THINGS TO POP UP SO WE CAN GET AHEAD OF IT OR START TO THINK ABOUT IT WHEN YOU'RE LOOKING AT FIVE YEARS FROM NOW AROUND.

LIKE IF THIS TREND CONTINUES, THIS IS SOMETHING WE'RE GOING TO NEED TO ADDRESS NOW FOR NEXT FIVE YEARS TYPE OF THING.

>> I THINK IT GOES ALONG WITH, WHAT DOES THE COMMUNITY NEED TO HEAR FROM US? THE NUMBERS ARE THERE AND THE WORK IS BEING DONE, AND IT'S ENSURING THAT THE COMMUNITY UNDERSTANDS, YES, THE DISTRICT IS TAKING ALL OF THESE FACTORS INTO ACCOUNT.

THAT'S WHAT CITY COMMUNICATED. [OVERLAPPING]. YES.

>> THAT'S WHAT CITY COMMUNICATE.

>> WE CAN CALL IT PLAIN LANGUAGE, WE CAN CALL IT EASILY DIGESTIBLE, HELPING THE COMMUNITY BECAUSE THE WORK IS THERE.

WE'RE LOOKING AT THIS INFORMATIONAL VALUE IS.

YOU GIVE YOUR PRESENTATIONS AROUND THE DISTRICT.

YOU DO INCLUDE SOME NARRATIVE THAT GOES ALONG WITH THE BUDGET PRESENTATIONS AND THESE NUMBERS.

BUT HELPING THE COMMUNITY READ IT AND UNDERSTAND IT TO THE BEST THAT WE CAN.

THE BUDGET IS SUCH A COMPLICATED BEAST.

>> A LOT OF INPUTS.

THERE'S MANY INPUTS.

>> WE CAN LOOK AT THIS AS A STARTING POINT.

LIKE WE'LL DO SOME THINGS DIFFERENTLY THIS YEAR.

WE'LL SEE HOW IT'S RESPONDED TO, AND THEN WE CAN DO MORE THINGS DIFFERENTLY THIS YEAR, ALL WITH THE GOAL IN LINE WITH WHAT WE'RE TALKING ABOUT.

THE GOAL IS AN EASY WAY FOR THE COMMUNITY TO UNDERSTAND BETTER WHAT GOES INTO THE BUDGET AND WHY THINGS ARE HAPPENING OR DECISIONS ARE HAPPENING THE WAY THAT THEY ARE HAPPENING SO THAT THEY CAN FEEL CONFIDENT AND COMFORTABLE WITH THE VOTE IN MAY.

>> I THINK, AGAIN, AS WE'LL LOOK TO THE BOARD FOR GUIDANCE IN OCTOBER, THIS IS ONE OF THOSE TOOLS THAT THE BOARD IS ABLE TO USE.

AGAIN, JUST ONE TOOL IF MANY, AND WE'LL WORK WITH THAT.

WE'LL WORK WITH THE FINANCE COMMITTEE BEFORE IT'S BROUGHT TO THE ENTIRE BOARD, AND THAT IT'LL BE A GOOD INTERIM PROCESS, BUT I THINK IT'LL BE A DIFFERENT PRODUCT, AND HOPEFULLY IT'LL MEET WHAT THE BOARD IS LOOKING FOR.

IF WE MISS IT, WE'LL DO IT AGAIN.

WE'LL KEEP WORKING TILL WE GET TO THAT POINT.

>> THANK YOU, JIM.

>> THERE'S A THIRD, I GUESS, DELIVERABLE UNDER FINANCES, AND WE TALKED ABOUT THIS EARLY.

IT'S IMPLEMENTATION OF THE CAPITAL BOND WORK.

[01:10:03]

>> WE'RE ALL IN LINE ON THAT ONE.

>> WE ALL AGREE.

>> I TOOK ONE OUT OF THERE AND I PUT IT DOWN AT THE BOTTOM AND HOW DO WE MEASURE SECTION, THE ONE RETURNING TO HISTORICAL BUDGET PASSING PERCENTAGES.

WE TALKED ABOUT THIS SEVERAL TIMES.

THE BUDGET PASSAGE PERCENTAGE FROM THIS PAST YEAR WAS THE LOWEST WE'VE HAD AND WILL'S NOT HERE TONIGHT.

HE'S AT HIS SISTER'S WEDDING, BUT HE WOULD REMIND US THAT IT'S THE LOWEST, IT'S BEEN IN 20 YEARS.

SO WE WOULD LIKE TO RETURN TO THE SUPPORT THAT WE'VE HISTORICALLY HAD FOR THE BUDGET, AND WE THINK WITH BETTER COMMUNICATION ON THE BUDGET WILL HELP GET US THERE.

WE TALK ABOUT THE BUDGET A LOT TO SAY THE LEAST, AS WE GO INTO BUDGET SEASON.

SO I DO THINK IT'S A MATTER OF, HOW DO WE NEED TO REVAMP OUR COMMUNICATIONS ON THE BUDGET TO POSSIBLY EVEN INCLUDING A PRE-BUDGET SEASON ACTIVITY WITH THE COMMUNITY.

DR. CHAMP, YOU AND I TALKED ABOUT.

YOU SAID SOME DISTRICTS PUT OUT A SURVEY.

I LOOK TO YOU ALL TO FIGURE OUT WHAT MAKES SENSE, BUT CHANGING UP OUR BUDGET COMMUNICATIONS TO MAKE THEM MORE UNDERSTANDABLE.

>> FOR SURE. I MIGHT ALSO ARGUE, I DON'T KNOW, BECAUSE I DON'T THINK WE HAVE A LOT OF DATA THAT THIS PAST YEAR, THERE WAS A LOT OF INFORMATION THE COMMUNITY HAD TO TAKE IN BETWEEN THE BOND AND THE DISCUSSIONS AND SIMON.

SO IT COULD BE AN ANOMALY BECAUSE OF ALL OF THAT.

I THINK IMPROVING COMMUNICATIONS, I THINK THERE'S NOTHING.

THIS IS A BIG, IMPORTANT ROLE.

TIME WILL TELL AND DATA WILL ALSO, SOME OF THAT FEEDBACK WILL HELP US BECAUSE I THINK IT'S JUST HARD TO KNOW EXACTLY WHAT ATTRIBUTED TO THAT.

>> YEAH. I AGREE.

THE BALLOT WAS VERY LARGE.

DR. CHAMP DIDN'T SPEND NECESSARILY AS MUCH TIME ON THE BUDGET, SPEAKING TO THE COMMUNITY ABOUT THE BUDGET COMPARED TO THE BOND VOTE.

>> THE INTEREST WAS ALL IN THE CAPITAL PROJECTS.

>> YES. THOSE ABSOLUTELY IMPACTED, I GUESS, THE PEOPLE WHO TURNED OUT TO VOTE, ALL OF THAT, BECAUSE IT WAS A BOND VOTE YEAR.

>> I THINK EVEN THE AMOUNT OF WHAT WAS ASKED AND THE ECONOMIC FACTORS THAT WERE HAPPENING AT THAT MOMENT IN TIME, THERE WAS A LOT OF UNSETTLING DYNAMICS AT WORK AND THE LARGER SCALE.

I THINK TO YOUR POINT, APPRECIATE THAT.

IT'S NOT ANY ONE THING.

IT'S PROBABLY SEVERAL VARIABLES THAT IMPACTED.

BUT I THINK CERTAINLY ALEX AND I ARE GOING TO BE MEETING SHORTLY.

WE WERE WAITING TO GET THE BOARD GOALS APPROVED TO MAKE SURE THAT WE HAD THE MOST UPDATED, MARCHING ORDERS ON THIS.

BUT WE'RE DEFINITELY GOING TO MEET TO REFINE AND CERTAINLY WITH JIM TOO, IN LAYING OUT THE BUDGET PROCESS.

WHAT CAN WE DO TO TWEAK AND TO START SOME OF THOSE CONVERSATIONS EARLIER INTERNALLY AND EXTERNALLY TO HELP ACHIEVE THIS GOAL.

>> IT'S EXTREMELY IMPORTANT BECAUSE IF WE EVER NEED TO MOVE THROUGH THE TAX CAP, LIKE MANY DISTRICTS AROUND US HAVE ALREADY, WE NEED THE SUPPORT OF THE COMMUNITY TO DO THAT.

>> PROBABLY WHEN? HOPEFULLY NOT NOW, BUT HOPEFULLY WHEN?

>> NOT THIS YEAR.

>> I'M LOOKING AT YOU.

>> THE NEAR FUTURE.

>> A LOT OF OUR SISTER DISTRICT STARTS ON IT IN LOWER WESTCHESTER.

>> IT'S NOT IF, IT'S JUST WHEN I'M BEING AS PREPARED AND COMMUNICATIVE.

ARE WE OKAY WITH FINANCES? THEN WE CAN MOVE TO DATA.

>> WE HAVE ONE MORE.

WE TALKED A LOT ABOUT DATA.

DATA FROM THE STANDPOINT OF USING DATA TO DEMONSTRATE THE VALUE OF PELHAM SCHOOLS, BUT ALSO SUPPORTING THE DISTRICT'S USE OF DATA,

[01:15:03]

WHICH YOU TALKED A LOT ABOUT IN YOUR OPENING IN TERMS OF MTSS AND ALL THAT.

USING THAT DATA TO HELP IMPROVE OUTCOMES FOR STUDENTS OR SUCCESS FOR STUDENTS.

WE JUST LOOKED AT UPDATED, MORE VISUAL, AND EASY TO FIND DATA DASHBOARD.

[LAUGHTER] CHECK THAT STUFF.

THEN DATA, WE OFTEN THINK OF NUMBERS AND ALL OF THAT.

BUT WE ALSO TALKED ABOUT DATA, LIKE HAVING MORE FREQUENT AND HOLISTIC SHARING OF SUCCESS IN THE AREAS OF STUDENT ACHIEVEMENT, STUDENT ACTIVITIES, STUDENT AND STAFF WELL-BEING, FINANCE AND FACILITIES.

WE DO CELEBRATE SUCCESS A LOT, BUT DOING IT EVEN MORE SO ACROSS SCHOOLS AT OUR BOARD MEETING, SO PEOPLE CAN COME AND SEE THE GREAT THINGS HAPPENING IN PELHAM SCHOOLS.

SORRY, I'M GOING IN BETWEEN.

YOU CAN SEE, I GUESS IT'S PURPLE.

I ADDED MORE WHERE THE CHANGES ARE.

ONE THING I ADDED WAS TO IDENTIFY MEASURES OF SCHOOL DISTRICT QUALITY THAT WE WANT TO TRACK AND COMMUNICATE.

SO THIS IS NOT LIKE, LET'S FIGURE OUT WHAT TEST SCORES WE WANT TO PUT OUT THERE, BUT HAVING WHAT WE THINK ARE THE MEASURES OF QUALITY.

I HAD SENT OUT THAT ARTICLE, THE NEW BEST WAY TO MEASURE SCHOOL PERFORMANCE.

I KNOW, DR. COMERFORD, THAT YOU HAD SENT THAT TO DR. CHAMP AS WELL.

I THOUGHT IT WAS REALLY ALIGNED TO THE DISCUSSION THAT WE HAD AT OUR RETREAT AND I ALSO THOUGHT THAT OUR SCHOOL DISTRICT DOES MANY OF THOSE THINGS THAT ARE MEASURES OF QUALITY FOR THE SCHOOL DISTRICT, AND IT'S REALLY BRINGING THEM TO LIGHT FOR THE COMMUNITY, SO THEY UNDERSTAND THE QUALITY AND THE VALUE THAT PELHAM SCHOOLS PROVIDES.

>> I THOUGHT THIS WAS A GREAT AD. YOU GET WHERE YOU MET HER.

>> I DON'T KNOW IF I NEED TO GO THROUGH ALL THESE, BECAUSE MOST OF THEM ARE THE SAME FROM THE MEETING.

I ADDED SOME MEASURES THAT POTENTIALLY THE DASHBOARD WILL CONTAIN SEVERAL OF THE MEASURES OF SCHOOL DISTRICT QUALITY THAT WE WILL IDENTIFY AND THAT I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT THAT THE DASHBOARD AND ANY DATA PRESENTATIONS INCLUDE THE NARRATIVE, SIMILAR TO WHAT WE'RE SAYING ABOUT THE FIVE-YEAR PLAN HAVING A NARRATIVE, BUT THE VALUE OF WHEN WE SHOW THE DATA, TELL THE STORY OF WHAT IT'S SAYING ABOUT PELHAM SCHOOLS.

>> I REALLY LIKE THAT BECAUSE WE'RE HITTING TWO THINGS.

ONE, TO BE ABLE TO CELEBRATE AND SHARE THE SUCCESSES AND EVERYTHING WE'VE DONE.

BUT THEN ALSO TYING BACK TO THAT FIRST ONE, IT'LL IDENTIFY AREAS THAT WE CAN GET WHAT WE MEASURE TO GET EVERYTHING WE WANT.

SO I THINK IT HITS BOTH OF THOSE TO BE ABLE TO CELEBRATE ALL THE WINS AND ALL THE SUCCESSES AND ALSO BE ABLE TO KNOW THE VALUE OF THE GOAL, WHERE WE WANT TO GO.

>> I THINK THAT PIECE ABOUT IDENTIFYING THE THINGS THAT ARE IMPORTANT TO US IS CRITICALLY IMPORTANT BECAUSE I THINK THAT'S WHERE YOU GET THE BALANCE.

BECAUSE NOT EVERYTHING THAT'S IMPORTANT IS EASILY MEASURED.

I THINK THAT'S WHERE YOU SAID, THE QUALITATIVE HAS TO BE A KEY PIECE OF THIS BECAUSE SO MUCH OF WHAT THE EDUCATORS VALUE, WHAT WE AS PARENTS VALUE, THE HUMAN BEINGS THAT WE'RE TRYING TO WORK TOGETHER TO DEVELOP.

A LOT OF THAT IS NOT EASILY MEASURED.

HOW DO WE CAPTURE THOSE OTHER REALLY IMPORTANT THINGS THAT WE VALUE AND REPRESENT THAT?

>> I THINK THAT'S IT. THERE WAS ONE OTHER DOCUMENT.

FOR EACH OF THEM, I HAD ADDED AS A WAY TO MEASURE THAT WE'VE DEVELOPED COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT METRICS.

THAT JUST REALLY MEANS, HOW WELL ARE WE DOING COMMUNICATING [LAUGHTER] THESE THINGS?

[01:20:08]

ACROSS THOSE CATEGORIES.

IT SOUNDS LIKE WE DON'T HAVE ANY WORDSMITHING TO DO AT THE MOMENT.

>> THAT'S GREAT.

>> HE DID A LOT OF IT BEFORE.

>> A GOOD NIGHT'S SLEEP AFTER A DISCUSSION [OVERLAPPING]

>> WAS YOU SAY I SHOULD AD ALEX NEEDS AT LEAST A STAFF OF FOUR PEOPLE NOW [LAUGHTER] [OVERLAPPING]

>> BUT OUR GOAL IS COMMUNICATION.

[LAUGHTER]

>> I'M GOING TO SAY IT AGAIN BECAUSE WE SAID IT, AND I KNOW YOU ALL SAID IT, BUT ALEX IT'S INCREDIBLE WORK.

THE WAYS THAT HE'S MOVED OUR DISTRICT FORWARD OVER THE LAST FEW YEARS HAVE JUST BEEN TREMENDOUS WITH THE DEPARTMENT OF ONE.

THANK YOU, ALEX FOR THAT.

>> I DON'T KNOW, THIS IS GRADE 2.0, I THINK WE'RE GOING TO BE INTO 3.0 OR 4.0.

>> YES, THANKS, ALEX.

BUT I APPRECIATE HOW MUCH THE BOARD DOES VALUE COMMUNICATIONS, AND, IN THE ROLE THAT HE'S PLAYED IN BUILDING US TO WHAT WE ARE NOW.

WE'LL TAKE THE BALL AND RUN WITH IT AND DO OUR BEST TO BRING THE STORY OF PELHAM TO LIFE IN SOME NEW WAYS IN THE COMING YEAR.

>> THANK YOU. ALL IN FAVOR TO APPROVE AND ADOPT THE 2025/2026 BOARD OF EDUCATION GOALS.

>> SORRY, HOLD ON ONE SECOND.

>> THERE'S THIS LINE, WHAT ARE THE MONTH-BY-MONTH, AND IT'S TBD. ARE WE GOING TO TAKE THAT OUT?

>> THAT'S SOMETHING THAT THE ADMINISTRATIVE TEAM NOW TAKES THESE.

>> GOT. THAT'S WHERE THAT GOES.

>> AFTER WE HIRE A COMMUNICATION STAFF.

[LAUGHTER] WE'RE GOING TO TAKE IT AND WE'RE.

>> THAT'S RIGHT. SORRY. I HAVE IT.

>> WE'LL WORK ON FLESHING THAT OUT SO THAT WE SET OUR ROADMAP FOR DELIVERY.

>> GOT IT. SORRY, JACKIE.

>> THAT'S OKAY. ALL IN FAVOR?

>> NO OPPOSE. THANK YOU FOR THE WORK AT THE RETREAT TO GET THESE TOGETHER.

>> WELL DONE.

>> LET'S SEE. BACK TO THE.

>> WELL DONE.

I WANT TO MAKE SURE IT'S THE SAME. WE CAN MOVE TO 6.3.

[6.3 Motion to Approve and Adopt the 2025-2026 Board of Education Governance, Meeting and Communication Protocols]

DO YOU HAVE A MOTION TO APPROVE AND ADOPT THE 2025/2026 BOARD OF EDUCATION GOVERNANCE MEETING AND COMMUNICATION PROTOCOLS?

>> MOVED.

>> SECOND. THIS IS SOMETHING WE ALSO WE BRIEFLY DISCUSSED, AND WE TOOK IT AS HOMEWORK.

I DIDN'T HAVE ANY COMMENTS ON IT. I READ THROUGH IT.

>> WHAT I CAN DO, I CAN JUST SKIM REALLY QUICKLY THROUGH WHAT WAS INPUTED.

FOR THE MOST PART, IT LOOKS LIKE EVERYTHING'S IN A KEEP.

WE DID A PROTOCOL, A KEEP CUT OR ADJUST.

THE BULK OF EVERYTHING EVERYONE INDICATED KEEP.

JUST A COUPLE COMMENTS ON SEVERAL ITEMS. THE FIRST ONE, BOARD WILL EMPLOY SYSTEMS-BASED THINKING TO OPTIMIZE STUDENT ACHIEVEMENT.

THAT STATEMENT, A RECOMMENDATION WAS MADE TO MAYBE CONSIDER THE WORD IMPROVE INSTEAD OF OPTIMIZE.

QUESTION ON THE SECOND STATEMENT, REFERRING TO PUBLISHING AN ANNUAL DOCUMENT DESCRIBING ITS GOVERNANCE MEETINGS AND COMMUNICATION PRACTICES, ASKING WHAT THAT DOCUMENT WAS.

THIS IS THAT DOCUMENT.

MAYBE THERE'S CLARITY AROUND THAT.

>> JUST GOING BACK TO YOUR FIRST ONE? SYSTEMS THINKING WOULD USE THE WORD IMPROVE. I'M NOT GOING TO BE CHANGING IT?

>> ARE WE HEARING AND CHANGING THAT TO IMPROVE?

>> I THINK WE TRY TO AVOID IMPROVE BECAUSE IT SEEMS LIKE IT MAKES IT THAT THERE IS SOME[OVERLAPPING].

>> YOU DON'T WANT US TO TRY NOT TO GO FROM A DEFICIT PERSPECTIVE.

>> EXACTLY. BUT THAT'S NOT WHAT WE MEAN.

>> THEN MOVING DOWN TO BOARD WILL REVIEW ITS BEHAVIOR BY YEARLY SELF-EVALUATION.

JUST A STREAMLINING RECOMMENDATION, CONSIDER REPLACING EVERYTHING AFTER THE END WITH DISCUSS ANY SIGNIFICANT ISSUES THAT ARE IDENTIFIED.

>> SURE.

>> THAT DOES SEEM MORE STREAM STRAIGHTFORWARD.

>> I THINK THAT MIGHT BE A [INAUDIBLE] COMMENT.

>> TRY NOT TO COMMENT ON MY COMMENT [LAUGHTER].

>> SORRY TO GO BACK NOW TO IMPROVE.

NOW, I'M RETHINKING IT BECAUSE WE DO IT DOES INDICATE THAT WE ARE COMING FROM A DEFICIT IF WE SAY IMPROVE.

>>YEAH, BUT MY POINT IS, IF YOU TALK ABOUT SYSTEMS THINKING, CONTINUOUS IMPROVEMENT SHOULDN'T BE THOUGHT OF AS A NEGATIVE IN ANY WAY.

[01:25:04]

I'D LIKE TO CHANGE THE.

>> YEAH, I DON'T FELL [OVERLAPPING] I'M TAKING BACK.

>> TO IMPROVE STUDENT ACHIEVEMENT [INAUDIBLE].

>> I THINK YOU CAN ALWAYS IMPROVE.

>> I MEAN, [OVERLAPPING] I FIT FIVE, I'M LIKE AT A TWO OR WHATEVER.

I'M OKAY [OVERLAPPING]

>> IMPROVE IF IT WAS TO FIVE, EVERYONE AT LEAST THREE.

>> THEN MOVING DOWN, THE BOARD PRESIDENT IS A PRIMARY CONTACT BETWEEN THE BOARD AND THE SUPERINTENDENT.

SUPERINTENDENT SHALL MAINTAIN REGULAR COMMUNICATION, BLAH, BLAH, BLAH.

LAST SENTENCE MAY BE DUPLICATIVE WITH THE FIRST SENTENCE OF THE FOLLOWING ITEM.

THAT IS TRUE.

SUPERINTENDENT WILL MAINTAIN REGULAR COMMUNICATION WITH ALL MEMBERS OF THE BOARD.

WELL, IT'S SLIGHTLY DIFFERENT.

FIRST, WAS SUPERINTENDENT MAINTAINED REGULAR COMMUNICATION WITH THE BOARD PRESIDENT OF IMPORTANCE, FOLLOWED BY SUPERINTENDENT MAINTAINING REGULAR COMMUNICATION WITH ALL MEMBERS OF THE BOARD ON MATTERS RELATED TO THE DISTRICT.

SETTLE DIFFERENCE. I DON'T KNOW IF THE SUBSTITUTE DIFFERENCE [INAUDIBLE].

>> I WASN'T SURE WHAT YOU GUYS WERE GETTING AT WITH LIKE MATTERS OF IMPORTANCE VERSUS. LIKE, WHAT WE.

>> SUPERINTENDENT SHALL MAINTAIN REGULAR COMMUNICATION WITH THE BOARD PRESIDENT.

>> I GUESS I ALWAYS INTERPRETED THAT AS STREAMLINED COMMUNICATION.

I'M NOT TRYING TO TALK TO SEVEN PEOPLE EVERY DAY ABOUT EVERY IMPORTANT THING TALKING TO ONE PERSON SO THAT WE COULD HAVE LIKE [OVERLAPPING].

>> FROM THE BOARD [INAUDIBLE]

>> SHOULD THAT BE MORE SPECIFIC THEN, IF YOU'RE TALKING TO THE BOARD PRESIDENT ABOUT MATTERS OF IMPORTANCE, AND THEN IT'S UP TO THE BOARD PRESIDENT TO GET THAT INFORMATION TO THE REST OF US.

>> IT'S SPOKEN ABOUT ELSEWHERE.

>> YEAH. I THINK FURTHER DOWN.

IS IT DO WE ADD TO STREAMLINE COMMUNICATIONS? THE SUPERINTENDENT SHALL MAINTAIN REGULAR COMMUNICATION WITH THE BOARD PRESIDENT ON MATTERS OF IMPORTANCE.

>> IS IT ALSO BEYOND JUST STREAMLINING TO A LITTLE BIT, ALSO A ONE VOICE TYPE OF. DO YOU KNOW, LIKE.

>> THE BOARDS [INAUDIBLE].

>> I SEE THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN THOSE TWO SENTENCES.

>> I DO.

>> I GUESS ONE OF THE THINGS MAYBE THAT I WAS REACTING TO WAS THE USE OF SHALL MAINTAIN REGULAR COMMUNICATION IN BOTH PLACES WAS WEIRD BECAUSE IT SEEMED LIKE THE EXPECTATION WAS THAT THERE WOULD BE DIFFERENT LEVEL OF COMMUNICATION WITH THE PRESIDENT VERSUS THE BOARD AS A WHOLE.

>> THAT'S TRUE.

>> I WONDER ABOUT THE WORD REGULAR IF THAT JUST CAME OUT OF THE SECOND.

>> IT FEELS LIKE PAST ONE, IS IT JUST ALSO FEELS LIKE THE FLOW IS DIFFERENT.

THE SECOND ONE, IT'S THE SUPERINTENDENT, YOU ARE COMMUNICATING TO THE FULL BOARD OF MATTERS.

THEN THE FIRST ONE FEELS LIKE IT'S MORE OF LIKE THE BOARD PRESIDENT IS FILTERING MATTERS OF IMPORTANCE TO YOU IN A WAY.

DO YOU KNOW LIKE IT'S ALMOST LIKE IT READS LIKE THE FLOW IS DIFFERENT.

>> I DON'T KNOW THAT WE NEED TO BELABOR IT NECESSARILY, BUT I WONDER IF MAYBE THE COMMUNICATIONS WITH THE BOARD PRESIDENT IS MORE LIKE THE SUPERINTENDENT SHALL MAINTAIN AN OPEN DIALOGUE WITH ONGOING DIALOGUE OR SOMETHING.

WITH THE BOARD WITH THE BOARD PRESENT ON MATTERS OF IMPORTANCE.

>> THAT'S FINE WITH ME.

>> LIKE TO ALMOST DELETE THAT FIRST SENTENCE?

>> NO [OVERLAPPING].

>> I JUST CHANGED THE [INAUDIBLE].

>> MAYBE THAT SECOND SENTENCE, RIGHT?

>> OR, LIKE, WE'LL COMMUNICATE PRINCIPALLY WITH THE BOARD PRESIDENT IN MATTERS OF IMPORTANCE.

>> PRIMARILY.

>> PRINCIPALLY.

>> [LAUGHTER] OR INITIALLY, LIKE, IN THE FIRST INSTANCE, WE'LL COMMUNICATE WITH THE BOARD PRESIDENT ON MATTERS OF IMPORTANCE.

IT'S ALSO NOT CLEAR THAT THAT'S EXACTLY WHAT HAPPENS BECAUSE IT FEELS LIKE THINGS THAT ARE IMPORTANT TEND TO GO OUT DIRECTLY TO THE WHOLE BOARD.

BUT THERE IS A DIFFERENT LEVEL OF COMMUNICATION BETWEEN YOU TWO.

>> THERE'S A LOT MORE COORDINATION.

WE'RE PROBABLY OVERTHINKING IT A LITTLE BIT.

BUT SUPERINTENDENT SHALL COMMUNICATE PRINCIPALLY.

[01:30:03]

I LIKE THE PRIOR VERSION A LITTLE BETTER. WHAT DID WE HAVE? I LIKE THE OPEN DIALOGUE, MAINTAIN AN OPEN DIALOGUE.

I GUESS IT SEEMS MORE DESCRIPTIVE OF WHAT ACTUALLY OCCURS.

>> YEAH. WHAT IS ACTUALLY HAPPENING? IF THAT'S WHAT IT IS, THEN.

>> COULD WE LIVE WITH THAT FOR NOW?

>> WE'LL HAVE A CHANCE TO REVIEW IT NEXT YEAR.

[LAUGHTER] THEN A LITTLE FURTHER DOWN ON A COUPLE MORE HERE.

ALL PERTINENT ISSUES BROUGHT TO THE INDIVIDUAL BOARD MEMBERS FROM COMMUNITY MEMBERS SHOULD BE RAISED WITH THE BOARD PRESIDENT, INCLUDING FORWARDING RELEVANT EMAILS.

THERE WAS A CONCERN THAT IT JUST MAY BE A LITTLE BIT TOO TIME-DEMANDING.

>>TO THE BOARD PRESIDENT.

>> I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT TO DO IT.

>> I GOT WHAT SID WAS SAYING, AND I THOUGHT IF WE CAN SOMEHOW WORD IT WHERE WE'RE GOING TO TALK WITH COMMUNITY MEMBERS JUST IN PASSING OR THEY'RE GOING TO REACH OUT TO US DIRECTLY AND ASK FOR COFFEES.

I THINK IF WE KEEP YOU INFORMED TO LET YOU KNOW, HEY I'M MEETING WITH SO AND SO THEY WANT TO DISCUSS X, Y, AND Z, AND JUST LET YOU KNOW WHAT THE OUTCOME IS.

BECAUSE IT'S WORDED IN A WAY WHERE IT SEEMS LIKE IF ANYBODY REACHES OUT TO US, WE SEND EVERYONE TO YOU.

>> NO.

>> THAT'S NOT WHAT YOU WANTED.

>> NO, I DON'T THINK THAT'S WHAT IT SAYS.

ALL PERTINENT ISSUES BROUGHT TO INDIVIDUAL BOARD MEMBERS FROM COMMUNITY SHOULD BE RAISED WITH THE BOARD PRESIDENT.

YOU'RE SAYING, CHANGE IT TO NOTIFY THE BOARD PRESIDENT.

I DO THINK IF YOU RECEIVE AN EMAIL FROM A COMMUNITY MEMBER, THAT I SHOULD TAKE A LOOK.

>> SHARED A BETTER WORD THAN RAISED?

>> SID, WAS THAT WHAT YOU WERE GETTING AT?

>> I LIKE SHARE.

>> WHICH IS WHAT WE DO NOW.

>> BECAUSE IN AN EMAIL, I'M GOING TO LIKELY BE THE ONE THAT RESPONDS.

OR AT LEAST TALK YOU WHAT TO RESPOND [OVERLAPPING].

>> BUT YOU SHOULD BE AWARE OF ALL OF IT IN ONE FASHION OR ANOTHER.

BUT I LIKE SHARED. [INAUDIBLE]

>> CENTRAL OFFICE ADMINISTRATORS WILL HAVE A RESPONSIBILITY TO INCLUDE ALL SUPPORTING INFORMATION FROM DISTRICT COMMITTEES TO THE FULL BOARD.

EXAMPLE OF AGENDAS, MINUTES, PRESENTATIONS.

THE COMMENT WAS THERE CAN BE A LOT OF MATERIALS AT TIMES.

WE COULD IF THERE'S A CLEAR EXPLANATION OF ANYTHING, BASICALLY HIGHLIGHTING THE IMPORTANCE.

>> ESPECIALLY WITH THE SUPPORTING MATERIALS, I THINK.

IF THERE ARE THINGS TO FOCUS ON IN THERE, IT WOULD BE GOOD TO HIGHLIGHT IT OUT OF A 50-PAGE ATTACHMENT.

>> THAT'S BORING.

>> YOU TALKING ABOUT POLICY? [LAUGHTER]

>> WHAT IS IT ABOUT ADDING SPECIFIC HIGHLIGHTS SHOULD BE NOTED IN COMMUNICATION OR SOMETHING LIKE THAT?

>> IT'S ALMOST LIKE THAT EXECUTIVE SUMMARY TYPE.

LIKE ALL THE MOST IMPORTANT.

>> [INAUDIBLE] PLEASE REVIEW X ON PAGE 16 OR.

>> I DON'T KNOW THAT IT NECESSARILY GOES IN HERE EVEN.

BUT JUST AS LONG AS THAT'S LIKE THE OPERATING EXPECTATION FOR HOW PRESENTED.

>> THAT'S GOOD TO HEAR.

>> WE WILL WORK ON THAT. NEXT, BOARD MEMBERS MAY CALL OR EMAIL AN ASSISTANT SUPERINTENDENT TO ASK CLARIFYING QUESTIONS.

JUST A QUESTION ABOUT WHAT WILL BE AN EXAMPLE OF THAT.

>> MAYBE I WAS JUST MISUNDERSTANDING.

I WAS DISTINGUISHING BETWEEN ASSISTANT SUPERINTENDENTS AND CENTRAL OFFICE ADMINISTRATORS.

[INAUDIBLE] SO DELETE IT.

>> NOT TO DELETE THE WHOLE THING TO LEAVE MY COMMENT. DELETE THE WHOLE THING.

>> THAT'S IT. THOSE WERE THE COMMENTS.

>> GOOD COMMENTS.

>> I'VE HIGHLIGHTED THE CHANGES IN BOLD ON THE DOCUMENT.

VALERIE HAS IT, SO I THINK WE CAN APPROVE THIS AS AMENDED.

>> DO I TAKE A NEW MOTION OR TO APPROVE AMENDED?

>> OH, THAT'S A GOOD QUESTION. DO WE NEED TO VALUE? DO WE NEED TO DO A DIFFERENT SINCE WE'RE APPROVING IT AS AMENDED, DO WE NEED TO TAKE A DIFFERENT MOTION?

>> DO WE TABLE THE MOTION THAT'S ON THE FLOOR AND THEN PROPOSE A NEW MOTION?

>> DO I HAVE A MOTION TO APPROVE AND ADOPT THE GOVERNANCE MEETING AND COMMUNICATIONS PROTOCOL?

[01:35:03]

>> DO I HAVE A MOTION TO APPROVE AND ADOPT THE AMENDED 2025/2026 BOARD OF EDUCATION GOVERNANCE MEETING AND COMMUNICATION PROTOCOLS?

>> THANK YOU. THAT'S APPROVED.

>> GREAT. THANK YOU.

HOPEFULLY, THIS NEXT ONE DOESN'T NEED MUCH DISCUSSION.

>> DO I HAVE A MOTION TO APPROVE AND ADOPT

[6.4 Motion to Approve and Adopt the 2025-2026 Board of Education Committee Roles and Responsibilities]

THE 2025/2026 BOARD OF EDUCATION COMMITTEE ROLES AND RESPONSIBILITIES?

>> DID WE HAVE ANY COMMENTS AND QUESTIONS ON THESE? I THINK WE PRETTY MUCH HELD STEADY FROM LAST YEAR.

>> AS I SAY, THE BENEFIT OF A BOARD CONTINUING IS YOU GET CONTINUITY.

MOST ROLES STAYED THE SAME.

I THINK WE MADE SOME TWEAKS TO ROTATION IN ONE CASE.

REDUCED BOARD MEMBERSHIP ON A COUPLE OF COMMITTEES.

YEAH, REDUCED ON WELLNESS, REDUCED ON SCHOOL CULTURE AND BELONGING.

>> WHICH WAS PART OF OUR DISCUSSION AT THE RETREAT.

>> EFFICIENCIES.

>> YES EFFICIENCIES.

>> EFFICIENCIES. YOU GO.

>> YEAH SOMEHOW.

>> ALL IN FAVOR?

>> IT'S NONE OPPOSED, SO THAT IS APPROVED.

>> ONE THING I WOULD ADD TO WE USUALLY SOLICIT FOR COMMUNITY MEMBERSHIP IN OCTOBER, EARLY OCTOBER.

WE'RE GOING TO BE WORKING WITH THE CABINET TO SET DATES FOR MEETINGS, TENTATIVE CALENDARS, THEN WE'LL BE SOLICITING FOR THE COMMUNITY MEMBERSHIP.

AS WE TALKED ABOUT THE RETREAT AS WELL, WE WANT TO MAKE SURE TO KEEP THE COMMITTEE SIZES OPTIMAL, WHICH MAY MEAN A LITTLE BIT SMALLER IN A COUPLE OF CASES.

CERTAINLY APPRECIATE THE COMMUNITY'S WILLINGNESS TO STEP FORWARD AND VOLUNTEER.

WE WISH THAT WE COULD PUT EVERYONE ON A COMMITTEE BUT WE KNOW IN ADVANCE THAT IT'S LIKELY NOT TO HAPPEN.

I JUST WANTED TO PUT THAT OUT.

>> YES AND WE HAVE THE SAME COMMITTEES AS LAST YEAR.

THERE ARE NO NEW COMMITTEES AND THERE WERE NO COMMITTEES.

THEY'RE REMOVED AND FACILITIES IS TRANSITIONING TO PELHAM.

>> I THINK WE'RE INTO JUST REGULAR BUSINESS.

>> REGULAR BUSINESS.

WE CAN GO TO 6.5.

[6.5 Motion to Amend a Contract to KG+D Architects, PC for Districtwide Architectural and Engineering Services]

DO I HAVE A MOTION TO AMEND A CONTRACT TO KGD ARCHITECTS FOR DISTRICT WIDE ARCHITECTURAL AND ENGINEERING SERVICES?

>> I DON'T MEAN TO LAUGH. DO WE HAVE A SECOND?

>> DO WE WANT TO TALK ABOUT THIS FOR A MOMENT? JIM.

>> THIS IS JUST FOR SMALL JOBS.

>> THIS IS FOR SMALL JOBS, OKAY.

ARE THERE ANY COMMENTS OR QUESTIONS ON THIS ONE? ALL IN FAVOR?

>> SORRY. THIS IS NOT FOR THE BOND PROJECT.

>> NO.

>> NO. WE'LL TALK.

>> NO. THAT'S WHAT I THOUGHT.

>> ALL IN FAVOR?

>> NONE OPPOSED, SO THAT CONTRACTS APPROVED.

MOVING TO 6.6. DO I HAVE

[6.6 Resolution Authorizing Agreement for Architect Services]

A MOTION FOR A RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING AGREEMENT FOR ARCHITECT SERVICES?

>> I PROBABLY WANT TO TALK ABOUT THIS FOR A MOMENT.

>> A SECOND.

>> THIS IS FOR KGD?

>> GOOD EVENING. THIS ITEM ON THE BOARD AGENDA IS FOR THE ARCHITECTURAL SERVICES RELATED TO THE $98.8 MILLION BOND.

THE RECOMMENDATION IS TO WORK WITH KG AND D ARCHITECTS WHO WE'VE BEEN WORKING WITH SINCE 2023, JUST TO REMIND THE BOARD AND THE PUBLIC, WE WENT OUT FOR PUBLIC RFP IN 2023 FOR OUR BUILDING CONDITION SURVEY.

THROUGH THAT PROCESS, KG AND D WORKED WITH THE DISTRICT LEADING UP TO OUR BUDGET VOTE THIS PAST MAY.

AS PART OF THAT NOW, WE'RE MOVING INTO THE NEXT PHASE, WHICH IS THE IMPLEMENTATION OF THAT.

WORKING WITH OUR ATTORNEYS AND KG AND D. WE HAVE THE DRAFTED AGREEMENT THAT WE'VE SHARED WITH THE BOARD AND THAT WE WANT TO EXECUTE.

AS YOU LOOK AT THE FEE, IT'S MADE UP IN TWO DIFFERENT PARTS BASED ON THE TWO PROPOSITIONS.

FOR THE FIRST PROPOSITION, WHICH IS PROPOSITION ONE, YOU SEE THERE IS A FEE.

THEN FOR PROPOSITION TWO, THERE'S A FEE.

CUMULATIVELY EXCUSE ME.

I'M GOING TO A MEMORY HERE.

I THINK IT'S $5.4 MILLION.

AS WE LOOK AT THIS, IT'S A SUBSTANTIAL AMOUNT OF MONEY.

[01:40:01]

IT'S WITHIN THE SOFT COST GUIDELINES AND BUDGET THAT WE HAD FORECASTED AS PART OF THIS PROJECT, AND IT FALLS WITHIN THE RANGE OF PROFESSIONAL SERVICES FOR A PROJECT OF THIS MAGNITUDE.

IT'S A LOT OF WORK, OBVIOUSLY.

A LOT OF COMMUNICATION OVER THE NEXT 60 MONTHS.

>> DOES ANYONE HAVE COMMENTS OR QUESTIONS?

>> TO WHAT EXTENT IS THIS ALL IN COST OR TO WHAT EXTENT ARE THERE EXPECTATIONS THAT THEY'LL BE PIECES THAT ARE OUTSIDE BASE.

>> THERE ARE CERTAIN ALLOWANCES, BUT THEN THERE ARE CERTAIN THINGS THAT ARE CARVED OUT.

AN EXAMPLE OF SOMETHING THAT COULD BE CARVED OUT MAY BE RELATED TO IDENTIFYING HAZARDOUS MATERIALS, WHERE THE DISTRICT WOULD ENGAGE A CONTRACTOR DIRECTLY.

OTHER TIMES WHEN THAT MAY HAPPEN, WE HAVE A DIRECT PASS THROUGH WITH THE VENDOR, WE DO NOT PAY AN UP CHARGE.

IT'S A ZERO PASS THROUGH, SAY IF THE VENDOR NEEDS TO ENGAGE A SPECIAL CONTRACTOR FOR SOMETHING THAT WAS UNFORESEEN.

THERE COULD BE SOMETHING IF IT'S ABOVE AND BEYOND WHAT'S INCLUDED IN THOSE BASIC SERVICES.

BUT WHAT WE TRIED TO DO WAS CAPTURE, GET THOSE ALLOWANCES IN THERE FOR WHAT WE WOULD EXPECT AS PART OF THE REGULAR COURSE OF BUSINESS.

>> AGAIN, I'M THINKING BACK TO THE LAST BOND.

>> DIDN'T GET EXTENDED, I THINK, BECAUSE THE TIMELINE?

>> I THINK OUR TIMELINE EXTENDED.

THAT WAS ONE, AND DIFFERENT THINGS CAME UP.

WE DID A PUBLIC PROJECT LABOR AGREEMENT OR WE HAD A CONSULTANT COME IN ON THE HUTCHINSON SCHOOL TO GIVE US THE EQUIVALENT OF A LEAD CERTIFIED BUILDING.

THOSE WERE THINGS WHERE THOSE WERE ABOVE AND BEYOND THAT WERE NOT INITIALLY CONTEMPLATED.

>> YOU MENTIONED THIS EARLIER, THIS WAS EXPECTED AND IT'S BUDGETED?

>> YES. WHEN THE ARCHITECT PUTS TOGETHER THE BUDGET, PART OF THAT INCLUDES WHAT THEY CALL SOFT COSTS.

PART OF THOSE SOFT COSTS INCLUDE THE COST FOR ARCHITECTS.

THEY'LL INCLUDE THE COST FOR CONSTRUCTION MANAGER.

BOARD HAS INTERVIEWED CONSTRUCTION MANAGEMENT FIRMS, WE'RE WORKING TO GET TO A FINAL RESOLUTION FOR THAT.

WE HOPE TO BRING THAT TO THE BOARD SHORTLY AS WELL.

THAT WOULD BE ALSO INCLUDED IN SOFT COST.

SOMETIMES THERE ARE THINGS IN SOFT COSTS THAT ARE NOT THOSE TWO THINGS.

IF A SPECIAL COMMUNICATION OR SPECIAL ENGINEERING THAT'S ABOVE AND BEYOND BLAST PROJECT, WE DID BLASTING, WHICH WAS SOMETHING THAT AGAIN, WE HAD A SPECIAL ENGINEERING FIRM THAT HELPED US WITH THE BLASTING AND THE MONITORING OF THE BLASTING.

THAT WAS ALSO INCLUDED IN SOFT COSTS.

>> JIM, THEY HAVE TO STICK WITH THE PROPOSITION ONE.

THE MILLION HAS TO BE ALIGNED TO PROP 1.

THE 2.4 HAS TO BE ALIGNED TO PROP 2?

>> CORRECT. THE FEES ARE BASED ON EACH OF THE VALUE OR THEY DEVELOP THEIR FEES BASED ON THE VALUE, THE PROJECTS, AS I UNDERSTAND IT.

>> THERE'S NO MOVING IN BETWEEN.

>> NO, EXACTLY.

>> IT'S A FIX FOR THAT PROP.

>> THAT GOES FOR THE DISTRICT TOO, SO WE CAN USE FUNDS APPROVED IN PROP 1 FOR PROP 2. THAT DOESN'T HAPPEN.

PROP MONIES ARE LEFT AND ARE TO BE EXPENSED FOR PROP 1 WHEN THAT WORK IS COMPLETED, IF THERE'S MONEY LEFT OVER, AND IF WE WANTED TO MOVE IT SOMEPLACE ELSE, WE CAN'T.

IT IT STAYS WITH PROPOSITION 1.

>> NONE OPPOSED, SO THAT RESOLUTION PASSES.

I DID NOT READ THE WHOLE THING BECAUSE IT WAS VERY LOW.

[LAUGHTER]

>> IT'S ON THE AGENDA.

>> I MEAN, I READ IT, BUT I DIDN'T READ IT A LOUD.

[LAUGHTER] I DID READ IT.

DO I HAVE A MOTION TO TAKE 7.1-7.3 AS A CONSENT AGENDA?

[7.1 Motion to Approve Schedule A -Instructional]

[7.2 Motion to Approve Schedule C -Instructional]

[7.3 Motion to Approve Schedule C - Non-Instructional]

>> ANY COMMENTS ON THE MOTION.

>> NOT JUST CONTINUED PERSONNEL APPOINTMENTS.

SPECIFICALLY ON THE INSTRUCTIONAL,

[01:45:01]

YOU SEE A LOT OF WHAT WE CALL OVERAGES, SIX PERIOD ASSIGNMENTS.

TEACHERS WHO ARE TAKING ON AN ADDITIONAL CLASS PERIODS.

WE'RE APPRECIATIVE TO THEM.

THAT'S ONE OF THE THINGS THAT REALLY SERVES THE DISTRICT WELL AND GIVES STUDENTS THE PROGRAMS THAT THEY NEED.

THAT'S THE BULK OF WHAT YOU SEE THERE.

A COUPLE OF FMLA APPOINTMENTS, TEACHING ASSISTANT APPOINTMENTS.

WE'RE VERY HAPPY TO HAVE A COUPLE NEW SECRETARIES JOINING.

NEW SECRETARY FOR HUTCHINSON SCHOOL.

MYRA, TRIAL BY FIRE, HER FIRST DAY OF WORK WAS THE FIRST DAY OF SCHOOL.

SHE CAME BACK FOR DAY TWO, I BELIEVE, SO WE'RE GOOD THERE.

WE HAVE NORA, SCHWAIB LEMORIN, WHO'S JOINING THE PPS OFFICE.

TRACY IS VERY HAPPY TO HAVE HER AS WELL.

WE'VE BEEN REALLY SHORTHANDED MANY AREAS AROUND THE DISTRICT, SO WE'RE REALLY THRILLED TO HAVE THEM COME.

ALSO A SCHOOL MONITOR, AS WELL AS AN ADDITIONAL PART TIME SCHOOL NURSE FOR SIMON.

>> DR. CHUBB, ARE WE FULLY STAFFED, AND I DON'T MEAN BY JUST THE INTRA TEACHER STAFF, THE INSTRUCTIONAL STAFF.

BUT LIKE WE ALWAYS STRUGGLE WITH GETTING MONITORS.

I HAVEN'T HEARD ANYTHING THIS YEAR ABOUT OUR MONITOR SITUATION.

>> I'M GOING TO ASK DR. FITZGERALD, YOU GOT TO MOVE TO THE MICROPHONE, PLEASE?

>> SHE'S SHOULDER.

>> VERY COMFY DOWN IN THIS ROOM. THE COMPUTERS.

>> IT'S BEEN A BUSY SUMMER. WE ARE CURRENTLY TODAY, FULLY STAFFED.

I SAY IT THAT WAY BECAUSE YOU NEVER KNOW WHAT TOMORROW WAS GOING TO BE.

>> YES, EXACTLY.

>> TODAY WE ARE. WE'RE WAITING FOR SOME PEOPLE TO HAVE THEIR FINGERPRINTS FINISHED AND FINALIZED.

WE CAN ON BOARD A FEW MORE PEOPLE, BUT AS OF TODAY, WE'RE FULLY STAFFED.

WE ARE CANVASSING FOR AN OFFICE ASSISTANT IN CLAIRE'S DEPARTMENT.

BUT THAT'S UNDERWAY AND MOVING ALONG.

>> CONGRATULATIONS. ALWAYS HEARD HOW WE STRUGGLE TO OBTAIN THE MONITOR OR THE SUPPORT STAFF.

>> SET THE GROUND RUNNING.

>> KEEP YOUR FINGERS ACROSS. [LAUGHTER].

>> ALL IN FAVOR?