[00:00:03] >> THANK YOU. HELLO, AND WELCOME TO THE BOARD OF EDUCATION MEETING OF SEPTEMBER 16, 2025. [2. Public Session - 7:30 p.m.] LET'S RISE FOR THE PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE. >> >> NATALIE, WOULD YOU PLEASE REITERATE OUR EXECUTIVE SESSION MOTION? [2.3 Reiteration of Executive Session Motions] >> YES. THE BOARD MET AN EXECUTIVE SESSION TO DISCUSS THE EMPLOYMENT HISTORY OF PARTICULAR INDIVIDUAL. >> THANK YOU. I'LL KICK THINGS [2.4 Opening Remarks] OFF WITH I THINK THE SEPTEMBER 11TH REMEMBRANCE ACTIVITIES IN PELHAM LAST WEEK, INCLUDING THE CEREMONY AT THE MEMORIAL IN TOWN AND THE FIRST RESPONDER RECOGNITION AT FRIDAY'S FOOTBALL GAME WERE EACH VERY THOUGHTFUL AND BEAUTIFUL. MANY THANKS TO THE ORGANIZERS OF EACH AND AS WE LOOK AHEAD TO NEXT YEAR'S 25TH ANNIVERSARY REMEMBRANCE, I KNOW THE DISTRICT IS ALREADY THINKING ABOUT HOW TO ENGAGE STUDENTS IN THE ACTIVITIES, PERHAPS AS A DAY OF SERVICE. I WOULD ALSO LIKE TO EXTEND OUR SYMPATHIES TO THE FAMILY OF BILLY WISE, BILLY WEINBLATT OF WISE HARDWARE. HE PASSED AWAY SATURDAY. HE WILL BE SORELY MISSED BY THE ENTIRE PELHAM COMMUNITY. HE WAS EXTRAORDINARILY HELPFUL. A FRIEND TO MANY AND HIS HARDWARE STORE IS A PELHAM INSTITUTION. WE HAVE A STRAIGHTFORWARD BUSINESS MEETING THIS EVENING. WELCOME BACK, EMERSON, OUR STUDENT BOARD MEMBER. YOU WILL NOTICE A NEW ITEM ON THE AGENDA, HER BOARD UP DATE. ADDITIONALLY, KATHERINE HAS GRACIOUSLY AGREED TO SERVE AS OUR ADVOCACY LIAISON. WE WILL VOTE ON THAT TONIGHT, AND SHE WILL PROVIDE THE BOARD WITH BRIEF UPDATES ON ADVOCACY RELATED ITEMS WHEN NECESSARY. I THINK SHE HAS AN UPDATE FOR US THIS EVENING AS WE WILL NEED TO MAKE DECISIONS AT THE NEXT BOARD MEETING REGARDING ADVOCACY RESOLUTIONS BEING PROPOSED AT AN UPCOMING NISPA BUSINESS MEETING. AND LASTLY, THE DISTRICT WILL SEND OUT A CALL FOR COMMUNITY MEMBERS FOR OUR COMMITTEES THIS FRIDAY, I THINK, OF THIS WEEK, SO PLEASE BE ON THE LOOKOUT FOR THAT, AND THANK YOU TO EVERYONE WHO APPLIES TO BE ON ONE OF OUR COMMITTEES. THANK YOU. LET'S GET STARTED. DO I HAVE A MOTION TO APPROVE THE MINUTES OF THE SEPTEMBER 3RD, 2025 BUSINESS MEETING, [3. Approval of Minutes] THE SUPERINTENDENT'S OPENING OF SCHOOL REPORT ON FACILITIES AND THE ADOPTION OF THE BOARD OF EDUCATION AND SUPERINTENDENTS GOALS ADOPTION OF BOE COMMUNICATION PROTOCOLS AND ESTABLISHMENT OF THE BOARD OF EDUCATION COMMITTEES? >> SO MOVED. >> SECOND. >> ANY COMMENTS OR QUESTIONS ON THOSE MINUTES? NO. ALL IN FAVOR. >>> AYE. >> UNOPPOSED. THOSE ARE APPROVED. DR. CHAMP? [4.1 Superintendent's Report] >> THANK YOU. I WANT TO ECHO WHAT JACKIE SAID ABOUT THE 911 CEREMONIES. IT WAS ALWAYS AN HONOR TO BE ABLE TO PARTICIPATE IN THE ONE IN THE COMMUNITY, SOMBER AND BEAUTIFUL. THANKS TO THE FOLKS THAT PULLED TOGETHER AND CAME OUT FOR THE FIRST RESPONDER GAME LAST FRIDAY NIGHT. WE WON, WHICH IS ALWAYS NICE. WE WENT TWO AND 0 FOR THE SEASON, SO THAT'S GREAT. BUT REALLY WANT TO THANK TOM DRAKE, OUR ALERIS CONSULTANT AND JOE TOMS, OUR ATHLETIC DIRECTOR WHO PUT THE WHEELS IN MOTION TO MAKE THAT HAPPEN. WE TRIED TO DO SOMETHING LIKE THAT BACK IN APRIL AND THE STARS DID NOT ALIGN, BUT THEY CAME TOGETHER VERY QUICKLY FOR THIS GAME WE'RE SUPER EXCITED. REALLY APPRECIATE MAYOR LAPEY, TRUSTY, BRITA? >> BENNETT. >> BENNETT, THANK YOU. CAME OUT, WE'RE ABLE TO JOIN ME ON THE FIELD, AS WELL AS POLICE AND FIRE FROM BOTH VILLAGE AND MAYOR, AND EMS, AS WELL. REALLY WONDERFUL TO HAVE THEM ALL THERE. LOT OF FOLKS STAY FOR THE GAME, WHICH IS A GREAT CELEBRATION THE BAND PLAYED. IT WAS JUST LIKE, EVERYTHING THAT'S GOOD AND RIGHT ABOUT COMMUNITY. I REALLY APPRECIATE ALL THAT THEY DO FOR US AND THE CHANCE TO BE PART OF THAT. ALSO WANTED TO RECOGNIZE TODAY AT HUTCHINSON, IT WAS A SPECIAL MOMENT FOR SOME FOLKS. I KNOW THE BOARD MAY REMEMBER DANA GENTILE DAUGHTER GIA PASSED AWAY JUST A FEW MONTHS BACK. TODAY, AS IN HONOR OF GIA, GIA'S KINDNESS LIBRARY WAS DEDICATED. IT'S AN OUTDOOR LIBRARY YOU'VE PROBABLY SEEN THEM AROUND WITH THE LITTLE LIBRARIES WHERE PEOPLE CAN PUT IN BOOKS AND TAKE AND BORROW AND BRING THEM BACK. THIS OUTDOOR LIBRARY WAS GOING TO BE FILLED WITH BOOKS ABOUT KINDNESS, AND WILL BE AVAILABLE TO STUDENTS EACH DAY DURING RECESS, THOSE WHO WANT QUIET TIME DURING THAT TIME. IS OFFICIALLY DEDICATED TODAY, AND THE BOOKS IN THE LIBRARY ARE GOING TO HELP STUDENTS TO LIVE THE SAME WAY THAT GIA DID WITH KINDNESS, COMPASSION AND LOVE, SPREADING HER SPIRIT THROUGHOUT THE HUTCHINSON COMMUNITY. THANK YOU TO THE SCHOOL FOR THAT. [00:05:01] THANK YOU TO MS. GENTILE FOR THAT, AND ALSO EXCITED THIS YEAR UNDER HER LEADERSHIP, THEY'RE LAUNCHING A KINDNESS CLUB WHERE FOURTH GRADERS ARE GOING TO GET TO HELP CONTINUE TO MAINTAIN THAT AND TO FIND DIFFERENT WAYS TO CONTINUE TO CELEBRATE AND SHARE HER LEGACY. THAT'S REALLY SOMETHING VERY SPECIAL AND MEANINGFUL, ESPECIALLY FOR OUR HUTCHINSON FAMILY. ALSO WANTED TO MENTION A COUPLE OTHER ITEMS TONIGHT, SOME OF THE BIG THINGS GOING ON AROUND US. CERTAINLY, I THINK WE WERE ALL VERY REALLY UPSET AND DISTURBED BY THE ASSASSINATION LAST WEEK OF CHARLIE KIRK, POLITICAL ACTIVIST. IT'S VERY DISTURBING, OF COURSE, I THINK AS HUMAN BEINGS, AND AS A SCHOOL DISTRICT, WE ALWAYS CONDEMN ANY ACTS OF POLITICAL VIOLENCE, ANY VIOLENCE SO ESPECIALLY CUT AT THE CORE OF WHO WE ARE AND WHAT WE'RE ABOUT. WE RECOGNIZE AS A RESULT OF THIS, MANY OF OUR STUDENTS, OF COURSE, WOULD HAVE A WIDE RANGE OF EMOTIONS AS THEY CAME TO SCHOOL THE NEXT DAY, AND STAFF AS WELL, AND PARENTS, AS WELL. KNOWING THAT OUR ROLE IS TO PROVIDE A SAFE AND FACTUAL, AGE APPROPRIATE SPACE FOR STUDENTS, MS. SUZANNE SHORT, OUR DIRECTOR OF HUMANITIES, SHARED GUIDANCE WITH OUR TEACHERS THE NIGHT BEFORE SO THAT THEY COULD BE PREPARED WHEN THEY WALKED IN THE CLASSROOM THE NEXT DAY FOR WHATEVER CONCERNS MAY ARISE. IT WAS STRESSED IN THAT, IT IS CRITICALLY IMPORTANT TO REMAIN NEUTRAL AND INCLUSIVE, AND TO REALLY BE THOUGHTFUL ABOUT WHERE THERE ARE INSTRUCTIONAL OPPORTUNITIES TO CONNECT THE EVENTS TO THEIR CURRICULUM AND HELP STUDENTS TO DEAL WITH THEM IN AN AGE APPROPRIATE WAY, AND TO ENGAGE IN CIVIL DISCOURSE IN AN AGE APPROPRIATE WAY. OBVIOUSLY, IT WILL NOT CONNECT WITH ALL CONTENT AREAS SO WHERE IT DOES, FOLKS SHOULD RECOGNIZE, BUT THEN REDIRECT. BUT IN THOSE CLASSES WHERE IT DOES CONNECT, TEACHERS WE'RE STRONGLY ENCOURAGED TO REMAIN NEUTRAL AND INCLUSIVE. THE ESSENTIAL QUESTIONS THAT SHE SHARED WITH THEM TO THINK ABOUT CENTERED AROUND FREE SPEECH, CIVIL DISCOURSE, AND WHAT ROLE THAT PLAYS IN A CIVIL SOCIETY, WHAT LESSONS WE AS A SOCIETY CAN LEARN FROM THE EVENTS, AND HOW DO WE USE THOSE LESSONS TO STRENGTHEN OUR PARTNERSHIPS WITH ONE ANOTHER. TIPS FOR CONVERSATION AND FOR SAFE AND PROTECTIVE DISCUSSION, FOCUSED ON FOCUSING ON FACTS, MAINTAINING NEUTRALITY, MODELING RESPECTFUL DISCOURSE, AVOIDING GRAPHIC CONTENT, AND REMAINING FOCUSED ON CONTENT. I JUST WANTED TO SHARE THAT SO FOLKS WOULD KNOW, ESPECIALLY PARENTS, HOW DO WE DEAL WITH DIFFICULT TOPICS LIKE THIS? WE CAN'T SHY AWAY FROM THEM THEY ARE REALITY. BUT HOW DO WE DEAL WITH THEM IN A WAY THAT IS FAIR AND BALANCED AND AGE APPROPRIATE? I JUST WOULD REMIND FOLKS, IF STUDENTS ARE STILL CONTINUING TO STRUGGLE, PLEASE MAKE SURE TO REFER THEM TO THE SCHOOL COUNSELORS WHO ARE THERE TO SUPPORT AND CERTAINLY, IF ANY PARENTS HAVE QUESTIONS, THEY ARE ALWAYS WELCOME TO TALK TO THE TEACHER FIRST. TEACHER HAS THE MOST ACCURATE UP TO DATE, CLOSEST TO THE GROUND INFORMATION. THEY ALSO CAN ADDRESS QUESTIONS TO THE CURRICULUM DIRECTOR, DR. SHORT, IN THIS CASE, MS. SHORT, OR THE SCHOOL PRINCIPAL SO WE'RE ALWAYS AVAILABLE TO HAVE THOSE CONVERSATIONS. THOSE FOLKS ARE THE BEST SUITED TO BE ABLE TO ANSWER SPECIFIC QUESTIONS. MOVING ON TO ANOTHER NEWS ITEM. I THINK THIS ONE WAS A LITTLE HAPPIER FOR SOME OF OUR STUDENTS. WELL, THEY'RE NOT EVEN ON THE SAME PLANE, SO I'M NOT GOING TO MAKE COMPARISON. BUT JUST THIS WEEK, WE SHARED SOME INFORMATION WITH PARENTS AND STUDENTS THAT I KNOW THE BOARD SHOULD BE AWARE OF FROM LAST SPRING THROUGH OUR PROFESSIONAL GROWTH AND ACHIEVEMENT COMMITTEE. MANY FOLKS WERE AWARE THAT WE'VE BEEN LOOKING AT THE REGENTS EXAMS, WE'VE BEEN LOOKING AT THE CHANGE IN SCIENCE STANDARDS FOR MANY YEARS. THIS IS IMPORTANT AND WE'RE CALLING IT AN EXCITING CHANGE, ESPECIALLY FOR OUR STUDENTS, BECAUSE I HEARD THAT THERE WAS SOME VERY HAPPY STUDENTS. WE'RE MAKING A CHANGE TO OUR YEAR END TESTING FOR CHEMISTRY STARTING THIS YEAR AND MOVING FORWARD. BEGINNING THIS YEAR, CHEMISTRY STUDENTS, THE CULMINATING ASSESSMENT IS GOING TO SHIFT TO A MORE COMPREHENSIVE AND PROJECT BASED MODEL THAT IS DESIGNED BY OUR TEACHERS AND ADMINISTRATORS. THE NEW ASSESSMENT WILL REPLACE THE NEW YORK STATE CHEMISTRY REGENTS EXAM SO WE'LL BE NO LONGER ADMINISTERING THE CHEMISTRY REGENTS EXAM. I SAID THIS DISCUSSED WITH PROFESSIONAL PERSONAL GROWTH AND ACHIEVEMENT LAST YEAR, AND WE'RE JUST NOW JUST ROLLING THAT OUT TO STUDENTS AND PARENTS AS WE'VE GOT OPEN HOUSES COMING UP AND CERTAINLY STUDENTS NEED TO KNOW THE LONG PICTURE OF WHAT THEIR COURSE WILL CULMINATE IN. I KNOW THE BOARD IS AWARE, THIS IS A CONTINUATION OF THE LARGER VISION OF HOW WE'VE BEEN WORKING TO RESHAPE SCIENCE IN THE DISTRICT FOR MANY YEARS. WE FOCUS ON A RIGOROUS INQUIRY BASED INSTRUCTION, CURRICULUM THAT'S GROUNDED IN NATURAL PHENOMENON, AND WE WORK TO PROVIDE HIGH QUALITY SCIENCE EXPERIENCES. I KNOW YOU MAY REMEMBER BACK, I THINK IT WAS LAST YEAR, WE DID A WORK SESSION ON THESE NEW STANDARDS SO SOME OF YOU GOT TO EXPERIENCE THAT FIRSTHAND. THIS NEW APPROACH DOES ALIGN ALSO WITH THE NEW YORK INSPIRES, [00:10:03] THE NEW GRADUATION FRAMEWORK THAT WE'RE GOING TO BE SPENDING TIME ON THROUGHOUT THE NEXT SEVERAL YEARS TRANSITIONING TO. BUT ALSO IN OCTOBER, YOU REMEMBER, WE HAVE A WORK SESSION THAT WE'RE PLANNING TO DO TO DIG DEEPER INTO IT SO THIS MOVE ALREADY IS IN ALIGNMENT WITH THAT NEW NEW YORK INSPIRES FRAMEWORK. WE BELIEVE THAT THE FRAMEWORK ITSELF CHALLENGES US TO ASSESS STUDENTS BEYOND JUST SIMPLE MEASURES OF TRADITIONAL MULTIPLE CHOICE, HIGH STAKES EXAMS. AS A DISTRICT, WE HAVE BEEN A LEADER IN PROVIDING HIGH QUALITY SCIENCE EXPERIENCES FOR OUR STUDENTS. YOU MAY REMEMBER SEVERAL YEARS AGO, WE DID MAKE A SIMILAR SHIFT TO AN INQUIRY BASED APPROACH IN PHYSICS AND THE RESULT OF THAT HAS BEEN INCREASED ENROLLMENT. IT'S THE HIGHEST ENROLLMENT IN PHYSICS IN ANY HIGH SCHOOL THAT I'VE EVER BEEN A PART OF IN, I'D SAY MY LAST I WAS IN LAKELAND FOR SEVEN YEARS AND SANKA FOR FIVE YEARS, SO 12 YEARS SO 20 YEARS DEALING WITH HIGH SCHOOLS, I'VE NEVER SEEN THE LEVEL OF ENROLLMENT THAT WE HAVE IN PHYSICS TO COMPARED TO WHAT WE DO HERE. INCREASED ENROLLMENT, FEWER GENDER GAPS WITHIN THAT AND OUTSTANDING PERFORMANCE ACROSS THE BOARD, INCLUDING RECOGNITION ON AP EXAMS IN THAT SAME AREA. THAT APPROACH IS PAYING OFF FOR OUR STUDENTS. IT'S REALLY NETTING BETTER RESULTS FOR US AND FOR MORE STUDENTS. I'M DEFINITELY APPRECIATIVE TO OUR TEACHERS AND OUR ADMINISTRATORS WHO'VE BEEN LEADING THIS CHANGE, AND WE LOOK FORWARD TO THE YEAR TO COME. I DID HEAR THERE WERE SOME MANY HAPPY STUDENTS WHEN THEY HEARD THIS NEWS. >> VERY HAPPY. [LAUGHTER] >> VERY HAPPY. I THINK TO MANY OF YOU AS PARENTS OF HIGH SCHOOLERS RECOGNIZE, ESPECIALLY WITH THIS PARTICULAR COHORT, THEY'VE BEEN ON THE LEADING EDGE OF THE STANDARDS CHANGES, WHICH IS REALLY IT'S BEEN TOUGH FOR A LOT OF THEM SO I THINK THIS IS ALSO, ONE WAY THAT WE CAN LESSEN THAT BURDEN. IT'S THE FIRST TIME THE SCIENCE STANDARDS HAVE CHANGED IN 30 YEARS FROM NEW YORK STATE SO IT GIVES US A GREAT OPPORTUNITY TO BE MORE RIGOROUS, TO BE REALLY THOUGHTFUL ABOUT INQUIRY APPROACHES, AND TO SET OURSELVES UP TO CONTINUE TO PROVIDE OUTSTANDING INSTRUCTION AND ASSESSMENT AS WE MOVE FORWARD. >> I JUST WANT TO EMPHASIZE WHAT YOU JUST SAID. IT'S NOT HAVING THE REGIONS EXAM AND HAVING A DIFFERENT ASSESSMENT THAT'S DEVELOPED BY OUR DISTRICT. >> CORRECT. >> THAT DOESN'T RESULT IN LESS RIGOR. >> [OVERLAPPING] IT'S AN OPPORTUNITY FOR MORE. >> IT'S AN OPPORTUNITY FOR MORE RIGOR SO I DON'T WANT ANYONE TO BE CONCERNED ABOUT THAT. >> AGREED. I KNOW IF THERE ARE ANY MORE QUESTIONS ON THAT? AGAIN, I KNOW THE BOARD WAS AWARE OF SOME OF THESE CHANGES. REALLY EXCITING. I KNOW DR. COMERFORD CAN'T BE WITH US TONIGHT, BUT I KNOW IF YOU DO THINK OF ANY OTHER QUESTIONS, AS TIME GOES BY, I'LL DO MY BEST TO ANSWER THEM AND OF COURSE, SHE WILL AS WELL, AND THANKS TO DR. CALLAHAN, TOO, FOR LEADING THIS WORK OVER THE LAST SEVERAL YEARS. YOU KNOW TWO MORE THINGS I'LL POINT OUT, A LOT OF OUR PEER DISTRICTS HAVE GONE THIS ROUTE AS WELL. I THINK AS WE'RE CONTINUING TO STRETCH OURSELVES, WE WANT TO CONTINUE TO STAY COMPETITIVE IN THOSE WAYS. ONE OF THE THINGS, AS YOU KNOW THAT WE'VE DONE OVER THE LAST SEVERAL YEARS, AS WE'VE MADE THESE CHANGES, IT FREES US UP TO DO MORE DUAL ENROLLMENT COURSES AND OTHER WAYS TO CHALLENGE STUDENTS AT A HIGH LEVEL. THE EXPANSION OF OUR DUAL ENROLLMENT COURSES IN PARTICULAR IS ONE OF THE BIG DRIVING FACTORS THAT ACTUALLY CAUSE OUR US NEWS AND WORLD REPORT RANKINGS TO JUMP SO HIGH. WE LITERALLY CUT THE DIFFERENCE IN HALF THIS PAST YEAR, AND A LOT OF IT TRACKS BACK TO WHAT WE'VE BEEN ABLE TO BUILD AS A RESULT OF MAKING THESE STRATEGIC CHOICES. >> AND DUAL ENROLLMENT TRACKS I KNOW YOU CAN'T PREDICT, BUT IT TRACKS THE OUTCOMES. >> ABSOLUTELY. >> THERE'S [OVERLAPPING] >> BETTER IN COLLEGE. >> TAKING TAKING EXPOSURE TO A COLLEGE LEVEL COURSE IN HIGH SCHOOL IS ONE OF THE BEST PREPARATIONS FOR STUDENTS FOR SUCCESS IN COLLEGE. GREAT. THERE'S THAT AND THEN I HAVE ONE MORE BIG TOPIC, RELATIVELY BIG TOPIC. JUST WANT TO PROVIDE A BIG UPDATE ON, IT'S NOT THE FULL UPDATE YET, BUT JUST SO FAR ARE KNOWING IT'S ON OUR RADAR IT'S SOMETHING THAT WE'RE GOING TO BE COMMUNICATING ON VERY SOON. NOW THAT WE'RE BACK IN SCHOOL AND WE'RE GETTING THINGS KICKED BACK OFF, WE ARE GEARING BACK UP FOR MOVING TO THE NEXT STAGES IN THE CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT PROJECT PLANNING. SEVERAL OF US HAVE BOND STEERING, BRIGHT AND EARLY TOMORROW AT 8:00 AM WE'LL BE HAVING A BOND STEERING COMMITTEE MEETING. WE'RE GOING TO BE HAVING THOSE MEETINGS MONTHLY AND ALEX AND I ARE FINISHING DETAILS ON WHAT WE'RE LOOKING OUT FOR A COMMUNICATIONS PLAN AROUND THAT. WE'RE ANTICIPATING SINCE WE'RE MEETING MONTHLY, WE'RE HOPING TO THEN HAVE BOARD UPDATES AT EACH MONTH FROM THE COMMITTEE MEMBERS AND THEN IN OUR BOARD UPDATES, USING THAT AS A TOOL EACH MONTH TO KEEP THE CONVERSATION ABOUT WHAT'S GOING ON WITH THE CAPITAL PROJECTS OUT AND ALIVE IN THE COMMUNITY. ALSO AT KEY POINTS, KEY MILESTONES IN THE CONSTRUCTION PROCESS. WE'RE GOING TO BE SENDING COMMUNITY WIDE EMAILS, AS WELL AS HARD MAILING TO THE IMMEDIATE NEIGHBORS BECAUSE WE RECOGNIZE THEY'RE NOT ALL ON OUR EMAIL CHAIN, [00:15:03] SO WE WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT THERE'S ROBUST COMMUNICATION THERE. WE'VE TALKED WITH KG&D AND OUR CONSTRUCTION MANAGER WHO WILL BE HOPEFULLY GETTING THAT CONTRACT ON THE AGENDA NEXT TIME. THEY'RE PLANNING ON QUARTERLY UPDATES TO THE BOARD AS WELL, CERTAINLY IN ALIGNMENT WITH MILESTONES OF THE PROJECT WE CAN EXPECT TO SEEING AND HEARING FROM THEM ABOUT QUARTERLY. >> ADDITIONALLY AS I SAID, WE GOT BOND STEERING TOMORROW MORNING ON THURSDAY AT SIWINI. I'VE BEEN WORKING WITH MRS. KRAMER GILBERT TO SET UP A SERIES OF USER GROUPS AND THE USER GROUPS REALLY ARE PRIMARILY INTERNAL USERS OF THE FACILITY. THOSE USER GROUPS ARE PART OF THE NORMAL DESIGN PROCESS. THIS IS NOT SOMETHING THAT'S A BROAD PROCESS. THIS IS SOMETHING WHERE YOU REALLY WORK IN SMALL GROUPS WITH THE USERS OF THE BUILDING. MEETINGS WITH DIFFERENT TEACHERS. WE'VE GOT KINDERGARTEN TEACHERS FIRST. SECOND, SPECIALIST TEACHERS, SUPPORT STAFF, ETC, A SERIES OF FOLKS. WE ALSO HAVE WORKING WITH THE PTA TO SET UP A PTA USER GROUP, BECAUSE THEY'RE IN THE BUILDING SO MUCH. THEY DO A LOT OF OUR ARTS AND ED PLANNING. PEOPLE WHO ARE USING THE INTERIORS OF THE BUILDING SIGNIFICANTLY, SO WE'VE GOT THEM. WE'RE GOING TO HAVE A SITE BASED GROUP AND ALSO WE'RE PUTTING TOGETHER ACROSS SECTOR PLAYGROUND GROUP. WE'LL HAVE A REPRESENTATIVE FROM RECREATION, FROM JUNIOR WONDERS, AND THEN SCHOOL STAFF WHO USE THE BUILDING AS WELL. WE DO HAVE A COUPLE NEIGHBORS AS WELL, ONE IN PARTICULAR WHO'S DONE SOME WORK ON THE PROPERTY ALREADY WITH THE MICRO FOREST. WE'RE EXCITED TO GET THOSE UP AND RUNNING. THIS IS THE FIRST STEP IN THAT PROCESS, SO THE ARCHITECTS WILL BE THERE. I'LL BE THERE WITH MS. KRAMER GILBERT FOR THE DAY. WE'RE GETTING THE REAL DEEP UNDERSTANDING OF THE FLOW OF THE BUILDING FROM THE INSIDE AND WHAT THEY NEED TO DO, WHAT NEEDS TO BE PRESERVED, WHAT NEEDS TO BE IMPROVED. IT'S A STARTING STAGE. WE'RE HOPING BY EARLY BEFORE THE END OF THE CALENDAR YEAR, THEN TO HAVE AN INITIAL DRAFT AND WE'LL TALK MORE ABOUT THIS AT BOND STEERING TOMORROW. JUST SO EVERYONE KNOWS, WE WILL BE FOLLOWING WITH A COMMUNICATION UPDATE ON THIS PROBABLY NEXT WEEK ONCE WE'VE GOTTEN THROUGH BOND STEERING COMMITTEE AND THROUGH THE USER GROUP MEETING. WE'RE HOPING AT SOME POINT BEFORE THE END OF THE CALENDAR YEAR THEN TO BE ABLE TO COME OUT WITH HOPEFULLY AN INITIAL UPDATE ON THE DESIGN DRAFT TO BE ABLE TO SHARE WITH NEIGHBORS AND TO HAVE SOME INFO SESSIONS ON AND FEEDBACK OPPORTUNITIES FOR THE COMMUNITY AS THE BROADER COMMUNITY. ALSO, I'M PLANNING. WE JUST PICKED A DATE TODAY. THIS IS HOT OFF THE PRESSES. THE MORNING OF OCTOBER 8, WE'RE GOING TO PLAN TO DO A NEIGHBORHOOD COFFEE. HOPEFULLY IT'LL BE NICE WEATHER AND WE'LL BE OUT ON THE PLAYGROUND WITH A BOX OF JOE. WE'LL INVITE THE NEIGHBORS TO COME OVER AND GIVE US THEIR THOUGHTS ON FLOW OF THE TRAFFIC, USE OF THE PROPERTY, ANYTHING THAT THEY THINK IS IMPORTANT FOR US TO KNOW AS WE START TO REALLY GET TO THE BRASS TACKS OF DESIGN. WE'LL START THAT CONVERSATION ON MORNING OF THE OCTOBER 8. >> OCTOBER 8 OR 28? >> EIGHTH. >> YES. SORRY. I MAY HAVE MISSPOKE. >> NOTED. >> I MAY HAVE MISSPOKE, OCTOBER 8. I THINK AT 8:30 RIGHT AFTER DROP OFF. FOLKS CAN COME, DROP THE CHILDREN OFF, HAVE A QUICK CUP OF COFFEE, GIVE US SOME FEEDBACK, AND THEN GO ON TO WORK. THAT'S WHERE WE STAND RIGHT NOW. AS I SAID, WE'LL BE PUTTING OUT A BROADER COMMUNICATION NEXT WEEK ONCE WE GET THROUGH BOND STEERING, BECAUSE WE'RE GOING TO BE REVIEWING MILESTONES TOMORROW MORNING, CONSTRUCTION SCHEDULES, ETC. I SPOKE SPECIFICALLY TO SIWINI AS YOU'LL BE SEEING THE COMMUNICATION, TOO. OUR GOAL IS WE'RE GOING TO BE STARTING DESIGN FOR SOME OF THE OTHER BUILDINGS RENOVATIONS IN THE HOPES THAT WE CAN GET SOME WORK OFF THE GROUND NEXT SUMMER. NOT AT SIWINI, LIKELY AT THE OTHER BUILDINGS. BUT SIWINI, WE EXPECT TO BE IN DESIGN MOST OF THIS YEAR AND THEN GET THOSE PLANS UP TO STATE ED BY THE END OF THIS SCHOOL YEAR, I THINK IS WHAT WE'RE TARGETING. BUT AGAIN, WE'LL GET MORE SPECIFIC ON THAT AFTER TOMORROW'S MEETING, AND ONCE WE GET OUR CONSTRUCTION MANAGER FULLY ON BOARD. WITH THAT, I'M GOING TO END MY REPORT. ANY MORE QUESTIONS ON THAT, THOUGH? I KNOW THE LIE. THANK YOU. >> THANK YOU. WE'RE GOING TO MOVE TO 4.2 WHICH IS THE STUDENT BOARD MEMBER REPORT. [4.2 Ex Officio Student Report] >> THAT'S FINE. IT DOESN'T SOUND AS LOUD UP HERE AS IT DOES TO THEM. >> I'D LIKE TO THANK YOU GUYS FOR HAVING ME AGAIN. THE LAST TWO WEEKS, I'VE OBSERVED WHAT'S BEEN GOING ON IN THE SCHOOL AND THEN ALSO DIFFERENT STUDENT EVENTS THAT ARE HAPPENING. ON THIS THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 18TH FROM 3:00- 4:00 PM POMEMORIAL HIGH SCHOOL WILL HOST ITS ANNUAL CLUB FAIR. THIS EVENT HIGHLIGHTS STUDENT DRIVEN INITIATIVES, ENCOURAGES BROAD PARTICIPATION IN EXTRACURRICULAR ACTIVITIES. EACH CLUB IS ENTIRELY STUDENT CREATED AND THEY MUST IDENTIFY A FACULTY ADVISOR, ESTABLISH COMMUNICATION CHANNELS SUCH AS LIKE GROUP ME OR CREATING GOOGLE CLASSROOMS. THEY ALSO HAVE TO PRESENT THEIR PROPOSAL TO THE STUDENT GOVERNMENT FOR APPROVAL BEFORE RECRUITING MEMBERS. IT'S A VERY GOOD WAY TO START ENGAGING IN WHAT REAL WORLD ACTIVITIES MIGHT BE WHEN YOU GROW UP, [00:20:02] IT'S VERY GOOD FOR HIGH SCHOOL STUDENT. ALSO, THAT EVENING DURING THE PMHS OPEN HOUSE MANY STUDENTS WHO WILL VOLUNTEER TO GUIDE PARENTS TO CLASSROOMS AND EVENTS. THE SERVICE NOT ONLY SUPPORTS OUR SCHOOL COMMUNITY, BUT IT ALSO ALLOWS STUDENTS TO EARN HOURS TOWARDS THEIR GRADUATION REQUIREMENT WHICH IS 40 HOURS, BUT OBVIOUSLY THAT'S ENCOURAGED TO GO ABOVE AND BEYOND AND MOST STUDENTS DO. ALSO, ALONG WITH THIS MANY FALL SPORTS HAVE BEEN HAPPENING RIGHT NOW SUCH AS SOCCER, TRACK, VOLLEYBALL, FIELD HOCKEY. I'M MISSING ONE, FOOTBALL. A LOT OF SCHOOL SPIRIT HAS COME WITH THAT SUCH AS THE TEAM MEMBERS DRESSING UP, ESPECIALLY FOR VARSITY. TYPICALLY, ON TEAM DAYS THEY WILL DRESS UP IN THE SCHOOL AND GET PEOPLE HYPE ABOUT IT, MORE PARTICIPATION TO GAMES. ALSO, JV THEY HAVE DIFFERENT PRACTICES WHERE THEY DRESS UP MAKING IT MORE FUN AND OBVIOUSLY, FOOTBALL WHICH HAS ITS OWN THEME EVERY FRIDAY AND A LOT OF PEOPLE FILL THE STANDS FOR THAT. A LOT OF PARTICIPATION THERE. AT THE HIGH SCHOOL, THERE'S A SCIENCE RESEARCH PROGRAM AND IT CONTINUES TO THRIVE. STUDENTS ENGAGE IN LONG TERM INDEPENDENT PROJECTS THAT OFTEN LEAD TO INTERNSHIPS AND COMPETITIVE PRESENTATIONS AT STATE, NATIONAL, AND INTERNATIONAL LEVELS. THIS SATURDAY, THE PROGRAM WILL HOST ITS ANNUAL WAGATHON FUNDRAISER ORGANIZED BY AMPLIFY, THE PARENT SUPPORT GROUP FOR SCIENCE RESEARCH. THIS IS AN EVENT WHERE ANYONE FROM THE COMMUNITY CAN COME AND THEY CAN BRING THEIR DOGS [LAUGHTER] WHICH IS ALWAYS FUN. PROCEEDS HELP PROVIDE STUDENT RESEARCH GRANTS, COVER COMPETITION REGISTRATION FEES FOR THOSE NEEDING FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE, AND THEY SUPPORT COMMUNITY EVENTS SUCH AS THE SENIOR SYMPOSIUM AND END OF YEAR SYMPOSIUM. THIS EVENT ALSO GIVES JUNIORS AND SENIORS AN OPPORTUNITY TO PRACTICE THEIR RESEARCH PRESENTATIONS, AND THIS YEAR'S WAGTHON WILL FEATURE AUTHENTIC GREEK FOOD, BAKED GOODS, AND EVEN SPECIAL TREATS FOR DOGS. [LAUGHTER] TOMORROW EVENING IS ALSO SENIOR COLLEGE NIGHT, AND IMPORTANT MILESTONE IN THE COLLEGE PLANNING PROCESS THAT PROVIDES STUDENTS AND FAMILIES WITH GUIDANCE ON APPLICATIONS, ESSAYS, FINANCIAL AID, AND THE TRANSITION FROM HIGH SCHOOL TO COLLEGE. THEN FINALLY, I WANT TO PROVIDE AN UPDATE ON THE SCHOOL PHONE POLICY. THE NEW RESTRICTIONS HAVE BEEN VERY SUCCESSFUL WITH STRONG COMPLIANCE ACROSS THE ENTIRE STUDENT BODY. WHILE I EXPECTED MORE RESISTANCE, I'VE SEEN THE OPPOSITE. STUDENTS ARE ENGAGING MORE WITH ONE ANOTHER, CREATING A NOTICEABLE INCREASE IN CONVERSATION, AND INTERACTION IN THE HALLWAYS INSTEAD OF PHONE USE. THEN ALSO DURING THE CAFETERIA TIME, BECAUSE WE CAN'T HAVE THAT IN THE LAUNCH ROOM ANYMORE. THERE'S A LOT MORE CONVERSATIONS GOING AROUND. HONESTLY, A LOT MORE SMILES HAVE SEEN ON PEOPLE'S FACES. PEOPLE JUST OVERALL LOOK HAPPIER, SO IT'S BEEN VERY SUCCESSFUL SO FAR. THAT'S IT. >> AWESOME. THANK YOU. [OVERLAPPING] >> THANK YOU. >> THAT'S GREAT NEWS ABOUT HERE. >> EMERSON, JUST QUICK. DO YOU KNOW WHERE THE WAGATHON IS BEING HELD THIS YEAR? DO YOU KNOW THE ADDRESS? >> IT'S KAPLAN. I'D HAVE TO LOOK AT THE EXACT ADDRESS. IT'S BY MONTEREY. YOU'LL DEFINITELY NOTICE A LOT OF CARS BEING PARKED AROUND THERE. [LAUGHTER] >> FOLLOW THE CARS, GOOD. I'M SURE IT WENT OUT. >> I'D HAVE TO GET THE EXACT. >> I'M SURE IT WENT OUT IN THE PARENTS SQUARE, SO GREAT. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. >> THANK YOU. >> GREAT. OF COURSE. >> THANK YOU FOR YOUR UPDATE. I ENJOY HEARING ALL ABOUT IT, ESPECIALLY THE SMILES IN THE HALLWAYS AND THE CAFETERIA, BECAUSE OF THE CELL PHONE POLICY. JUST A QUESTION. >> [INAUDIBLE] >> I KNOW. IT'S NOT IN THE RIGHT SPOT. SORRY. IT'S ALWAYS ME. THIS IS BETTER. WERE YOU ABLE TO SIGN UP FOR ANY TRAINING EVENTS AS OUR STUDENT BOE MEMBER? I THINK YOU'RE ABLE TO GET SOME, ALL OF US ENGAGED IN BOARD OF EDUCATION MEMBER TRAININGS. I THINK YOU'RE ALSO ABLE TO DO SOME TRAININGS. WERE YOU ABLE TO SIGN UP FOR SOMETHING OR DID ANYTHING LOOK INTERESTING TO YOU? >> I THINK TOMORROW, I SIGNED UP FOUR IN THE MORNING, F 815 - 945. IT'S MY FIRST TOMORROW. YES, I'M GOING TO BE THERE TOMORROW. >> THAT'S GREAT AND IT'S VIRTUAL? >> THAT'S THE ONE THAT'S HOSTED BY THE STATE EDUCATION DEPARTMENT. >> SHELLY MAYER IS GOING TO BE THERE. THAT'S THE ONE SHELLY MAYER? >> I THINK SO. >> I'M SO EXCITED THAT YOU'VE COME. I THINK AS A STUDENT, YOU HAVE SO MUCH TO DO. THIS IS ONE MORE THING THAT YOU'RE ADDING TO YOUR LIST ON TOP OF ALL OF YOUR EXTRACURRICULARS, YOUR ACADEMICS, AND ALL THAT. BUT FOR YOU TO PREPARE, SPEND THE TIME TO PREPARE TO GIVE US YOUR UPDATE IS WONDERFUL. THEN ALSO TO INVEST YOUR OWN TIME IN THESE TRAININGS TO LEARN MORE ABOUT HOW TO BE AN EFFECTIVE STUDENT BOARD MEMBER. I THINK IT'S REALLY IMPORTANT TO FOR YOU TO NETWORK WITH OTHER STUDENT BOARD MEMBERS, HEAR FROM THEIR EXPERIENCES, AND SHARE IDEAS AND THOUGHTS. THE COOL THING ABOUT TOMORROW'S TRAINING IS THAT SHELLY MAYER WILL BE ON IT AND SHE IS THE CHAIR OF THE EDUCATION COMMITTEE OF THE SENATE EDUCATION COMMITTEE. SHE'S ONE OF THE BIG EDUCATION LAWMAKERS AND INSTRUMENTAL IN PASSING [00:25:05] THIS POLICY THAT IS NOW ALLOWING STUDENT OR AUTHORIZING STUDENT BOARD MEMBERS TO JOIN BOARD STATEWIDE. SHE'LL HAVE A LOT OF INSIGHT AND JUST PROBABLY REALLY INTERESTING THINGS TO SHARE ABOUT WHAT HER VISION FOR STUDENT BOARD MEMBERS. I'M REALLY EXCITED THAT YOU'LL BE ABLE TO HEAR HER SPEAK, BECAUSE SHE'S ONE OF THOSE INSPIRATIONAL LAWMAKERS. THANK YOU FOR DEDICATING YOUR TIME FOR THAT. >> THANK YOU. I'M LOOKING FORWARD TO IT. >> WE'RE LOOKING FORWARD TO HEARING THE UPDATE AFTERWARDS. >> YOU'RE WELCOME TO STAY AS LONG AS YOU'D LIKE TONIGHT, TOO OR NOT. [LAUGHTER] ALWAYS JUST FEEL FREE TO DO WHAT YOU NEED TO DO, BUT THANK YOU. >> THANK YOU. >> NEXT WE HAVE BOARD OF EDUCATION COMMITTEE REPORTS. IS OUR FIRST COMMITTEE MEETING TOMORROW? >> I THINK OUR FIRST COMMITTEE IS TOMORROW. YES, SO NO COMMITTEES. >> WOULD THIS BE A GOOD TIME, KATHERINE TO TALK A BIT ABOUT ADVOCACY OR? >> SURE. YES, THIS IS WHEN YOU WANT ME TO TALK ABOUT IT? REALLY BRIEFLY, BECAUSE WE'LL TALK ABOUT THE RESOLUTIONS MORE NEXT WEEK. BUT I'LL BE SERVING AS THE ADVOCACY LIAISON FOR OUR BOARD TO THE NEW YORK STATE SCHOOL BOARD ASSOCIATION. ALSO AS THE VOTING DELEGATE WHICH IS FROM OUR BOARD TO THE NEW YORK STATE SCHOOL BOARD ASSOCIATION. THAT ROLE CONNECTS WELL WITH MY OTHER ROLE WHICH IS ON THE REGIONAL SCHOOL BOARD ASSOCIATION, WESTCHESTER PUTNAM VALLEY SCHOOL BOARD ASSOCIATION WHICH I WILL REFER TO FROM NOW ON AS WEST PUT JUST TO MAKE IT EASIER, SO WEST PUT. WEST PUTS ADVOCACY COMMITTEE MET LAST WEEK TO GO OVER THE NISBA RESOLUTIONS THAT ARE ON THE SLATE TO BE VOTED ON THIS YEAR. >> THAT'S IN MID OCTOBER. >> THE NISBA ANNUAL BUSINESS MEETING WHERE WE VOTE ON THESE RESOLUTIONS IS OCTOBER 16. LET ME BACK UP JUST SO IT'S CLEAR, BECAUSE THIS IS THE FIRST TIME WE'VE BEEN DOING THIS IN A LITTLE BIT. I WANT TO MAKE SURE I'M TAKING IT STEP BY STEP AND NOT CUTTING THE PROCESS. WEST PUT IS OUR REGIONAL BOARD ASSOCIATION. NISBA IS THE STATE. THESE RESOLUTIONS THAT WE DISCUSSED AT THE ADVOCACY MEETING LAST WEEK WERE STATEWIDE. THEY WERE SUBMITTED FROM SCHOOL BOARD. IT'S ALL ACROSS THE STATE. NISBA RESOLUTION COMMITTEE MET, NARROWED THEM DOWN TO THE ONES THAT MADE THE MOST SENSE, AND THEN PUT THEM OUT TO THEIR MEMBERSHIP WHICH IS EVERY SINGLE SCHOOL BOARD THAT IS A MEMBER, PUT THEM OUT TO THEIR MEMBERSHIP TO THEN DISCUSS AND DECIDE WHICH OF THESE RESOLUTIONS SHOULD WE AS A SCHOOL BOARD SUPPORT. WE HAVE A REGIONAL SCHOOL BOARD ASSOCIATION. WE MET LAST WEEK, THE ADVOCACY COMMITTEE MET LAST WEEK TO DISCUSS THE STATE WIDE RESOLUTIONS AT THE REGIONAL LEVEL. WE DISCUSSED WHY IT WOULD MAKE SENSE AND WHAT OUR REASONING WOULD BE TO EITHER SUPPORT, OPPOSE, OR MAYBE HAVE NO DECISION, OR NO CONSENSUS ON THE RESOLUTIONS AND HOW THEY WOULD IMPACT US REGIONALLY. THEN FROM THERE WE HAVE A WORKSHEET WHICH I SHARED WITH OUR CONSENSUS STATEMENTS THAT WE THEN TAKE BACK THE ADVOCACY COMMITTEE AND WEST PUT, AND IT'S ON THEIR WEBSITE. THIS IS PUBLIC INFORMATION SO ANYONE CAN LOOK UP. IF YOU'RE SO INCLINED, YOU CAN LOOK UP WESTCHESTER PUTNAM VALLEY SCHOOL BOARD ASSOCIATION AND FIND ALL OF THIS INFORMATION. THE NISBA RESOLUTIONS ARE ON THERE. THIS WORKSHEET IS ON THERE, BUT THEN WE TAKE THAT BACK TO OUR DISTRICTS AND THAT HELPS US GUIDE THE CONVERSATIONS BASED ON WHAT WE THINK AS A REGION MAKES SENSE FOR US AND WHY. WE CAN THEN TALK MORE LOCALLY ABOUT AT THE DISTRICT LEVEL ALL WE CAN GO THROUGH ALL 38 RESOLUTIONS AND SOME OF THE SUNSETTING OF FIVE SUNSETTING RESOLUTIONS. THAT SUNSETTING RESOLUTIONS MEANS THAT THESE RESOLUTIONS HAVE BEEN ON THE DOCKET FOR FIVE YEARS AND NOW THEY'RE EXPIRING UNLESS THEY'VE BEEN VOTED IN TO CONTINUE UNLESS THEY REMAIN RELEVANT. THEN THIS WORKSHEET IS WHAT WE TAKE BACK TO OUR DISTRICTS TO THEN TALK AT A MORE LOCAL LEVEL OF WHY WE WOULD SUPPORT, OPPOSE, OR MAYBE HAVE NO DECISION ON THE RESOLUTIONS AT THE STATE LEVEL. THIS IS NOT LEGISLATIVE BILLS OR LAWS. THIS IS NOT COMMENTING ON NEW LEGISLATION THAT WOULD PASS AND POLICIES THAT WOULD PASS. THIS IS OUR CHANCE AS A DISTRICT TO INFLUENCE AND TO SAY OUR PIECE AND HOW WE FEEL ABOUT WHERE NISBA SHOULD SPEND THEIR TIME ADVOCATING. [00:30:07] IT'S IMPORTANT, BECAUSE NISBA IS THE LARGEST. THEY HAVE A LOT OF POWER BEHIND THEM. THEY ARE THE LARGEST SCHOOL BOARD ASSOCIATION THAT UP IN ALBANY, LARGER THAN ANY OF THE REGIONAL BOARD ASSOCIATIONS THAT ARE UP THERE. THEY DO HAVE A LOT OF SWAY. IF WE WANT THEM TO SPEND THEIR TIME TALKING ABOUT THINGS, WE WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT WE AT LEAST HAVE SOME INFLUENCE OVER WHAT THEY'RE TALKING ABOUT. THAT'S WHY THIS IS IMPORTANT. THAT'S WHAT WE MET LAST WEEK TO NARROW DOWN AND THAT'S WHAT WE CAN DISCUSS MORE AS A DISTRICT, WHAT THAT WOULD MAKE SENSE FOR US AS A DISTRICT. >> I'M EXCITED ABOUT YOUR INVOLVEMENT IN THIS. I JUST HAVE TO SAY, SO THANK YOU FOR DOING THE WORK. I KNOW YOU'RE PASSIONATE ABOUT IT, WHICH IS GREAT BECAUSE YOU NEED SOMEONE TO TAKE IT ON. I WOULD JUST SAY, I'M EXCITED ABOUT IT BECAUSE I DO IN MY PROFESSIONAL CIRCLES, AND I'M SURE JIM'S HEARING IN HIS PROFESSIONAL CIRCLES, TRICIA AND HER. PEOPLE ARE SEEING THIS IS A VERY IMPORTANT YEAR FOR PUBLIC EDUCATION AND TO PROTECT THE FUTURE IN PUBLIC EDUCATION. I KNOW THERE'S LOTS OF THOUGHTS AROUND THAT AND LOTS OF PERSPECTIVES AND PHILOSOPHIES. BUT WHERE I SIT AS A LEADER OF A PUBLIC EDUCATION INSTITUTION, THAT'S MY FOCUS, THE KIDS IN, IN THE PUBLIC SCHOOLS. TO HAVE STRONG ADVOCATES OF SETTING THAT AGENDA AND HAVING PEOPLE WHO UNDERSTAND THE REGIONAL NEEDS IS CRITICALLY IMPORTANT SO THAT THE ADVOCACY AGENDA IS THE RIGHT ONE. THANK YOU FOR THAT. I LOOK FORWARD TO CONTINUING THESE CONVERSATIONS. >> YOU'RE WELCOME, I'M EXCITED TO BE ABLE TO DO IT. THANK YOU FOR ALLOWING ME TO REPRESENT PELHAM AND THE STUDENTS OF PELHAM AND OUR COMMUNITY IN THIS WAY AT THE STATE LEVEL, AND EVEN AT THE FEDERAL LEVEL, IT GOES UP THAT HIGH. THANK YOU FOR THAT OPPORTUNITY TO DO THAT. I'M GLAD THAT PELHAM WILL HAVE A LARGER VOICE AT THE TABLE. AND ALSO, IT'S CONFUSING. SO IF ANYONE HAS ANY QUESTIONS OR ANYTHING YOU CAN ALWAYS ASK BECAUSE I KNOW THE STUFF GETS COMPLICATED. NOT THAT I DON'T THINK YOU WOULD KNOW OR BE ABLE TO DO IT OR UNDERSTAND. [LAUGHTER]. IT'S JUST IF YOU'RE NOT READING ALL THE THINGS. >> THE BANDWIDTH ISSUE. [LAUGHTER]. >> IF YOU'RE NOT REALLY READING ALL THE THINGS, IT BECOMES A LITTLE BIT COMPLICATED. >> GREAT. >> THANKS, KATHERINE. >> YEAH, THANK YOU FOR DOING THIS. I THINK IT'S ACTUALLY PRETTY AMAZING TO HAVE THOSE SEATS AT THE TABLE AND TO BE ABLE TO BRING THEM BACK HERE AND TO BRING SOME BEST PRACTICES AND HELP US BE BETTER AS A BOARD, GIVEN WHERE YOU'RE SITTING ON THE STATE AND THE REGIONAL SPACES. I THINK IT'S FANTASTIC, SO THANK YOU. >> GREAT. ARE YOU DOING CLAIRE? [4.4 Assistant Superintendent's Update on Personal Growth and Achievement] >> I'LL JUST DO SUPER QUICK. >> SO YES. >> SINCE DR. COMERFORD'S HERE, JUST A COUPLE OF KEY HIGHLIGHTS THAT I KNOW THAT THE CABINET SHARED THEIR AGENDAS WITH OUR FULL MEMOS WITH THE BOARD, BUT JUST WANTED TO STRESS HER KEY HIGHLIGHTS THAT SHE HAD SHARED WITH AI INSTRUCTION. THAT'S ONE OF OUR BIG ROCKS FOR THIS YEAR IS UNDER THE INSTRUCTIONAL TECHNOLOGY REALM. WE WERE REALLY EXCITED ON OPENING DAY THAT ALL DISTRICT FACULTY GOT TO ENGAGE IN PROFESSIONAL LEARNING OPPORTUNITIES AROUND THE ETHICAL AND RESPONSIBLE INTEGRATION OF ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE INTO INSTRUCTION. THAT'S EVERYTHING FROM PERSONAL PROFESSIONAL USE TO HOW TO TACKLE THIS AND USE IT IN THE CLASSROOM. WE'RE EXCITED TO SEE HOW THAT'S GOING TO EVOLVE THIS YEAR. DR. COMERFORD DID HER DISSERTATION IN THE AREA OF AI. WE'RE REALLY FORTUNATE TO HAVE HER EXPERTISE AND LOOK FORWARD TO THE WORK THAT SHE WITH THE AI COMMITTEE, ARE DOING, THAT'S ALSO MR. SABALOS, AND MISS DEL MASTRO HAVE BEEN LEADING THAT WORK AND REALLY EXCITING ABOUT IT. CHEMISTRY ASSESSMENT SHIFT, WE'VE ALREADY TALKED ABOUT, AND THE ONLY OTHER ITEM THAT YOU WANTED TO REMIND THE BOARD AS SHE'S PREPARING FOR THE NOVEMBER STUDENT OUTCOME, WORK SESSION, YOUR FEEDBACK ON, WHAT WAS INCLUDED IN THOSE IN THE PAST, WHAT YOU'D LIKE TO SEE IN THE FUTURE WILL BE REALLY HELPFUL. THAT WAS AGAIN IN HER MEMO, IF YOU COULD JUST TAKE SOME TIME B AND PROVIDE FEEDBACK THAT'LL HELP HER SHAPE THAT BECAUSE OUR GOAL IS TO TRY TO REALLY HIT THE MARK ON WHAT YOU'RE LOOKING FOR. THAT'S IT FROM TEACHING AND LEARNING FOR NOW. >> THANK YOU. NEXT, WE HAVE ASSISTANT SUPERINTENDENTS UPDATE AND BELONGING AND WELLNESS. [4.5 Assistant Superintendent's Update on Belonging and Wellness] >> GOOD EVENING. >> THE START OF SCHOOL YEAR IN SPECIAL EDUCATION IS ESPECIALLY A BUSY TIME. WE DO A LOT OF PREPARING OVER THE SUMMER TO MAKE SURE THAT OUR PROGRAMS ARE READY, THAT OUR STAFF IS READY, THAT WE HAVE ALL THE RESOURCES IN PLACE. AND THIS SUMMER WAS NO EXCEPTION. A COUPLE OF KEY HIGHLIGHTS, WE DID HAVE A NEW CLASS, A NEW 812 CLASS OPEN THIS YEAR AT HUTCHINSON, SO THERE WAS A LOT OF PREPARATION. WENT ON OVER THE SUMMER TO MAKE SURE THAT WE HAD THE FURNITURE, THE RESOURCES. MISS BATSO IS THE NEW TEACHER OF THAT CLASS. [00:35:03] THERE WAS A LOT OF WORK THAT WENT ON THIS SUMMER, MAKING SURE SHE WAS READY TO GET UP AND RUNNING WITH THE STUDENTS. I HAD THE OPPORTUNITY THE FIRST COUPLE OF WEEKS OF SCHOOL TO BE OUT AND ABOUT IN CLASSROOMS, AND ALL OF THE KIDS LOOKED AMAZING AND HAPPY AND SMILING, AND IT WAS VERY HAPPY TO SEE, AND FOR ME, VERY RELIEVED TO SEE THAT, NOT A LOT OF CRIERS. THAT'S ALWAYS GOOD. THAT'S WHAT YOU WANT. A COUPLE OF FIRST DAYS. THE OTHER THING TO MENTION IS THAT OVER THE SUMMER, THERE'S A LOT OF PLANNING GETTING OUR CONSULTANTS UP AND RUNNING, WHAT WE'RE PLANNING FOR FOR THE SCHOOL YEAR. WE KNOW WE HAVE OUR CONSULTANCY WITH COGNITIVE BEHAVIORAL CONSULTANTS WHO ARE STARTING AGAIN WITH US THIS YEAR. THEY WORK WITH OUR COUNSELING STAFF TO DO OUR TIER 2, TIER 3 SUPPORT IN TERMS OF SCL WITH ALL OF OUR PSYCHOLOGISTS AND OUR TSP PROGRAM IN THE MIDDLE SCHOOL HIGH SCHOOL. WE MAPPED OUT WHAT THE YEAR WAS GOING TO LOOK LOOK LIKE FOR THEM AND WHAT WE'RE GOING TO BE THE TOPICS OF FOCUS FOR THE STAFF. OUR INTEGRATED CO TEACHING CONSULTANTS ARE STARTING AGAIN, AS WELL THIS YEAR. OUR FIRST VISIT IN THE HIGH SCHOOL IN THE ELEMENTARY SCHOOL WILL BE TOMORROW. WE HAVE CO TEACHING TEAMS AT THE ELEMENTARY YEAR AT K1 AND 2, AND, OF COURSE, WHAT WE HAVE IN THE MIDDLE AND HIGH SCHOOL. BUT EXCITED THAT THAT WILL BE HAPPENING AS WELL. COUPLE OF OTHER PLANNING THINGS THAT WE HAPPEN. DOCTOR CHAMP MENTIONED BIG ROCKS. ONE OF OUR OTHER BIG ROCKS THAT WE'RE FOCUSING ON THIS YEAR IS MTSS AND MTSS SPECIFICALLY, NOT ONLY ACADEMICALLY, BUT SCL. WE ARE PARTNERING VERY CLOSELY WITH OUR PARTNERS AT BOSS AND THE RECS GRANT WHO ARE HELPING US MAP OUT WHAT THAT WORK IS GOING TO LOOK LIKE THIS YEAR. WE ARE GOING TO HAVE A DISTRICT WIDE MTSS SCL COMMITTEE THAT'S GOING TO HELP US CHIP AWAY THE WORK THAT NEEDS TO BE DONE, SO WE HAVE SOME CONCRETE DELIVERABLES AT THE END OF THE YEAR, WHERE WE WANT TO SEE GO WITH IN TERMS OF MTSS SCL AND TIER 1. JUST LAST TO ROUND OUT SPECIAL EDUCATION. I WANT TO JUST MENTION THE FIRST SEPTA MEETING THIS YEAR IS OCTOBER 9, 07:00 IN THIS ROOM. HOPEFULLY, AS MANY PEOPLE CAN ATTEND. THAT WOULD BE GREAT. OCTOBER 9, IN THIS ROOM AT 7:00. THEN JUST QUICKLY, IN TERMS OF THE COUNSELING DEPARTMENT, START OF THE YEAR IS ALWAYS AT AN EXTREMELY BUSY TIME FOR ALL OF OUR COUNSELORS. THERE'S A LOT THAT THEY DO AS FAR AS MAKING SURE STUDENT SCHEDULES ARE IN PLACE. THAT CONFLICTS ARE WORKED OUT, THAT STUDENTS ARE IN THE CLASSES THAT THEY SHOULD BE IN AND NEED TO BE IN. I KNOW THE FIRST FEW WEEKS OF SCHOOL ARE VERY BUSY FOR THEM. BUT ON TOP OF THAT, COLLEGE VISITS HAVE ALREADY BEGUN. THE COUNSELING DEPARTMENT GOT STARTED AS SOON AS SEPTEMBER 9. WE HAD VISITS FROM OUR COLLEGES, AND THEY CONTINUE THROUGHOUT THE FALL. STUDENTS SHOULD PAY ATTENTION TO THE ANNOUNCEMENT SO THEY KNOW WHICH COLLEGES AND UNIVERSITIES ARE COMING TO VISIT. AS EMERSON MENTIONED, TOMORROW IS ONE OF OUR FIRST IN SERIES OF NIGHTS FOR OUR SENIORS, SO IT IS GRADE 12 COLLEGE NIGHT. THAT'S AN IMPORTANT NIGHT FOR SENIORS AND PARENTS, JUST TO MAKE SURE THAT THEY HEAR HOW TO STAY ON TRACK AS A SENIOR. MAKE SURE THAT YOU'RE SENDING TRANSCRIPTS TO THE APPROPRIATE PLACES. YOU'VE GOT LETTERS OF RECOMMENDATION IN PLACE. THAT YOUR ESSAYS HAVE ALL BEEN SUBMITTED. MAKE SURE THAT IS TOMORROW AT 7:00 O'CLOCK IN THE HIGH SCHOOL AUDITORIUM. THAT'S IT. THANK YOU. OH, I'M SORRY. ONE OTHER THING IN SPECIAL EDUCATION THAT WE ALSO DID THIS SUMMER, THAT I THINK IS VERY MUCH WORTH MENTIONING. WE ALSO HAVE SOME UPDATES TO THE HUTCHINSON PLAYGROUND. WE ARE MAKING WE DID A GREAT DEAL OF WORK THIS SUMMER EXPLORING SOME MORE INCLUSIVE ENHANCEMENTS TO OUR HUTCHINSON PLAYGROUND. WE HAVE A STUDENT JOINING US THIS YEAR WHO HAS SOME PHYSICAL CHALLENGES, AND WE WANTED TO MAKE SURE THAT WE WERE MEETING THE NEEDS OF THAT STUDENT. WE HAVE SOME ADDITIONAL GROUND LEVEL PANELS THAT WE'VE ORDERED THAT WILL BE COMING, WE HOPE, BY THE END OF THE MONTH TO BE INSTALLED. MS. KEENE THOMPSON HAS DONE A GREAT JOB AS WELL, MAKING SURE THAT THE K2 PLAYGROUND IS SET UP TO REALLY PROMOTE INCLUSION. SHE'S ORDERED SOME ADDITIONAL ITEMS, TOYS, EQUIPMENT, TOYS FOR THE STUDENTS TO PLAY WITH TO MAKE SURE THAT THERE IS A MANY INCLUSIVE OPPORTUNITIES FOR ALL OF THE STUDENTS DURING RECESS TIME. WE'RE VERY EXCITED ABOUT THOSE ADDITIONS. THAT'S OUR REPORT. THANK YOU. >> THANK YOU. NEXT, WE HAVE EXECUTIVE DIRECTORS DATE ON HUMAN RESOURCES AND LEADERSHIP. [4.6 Executive Director's Update on Human Resources and Leadership] >> GOOD EVENING, EVERYBODY. [00:40:01] IT'S VERY BUSY AND EXCITING START TO THE SCHOOL YEAR. WE'RE THRILLED TO WELCOME BACK ALL OF OUR DEDICATED TEACHERS AND STAFF, AND TO SEE THE SMILES ON THE STUDENTS AS THEY ENTER OUR BUILDINGS ON THE FIRST DAY OF SCHOOL. I'M HAPPY TO REPORT THAT WE HAD A VERY SUCCESSFUL NEW TEACHER ORIENTATION ON AUGUST 26. THANK YOU TO MRS. DI ANGELES AND DR. CHAMP FOR WELCOMING OUR 14 NEW TEACHERS TO THAT. WE ARE LOOKING FORWARD TO OUR FIRST AFTERNOON SESSION NEXT WEEK. THANK YOU TO MS. TRACY HOLTZ, WHO WILL BE COMING AND HELPING US BETTER UNDERSTAND SPECIAL EDUCATION AND COMPLIANCE AROUND THAT, AND WE'LL ALSO BE VISITED BY MISS KAYLYN RODRIGUEZ FROM PAYROLL, WHO ALSO HELP US WITH SOME OF THAT AS WELL. WE HAVE A REALLY EXCITING YEAR PLAN WITH OUR NEW TEACHERS. IN ADDITION, ONE OF THE GOALS LAST YEAR WAS TO INCREASE OUR PARTNERSHIP IN AREA, COLLEGES AND UNIVERSITIES. BELIEVE IT OR NOT, WE ACTUALLY HAVE 25 FUTURE EDUCATORS JOINING US THIS FALL, 12 OF THEM ARE STUDENT OBSERVERS, SEVEN OF THEM ARE STUDENT TEACHERS, AND SIX OF THEM ARE INTERNS. SOME ARE WITH US ONLY UNTIL ABOUT MID DECEMBER, SOME FOR THE ENTIRE SCHOOL YEAR. IT CAN GET A LITTLE CONFUSING. WHAT'S A STUDENT TEACHER? WHAT'S AN OBSERVER? WHAT'S AN INTERN? SOME OF IT DEPENDS ON THE INSTITUTION THAT IS REACHING OUT TO US. BUT BASICALLY, FOR STUDENT OBSERVERS, THEY ARE IN THE BACKGROUND. THEY'RE WATCHING HOW OUR TEACHERS TEACH AND THE MASTERY THAT GOES INTO THE PEDAGOGY IN THE CURRICULUM, THEY ASK A LOT OF QUESTIONS. THEY SEE HOW STUDENTS LEARN. THEY DO A LITTLE PARTICIPATION. STUDENT TEACHERS IS REALLY HIT THE GROUND RUNNING. YOU'RE OBSERVING A LOT, BUT YOU'RE GETTING YOUR FEET WET, YOU'RE TEACHING, YOU'RE TALKING WITH TEACHERS ABOUT HOW TO DESIGN CURRICULUM, HOW DO YOU DESIGN YOUR LESSONS? WHAT DO YOU WANT THE OUTCOMES TO BE? HOW DO YOU MEASURE THEM? THEN THEY GO AND TRY IT, AND THEN THEY GET FEEDBACK. THEN OUR INTERNS ARE REALLY WORKING SIDE BY SIDE WITH OUR PROFESSIONALS LEARNING THE ROLES AND DOING THE WORK AS WELL. WE'RE SUPER EXCITED TO HAVE ALL OF THESE FOLKS JOINING US. NOT ONLY ARE WE ABLE TO SHARE OUR EXPERTISE WITH THEM, BUT WE ALSO GAIN A LOT FROM WHAT THEY'RE LEARNING IN THE SCHOOLS. IT IS THIS WONDERFUL RECIPROCAL RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN THE UNIVERSITIES AND OUR PROFESSIONALS HERE IN PELHAM. WE ARE VERY EXCITED WITH THE TURNOUT THIS FALL. I'M ACTUALLY STILL GETTING E MAILS FOR PEOPLE LOOKING FOR PLACEMENTS. AS WE HAVE OPENINGS, WE WILL TRY TO FILL THEM. I'LL KEEP YOU UPDATED. I'M GOING TO USE THE WORD. THAT'S VERY IMPRESSIVE. YOU'RE ABLE TO CONGRATULATIONS ON THAT, BECAUSE I KNOW FOR YEARS, IT'S BEEN A STRUGGLE TO GET STUDENT TEACHERS, INTERNS, ETC. I KNOW HOW HARD YOU WORK IN GENERAL. I COULD IMAGINE HOW HARD YOU'VE WORKED TO HAVE SO MANY JOIN US. THANK YOU. YOU'RE WELCOME. HONESTLY, A BIG THANKS TO OUR STAFF BECAUSE THEY HAVE REACHED OUT TO THEIR ALMA MATERS AND HAVE ASKED TO HOST. THAT HAS ALWAYS BEEN HELPFUL. MY TEAM, MS. MADDEN AND MS. ALBANESE, ARE SPECTACULAR BECAUSE ALL OF THESE FOLKS WHO ARE COMING IN, EVEN IF THEY'RE JUST OBSERVING, HAVE TO FILL OUT THEIR PAPERWORK, AND THEY HAVE TO BE FINGERPRINTED. WE DO NOT LET ANYONE FROM THE OUTSIDE COME IN AND BE AROUND OUR STUDENTS UNLESS THEY ARE FINGERPRINTED AND CLEARED. THEY'VE BEEN DOING A LOT OF BACK GROUND WORK AND GETTING THEM UP AND RUNNING SO THEY COULD GET HERE FOR THE START OF THE SCHOOL YEAR. I KNOW IT'S DIFFERENT SCHOOL. CAN YOU NAME SOME OF THE SCHOOLS THAT. WE HAD IONA, LEHMAN COLLEGE, MERCY UNIVERSITY, PACE UNIVERSITY, AND TURO UNIVERSITY. AND I'M CURRENTLY WORKING ON ONE WITH LIBERTY UNIVERSITY. >> THAT'S GREAT. >> POSSIBLY EMERSON COLLEGE? >> GET INTERNS AS WELL. >> OKAY GREAT. >> HOLD ON. YES. >>THANK YOU. >>THANK YOU. NEXT, WE HAVE ASSISTANT SUPERINTENDENTS UPDATE [4.7 Assistant Superintendent's Update on Facilities and Sustainable Learning Environments] ON FACILITIES AND SUSTAINABLE LEARNING ENVIRONMENTS. >> HI, YES. GOOD EVENING. I CAN REALLY ECHO WHAT EVERYONE ELSE IS SAYING THAT WE'VE HAD A GREAT START TO THE YEAR AND A VERY BUSY START TO THE YEAR. THAT'S GOING TO BE JUNE BEFORE WE KNOW IT. WE'RE GOING TO KEEP PUSHING FORWARD HERE. WE'VE HAD A GOOD START. WE'RE FINISHING UP OUR EXTERNAL AUDIT FOR THE LAST FISCAL YEAR. AT THE OCTOBER 8 MEETING, WE ANTICIPATE OUR EXTERNAL AUDITOR TO COME AND PRESENT THOSE FINDINGS BEFORE THEN WE'RE GOING TO BE HAVING AN AUDIT COMMITTEE MEETING, WHERE THEY'LL BE ABLE TO PRESENT THOSE FINDINGS TO OUR AUDIT COMMITTEE. WE'VE FILED OUR FINAL PAPERWORK WITH THE STATE, OUR ST3 FORM. THERE'S AN ITEM ON THE AGENDA TONIGHT, THE AS7 FORM, WHICH IS OUR RELATED BOS SERVICES THEY RECEIVED FOR THE YEAR. IT'S ALL PART OF OUR CLOSING OUT OF THE FISCAL YEAR. TURNING TO THE, THE IMPORTANT THINGS OF THE SCHOOL DAY OUR LUNCH AND BREAKFAST PARTICIPATION WITH UNIVERSAL FREE MEAL. [00:45:03] WE'VE SEEN A NICE INCREASE IN PARTICIPATION, LOOKING FIRST FULL WEEK LAST YEAR TO FIRST FULL WEEK THIS YEAR. WE SEE ABOUT A NINE PERCENT UPTICK IN LUNCHES PARTICIPATION AT THE SCHOOL AND WITH BREAKFAST, 85 PERCENT INCREASE. NOW 85 PERCENT SOUNDS GREAT, BUT THE BASE WAS PRETTY LOW. I DON'T WANT TO IT'S NOT LIKE IT WAS 10,000 AND WE'RE UP 85 PERCENT FROM THERE. BUT AGAIN, IT'S A NICE INCREASE, AND I THINK WE'RE SEEING THAT AT THE ELEMENTARY SCHOOLS RIGHT NOW. THEY'RE TRYING TO TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THAT THAT PARTICULAR SERVICE. THIS EVENING ON THE BOARD AGENDA, WE'LL BE ASKING TO OPEN UP ANOTHER 30 DAY PUBLIC HEARING FOR THE DISTRICT WIDE SAFETY PLAN. ANYTIME YOU COULD ADD A YOGA BARISM, IT FEELS LIKE DEJA VU ALL OVER AGAIN, AND IT IS. WHAT WE'VE HAD IS WE HAD THE DISTRICT WIDE SAFETY PLAN, THE BOARD APPROVED IT IN BETWEEN THE FIRST 30 DAY PERIOD THAT THE BOARD HAD OVER THE SUMMER, THE STATE ADDED ADDITIONAL LEGISLATION, WHICH REQUIRED A CARDIAC COMPONENT. THAT'S BEEN INCLUDED IN THE NEW DISTRICT WIDE SAFETY PLAN IN THE DRAFT IN THE MINUTES. >> IT'S HIGHLIGHTED IN YELLOW, AND IT'LL ALSO BE AVAILABLE FOR VIEWING AT DISTRICT SCHOOLS, IF PEOPLE CARE TO MAKE A COMMENT TO IT. WE'D LIKE TO HAVE THAT 30-DAY PERIOD CLOSE AT THE LAST MEETING IN OCTOBER, AND THEN WE'LL ASK THE BOARD TO RE-APPROVE THAT. SIMILARLY, WE'VE SUBMITTED ALL OF OUR DISTRICT-WIDE SAFETY PLANS AND BUILDING SAFETY PLANS TO THE STATE. THERE'S A PORTAL THAT WE REPORT EVERYTHING INTO EVERY YEAR. WE SHARE ALL THIS INFORMATION WITH OUR LOCAL FIRE DEPARTMENTS, OUR LOCAL POLICE DEPARTMENTS. THEY HAVE ALL OF THIS INFORMATION AS WELL, AND EVERYTHING HAS BEEN UPLOADED INTO THE STATE PORTAL AS NEEDED. TONIGHT'S AGENDA, WE'RE APPROVING TWO PROFESSIONAL SERVICES. THAT'S RELATED TO TWO RFPS THAT WE PUT OUT. WE HAD A VERY ROBUST RESPONSE, WHICH WAS GREAT, AND MS. HOLT'S TEAM DID A NICE JOB EVALUATING THOSE PROPOSALS AND THESE RECOMMENDATIONS FOR AWARD BASED UPON THEIR EVALUATIONS. WE'RE ALSO ASKING THE BOARD TO SELECT THE BASE PROPORTIONS FOR THE TAX ROLE THIS TIME NEXT YEAR, WHAT YOUR TAX BILLS WILL BE BASED UPON. AS YOU LOOK AT THAT, YOU'LL SEE HOMESTEAD AND NON-HOMESTEAD, AND THINK ABOUT IT IN TWO PARTS. HOMESTEAD, ARE PROPERTIES WITH HOMES, LIKE SINGLE FAMILY HOMES, AND NON HOMESTEAD ARE LIKE COMMERCIAL PROPERTIES. AS YOU LOOK AT THE TWO NUMBERS, YOU'LL SEE THAT THEY ADD UP TO REALLY 100%. WHAT THE BOARD HAS THE OPTION OF DOING IS TO SELECT WHICH OF THE TWO ASSESSMENT ROLES YOU CAN CHOOSE FROM EITHER 24 OR 25, YOU WOULD WANT TO SELECT THE ONE THAT HAS A LESSER IMPACT ON THE HOMESTEAD PROPERTIES. THE RECOMMENDATION IS TO SELECT THE 25 HOMESTEAD PROPERTIES. IT'S FRACTIONAL, IT'S SMALLER, AS YOU CAN SEE. BUT THE ONE WE'RE RECOMMENDING YOU SELECT IS THE ONE THAT WOULD PRODUCE A LESSER IMPACT ON THE HOMESTEAD PROPERTY OWNER. MEANING ON A TAX BASIS, YOU'RE SELECTING TO TAX YOURSELVES AS HOMEOWNERS LESS. >> IN 2025. >> IT WOULD BE THE 2025 ROLE. YES. >> FOR HOMESTEAD. >> YEAH. >> OKAY. >> WE ALSO HAVE TWO VERY NICE DONATIONS, AND YOU'LL SEE WE HAVE OUR TREASURY REPORT TONIGHT. OVERNIGHT DEPOSITS, WE'RE BRINGING IN ABOUT 4.14%. WE KNOW THAT'S GOING TO CHANGE. WE'LL KEEP A CLOSE TRACK ON THAT, AND WE DID HAVE SOME OF THAT FORECASTED INTO OUR ANNUAL PLAN THIS YEAR. THESE ARE NOT UNEXPECTED CHANGES. IN FACT, THEY'RE PROBABLY A LITTLE BIT DELAYED. NONETHELESS, WE WILL SEE A BIT OF A DROP OFF, AND WE'LL KEEP A CLOSE LOOK ON THAT. TOMORROW, WE'VE GOT OUR BOND STEERING COMMITTEE MEETING AND DR. JIM COVERED A GOOD PORTION OF THAT. YES. >> JIM, DID YOU SAY WE HAD TWO DONATIONS? >> WE HAVE A DRUM SET. I THINK IT'S JUST A DRUM SET. >> I THOUGHT YOU SAID TWO. >> I APOLOGIZE. >> I WAS JUST CONFIRMING. [NOISE] BLESS YOU. THANK YOU. >> MORE THAN ONE DRUM, BUT ONE DRUM SET. >> IT'S A WHOLE DRUM KIT. >> YES. >> THAT'S WONDERFUL. >> JIM, DR. KARISBOR SHARED WITH US AT THE PT MEETING ON MONDAY THAT THE HONEY BEES HAVE BEEN RE-HOMED SAFELY. >> THANK YOU. >> YES. IF YOU SAW A STRANGE PERSON WALKING AROUND PROSPECT HILL FIELD ON TUESDAY OR WEDNESDAY NIGHT, WE DID HAVE A BEEKEEPER COME AND REMOVE SOME HONEY BEES. THAT WAS DONE ABOUT EIGHT O'CLOCK AT NIGHT WHEN THERE WAS LESS ACTIVITIES AND THEY'VE BEEN RE-HOMED. HONEY BEES, WE CANNOT EXTERMINATE HONEY BEES. THEY NEED TO BE REMOVED. THAT'S WHY WE SAW THAT HAPPENING. A LITTLE BIT UNUSUAL. USUALLY FIND THEM IN TREES. YOU DON'T FIND THEM IN SPRINKLER PITS, BUT THAT'S WHERE THIS ONE WAS. >> THE KIDS ARE REALLY INVESTED IN THE WELL BEING OF THESE BEES AND WHERE THEY ENDED UP. >> THEY FOUND A GOOD HOME AT THE FARM. >> UPSTATE. >> UPSTATE. >> I WAS GOING TO ASK YOU IF YOU GOT TO KEEP ANY OF THE HONEY. >> EVERY JOKE WE HAD. WE WERE TALKING ABOUT THE BUZZ AROUND PROSPECT HILL, [00:50:01] AND WE GOT A SWEET DEAL FOR YOU. >> BRIGHT UP WITH FIFTH GREAT HUMOR. >> WE HAD A LITTLE FUN. WE DID. BUT AGAIN WE SEE A LOT OF DIFFERENT THINGS, AND IT'S INTERESTING TO LEARN A LITTLE BIT MORE ABOUT THIS. BECAUSE AGAIN, WE BRING IN AN EXTERMINATOR. THEY LOOK AT IT AND THEY SAY TO US, YEAH, I CAN'T TOUCH THOSE. WE LOOK AT OURSELVES AND WE'RE LIKE, WHAT ARE YOU TALKING ABOUT? YOU'RE THE EXTERMINATOR. BUT YOU LEARN A LITTLE BIT MORE, AND YOU MAKE A COUPLE OF PHONE CALLS, AND YOU SEE SOMETHING INTERESTING, SO THAT WAS NEAT. >> THANK YOU, JIM. >> THANKS JIM. NEXT, WE HAVE 5.1. [5. Communications and Comments from the Public] COMMUNICATIONS AND COMMENTS FROM THE PUBLIC. PLEASE COME. >> OPENING IT UP TO ALL TOPICS? >> YEAH, THIS IS FOR ALL AGENDA. ANY TOPIC. >> GREAT. THANK YOU. GOOD EVENING. SHALL I STATE MY NAME AND ADDRESS, IS THAT RIGHT? >> YES, PLEASE. >> MY NAME IS LISA MARTINO ALVEZ. I LIVE AT 50 CLIFFORD AVENUE, PELHAM. GOOD EVENING, MEMBERS OF THE BOARD, SUPERINTENDENT CHAMP. I'D LIKE TO THANK YOU FIRST FOR YOUR LEADERSHIP AND THE THOUGHTFUL WORK YOU DO EACH DAY ON THESE LONG, LONG NIGHTS, AND ESPECIALLY TO SUPPORT OUR PELHAM STUDENTS. AS BOTH A PARENT IN THIS COMMUNITY AND AS AN EDUCATOR, I DEEPLY VALUE COMMITMENT TO FOSTERING MEANINGFUL LEARNING, SOME OF WHICH YOU'VE HIGHLIGHTED HERE TONIGHT. SO THANK YOU. ONE EXAMPLE OF THAT COMMITMENT IS HOW PROUDLY PELHAM SPEAKS ABOUT THE IB MIDDLE YEARS PROGRAM AT THE MIDDLE SCHOOL. JUST THIS WEEK, THE MIDDLE SCHOOL SENT OUT A NOTE, DESCRIBING THE MYP OF THE INTERNATIONAL [INAUDIBLE] PROGRAM AS A PROGRAM THAT, "FOCUSES ON ENCOURAGING STUDENTS TO BE CURIOUS, COMPASSIONATE, AND READY TO TAKE ON THE WORLD, HELPING THEM BUILD THE CONFIDENCE TO BE LEADERS IN THEIR OWN LEARNING JOURNEY." THAT MESSAGE CAPTURES BEAUTIFULLY THE KIND OF STUDENTS WE ALL HOPE TO SEE GROW AND THRIVE IN PELHAM. THE NATURAL QUESTION IS THEN, WHAT COMES NEXT? IF WE WANT OUR STUDENTS TO CARRY THOSE QUALITIES FORWARD INTO HIGH SCHOOL AND BEYOND THE IB DIPLOMA PROGRAM AT PELHAM MEMORIAL HIGH SCHOOL IS THE LOGICAL NEXT STEP. THE IB DIPLOMA PROGRAM IS NOT SIMPLY ANOTHER ADVANCED TRACK. IT IS A FRAMEWORK THAT ENSURES STUDENTS GRADUATE AS ACADEMICALLY PREPARED, THROUGH RIGOROUS SUBJECT GROUPS AT BOTH STANDARD AND HIGH LEVELS, CREATIVE INNOVATORS, THROUGH THE CREATIVITY ACTIVITY AND SERVICE PROJECTS, CRITICAL THINKERS THROUGH THE THEORY OF KNOWLEDGE COURSE, EFFECTIVE COMMUNICATORS, THROUGH THE EXTENDED ESSAY AND ORAL ASSESSMENTS, GLOBAL CITIZENS THROUGH INTERDISCIPLINARY CURRICULA THAT EMBED INTERNATIONAL MINNESS, REFLECTIVE AND FUTURE FOCUSED THROUGH STRUCTURED REFLECTION IN THESE PROGRAMS, CAST, TOK AND THE EXTENDED ESSAY. THESE OUTCOMES MIRROR EXACTLY WHAT NEW YORK STATE'S PORTRAIT OF THE GRADUATE CALLS FOR, AND ALIGNS ALSO WITH PELHAM'S OWN STRATEGIC GOALS OF ACADEMIC EXCELLENCE, INCLUSION, AND PREPARING STUDENTS FOR COLLEGE CAREER AND CITIZENSHIP. FROM WHAT I HEARD HERE TONIGHT, YOU WILL BE EXPLORING SOME OF THE INSPIRE PLANS VERY SOON. AS A PELHAM PARENT OF A NINTH GRADER AND A SIXTH GRADER, AND AS A PRINCIPAL OF A PLAN PILOT HIGH SCHOOL IN OUR VICINITY IN OUR REGION, WORKING CLOSELY WITH NEW YORK STATE ED AND THE PRINCIPLES THAT ARE LAID OUT IN THE INSPIRE PLAN, I HAVE ALSO SEEN FIRSTHAND HOW IB ALIGNED SEAMLESSLY WITH THESE STATE AND DISTRICT PRIORITIES. I WOULD ENCOURAGE YOU TO BUILD ON THE STRONG FOUNDATION ALREADY IN PLACE BY CONVENING AN EXPLORATORY COMMITTEE TO EVALUATE HOW THE IB DIPLOMA PROGRAM MIGHT BE IMPLEMENTED HERE AT PELHAM. PELHAM HAS ALREADY SHOWN ITS COMMITMENT BY BRINGING IB INTO THE MIDDLE SCHOOL. FAMILIES ARE READY AND ENGAGED. THE STATES VISION AND PELHAM STRATEGIC PRIORITIES POINT IN THE SAME DIRECTION. NOW IS THE RIGHT MOMENT TO CONSIDER EXTENDING THE IB PATHWAY INTO THE HIGH SCHOOL. HOLD ON A SECOND. OUR STUDENTS CAN COMPLETE THE JOURNEY THAT BEGAN IN MIDDLE SCHOOL AND GRADUATE WITH A CREDENTIAL RECOGNIZED AROUND THE WORLD. THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME AND FOR LISTENING, AND FOR YOUR ONGOING DEDICATION, OF COURSE, TO ENSURE PELHAM STUDENTS NOT ONLY GRADUATE, [00:55:01] BUT THAT THEY THRIVE. THANK YOU. >> THANK YOU. >> THANK YOU FOR COMING. >> HAVE A GOOD EVENING. THANK YOU. [6.1 Motion Approving the Appointment of the New York State School Boards Association Advocacy Liaison for the 2025-2026 School Year] WE CAN MOVE TO SECTION 6, FINANCIAL REPORTS AND MOTIONS. I'M JUST GOING TO GO ONE BY ONE. DO I HAVE A MOTION TO APPROVE THE APPOINTMENT OF THE NEW YORK STATE SCHOOL BOARDS ASSOCIATION ADVOCACY LIAISON FOR THE 2025/2026 SCHOOL YEAR? THAT ADVOCACY LIAISON IS KATHERINE? >> I'D LIKE RECUSE MYSELF. I CAN'T VOTE FOR MYSELF. I'M OUT. >> WE DO YOU NEED A MOTION? >> WE NEED A MOTION? >> YES. >> SO MOVED. SECOND. >> ALL IN FAVOR. AYE. CONGRATULATIONS, KATHERINE. THANK YOU. >> CONGRATS. >> THANK YOU FOR YOUR SERVICE IN THIS CAPACITY. >> THANK YOU GUYS. >> DO I HAVE A MOTION, THIS IS 6.2, [6.2 Motion to Adopt the 2025 Adjusted Base Proportions for the Pelham Union Free School District] A MOTION TO ADOPT THE 2025 ADJUSTED BASE PROPORTIONS FOR THE PELHAM UNION FREE SCHOOL DISTRICT? THAT'S WHAT JIM JUST TALKED ABOUT. DO I HAVE TO SAY WHICH ONE? >> IT SAYS RESOLUTIONS. >> IT DOES SAY IT. >> BASED ON THE 2025 FINAL ASSESSMENT ROLE, WHICH WILL BE USED IN '26, '27 HOMESTEAD AND NON-HOMESTEAD TAX RATES. >> GREAT. DO I HAVE A MOTION? >> SO MOVED. >> SECOND. >> ALL IN FAVOR? >> AYE. >> NONE OPPOSED SO THAT MOTION CARRIES. DO I HAVE A MOTION TO TAKE 6.3-6.8 AS A CONSENT AGENDA? [6.3 Motion to Accept Treasurer's Report for the Period Ended July 31, 2025 and August 31, 2025] [6.4 Motion to Approve 2025-2026 Budget Transfers] [6.5 Motion to Accept BOCES Final Form AS-7 Contract for 2024-2025 Expenditures] [6.6 Motion to Award a Contract to LinguaLinx Language Solutions Inc. for Pupil Personnel Related Services] [6.7 Motion to Award a Contract to The Tact Corporation of NYC for Pupil Personnel Related Services] [6.8 Motion to Approve Stipulation of Settlement] >> SO MOVED. >> SECOND. >> ARE THERE ANY COMMENTS OR QUESTIONS ON THESE? JIM WENT OVER SOME OF THESE. >> $500 TRANSFER FOR TRANSPORTATION. THE PUBLIC NOTICE BILL INCREASED FROM $500 TO $700. THAT'S WHAT THAT TRANSFER IS FOR. THE AS7 IS RELATED TO 24 25 SERVICES RECEIVED FROM THE DISTRICT FROM BOSSES. THEN 6.6, 6.7 ARE REGARDING THE ADDITIONAL SERVICE PROVIDERS FOR PPS SERVICES. >> ANY COMMENTS OR QUESTIONS? ALL IN FAVOR? >> AYE. >> NONE OPPOSED SO THOSE ARE ALL APPROVED AND ACCEPTED. DO I HAVE A MOTION TO ACCEPT A DONATION? [6.9 Motion to Accept a Donation] >> SO MOVED. >> SECOND. >> THIS IS A DONATION TO THE PELHAM MEMORIAL HIGH SCHOOL PELHAM MIDDLE SCHOOL MUSIC DEPARTMENT. I'LL READ IT BECAUSE IT'S SHORT. RESOLVED THAT UPON THE RECOMMENDATION OF THE SUPERINTENDENT OF SCHOOLS, THE BOARD OF EDUCATION OF THE PELHAM UNION FREE SCHOOL DISTRICT HAS HEREBY ACCEPT THE DONATION OF A 1975 LUDWIG NATURAL MAPLE CUSTOM SUPER CLASSIC DRUM KIT WITH HARDWARE AND SYMBOLS VALUED AT $3,500, AND THAT GRATITUDE BE BESTOWED UPON ITS DONOR, VINCENT PELLEGRINO. THAT'S A GREAT DONATION AND WE THANK YOU FOR IT. ALL IN FAVOR? >> AYE. >> THANK YOU AGAIN FOR THE GREAT DONATION OF A DRUM SET. >> IS THE DRUM SET AT THE SCHOOL? >> YES. HE'S LIKE, LET ME DONATE THIS. LET'S MOVE TO 7.1? DO I HAVE A MOTION TO CONVENE [7.1 Motion to Convene a Public Hearing on the Draft District Safety Plan] A PUBLIC HEARING ON THE DRAFT DISTRICT SAFETY PLAN? >> SO MOVED. >> SECOND. >> ALL IN FAVOR. >> AYE. >> WE'RE NOW IN THE PUBLIC HEARING THAT JIM TALKED ABOUT FOR THE SECONDARY CHANGES TO THE SAFETY PLAN. WE DON'T HAVE COMMUNICATIONS AND COMMENTS FROM THE PUBLIC, SO I'LL TAKE A MOTION TO CLOSE THE PUBLIC HEARING ON THE DRAFT DISTRICT SAFETY PLAN, UNLESS ANYONE HAS COMMENTS OR QUESTIONS ON IT RIGHT NOW. >> WE STILL HAVE A 30-DAY COMMENT PERIOD. >> THERE'S A 30-DAY COMMENT PERIOD. IT'S UP ON THE WEBSITE. >> WE HAVE IT HERE, WE'LL HAVE IT PUBLISHED, AND THEN TOM DRAKE FROM ALTERIS WILL BE HERE AT THE MEETING WHEN THE BOARD APPROVE IT AT THE LAST MEETING IN OCTOBER. >> THEY JUST ADDED AN ADDITIONAL. >> IT'S A CARDIAC COMPONENT BASED ON A NEW LAW. [01:00:04] >> ACTUALLY, CAN I ASK YOU A QUESTION, JIM? WILL THE DISTRICT BE ENGAGING IN THE ACTIVE SHOOTER, NOT THE ACTIVE SHOOTER. LAST YEAR, THE POLICE WENT TO HUTCHINSON ON LIKE A DAY OFF AND THEY WERE PRACTICING. >> IT WAS ACTIVE SHOOTER TRAINING. >> BUT NOT ACTIVE SHOOTER TRAINING THAT THE KIDS DO. IT'S WHAT THE POLICE DO. >> YES. HOW THEY CLEAR THE BUILDING, YEAH. >> IS THAT SOMETHING THEY DO EVERY YEAR? >> YES. >> SO THEY'LL BE DOING THAT AGAIN THIS YEAR? >> GENERALLY, YES. THEY HAVEN'T REQUESTED A PARTICULAR BUILDING YET. >> THEY DO USUALLY DO A DIFFERENT BUILDING. >> IT'S OVER A LONG WEEKEND IN JANUARY, AND IT'S USUALLY A COOPERATIVE TRAINING THAT THEY'LL DO WITH BOTH VILLAGE DEPARTMENTS OVER A DAY LONG PERIOD. THEY'LL BRING IN PRETTY MUCH ALL OF THEIR OFFICERS FOR THAT TRAINING. THEY WERE KIND ENOUGH TO LET SOME OF OUR SAFETY COMMITTEE MEMBERS COME IN AND OBSERVE THAT TRAINING AS WELL. >> I OBSERVED IT LAST YEAR. IT WAS IN JANUARY. I WASN'T WEARING MY HEAVY COAT, SO THE WEATHER IS JUST SO STRANGE, SO I COULDN'T REMEMBER WHAT TIME OF YEAR IT WAS HAPPENING, BUT I OBSERVED IT LAST YEAR, AND IT WAS REALLY INTERESTING TO WATCH. SO I WAS WONDERING IF THAT'S THE THING THEY DO. >> IT IS. I THINK THEY FIND IT INVALUABLE. >> I JUST GOING BACK A LITTLE BIT WHEN THE NEW HUTCHINSON BUILDING WAS UP, AND THE OLD BUILDING HAD NOT YET BEEN TAKEN DOWN. THAT WAS ANOTHER OPPORTUNITY WE PROVIDED TO BOTH PUBLIC SAFETY DEPARTMENTS TO KICK INDOORS, LOOK AROUND CORNERS, AND PROVIDE SOME NICE TRAINING OPPORTUNITIES FOR THEM AS WELL. I THINK WE'RE IN A VERY GOOD PLACE. WE'VE GOT REALLY GOOD PARTNERS, AND WE COMMUNICATE WELL, AND I THINK IT'S BENEFICIAL TO THE WHOLE COMMUNITY. >> DO I HAVE A MOTION TO CLOSE THE PUBLIC HEARING ON THE DRAFT DISTRICT SAFETY PLAN? [7.3 Motion to Close the Public Hearing on the Draft District Safety Plan] >> MOVED. >> SECOND. >> ALL IN FAVOR? >> AYE. >> I HAVE A MOTION TO TAKE 8.1 THROUGH 9.1 AS A CONSENT AGENDA. [8.1 Motion to Approve Schedule A - Instructional] [8.2 Motion to Approve Schedule B - Extra Duty Appointments] [8.3 Motion to Approve Schedule C -Instructional] [8.4 Motion to Approve Schedule C - Non-Instructional] [9.1 Motion to Approve Schedule D - Committee on Special Education (Confidential)] >> MOVED. >> SECOND. >> ANY COMMENTS OR QUESTIONS? ANY OF THESE? >> JUST YOU'RE TYPICAL, WE GET SOME FMLA LEAVES, SOME ADDITIONAL SIX PERIOD OVERAGE ASSIGNMENTS AS WE START THE YEAR. EXTRA DUTY APPOINTMENTS, THOSE HAVE TO DO WITH ALL THE CONTRACTUAL STIPENDS AND DIFFERENT THINGS THAT FOLKS DO DIFFERENT COACHING, CLUBS, ET CETERA. THE INSTRUCTIONAL SESSION YOU SEE THERE, MANY OF THE STUDENT TEACHERS, INTERNS, AND OBSERVERS THAT DR. FITZGERALD SPOKE OF A TA RESIGNATION. VERY SORRY TO SEE DIANA RETIRING AND LEAVING US. WE WISH HER WELL. SHE'S MOVING OUT. SHE'S DONE INCREDIBLE WORK FOR THE DISTRICT. THEN FINALLY, ON THE NON- INSTRUCTIONAL AGENDA, SEVERAL MONITOR APPOINTMENTS. VERY EXCITED TO HAVE SOME NEW FOLKS JOINING THOSE KEY ROLES. >> ALL IN FAVOR. >> AYE. >> NONE OPPOSED. SO THOSE ARE ALL APPROVED. NEXT IS 10.1 NEW BUSINESS. I KNOW WE HAVE SOME NEW BUS. [10.1 New Business] >> YES, UNFORTUNATELY, KNOW IT'S GETTING LATE. BUT JUST VERY QUICKLY, AS I'VE SHARED WITH THE BOARD, THE TOWN IS IN THE PROCESS OF APPLYING FOR A GRANT FOR SUSTAINABLE TRANSPORTATION WITHIN THE COMMUNITY. THEY HAVE ASKED THE DISTRICT FOR A LETTER OF SUPPORT TOWARDS THAT GRANT. I JUST WANTED TO SPEAK WITH YOU ABOUT THAT. THAT COULD COME FROM THE BOARD. TO BE HONEST, IT COULD COME FROM ME, IF THE BOARD WANTED SOMETHING TO NOT BE PART OF THAT. BUT JUST WANTED AN OPPORTUNITY TO TALK THAT THROUGH IN REACHING OUT TO THEM, THEY'RE TRYING TO THEY THINK IT'LL STRENGTHEN THEIR GRANT APPLICATION TO HAVE LETTERS FROM THOSE CONSTITUENTS IN THE COMMUNITY WHO WOULD BENEFIT FROM IT. THEY'VE REACHED OUT TO THE SENIOR CITIZENS, TO US, SEEING US AS OUR STUDENTS AS POTENTIAL BENEFICIARIES OF THAT, ESPECIALLY THOSE COMING FROM FARTHER ENDS OF THE DISTRICT, COULD HELP WITH SPORTS COULD HELP. ONE OF THE THINGS WE'VE BEEN TALKING THROUGH TODAY IS GETTING SENIORS TO COME TO OUR PLAYS AND OUR GAMES AND CONCERTS, THINGS LIKE THAT. THAT IS WHY THEY'VE REACHED OUT TO US. I JUST WANTED TO OPEN THAT UP FOR DISCUSSION FROM THE BOARD TO SEE IF THOUGHTS ON THAT AND IF THERE WAS A CONSENSUS ABOUT WHAT DIRECTION WE SHOULD TAKE. >> DO YOU RECALL WHEN THEY NEED IT BY? >> THE GRANTS DUE VERY SOON, SO THEY NEED THE LETTER BY THE END OF THE WEEK. >> IT'S FOR ONE BUS OR HOW MANY? >> I THINK IT DEPENDS ON DEMAND. I DON'T KNOW A TON ABOUT THE PROGRAM. I'VE JUST READ WHAT THEY'VE FORWARDED TO US. I THINK THEY'RE LOOKING AT THE I'M THINKING IT'S [01:05:02] THE CALL IT A LITTLE SHUTTLE BUS, MULTI USER. >> IN THE PROPOSAL, IT'S LIKE FIVE PASSENGERS. ONE OF THOSE BUSES. IT'S NOT REALLY A BUS. IT'S PROBABLY THE WRONG WITH VEHICLE. SEEN THEM IN NEW ROCHELLE, THEY'RE IN NEW ROCHELLE A TRAIN TRAIN. IF I CAN GIVE MY THOUGHTS ON THIS, I THINK WE DON'T HAVE MUCH TIME ON THIS BECAUSE I THINK WE SHOULD HANDLE WITH CARE, AND THAT'S NOT BECAUSE I HAVE SOME REGRESSIVE OBJECTION TO PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION INFRASTRUCTURE. I'M A FAN, PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION INFRASTRUCTURE. BUT I THINK WE NEED TO PICK OUR CAUSES VERY CAREFULLY IN TERMS OF THOSE THAT THAT WE SUPPORT FORMALLY, BECAUSE GETTING INVOLVED WITH ISSUES OR PROBLEMS THAT OTHER MUNICIPALITIES ARE TRYING TO SOLVE IS NOT WITHOUT RISK FOR US. I'M NOT SAYING I'M AGAINST IT. I'M JUST A LITTLE BIT CAUTIOUS. I'M NOT QUITE SURE HOW THESE SMALL VEHICLES, BASED ON WHAT LITTLE WE KNOW THAT HAVE SOME I THINK THEY CARRY FIVE PEOPLE. I THINK I SAW IN ONE OF THE PRESENTATIONS, I THINK MAYBE THERE ARE TWO OF THEM, SO PERHAPS TEN PASSENGERS. I'M NOT SURE HOW THAT'S GOING TO HAVE AN IMPACT HONESTLY ON OUR BROAD STUDENT BODY. I DON'T KNOW HOW RELIABLE THAT'S GOING TO BE. MAYBE IT CAN'T HURT. I THINK THAT ALSO NOTHING'S FOR FREE. NOTHING COMES WITHOUT TRADE OFFS. WHEN SOMETHING ISN'T FREE, PARTICULARLY IF IT HAS TAX IMPLICATIONS, THEN IT MAY, IT RISKS POTENTIALLY BECOMING POLITICAL. I THINK WE AS A BORDER GENERALLY AGREE THAT WE DON'T DO POLITICS IN THIS TOWN I'M JUST A LITTLE BIT ANXIOUS. ONE OF THE ARGUMENTS I'VE HEARD, FOR EXAMPLE, ABOUT THIS IS, LOOK, WHO WOULDN'T WANT TO HELP SENIOR CITIZENS GET AROUND TOWN. UNDERSTOOD. BUT IF THIS INFRASTRUCTURE OF THIS PLAN IS THERE TO HELP PEOPLE GET TO THE STATION, HELP COMMUTERS, ONE OF THE ARGUMENTS MAY BE, PEOPLE WHO BOUGHT THEIR HOUSES NEAR THE STATION, PAID A PREMIUM. THEY PAY MORE TAX ALREADY ON THOSE HOUSES, SHOULD THEY REALLY BE SUBSIDIZING, PEOPLE WHO CHOSE TO BUY A HOUSE FURTHER AWAY FROM THE STATION? THAT'S THE KIND OF ARGUMENT THAT WE MAY BE WADING INTO IF WE LEND FORMAL SUPPORT TO THIS. I WISH WE HAD MORE THAN A WEEK. >> I DON'T KNOW IF THE TOWN GOT BACK TO YOU ON THIS, IS IT A GRANT FOR, LIKE, A PILATE PROGRAM? >> THAT'S THE WAY THAT I READ THE. >> THEY ARE LOOKING FOR A GRANT TO COVER. I KNOW I I THINK I READ IT WOULD COST SOMEBODY TO TAKE THE $5 LIKE THAT. BUT IT'S TO COVER ALL OF THE OTHER COSTS. THE FULL COST WILL BE COVERED EITHER BY SOMEBODY TAKING TAKING THE TRUCK THROUGH AND THROUGH THIS GRANT OR DO WE KNOW IF THERE WILL BE AN IMPACT TO THE TOWN'S BUDGET? >> IS THAT ONGOING, TO YOUR POINT ABOUT THE PILATE MAYBE JUST WOULD BE HELPFUL TO HAVE MORE DETAILS AROUND THAT. I'M NOT OPPOSED TO SUPPORTING IT. I JUST FEEL LIKE I DON'T KNOW ENOUGH. THANK YOU. >> UNFORTUNATELY, I FORWARDED TO YOU EVERYTHING THAT YOU HAVE. I FEEL BAD THAT I CAN'T ANSWER SOME OF THESE QUESTIONS, BUT THERE WAS TWO DIFFERENT SETS OF INFORMATION THAT WAS FORWARDED. ONE OF THEM WAS A POWERPOINT THAT I DIDN'T THINK SPOKE TO SOME OF THIS. I DON'T KNOW THAT IF IT PROVIDED THE ANSWER. I'M JUST LOOKING FOR IT IN MY EMAIL. THEN THERE WAS ADDITIONAL INFORMATION WAS SENT TO YOU TODAY. THERE WAS SOME SLIDES IN THERE HAVING TO DO WITH NET COSTS, AND I THINK YOU'RE RIGHT. I THINK IT WAS ANTICIPATED. THERE WAS GRANT FUNDING TO COVER THE PILATE. IT WAS ANTICIPATED THAT THE COST OF RIDING WOULD COVER A LARGE PART OF THE ACTUAL COST. >> IF THE PILATE PROGRAM PROVED TO BE NOT EFFECTIVE, THEN IT DOESN'T HAVE TO CONTINUE, [01:10:02] OR IS PELHAM NOW STUCK WITH THESE? >> I DON'T KNOW. I WOULD ASSUME THAT WOULD BE, IF IT'S LIKE ANY OTHER PILATE TRIAL PERIOD AND THEN OPPORTUNITY TO DISCONTINUE. BUT AGAIN, THAT'S A HUGE ASSUMPTION. >> IT'S A THREE YEAR PILOT. >> IN FULL DISCLOSURE, I DID NOT HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO REALLY LOOK AT THE INFORMATION YOU SENT TO TODAY. I DON'T KNOW. >> AS MUCH AS I KNOW, WE DON'T WANT TO SIT IN PER IT MAY BE HELPFUL TO TAKE A QUICK READ BECAUSE IT COULD ANSWER SOME OF THE QUESTIONS. AGAIN, I'M JUST NOT AN EXPERT ON IT, AND I'M JUST SHARING WHAT'S BEEN SHARED WITH ME, AND I WISH THAT I COULD HELP YOU MORE ON THAT. I CAN RESEND IF ANYONE NEEDS IT QUICKLY AT THE TOP OF THEIR INBOX. >> OH, IT'S A THREE-YEAR PILATE. >> IF YOU HAVE THE PRESENTATION. I HAVE YOUR E MAIL FROM TODAY, BUT I'M LOOKING FOR THE PRESENTATION. >> IS THAT WHAT TO DO? >> IT WAS SENT EARLIER ON SEPTEMBER 6, 5:23. >> LOOK, THE IDEA IS GREAT. I THINK THE FACT THAT IT'S SUCH A SMALL LITTLE GOLF CART TYPE OF SITUATION. THAT'S THE WAY I SEE IT AS LIKE A LITTLE GOLF CART THAT DRIVES YOU AROUND BECAUSE I SEE THE ONE IN NEW ROCHELLE SHOW. I THINK IT'S JUST HOW MUCH IMPACT DOES IT REALLY DO? I THINK THE IDEA OF HAVING PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION IS PHENOMENAL. I THINK MANY PEOPLE WILL USE IT IF IT WAS AVAILABLE, BUT FINE FROM. >> I'M RIDING THEM IN NEW ROCHELLE. SORRY TO INTERRUPT YOU, BUT I SPENT SO MUCH TIME. OH, I LEFT HERE IN NEW ROCHELLE AND I WOULD SEE THOSE DRIVING UP AND DOWN THE MAIN LIKE, MAIN STREET EMPTY. >> OH, BECAUSE MY MOTHER SAYS SHE'S CALLED THEM ONCE, AND THEY WENT AND PICKED UP BECAUSE SHE HAD LEFT HER CAR IN THE GARAGE, AND THEY THEY WENT AND PICKED UP. I KNOW THEY MADE THEMSELVES. THEY WENT AROUND. I DON'T KNOW IF THEY HAD A STOP BY WHERE SHE LIVES, BUT THEY DID GO BY HER AND SHE GOT IT. SHE WAS REALLY HAPPY THAT THEY DROVE HER CLOSE TO THE PICK UP HER CAR. >> ONE THING I WOULD SAY, JUST FROM TODAY'S EMAIL, I DON'T KNOW IF FOLKS GOT THROUGH, IT WAS EXTENSIVE, BUT THE TOWN DID SEEK AND RECEIVE A GRANT FOR A FEASIBILITY STUDY, AND THE PURPOSE OF IT WAS TO DEVELOP A CLEAN MOBILITY PLAN, AND THAT'S WHERE THIS PROPOSAL EMANATED. TO YOUR POINT, NATALIE, AGAIN, I HAVEN'T READ THE REPORT, BUT I'M ASSUMING THAT'S WHERE THE FEASIBILITY OF THIS APPROACH. THE CONCEPT LOOKS VERY GOOD. AGAIN, WE'RE A SMALL TOWN, SO I FEEL LIKE IT COULD REALLY BENEFIT. DO YOU KNOW, WE'RE NOT NEW ROCHELLE? MAYBE WHO KNOWS YOUR POINT? I DON'T KNOW IT WOULD BE GOOD TO ANSWER SOME OF THE QUESTIONS THAT SID BROUGHT UP THOUGH AROUND, ARE THERE ANYTHING IMPACT THAT WE DON'T KNOW ABOUT THAT WE CAN THINK ABOUT AS IT RELATES TO TAXES OR COSTS? I JUST FEEL LIKE JUST TO KNOW OR FEEL REALLY CONFIDENT. >> IF THIS GETS CONTENTIOUS, I DON'T WANT TO HAVE TO TAKE A SIDE. >> I AGREE WITH YOU. I THINK IF IT'S GOOD FOR ALL OF US, WE SHOULD CONSIDER IT. I JUST FEEL LIKE THERE ARE SOME QUESTIONS TO YOUR POINT WHERE COULD IT GO WRONG OR HAVE A NEGATIVE IMPACT? I'M NOT SURE. JUST BY READING THIS, IT FEELS RUSH LIKE I CAN'T. >> THERE USED TO BE A TAXI OR LIKE SOME KIND OF MAYBE PRE-COVID. BECAUSE PRE-COVID, BECAUSE WHAT I HEAR ABOUT ALL THE TIME, LIKE IN THE PROSPECT HILL AREA IS LIKE RIDE SHARE TO THE TRAIN AND HOW GREAT THAT WOULD BE IN THE MORNING BECAUSE THEN IT WOULD REDUCE, LIKE TRAFFIC ON THE ROADS AND PARKING ISSUES AND CONGESTION IN THE SCHOOLS AND ALL OF THAT. HOW GREAT THAT WOULD BE TO BE ABLE TO HAVE A RIDE. THE TRICKY PART WOULD BE TO MAKE SURE THAT WHEN EVERYONE'S COMING HOME FROM WORK AT THE END OF THE DAY THAT THE RIDES ARE AS EASY TO GET. I KNOW THAT WHEN SEPTA DID LIKE A TROLLEY ONE YEAR DURING ONE OF THE FESTIVALS AND WAS SHUTTLING PEOPLE BACK AND FORTH, LIKE AN OLD SCHOOL TROLLEY THAT LOOKED LIKE MR. ROGERS. TROLLEY. THAT EVERYONE LOVED THAT, AND THEY THOUGHT IT WAS SO GREAT TO BE ABLE TO RIDE THE TROLLEY AND HOW GREAT WOULD THIS BE IF THIS WAS SOMETHING THAT WAS REGULAR? I KNOW THAT THERE'S THERE IS SUPPORT FOR THIS CONCEPT OF BEING ABLE TO [01:15:07] HAVE ACCESS TO A COMMUNITY TRANSPORT SYSTEM FROM ONE SIDE OF TOWN TO THE OTHER OR MAYBE LIKE CERTAIN POINTS IN TOWN. >> YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT ADULTS GOING BACK AND FORTH TO THE TRAIN. I THINK FROM THE REASON WHY, RIGHT? THEY WANT A LETTER FROM US IS BECAUSE THEY WANT IT TO BE FROM STAKEHOLDERS, LIKE A SCHOOL WHO WOULD SOMEHOW BENEFIT BENEFIT STUDENTS. OF COURSE, I'M FOR SOMETHING THAT BENEFITS THE ELDERLY GETTING AROUND TOWN, BUT I JUST DO WANT US TO THINK ABOUT IT FROM THE STANDPOINT OF HOW WOULD IT BENEFIT. >> WELL, THAT'S WHAT I'M NOT SURE ABOUT. >> I DON'T KNOW HOW IT WOULD BENEFIT STUDENTS NECESSARILY. >> I THINK THAT'S WHAT'S EATING AT ME, WHICH IS, IF THERE WAS A CLEAR INDICATION THAT THIS WAS GOING TO BENEFIT STUDENTS AT SCALE, THAT WOULD BE GREAT. I THINK I JUST DON'T KNOW ENOUGH. IF THERE ARE GOING TO BE TEN SEATS TWO VEHICLES. I JUST LOOKED AT THE POWERPOINT. FROM WHAT I CAN PIECE TOGETHER, TWO VEHICLES, FIVE SEATS EACH. TEN SEATS AT ANY ONE TIME. WE HAVE 3,000 STUDENTS IN THIS DISTRICT. IS THIS REALLY GOING TO MAKE AN IMPACT? >> THEY ALL NEED TO BE AT SCHOOL WITHIN A CERTAIN SAME TIME. TIME FRAME, SO CAN YOU SHUTTLE FIVE KIDS FROM MAYBE ONE END OF HUTCHINSON TO THE MIDDLE HIGH SCHOOL AND ONE END OF PROSPECT AND GET BACK AND FORTH. >> MY GUESS IS IT WOULD BE MORE USEFUL IN THINGS LIKE CLUBS, SPORTS, AFTER SCHOOL. >> I LOVE THE IDEAS. >> THOSE KINDS OF THINGS. >> MORE KIDS BEING ABLE TO GO TO GAMES WITHOUT HAVING THEIR PARENTS. >> I DON'T KNOW IF THERE'S A SAFETY IMPLICATION TOO. I KNOW WE'VE HAD SAFETY CONCERNS ABOUT CLOVER AND THINGS LIKE THAT. I WOULD THINK THAT'S MORE LIKELY WHERE YOU WOULD GET BENEFIT TO STUDENTS AS OPPOSED TO THE NORMAL MORNING. CERTAINLY, IF THERE WAS ONE VEHICLE WITH 10 CHILDREN ARRIVING OR FIVE CHILDREN ARRIVING INSTEAD OF ONE WITH ONE, WHICH WE GET ANYTHING THAT COULD EASE CONGESTION, BUT MY GUESS WOULD BE WOULD BE MUCH MORE USEFUL IN THE AFTER-SCHOOL HOURS, ESPECIALLY THINKING OF KIDS WHO LIVE IN HUTCHINSON AND PROSPECT HILL WHO ARE TRYING TO GET LONG TRAVERSES. >> THINKING ABOUT IT AS A PILOT, COULD YOU ASSUME THE IDEA IS THAT YOU START SMALL WITH A PILOT, YOU TEST IT OUT, AND THEN IT COULD LEAD TO SOMETHING BIGGER AND MUCH MORE EFFICIENT. TO ME, THAT'S LIKE THE PILOT. IT'S START SMALL, TEST IT OUT. THEN IT TURNS INTO 10 VEHICLES, I DON'T KNOW, JUST THINKING FUTURISTICALLY WISE, WHAT COULD BE POSSIBLE. BUT THE LIABILITY THING, THOUGH, I FEEL LIKE THAT'S SOMETHING. THESE ARE QUESTIONS THAT I JUST, YEAH, LIKE THAT. >> THAT WOULD BE A TOWN OR I GUESS FOR US IN OUR LETTER OF SUPPORT. >> YEAH. I DON'T THINK WE WOULD ASSUME ANY LIABILITY BY SAYING, HEY, THIS SOUNDS LIKE A GOOD IDEA. >> WE WOULD JUST BE SAYING WE SUPPORT THE CONCEPT OF THIS FOR PELHAM. >> WHAT'S THE DOWNSIDE, I GUESS? WHAT'S THE DOWNSIDE FOR US? >> [OVERLAPPING]I GUESS IT'S NOT REALLY A DOWNSIDE, BUT IF WE'RE GOING TO LEND OUR SUPPORT TO SOMETHING, WE SHOULD LEND OUR SUPPORT TO SOMETHING THAT BENEFITS THE SCHOOL, BECAUSE THAT'S WHAT WE'RE HAVE TO SOLVE THE ISSUES OF THE SCHOOL OR ISSUES RELATING TO THE SCHOOL. WE SHOULD BE CONFIDENT IN IT. I DON'T THINK ANY OF US MAKE DECISIONS HERE WITHOUT BEING CONFIDENT IN THE DECISION WE'RE MAKING. IF IT DOES GET CONTENTIOUS, OR IT DOES GET CONTROVERSIAL, AND I DON'T KNOW IF IT IS. MAYBE IT WILL, MAYBE IT WON'T, BUT THINGS HAVE A TENDENCY TO GET CONTROVERSIAL. PARTICULARLY WHEN IT RELATES TO PUBLIC POLICY, THEN I DON'T WANT TO BE FORCED INTO BEING ON ONE SIDE OR ANOTHER OF AN ISSUE THAT REALLY ONLY HAS MARGINAL INCREMENTAL IMPACT TO THE SCHOOL DISTRICT. >> I THINK WHAT'S UNFORTUNATE IS IF THIS WAS MAYBE, I DON'T KNOW, SIX OR SEVEN YEARS AGO, THIS WOULD BE A LITTLE BIT MORE OF, SURE, THIS SOUNDS LIKE A GREAT IDEA, DONE, WE'D BE HOME [LAUGHTER] ALREADY. >> YOU'RE RIGHT. >> BUT OUR WORLD IS DIFFERENT. WE'RE IN A DIFFERENT TIME NOW, WHERE WE HAVE TO THINK ABOUT THE THINGS THAT YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT WELL. [01:20:02] I'M LOOKING AT THIS PRESENTATION AND THESE DIFFERENT VEHICLE OPTIONS DEPENDING ON YOU CAN GO FROM THE FIVE- PASSENGER VEHICLE UP TO 8-15 PASSENGER VAN, AND IT LOOKS FANTASTIC. WHY WOULD THERE BE SIDES? WE KNOW FROM JUST HISTORY, THE PAST FEW YEARS, THINGS THAT WE THINK WOULD NOT BE CONTENTIOUS, ALL OF A SUDDEN BECOME CONTENTIOUS THAT WE [OVERLAPPING]. >> FARMING FOR EXAMPLE. >> YOU HAD TO BRING IT UP. YES. [LAUGHTER] I'D LIKE TO BE INCLUDED AND SUPPORTED. I WISH SOMEONE WAS HERE, SO I COULD JUST ASK THEM SOME QUESTIONS. >> I WAS GOING TO SAY MY FEELING IS IT JUST COMES DOWN TO THIS FEELS VERY RUSHED. IT FEELS LIKE I KNOW THAT THERE'S A TIME LIMIT. IT SEEMS LIKE THERE'S TOO MANY QUESTIONS THAT ARE UNANSWERED, AND TO YOUR POINT, IT'S NOT A FLIPPANT THROW OUR LEND AT IT. I STILL HAVE QUESTIONS. >> ONE QUESTION I HAVE IS, WHAT IS THE COMMUNITY SUPPORT AROUND IT. IF THE GENERAL COMMUNITY IS IN SUPPORT OF IT, AND THIS WOULD HELP KIDS GET TO TRAVEL SOCCER FROM HUTCHINSON OR EVEN PROSPECT, WHO DON'T DO THAT RIGHT NOW, I DON'T SEE A DOWNSIDE. THE ONLY DOWNSIDE I SEE IS THE ONE YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT, WHICH IS IF THIS ALL OF A SUDDEN BECOMES CONTENTIOUS. IF IT BECOMES CONTENTIOUS FOR A WEEK AND THEN IT'S OVER, GREAT. I WOULD JUST LIKE TO TALK TO SOMEONE A LITTLE. >> I HAD ASKED DR. CHAMP AND SAID, DID WE KNOW IF THE VILLAGES WERE ALSO LENDING THEIR SUPPORT TO THE RIGHT GOVERNMENTS [OVERLAPPING] >> BECAUSE THIS COME FROM THE TOWN. >> YEAH. BUT THEY WEREN'T ASKED BECAUSE [OVERLAPPING] >> BECAUSE IT WOULDN'T FURTHER THEIR GRANT APPLICATION TO HAVE VILLAGE. THIS WAS ABOUT GETTING STAKEHOLDERS. >> I SEE. >> DO WE KNOW WHO ELSE? IT'S THE SENIORS? >> I HAVE TO LOOK BACK THROUGH MY EMAILS. I BELIEVE THERE WAS ONE MORE. >> WHY IS THE SCHOOL DISTRICT CONSIDERED A STAKEHOLDER? [OVERLAPPING] THE COMMUNITY MEMBERS, THE PEOPLE WHO LIVE IN THE VILLAGES WOULD ALSO BE USING THIS. I MEAN, OUR STUDENTS. >> I THINK THEY WERE SEEING IT AS WHAT ARE THE POPULATIONS THAT THIS COULD REALLY OPEN OPPORTUNITIES FOR MORE THAN WHAT THEY HAVE NOW. >> WORST PART OF IT, DON'T KNOW. MY GUESS IS I DON'T THINK THEY BELIEVE THIS WOULD BE A BIG ASK, WHICH IS PROBABLY WHY THE ASK IS COMING NOW. >> WHAT DOES A LETTER OF [INAUDIBLE] LOOK LIKE? IS IT LITERALLY WE SUPPORT YOU? >> WE COULD SUPPORT THE CONCEPT. WE COULD SUPPORT THE PILOT. WE COULD SUPPORT IT ONLY AS FAR AS WE WANT TO ASSESS. THEY'VE SENT A TEMPLATE, BUT SAID BY [OVERLAPPING] >> WAS THE DISTRICT INVOLVED IN THE FEASIBILITY WORK AT ALL? >> I DON'T BELIEVE SO. I THINK THIS IS SEPARATE FROM THE WORK THAT WE WERE DOING TO IMPROVE THE SAFETY OF CLOVER. >> DR. CHAMP, DO YOU REMEMBER IF IN THE BEFORE TIMES? [LAUGHTER] >> THESE THINGS WOULD COME UP. I DON'T WANT TO SAY THERE WOULD BE NO BRAINERS, BUT THERE WAS A LOT MORE OPENNESS. YEAH. >> THERE WASN'T SO MUCH DISCUSSION AND BACK AND FORTH. >> YEAH, THERE CERTAINLY WASN'T THE YOU KNOW. >> YEAH. >> IT WAS MUCH SIMPLER. >> YEAH. IT WAS SIMPLER. >> TO COLLABORATE ON PROJECTS THAT WOULD LIKE BENEFIT WITH OR ALL PART OF. >> RIGHT. EVEN IF IT WAS ONLY A FEW STUDENTS OR WHATEVER. YEAH. >> I DON'T NECESSARILY THINK IT'S WORTHWHILE AT THIS POINT TO TAKE A VOTE ON THIS, BECAUSE I THINK WE ALL HAVE MORE QUESTIONS. I'M TRYING TO THINK CAN WE MAYBE COLLECT QUESTIONS AND I CALL KRISTEN TOMORROW, KRISTEN BURKE [OVERLAPPING]. >> GET MORE INFORMATION. >> YEAH. >> BY THE WAY, TO BE CLEAR, I'M NOT SAYING IT'S A HARD NO FROM ME. I JUST THINK WE SHOULD BE CAREFUL. THAT'S ALL. >> YEAH. I DIDN'T LOOK AT THE TEMPLATE, BUT SOMETHING LIKE YOU WERE SAYING, DR. CHAMP, OF COURSE, WE SUPPORT THE CONCEPT OF- >> RIDE SHARE. >> OF RIDE SHARE. IF IT SOMEHOW HELP. [01:25:01] >> SUPPORT STUDENTS. >> SUPPORT STUDENTS. >> SUPPORT STUDENTS IN ATTENDING EVENTS AND SENIORS [OVERLAPPING]. >> THAT IS FOR THEIR GRANT. >> YEAH, BUT THAT COULD BE A QUESTION FOR HER. IS THAT SUFFICIENT DECLARATION OF SUPPORT? >> THERE'S MANY PIECES TO A GRANT APPLICATION. THEY HAVE TO PROVIDE A LOT OF DATA AND A LOT OF METRICS AND REPORTING ON HOW THEY'RE GOING TO REPORT ON THE GRANT PROCESS AND WHERE THE MONEY IS GOING. THIS IS A SMALL PIECE OF IT. THIS WOULD BE A SMALL PIECE, AND I DON'T THINK, I MEAN, I HAVEN'T SEEN THEIR GRANT APPLICATION [OVERLAPPING] >> OR HEAVILY RELYING ON. [OVERLAPPING] >> I DON'T KNOW WHAT THE REQUIREMENTS ARE FOR THIS GRANT, BUT HAVING WRITTEN LOTS OF GRANTS. I WOULD THINK THAT THIS WOULD BE A SMALLER PIECE OF THAT PUZZLE FOR THEM AND MAYBE NOT THE TIPPING POINT FACTOR. >> I THINK IF WE WERE TO WRITE SOME LETTER OF SUPPORT, I THINK THE APERTURE OF THAT SHOULD BE PRETTY SORT OF NARROW AROUND STUDENT BENEFIT. BECAUSE I DON'T WANT TO GET INTO COMMUTER BENEFIT AND OTHER BENEFITS LIKE THAT. >> WE HAVE TO BE FOCUSED ON THE SCHOOLS, AND I DO THINK THAT WHAT YOU SAID REALLY RESONATED THAT THIS IS JUST THE TIMES WE LIVE IN NOW, WE JUST HAVE TO BE REALLY CAREFUL WITH WHAT WE THROW OUR SUPPORT BEHIND. IN THE BIG PICTURE THING, THE SCHEME OF THINGS AND MACRO VIEW OF ALL THE THINGS THAT PELHAM SCHOOL DISTRICT IS DEALING WITH AND THINKING ABOUT AND WORKING ON. IS THIS GOING TO BE SOMETHING THAT'S GOING TO TAKE UP A LOT OF OUR TIME? IS THIS GOING TO END UP CAUSING US SOME SORT OF HICCUP DOWN THE ROAD? >> SOMEWHERE WE CAN'T IMAGINE. >> IT'S DISAPPOINTING THAT THIS IS WE EVEN HAVE TO SPEND THIS MUCH TIME THINKING ABOUT IT AND TALKING ABOUT THIS AND DEBATING BECAUSE I THINK THIS WOULD BE YOUR FIRST THOUGHT. I WAS LIKE, OF COURSE, WE'D SUPPORT THIS. THIS IS RIDE SHARING. THIS WOULD BE GREAT FOR THE COMMUNITY. THIS WOULD BE A GREAT [OVERLAPPING]. >> HAVE A ROAD TO COVER. >> WHY WOULDN'T WE WANT TO SEE IF THIS COULD WORK. BUT THEN WHEN YOU REALLY THINK ABOUT WHAT THAT MEANS AND ALL THE OTHER IMPLICATIONS THAT COME WITH IT, SO IT'S DISAPPOINTING THAT THIS IS THE CONVERSATION THAT WE HAVE TO HAVE AROUND IT, AND IT ISN'T JUST A, THIS SOUNDS GREAT. LIKE, HOW EXCITING. I THINK THAT'S WHAT I'M HEARING FROM ALL OF US, AND THAT'S WHY WE HAVE SO MANY QUESTIONS BECAUSE WE WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT IT'S NOT SOMETHING THAT CAN COME BACK AND [OVERLAPPING]. >> I THINK I WOULD JUST WANT TO KNOW WHAT ARE THE IMPLICATIONS THAT WE THINK THERE MIGHT BE. >> I WAS JUST GOING TO SAY WHAT THEY WOULD BE. MAYBE THERE WOULDN'T BE ANY. I DON'T KNOW. SO I'D WANT TO BE ABLE TO [OVERLAPPING]. WHAT ARE THE THINGS THAT WE'RE NOT THINKING OF THAT LIKE YOU SAID, WHAT WOULD THIS COST US? I CAN'T IMAGINE THIS WOULD COST US ANYTHING, OR WE WOULD NEED TO DO ANYTHING, BUT WE LIVE IN A TIME NOW WHERE WE HAVE TO LOOK AT EVERYTHING FROM EVERY ANGLE. THEREFORE, I SAY WE JUST COLLECT OUR QUESTIONS, THE SPECIFIC QUESTIONS THAT ARE DETAILED AND HIGH LEVEL AND ASK KRISTEN IF SHE COULD PROVIDE US ANSWERS, SO WE CAN ANSWER IN AN INFORMED MANNER. >> I FEEL LIKE WE'RE ON AGREEMENT. I DON'T THINK THERE'S MUCH MORE TO DISCUSS BECAUSE WE DON'T HAVE ENOUGH INFORMATION TO MAKE A DECISION. I'VE GOT MY QUESTIONS ALL RIGHT HERE, SO MAYBE WE CAN JUST GET SOMETHING ROLLING THAT WE CAN JUST ADD THEM IN. >> I'M GLAD TO SEE THAT THE TOWN IS EXPLORING THESE OPTIONS BECAUSE YOU DON'T KNOW IF YOU CAN DO IT UNTIL YOU EXPLORE IT. IT'S FORWARD THINKING, AND IT'S REALLY GREAT. IT'S A REALLY GREAT THING THAT THEY'RE DOING AND THAT THEY'RE EXPLORING FOR THE TOWN. >> JUST THE STUDENTS IN THE TOWN COULD YOU LIKE BENEFIT, SO IT DOESN'T DISCLUDE THE STUDENTS, SO I THINK IT'S WORTH TAKING A LOOK. >> I'LL SEND SHARED DOC AND YOU CAN ADD YOUR QUESTIONS AND THAT'LL HELP JACKIE SYNTHESIZE THOSE AND GET SOME ANSWERS. >> PERFECT. THANK YOU. >> I'M WALKING AWAY WITH IT HOMEWORK. HOW DOES THAT FEEL? SORRY. >> EVERYONE HAS HOMEWORK. YOU CAN ALL DO IT. I HAVE A NEW BUSINESS. THAT'S, MAYBE MORE FUN. WELL NOT THOUGHT THIS WASN'T FUN. CIRCUITS VERY FUN. DOCTORS FITZGERALD AND COMER AND I. >> THAT'S RIGHT. YOU HEADED OUT. >> WE ARE AND WE TALKED ABOUT THIS A FEW BOARD MEETINGS AGO. WE ARE PARTICIPATING IN THE NEW YORK EDUCATION POLICY LEADERSHIP PROGRAM [01:30:04] WHICH IS A ONE-YEAR FELLOWSHIP PROGRAM WITH A FOCUS ON POLICY AT THE MACRO LEVEL, UNDERSTANDING POLICY AND IMPLICATIONS OF THAT POLICY AND BETTER UNDERSTANDING THE DYNAMICS OF STRATEGIC LEADERSHIP. EVERY YEAR HAS A DIFFERENT THEME. THIS YEAR, THE THEME IS PUTTING STUDENTS FIRST AND POLARIZED TIMES, SO EVERYTHING SORT OF LIKE THROUGH AND THAT LENS. WE HAD OUR VERY FIRST SESSION LAST FRIDAY, WAS A HALF DAY. WE HAD AN AMAZING OPPORTUNITY OF HEARING CHANCELLOR YOUNG SPEAK. HE WAS ONLY SUPPOSED TO BE WITH US FOR 15 MINUTES, AND HE STAYED FOR AN HOUR BECAUSE WE HAVE A GROUP OF 24 EDUCATORS AND ME AS THE ONLY PERSON PARTICIPATING AS A BOARD MEMBER, WHO ASKED AMAZING QUESTIONS, AND HE WAS REALLY ENGAGED AND IT WAS A WONDERFUL OPPORTUNITY TO HEAR THE TOP LEVEL LEADER OF OUR NEW YORK EDUCATION SYSTEM, TALK ABOUT THE NEW YORK INSPIRES PLAN, THE PORTRAIT OF A GRADUATE, HOW THE REGENTS CAME UP, WHAT THEIR INTENT WAS, WHAT THEIR VISION WAS AROUND THAT. THE FELLOW EDUCATORS OR COHORT HAD THESE REALLY WONDERFUL QUESTIONS, AND ONE PERSON EVEN ASKED A QUESTION THAT STUMPED HIM. IT WAS A REALLY GREAT OPPORTUNITY FOR US TO LISTEN TO HIM, TALK ABOUT WHERE HE SEES, AND THE REGENT SEE THE DIRECTION OF NEW YORK STATE EDUCATION. I DON'T KNOW IF YOU WANT TO ADD ANYTHING, BUT IT WAS SO COOL. IT'S ALSO INTERESTING TO HEAR FROM AROUND THE REGION, WHAT OTHER DISTRICTS ARE DOING AND REALLY LEARNING FROM THEM AND BUILDING UPON THAT. I THINK IT'LL BE A REALLY UNIQUE OPPORTUNITY. I'M EXCITED TO LEARN MORE AND TO ENGAGE IN THE PROCESS. >> WHEN'S THE NEXT? >> OUR NEXT MEETING IS OCTOBER 3RD, AND THEN THE FOLLOWING WEEK, WE GO ON OUR FIELD TRIP. >> FIELD TRIP. >> YEAH. WE TAKE OUR FIELD TRIP TO GETTYSBURG TO LEARN ABOUT LEADERSHIP IN THE BATTLEFIELD. I GUESS, DR. CHAMP, YOU KNOW WHAT EXPERIENCE WILL BE. >> IT'S ONE OF THE BEST PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT EXPERIENCES I'VE EVER BEEN PART OF. LESSONS OF LEADERSHIP LEARNED FROM THE BATTLES OF THE CIVIL WAR. THEY DO AN AMAZING JOB OF MAKING THEM VERY RELEVANT. >> SOUND GREAT. >> IT'S QUITE AN EXPERIENCE. >> IT'LL BE INTERESTING TO SEE AND HEAR WHAT WE LEARN AND THE PERSPECTIVES THAT WE GAIN FROM THIS WHOLE YEAR, BUT SPECIFICALLY THAT FIELD TRIP, AND THEN WE HAVE A WASHINGTON, DC FIELD TRIP IN THE SPRING. THIS WILL BE A REALLY COOL YEAR FOR US TO UPDATE YOU ON, AND HOPEFULLY WE'LL HAVE A HELM FOCUS POLICY PROJECT TO PRESENT AT THE END. >> GREAT. THANK YOU FOR THAT. ANY MORE NEW BUSINESS? >> I'LL TAKE A MOTION TO ADJOURN. >> SO MOVED. >> SECOND. >> ALL IN FAVOR? >> AYE. >> THANKS, EVERYONE. >> THANK YOU. >> THANK YOU. >> THANK YOU. * This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.