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>> THANK YOU. GOOD EVENING, EVERYONE, AND WELCOME TO THE BOARD OF EDUCATION MEETING OF JANUARY 7TH, 2025.
[1. Public Session - 7:30 p.m.]
PLEASE RISE FOR THE PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE.[1.3 Opening Remarks]
I HOPE EVERYONE HAD A HAPPY HOLIDAY AND A RESTFUL BREAK.PLEASE NOTE THAT TRUSTEE TREVES IS JOINING US REMOTELY THIS EVENING.
I WILL. HE CONTINUES TO RECOVER FROM SURGERY.
I'M GLAD TO REPORT HE'S DOING WELL.
I WISH HIM CONTINUED RECOVERY.
I'M SURE WE'LL SEE HIM BACK IN PERSON, MAYBE OUR NEXT BOARD MEETING.
IF YOU'RE AVAILABLE THIS FRIDAY EVENING, PLEASE JOIN US FOR THE BATTLE OF THE BANDS IN THE HIGH SCHOOL AUDITORIUM AT 7:00 PM.
WE DID NOT HAVE AN EXECUTIVE SESSION THIS EVENING, AND WE HAVE A FAIRLY STRAIGHTFORWARD AGENDA.
A FEW NOTABLE BUSINESS ITEMS. I'D LIKE TO WELCOME BACK OUR STUDENT BOARD MEMBERS, EMERSON, AND NICK.
I HOPE YOU BOTH HAD A NICE BREAK, AND WE LOOK FORWARD TO YOUR UPDATES THIS EVENING.
WE'RE PLEASED TO SHARE THAT THE STATE OF NEW YORK GRANT FOR THE OUTDOOR CLASSROOM AT PROSPECT HILL ELEMENTARY SCHOOL HAS ARRIVED, I GUESS.
THE GRANT TOTALS $150,000, AND WE THANK EVERYONE INVOLVED IN ADVANCING THIS PROJECT, INCLUDING ASSEMBLY WOMAN AMY PAULIN.
WE ALSO HAVE 13 POLICIES ON THE AGENDA THIS EVENING, CONTINUING OUR STEADY PROGRESS ON POLICY UPDATES.
THANK YOU TO TRUSTEE BURKE AND THE ENTIRE POLICY COMMITTEE, INCLUDING THE CABINET, DR.
CHAMP, AND TRUSTEE GARCIA, FOR KEEPING THIS IMPORTANT WORK MOVING FORWARD.
SIX POLICIES ARE PRESENTED FOR FIRST READING AND RELATE TO STUDENTS WITH DISABILITIES, AND SEVEN ARE UP FOR SECOND READING.
I'D LIKE TO BRIEFLY HIGHLIGHT ITEM 7.7 POLICY 1510.
SINCE OUR LAST MEETING, WE MADE SOME SUBSTANTIVE REVISIONS TO THE PUBLIC COMMENT SECTION TO BETTER REFLECT THE BOARD'S PHILOSOPHY OF KEEPING PUBLIC COMMENT AS ACCESSIBLE AND MINIMALLY MANAGED AS POSSIBLE WHILE STILL ALLOWING THE BOARD PRESIDENT TO MANAGE TIME AND DECORUM WHEN NECESSARY.
THAT'S ALL I'D LIKE TO HIGHLIGHT NOW.
[2. Approval of Minutes]
WHICH IS THE APPROVAL OF THE MINUTE OR SECTION 2, APPROVAL OF THE MINUTES.DO I HAVE A MOTION TO TAKE 2.1-2.3 AS A CONSENT AGENDA?
>> THIS IS TO APPROVE THE MEETING MINUTES FROM NOVEMBER 5TH, NOVEMBER 19TH AND DECEMBER 10TH.
ANY COMMENTS OR QUESTIONS ON THE MINUTES? ALL IN FAVOR?
>> NONE OPPOSED, SO THOSE MINUTES ARE APPROVED, AND NOW I'LL HAND IT TO DR. CHAMP.
[3.1 Superintendent's Report]
>> GREAT. THANK YOU. HAPPY NEW YEAR FOR ME, AS WELL.
I HOPE EVERYONE HAD A RESTFUL BREAK.
I KNOW TWO WEEKS IS A LUXURY, BUT I THINK RESEARCH SAYS TWO WEEKS IS WHAT IT TAKES TO REALLY DECOMPRESS AND DISCONNECT FROM WORK, SO I VERY MUCH APPRECIATED THAT, AND HOPE EVERYONE ELSE DID AND HAD A HEALTHY AND HAPPY HOLIDAY SEASON, WE'RE EXCITED TO BE BACK.
I WILL SAY THAT CONCERTS BEFORE THE HOLIDAYS REALLY PUT EVERYONE IN THE FESTIVE SPIRIT. THEY'RE OUTSTANDING.
CONGRATULATIONS TO ALL OF OUR OUR MUSIC DEPARTMENT, ALL OF OUR MUSIC STUDENTS FOR THE CONTINUED EXCELLENCE THAT THEY DEMONSTRATE IN THOSE CONCERTS.
IT DEFINITELY IS SOMETHING THAT THE WHOLE SCHOOL COMMUNITY SHARES TOO, AND ONE OF THE MOST FUN THINGS IS BEING ON THIS CAMPUS THAT LAST DAY BEFORE BREAK BECAUSE THEY DO CONCERTS FOR ALL THE STUDENTS AND GET TO SHARE THAT SKILL AND SPIRIT WITH THEM.
WE ARE BACK AND WE ARE EXCITED FOR THE SECOND HALF OF THE YEAR.
THIS IS THE PART OF THE YEAR THAT GOES BY EVEN FASTER THAN THE FIRST PART DID.
WITH THE SPRING COMING UP, CERTAINLY WE'VE GOT MID TERMS COMING UP AT THE END OF THIS MONTH.
DR. CUERFORD IS GOING TO TALK, I THINK A LITTLE BIT ABOUT OUR TRI STATE VISIT COMING UP, WHICH IS ANOTHER THING THAT'S BEEN A TREMENDOUS AMOUNT OF PREPARATION FOR.
THANK YOU TO THE ADMINISTRATORS AND FACULTY MEMBERS WHO PARTICIPATED IN THAT.
WE LOOK FORWARD TO PUTTING OUR BEST FOOT FORWARD WITH OUR COALITION OF PARTNERSHIP HIGH PERFORMING SCHOOLS.
IT'S ALSO THE START OF THE BUDGET SEASON.
WE HAVE STARTED THIS WEEK IN EARNEST WITH BUDGET MEETINGS, WHERE WE GO LINE BY LINE INTERNALLY THROUGH BUILDINGS, DEPARTMENTS.
REALLY, IT'S A GREAT CHANCE TO ASK THOSE CRITICAL FRIEND QUESTIONS, BEHIND THE SCENES, AND FOR US TO REALLY GET A DEEP UNDERSTANDING OF WHAT'S GOING ON WHERE AND PRIORITIZE.
AS WE'VE TALKED ABOUT, WE KNOW IT'S GOING TO BE A CHALLENGING BUDGET.
BUT WE'RE KEEPING THE BOARD'S GUIDANCE IN MIND AS WE DO THAT,
[00:05:01]
AND WE'LL WORK TO MAKE SURE THAT OUR PRIORITIES AND STRATEGIC PLAN ARE THE DRIVERS IN OUR DECISION MAKING AS WE GO FORWARD, AND WE LOOK FORWARD TO KEEPING THE BOARD UP TO DATE ON THAT DEVELOPMENT PROCESS AND EXPECT TO LAUNCH THE BUDGET, THE BOARD MEETING AFTER FEBRUARY BREAK WILL BE THE OVERVIEW PRESENTATION.JUST SOME REMINDERS ABOUT WHERE WE ARE WITH CONSTRUCTION.
NOT MUCH HAS HAPPENED SINCE THE BREAK, SINCE WE WERE GONE.
BUT FOR ANYONE WHO JUST A QUICK UPDATES, WE'RE EXPECTING, AND JIM MAY BE TOUCHING ON SOME OF THIS AS WELL IN HIS REPORT.
OUR PLAN WAS TO SUBMIT THE PLANS FOR PROSPECT HILL AND COLONIAL RENOVATIONS TO STATE EDUCATION DEPARTMENT THIS MONTH TO GET THOSE IN FOR APPROVALS WITH THE GOAL OF GETTING TO BIDDING AND STARTING THE WORK THIS SUMMER.
THAT'S PREDOMINANTLY THE RENOVATION WORK, SO HVAC WORK, CHANGING OVER FROM CURRENT HEATING SYSTEMS TO NEW HEATING SYSTEMS. BEGINNING WORK FOR THE INSTALLATION OF THE AIR CONDITIONING AND SOME ROOFING AND MASONRY IN SELECT AREAS.
JIM WILL GIVE US A LITTLE BIT MORE OF AN UPDATE THERE.
ALSO, SIENA PLANS CONTINUE IN DEVELOPMENT.
WE HAD A REALLY GREAT COMMUNITY MEETING RIGHT BEFORE THE BREAK.
WE HAD A NICE GROUP OF NEIGHBORS CAME OUT AND CONTINUE TO GIVE US SOME GREAT FEEDBACK AND JUST APPRECIATE THE RESPONSIVENESS THAT OUR CONSTRUCTION TEAM HAS SHOWN TO THE FEEDBACK FROM THE INTERNAL SCHOOL COMMUNITY, AS WELL AS THE EXTERNAL NEIGHBORHOOD COMMUNITY.
ONE THING THAT WE WILL CONTINUE TO REITERATE, AND I KNOW JIM REPRESENTED US AT A MEETING JUST THIS WEEK ALREADY WITH VILLAGE OF PELHAM MANOR.
WE HAVE BEEN AND CONTINUE TO BE COMMITTED TO KEEPING THEM AS A COLLABORATIVE IN FOREIGN PARTNER.
WE HAD A MEETING, THE ENGINEERING TEAM, THE ARCHITECTS, THE DISTRICT, AND VILLAGE OF PELHAM MANOR.
AGAIN, I'M SURE JIM GOES A LITTLE BIT MORE COLOR ON THAT TOO.
WE JUST WANT TO MAKE FOLKS AWARE THAT WE ARE CONTINUING THAT PARTNERSHIP.
CERTAINLY, WE'VE MADE IT A PRIORITY TO KEEP THEM INFORMED ON THINGS, ESPECIALLY WHEN THERE ARE MAJOR STEPS COMING UP.
ONE THING THAT SURPRISED US ALL ON MONDAY MORNING, INCLUDING JIM, I'M JUST TEEING YOU UP ALL THESE SOFTBALLS FOR YOUR REPORT.
JIM GOT CALLED FIRST THING ON MONDAY MORNING BECAUSE A DRILL TRUCK UNEXPECTEDLY SHOWED UP ON SIENA PLACE.
THEY HAD NOT ANNOUNCED IT TO US.
NOBODY HAD TOLD US THEY WERE COMING.
THEY SHOWED UP, AND JIM HAD TO PROMPTLY GO AND SAY, THANKS, BUT NO, THANKS.
YOU WERE NOT PLANNED TO COME. YOU'RE NOT DOING THE WORK TODAY.
IT'S THE FIRST DAY BACK TO SCHOOL.
HE SENT THEM ON THEIR WAY, AND WE'LL GET THAT WORK RESCHEDULED.
THAT'S A GOOD EXAMPLE OF THE THING.
IF THERE'S GOING TO BE DRILLING, IF THERE'S GOING TO BE WORK THAT'S GOING TO BE DISRUPTIVE TO THE NEIGHBORHOOD, WE'VE MADE IT CLEAR TO OUR CONSTRUCTION PARTNERS THAT WE WANT TO BE PROACTIVE WITH COMMUNICATION.
>> DO WE KNOW WHY THAT HAPPENED SO THAT IT DOESN'T HAPPEN AGAIN?
>> FOLLOW UP WITH THE ARCHITECTURAL AND CONSTRUCTION MANAGEMENT TEAM LATER IN THE DAY RENEWED OUR LEVEL OF EXPECTATIONS AND OUR PROMISES TO THE COMMUNITY AND THE COMMUNITY'S EXPECTATIONS.
IT WAS A LACK OF COMMUNICATION.
>> THEN I THINK YOU SAID WE KEEP IN TOUCH WITH THE VILLAGE OF PELHAM MANOR.
ALSO THE NEIGHBORHOOD CAN EXPECT TO BE MADE AWARE.
>> THIS WAS SPECIFICALLY THE EXAMPLE OF THE THING THAT WE WANTED TO KNOW IN ADVANCE WHEN THEY WERE COMING SO THAT WE COULD NOTIFY THE NEIGHBORS.
NOT ON OUR PART, THE LACK OF COMMUNICATION BETWEEN THE CONSTRUCTION PROFESSIONALS WAS AWESOME.
>> BUT THINGS ARE MOVING. WE'RE GOING TO DO OUR BEST.
THERE'S LOTS OF ANYONE WHO'S RENOVATED THEIR HOUSE KNOWS THAT THERE ARE UNEXPECTED THINGS THAT HAPPEN, AND WE WORK TO MITIGATE THEM AND MANAGE THEM AS BEST WE CAN.
ALSO, THIS WEEK, WE HAVE COMING UP ON FRIDAY.
YOU MAY REMEMBER LAST YEAR, AND AS PART OF OUR STRATEGIC PLAN, WE HAVE WORKED TO PUT TOGETHER A PARENT EDUCATION SERIES.
WE HAVE THE FIRST SESSION COMING UP.
IT'S REALLY CURRENTLY TARGETED ELEMENTARY.
WE HAVE A SESSION ON FRIDAY MORNING, TEN O'CLOCK IN THE PROSPECT HILL AUDITORIUM ON TRACY HELPED TO FACILITATE BRINGING IN A PRESENTER TO TALK ABOUT MANAGING ANXIETY FOR CHILD.
AS ONE OF THE PROFESSIONALS THAT WE WORK WITH THROUGH ONE OF OUR CONTRACTED PROFESSIONAL SERVICES.
WE'RE LOOKING FORWARD TO THAT.
I BELIEVE IT IS BEING RECORDED FOR ANYONE WHO CAN'T MAKE IT.
WE FIGURED A FRIDAY MORNING, MAYBE WITH A LOT OF FOLKS STILL WORKING FROM HOME COULD BE ACCESSIBLE.
WE'RE LOOKING FORWARD TO THAT, AND AS WE FINALIZE ADDITIONAL PLANS, THOSE WILL BE COMING OUT.
ALSO ON MONDAY THIS PAST WEEK.
SORRY, DR. FITZGERALD, IF I'M STEPPING ON YOUR TOES, THIS, YOU CAN FILL IN MORE BLANKS ON THIS AS WELL.
BUT WE DID LAUNCH THE POSTING FOR THE [INAUDIBLE] PRINCIPLE.
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WE HAVE OFFICIALLY BEGUN THE SEARCH FOR THE NEXT [INAUDIBLE] PRINCIPLE.OUR GOAL IS TO HAVE SOMEONE IN PLACE TO BEGIN JULY 1ST.
THE POSTING WENT OUT, IT GOES OUT A VARIETY OF PLACES, BUT MOST IMPORTANTLY, ALLJOBS.ORG, THAT IS THE PRIMARY EDUCATION SITE FOR APPLYING FOR JOBS IN EDUCATION, NEW YORK STATE.
I KNOW I MYSELF HAVE ALSO PUT IT OUT TO MY LIST SERVE OF SUPERINTENDENTS FOR THE LOWER HUDSON COUNCIL, WHICH IS LIKE ALMOST 80 DISTRICTS IN THE REGION.
IMMEDIATELY GOT BACK A COUPLE OF RESPONSES FROM PERSONAL RECOMMENDATIONS FOR PEOPLE THAT THEY THINK WILL BE OUTSTANDING CANDIDATES.
I THINK IT'S A GREAT TIME TO BE STARTING, AND I KNOW EACH OF US HAVE OUR OWN PROFESSIONAL NETWORK, SO WE'RE GOING TO ALL BE REACHING OUT TO TRY TO GET THE BEST POOL OF CANDIDATES AND REALLY DO A THOROUGH SEARCH.
>> I THINK IT'S WORTH WHILE REITERATING WHAT YOU JUST SAID.
THE REASON WHY YOU'RE DOING IT AT THIS TIME IS BECAUSE IT IS A GOOD TIME TO GET A GREAT CANDIDATE.
>> EXACTLY. IT'S THE BEST TIME TO START THE WORK.
THEN TONIGHT ON THE AGENDA, YOU SEE THE BOARD IS, AGAIN, CONTINUING TO BE VERY ACTIVE IN POLICY WORK.
THANKS TO THEIR FEARLESS LEADER ON THAT COMMITTEE.
ONE OF THE THINGS I DID WANT TO NOTE, TONIGHT, THE FIRST READING POLICIES YOU PROBABLY PICKED UP A THEME FOR MOST OF THEM, AND THAT IS SPECIAL EDUCATION.
AS WE'RE GOING THROUGH OUR AUDIT, WE HAD IDENTIFIED THERE'S A LOT OF POLICIES THAT HAVEN'T REALLY BEEN TOUCHED IN A VERY LONG TIME.
MOST OF THESE POLICIES ARE REALLY EMBEDDED IN REGULATION, SO THEY HAVEN'T NEEDED TO BE TOUCHED A LOT.
BUT THE THING THAT REALLY CAUSED US TO TAKE A LOOK IN THIS AREA, AND THEN OUR LEGAL COUNSEL SAID IF YOU'RE GOING TO DO ONE, YOU MIGHT AS WELL DO ALL OF THEM TOGETHER TO REALLY COORDINATE THOSE UPDATES, IS THE CHANGE IN PRACTICE THAT STUDENTS CAN NOW REMAIN IN SCHOOL UNTIL THE DAY BEFORE THEIR 22ND BIRTHDAY.
THERE WAS A BIG CHANGE IN PRACTICE FOR DISTRICTS AROUND THE STATE.
WE WANTED TO CATCH UP THE POLICY LANGUAGE WITH THAT NEW REGULATION.
THAT'S REALLY WHY THEY'RE THERE. REALLY NO REASON OTHER THAN THAT.
THEY HADN'T BEEN TOUCHED IN MANY CASES SINCE 2012.
WE'RE GOING ON ALMOST 15 YEARS.
IT WAS A PERFECT TIME TO BRING THOSE FORWARD.
I KNOW THAT SID WILL BE TALKING MORE ABOUT THAT.
FINALLY, THIS IS A LITTLE BIT OF A DISCUSSION ITEM.
THIS IS NOT UP FOR ADOPTION TONIGHT, BUT I WANT TO START THE CONVERSATION.
ON YOUR DESK, YOU SHOULD HAVE A SAMPLE OF THE DRAFT OF THE CALENDAR FOR THE '26, '27 SCHOOL YEAR.
I DON'T KNOW IF WE HAVE ONES FOR OUR STUDENTS, BUT YOU'RE CERTAINLY WELCOME TO TAKE A LOOK AT THOSE.
WHAT I'M PROPOSING IS LARGELY IN LINE WITH THE BOE'S CALENDAR.
A LOT OF DISTRICTS WILL SHARE THEIR CALENDAR SO YOU GET IDEAS.
EACH DISTRICT HAS ITS OWN NUANCES OF HOW MANY DAYS TEACHERS ARE REQUIRED TO WORK, WHERE AND WHEN PARENT TEACHER CONFERENCES, MAY FALL, HALF DAYS, ETC.
FOR US, LARGELY THIS IS ACTUALLY I FOUND TO BE A RELATIVELY SIMPLE CALENDAR TO CONSTRUCT BECAUSE MOSTLY IT'S DRIVEN BY HOLIDAYS, START DATES AND END DATES AND NOT A LOT OF FLEXIBILITY IN BETWEEN, EXCEPT WHERE THINGS LIKE FEBRUARY BREAK AND SPRING BREAK FALL.
AGAIN, I FOLLOWED SUIT PREDOMINANTLY WITH BOE'S, BECAUSE WE DO HAVE HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS WHO ATTEND CLASSES AT BOE'S, WE HAVE SPECIAL EDUCATION STUDENTS ATTEND BOE'S, AND OUR BUSING PARTNERSHIP ALIGN IS A BOE'S BP CONSORTIUM.
SO IT MAKES SENSE TO ALIGN WITH BOE'S.
THE ONE AREA THAT IS STILL UP FOR THIS IS PRELIMINARY, SO I WANT TO BE CLEAR THAT I'M TRYING NOT TO GET THE CART IN FRONT OF THE HORSE ON THIS.
OUR TEACHERS CONTRACT IN ORDER FOR TEACHERS TO COME BACK BEFORE LABOR DAY, THEY HAVE TO VOTE TO AGREE TO DO SO.
THAT VOTE HAS NOT YET OCCURRED, SO THIS IS NOT A DONE DEAL.
BUT IN DISCUSSIONS, AGAIN, I'M SUGGESTING, RECOMMENDING AND HOPING THAT WE CAN COME TO AGREEMENT AROUND BRINGING TEACHERS BACK ON WEDNESDAY AND THURSDAY BEFORE LABOR DAY, WHICH WOULD THEN ENABLE US TO START STUDENTS RIGHT ON TUESDAY AFTER LABOR DAY.
IT'S A VERY LATE LABOR DAY THIS YEAR.
YET AT THE SAME TIME, IT'S NICE THAT WE'RE NOT BACKED UP INTO STARTING IN AUGUST LIKE WE WERE THESE PAST COUPLE OF YEARS.
WE ARE GOING TO NEED AS MUCH SUMMER AS POSSIBLE FOR OUR CONSTRUCTION PROJECTS, SO BEING ABLE TO PUSH THAT START FOR STAFF TO SEPTEMBER WOULD BE INCREDIBLY HELPFUL.
THE OTHER END OF THE SCHOOL YEAR, RIGHT NOW, I'M PROPOSING GRADUATION ON THE 26TH.
THE LAST COUPLE OF YEARS, WE'VE PUSHED IT UP A WEEK AHEAD.
BUT AGAIN, THE WAY THE CALENDAR FALLS, THAT WOULD BE REALLY EARLY, AS FAR AS PROXIMITY THE END OF CLASSES.
IT ALSO WOULD BE JUNETEENTH, WHICH IS A HOLIDAY, WHICH COULD BE PROBLEMATIC FOR SOME FAMILIES.
RIGHT NOW, THAT'S WHERE WE STAND.
THIS IS OPENING IT UP FOR FEEDBACK FROM THE BOARD.
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ONCE THE TEACHERS RESOLVE THEIR POSITION ON WHETHER WE'RE GOING TO BE ABLE TO START BEFORE LABOR DAY FOR TEACHERS, THEN MY PLAN WOULD BE TO SEND THIS OUT TO COMMUNITY PARENTS FOR SOME FEEDBACK.TAKE WHATEVER FEEDBACK WE'RE ABLE TO INTO ACCOUNT, MAKE SOME FINAL ADJUSTMENTS AND BRING IT BACK TO THE BOARD TO CONSIDER FOR ADOPTION.
YOU WILL NOTE ALSO, THERE ARE SOME HALF DAYS ON HERE.
THESE ARE THE ONES THAT ARE REQUIRED BY EITHER OF THE STANDARD ONES, THE DAY BEFORE THANKSGIVING, THE ONES THAT WE NEED TO ACCOMMODATE PARENT TEACHER CONFERENCES.
ONE AT THE BEGINNING OF THE YEAR, THAT IS A CONTRACTUAL HALF DAY, AND THEN THE LAST THREE DAYS IN JUNE.
IF WE NEED THOSE BECAUSE WE HAD A LOT OF SNOW DAYS, THOSE WOULD ALSO BE HALF DAYS FOR STUDENTS.
WHAT'S NOT IN THERE YET ARE THE PLC LATE START EARLY DISMISSAL DAYS.
WE WANT TO GET THE FRAMEWORK OF THAT IN AND THEN WORK WITH THE CURRICULUM TEAM TO IDENTIFY THE DATES THAT WOULD BE MOST SUITED FOR THOSE.
WE'RE ALSO HOPING TO GET SOME FEEDBACK.
AS WE FINISH OUT THIS YEAR, WE DID SOME OF THE WE GOING TO HAVE TWO LATE ARRIVAL DAYS COMING UP FEBRUARY AND APRIL.
WE'VE DONE THE EARLY RELEASES THE LAST COUPLE OF YEARS LIKE NORMAL.
ONCE WE'VE DONE A COUPLE, OUR HOPE IS TO GET SOME FEEDBACK AND THEN MAKE FINAL DECISIONS ABOUT HOW WE'RE GOING TO STRUCTURE THOSE.
>> I'M SURE I'LL HAVE QUESTIONS.
>> SURE. I KNOW IT'S A FIRST TIME SEEING IT.
>> [INAUDIBLE] DO WE HAVE COPIES?
>> YES. DO WE HAVE COPIES FOR NICHOLAS AND EMERSON?
>> I CAN GIVE MINE. I'M HAPPY TO GIVE MINE [OVERLAPPING]
>> THAT'S A GOOD POINT. NICK DOESN'T NEED ONE [LAUGHTER]
>> I ALMOST SAID THAT MYSELF MY DAUGHTERS GRADUATED.
>> I WAS LIKE, WELL, NOT AS RELEVANT.
>> BUT DOCTOR CHAMP, DO YOU FORESEE ANY PUSH-BACK ON THE LAKE GRADUATION?
>> I THINK THAT'S GOING TO BE TRICKY.
AND I'M SURE WE'LL HAVE SOME CONVERSATION ABOUT IT.
IT FEELS NORMAL LATE, IF THAT MAKES ANY SENSE.
THE LAST FEW YEARS WITH ALL THE ADDED HOLIDAYS, THAT'S PART OF WHAT HAS PUSHED THINGS VERY LATE.
>> THE 26 DOESN'T FEEL OUT OF THE NORM FOR, IF YOU GO BACK FIVE YEARS AGO, TEN YEARS AGO.
26 IT WOULD HAVE BEEN LATE THEN, BUT IT WOULD HAVE BEEN WITHIN THE REALM OF NORMAL.
>> THAT'S AGAIN, STILL UP FOR A LITTLE BIT OF DEBATE THERE. YEAH.
>> IS IT THE SAME HOLIDAYS? ARE THERE ADDITIONAL HOLIDAYS OR ANY TAKEN WEEKEND?
>> SOME OF THEM FELL ON THE WEEKENDS.
OKAY. THAT'S SOME OF THE DIFFERENT.
>> OCTOBER PRETTY MUCH WE'VE GOT YOM KIPPUR IS SEPTEMBER 21ST, BUT RAKSHA FELL ON THE WEEKEND THIS YEAR.
>> DIWALI FELL ON THE WEEKEND.
>> THE REASON FOR GOING SO LATE STILL REACHING THE END OF JUNE IS BECAUSE LABOR DAY IS SO LATE. YEAH. [OVERLAPPING].
>> THAT'S EXACTLY AND REGIONS RATING DAY IS JUNE 25TH AND THE WHOLE REGIONS EXAM SCHEDULE IS BACKED UP FROM THERE.
>> REGARDING GRADUATION, I MEAN, I KNOW SOME PEOPLE WOULDN'T MIND, BUT I DO WANT TO JUST BE CONSCIOUS THAT IT IS JUNE 10TH.
>> IT'S, JUST WANT TO BE RESPECTFUL.
IT'S SOMETHING TO KNOW BECAUSE I KNOW PEOPLE WILL BE UPSET THAT IT'S GOING SO LONG INTO JUNE, ALMOST JULY.
BUT UNFORTUNATELY, THAT'S THE WAY THE HOLIDAYS FALL.
>> GRADUATION POSSIBLE ON SUNDAY.
>> THAT'S A GOOD QUESTION. WE'VE NEVER DONE IT THAT WAY BEFORE.
>> YOU ALWAYS HAVE THE LAST DAY OF SCHOOL, AND THEN YOU HAVE A LOT OF FUN. YEAH, SORRY.
>> THIS IS GREAT IT TELLS US ALL THE SAME THING [LAUGHTER].
>> SORRY, JUST FOR SENIORS, I KNOW WE END MIDDLE OF THE MONTH.
>> CLASSES ACTUALLY END AND THEN OUR FRESHMAN AND SOPHOMORE, JUNIORS HAVE FINALS, WHICH MAKES SENSE LIKE UP UNTIL 22ND.
>> THAT'S JUST FOR SENIORS, ESPECIALLY IF WE HAVE ALMOST TWO WEEKS OFF AND THEN GRADUATION.
THAT'S A LITTLE LIKE NOT AWKWARD.
IT'S JUST, I DON'T KNOW HOW TO EXPLAIN A LITTLE.
>> DO YOU KNOW AND I DIDN'T HAVE A CHANCE TO ASK MR. LUNN [INAUDIBLE],
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DO YOU REMEMBER WHAT THE DATE OF THE PROM?>> IT'S PROBABLY GOING TO BE SOMETIME BETWEEN THE 14TH AND 24TH, I'M GUESSING.
[OVERLAPPING] WE'LL CONTINUE TO LOOK AT THAT.
I THINK THAT'S REALLY HELPFUL FEEDBACK.
>> PROM WAS ON TUESDAY. THERE WAS [OVERLAPPING].
>> LAST YEAR WAS THERE WAS SOME I REMEMBER THERE WAS A LOT OF VENUE ISSUES LAST YEAR THAT RESULTED IN.
>> WE'RE GOING TO START LOOKING IN LIKE A FEW WEEKS TO STUDENT GOVERNMENT IS.
SO YOU KNOW, AS PLANS DEVELOP, THAT WILL ALL BE HELPFUL IN HELPING US TO NAIL DOWN AND CONSIDERING ALL THE DIFFERENT ISSUES THAT COULD BE AROUND THAT FINAL DATE.
USUALLY WHAT WE DO IS WE RENT THE TENT SINCE THE PANDEMIC, WE'VE RENTED THE TENT, AND WE'VE DONE ALL OF THE MOVING UP CEREMONIES, EIGHTH GRADE.
SO WE HAVE THE TENT FOR QUITE A WHILE, WHICH COULD ENABLE A, A DIFFERENT APPROACH.
>> I JUST WASN'T SURE BECAUSE IT IS A LITTLE LATE INTO THE YEAR.
>> OKAY. GOOD PERSPECTIVE. THANK YOU.
ALL RIGHT. WE'LL TAKE THAT BACK AND WE'LL DO SOME MORE WORK.
>> ONE OTHER THING I NOTICED IS, I THINK THIS YEAR AND LAST YEAR, WE HAD TEN THAT'S FULL TWO WEEKS BETWEEN IN DECEMBER.
IN THIS NEW VERSION, IT'S LIKE SEVEN DAYS, WHICH I'M NOT SAYING THAT'S GOOD OR BAD, BUT I JUST NOTICED THAT THAT'S A DIFFERENCE.
>> THAT IS A BIG DIFFERENCE. AGAIN, SOME YEARS IN MY RECOLLECTION HAS BEEN SOME YEARS, IT'S LIKE THIS OR IT'S SEVEN, EIGHT DAYS, OTHER YEARS, IT'S TWO WEEKS.
THERE'S NOT AS I LOOKED AT IT, I DON'T THINK THERE'S A LOT OF PLAY.
THERE'S NOT A LOT OF FLEXIBILITY IN THERE TO ACTUALLY, NOT THAT, THERE ARE SOME DISTRICTS THAT ARE BRINGING STUDENTS BACK BEFORE LABOR DAY IN ORDER, I BELIEVE, TO GET THE TWO WEEKS AT THE HOLIDAYS AGAIN.
I THOUGHT THAT MIGHT BE A BIG ASK FOR OUR COMMUNITY AND SOMETHING THAT FOLKS GENERALLY WOULD NOT BE TERRIBLY INTERESTED IN BECAUSE THAT WOULD MEAN BRINGING THAT WOULD MEAN STARTING SCHOOL, PROBABLY TEACHERS ON AUGUST 31ST AND SEPTEMBER 1ST, STUDENTS SECOND, THIRD, FOURTH OF BEFORE LABOR DAY.
>> SPEAKING AS A PARENT OF YOUNG KIDS, CAMPS END THE SECOND WEEK OF AUGUST.
RIGHT. THAT'S ALMOST A MONTH THAT PARENTS WILL I MEAN, I KNOW THAT, LIKE, THE LAST TWO WEEKS OF AUGUST, THAT'S TYPICALLY WHERE EVERYONE GOES ON VACATION AND STUFF, BUT THEN YOU'LL COME BACK IN SEPTEMBER LIKE, SEPTEMBER 1, WAITING TO START SCHOOL, AND THEN YOU'LL HAVE SEVEN DAYS.
ONE FULL WEEK WHERE THERE'S NO CHILDCARE WILL BE AN ISSUE.
I DON'T KNOW IF THE COMMUNITY WOULD HATE COMING BACK TO SCHOOL ON THE SECOND, LIKE I'M NOT UNLESS HISTORICALLY SPEAKING, THAT HAS BEEN SOMETHING.
>> I'VE NEVER SEEN IT DONE HERE.
I DON'T REMEMBER PERSONALLY IN ANOTHER DISTRICT BRINGING STUDENTS BACK THAT EARLY.
THAT ALSO WOULD HAVE THAT WOULD HAVE RAMIFICATIONS FOR THE TEACHERS.
>> DECISION ON THAT A START AS WELL.
RIGHT [OVERLAPPING] COMING TWO DAYS OF DEVELOPMENT IS ONE THING.
>> COMING BACK FOR A FULL WEEK OF SCHOOL.
>> WELL, THAT'S THE OTHER SIDE OF THE COIN, RIGHT? THERE'S THE PARENTS, AND THEN THERE'S THE TEACHERS AND THE CONTRACTS.
>> I HAD SOME PARENTS THAT WERE NOT HAPPY ABOUT OUR TWO WEEK BREAK THIS WEEK BECAUSE THEIR KIDS WERE AWAY FROM SCHOOL FOR SUCH A LONG TIME.
>> THIS IS THE FUN OF THE CALENDAR.
>> THERE'S SO MANY DIFFERENT PERSPECTIVES ON IT. IT'S HARD TO.
>> I MEAN, I LIKE THAT WE'RE CHANGING IT.
WE'LL HAVE A TWO WEEK VACATION THIS YEAR, AND WE'LL HAVE A WEEK AND A HALF NEXT YEAR, AND, LIKE, WE'LL SEE.
>> THERE'S PEOPLE WHO DON'T LIKE THE TWO WEEKS, AND THEN THERE'S PEOPLE WHO LOVE IT.
>> I THINK IT WOULD BE GOOD. AS WE SORT OF FINALIZE IT IS TO JUST GET SOME PERSPECTIVES TO YOUR POINT, LIKE, RIGHT, FOR THE YOUNGER KIDS.
FOR OTHER FAMILIES, MAYBE THEY GO AWAY, AND THEY WANT TO STRETCH IT AS LONG AS POSSIBLE.
I THINK THERE'S PROBABLY MULTIPLE PERSPECTIVES.
I THINK MAYBE THIS DECISION WILL WEIGH THIS.
YOU KNOW, THE VALUE OF THE TEACHERS, THAT MAYBE THERE'S ANOTHER DECISION DOWN AT THE END OF THE YEAR.
YOU KNOW, WITH THE GRADUATION THAT WE MIGHT SAY, ALL RIGHT, WE'LL MOVE IT AROUND.
I THINK JUST UNDERSTANDING THE DIFFERENT GROUPS AND WHAT WOULD BE A PROBLEM OR WHAT THEY WOULD PREFER MIGHT JUST HELP MAKE THOSE FINAL CALLS.
>> MY PLAN WAS TO PUT OUT AN OPEN ENDED SURVEY.
SIMILAR TO WHAT WE DID LAST YEAR SELECT YOUR DEMOGRAPHIC GROUP.
EMERSON, I THINK YOUR SUGGESTION IS REALLY INTERESTING AROUND THE SUNDAY.
I MEAN, THE ONE QUESTION THAT I WOULD HAVE, IF THAT'S, LIKE, I DO THINK THERE SHOULD BE A PLAN YOU KNOW, WHAT WOULD BE AN ALTERNATIVE JUST FINDING ONE? WITH JUNE 10TH BEING A HOLIDAY, IS THERE ANY MAJOR PROBLEMS JUST BEING OFF THE DAY BEFORE? DO YOU KNOW, I KNOW PLANNING AN EVENT OR DOING SOMETHING? IT'S LIKE IF YOU LOSE THE WHOLE DAY LEADING UP TO IT. DOES IT MATTER? A WE JUST IT'S A TURN KEY AT THIS POINT OR KNOW,
[00:25:03]
IT'S MORE AROUND, IS THAT A PROBLEM? DO YOU SEE IT BEING LIKE PROBLEMATIC? FOR PLANNING.>> TO DO IT THAT SUNDAY TO LOSE THE WHOLE SATURDAY LEADING INTO IT.
>> WE DON'T HAVE A CHOICE AS FAR AS SCHOOL IS CONCERNED.
THAT'S ONE OF THE STATE REQUIRED HOLIDAYS FOR US.
>> NO, I'M FINE WITH THE I THINK THE HOLIDAY IS A MUST.
I THINK IT WAS MORE AROUND EVENT PLANNING ON A SUNDAY.
>> WE DON'T HAVE A CHOICE. WITH EVERYTHING, WE MAKE IT WORK.
COULD IT POTENTIALLY ADD PROBLEMS? ABSOLUTELY. THAT'S WHAT [OVERLAPPING] I JUST YES.
YOU KNOW, IF WE'VE GOT TO BRING PEOPLE IN, NOW WE'RE PAYING THEM HOLIDAY PAY? WE MAY NOT BE ABLE TO BRING IN EVERYBODY THAT WE NEED.
THEY MAY NOT BE AVAILABLE, EVERYBODY THAT WE NEED.
THERE WOULD DEFINITELY BE SOME STAFFING ISSUES THAT WOULD HAVE TO BE CONSIDERED.
>> I THINK THE SAME WOULD APPLY TO FOR A SUNDAY.
THAT WOULD BE ONE OF THE CHALLENGES. WE CAN GET.
>> THAT'S WHAT I WAS ASKING FOR ABOUT THE SUNDAY.
I WAS ASKING MORE A THE IDEA OF THE SUNDAY, AND THEN HAVING THE SATURDAY IS THE BLACKOUT DAY.
DO YOU SEE ANY SPECIFIC ISSUES RISING TO NOT HAVE THE WHOLE SATURDAY?
>> I THINK DOCTOR CHAMPS REACTING TO THE FACT THAT THE FRIDAY WILL BE FROM SCHOOL BECAUSE THE DAY IT'S OBSERVED.
>> IF WE WERE TO DO IT ON SATURDAY, WE WOULD ALREADY BE LOSING FRIDAY.
IF WE DO IT ON SUNDAY, WE'D LOSE FRIDAY AND SATURDAY.
BOTH ARE GOING TO PRESENT THE SAME PROBLEMS PREDOMINANTLY BE STAFFING PROBLEMS.
>> YOU KNOW, THE IDEA ABOUT SUNDAY IS NOT NECESSARILY, I THINK THE DAY, BUT MORE LIKE.
>> OH, SORRY. IT'S NOT NECESSARILY THE ACTUAL DAY, BUT CAN WE THINK ABOUT IT? MAYBE ON A FRIDAY NIGHT, MAYBE A THURSDAY EVENING 5 O-CLOCK EVENT, AND PEOPLE COULD BE AFTERWARDS AT SEVEN.
>> I LAUGH BECAUSE I KNOW THAT WE'VE TRIED, AND JIM, I THINK OF ANYONE WOULD REMEMBER.
WE TRIED SEVERAL YEARS AGO TO MAKE SOME CHANGES TO GRADUATION, TIME, LOCATION, DAY, BECAUSE WE HAD SOME WE WERE TRYING TO NAVIGATE.
WE'LL JUST SAY TRADITION WAS VERY, VERY DEEP.
I KNOW, YOU KNOW, THE COMMUNITY.
I THINK THERE'S BEEN A TRADITION LAST COUPLE OF YEARS THAT HAVE DEVELOPED INTO A BLOCK PARTY AFTER GRADUATION TO CELEBRATE ALL THE KIDS TOGETHER.
YOU KNOW, MOVING TO EVERYTHING'S GOT A RAMIFICATION.
I DON'T THINK ANYTHING'S OFF THE TABLE, AND I THINK THESE ARE ALL VALID IDEAS FOR US TO BE THINKING ABOUT.
WE'VE GOT PLENTY OF TIME TO FIGURE THIS OUT.
BUT, WHATEVER ANY CHANGE IS GOING TO RESULT IN SOME RAMIFICATION. WE JUST HAVE TO WAIT THEM OUT.
>> ON THE CONTINGENCY PLANNING AROUND STARTING EARLIER IN THE FALL, ARE THERE CONSTRAINTS AROUND PRESEASON FOR FALL SPORTS? LIKE, BECAUSE YOU'D HAVE TO PUSH THAT BACK.
>> ACTUALLY I DON'T THINK SO BECAUSE THE SECTION DETERMINES THE START DATES FOR SEASONS.
I DON'T THINK IT WOULD IMPACT THAT.
>> I MEAN, IF WE FOLLOW KATHERINE'S IDEA OF STARTING THE WEEK BEFORE.
>> NO. SAME THING. I DON'T THINK IT WOULD IMPACT.
>> THEY WOULD ALLOW YOU TO START THAT EARLY, LIKE, TWO WEEKS BEFORE LABOR DAY.
>> I THINK THE FALL SEASON USUALLY STARTS.
I WANT TO SAY AROUND AUGUST 15TH.
>> I DON'T KNOW EXACTLY WHAT THE DATE IS, BUT, YEAH.
I THINK IT WOULD STILL FIT. OKAY. I STILL WORK.
AND I THINK TO THIS YEAR BECAUSE YOU'VE GOT DISTRICTS STARTING AT A LOT OF DIFFERENT TIMES.
>> OKAY. I KNOW FOLKS ARE INTERFERED [INAUDIBLE] OF MANY. YES.
>> ALL RIGHT. THAT'S IT FOR MY REPORT TONIGHT.
>> THANK YOU. NEXT, WE HAVE OUR STUDENT BOARD MEMBER REPORTS. WHO'D LIKE TO GO FIRST.
[3.2 Ex Officio Student Report]
THIS WEEK, PLANNING FOR THE SENIOR TALENT SHOW IS CURRENTLY UNDERWAY.
PREPARATIONS ARE BEGINNING FOR THIS ANNUAL PMH TRADITION.
THE SENIOR TALENT SHOW PROVIDES MEMBERS OF THE SENIOR CLASS WITH AN OPPORTUNITY TO EXPRESS THEIR CREATIVITY AND SHOWCASE A VARIETY OF TALENTS, INCLUDING MUSIC, DANCE AND COMEDY.
THIS EVENT PLAYS AN IMPORTANT ROLE IN FOSTERING SCHOOL SPIRIT AND BRINGING THE PMHS COMMUNITY TOGETHER.
PARTICIPATION IS OPEN TO ALL SENIORS INTERESTED IN PERFORMING.
HOWEVER, TALENT SHOWS SUBMISSIONS ARE DUE BY THE 23RD.
THIS FRIDAY IS THE FINAL OPPORTUNITY FOR SENIORS TO HAVE THEIR PORTRAITS TAKEN.
PORTRAITS ARE TAKEN ALL DAY THROUGHOUT THE ROOM AND ONE OH [INAUDIBLE] FIVE E, AND THESE PHOTOS ARE FEATURED IN THE YEARBOOK AND ARE AN IMPORTANT REQUIREMENT FOR GRADUATING SENIORS.
STUDENTS ALSO TEND TO USE THESE PORTRAITS FOR COLLEGE RELATED PURPOSES, INCLUDING ANNOUNCEMENTS WHEN THEY COMMIT TO A COLLEGE OR UNIVERSITY, WHICH HAS BEGUN TO HAPPEN WITHIN THE LAST TWO MONTHS.
[00:30:03]
CORRECT. I KNOW WE ALREADY TALKED ABOUT MID TERMS, BUT THEY ARE COMING UP, WHICH IS A STRESSFUL TIME, BUT IT'S ALSO A GOOD CHECKPOINT FOR HOW THE YEAR IS GOING.THEY GIVE STUDENTS A CHANCE TO SEE WHAT IT IS WORKING AND WHERE THEY MAY NEED TO JUST BEFORE FINALS.
IT'S ESPECIALLY IMPORTANT FOR FRESHMAN SINCE IT'S THE FIRST MAJOR HIGH SCHOOL EXAM AND A GOOD INTRODUCTION TO WHAT FINALS WILL BE LIKE.
WE JUST RETURNED FROM BREAK AND MANY JUNIORS RECEIVE THEIR SAT AND ACT SCORES.
IT'S AN IMPORTANT MOMENT BECAUSE IT HELPS STUDENTS UNDERSTAND WHERE THEY STAND AND WHAT STEPS STEPS THEY MAY WANT TO TAKE NEXT BEFORE THE FEBRUARY ACT AND MARCH SAT.
THIS FRIDAY, BATTLE OF THE BANDS IS COMING UP AND IT IS A GREAT OPPORTUNITY FOR STUDENTS TO SHARE THEIR MUSIC IN A SUPPORTIVE ENVIRONMENT.
THANK YOU TO MISS RICE [INAUDIBLE] AND MISS MISEK [INAUDIBLE] FOR ORGANIZING THE EVENT AND HELPING TO RUN IT TO THE STUDENT GOVERNMENT FOR THE VOLUNTEERS WHO ARE HELPING TO RUN IT ALSO AND THE BANDS FOR PARTICIPATING.
THE HIGH SCHOOL IS ALSO HOSTING AN EIGHTH GRADE INFORMATION NIGHT TOMORROW TO HELP PREPARE STUDENTS AND FAMILIES FOR THE TRANSITION FRESHMAN YEAR.
IT GIVES INCOMING STUDENTS A CHANCE TO LEARN ABOUT EXPECTATIONS AND ACTIVITIES AND HELPS TO MAKE THE TRANSITION FEEL LESS OVERWHELMING.
FINALLY, THERE'S COMPLIANCE WITH THE CELL PHONE POLICY AND IT CONTINUES TO GO WELL.
THE STUDENTS ARE FOLLOWING THE RULES AND THERE'S BEEN NO NOTICEABLE FRUSTRATION OR PUSH-BACK STILL, WHICH I THINK IS GREAT.
>> BOM [INAUDIBLE], THANK YOU.
>> EXCITING TIMES. THANKS. OKAY.
>> THANK QUESTION [INAUDIBLE].
>> YES. WHAT TO BOTH NICK AND EMERSON, IN REGARDS TO THE CELL PHONE POLICY, AND JUST THANK YOU FOR CONTINUING TO KEEP US UPDATED, LIKE, YOU KNOW, BOOTS ON THE GROUND, WHAT'S HAPPENING.
WHAT ARE THE STUDENTS LIKE SAYING? IT'S NICE TO HEAR THAT IT'S GOING WELL AND EVERYONE'S COMPLYING AND IT SEEMS TO NOT BE, AN ISSUE FOR THEM.
BUT WHAT ARE THE STUDENTS SAYING ABOUT? ARE THEY HAPPY? DO THEY MISS THEIR PHONES?
>> I DON'T THINK IT'S IMPACTING THEM.
EVEN LAST YEAR, WE WEREN'T ALLOWED TO HAVE THEM IN CLASS.
WHILE WE WERE LEARNING, WE COULD HAVE THEM IN THE HALLWAY, SO THAT'S A BIG DIFFERENCE.
BUT I DON'T THINK THEY MIND BEING ABLE TO TALK TO THEIR FRIENDS BECAUSE LAST YEAR WAS A MAJOR DIFFERENCE.
EVERYONE, THEIR NEXT WOULD BE ARCHED OVER LOOKING AT THEIR PHONE.
BUT NOW THERE'S A LOT MORE GOING ON IN THE HALLWAYS AS YOU WALK FROM CLASS TO CLASS, YOU'RE SAYING HI TO MORE PEOPLE.
YOU STILL YOU'RE ALLOWED TO HAVE IT DURING LUNCH, WHICH I THINK IS GOOD WHEN YOU LEAVE CAMPUS, BECAUSE THAT'S ALSO IMPORTANT FOR APPLE PAIN AND STUFF.
I DON'T THINK IT'S ACTUALLY DETRIMENT.
I DON'T KNOW. I THINK IT'S GOING WELL.
PEOPLE HAVEN'T REALLY COMPLAINED ABOUT IT.
LIKE IN THE BEGINNING, IT WAS A LITTLE BIT OF A CHANGE.
SO OBVIOUSLY, THERE'S GOING TO BE LIKE THAT'S ANNOYING.
BUT I THINK EVERYONE GOT USED TO IT.
>> THAT'S GREAT. NICK, WHAT DO YOU AGREE?
>> I AGREE WITH WHAT EMERSON SAID, ESPECIALLY ABOUT IN THE HALLWAYS.
LAST YEAR AND THE YEARS BEFORE, EVERYONE WAS LIKE A ZOMBIE WITH THEIR HEAD IN THEIR PHONE, BUT NOW IT'S MORE OF A NATURAL COMMUNICATION WITH JUST PASSING IN THE HALLWAY.
FEELS LIKE A SCHOOL INSTEAD OF JUST LIKE A PLACE TO BE 8-251. RIGHT.
WHAT A REALLY NICE SENSE OF COMMUNITY THAT THIS HAS CREATED IN THE HALLWAYS. AND WHO KNOWS? MAYBE PEOPLE WILL LEARN HOW TO FOLD NOTES AND PASS NOTES AGAIN.
IT'LL BE A NEW THING THAT TEACHERS WILL HAVE TO FIGURE OUT [LAUGHTER].
IT WAS AN ART. IT'S AN ART TO LIKE, PASS.
DO YOU KNOW WHAT WE'RE TALKING ABOUT? OKAY? [LAUGHTER]
>> THANK YOU. OKAY. NEXT, WE HAVE BOARD OF EDUCATION COMMITTEE REPORTS,
[3.3 Board of Education Committee Reports]
TRYING TO REMEMBER BACK BEFORE THE BREAK.I THINK WE WENT THROUGH ALL OF THE COMMITTEE MEETINGS AT OUR LAST BOARD MEETING.
WE MIGHT HAVE HAD A SAFETY COMMITTEE MEETING.
WILL [INAUDIBLE] YOU GO DO YOU WANT TO GO OVER THAT? I MEAN, I WASN'T AT WILL [INAUDIBLE] WAS.
>> I CANNOT FOR THE REMOTE [INAUDIBLE].
>> I'M GOING TO LET WILL [INAUDIBLE] OFF THE HOOK.
WE HAD POLICY COMMITTEE, BUT WE'LL TALK ABOUT POLICY.
>> WE'LL TALK ABOUT POLICY LATER, AND MAYBE JIM, YOU CAN MENTION SAFETY COMMITTEE AND YOUR UPDATE.
OKAY. NEXT, WE HAVE ASSISTANT SUPERINTENDENT'S UPDATE ON PERSONAL GROWTH AND ACHIEVEMENT.
[3.4 Assistant Superintendent's Update on Personal Growth and Achievement]
>> I READ SOMEWHERE RECENTLY THAT THE LAST DAY I WISH SOMEONE A HAPPY NEW YEAR WAS A FEW DAYS AGO.
BUT SINCE THIS IS THE FIRST TIME WE SEE EACH OTHER, I WISH YOU ALL A HAPPY NEW YEAR.
>> LIKE, YOU CAN'T WEAR WHITE AFTER LABOR DAY TABLES.
LIKE YOU CAN'T WISH PEOPLE EXCEPT.
>> LARRY DAVID HAS VERY STRONG VIEWS ON THAT. [LAUGHTER]
>> WHICH ONE? WHITE AFTER LABOR DAY?
>> THE WHITE AFTER LABOR DAY THAT'S BECOME MUCH MORE.
PEOPLE ARE LENIENT WITH THAT, BUT WE'RE DOUBLING DOWN ON THE DON'T WISH PEOPLE HAPPY NEW YEAR AFTER JANUARY 1ST AFTER.
IT'LL BE A WHOLE NEW ETIQUETTE BOOK WE'LL HAVE TO LEARN.
IT'S GREAT. BUT ANYWAY, HAPPY NEW YEAR.
WE WELCOME STUDENTS BACK ON MONDAY.
IT'S BEEN WONDERFUL TO SEE THE CLASSROOMS QUICKLY RETURN TO THE RHYTHM AS THE BREAK FADES INTO MEMORY. AS DR.
[00:35:01]
CHAMP MENTIONED, OUR WHOLE DISTRICT HAS BEEN PUTTING A GREAT DEAL OF ENERGY AND FOCUS TOWARD PREPARING FOR OUR UPCOMING TRI STATE CONSORTIUM CONSULTANCY VISIT.AS YOU KNOW, CENTRAL PRIORITY OF OUR STRATEGIC PLAN AND OUR DISTRICT RIDE FOCUS FOR THIS YEAR IS SYSTEMS TO SUPPORT FOR ALL LEARNERS, ENSURING THAT WE HAVE STRONG COHERENT SYSTEMS IN PLACE, TO SUPPORT EVERY LEARNER ACADEMICALLY AND ALSO SOCIAL EMOTIONALLY.
TO ADVANCE THIS WORK, WE'RE HOSTING A TRI STATE CONSORTIUM CONSULTANCY VISIT, FOCUSED ON OUR MULTI TIERED SYSTEM OF SUPPORT.
IN EDU-SPEAK, THAT'S ALWAYS AN ACRONYM, MTSS.
BUT THAT'S WHAT IT STANDS FOR IS OUR MULTI-TIERED SYSTEM OF SUPPORT, AND IT'S JUST THE SYSTEMS THAT ARE IN PLACE TO SUPPORT STUDENTS IN THE MOMENT WITH WHAT THEY NEED AND USING THE DATA THAT YOU NEED TO KNOW WHO NEEDS WHAT.
THAT VISIT WILL TAKE PLACE ON JANUARY 28, 29TH, AND 30TH.
APPROXIMATELY 20 EDUCATORS FROM THE TRI STATE AREA, IN NEW YORK, NEW JERSEY, AND CONNECTICUT WILL COME TO OUR DISTRICT, AND THEY WILL REVIEW AND ANALYZE DOCUMENTS.
THEN THEY WILL ALSO ENGAGE IN FOCUS GROUPS WITH TEACHERS, VISIT CLASSROOMS, WITH STUDENTS, WITH THE BOARD OF EDUCATION.
I'LL SEND YOU A CALENDAR INVOICE SOON.
THEY WILL ENGAGE IN A PROCESS FOR FOCUSED ON COLLABORATIVE INQUIRY AND CONTINUOUS IMPROVEMENT.
THE VISIT BUILDS ON SEVERAL YEARS OF INTENTIONAL WORK STRENGTHEN AND SYSTEMIZE OUR SUPPORT FRAMEWORK SO THAT STUDENTS RECEIVE THE RIGHT ACADEMIC AND SOCIAL EMOTIONAL SUPPORTS IN THE RIGHT TIME.
OUR APPROACH IN PELHAM IS CLOSELY ALIGNED WITH THE GUIDANCE FROM NEW YORK STATE THAT REFLECTS COMMITTED USE TO USING DATA, REFLECTION, AND FEEDBACK TO CONTINUOUSLY IMPROVE PRACTICE.
THIS CONSULTANCY PROVIDES AN IMPORTANT OPPORTUNITY FOR THE DISTRICT TO PAUSE, TO REFLECT AND TO LEARN, AND THAT TEAM OF EXTERNAL EDUCATORS WILL EXAMINE OUR SYSTEMS AND PRACTICES ACROSS THE DISTRICT, AND THAT WILL HELP US ASSESS OUR COHERENCE, OUR CONSISTENCY, AND IMPACT OF OUR WORK.
THE FEEDBACK WILL INFORM OUR ONGOING IMPROVEMENT EFFORTS AND HELP GUIDE THE NEXT STEPS IN STRENGTHENING OUR MULTI-TIERED SYSTEM OF SUPPORTS ACROSS THE DISTRICT.
THANK YOU SO MUCH TO OUR ADMINISTRATIVE TEAM, TO OUR TEACHERS THROUGHOUT THE DISTRICT, WHO'VE BEEN WORKING HARD, JOHN SEBALOS AND ALISHA HAVE BUILT AN AMAZING WEBSITE THAT'S GOING TO INTEGRATE AI TO HELP THE TEAM NAVIGATE THROUGH THE HUNDREDS AND HUNDREDS OF DOCUMENTS THAT WE'VE UPLOADED FOR THE TEAM TO PERUSE.
OUR CURRICULUM TEAM, DR. SHORT AND CALLAHAN, HAVE BEEN PARTNERING WITH ME TO PREPARE, BUT THEN OUR BUILDING PRINCIPALS HAVE BEEN LEADING THEIR WORK IN THEIR OWN BUILDING.
IT'S REALLY A FULL ORGANIZATIONAL EFFORT.
THANKS TO JIM AND THE BUSINESS OFFICE.
HE'S HELPING WITH THE SECURITY ISSUES AND THE BADGES AND SWAG.
IT'S A BIG INTERESTING, WONDERFUL OPPORTUNITY FOR ALL OF US, AND WE LEARN AS MUCH FROM THE TEAM AS THEY LEARN FROM US. WE'RE LOOKING FORWARD TO IT.
>> I JUST HAVE A COMMENT ON THIS.
IT SOUNDS LIKE YOU'RE WELL PREPARED.
WHEN IS THE MEETING AGAIN? WHEN ARE THEY COMING?
>> JANUARY 28, 29TH, AND 30TH.
>> THEN ONE OF THE THINGS I JUST THOUGHT OF IS THAT IT IS ONE OF THE INDICATORS OF A HIGH PERFORMING SCHOOL DISTRICT TO BE INVOLVED IN LIKE A CONSORTIUM LIKE THIS TO GET, PEER FEEDBACK ON THINGS. THANK YOU FOR DOING THAT.
>> THE GREAT NEWS IS NEW YORK STATE HAS RECENTLY UPDATED THEIR GUIDANCE ON MTSS.
ALL DISTRICTS IN NEW YORK STATE ARE IN A RELATIVELY SIMILAR SPOT.
YOU MAY RECOGNIZE RTI, RESPONSE TO INTERVENTION, WHICH WAS THE FORMER ACRONYM FOR THIS IN THE LESS SYSTEMATIZED WAY.
ALL DISTRICTS IN NEW YORK STATE ARE AT A VARYING DEGREE OF RE VISITING AND REFOCUSING AND RESTRUCTURING THIS ENTIRE SYSTEM.
THAT'S THE NICE PART IS WHERE TRACY AND I, SHE'S GOING TO TALK ABOUT HER WORK WITH THIS, BUT WE'RE ENGAGED IN MANY DIFFERENT COLLEGIAL CIRCLES WHERE WE'RE REALLY ALL IN THE SAME PLACE.
WE'RE INVITING OUR TEAM IN NOT TO SAY, LOOK HOW AMAZING WE ARE.
I THINK THEY'RE GOING TO BE IMPRESSED, BUT ALSO TO SAY, WHAT DO YOU THINK? WHAT WOULD YOU ADVISE OUR NEXT STEPS TO BE? HOW ARE WE DOING? CRITICAL FRIENDS AND ALSO HAVING THE OPPORTUNITY TO ENGAGE AND LEARN FROM ONE ANOTHER.
>> YES. NEXT IS ASSISTANT SUPERINTENDENTS UPDATE ON BELONGING AND WELLNESS.
[3.5 Assistant Superintendent's Update on Belonging and Wellness]
>> I WILL SAY HAPPY NEW YEAR BECAUSE GOOGLE SAYS, YOU CAN DO SO.
[LAUGHTER] UNTIL JANUARY 7TH AND IF YOU CELEBRATE ORTHODOX NEW YEAR, YOU HAVE TILL THE 14TH.
WE'RE ALL GOOD. HAPPY NEW YEAR, EVERYBODY.
[00:40:03]
TO BUILD ON CLAIRE'S REPORT, AND ALSO, WHICH IS ALSO IN ALIGNMENT WITH OUR STRATEGIC PLAN, THIS WAS AN OPTIMAL TIME FOR THIS TO BE OUR TO DO OUR TRI STATE VISIT AND OUR ESSENTIAL QUESTION TO BE FOCUSED AROUND MTSS.CLAIRE AND I ACTUALLY WERE ON A VISIT LAST YEAR A MTS VISIT IN PEARL RIVER.
THESE CONSORTIUM VISITS AND CONSULTANCIES ARE EXCELLENT WAYS FOR DISTRICTS TO LEARN FROM ONE ANOTHER, GROW, NOT MAKE THE SAME MISTAKES, STEAL SOME GOOD IDEAS.
IT'S REALLY EXCITING TO HAVE BEEN ON A CONSULTANCY AND THEN TO BE A PART OF A CONSULTANCY.
TO THAT END, AND LOOKING AT OUR JOURNEY AS A DISTRICT THUS FAR WITH MTSS, WE STARTED.
WE'RE STILL AT THE GROUND LEVEL.
OUR ACADEMIC PORTION OF OUR PLAN HAS BEEN BUILT OUT.
WE STILL CONTINUE TO LOOK AT THAT AND GET FEEDBACK AND REFLECT ON WHERE WE ARE.
BUT WHAT WE HADN'T DONE AND WHERE WE STARTED THIS YEAR IS THE SEL PORTION OF OUR MTSS PLAN.
I HAVE SHARED THAT WE DID START THE K12 MTSS SCL COMMITTEE THIS YEAR.
WE'RE MEETING AGAIN NEXT WEEK.
THE PRIMARY GOAL OF THE COMMITTEE WAS TO REALLY REVIEW TIER 1 PROGRAMS THAT ALIGN TO THE CASTLE FRAMEWORK, WHICH IS THE FRAMEWORK THAT NEW YORK STATE USES AND THAT WE'VE ADOPTED AS WELL AS THE LENS FOR WHICH WE WANT TO LOOK AT THE CORE COMPETENCIES FOR SOCIAL EMOTIONAL LEARNING.
ALSO SIMULTANEOUSLY, LOOK AT AND IDENTIFY SCREENER THAT WE CAN USE THAT ALIGNS TO THE COMPETENCY.
WE'VE ALREADY HAD THOSE BUILT IN.
IXL, WE'VE GOT THINGS IN PLACE TO GIVE SNAPSHOTS OF WHERE WE ARE WITH OUR STUDENTS IN TERMS OF THEIR LEARNING AND READING, WRITING, AND MATH.
WHAT DOES THAT LOOK LIKE ON THE SOCIAL EMOTIONAL SIDE? THAT'S THE WORK OF THIS COMMITTEE AS WELL.
THEN FINALLY, ONCE WE'VE DONE THAT, THE IDEA THEN IS TO BUILD OUT THE REST OF THE MTSS DISTRICT WIDE PLAN WITH ALMOST CHAPTER 2, WHICH HAS THE SEL PORTION.
THAT'S THE GOAL WORK OF THE COMMITTEE THIS YEAR.
WE HAVE REVIEWED SEVERAL PLATFORMS. WE THINK WE'VE NARROWED IT DOWN TO A PLATFORM THAT WE WANT TO GO WITH.
WE ARE BEING VERY THOUGHTFUL AND CAREFUL ABOUT HOW WE INTRODUCE THAT.
WE'LL BE TALKING ABOUT IT WITH THE ADMINISTRATORS NEXT WEEK AND ADMIN CABINET.
WE HAVE THE VENDOR COMING IN TO TALK ABOUT IT IN DEPTH.
THEN THERE ARE VARIOUS STEPS THAT WE HAVE TO TAKE IN HOUSE, IT GOES TO BGA.
IT WOULD GO TO OTHER MANDATED COMMITTEES THAT WE HAVE TO RUN CURRICULUM THROUGH.
WE'RE REALLY EXCITED ABOUT THE WORK.
WE'RE HAPPY THAT IT'S FINALLY MOVING, AND WE'RE ROLLING ALONG, SO IT'S AN EXCITING TIME.
ALL OF THAT WORK WILL BE PART OF THE ARTIFACTS THAT ARE SUBMITTED TO TRI STATES TO LOOK AT AND GIVE US FEEDBACK ON.
WE ARE GETTING READY FOR ANNUAL REVIEW SEASON.
ALWAYS FUN. WE'RE ABOUT THE MIDPOINT OF THE YEAR.
AS WE START TO INITIATE THIS 2026 ANNUAL REVIEW CYCLE.
THERE'S A LOT OF PLANNING THAT GOES INTO THAT.
I RECOGNIZE THE SIGNIFICANT EFFORT AND METICULOUS PLANNING THAT IS REQUIRED FOR THESE MEETINGS.
WE'RE GOING TO HAVE 6-700 MEETINGS AT THIS POINT NOW TO SCHEDULE.
I HAVE TO THINK IN ADVANCE THE PPS OFFICE STAFF.
THEY'RE THE BOOTS ON THE GROUND, OPENING DRAFTS, ORGANIZING MEETING PACKETS, COLLECTING DATA, GETTING INFORMATION AND LINKS READY FOR PARENTS, AS WELL AS THE SPECIAL ED TEACHERS AGENDA, TEACHERS, THE CASE MANAGERS, RELATED SERVICE PROVIDERS ALL OF THE PEOPLE THAT ARE THE ACTIVE MEMBERS OF THE CSC.
I JUST HAVE TO EXPRESS MY THANKS FOR THEIR CONTINUED DEDICATION AND THE TIME AND EFFORT THAT GOES INTO BEING MEMBERS OF THESE MEETINGS.
THE ANIMAL REVIEW PROCESS, AGAIN, IT'S A VITAL COLLABORATIVE PROCESS.
THE OBJECTIVE IS TO CREATE A COMPREHENSIVE DOCUMENT THAT ACCURATELY REFLECTS STUDENTS' NEEDS, WHERE THEY ARE CURRENTLY, WHERE WE WANT TO SEE THEM GO AND HOW WE'RE GOING TO GET THEM THERE.
THANK YOU FOR EVERYONE WHO'S INVOLVED IN THAT.
THEN JUST TO CLOSE UP, THE COUNSELING DEPARTMENT ALSO STARTED BEFORE THE BREAK, THE FIRST IN THEIR SERIES IN COLLABORATION WITH CIVICS ON CAREER WORKSHOPS.
THE FIRST CAREER WORKSHOP ON DECEMBER 12TH WAS AROUND JOURNALISM.
THEY HAD PANELISTS FROM MBC NEWS, AN EDITOR AND CHIEF FROM WIRECUTTER.
I'M IN A ON HOW THEY GET THE PANELISTS.
MOVING FORWARD, THEY ARE ALSO GOING TO HAVE, I THINK THIS MONTH IS GOING TO BE FOCUSED ON CAREERS IN FINANCE.
FEBRUARY WILL BE CAREERS FOCUSED AROUND AI.
[00:45:03]
APRIL WILL BE FORENSICS, IN JUNE, IT WILL COME IN IN A TRADE FAIR, SO THEY HAVE AN EXCITING LINEUP FOR THIS YEAR.AS EMERSON MENTIONED, TOMORROW NIGHT IS OUR EIGHTH GRADE TRANSITION NIGHT, IT'LL GIVE OUR EIGHTH GRADE STUDENTS AND FAMILIES A GLIMPSE INTO WHAT IT'S LIKE TO BE A HIGH SCHOOLER, AND IT'S ALWAYS FUN TO HAVE THE HIGH SCHOOL PANELISTS COME AND TALK ABOUT THEIR EXPERIENCES.
THE GLOWS AND GROWS OF WHAT IT'S LIKE TO BE A FRESHMAN.
THEN JUST AS A PREVIEW COMING UP NEXT MONTH IN FEBRUARY, WE HAVE GRADE 10 COLLEGE NIGHT, AND WE ALSO HAVE SOMETHING NEW THAT WE STARTED LAST YEAR, WHICH WAS DISABILITY SERVICES AND HIGHER EDUCATION.
WHAT IT'S LIKE FOR OUR STUDENTS WITH IEPS AND 504S TRANSITIONING TO COLLEGE.
BUSY TIME, BUT FUN TIME, EXCITING TIME, AND LOOKING FORWARD TO ALL THAT'S COMING AHEAD.
>> THANK YOU. NEXT, WE HAVE EXECUTIVE DIRECTORS UPDATE ON HUMAN RESOURCES AND LEADERSHIP.
[3.6 Executive Director's Update on Human Resources and Leadership]
>> GOOD EVENING, EVERYONE, AND WELCOME BACK.
DR. CHAMP DID STILL MOST OF MY THUNDER FOR TONIGHT.
[LAUGHTER] BUT NO, IN ALL FAIRNESS, WE ARE GEARING UP FOR THE SIWANOY PRINCIPLE SEARCH SO WE DID POST FOR THAT POSITION ON JANUARY 5TH IT WILL CLOSE ON JANUARY 21ST.
THE GOAL REALLY IS TO GET OUT OF THE GATE EARLY IN THE SEASON TO ATTRACT THE BEST CANDIDATE FOR THIS LEADERSHIP POSITION.
I THINK WE LEARNED A LOT LAST YEAR, AND WE DID A LOT OF THE HEAVY LIFTING LAST YEAR TOO, AND WE DID THE SEARCH EARLY IN THE SUMMER.
ONE OF THE THINGS THAT THE STAKEHOLDERS AND THE COMMUNITY PUT TOGETHER WAS A LEADERSHIP PROFILE.
THAT LEADERSHIP PROFILE IS THE PROFILE WE WILL CONTINUE TO USE AGAIN, FOR THIS SEARCH TO COMPARE OUR CANDIDATES AGAINST.
I JUST CHECKED TO SEE HOW MANY APPLICANTS HAVE ALREADY APPLIED.
THAT JUST MEANS THEY'VE APPLIED.
I HAVEN'T REVIEWED THEM. WE DON'T KNOW WHO THEY ARE, ANYTHING LIKE THAT.
BUT I DO THINK IT'S TELLING AND THAT THIS IS THE TIME OF YEAR THAT PEOPLE ARE STARTING TO LOOK AND MAKING DECISIONS FOR THEIR POSITIONS FOR NEXT YEAR.
I AM VERY HOPEFUL THAT WE'LL HAVE A WONDERFUL POOL OF CANDIDATES.
THERE ALSO WILL BE COMMUNICATION GOING OUT TO THE COMMUNITY AND TO THE STAKEHOLDERS IN TERMS OF HOW THEY WILL BE PARTICIPATING IN THE PROCESS.
RIGHT NOW I'M TRYING TO JUST SECURE WHEN THOSE DATES WILL BE AND THE SPACE WE WILL HAVE AND THEN ONCE I HAVE THAT SOLIDIFIED, I WILL REACH OUT TO THE DIFFERENT STAKEHOLDERS TO HAVE PEOPLE PARTICIPATE INTO THE DIFFERENT COMMITTEES.
WE DO HAVE A PRETTY ROBUST HIRING PROCESS HERE IN PELHAM.
IT DOES START WITH INITIAL SCREENING.
ALL OF THE CANDIDATES THAT WILL GO THROUGH WILL BE SCREENED BY MYSELF AND SOME OF THE OTHER CABINET MEMBERS.
THEN WE WILL HAVE THOSE SELECT CANDIDATES MEET WITH OUR STAKEHOLDER COMMITTEE GROUPS.
WE WILL HAVE A GROUP OF PARENTS, WE WILL HAVE A GROUP OF TEACHERS, WE WILL HAVE A GROUP OF ADMINISTRATORS THAT WILL MEET WITH EACH CANDIDATE.
THEN WE DEBRIEF AFTER ALL OF THAT AND THEN MOVE OUR TOP CANDIDATES FORWARD.
THEY WILL DO A DEMONSTRATION TASK WITH STAFF, AND THEN THERE'S AN INTERACTIVE PIECE WITH STUDENTS SO THAT WE'RE GATHERING FEEDBACK REALLY FROM EVERY TYPE OF GROUP THAT WOULD COME IN CONTACT WITH OUR NEW LEADER.
THEN FINALLY, WE WOULD BRING THE TOP CANDIDATES TO THE SUPERINTENDENT AND FINALLY THE BOARD.
IT IS QUITE A LENGTHY PROCESS, BUT IT TELLS US A LOT, AND WHAT IS REALLY NICE ABOUT HAVING ALL THE DIFFERENT STAKEHOLDER VOICES THERE IS THE DIFFERENT PERSPECTIVES THAT PEOPLE PICK UP ON DURING THE INTERVIEW PROCESS, WHICH IS REALLY HELPFUL.
BECAUSE THIS IS A BIG POSITION, IT'S AN IMPORTANT POSITION.
WE ARE REALLY THANKFUL TO MRS. CRAMBER GILBERT FOR TAKING OVER FOR THE YEAR.
I KNOW SHE'S BEEN THRILLED TO BE BACK.
THE STAFF HAS BEEN THRILLED TO HAVE HER AND THE KIDS HAVE BEEN HAPPY.
WHEN YOU WALK INTO A SCHOOL AND YOU FEEL THAT, THAT'S WHAT ELEMENTARY SCHOOL IS SUPPOSED TO FEEL LIKE.
WE'RE KEEPING THAT IN OUR MIND AS WE ARE SEARCHING FOR OUR NEXT ELEMENTARY PRINCIPAL OF SIWANOY.
[3.7 Assistant Superintendent's Update on Facilities and Sustainable Learning Environments]
ASSISTANT SUPERINTENDENTS UPDATE ON FACILITIES AND SUSTAINABLE LEARNING.>> THANK YOU. GOOD EVENING AND HAPPY NEW YEAR. JUST SOME QUICK UPDATES.
AGAIN, WE DID HAVE SOME COMMITTEE MEETINGS ON THE WEEK OF THE LAST BOARD MEETING IN DECEMBER.
THAT WEEK WE HAD MEETINGS THE 9TH, 10TH, AND THE 11TH.
WE TALKED ABOUT THE FIRST TWO MEETINGS ON THE NINTH AND TENTH.
THAT WAS THE FINANCE AND BOND STEERING COMMITTEE THE 11TH THE MORNING AFTER THE BOARD MEETING.
WE MET AT THE SAFETY COMMITTEE AT HUTCHINSON SCHOOL.
AT THAT MEETING, WE HAD IT WAS A GOOD CHECK IN WITH OUR GROUP.
WE HAD AN UPDATE ON OUR DISTRICT WIDE SAFETY DRILLS BY STATE LAW.
WE HAVE TO MEET A CERTAIN MINIMUM NUMBER OF DRILLS FOR EVERY BUILDING FOR THE FIRST HALF OF THIS SCHOOL YEAR, THE CALENDAR YEAR.
WE WERE VERY HAPPY TO SAY THAT WE COMPLETED ALL OF THAT.
WE TALKED TO OUR COMMITTEE ABOUT THE NEW ADDENDUM TO THE DISTRICT WIDE SAFETY PLAN.
WE SHARED THAT WITH THE BOARD RELATED TO CARDIAC EMERGENCIES, AND WE SHARED THE CARDIAC AWARENESS VIDEO THAT
[00:50:03]
WE'VE PASSED OUT TO OUR STAFF SO THAT THEY CAN ALSO MONITOR THAT AND WATCH THAT VIDEO.WE HAD MONITOR STAFFING, WE HAD FIRST AID STAFFING, AND FIRST AID TRAINING AND STOPPED THE BLEED TRAINING WITH OUR MONITOR STAFF IN LATE NOVEMBER.
OUR ANNUAL THREAT ASSESSMENT REFRESHER TRAINING WITH OUR CONSULTANT FROM ALTERRA J STEWART.
WE UPDATED THE COMMITTEE ON A TABLETOP EXERCISE WITH OUR WITH OUR SCIENCE TEAM RELATED TO THE ACCIDENT THAT HAPPENED IN HASTINGS.
REVISITED WHAT HAPPENED THERE.
OUR SCIENCE TEAM AND SCIENCE GROUP WAS REALLY TERRIFIC.
MEETING AFTER SCHOOL ONE DAY AND GOING THROUGH THOSE STEPS AND HAVING PEOPLE THINK ABOUT THEIR RESPONSES, HOW THEY WOULD HANDLE THINGS REALLY GIVES EVERYONE AN OPPORTUNITY TO THINK ABOUT NOT ONLY HOW YOU RESPOND TO IT, BUT HOW YOU WOULD SET UP YOUR STATION REALLY IN THE FIRST PLACE TO TRY TO FIND YOURSELF IN THE MOST DEFENSIVE POSITION SO THAT PEOPLE DON'T GET INJURED.
AGAIN, REALLY GREAT INFORMATION.
THEN IN DECEMBER, RIGHT AROUND THAT SAME TIME, WE DID HAVE SOME RECENT STATE WIDE BOMB THREAT HOAXES.
FORTUNATELY, OBVIOUSLY, THEY WERE ALL HOAXES.
BUT WHEN THEY DO HAPPEN AND WORKING WITH OUR CONSULTANT, WE'VE GOT A REALLY GREAT OPPORTUNITY TO GET THAT INFORMATION EARLY AND GET IT OUT TO FOLKS SO THAT IF WE DO HAVE IT, WE KNOW HOW TO REACT TO IT, AND IT'S LEAST DISRUPTION TO OUR STUDENTS AND STAFF IN OUR COMMUNITY.
ON TONIGHT'S AGENDA, WE'VE JUST GOT A COUPLE OF THINGS HERE.
WE HAVE THE NOVEMBER TREASURES REPORT AS YOU LOOK AT THAT.
JUST SOMETHING THAT'S INTERESTING TO SEE, OUR OVERNIGHT INTEREST RATE DEPOSIT RATES KEEP DROPPING.
LAST NIGHT, WE WERE 3.6% AFTER THE LATEST FED DROP IN DECEMBER OF 25 BASIS POINTS.
WE'VE REALLY SEEN THAT WE WERE UP NEAR FIVE AT ONE POINT IN TIME, AND WE'VE SEEN IT GRADUALLY GO DOWN.
WE'RE STILL AHEAD OF PLAN RIGHT NOW.
BUT AGAIN, WE'RE WATCHING IT GO FOLLOW ALONG THAT TREND THAT WE HAD ANTICIPATED.
WE'VE GOT SOME TRANSFERS RELATED TO OCCUPATIONAL THERAPY, PHYSICAL THERAPY, AND STUDENT SERVICES, ALONG WITH STUDENT TRANSPORTATION, AND SOME TRANSFERS RELATED TO FMLA AND CONTINUE EDUCATION.
WE'RE UPDATING OUR FEDERAL MILEAGE GRANT AT 72.5 CENTS A MILE.
I SEEM TO REMEMBER WHEN IT WAS LIKE 26 CENTS.
>> PROBABLY JUST OLD. BUT THAT'S GOING TO BE 72.5 CENTS.
MADAM PRESIDENT, YOU MENTIONED THE OUTDOOR CLASSROOM GRANT AND THE GRANT DISBURSEMENT AGREEMENT FROM THE STATE.
THE $150,000 GRANT WITH THE BOARD'S AUTHORIZATION, THE SUPERINTENDENT CAN ENTER INTO THAT GRANT DISBURSEMENT AGREEMENT.
THEN OUR ATTORNEYS FOR THE DISTRICT HAS TO DO SOME WORK AS WELL.
WE'LL GET THE FORMAL INFORMATION.
WE STILL NEED PERMITTING FOR THAT PARTICULAR PROJECT, AND WE'RE GOING TO MEET WITH THE FOLKS ROUNDING UP THAT PROJECT.
LET'S SCHEDULE A MEETING AND SEE HOW WE CAN GET THIS TIMING MOVED FOR THE PROJECT. IT'S EXCITING.
THIS EVENING, WE'VE GOT AN AGREEMENT WITH SARAH LAWRENCE FOR THE POOL FOR THE BOYS' SWIM TEAM.
WE JUST FINISHED ONE UP FOR THE GIRLS' SEASON, SO WE'RE DOING THE BOYS AND A WONDERFUL DONATION FROM NEW YORK LIFE FOR $1,000.
CHAMP DID TOUCH ON JUST ABOUT EVERYTHING.
QUITE A SURPRISE WITH OUR FOLKS FROM THE DRILLING TEAM SHOWING UP ON MONDAY MORNING.
THEY DIDN'T GET ON THE PROPERTY.
I KNOW, MADAM PRESIDENT, YOU RECEIVED THE PHONE CALL AS WELL.
[LAUGHTER] AGAIN, I WAS AT THE PROPERTY, AND A COMMUNITY MEMBER WHO WAS AT ONE OF THE CIMINO EVENTS STOPPED AND ASKED ME WHAT WAS GOING ON.
I SHARED EXACTLY WHAT WE'VE HEARD TODAY.
WE DIDN'T KNOW THEY WERE COMING.
WE'RE GOING TO SEND THEM HOME. AGAIN, WE WANT TO MAKE SURE WE FOLLOW THROUGH ON WHAT WE SHARED WITH PEOPLE.
WE REITERATED THAT WITH OUR VENDORS.
THEY'RE VERY MUCH AWARE OF THAT.
THEY'RE AWARE OF THE PHONE CALLS THAT WE'VE ALL RECEIVED AND THE EXPECTATIONS THAT WE HAVE MOVING FORWARD.
THAT'S WHAT WE'RE GOING TO DO, AND WE'RE GOING TO REMIND THEM OF THAT.
AGAIN, THIS IS AN EASY LEARN BECAUSE WE CAUGHT IT EARLY AND WE SENT THEM HOME.
AS FAR AS THESE THINGS GO, THIS WAS AN EASY ONE.
NONETHELESS, IT'S AN OPPORTUNITY TO REFRESH EVERYBODY AND REALLY PUT EVERYBODY IN THE RIGHT MINDSET.
>> THE DRILLING IS FOR GEOTECHNICAL TESTING.
>> EXACTLY. THEY'RE GOING TO DRILL ABOUT TEN HOLES.
>> WILL THEY DO THAT DURING THE SCHOOL DAY?
>> THEY COULD HAVE. THEY'VE DONE IT AT SCHOOLS DURING SCHOOL DAYS.
WE'RE NOT GOING TO HAVE [OVERLAPPING]
>> WE'RE GOING TO TRY THEM NOT DO THAT DURING SCHOOL TIME.
>> [OVERLAPPING] WE'RE GOING TO TRY TO SCHEDULE IT IN FEBRUARY TIME WHEN SCHOOL'S NOT IN SESSION.
WITH THAT, WE'RE GOING TO WORK WITH ALEX AND ALEX OFFICE WILL OBVIOUSLY GOING TO SEND OUT A DISTRICT COMMUNICATION SO THAT OUR FOLKS KNOW WHAT'S HAPPENING AND WHEN IT'S HAPPENING.
>> WE DID HAD A GOOD MEETING WITH VILLAGE PELLA MANOR, THEIR PROFESSIONAL ENGINEERING STAFF, OUR CONSULTANT ENGINEERS, EVERYBODY.
AGAIN, AS WE SHARED IN THE MESSAGE,
[00:55:02]
WE ALL WORK FOR THE SAME PEOPLE.WHETHER IT'S HAD A LEFT POCKET OR RIGHT POCKET, THE FUNDS COME OUT OF THE SAME PAIR OF PANTS AND WE HAVE AN OBLIGATION AND A RESPONSIBILITY TO MAKE SURE TO MAKE IT WORK FOR EVERYBODY.
EVERYBODY'S REALLY POINTED IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION AND REALLY FOCUSED ON DOING THAT.
I THINK IT WAS A GREAT MEETING, AND IT'S JUST AN OPPORTUNITY FOR EVERYBODY TO GET EYES ON ONE ANOTHER, AND THAT JUST HELPS THAT COMMUNICATION RIGHT OFF THE BAT.
>> THAT WAS WITH THE VILLAGE MANAGER?
>> YES AND THEIR CONSULTANT ENGINEERS AS WELL.
THEN IT WAS KG AND D AND LA GROUP, WHO WAS DOING THE CIVIL WORK FOR THE DISTRICT.
I THINK WE MET ABOUT A HALF HOUR, 45 MINUTES. IT WAS IT WAS A GOOD MEETING.
NEXT IS COMMUNICATIONS AND COMMENTS FROM THE PUBLIC. YOU'RE JUST OBSERVING.
WELCOME. WE CAN MOVE TO SECTION FIVE,
[5.1 Motion to Accept Treasurer's Report for the Period Ended November 30, 2025]
[5.2 Motion to Approve 2025-2026 Budget Transfers]
[5.3 Motion to Amend the Authorized Mileage Reimbursement Rate]
[5.4 Motion to Enter into a Grant Disbursement Agreement with the Dormitory Authority of the State of New York]
[5.5 Motion to Enter into an Agreement with Sarah Lawrence College for Swimming Pool Rental]
DO I HAVE A MOTION TO TAKE 5.1 THROUGH 5.5 AS A CONSENT AGENDA?>> ARE THERE ANY COMMENTS OR QUESTIONS ON THIS? JIM WENT THROUGH THE TREASURE'S REPORT AND THE MILEAGE AND THE GRANTS FOR PROSPECT HILL OUTDOOR CLASSROOM.
>> THAT LAST MEETING FROM DAZ, AND NOW WE'VE GOT THIS ONE.
SO WE'RE WAITING ON THE LAST ONE WITH FRANCE PELLA SPORTS.
>> GIVEN THAT THE FUNDS HAVE COME THROUGH FOR THAT, THE OUTDOOR CLASSROOM, AND WE'RE DOING HOPEFULLY CONSTRUCTION, STARTING IN THE SUMMER.
HOPEFULLY THE OUTDOOR CLASSROOM COULD SOON FOLLOW AFTER THE CONSTRUCTION IS DONE.
>> ABSOLUTELY. THE WORST THING WE WANT IS TO DELAY IT OR HAVE THINGS THAT HAVE ALREADY BEEN COMPLETED DISRUPTED.
PART OF THAT WORK, I BELIEVE, IS GOING TO BE REMOVING THE OIL TANK, WHICH IS KIND OF IN THAT GENERAL AREA.
SO IT'S PART OF PART OF THAT COORDINATION TO MAKE SURE WE'RE NOT STEPPING ON ONE ANOTHER.
>> OR ON THOSE BRICKS. PEOPLE PUT A LOT OF BRICKS.
>> IF THERE'S A LOT OF BRICKS, WE GOT TO KEEP THEM.
>> I AGREE. ALL IN FAVOR. AYE.
[5.6 Motion to Accept a Donation]
DO I HAVE A MOTION TO ACCEPT A DONATION?>> AS JIM MENTIONED, THIS IS FROM NEW YORK LIFE, AND I'LL READ IT.
IT RESOLVED THAT UPON THE RECOMMENDATION OF THE SUPERINTENDENT OF SCHOOLS.
THE BOARD OF EDUCATION OF THE PELHAM UNION FREE SCHOOL DISTRICT DOES HEREBY ACCEPT A GRANT IN THE AMOUNT OF $1,000 TO BE USED FOR GRIEF COUNSELING TRAINING AT THE PELHAM MIDDLE SCHOOL AND THAT GRATITUDE BESTOWED UPON ITS OR THE NEW YORK LIFE FOUNDATION.
SO MANY THANKS TO THE NEW YORK LIFE FOUNDATION FOR SUCH AN IMPORTANT TRAINING FOR THE MIDDLE SCHOOL. ALL IN FAVOR?
>> AND ALSO FOR THE HIGH SCHOOL.
>> OH, AND FOR THE HIGH SCHOOL. OH, I DIDN'T READ IT. I'M SORRY.
[LAUGHTER] I WON'T READ IT AGAIN, BUT THERE'S AN ADDITIONAL $1,000 TO BE USED FOR GRIEF COUNSELING TRAINING AT THE HIGH SCHOOL AS WELL.
THANK YOU, SID. THANK YOU TO THE NEW YORK LIFE FOUNDATION. ALL IN FAVOR?
>> NONE OPPOSED. THANKS AGAIN FOR THAT DONATION.
NEXT, WE CAN MOVE TO SECTION SIX,
[6.1 Policy 7222 - Diploma or Credential Options for Students with Disabilities (First Reading)]
[6.2 Policy 7615 - Least Restrictive Environment (First Reading)]
[6.3 Policy 7617 - Declassification of Students with Disabilities (First Reading)]
[6.4 Policy 7650 - Identification and Register of Children with Disabilities (Child Find) (First Reading)]
[6.5 Policy 7660 - Parent Involvement for Children with Disabilities (First Reading)]
[6.6 Policy 7680 - Independent Educational Evaluations (First Reading)]
WHICH IS THE POLICY SECTION.I THINK I'LL HAND IT OVER TO YOU SID.
MAYBE YOU WANT TO TAKE JUST TALK ABOUT THE ONES FOR FIRST READING FIRST.
>> YEAH, SURE. AS DOCTOR CHAMPION TRACY MENTIONED, WE FOCUSED ON SPECIAL ED POLICIES THIS PAST MONTH.
THANK YOU TO TRACY AND HER TEAM FOR BEARING THE BRUNT AND GETTING THIS OFF HE PLATE BEFORE THE WHIRLWIND, AS I WAS THINKING.
AS DOCTOR CHAMP SAID, I THINK MOST OF THE CHANGES TO THE POLICIES, AGAIN, THEY'RE FOLLOWING EITHER CHANGES IN LAW OR REGULATION, AS WE TALKED ABOUT, WITH THE RIGHT TO FREE APPROPRIATE PUBLIC EDUCATION UNTIL YOUR 22ND BIRTHDAY.
SOME CHANGES IN THE DIPLOMA PATHS, AND OTHER UPDATES REALLY BASED ON CHANGES IN LAW OR PRACTICE SINCE 2012, BEFORE WHEN SOME OF THESE POLICIES WERE PUT IN PLACE.
AND SOME MODELS FROM ERIE ONE BOSS,
[01:00:03]
WHICH WE WORK WITH THAT OUR POLICY SERVICE FOR THIS.IN SOME CASES, IT WAS JUST SORT OF MODERNIZING LANGUAGES.
I DON'T THINK THAT THERE'S ANY REAL SIGNIFICANT CHANGES FOR STUDENT EXPERIENCE OR PARENT RIGHTS IN THESE POLICIES, THEY'RE REALLY MORE UPDATES TO CONFORM TO LAW.
>> I KNOW THE BOARD HAS THE RED LINE VERSIONS TO SEE FOR COMPARISON.
BECAUSE MOST OF THESE ARE SO OLD, THEY WERE NOT ABLE TO REALLY GIVE US RED LINES LIKE WE WERE USED TO.
THEY BASICALLY GAVE US FRESH TEMPLATES.
SO WHEN YOU SEE SIGNIFICANT CHANGES IN THOSE RED LINE VERSIONS, IT'S BECAUSE THEY COULDN'T.
WE WEREN'T WORKING FROM THE OLD DRAFT.
IT WAS BASICALLY DELETE THE ENTIRE OLD DRAFT AND START FRESH WITH A NEW UPDATE, A NEW TEMPLATE.
NOT THE IDEAL, BUT THIS IS THE BENEFIT I THINK OF GETTING THE POLICIES REVIEWED AND REFRESHED.
THIS IS PART OF WHY WE'VE BEEN PUSHING SO HARD TO GET CAUGHT UP.
>> AND SEV, IS THAT SUZANNE POPPING?
>> SO SHE'S OUR [OVERLAPPING].
>> OUR POLICY WONK. SHE'S AMAZING.
SHE SPENDS KNOW TREMENDOUS TIME WITH CABINET AND MYSELF AHEAD OF TIME PLANNING SO THAT WHEN WE COME TO MEETINGS AND SHE WORKS WITH VALERIE ON A TREMENDOUS AMOUNT OF TIME SO THAT WE CAN BE AS EFFICIENT AS POSSIBLE.
>> I JUST HAVE A QUESTION, MAYBE GOING BACK IN TIME A LITTLE BIT.
I MEAN, WHAT, I'M SO GLAD WE'RE DOING THIS SOUNDS A LOT OF WORK, AND WE'RE DOING THE RIGHT THING.
HOW OFTEN, LIKE, WHAT IS THE PRACTICE TO AGAIN CONTINUE? I CAN'T EVEN IMAGINE HOW MANY POLICIES WE ACTUALLY HAVE.
DO YOU KNOW, LIKE WHAT IS THAT SORT OF, LIKE, ROLL AROUND?
>> I THINK THAT WE WEREN'T REALLY IN ANY KIND OF CYCLE BEFORE.
WE HAD FALLEN BEHIND WITH A COUPLE AUDITS.
WE'VE GOT THE POLICY SERVICE, AND WHAT THEY CAN DO IS PERIODICALLY, WE ASK THEM TO DO AN AUDIT, AND THEN THEY'LL GO THROUGH AND SAY WHICH OF OUR POLICIES ARE UP TO DATE AND WHICH NEED UPDATING BASED ON UPDATED LAWS, REGULATIONS, NEW ISSUES, THEY ALSO CAN TELL US WHICH ARE REQUIRED, WHICH ARE OPTIONAL.
I THINK CERTAINLY LAST YEAR IS THE SECOND YEAR? THIS IS YOUR SECOND.
>> THIS IS THE SECOND YEAR, I THINK.
>> SECOND YEAR. I MEAN, ESPECIALLY HAVING SID'S EXPERTISE HAS BEEN REALLY HELPFUL.
SO WE'VE BEEN ABLE TO JUST MADE IT A PRIORITY.
MY HOPE IS THAT ONCE WE GET THE BULK OF THE CATALOG UPDATED, A PERFECT WORLD, WE WOULD GET ON A CYCLE OF THIS BAG WE'RE GOING TO REVIEW THIS BATCH, ON A WRITTEN OUT CYCLE.
I'VE ONLY HEARD OF ONE DISTRICT, I'VE NEVER ACTUALLY EXPERIENCED IT, WHERE THEY LITERALLY GO THROUGH THEIR CATALOG EVERY YEAR.
I DON'T KNOW HOW THAT'S HUMANLY POSSIBLE IN THE HOURS WITH EVERYTHING ELSE THAT WE DO.
I THINK THE GOAL IS FOLLOW THEIR RECOMMENDATIONS ON PRIORITY UPDATES BECAUSE THERE'S ALSO NEW POLICIES THAT COME UP ALONG THE WAY.
ALSO THERE'S TIMES WHERE WE INTERNALLY HAVE A NEED TO UPDATE OR REFRESH OR ADD A POLICY.
HOPEFULLY, WE GET THE AUDIT COMPLETE, AND THEN IT POSITIONS US BETTER FOR THE NEXT ROUND OF THE NEXT ROUND.
>> YEAH, I MEAN, I'D BE INTERESTED TO WHAT THEY WOULD SAY AS FAR AS LIKE A BEST PRACTICE. LIKE ONCE EVERY THREE.
I'D JUST BE JUST AS FAR AS, LIKE, WHAT HOW DO WE WANT TO SET IT UP FOR THE FUTURE SAYING THIS IS NOW OUR POLICY PRACTICE.
>> NO, THAT'S A GREAT POINT. I THINK THESE LAST TWO AUDITS HAVE HAD ABOUT 85 POLICIES TOTAL, WHICH IS JUST TOO MUCH TO DO ANY YEAR.
WE'VE KIND OF SPLIT THEM INTO MULTIPLE YEARS.
>> SO, DON'T PUT THAT ON SIT BECAUSE HE MIND DOING IT. [LAUGHTER]
>> YOU KNOW, YOU'RE SO GOOD AT SOMETHING, YOU JUST SORT OF THAT'S RIGHT. YOU SURE?
>> I SHOW UP AT THE MEETING, BUT THE TEAM DOES ALL THE PREP WORK IN ADVANCE, THE ADMINISTRATIVE TEAM.
>> TRY TO LIKE QUEUE IT UP SO THAT YOU KNOW, WE'LL SPEND A LOT OF TIME, ESPECIALLY WITH THE ONES THAT ARE VERY REGULATION RICH, LIKE GOING THROUGH IT, QUEUE IT UP.
SO THEN THE QUESTIONS FOR THE POLICY COMMITTEE THAT REALLY NEED TO BE CONSIDERED, IT'S QUEUED UP FOR THEM TO GO THROUGH.
BUT I THINK WHAT ALSO HAS MADE THIS COMPLICATED AND WHY THERE WERE A LOT OF SPECIAL ED ONES IS BECAUSE IF YOU NOTICE AT THE END OF THE BOARD POLICIES, THEY CROSS REFERENCE OTHER POLICIES.
SOMETIMES IF YOU CHECK THE LANGUAGE HERE, YOU'VE GOT TO MAKE SURE YOU CHECK THE LANGUAGE THERE.
THAT'S WHAT TRICIA AND I ARE IN THE PROCESS OF DOING WITH TITLE NINE AND SEXUAL HARASSMENT BECAUSE IT FEEDS TO OTHER POLICIES.
THAT'S WHAT ALSO THEN EXPANDS THIS BECAUSE MAYBE ERIE ONE SAYS ONE, BUT THEN WHEN YOU GET INTO THE WEEDS AND WE'VE GOT CROSS REFERENCE THIS AND UPDATE THAT LANGUAGE.
THE POLICIES THAT WE'RE UPDATING.
[01:05:01]
I MEAN, THIS IS IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE LAW.SO WE'RE NOT ADDING OR DEVIATING FROM THE LAW, THE STATE LAW ALSO TIED INTO FEDERAL LAW, AND IT'S PART OF THE LAW.
SCHOOL DISTRICTS ARE REQUIRED TO HAVE POLICIES RELATED TO THESE THINGS.
BUT STATE LAW WILL ALWAYS TRUMP A SCHOOL BOARD POLICY.
WE ARE WRITING THESE POLICIES IN LINE WITH WHAT THE LAW REQUIRES.
NOT THAT THERE'S ANYTHING LIKE SNEAKY GOING IN THERE.
BUT IT'S JUST BEING SURE THAT I KNOW THAT TRACY'S VERY THOROUGH AND THAT WE WITH SO MANY CHANGES, JUST MAKING SURE THAT THE TIME IS TAKEN FOR THE BOARD, MEMBERS OF THE BOARD, AND THEN ALSO OUR COMMUNITY TO SPEND, TO READ ALL OF THE CHANGES TO UNDERSTAND WHAT IT IS.
BECAUSE MAYBE THEY PROBABLY NOT READING THE NICE STATUTES.
>> SO THIS MIGHT BE THE ONLY THING THAT THEY'RE READING.
>> YEAH, AND IT'S A GOOD CROSS CHECK FOR US TOO TO MAKE SURE THAT WE'VE GOT ALL THE PROCEDURES IN PLACE TO THEN SUPPORT AND FULLY IMPLEMENT THE POLICIES.
IT'S BEEN GOOD IN THAT REGARD.
WHAT WE DISCOVER, WE DON'T HAVE MANY REGULATIONS BECAUSE IN LARGE PART, OUR POLICIES ARE PRETTY SPECIFIC AND THOROUGH.
IT'S NOT A REQUIREMENT NECESSARILY.
SOME POLICIES WILL SPECIFY A REGULATION, BUT WE'VE BEEN PREDOMINANTLY ALSO.
WELL, THE CONTENTS ARE CAPTURED WITHIN THE POLICY ITSELF.
>> YEAH. SID, DO WE WANT TO SPEND A FEW MINUTES ON THE NEXT ONE?
>> YEAH. SO I SAW FOR THE SECOND READING ITEMS,
[6.7 Policy 1510 - Regular Board Meetings and Rules (Quorum and Parliamentary Procedure) (Second Reading)]
[6.8 Policy 1540 - Executive Sessions (Second Reading)]
[6.9 Policy 1650 - Submission of Questions and Propositions at the Annual Elections and Special District Meetings (Second Reading)]
[6.10 Policy 2210 - Committees of the Board (Second Reading)]
[6.11 Policy 4230 - District Committees (Second Reading)]
[6.12 Policy 5572 - Audit Committee (Second Reading)]
[6.13 Policy 5660 - Meal Charging & Prohibition Against Meal Shaming (Second Reading)]
WE MADE SOME CHANGES TO THE THE POLICY BOARD MEETINGS.>> NO, I KNOW. I'M JUST SAYING.
>> IF ANYONE HAD ANYTHING THEY WANT TO TALK ABOUT [OVERLAPPING]
>> I THINK WHAT I DO WANT TO SPEND ANOTHER MINUTE JUST IS THERE ANYTHING IN THESE SIX POLICIES? I MEAN, MAYBE TRACY WOULD BE BEST TO ANSWER THIS, BUT THAT IS NOTABLE TO PAY ATTENTION TO OR THAT STANDS OUT AS A CHANGE.
I MEAN, I KNOW, DR. CHAMP, YOU SAID THAT THE DIPLOMA ONE IS A COMPLETELY COMPLETELY REWRITTEN.
IS THAT THE CASE FOR ALL OF THESE POLICIES, LIKE THE LEAST RESTRICTIVE ENVIRONMENT POLICY? IS THAT A COMPLETELY NEW POLICY.
>> NO. HONESTLY, WHEN WE GOT THE UPDATES FROM ERIE 12, A LOT OF THE BULK OF THE CONTENT WE HAD IN OUR CURRENT POLICY.
THEY JUST REWORDED IT A BIT AND KIND OF TOOK OUT THINGS THAT WEREN'T RELEVANT.
I'M SORRY. I TOOK OUT THINGS THAT MAYBE WEREN'T RELEVANT.
WE KEPT THINGS THAT WE FELT WERE RELEVANT AND PROVIDED CLARITY TO PARENTS IN THE COMMUNITY, ESPECIALLY AROUND LIKE THE DIPLOMA OPTIONS.
I DON'T THINK THERE'S ANYTHING SIGNIFICANT, AS MR. BURKE MENTIONED THAT IS A DEVIATION OR CHANGE THAT WOULD BE DIFFERENT IN PRACTICE THAT PARENTS WOULD EXPERIENCE AT ALL.
>> I THINK THE ONLY THING THAT COMES TO MY MIND THAT I KNOW WE HAD SOME EXTENSIVE CONVERSATION AROUND WAS THIS WHOLE CENSUS IN THE CHILD FIND POLICY.
ONE OF THINGS THAT I HAVEN'T TOLD ALEX THIS YET.
HE'LL FIND OUT WHEN HE WATCHES THE MEETING.
>> WE HAVE AN OBLIGATION ON AN ANNUAL BASIS, BASICALLY WE HAVE OUR CPSC PROCESS, WHICH IS GREAT AND THAT CAPTURES, I'M SURE, 99.9% OF STUDENTS WITH SPECIAL NEEDS.
BUT WHAT WE TALKED ABOUT IS ADDING A QR CODE TO OUR BUDGET FOCUS OR ONE OF OUR FOCUSES EVERY YEAR, JUST TO SAY, IF YOU THINK YOU HAVE A CHILD WITH A DISABILITY CLICK THIS CODE AND NOTIFY THE DISTRICT OF IT SO THAT WE CAN AS A MORE PROACTIVE CHILD FIND OUTREACH.
WE THOUGHT WE'VE ALREADY GOT A PRINT.
WE DON'T HAVE THE NAMES AND ADDRESSES OF EVERY FAMILY IN THE COMMUNITY, BUT WE HAVE THE BULK ADDRESSES TO SEND THE FOCUS TO EVERY HOME IN THE COMMUNITY.
WE THOUGHT THAT'S SOMETHING WE'RE ALREADY DOING.
LET'S JUST ADD A LITTLE SECTION SO THAT WE CAN MORE PROACTIVELY HONOR THAT REQUIREMENT IN THE POLICY.
>> IS THAT WHAT COMES FROM PRACTICE THAT IS DONE IN OTHER PLACES OR SOMETHING CREATED A HARD TIME?
>> WE HAD A VERY HARD TIME FINDING OTHER DISTRICTS THAT REALLY FAST.
>> PEOPLE DO THINGS IN A VERY DIFFERENT WAY.
ONE THING THAT I THINK I'M VERY PROUD OF OF THE WORK THAT WE DO ON THE POLICY COMMITTEE, WE ARE NERDY RULE FOLLOWERS.
WE'RE FOLLOWING THINGS TO THE LETTER.
WE'RE DOING WHAT WE'RE SUPPOSED TO DO.
I'M PROUD OF THAT, AND THAT OTHER DISTRICTS ARE LIKE, WE DON'T DO THAT. YOU DON'T.
[01:10:02]
IT'S LAW. HOW ARE YOU NOT DOING THAT? BUT VERY DIFFERENT TYPES OF RESPONSES.BUT I THINK JUST BECAUSE WE HEARD OTHER PEOPLE DO IT, WE CAME BACK AND WE'RE LIKE, WE'VE GOT TO FIGURE OUT A WAY THAT WE'RE CAPTURING THIS AND CANVASSING EVERYONE.
I THINK DR. CHAMBERS ONE THAT CAME UP WITH THE IDEA OF USING THE PELL AND FOCUS BECAUSE EVERYONE IN THE COMMUNITY GETS THAT MAILING.
IT WAS A WAY FOR US TO DO CENSUS.
I THINK OTHER DISTRICTS HAVE PEOPLE THEY HIRE TO DO SIMILAR CENSUS MAILINGS.
BUT PEOPLE WERE ALL OVER THE BOARD, AND SOME PEOPLE LIKE, WHAT ARE YOU TALKING ABOUT? I'M LIKE, CHILD SIGNS, YOU KNOW THAT ALL OVER THE BOARD.
BUT I THINK PART OF REVIEWING THESE POLICIES MAKES US REFLECT ON OUR PRACTICES, AND ARE WE DOING WHAT WE'RE SUPPOSED TO BE DOING? IF WE'RE NOT, WHAT'S OUR PLAN TO SHIFT, CORRECT, AND MAKE SURE THAT WE ARE? GOOD WORK.
>> WELL, I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT.
THANKS FOR SAYING THAT THE CHANGES AND UPDATES MADE TO THESE POLICIES WON'T IMPACT A STUDENTS AND FAMILY'S DAY TO DAY EXPERIENCE IN THE DISTRICT.
I THINK THAT'S A REALLY IMPORTANT NOTE TO HAVE SAID. THANK YOU.
>> THIS IS THE FIRST READING OF THOSE POLICIES.
THERE'S TIME TO READ THE POLICY, ASK QUESTIONS AND GET FEEDBACK.
>> 1510. IS THAT THE ONE I THINK YOU WANTED TO?
>> TALK A LITTLE MORE ABOUT SID.
>> THE POLICY THAT WE BROUGHT TO THE BOARD AT THE LAST MEETING REGARDING THE WAY THAT BOARD MEETINGS WILL BE HANDLED, AND IN PARTICULAR, THE PUBLIC COMMENT FOR THEM.
WE HAD A GOOD DISCUSSION LAST MONTH ABOUT THAT.
SUZANNE WENT BACK AND MADE SOME CHANGES BASED ON THE INPUT THAT WE HAD TO TAKE OUT SOME OF THE MORE SPECIFIC TIME LIMITS, AND REFERENCE AN EXPECTATION THAT SPEAKERS WOULD TALK FOR APPROXIMATELY 3 MINUTES AND THEN SOME OTHER CONFORMING CHANGES LIKE THAT.
I THINK THAT'S THE MAIN UPDATE THERE.
>> I THINK THE ADJUSTMENTS THAT WERE MADE, SO WE APPRECIATED THE FEEDBACK FROM BOARD MEMBERS AND THE COMMITTEE SEEMS TO I THINK IT SEEMS TO BETTER FIT THE PHILOSOPHY OF THE CURRENT BOARD IN WANTING THERE TO BE GUARD RAILS AND STREAMLINE AND FOCUS, YET HAVE THE FREEDOM TO ENGAGE ACTIVELY WITH THE COMMUNITY.
>> I AGREE. AS MY COPILOT TOLD ME TODAY, I WAS BEING TOO ROUGH.
I NEEDED TO TONE DOWN SOME OF THE THINGS I WAS WRITING, SO I LIKE THIS BECAUSE IT'S LIKE WE'RE JUST BEING A LITTLE BIT FRIENDLIER IN OUR LANGUAGE.
WE'RE STILL IN THE SAME VENUE OF LIKE 3 MINUTES, BUT WE'RE JUST USING NICER LANGUAGE.
I DON'T KNOW IF COPILOT TOLD YOU.
CERTAINLY TOLD ME I SHOULD USE SOME OF MY LANGUAGE TO MAKE IT NICER.
THE LAWYER AND ME WOULD LIKE TO HAVE SOMETHING MORE SPECIFIC, BUT I'M OKAY WITH IT.
>> I THINK IT'S THE RIGHT BALANCE OF WE NEED TO HAVE SOME GUARD RAILS AND THE ABILITY TO MANAGE COMMENT IF YOU NEED TO.
IF THERE'S A LOT OF PEOPLE HERE COMMENT, WE HAVE TO MANAGE THE TIME.
>> I THINK IT'S LIKE YOU WANT IT TO BE PRODUCTIVE.
I THINK THAT'S THE ULTIMATE GOAL.
IF YOU WANT TO HEAR AND LISTEN AND MAKE IT BE PRODUCTIVE, IT'S USEFUL FOR EVERYBODY.
I THINK I LIKE SOME OF THE CHANGES AND THE IDEA BEHIND IT.
>> I THINK ON THIS, I THINK THE CHANGES ARE GOOD.
I THINK THAT PUBLIC COMMENT, I THINK IT'S GOOD TO HAVE GUARD RAILS, AND IT'S GOOD TO MAKE EXPLICIT SOME OF THE NORMS AND EXPECTATIONS OF HOW PEOPLE COMMUNICATE IN HERE AND THAT'S HELPFUL.
I DO THINK THAT MAYBE THAT'S CAPTURED IN HERE THAT ULTIMATELY, A LOT OF THIS SHOULD BE AT THE BOARD PRESIDENT'S DISCRETION TO MANAGE THE CONVERSATION IN REAL TIME IN A WAY THAT IS PRODUCTIVE.
REALLY THE ONLY THING LEFT IN HERE THAT I SLIGHTLY RAISE AN EYEBROW AT
[01:15:05]
IS WHEN IT SAYS THAT THERE ARE TWO PERIODS OF PUBLIC COMMENT.IN THE FIRST PERIOD OF PUBLIC COMMENT, SPEAKERS MAY COMMENT ON ITEMS ON THE MEETINGS AGENDA.
IN THE SECOND PERIOD OF TIME FOR PUBLIC COMMENT, SPEAKERS MAY COMMENT ON MATTERS PERTAINING TO THE DISTRICT, BUT NOT ON THE MEETINGS AGENDA.
THAT FEELS A LITTLE BIT RESTRICTIVE.
I THINK SAYING THERE ARE TWO SLOTS FOR PUBLIC COMMENT, AND YOU'RE ONLY ALLOWED TO USE THESE FOR CERTAIN THINGS.
I DON'T KNOW HOW I FEEL ABOUT THAT.
THAT FEELS A LITTLE BIT RESTRICTIVE.
OTHER THAN THAT, I THINK AS LONG AS THE BOARD PRESIDENT HAS SOME DISCRETION OVER MANAGING HOW THE PUBLIC COMMENT IS UNFOLDING.
>> IN PRACTICE, THAT'S HOW WE HAVE THE PUBLIC COMMENTS SET UP, LIKE 5.1 RIGHT NOW SAYS FOR AGENDA ITEMS AND THEN WE ONE LATER.
I HAVE NOT SEEN IN PRACTICE IT CAUSE ANY PROBLEM.
>> I THINK YOU'VE USED THE LATITUDE, AND I THINK THIS IS ME [OVERLAPPING] I THINK I'M WONDERING, IS IT TO WILL'S POINT? IS IT WORTH JUST ADDING A LINE OF PRESIDENT HAS THE DISCRETION TO ADJUST AS THE SITUATION [OVERLAPPING]
>> THE POLICY DOESN'T SAY WHEN THOSE PERIODS ARE GOING TO BE RIGHT NEXT TO EACH OTHER.
THEY DOESN'T SAY WHEN IN THE AGENDA, THEY'RE GOING TO BE.
>> I KNOW WILL, YOU'RE JUST POINTING OUT THAT IT COULD BE VIEWED AS SOMEWHAT RESTRICTIVE.
I JUST HAVEN'T SEEN IT BE RESTRICTIVE.
>> I COMPLETELY AGREE THAT IN PRACTICE, IT HASN'T BEEN RESTRICTIVE AND IN PRACTICE PUBLIC COMMENT, I THINK HAS FUNCTIONED WELL.
>> IS THE FACT THAT WE EVEN HAVE TWO, YOU DON'T EVEN NEED TO HAVE A COMMENT.
BUT WHEN SOMETHING IS ENSHRINED IN POLICY.
WHEN BEHAVIOR IS ENSHRINED IN POLICY, I DON'T WANT THIS TO COME OFF AS TOO RESTRICTIVE.
PEOPLE WANT TO COME AND EXPRESS THEMSELVES.
IF THE BOARD PRESIDENT CAN HAVE DISCRETION OVER HOW THAT PLAYS OUT. I'M FINE WITH THAT.
I DO AGREE WITH YOU THAT IN PRACTICE, THE WAY IT HAS WORKED HAS BEEN FINE, AND WE'RE JUST FORMALIZING IN WRITING.
BUT IF YOU'RE FORMALIZING IT SOME PEOPLE COULD, WE DON'T WANT TO COME ACROSS A TWO AUTOCRATIC, THAT'S ALL.
>> I'M FINE ADDING IF WE WANT TO ADD THAT HOWEVER, SID AND SUZANNE THINK IT'S BEST TO WORD IT TO JUST ADD THAT IT CAN BE ADJUSTED PRACTICE [OVERLAPPING]
>> CAN BE ADJUSTED AT THE DISCRETION OF THE BOARD PRESIDENT.
>> I'M ALSO WONDERING JUST HEARING THAT AND NOW RE READING IT WITH SOME DISTANCE FROM THE COMMITTEE.
I'M AT THE TOP OF THE THIRD PAGE. IS THAT WHERE I AM? FIRST THE FIRST PARAGRAPH, DURING THE SECOND PERIOD OF TIME FOR PUBLIC COMMENT, SPEAKERS MAY COMMENT ON MATTERS PERTAINING TO THE DISTRICT, BUT NOT THE MEETINGS AGENDA MOST WONDERING TO TAKE THAT END.
I MAYBE JUST MAY COMMENT ON ANY MATTERS PERTAINING TO THE DISTRICT PERIOD.
>> JUST ONE THOUGHT ON MAKING SURE THAT POLICY LANGUAGE IS CLEAR AND MAYBE A LITTLE THINKING ABOUT YOUR COMMENTS ABOUT SPECIFICITY.
THE BENEFIT OF BEING SPECIFIC IS THAT MAYBE A POLICY IS HERE, AND I KNOW THAT WE ARE GOING TO REVIEW THESE ON A REGULAR BASIS AND PUT THEM IN A CYCLE.
HOW DO I WANT TO SAY THIS? THE REASON WHY IT'S VERY GOOD TO HAVE POLICY LANGUAGE, LANGUAGE AND POLICIES BE MORE SPECIFIC IS THAT AT SOME POINT IN TIME, MAYBE THERE'LL BE ANOTHER GROUP OF PEOPLE AT THIS TABLE, AND THE SPIRIT AND INTENTION IN WHICH THE POLICY WAS CREATED MAY NOT REMAIN IF THE GROUP OF PEOPLE TRANSITIONS.
[01:20:04]
THERE'S SAFEGUARDS AND SAFETY RAILS, SPEAKING USING THOSE.>> THERE MOST CERTAINLY WILL SOMEDAY BE.
>> WE WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT THEY INTEND.
>> I WAS THINKING ABOUT THAT, TOO, LIKE IN ANYTHING THAT WE DO, IT'S LIKE TEAM REASONABLE JUST ASSUME DIFFERENT STYLE IN A DIFFERENT WAY, WHAT ARE THOSE.
>> I KNOW OF THE BOARD ITERATIONS WITH EVERY BOARD ITERATION COMES DIFFERENT TYPES OF POLICY CONCEPTS OR LANGUAGE OR FEELINGS AND BELIEFS.
THAT INFORMS THE POLICIES AND THE WAY POLICIES ARE UPDATED.
TEN YEARS FROM NOW THE SAME POLICY WON'T BE THE LANGUAGE LAYER. IT WON'T LOOK LIKE THIS.
BUT WHEN WE'RE THINKING ABOUT POLICY, THE OTHER REASON TO USE SPECIFIC LANGUAGE IS BECAUSE ANYONE AND EVERYONE CAN READ IT, AND WE WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT IT'S VERY CLEAR SO THAT WHEN PEOPLE ARE READING IT AND THEN TRYING TO FOLLOW IT, THAT THE SPECIFIC LANGUAGE USED IS CLEAR AND CONCISE SO THAT THERE'S NO MISUNDERSTANDINGS OR MISINTERPRETATIONS.
NOW, I GUESS, JACKIE, THAT WOULD BE ON YOU AS PRESIDENT TO CONTROL AND MAKE SURE [OVERLAPPING]
>> NOW, IT WOULD BE YOU. I'M NOT SAYING I'M IN DISAGREEMENT WITH MAKING IT LESS CLEAR OR USING THE LANGUAGE.
>> YOU HAVE TO BE ABLE TO LEAN ON THE POLICY TO SUPPORT.
>> PEOPLE NEED TO SEE THAT CONSISTENCY, AND IT'S NOT LIKE THIS ONE IS THIS WAY OR THIS PERSON SPEAK OUT THIS WAY AND CHANGES.
>> WHY DON'T WE CAN REVIEW IT ONE MORE TIME AT OUR NEXT POLICY MEETING, BRING IT BACK FOR THIRD READING.
>> WE'RE NOT. WE'RE WAVING THE THIRD ONE.
>> THREAD THE NEEDLE THERE BETWEEN SPECIFIC.
>> I HEARD THREADING A NEEDLE.
>> I DO LIKE IT WHEN THESE RED LINES ARE NOT RED THOUGH. THE GREEN IS NICE.
>> SAY FOR THE REMAINDERS, WE DIDN'T HAVE ANY FEEDBACK OR CHANGES TO RECOMMEND?
>> I DON'T FEEL STRONGLY ABOUT WHETHER WE WANT TO JUST HOLD THEM ALL OVER AND APPROVE THEM ALTOGETHER.
I DON'T THINK THERE'S ANYTHING TIME SENSITIVE FOR ANY OF THE OTHERS?
>> WE COULD JUST DO THEM AT CATCH THE NEXT.
>> DO THEM ALL NEXT TIME EXCEPT THAT WE WON'T MORE ON THE BOARD. THAT'S OKAY.
>> WE'LL CATCH UP. IT'S ONLY A COUPLE OF WEEKS AWAY.
>> I KNOW. IT'S THE BEGINNING OF THE YEAR [LAUGHTER].
>> COMFORTABLE OVER HERE. YOU CAN'T JUST DO IT.
>> THANK YOU. WE CAN MOVE TO SECTION 7.
HAVE A GOOD EVENING. DO I HAVE A MOTION TO TAKE 7.1 THROUGH 8.1?
[7.1 Motion to Approve Schedule A- Instructional]
[7.2 Motion to Approve Schedule B - Extra Duty Appointments]
[7.3 Motion to Approve Schedule C- Instructional]
[7.4 Motion to Approve Schedule C- Non-Instructional]
[8.1 Motion to Approve Schedule D - Committee on Special Education (Confidential)]
WE CAN DO THAT AS A CONSENT AGENDA?>> JUST COME SOME STANDARD FMLA STIPENDS FOR VARIOUS THINGS LIKE OUR SENIOR HIGH CLASS TALENT SHOW, CO TEAM LEADERS, HOCKEY PROGRAM, ETC.
STUDENT TEACHERS, INTERNS, OBSERVERS, AND MORE LEAVES OF ABSENCES. IT'S GREAT.
DR. FITZGERALD'S OFFICE CONTINUES TO PROCESS ON A REGULAR BASIS AND THE APPOINTMENT OF A NEW SCHOOL MONITOR.
>> THEN OPPOSE? THOSE ARE ALL APPROVED.
DOES ANYONE HAVE NEW BUSINESS?
[9.1 New Business]
>> I'M GOING TO GIVE A QUICK JANUARY UPDATE ON ADVOCACY BECAUSE I SENT YOU ALL AN EMAIL TODAY.
WITH THE START OF THE NEW YEAR COMES ADVOCACY SEASON.
THERE IS P ADVOCACY, P ADVOCACY, AND JUST ALL TYPES OF ADVOCACY.
BUT IT IS LEGISLATIVE ADVOCACY SEASON.
IT RUNS ALL THE TIME, REALLY, BUT THE THICK OF IT IS NOW UNTIL APRIL.
WE ARE STARTING TO GET LOTS OF EMAILS ABOUT EVENTS AND TO PARTICIPATE IN MEETINGS WITH LAWMAKERS AT THE FEDERAL LEVEL AND THE STATE LEVEL.
[01:25:01]
NOT COMMUNITY LEVEL ADVOCACY, AND THERE'S A DISTINCTION.OUR ADVOCACY AND ENGAGEMENT COMMITTEE WILL BE WORKING ON ITS OWN PROJECT AT THE COMMUNITY LEVEL.
BUT AT THE BOARD LEVEL, I DID SEND AROUND AN EMAIL WITH JUST UPDATES ON EVENTS.
IF ANYONE HAS ANY QUESTIONS ON THOSE, I HAVE REGISTERED MYSELF FOR MOST OF THEM, SO I'M HAPPY TO SHARE MY NOTES WHEN THOSE HAPPEN.
BUT BETWEEN THE EMAILS I'VE GOTTEN SO FAR ARE FOR NOW TO THE END OF EVENTS TO THE END OF FEBRUARY.
THERE'S LOTS OF OPPORTUNITIES TO TALK TO OUR LAWMAKERS ABOUT ALL OF THE ISSUES ON THE TABLE FOR PUBLIC EDUCATION RIGHT NOW, WHICH THERE ARE MANY AND IMPORTANT.
THANK YOU IN ADVANCE FOR READING THAT.
>> THANK YOU FOR PUTTING THAT TOGETHER.
>> THANK YOU FOR HELPING ME DO THAT.
>> TO SYNTHESIZE IT AND DISTILL IT DOWN TO THAT, WHICH IS MOST IMPORTANT.
>> BECAUSE THEY ALL COME WITH DIFFERENT ACRONYMS, AND THEN YOU'RE LIKE, WAIT, DID I REGISTER FOR THIS ACRONYM TODAY? WHAT IS THIS THAT I DID AND ARE THEY CONNECTED? BECAUSE EVERYTHING IS A LITTLE BIT OVERLAPPING.
>> THANK YOU FOR THE UPDATE, KATHERINE.
ANY MORE NEW BUSINESS? NO. DO I HAVE A MOTION TO ADJOURN?
>> THANK YOU.
* This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.