May 21, 2026 May 20, 2026 - Business Meeting

[00:00:01]

THANK YOU. GOOD AFTERNOON AND WELCOME TO THE MAY 20TH, 2026 MEETING OF THE BOARD OF EDUCATION.

[1.1 Call to Order]

OKAY, BEFORE WE BEGIN, I'D LIKE TO ASK YOU TO JOIN ME IN A MOMENT OF SILENCE FOR TIMOTHY MAGAMBO, A 2025 PELHAM MEMORIAL HIGH SCHOOL GRADUATE WHO PASSED AWAY LAST SATURDAY.

OKAY. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. SO THIS AFTERNOON, THE BOARD IS MEETING BRIEFLY TO CERTIFY THE RESULTS OF YESTERDAY'S SCHOOL BUDGET VOTE AND

[1.3 Opening Remarks]

I WANT TO BEGIN BY THANKING THE COMMUNITY FOR COMING OUT TO VOTE AND FOR PASSING THE 2026-2027 SCHOOL BUDGET.

THE SCHOOL BUDGET REFLECTS OUR COMMUNITY'S COMMITMENT TO PROVIDING OUR STUDENTS WITH AN EXCELLENT EDUCATION, ONE THAT SUPPORTS STRONG ACADEMICS, ATHLETICS, AND EXTRACURRICULAR OPPORTUNITIES, AND ONE THAT PROVIDES THE SUPPORT OUR STUDENTS NEED TO THRIVE. CONGRATULATIONS TO TRUSTEE SIDNEY BURKE AND TRUSTEE ANNEMARIE GARCIA ON THEIR REELECTION TO A SECOND TERMS ON THE BOARD OF EDUCATION.

WE ARE GRATEFUL FOR YOUR CONTINUED SERVICE AND COMMITMENT TO THE PELHAM PUBLIC SCHOOLS.

I ALSO WANT TO THANK LISA MARTINO ALVES FOR RUNNING FOR BOARD OF EDUCATION.

RUNNING FOR SCHOOL BOARD TRUSTEE TAKES TIME, ENERGY AND A WILLINGNESS TO SERVE THE COMMUNITY AND WE APPRECIATE HER EFFORTS AND ENGAGEMENT. ELECTIONS ALSO BRING IMPORTANT CONVERSATIONS ABOUT THE SCHOOL DISTRICT TO THE FOREFRONT.

IT IS IMPORTANT FOR THE BOARD OF EDUCATION TO LISTEN TO THOSE CONVERSATIONS, REFLECT ON THEM, AND TAKE THEM INTO ACCOUNT IN THE YEARS AHEAD.

I ALSO WANT TO EXPRESS OUR GRATITUDE TO THE DISTRICT FOR ITS THOUGHTFUL BUDGET DEVELOPMENT PROCESS AND FOR ITS COMMUNICATION EFFORTS THROUGHOUT THE BUDGET SEASON, WHICH HELPED ENSURE THAT OUR COMMUNITY HAD THE INFORMATION IT NEEDED TO MAKE AN INFORMED DECISION.

AND FINALLY, A VERY LARGE THANK YOU TO OUR DISTRICT CLERK, VALERIE MILLER, AND TO EVERYONE INVOLVED IN ENSURING THAT YESTERDAY'S VOTE WAS CONDUCTED IN A FREE, FAIR AND ORDERLY MANNER. THANK YOU, VALERIE.

[APPLAUSE] AND WE ARE GRATEFUL TO THE COMMUNITY FOR ITS CONTINUED SUPPORT OF PELHAM PUBLIC SCHOOLS.

THANK YOU. OKAY. WE CAN GET STARTED. WE HAVE OUR STUDENT BOARD MEMBERS HERE WITH US.

WOULD YOU LIKE TO GIVE YOUR UPDATES? SURE.

YEAH, I CAN GO FIRST. OKAY. ONE IMPORTANT TOPIC.

OVER THE PAST THREE WEEKS, STUDENTS HAVE BEEN PARTICIPATING IN AP EXAMS, WHICH CONCLUDED LAST WEEK.

MANY AP COURSES ARE OFFERED STARTING AS EARLY AS SOPHOMORE YEAR, GIVING STUDENTS THE OPPORTUNITY TO CHALLENGE THEMSELVES ACADEMICALLY AND GAIN EARLY EXPOSURE TO COLLEGE LEVEL COURSEWORK. AP EXAMS PROVIDE STUDENTS WITH EXPERIENCE IN EXTENDED AND RIGOROUS TESTING ENVIRONMENT THAT CLOSELY RESEMBLES THE FORMAT AND EXPECTATIONS OF COLLEGE ASSESSMENTS. THIS EXPERIENCE HELPS STUDENTS BUILD IMPORTANT SKILLS SUCH AS TIME MANAGEMENT, ENDURANCE, CRITICAL THINKING, AND ACADEMIC DISCIPLINE.

IN ADDITION, QUALIFYING AP EXAM SCORES CAN PROVIDE STUDENTS WITH THE OPPORTUNITY TO EARN COLLEGE CREDIT, POTENTIALLY SAVING BOTH TIME AND TUITION COSTS IN THE FUTURE.

OVERALL, AP COURSES AND EXAMS PLAY A VITAL ROLE IN PREPARING STUDENTS FOR SUCCESS IN HIGHER EDUCATION.

ANOTHER EXCITING UPDATE IS THAT THE HIGH SCHOOL SPRING BAND CONCERT TOOK PLACE MONDAY NIGHT IN THE COURTYARD. THIS EVENT GAVE STUDENT MUSICIANS THE OPPORTUNITY TO SHOWCASE THE HARD WORK AND DEDICATION THEY HAVE DEMONSTRATED THROUGHOUT THE SCHOOL YEAR. PERFORMANCES LIKE THESE NOT ONLY CELEBRATE STUDENT MUSICAL TALENTS, BUT ALSO HIGHLIGHTED THE IMPORTANCE OF ARTS EDUCATION WITHIN THE SCHOOL COMMUNITY.

FAMILY, STAFF AND COMMUNITY MEMBERS ATTENDED TO SUPPORT THE STUDENTS AS THEY PERFORMED A VARIETY OF PIECES THEY HAD PREPARED THROUGHOUT THE SPRING SEASON.

THANK YOU.

JUNIORS, THEY HAVE REGENTS NOW, WHICH IS A NEW YORK STATE REGISTERED TEST.

AND IT GOES TOWARDS A GRADUATION REQUIREMENT.

AND IT USUALLY TAKES THE PLACE OF FINALS FOR A FEW CLASSES.

BUT THAT IS [LAUGHTER] ANOTHER EXCITING TIME.

AND FOR. OR USUALLY MOST OF THEM ARE DURING FINALS WEEK, EXCEPT FOR JUNIORS THIS YEAR THE ENGLISH REGIONS IS COMING UP AND THAT'S ON JUNE 9TH.

[00:05:01]

LIKE IN PHYSICS, WE'RE LEARNING HOW TO BUILD A CAR THAT BREAKS ON ITS OWN, AND THAT'S GOING TO BE IT'S GOING TO BE A FUN LEARNING EXPERIENCE.

AND YEAH, IT'S JUST, IT'S GOING TO BE A REALLY FUN TIME AFTER APS.

AND WHILE WE'RE STILL LEARNING, WE'RE GETTING CLOSER AS CLASSES AND JUST CELEBRATING THE END OF THE SCHOOL YEAR.

TOMORROW NIGHT IS THE ART SHOW. SO THIS IS FOR ALL GRADES.

IT'S SPECIFICALLY FOR STUDIO AND DRAWING AND PAINTING, ADVANCED ART, AP ART AND PHOTOGRAPHY AND CERAMICS.

AND THIS IS GOING TO TAKE PLACE FROM 5:00 TO 6:00 TOMORROW IN THE LIBRARY.

AND ALL THE PAINTINGS ARE EVERYONE'S ART IS ALREADY SET UP.

SO IF YOU WANT TO STOP ON BY AND SUPPORT OUR PROGRAM.

THAT WOULD BE AMAZING. AND THEN FINALLY ADDING ON TO WHAT NICK SAID ABOUT CONCERTS.

LAST NIGHT, MISS ABESHOUSE HAD HER FINAL CHORUS CONCERT AND THE STUDENTS FOR THE LAST FEW WEEKS, WE'VE BEEN [LAUGHTER] MEETING IN SECRET TO DO TO LEARN A SONG THAT WAS COMPOSED BY HER LATE HUSBAND.

AND I THINK WE REALLY SURPRISED HER. THAT WAS THE STRONGEST SONG I THINK I'VE EVER HEARD.

IT WAS REALLY MEANINGFUL. A LOT OF TEARS SHED TOO, BUT IT WAS JUST A GREAT NIGHT OVERALL, AND I THINK IT WAS A GREAT SENDOFF FOR HER, BUT YEAH.

YEAH.

I THINK EVERYBODY KNEW THIS WAS A REALLY SPECIAL MOMENT THAT EVERYONE IN THAT ROOM WILL NEVER FORGET.

SO KUDOS TO YOU GUYS, TO THE CHOIR FOR DOING THAT.

AND I WAS JUST GOING TO SAY IN GENERAL, EVERYTHING YOU GUYS MENTIONED IS JUST LIKE, SO. SO PART OF LIKE WHY PELHAM IS SO SPECIAL.

YOU KNOW, IT'S STRONG ACADEMIC, STRONG ARTS, BUT PEOPLE COMING TOGETHER AND REALLY SUPPORTING ONE ANOTHER.

AND EVEN, AS YOU KNOW, WE TALKED ABOUT TIMOTHY MAGAMBO PASSING.

THAT'S WHAT THIS PLACE HAS BEEN ABOUT. IT'S A PLACE THAT IS BEYOND JUST GOING TO NINE PERIODS OF CLASSES AND TAKING TESTS.

I THINK HAS REALLY BEEN HIGHLIGHTING THAT. SO THANK YOU BOTH FOR PICKING SUCH IMPORTANT THINGS TO SHARE WITH US.

I WAS JUST GOING TO ADD ON TOP OF THAT, NOT BY WAY OF A FORMAL REPORT, BUT JUST WANTED TO AS WELL, YOU KNOW, AS JACKIE DID THANK THE COMMUNITY FOR THE SUPPORT. LAST NIGHT, IT WAS WONDERFUL JUST TO SEE FOLKS COMING OUT.

IT WAS GREAT TO BE ABLE TO ENGAGE WITH THE COMMUNITY OVER THE LAST COUPLE OF MONTHS, MONTHS AND WEEKS.

JUST TO, TO GET TO TALK TO PEOPLE ABOUT THE GREAT THINGS THAT ARE HAPPENING HERE IN SCHOOLS AND THE THINGS THAT ALL OF OUR STUDENTS ARE DOING IN THE CLASSROOM, OUTSIDE OF THE CLASSROOM, ON THE FIELD, VOLUNTEER WORK, JUST WHERE PEOPLE ARE GOING TO COLLEGE, JUST ALL OF IT IS JUST SO AMAZING AND SO MUCH TO BE PROUD OF.

SO I'M THANKFUL FOR THAT AND THANKFUL TO THE COMMUNITY THAT CAME OUT IN SUPPORT.

I WANT TO THANK AGAIN, JIM, THE BUSINESS OFFICE, FOR ALL THE WORK THAT THEY DID TO PUT TOGETHER THIS BUDGET.

I THANK MY CABINET, BECAUSE MANY, MANY, MANY MEETINGS ABOUT THIS AND WORKING WITH OUR ENTIRE ADMINISTRATIVE TEAM AROUND REALLY CHALLENGING BUDGET, BUT ONE THAT WE COULD COME FORWARD AND SUPPORT AND STILL BE PROUD OF AND BE PROUD OF THE OPPORTUNITIES THAT WE'RE GOING TO OFFER TO STUDENTS.

THANKS, VALERIE. I GET TO WORK SIDE BY SIDE WITH HER EVERY DAY.

[LAUGHTER]. SO YOU ALL GET TO SEE THAT SPECIAL PERSON THAT SHE IS AT TIMES LIKE THIS.

SO THANK YOU TO EVERYONE FOR ALL OF THAT. AND I JUST WANT TO SAY ONE MORE THANK YOU.

THANK YOU TO ALL OF OUR STUDENTS AND STAFF FOR ENDURING THE HEAT TODAY AND YESTERDAY. YES OUR CUSTODIANS DID AN AMAZING JOB TRYING TO MANAGE THAT.

OUR PRINCIPALS, ASSISTANT PRINCIPALS ALL HAD COOLING PLANS IN PLACE THAT THEY SHARED WITH THEIR STAFF FROM THE BEGINNING OF THE WEEK.

SO THEY KNEW WHICH ROOMS WERE LIKELY TO BE HOT, WHICH ROOMS WERE OPEN, WHERE THEY COULD GO TO GET SOME RELIEF.

I KNOW IT WAS A LOT. WE ASKED A LOT OF FOLKS TODAY.

SO THANK YOU FOR ENDURING. HOPEFULLY IT WAS. HOPEFULLY WE GOT OUR HEAT WAVE OUT OF THE WAY AND WE WON'T SEE IT AGAIN UNTIL JULY WHEN NOBODY'S HERE.

[LAUGHTER]. SO I THINK THAT'S IT. THANK YOU. ALL RIGHT.

THANK YOU, DOCTOR CHAMP. AND MY DAUGHTER. AND MY DAUGHTER IS WORKING ON A ROCKET.

A ROCKET? OH, YEAH. THAT'S GOOD.

YEAH. OKAY. SO WE CAN. YEAH. OF COURSE. I WANT TO THANK THE AP, MR. SIRICO AND HIS CLASS. OH, YES FOR THE EXIT POLLING WAS AMAZING. THAT WAS, WE DECIDED FIRMLY THAT EXIT POLLING HAS TO HAPPEN IN THE HALLWAY.

AND WE HAD ABOUT THE PARTICIPATION RATE WAS SIGNIFICANTLY BETTER, WHICH I THINK MADE OUR RESULTS ACTUALLY FAR MORE ACCURATE.

SO WE REALLY APPRECIATE THE EFFORT. THAT'S A LOT OF TIME AND ENERGY BY THE STUDENTS AND MR. SIRICO, BUT IT GIVES US REALLY MEANINGFUL DATA EACH YEAR TO TRY TO REFINE OUR WHAT WE'VE BEEN TALKING ABOUT ALL ALONG. HOW DO WE COMMUNICATE THE TO THE COMMUNITY IN A WAY THAT IS EFFECTIVE AND THEY UNDERSTAND? EDUCATE THEM ON ALL THAT WE DO THAT'S GREAT FOR OUR STUDENTS AND OUR COMMUNITY AND THE VALUE OF THE BUDGET. SO THANKS AGAIN TO THEM.

OKAY, NOW I'M DONE

[2.1 Motion to Adopt the 2026-2027 Budget Vote and Board Member Election Results]

[2.2 Motion Pertaining to the Annual School District Budget Vote and Member Election]

[2.3 Motion to Approve Board of Education Reorganization Meeting Date]

[2.4 Motion to Approve a Side Letter of Agreement with the Pelham Teachers' Association]

[2.5 Motion to Approve a Resolution to Authorize RIC One Risk Operations Center (the "ROC") to Negotiate Data Privacy Agreements]

[00:10:04]

YEAH. JUST THE, THE VOTES THAT FROM LAST NIGHT'S BUDGET VOTE.

SO JUST MAKE SURE I GET THE RIGHT NUMBERS. I DON'T SEE THE TOTAL COLUMN THERE IT IS. OKAY. TOTAL YESES, 830. TOTAL NO'S 277 FOR A TOTAL NUMBER OF VOTES CAST OF 1107.

AND THEN AGAIN, THE SCHOOL BOARD RESULTS IN ANNEMARIE GARCIA WITH 708 VOTES, LISA MARTINO ALVES WITH 591 AND SIDNEY BURKE WITH 674. THERE WERE 62 WRITE INS AS WELL.

WE DO NOT HAVE THOSE LISTED OUT HERE, BUT THERE WERE 62 THERE AS JACKIE SAID TO THOSE MEMBERS. ALSO WE HAVE A JUST ADDITIONAL POLL WORKER THAT'S ON THE AGENDA FOR APPROVAL THAT HELPED US OUT LAST YESTERDAY.

ALSO HERE WE ARE FORMALLY ADOPTING THE CHANGE, THE REORGANIZATION DATE FOR THE 2026-27 SCHOOL YEAR.

SO WE WILL BE HAVING OUR FIRST MEETING OF THAT YEAR ON JULY 2ND.

SO I KNOW THE BOARD HAS BEEN MADE AWARE OF THAT.

STUDENTS, YOU ARE NOT REQUIRED TO GO TO THE SUMMER BOARD MEETINGS, [LAUGHTER] BUT YOU'RE ALWAYS WELCOME. NICK WILL BE ON TO BIGGER AND BETTER THINGS.

ALSO, WE HAVE A SIDE LETTER WITH THE TEACHER'S ASSOCIATION RELATED TO A STAFF MEMBER AROUND RETIREMENT.

AND THEN AUTHORIZATION TO AUTHORIZE REGIONAL INFORMATION CENTER TO NEGOTIATE OUR DATA PRIVACY AGREEMENTS.

OKAY. ANY COMMENTS OR QUESTIONS ON THAT? NO. ALL IN FAVOR? AYE. OKAY. ALL THOSE MOTIONS CARRY. DO I HAVE A MOTION TO TAKE 3.1

[3.1 Motion to Approve Schedule A-Instructional]

[3.2 Motion to Approve Schedule C-Instructional]

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

ACTUALLY I'M SORRY. 3.1 TO 4.1 AS A CONSENT AGENDA.

SO MOVED. OKAY. SECOND TEACHERS WHO HAS CHOSEN TO RETIRE. THAT'S MISS CHRISTINA PRIGNANO, ONE OF OUR ITALIAN TEACHERS.

SO SHE HAS SERVED THE DISTRICT FAITHFULLY SINCE 1998.

SHE WILL LEAVE BIG SHOES TO FILL, CHALLENGING SHOES TO FILL.

IT'S A VERY HIGH DEMAND AND LOW SUPPLY POSITION.

WORLD LANGUAGES ARE INCREASINGLY HARD TO FIND. SO CHRISTINA'S BEEN AMAZING.

SHE HAS BEEN WITH US MANY YEARS AND JUST WE WISH HER ALL THE BEST, HER AND HER FAMILY AS SHE GOES OUT AT THIS TIME SHE WILL BE VERY MUCH MISSED.

AND BUONGIORNO. [LAUGHTER]. ALL THE THINGS. ARRIVEDERCI.

ALL THE BEST TO HER. OKAY. ALL IN FAVOR? AYE.

THOSE MOTIONS CARRY. DO WE HAVE ANY NEW BUSINESS? WE DON'T. WE DON'T HAVE COMMUNICATIONS AND COMMENTS FROM THE PUBLIC, SO I WILL TAKE A MOTION TO ADJOURN.

SO MOVED. SECOND. ALL IN FAVOR? AYE. OKAY. THANK YOU.

THANK YOU EVERYONE.

* This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.