Two, one, action. Good evening everyone. I'd like to call to order the May 8th, 2025 business meeting and budget public hearing of the Crow and Harmon Union 3 School District. item 1.2, to the pledge of allegiance to the flag of the United States of America and to the republic for which it stands one nation under God indivisible with liberty and justice for all born and unborn approval of the agenda recommended action be resolved with the board of education here the agenda as presented. So moved. Second. Other questions. All in favor? I obstain carries. Motion carries. Item 2.1 the three library budget presentation. So tonight, Jesse will be presenting the, three library budget. An exciting night. It's a, it's our public budget hearing. So we'll have a presentation for the pro three library and then another presentation for the school district budget as well. And Jesse to advance the slide. Do I just think there? Oh, then that's how you can go back to the other one. Then I'll, thank you everyone. I'll keep it a little short. Good evening. Across the country, libraries are facing increased scrutiny and pressure, more than we've seen in years. We're witnessing a troubling rise in attempts to censor information, challenge programming, and restrict access to materials in school and public libraries. These trends are gravely concerning, and they're reminders of how essential our institutions truly are. Here at Cone, we are fortunate to have a community that understands the role of its library. People here use their library. They check out materials, attend programs, volunteer, and speak up in support of what we do. And that foundation gives us strength. But it doesn't mean we're untouched by the larger climate. Over the past year, we've even experienced attempts from different groups to sway our programming and influence our elections, each with very different motivations. So, I want to be clear when I say our commitment is and always will be to to be accessibility for all. That means serving people of every background, every age, every viewpoint, and every need. Our job is to make sure that everyone in our community can find what they're looking for. Whether it's a book that resonates with them, a program that inspires, a tool that helps them solve a problem, or just a quiet place to read, which both good and bad is hard to find in the library these days. Establishing this atmosphere and striking this balance is no easy task. And I want to take a moment to say how much I trust and respect my staff in this work. They are knowledgeable, thoughtful professionals who understand our policies, our collections, and the needs of our patrons. They are the reason this library is what it is. The same can be said for our board of trustees. Okay. Now looking ahead, this year's proposed budget is the tightest we've assembled in recent NRA. Rising insurance costs for both the building and our employees have place added strain on our finances. But through careful planning, we've managed to present a balanced budget that does not exceed the tax cap while protecting the core services of our community of the services our community relies on every day. One key addition is the creation of a full-time head of our other services. part of our ongoing strategy to build strong focused leadership within each department. This follows the successful creation of our head of circulation services and head of collection development and user engagement. These roles allow us to serve our patrons more efficiently and more effectively, especially as we prepare for the possibility of a renovation down the line. To make this budget work, we've made difficult but thoughtful reduction reductions. We've eliminated our education and travel line and shifting professional development and support to our fundraising committee on a request by request basis. We're scaling back collection development slightly, anticipating that construction could temporarily limit access to new materials. And we've reduced some program expenses, many of which we've been able to backfill with alternate funding or rates. One of the most exciting initiatives coming this spring is our library of things launching June 1st. This program spearheaded by Wim Laser and funded through a grant secured with the help of Assemblywoman Dana Leenberg will allow free library card holders to borrow items like a sewing machine, jumper cables, a cooking thermometer, air quality monitor, and more. It's about access. It's about creativity. It's about helping people solve everyday problems and explore new skills without having to buy a tool that only used once. and it's a perfect example of how modern libraries are evolving to meet real world needs, especially in this climate. We are also continuing to explore the possibility of a major renovation. We have a conceptual design to work from. We've taken early steps towards planning a community-driven fundraising campaign. There's still a lot we need to figure out before announcing anything, but what we do know is that the need is clear. The building is aging, the infrastructure is strange, and our ability to adapt to the needs of the community is limited by the physical space we have. At the same time, we hear from patrons every day about how meaningful the place is, how much it matters to them, to their families, and to the life of the village. That's what drive us to keep moving forward. And as always, I want to take this moment to mention how proud I continue to be of our ongoing collaboration with all schools in the district. Over the past year, we've welcomed every kindergarten, fifth grader for a tour of the library, help new families in the district get oriented with local resources. and you can't forget our weekly homework help. These kinds of connections create a stronger, more cohesive community, and we're grateful for the continued partnership. The Chrome Library is here for everyone, and with your continued support, we'll keep building a space that's inclusive, innovative, and welcoming for years to come. Thank you. And please remember to vote me a second. May 28th. May 28 was two days ago. cool. I think that's it. Questions.
• I was just trying to look through the numbers. I noticed that you said and you had said in your speech the special events that you were going to be replacing them through grants. Is that why it's red? It's it's reduced the 8,000. It's we we have it's hard to say. We are not we're reducing kind of what we put in the operating fund for it. So saying kind we were doing we were funding it through our fundraising reserves for certain programs and now we're just saying these reserves are being transferred over to cover all like special events and stuff like that. So technically in terms of how much funding the library is putting towards special events exclusively. It's actually going up that in previous years it's just not coming from the tax money from the taxpayers and lower scenario as we did previously because we want to still keep the programming but we wouldn't be able to by keeping the tax cap under. So we want to still keep the program. That's what I was going to get out if you're going to keep the programming. Yeah. No, it's it's not going to be it's going to be a reduction in where the numbers are written and what's written next to it. the actual programs and money put towards them is actually going to across the board either stay the same in different places it goes up and down but overall money put towards programming it will be the same it's great thank you I just wanted to commend you all on the library of things what a great idea like how responsible environmentally responsible access and equity responsible and forward thinking and it's great to hear that you all are just thinking of ways to improve services and meet the needs of the whole community so well done a lot of credit for that. A lot of the things that involve the schools engagement programs like that, that's that's that position of user engagement. we love when we all do. Anything else? All right. Cool. Thank you.
• Moving into public budget hearing. Item 3.1 recommended action be resolved if the board of education hereby opens public budget hearing. So move second. Got a question? All in favor? I opposed. Motion carries. We will open the public budget hearing on this. There are members of the public that want to speak. Please approach the podium.
• Yes. So, this year we try we decided to change it up a little bit. So our our budget journey began back in September of 2024 and through months of planning, collaboration, and public presentations, we had our budget adopted on April 10th. This is the public budget hearing. So it's like the final phase of the budgetary process prior to the public vote on May 20th. So, for tonight, instead of a regular presentation, we've decided to launch our budget video for this evening. So, I will pass it over to Superintendent WA. Denise said it right, but I want to just take a moment again to thank the board, Denise, the business office, the entire administrative team, the faculty, the staff. I've said it, I've said it once, I've said it a hundred times. Budgets are about dollars and cents, but they're also fundamentally about vision and about values. So, every time we talk about the budget, our goal is that the community takes away a sense of what it is we're trying to accomplish in this district in this moment for every student and every every member of this community. So, I also want to thank Greg who did an outstand genuine outstanding job putting this budget video together. I know we're extremely proud of the budget, of all the conversations and work that went into it, and very proud of how it's represented through this video. So, enjoy it. Hopefully, we get a chance to have some some good conversation over the next couple weeks leading up to May 20th and the community's opportunity to weigh in on the vision and values of the system.
• [Music] Hello, Tiger community. As we approach our upcoming school district budget vote on May 20th, I'm hopeful that many of you have been able to view our public discussions with the board of education, administration, and staff regarding our proposed budget for the 202526 school year. And as we view the budget process in our district to be one that of course is about dollars and cents, but also is about vision and about values and the kinds of experiences that we want for all of our students in all of our schools in the upcoming school year. And in our district, while the public budget discussions begin in January, the process really spans the entire year. And it involves conversations with you as parents and community members, with our students, staff members, and administrators and board of education members that involve how we can continue to make our schools better. And when we have those ongoing conversations about how to continually improve our schools and that aspirational vision for what school can be, all of those conversations are centered around and grounded in our vision map. And those promises that we've made to our community to continue to make our schools the best places to learn, work, and grow. The work of our vision map as it has come to life in our schools over the past couple of years has allowed us to truly redefine the idea of excellence in learning. We are focused on three key areas. Genuine interdisciplinary learning opportunities for all students, an innovative professional culture that encourages thoughtful risk-taking and a continuous pursuit of excellence. an uplifting faculty to faculty collaboration where teachers come together as creative partners and create learning opportunities that would not have been possible without that sort of partnership. One of the most gratifying elements for me is being able to see the direct alignment between the support from our school district's budget and the work that happens related to the vision map in each of our schools on a regular basis. For example, this year at CCT, that faculty-to-faculty collaboration was exemplified by the addition of our new literacy coach position. This year at CCT also featured increased collaborations between special area and general education teachers on interdisciplinary lessons and units as well as advanced training and literacy in grades one and two. at PVC. This year, some really important work occurred in curriculum, including the development of interdisciplinary learning experiences for students in the humanities for the upcoming school year, as well as overhaul of our science and math curriculum to allow for algebra for all students in 8th grade and a new approach to science for all students across grades 5 through 8. And at the high school this year, we saw the vision map come to life through the implementation of our first interdisciplinary core courses as well as dual enrollment courses and our first academic concentrations. And as we look forward to the 202526 school year, the proposed budget builds on those successes in several ways, including the addition of another full-time English teacher at CHHS, which will enable the high school to offer a significant number of innovative new interdisciplinary core courses. The proposed budget also provides for an additional school counselor at CHHS to respond to what we see to be the increasingly complex academic and social emotional realities of our Tiger students. And we believe that the information on this chart helps to tell an important story about how our students are viewing the college application process. Not only are they applying to more colleges, but they're doing so increasingly through the early decision and early action opportunities. and it creates an imperative for us to be responsive to our students by adding to the counselor staffing at the high school. The proposed budget also adds an additional clinical staff member, either a school psychologist or school counselor for CCT to continue to strengthen our support system for our youngest Tiger students. And as you've heard us say for some time, the idea of faculty-to-faculty collaboration and our professional staff learning with and from each other is a critical element of how teachers improve their practice over time. And so the proposed budget completes our pedagogical coaching model by adding that instructional coach position to PVC, joining our already dynamic team at CCT and the high school. The proposed budget also funds technology and innovation that help students connect, collaborate, and solve real world problems in addition to optimizing network security and creating necessary bandwidth. Specifically, the proposed budget enhances infrastructure for improved performance, speed, and reliability, ensures equitable access to highquality devices and tools for all Tiger students and faculty, expands professional learning to empower our staff and enhance instructional practices and furthers our ability to provide student centered, passion-driven learning experiences. And in the area of athletics, we look forward to the completion of the Spencer Field project this summer and the opportunities that will provide for our student athletes, our families, and community to come together and display their Tiger pride. The proposed budget also provides increased opportunities for inter mural sport offerings, which will allow for our student athletes whose skills need to further develop during the offseason to continue to do that in the sport that they love. The proposed budget also builds upon the fantastic success of our firstear unified sports program to allow for those wonderful students to participate more fully in a greater range of sports for next year. I believe that the proposed budget not only increases opportunities for learning for students across our system, but also maintains our sense of fiscal responsibility to our community's taxpayers. The proposed budget involves a tax increase of 2.62% 62% which is within the allowable tax levy and requires a 50% plus one vote from the community for approval. In addition to Proposition 1, which is the school district's budget, also on the ballot on May 20th is a proposition related to continuing to advance our district's transportation fleet. The proposed budget allows for the purchase of an additional 66 passenger electric school bus as well as two smaller internal combustion engine buses and two hybrid SUVs. These purchases will be funded through the district's vehicle capital reserve funds and through current year appropriation, which means that there's no need for borrowing and therefore no additional tax impact on our community. Also on the ballot on May 20th will be Proposition three, which is the opportunity to vote on the budget for the Croinfree Library, as well as the opportunity to select two board of education candidates for those available positions. Tiger community. To access further information about our budget development process, including a frequently asked questions document and prior presentations, please feel free to visit our website at chufsd.org/budget. And please make sure to check your mailboxes in the coming days for our annual budget newsletter. Also, Tigers, please make sure to mark your calendars for the school district's budget vote. Tuesday, May 20th from 6:00 a.m. to 900 p.m. at CHHS. Croenharman community, thank you sincerely for your amazing ongoing support of our students, staff members, and schools. Your wonderful collaboration allows us to truly make real the promise of what school can be. Thank you.
• I just go since we are at our public budget hearing. If anyone has any questions any time since there are no questions I will move into item 3.2 close public budget hearing recommended action be it resolved the board of education hereby closes the public hearing. So moved second question. All in favor? I I opposed abstain. Motion carries. Moving into reports. Item 4.1, president's report. I will keep this very brief. obviously our upcoming budget vote and trustee election is on May 20th. Pulls will be open from 6:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m. here at CHHS. Please join the community for the candidate forum moderated by the Northern Westchester League early voters to be held in our newly renovated auditorium from 7 to 8:30 p.m. on Wednesday, May 14th. Information regarding submitting questions may be found on the district website. The districtwide art show will also be opening. the reception will be on Tuesday, May 20th from 6:30 to 8:30 with viewing from 9:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. on May or I'm sorry, yes, to 6 p.m. on May 20th, May 21st, and 27th. I also want to send a special thank you to our educators this week and our district especially, but everywhere in honor of teacher appreciation week. And I know each Philippines recognize our community in special ways. So for myself and my fellow trustees on the board to all our trustee teachers, we appreciate everything you do every day to see and reach each and every one of our students. Finally, I want to continue to congratulate our seniors as they finish their finals and APs and take care of them on their choose projects and presentations leading up to graduation. And our next meeting will be Tuesday, May 20th, which will be our tenure empire celebration. At this time, I just like to let the community know there will not be a meet a meet the BOE before that since there are so many things going on in the building. that's all I have. One thing I figure it's on the agenda. Sure. UP, I mean, I don't want to put you on the spot. Do you want to speak to that? No. Says unprecedented report says you It's a suggestion. It's held over from last year. Okay. Yeah. Okay. I mean, if Rachel wanted to speak to that, so on April 30th, the drawing for the universal pre kindergarten program was held at the district office. There were 81 entries and we had a total of 56 seats to fill. So we were able to draw names for the two programs. There were 12 seats at a rising star. The remaining seats were at Children's Space North. We seated 56 students and we have 25 students currently on the weight list. So as our parents decline or reject the seat, we'll start moving people students from the weight list to the seated list. So, we've allowed the families we've given them until May 14th to provide us with a final decision and then that's when we'll formally start moving students from a weight list to a seated position at one of the locations. I don't mean to put you on the spot again, but in the past years it's always evened out, has it? But we had more seats available in previous years. At least last year we had more seats available and we were able to seat all students. this year we have a reduced number of seats at one of our locations just due to logistics at that particular location. So I'm hoping and I'm hopeful that we will be able to provide seats to the weight listed students but there may still be students that are unseated by the time this all kind of evens out. All right. Thank you. You're welcome.
• Moving into item 4.2. of the public.
• Just keep reminding the public that comments about a specific person, staff, student or CH or important district resident are prohibited. Madam Chairman, is this I'd like to understand the rules before I start. So I'd like to reserve my time. Is this specifically about the budget or is this a public hearing? No, Mr. conducted. It's just it's hearing of the public as most of our meetings. It's not general. Correct. Yep. three minutes and got treat like to reserve some more remarks for later. But last month or the month prior rather toward the end of the month there was a special meeting of the black cow which consisted of a quorum this board along with the districts who attended with so-called group called pride prudent pride. This is about the fourth meeting that this board has either held with this part this group and associated parents to deal with their issues. Specifically in the past matter of fact the chair chairwoman herself has said that the black because of its history is a leftwing hangout and it's under new management. So, we're hoping for a different change, but this was sort of an exclusive meeting which regulated whether you take notes, whether you use a camera, specifically endorsed some radical groups like Planned Parenthood, which bizarre group that thinks many people are human weeds, and was conducted in a way that freezes out the discussion and the people who attend. This was basically an illegal meeting or the damnest closest thing you get to an illegal meeting you can. And I denounce that meeting. If you have any crime, you should never have that meeting and conducted in that manner. And if anybody attended and follow those rules, they are they surrendered their rights. Unfortunately, I believe it's a it's the direction this board has gone considering the candidates that are up for office. The close collusion with the DEI committee of the village approve which has been renamed to sort of hide its name. It used to be called DEI committee. Now it's called the idea committee. And what it does is when people see this happening through their elected representatives or their appointed representatives probably the highest some of the highest paid people in quote in public office to see them narrow their focus or to see the focus in these schools is overdone just by your bulletin boards. We discussed this before when we see the preferential treatment and narrow focus in a hostile environment. You transmit the message to the minority in the public and probably as minority, but it's probably about 33% of the atmosphere you're going to have in the schools and a preferential treatment certain people are going to get because they wield power. What I would like to see is student rebellion, especially the boys live by the boys probably against this type of patent indoctrination.
• Anyone else?
• Moving on to item 4.3, the superintendent's report. Thank you, Anna. good evening everyone. Good evening to all the members of our community who are here in person and those who are watching at home. it's always an honor for me to get a chance to share some of the phenomenal things that have happened in our building since the last time that we were together in this space. I wanted to begin tonight by going a little off script and not related to the slides. I know I can speak for the board and the entire administrative team. The highlight of any board meeting is a chance to get to recognize outstanding students, outstanding tigers within our school district community. We have several of them tonight and two that I want to make sure that we highlight. They've recently been recognized as the valadictorian saludiatoran of the class of 2025. Son Mukerji and David Andrew.
• I'm just coming up maybe to the podium for just a couple minutes. this is a time of year when we get a chance to recognize excellence across our system. and we think about academic excellence, about effort, about vision, about setting a standard for what it means to be an outstanding program in our entire you exemplify that. and so I wanted to say that as you reach kind of the end of this chapter of your life, at the end of your time here in our district, I hope that you take a moment over the next few weeks to just think about your legacy here and what you're leaving behind you. And one of those things is a standard of excellence, right, for young people to look up to. And I was thinking about the opportunity. You may be nervous about it, but the opportunity that you have on the evening of graduation to speak to hundreds and hundreds of members of our schools or community, some of whom are going to be young kids who will have older siblings who may be graduating with who are going to look at you and say that's the kind of student I want to be. You helped to change the trajectory of our schools through your excellence over the past 13 years here. And so we in addition to congratulations owe you a thank you.
• So Sonia after graduation is going to be attending the University of Virginia to study computational biology, right? And Ael will be attending the University of Maryland in the scholar program to study engineering. So please graduation speech is coming, brother. Have you started yet? I haven't started my hand, so you're not going to know. Congratulations again. If you wouldn't mind, would you wouldn't mind posing for a picture with this morning. She can come around.
• Yeah, that silent. I think I got everyone. All right, ready. One, two, three. Yeah, I'll take one more on this camera. One, two, three. Excellent. Thank you. Sorry.
• Thank you.
• I can't even get everything.
• Yes, I'm sure you have studying to do or choose. Great. Congratulations again. Have a great Okay, shifting now to some of the phenomenal events that have happened in our schools over the past few weeks. I want to begin by calling out the continued tremendous effort of our buildings and grounds team as well as Denise and Brad and everyone who's been involved in the hopefully final stages of the future facilities project spring break was anything but for all of those folks. and we saw the finishing touches put on the audit really around the district. So, wanted to take another moment just to thank them. We'll be sharing an entire communitywide update on the future facilities project next week. but in for the meantime, we encourage folks in the community to come in and take a look at these spaces and to see particularly the continued evolution of of Spencer has been really remarkably sealed the past few weeks. So, we look forward to our students and community enjoying all these completed spaces in the next few weeks and months. also had a chance to attend the annual Takeback the Night event. I want to thank Carrie Tracy and the student activism club and all of our student leaders as well as our community partners at the Black Cow and everyone who was was there that evening and got a chance to hear our students speak. I've had a chance to attend four of these now in the district and I think this was this year's event was both the best attended and the most powerful. and when we think about what should be a fundamental right, which is the right to feel safe in our homes, in our schools, in our communities, in our relationships, in our bodies, there's been no more important conversation to be having than that. So, it's really an honor to get a chance to attend an event like that. I'm have been joined by several board members that evening. So, thanks again to Miss Tracy and all of our phenomenal, phenomenal students. also had a chance to attend the science research symposium and again found it frankly challenging to come up with intelligent sounding questions. The level of research, the quality of the thought u by all of our students that evening is mind-boggling. just tremendous presentations and I thank Rob Keane and Jamie Rooney. Rob in particular has done such a phenomenal job in growing that program over the past three years or so and again it was an honor to be there that evening and to hear in depth about some of the incredibly high level thinking that our students are doing in our schools on a regular basis. So congratulations to all of our outstanding science researchers among our Tiger student body. Also, Rachel already shared this, but just wanted to mention again, it was such a pleasure to be there a couple weeks ago for the UBK lottery. I shared the message that I normally share with our parents that they their students represent the class of 2039 from Crow High School and committed to them that all of us in this community look forward to partnering with them and their students during what will be a remarkable journey over the next 14 or so years. So, I want to thank Rachel, Lauren, Carol, the entire PPS team, and our community partners at Arriving Star and Children's States North for allowing us to continue this wildly successful program for another year. Also, I I posted about this on Instagram and and I meant what I said. I really don't have words to adequately describe the the emotion and how beautiful it was to get a chance to attend our first ever unified sports basketball game. what you see there is a collection of amazingly exceptional young people brought together by the vision and the effort of Steve Palinsar and Kevin Brunette. This was this has been Kevin's passion project for the past couple years and to see it come together was I think there genuinely wasn't a dry eye in the gym. Denise I think just beautiful emotional when we talk about what school can be that's the purest and I think most compelling definition of it. So thank you to Steve and to Kevin for for making this happen. and just thinking about the parents of those students getting a chance to watch the kid play against another team on the court at the high school perhaps for the first time in their lives. It was a a beautiful thing to get a chance to reflect on. So, we look forward to continue the continued growth of that program. I'm thinking tennis for the fall, perhaps botchi if we can find some competition, but certainly tennis will be a part of that experience for our unified program in the fall. also had a chance to attend the CHHS spring concert. I want to thank Sarah and Michael Catsman and Jazz who just do such a phenomenal job with our student musicians from start to finish. Just incredible performances. everyone did a remarkable job dealing with some funky lighting I think is the way we're referring to it at the moment. there's an evolution at the point of everything that works when it doesn't work, right? And so we're early on the evolution of that part of the auditorium, but really just a remarkable evening of talent of beautiful musicianship led by some outstanding outstanding music educators. So thank you for the opportunity to be there. Also had a chance Friday night to attend the pink and teal game. I want to thank Suzanne Leslie, the softball team, Christine Drago, the booster club, everyone who's involved in that tremendous annual event that raised over $3,500 this year. to support those who are dealing with have survived or been impacted by breast and ovarian cancer. again just just an honor to be there and we talk about events that transcend a school district and become truly a part of the heart and the DNA of the community. This is one of so it was an honor to be there. also had the chance last night to attend the National Honor Society induction. We inducted 45 members of the class of 2026. Want to thank Annie Vogel of the high school administration and everyone involved in that. But that's truly in many ways a student facilitated event and one of the special things is get a chance to hear the seniors talk about their experiences and what they've learned including Isabella about the juniors. outstanding young people. Again, when we talk about setting a standard of excellence, not only in academics, but in terms of character and leadership, this is the future of our community and beyond that. And it looks incredibly bright. So, thank you again for the chance to be there. And wanted to close by recognizing the next two slides the people who make this place the special and remarkable place that it is. Beginning with thanking Gina and Christine and nurse Charlie, our outstanding and dynamic, caring, talented, knowledgeable school nurse team, it gets no better than the three of them truly. And when we talk about how our students feel in our buildings, the safety that they feel not only physically, but psychologically and socially and emotionally, at the heart of it are those three people. I'm not sure that I know three people as a group who worked harder than the three of them. So, thank you very very much to to each of them and happy National School Nurses Day. And wanted to close by thanking the faculty. I've been in education real estate 23 years and this faculty right now bar none is the best I've ever been around. from kindergarten to C through those who teach the the seniors at the high school. This group is caring, talented, creative, dedicated, visionary, bar none the best anywhere. So the thing the occasion of teacher appreciation week, but genuinely every day That's all and for student trustee exeicio report student trusticio Isabelle speak. Good evening everybody. So, my report has a little open up like what Mr. Walker said, but yes, yesterday we welcomed a new group of juniors, 45 of them into NHS. it was a great ceremony. We got to do it in the auditorium, which is now renovated. It was really cool. but I'm just so proud of each and every one of the students inducted. They all have done amazing work in their high school careers. I'm excited to see what they're going to do next. really sad that I can't be there to witness it, but I hear it from my friends. in other news this week, we have the spring homecoming sports games. there were a couple in the beginning of the week like pink game, but we have one tonight, which is track. Then tomorrow is Friday. we have girls lacrosse. And then that's also their senior night. And then on Saturday, there's boys varsity baseball. and it is now AP season. So this past week and next week, students have been doing AP tests. which has been challenging, but I think we're all persevering. and it marks the beginning of testing season. So, it's kind of like a wrap up almost the school year. We have finals coming up in June. and for the seniors after this week, pretty much, yeah, next Friday is our last day and then we'll start shoes. which is bittersweet, but I know we're all really excited. and if any seniors are listening, turned off. Can you hear me? If any seniors are listening, your choose presentation date is in your choose people classroom. so make sure to check on that and if anybody wants to attend. I'm sure people would love to see members of the board there. I can share the schedule with you guys if you want. That concludes my report. Thank you. May I ask a question of Yes. a question for us. I know that you are going to be leaving us in June. Yes. Do you know what is happening with the process to conduct an election for the next board? So yes. So elections for the student board of acquisition done through student faculty congress. So, I believe the juniors have had their elections already. If not, I can check on that. but I know that I I'll keep you posted. I'm not entirely sure about that, but it'll definitely be coming up soon. I think you're waiting for the freshman to vote on May 17th. That's probably Yeah, I know. Okay. After that, I'll I'll be sure to communicate. I know you guys will be excited. but whoever it is, I'm sure if they have questions, they can come talk to me. Thank you. Moving into new business item 5.1. The Westchester Platinum School Board Association's nominating committee slay of officers and directors and budget ratification. Recommended action be it resolve the board of education hereby votes of the Westchester Putnham School Boards Association's nominating committee slate of officers and directors for the 2024 actually. Yeah. Yeah. March 29th, 2025 2026 school year and budget ratification is presented. On the question, go ahead. I was just say if anyone has any questions on on the budget, I'm happy to convey what I can or on the on the slate of officers or directors. We should note that my fellow trustee, Miss Carrier, will help forth to ser as West Vice President next year. Yes, very much. Appreciate it. Thank you. Yes, Sarah. Thank you for all of your service on Westp and certainly amplifying the resources that they offer to school boards across the counties to us in particular. So, thank you for that. If no one has any questions, I'll say all in favor. Oppos.
• Yes. Abstain. No abstensions. Motion carries. Moving into item 5.2 two, risk assessment, internal audit report and corrective action plan. Recommended action be resolved. The board of education hereby approves the risk assessment internal audit report and corrective action plan as presented. So moved second on a question on the question. I'll give just a little bit of a background and if anybody questions I'll I'll have to answer them or I'll pump them over to the audit committee met a couple weeks ago to walk through the internal audit of it. And the auditors look at user access, IT, asset management, backup and data disaster recovery as well as incident response and cyber security measures. thank you. There are some findings but at the end of the day there were no deficiencies in our IT infrastructure. it's really the audit outcome was a recommendation on improving our IT infrastructure and processes just strengthening what's already there. and on the risk assessment it was a review of payroll and HR practices. Similarly it wasn't let by the risk assessment it wasn't any issues it's just access control as a recommendation just controlling has access to federal pay payroll records and just documenting practices that already exist. Right. So the superintendent reviews of reviews payroll variances basically just has assignment he has that there's a there's proof written proof that is has any questions on it have to answer or again please chime in no okay all in favor I abstain motion carries item 523 policies for first reading. I will turn this over to our board of mater. Yes, there are four policies that are have been adopted or approved by the policy committee on its and its meeting on May 1st for presentation for first. The first is listed policy 281 R which is a revision to the playing up or athletic placement process protocols and process for allowing middle school students to seek to or or be considered for playing up to a bar 17 or I'm sorry to a high school which could be a varsity team or could be a junior varsity. The main change in this policy is as requested by the athletic director is that the initiation of consideration of the student to for athletic placement through the athletic placement process that is to play up will be made by the high school coach in that support the parent or the student rather I should say the student or parent communicate with the coach or the athletic director to express an interest but it will be the coach that will say yes this is something that we will start the process. The concern being that as expressed by the athletic director because this opportunity to play up is for those who are truly exceptional athletes at the middle school level for whom it would be best for them in their development to be at a higher level. the coach will be the one who can initially assess whether whether student should be there instead of having every parent or every student who desires to go through the process go through that process and then basically utilize the somewhat substantial resources on the district for consideration. the other changes in the policy are basically wording to ensure that the process proceeds as I've described it. I will note for the board's and the public's edification that over the years we've had a lot of changes in this policy and this process based on considerations. and so we considerations that came up at the time. So we are looking at it to ensure that it works as best as possible and to the benefit of all students both the middle school students who seek to move to a higher level team and the students at the higher level team to to who will also be playing with the middle school students or be on teams with the middle middle school students who have played up the second policy Okay, actually two coordinated policies are policy 2160R and 29210R. Each of them address the code of ethics. 2160R is the board member code of ethics and 9120.1R is the employee code of ethics. We in reviewing these policies recently, it came to our attention that in one respect the policy these issuing policies is not consistent with the provisions of general municipal law. specifically that an individual under general municipal law may not accept whether it's a board member or an employee a gift from anyone that has a value later greater than $75. And the the law says if the intent is to influence that individual in the performance of their duties as a board member or as an employee. Many years ago when the board considered policy committee and the board considered this policy, we said it's going to be impossible for us to ascertain the intent of the person who gives the gift. We just want to say consistent with the law a limitation of $75. Thereafter we dealt with an issue and this is probably in of gifts collected for a group of by a group of individuals like a class all the parents in a class which would exceed $75 but it's not $75 per person but it can be a rather substantial amount and we adopted a specific policy 1810 gives to school personnel and also policy 1811, gifts from district to employees and community members where we wanted to make it clear and did make it clear that those group gifts should not be a large amount or a large sum because that would really be inappropriate. That was the feeling of the board at the time and presumably has been to to date. But in adding that provision, we unfortunately dropped the first provision which we now realize should be in the policy and that's what is being recommended first reading in policy 2160R and policy 9210R. lastly policy 2210 which is now entitled board reorganization meeting and we are recommending changing the term to board organizational meeting because that's basically what statute says is being or recommending that the board consider these revisions because our policy has written did not include certain items that we must do at an organizational meeting and included items such as the appointment of certain off of certain persons like a tax collector that we do not do. So this is just a cleanup if you will of our processes on the board organizational meeting. there is some I should say urgency to do this because we should have it in place prior to July both with regard to the board member code of ethics which each board member executes each July and because the district clerk is going to be soon preparing for the organizational meeting in July. If there are any questions about any of these policies, get them to me and we will, be discussing them. I'll have the opportunity to discuss before the June 5th meeting. Yes, Josh. it's a minor item. I just wanted to call I'm not sure whether this is for you or for Denise in her capacity as quirk. I noticed that while the file for 91120.1-R I noticed that the while the file name is correct. The internal title in the metadata of the PDF is incorrect. It reads 2160R. Let let me just address that. That's a metadata issue because what happens is that there are times in which a in which when I'm preparing for the committee documents and I take another document and just kind of cut and paste the whole metadata stays the metadata is not reflective of the actual policy the policy as the words understood. And I just want to call it out. If this is going to be published, it it ought to be corrected because the title of the tab ends up showing up incorrectly. And I I realize that the title of the document is correct. And obviously once it has been adopted and is placed in our online policy manual, all of that metadata falls away and is processed by newspaper. Thank you for the clarification on the metadata. I have to say, Neil, I did not have you using the term metadata on my bingo card. No, that was that was a fun twist. I might find things interesting. So, there's no that's just the first reading, right? So, we're going to move into item 5.4 side letter agreement CTO. Recommended action be resolved that the board of education approves the side letter agreement between the crow and harmony union school district and the teachers association bargaining unit as presented. So moved. Second question. All in favor?
• Yeah, I said I but I think I was drowned out. Abstain. Motion carries. Going into moving into instructional personnel. Recommended action be it resolved that the board of education hereby approves the appointment of Vu Ye 1.0 FTE science teacher as a leave replacement for Ray Fera at Bowen Harour High School effective August 27th, 2025 through June 26th, 2026 to be compensated and an annual salary of $115,26 MA 30 step 14. So moved. Second on the question. All in favor? I oppose abstain. Motion carries. Item 6.2 recommended action be resolved the board of education upon the recommendation of the superintendent of schools hereby appoints Sarah Silverman as a 1.0 0 FTE English teacher English tenure area at the Crop and Harmon High School at a salary of 127,684 MA + 30 step 16. Miss Silverman is appointed to a three-year probationary term as an English teacher commencing on August 27th, 2025 and probationary term ending on August 26th, 2028 in the tenure area of English. Miss Silverman has professional certification in English language arts grades 7 through 12. So moved. Second. On the question. All in favor? I post abstain. Motion carries. I I just want to add that in the minutes I we're in the recommended action. I know we have Oh, I'm sorry. I I'm sorry. I saw something the other spoke out of term. I accept your apologies and I will move into before you do. Did you have Steph spoke out of term your bingo card? No. I thought maybe the error was in the metadata. All the superintendent ongoing business item 7.1 policies for second reading. I will at this point again turn it over to the chair of our policy committee. Thank you. Policies for second reading. There are three policies for second reading. each of them at our April meeting and the committee did not receive any comments or questions from the board or from the members of the community. policy 21, the first one, policy 0350. The one change that is in that policy is to remove the wording or two changes. Remove the wording of a sentence that says that citizen groups and outside agencies shall be invited to participate. This is part of our ongoing work to remove inappropriate or improper references to citizen groups or citizens as it appears throughout our own policy manual. Also the fact that evaluation of instructional programs are going to be done by those professionals, faculty, administration who we ask to and anybody they can but utilize evaluations or utilize the assistance of others whoever they may be whether they're citizens or outside agencies and we do that through tri states etc. and we don't need to say that it was felt by the committee. We don't need to say that in our policy. The other change is in bullet number six that states that among the things that they will look at is check on the suit suitability of the instructional program in terms of community requirements. And we're suggesting changing that word community needs. for sure what community requirements meant for community needs. to the extent that we are talking about u things in in the instructional programs and offerings certainly made more sense with regard to the two other policies 6830 and 6830R. Each of those policy deal with expense reimbursements. And as we had discussed the major change and this is a change requested by the assistant superintendent for business is that rather than providing for a permeal reimbursement for overnight out of district travel. basically $10 per day. $10 for breakfast, 15 for lunch, 30 for dinner. to rather provide a daily reimbursement rate of $55 for the full day, which alleviates the business office from needing to collect and check receipts for each meal to ascertain whether or not that meal was for for breakfast was for less or more than $10, etc. this will have as we have been informed by the business office committee has formed no impact on the reimbursement except for the fact it will make the business office operate more efficiently and make staff feel better because they don't have to collect all those receipts and hand them in and have those reviewed and etc. those are in essence the changes that are in this document. the other changes such as when the next paragraphs that talk about the maximum amount that we'll provide for tips I mean and so on. we don't need to have because we're not reimbursing on a meal by meal basis, but we're providing a daily allowance. that is what's in the those two policies. If there are any questions or concerns before we take to a vote, can we hear them?
• Yeah. So I will move adoption of each of these three policies. Policy three 30 Z 0350 policy 6830 and policy 6830R second. on a question. All in favor? I opposed. Abstain. Motion carries. Moving into our donations. Item 8.1 recommended action be resolved. The board of education gratefully accepts a donation of $250 from the Agnes Zachar from Agnes Zachcharias as a contribution to the Christos Zacharias scholarship at the Croton Harman High School. This scholarship criteria is given to a wellrounded student who is interested in many things. Someone who contributes to the school and community. Someone who is nice to all people and has a good sense of humor. So moved. Second on the question. Yes. I just want to say that every year I very much enjoy the sampling of donation from Ms. Acharias because I really like the fact that this the recipient of this scholarship must have a sense of humor. I think the sense of humor is a very important fact. Yes. All in favor? I I I abstain. Motion carries. Thank you to Miss Zacharias. I'm sorry. Harry, I'm sorry. Sorry. Thank you for correcting me. Item 8.2 donation from the Cro Caring Committee Inc. Ace grant program in partnership with the Knights of Columbus. Be it resolved. Recommended action be resolved. The board of education gratefully accepts a donation of $25 from the grow and caring committee as an ACE grant in partnership with the Knights of Columbus for a fifth grade student to attend a class trip to the Donic Outdoor Education Center on May 2nd, 2025 and to the West Morland sanctuary on June 2nd, 2025. So move second. On a question, all in favor? I stayain motion carries. Item 8.3 recommended action be resolved with the board of education grantly gratefully accepts a donation of $150 from the caring committee as an ACE grant in partnership with the Knights of Columbus for six sixth grade students to attend the world language field trip. So moved. Second. On the question. All in favor? I I opposed. Abstain. Motion carries. Item 8.4. Recommended action. Be it resolved. The board of education gratefully accepts accepts a donation of $1,150 from the Portland Canarium Committee as an ACE grant in partnership with the N Columbus for 10 students to attend end of year events at PBC. So move on question. All in favor? I I opposed abstains. Motion carries. I again want to thank the court and caring committee and the Knights of Columbus for their generative generous donations and in helping those students attend events they would otherwise we would fall short of being able to have attendance. Item nine, consent agenda 9.1 recommended action be it resolved that the board of education hereby approves all of the items on the consent agenda. So move second on the question.
• Give me one second.
• Checking the metadata. My hand. In this case, this is Denise's band.
• I should probably mention item 9.9 is a change order. So that change order as we changed contractors at Spencer Field and that change order represents the work that was not completed by the original contractor. So, it's a it's a zero change order, but it it's actually a negative of $5 million, which represents the work that they did not complete that the work that was awarded that was un that was incomplete. And so that because that 5 million is going to a different cont to the second contractor. Correct. [Music] Thank you for saying that for the public because you keep the board so well shy as of what's happening with that. We kind of take it for granted sometimes.
• Sorry. One part of the family. Okay. You elected to Okay, thanks. All in favor? I I abstain. Motion carries. Moving into our closing of the meeting and our second hearing of the public. If anyone would like to be heard, please state your name and address and approach to the podium.
• Good evening. My name is Christina Alvarez Arnold. I live in Bor Road North and I'm a proud parent of two students. quick note that it was magical last night to participate in the honor society ceremony mainly because it was almost completely student studentrun student directed up there on the stage and it just it's like bittersweet as my my students almost aged out to see such wellspoken students such exciting futures in front of them. I think all of us in the audience know but that's not why I'm here. actually I was at home watching and I heard the committee that I'm a part of the idea committee mention and I thought it was a wonderful opportunity for me to share with the board and to anyone watching what we're what we've been up to. The idea committee as you probably know is one of the village croin advisory committees. We it was formerly known as a DNI committee but in November November December of 2023 we expanded it enlarging the programming to include equity and accessibility. So it stands for inclusion, diversity, equity and accessibility because we thought that those two values were very important to include. and just a couple things that we have coming this summer. so that you get an idea of some of the programming that we're doing. on June 1st, we will be proudly hosting the first flag raising ceremony for the pride flag. The village often has has proudly waved the pride flag up there in the municipal building, but this will be the first time we'll have a ceremony for it. we're looking forward to collaboration with lots of folks. there'll be flare, there'll be music. and also then on Summerfest, we will have a booth in part of our booth and we this was in part after conversations with SATA here at the school. we will be having a chill out space. that space because we all process the sounds and smells very well see I'm running out of we all process things differently. This is a place for your family to come and chill out and there will even be some therapy dogs there. We have a June 19th we have some screenings coming up. In any case, we look forward to continuing our partnerships with the library, with the proton police department, with the houses of worship here, with your school clubs, with your staff, and many other groups. And if anyone's interested in what we're up to, please look us up on the on the villages website. Thanks so much for the opportunity.
• rest my case terms of collaboration. some committees have the name diversity in it, but you need to pass a test to get to one of their meetings, even though they're sponsored by the village, only to be told by the village attorney that you have no right to be there, even though it's established by the village. Of course, to take that to a court that will be broken open like a sour mill. this was a perfect example of this collaboration talking about it's almost a political party in that the idea committee the me certain members of this the majority of this board and the administration advocating that everyone every student should be an activist only one kind of activists you have only one kind of club in terms of politics and god forbid what the environment is because you have a mandate to register students to vote. I wonder what the atmosphere is when you register those students to vote or pre-register them as required by state law. The atmosphere children or or students that don't share the progressive ideas that the majority does must be a quarter strain. So, so the meeting you attended as a legal meeting or the closest thing to it has taken on the the aspects of a political party and therefore ethically the vir should never do that again. Why? Because these groups have every opportunity to come to meetings like this to go to meetings that the public like myself cannot attend. Parent PTA meetings, building meetings, no access for non-stu non-parents to go. The majority of the citizens in the village of Cro cannot attend many of the meetings that parents can go to. Closed meetings that you hold only for parents even though it's a public subject. One meeting is open, the next meeting is closed because there might be controversy. You lack diversity. Your teachers lack diversity. And by the way, a good work can educate for a long time. A good principal would say, "Hey, you know what? This high school lacks diversity." Maybe would have been bringing Turning Point USA or Moms for Liberty or some alternate point of view. No, this is business as usual and it's getting worse. Yeah. So that was a meeting a special meeting for special people and if if when the chairwoman of that meeting at the black cap said you can't take notes, you can't use your phone or we're only going to allow certain people in and they question you when you come in. I wonder how many members of this board said, "Lady chairman, I'm going to leave or you're going to change the rules." I don't think there was one of you who did that. I can Hi, Leslie P. I just want to say that the theater looks great. I've been to the school three times in the last two weeks. My son participated in the band, and he also presented at the science symposium, the research symposium, and the National Honor Society. So, I do want to say that I thought the theater looked great and thank you for putting this picture on the screen. There's no we'll move into boards.
• Start on advocacy. not much to report on advocacy. We we have not had a meeting since our last meeting. The state budget is I believe in the very very final moments of passing. if it hasn't passed already and so it'll be good for us to dig into the details. I think we know mostly what they are at this point given that that some language has emerged but we we want to wait all the final language to to dig in a little bit more. So we'll be setting up a meeting in short relatively soon. Thank you. Board development. Board development has also Sorry, I'm turn this on. Board develop board development has also not met since our last discussion, but we wanted to turn over a portion of our time to the board president to fill the rest of the group in on the superintendent evaluation. So on Monday this week, Superintendent Walker submitted Lee's portion of the super eval to the board. Sarah, who was still in charge of she still had the controls, so to speak, super eval and we kindly kind of transfer that over to me. At some point this weekend, I will be connecting with board development to develop a timeline in terms of when we will all add our input and then present it to superintendent at some later time and then coate it all for the public to be able to review that. If the timeline is on, super you will be able to Yes. With the set. Yes. And just to be clear, yes, the public will review our final report. Yes. Not everything correct that is in that because which is historically what has always happened, the final report after we meet with superintendent blockers when it's posted on the district. And and I think also make it clear for the public that any any other documents are by law not obtainable because that's personnel records. I think you just did make it clear for the public. Okay. I just Yes, you do. Anyway, more on that at our next meeting. So, I would be connecting with board development communication on a theme communication has not met since our last meeting. It's it's it's been to be that time of year, so it's very busy. I will be reaching out to all of the communication committee meeting members to schedule our next meeting. that said though, I did just want to take a brief moment to thank Denise and Greg Cavalieri and Jackie Burton and her team for all of the work you've done with all of the budget communications and documents, presentations, social media information that we've provided for the community. So, thank you very much for all your work on that. And yeah, we'll have a meeting scheduled soon. Yeah, I'd like to second that in terms of everything that we've had to put together regarding getting information out to the gazette and regarding the candidate form. Thank you Denise. Thank you Brad. Thank you Jackie for your collaboration and helping the board manage all of those deadlines. I'd also just like to add to keep your eye out in your mailboxes for the reflections newsletter. This will be going up shortly. I've seen a preview. H3 looks good. policy. Unlike the other president, we met we met on March 26. We met on May 1st. Our next meeting is scheduled for June 2nd. policy will be dealing with a number of issues that have some immediacy some of which have been brought up for first reading. One couple items that I want to mention that have some immediacy. The first is that by law we are required each year to review the code of conduct. At our May 1st meeting, the committee began its review of the code of conduct. Certain changes and revisions either recommended by NSPA or otherwise recommended quite frankly on my review to see things that no missing. One of the things that leads into the next time. Yesterday at 5:00, Sarah forwarded to each member of the board a the language of the provision in the state budget for approval regarding cell phone B otherwise known as the use of internet enabled devices during the school day. the we don't know as of this moment checked since we started our meeting whether this budget has been completely adopted but if this language is adopted it will require that the board adopt a policy on the use or prohibition of use of internet enabled devices not just cell phones during the school day and must adopt that no later than August 1st, which gives us a very short time frame to look at the law, look at our current policy, look at the requirements that are set forth in the law as it is adopted and get all of that done. Part of that will involve to some but a relatively minor extent a change in the code of conduct. And so what I have proposed or will propose at the June 2nd meeting presuming this is adopted that the statute is adopted that those changes be incorporated into our revised code of conduct in addition to a policy specifically on the use of internet enabled devices. The the district already has a policy policy 5695 entitled students and personal electronic devices which adopted in 2017. That policy will need to be revised if this statute is goes into effect. so that's that's an update for the board and for the community on the cell phone ban as we know it as a ticket. I think frankly we are as well positioned as anyone to meet that deadline. We know however because the statute has proposed and presumably to be adopted calls for or requires consultation with students, parents and bargaining unit in which which in the schools. So in some manner which the committee will work on in along with the superintendent we will elicit that participation or consultation. the third policy that has wait Neil before you go on from that I just want to just raise this issue because I think this is something that I maybe sort of missed and hopefully we'll be able to discuss this a little bit further but the proposed language now also includes as you mentioned internet enabled devices including smartphones tablets other devices capable of connecting to the internet that have not been supplied by the school district so there's also an impact on our high school bring your own device policy yes that that is part of the policy that what does involve there are exceptions in the legislation for bring your own device in if there is a specific educational purpose. So, you know, that's something that will need to be worked out in policy and will have to be worked out with, with the All right. You know, I just missed it. I see it now. It's 5A. Right. So, there's all different nuances to this that, you know, that administration will weigh in on faculty, parents, students. there are also exceptions if a device is required by the students IEP or section 504 plan or is needed for translation services or is needed for a student who is pro needs the cell phone because the student is primarily responsible for the care of another family member and also if for a quote an emergency situation whatever that means. So we have a lot of things to look at if this statute is adopted as as proposed and we assume it will be. But the last item which I know people have been concerned about in the community and parents is the extreme heat days policy under the law adopted earlier this year no later than September 1st. district has to have in place. All school districts have to have in place a policy as to what steps will be taken if a if the heat in a classroom exceeds a certain level and we are working on that reviewing it. We also and I have suggested to the committee that in addition to addressing what the law requires, we also should include in that policy as some school districts, not in New York, but some school districts have also included policies regarding recess, outdoor physical education, athletic competitions on extreme ink days and how those should be dealt with. I will say that I met with the athletic director to discuss among other things this policy and there are guidelines that have been established and promulgated by the New York State Public High School Athletic Association on how to deal with extreme heat days both with clical practices and contests. and she's aware of them and she and the other athletic directors address those situations when they come up particularly with regard to contests. but the policy I'm suggesting to the committee should include how those situations will be handled even though the law does not require we have a whole lot of other policies that are on our agenda or on our to-do list and we're going to get them talking about that. Yeah. So that is my report as I said June 2nd and hopefully we'll have policies that will be on the agenda for the June 5th meeting first reading. Yes. Thank you. Do we have a report from the adhab committee on social media? We do and we don't. the report very simply is that we are intending or expecting to have a meeting probably the week of Memorial Day after 22nd, 28th, 29th, 30th. And I am hopeful that the ad hoc committee, myself, Theo and Josh will be able to report for first reading the policies on social media and the trustees and social media generally at the June 5th. Thank you. Moving into the board. I had the opportunity to attend the CCT building planning council meeting today. this was CTV BPC's final meeting of the year. it was a good recap of some of the things that we've been talking about throughout the year. But I think the the item that was the most interesting and took up the the largest amount of time in the meeting was discussion of the expansion of use of Hegyt the Hegerty literacy programs. expanding through grades beyond the current use of the phmic awareness program at in in the kindergarten moving on to other reading and writing modules that are published by Hegerty. it was a very interesting presentation. It was very arty discussion about what this means for students and what it means for teachers. how it is to be used, how it will be rolled out and the sorts of professional development that will be undertaken to ensure that that teachers are proficient in the use of the program and I am so just to be clear that's the English curriculum that's going to be rolled out 3 through 4 to be implemented in September. That is correct.
• I had a couple things for polling. so you will have seen today that the Westchester School Boards Association sent out their bi-weekly chalkboard email. you will see in that email a registration for the annual meeting dinner which will be held on Monday, June 2nd. So it'll be wonderful to see as many of you as possible who are able to attend that. Denise will be able to register you. So if you are able to attend just let her know. also in that email you will see a link to the an our annual survey. it is really quick. I promise it's like less than 5 minutes to take. but it's really helpful for informing programming for the coming year. So I could ask all of you to fill that out. It would be very helpful. that email also happens to have a link to the aid runs that were published earlier today on your phone. So you can take a look at all of that information in in one central location. and I also wanted to point out, back on April 28th, we also received an email from Westp that had a recap of their last EDLAW launch for the year, which will reviewed, BOE use of social media, employment and, negotiation trends. So, please take a look at that. There was some great information. you'll be able to link to all of the presentations that were for that EDL law and also the previous Ed Law launches for the year. and then following up on on other information about the budget LHC did send out an email today with a comprehensive memo and review of the of the education budget. So please take a look at those. And that's all I have. Anna, can I go or is there are Okay. so on April 27th, I was able to attend the Take Back the Night event, which was just an amazing event. for folks that don't know, the it's an event to increase visibility and speak out against sexual violence, relationship violence, domestic violence. the event was completely studentled. it started out with a march and a sharing at the end of people's experiences and also resources that are available from nonprofit organizations for survivors. And so it was a really incredible event and I think what was most incredible was the fact that our students really entirely organized it and and just made it happen. So it was a great event to be at. and then I was also able to to attend the science symposium which was mentioned earlier and honestly I was just floored by the quality of the presentations both in the gym freshman's and sophom freshman and sophomore students who just really did a great job of of explaining and featuring their their projects. I took my now 10-year-old daughter who I think the impact on her was was huge and seeing you know what our our our high school students are now doing and sort of envisioning her future in doing that same kind of stuff. So that was great. the sat in on some senior presentations and the the the topics were so well researched and things like stem cell therapy and spinal cord injury fusion and many other topics that were covered. So super impressive. Also impressive that our teachers just did such a great job in mentoring our students. you could really tell that they worked a lot on their on their presentation. So it was a great night.
• I was also able to attend a take back the night event and I was I was just in awe of of our our students and in that event and the vulnerability that people were able to kind of put out in our community to to to advocate for something that is just something that everybody should be entitled to, right, of safety in your community. I was also at the National Honor Society induction last night in the new auditorium. to be surrounded by students and and parents celebrating the four pillars of what NHS stands for was really just inspiring. I feel like it kind of kicks off what we're about to face right now which is choose projects graduation season. hearing more and more of our seniors and what they're going to move on to. It's my favorite time of year. I've always said that. My favorite day is graduation day. So, you walk across the stage just really gets to me because it really solidifies everything that we do here. to to kind of like take this in a different direction. it's my understanding that at different times polling of the board sometimes addressed what was said during hearing of the public. And I would just like to address the fact that I was at the pride event. I was there not in my capacity as a trustee as a member of this community. I was happy to be there. I understood that the rules that were in place were for people's safety. I think in this climate there are many organizations that are doing that. My understanding is that US Representative Mike Lawler also did not allow reporting or I think pens at his event. So to to put restrictions on on attending events like that I don't think was out of place I think in this day and age many people are doing it for many different reasons. People are very passionate about their views. I thought it was a wonderful event where Superintendent Walker addressed concerns from a community that right now is significantly under attack. and I was proud to be there and stand with parents. So, I wanted to clarify that I there was not there there was no business of the board being that and that's all I have for today. I think I'm the last one. I think everyone has talked about so this is like a really busy time of year because there's so much going on and it is really exciting to see particularly in the last couple weeks as everyone else has said so many student initiated activities including take back the ninth and national honor society celebration the science symposium and one that we haven't all talked about earth so many of our high school students and climate focused and environmental focused students were there participating, volunteering and giving their time. I always like to say volunteers are what makes Cotton Run and many of them start showing these skills as high school students. They really are integral to a lot of what we do and a lot of what keeps our community going. The other thing that I want to talk about is literally one of my favorite nights of the last three years now. which is a very very special PTA fundraiser held by the PVC PTA for the last three years. It's a storytelling night. that brings together people from our community telling stories about their experiences, something that happened to them, something that sort of shaped them. And this year like the last two years, it was a magical sort of evening for people to come together and be in community with each other, get to know families and parents and people that they just hadn't known in that way before. Our own BBC principal, Mr. Platkin, told the story. In the past, we've had educators from our BBC community participate. The thing that's really remarkable about this event and very very intentional when it was founded was it is a fundraiser event that has a entry point that is really accessible to many members of our community. It doesn't have a huge ticket price. the funds that are raised here go towards the PBCP PTA's mission very specifically of ensuring that field trips and activities and other things that happen in our schools are accessible to all students. And so I just want to commend again the PBCPTA which I'm obviously part of because I have a student at that school for this year's event. I encourage everyone if you have an opportunity to go to this again make a point of trying to be there. It's a really really special night and it brings our community together in a way that I think reflects like what we're all here for which is being together being understanding and being open to hearing other people's stories. So it was really just incred you go and then I have one more I attended many of the events that have been mentioned previously. didn't have the opportunity or in fact I would have loved to but I didn't know about CT's storytelling event but I attended science research symposium and in the chaos induction ceremony. I think what you see in both of those events and in many other events is the poise the confidence of students and that doesn't come only from their upbringing. comes from the from what we provide when we are doing the work of moving towards what school can be because I think the portrait of the graduate of a graduate and looking at those themes that are in the blue ribbon commission report and looking at the themes that are in our portrait of a graduate profile years focus as much or more on the ability to communicate, the ability to absorb information, the ability to to work together as team and thinking about each of those presentations that's really embodying what those students do. I was also attending the pink and teal game that was mentioned. and I think just the that game showed the community spirit that was there not only of the parents and the siblings of the girls who were on the girls basketball team, but faculty members, community members who are not connected with the schools, graduates of our schools who came back and the concern or the support that people provide for that for that very enobling cause and that is that is what we're about and I wanted to say one one other thing for a moment about what Anna talked about regarding the meeting that has been referenced at the black town which was a meeting sponsored by run by a non not the school district, not the village was run by a organized by a a private organization, nonprofit organization, not kind of the nonprofit in terms of a incorporation, but not the district. people were invited, people came and I think on his point about why there was a statement about maintaining the privacy of people who spoke was very significant because unlike some I know students I know children who are gay I know children who are transgender gender. I know children who have been subject to very harsh and difficult conditions and treatment because of those stand and also true there may be individuals who are u treated unfairly because of their political views. I do not condone that either. But I think it's very important as Connor said in this day and age to understand why a private organization might decide that it wants to set rules for or conditions to protect the privacy and to protect the safety of people who may be attending. an event or maybe mentioned, spoken about. And that is something that we are concerned about as a school district in establishing and in administering and enforcing our policies against bullying and our policies against harassment. and we want to ensure that everyone in this community feels safe and feels respected. on a different subject I will mention that the PNW Boseis which I am a member of that board attending board meetings we have looked at at our last meeting we had a presentation about certain changes and additions things that Boseies is planning to work on in to improve the career and technical education offerings both new programs and kind of taking the existing programs such as in auto mechanics and freshening up the space and providing renovations that will improve and increase the opportunities for students who are seeking to utilize those resources for their education whether they are going to then go on to higher education or they going to go on into another in the phrase or something like that and I will certainly keep the board informed as time goes on about those and I'm sure the Boseies will be keeping our administration informed of those offerings as they come on so come to fruition so that our students will have those opportunities. With that being said, I think that's what I got for the moment. Thank you. I have one final thing I want to say and I was not able to attend this and I hope I'm not stealing thunder from your next superintendence report, but I did want to congratulate all of our student athletes for signing day today. It's my understanding that they were all there with their families and their coaches and staff and administration to witness them sign to go on to play in as athletics and colleges and universities. so congratulations to all of those families and all of those athletes. And that's it. Moving on to item 10.4. I am dated for the next board of education meeting. We'll definitely need metadata. Correct metadata. Correct metadata. Moving on to item 10.5 meeting recommended action be resolved for theation here by insurance meeting at 9:27 p.m. So move second. on a question. All in favor? I opposed. Motion carries. Thank you.