Buffalo Public Schools

The meeting introduced the team supporting the new commissary project, including the Farm to School Coordinator and Chef Brigade representative. Discussions focused on the BPS nutrition program updates, the benefits of the new commissary facility, and the cook-chill method for meal preparation. The presentation detailed the large-scale production capabilities, including serving approximately 28,500 meals daily and supporting farm-to-table ingredients. Key discussion points also covered construction updates, showing progress on foundations and pier construction, with a projected delivery in Spring 2027. The benefits of the new facility include improved traffic flow, increased storage capacity, and enhanced food safety through centralized HACCP plan implementation. Staffing benefits highlighted the creation of new jobs, noting that current staff are city residents utilizing public transportation. The agenda concluded with plans for student program integration with construction site tours and an upcoming public event to engage stakeholders and subcontractors.

The meeting was a hybrid work session focused on the Superintendent Evaluation process using the Super Eval platform. The presentation, led by representatives from Super Eval, detailed the evaluation theory, best practices, and challenges associated with evaluations, such as addressing the feeling that evaluations are done 'unto' rather than 'with' staff. Key steps in the evaluation process were outlined, including setting annual goals and competencies, the superintendent's self-reflection, and the board review and evaluation phase. The discussion included an overview of viewing the superintendent's entered goals and competency rubric (NISPA rubric) via the platform dashboard. Board members also discussed calibration procedures following individual evaluations, which involve group conversation to summarize feedback before final rating submission.

The meeting commenced with the pledge of allegiance and a land acknowledgement recognizing the Holo Sha Confederacy. Board guard rails were read, emphasizing commitment to student outcomes and appropriate adult behavior. A significant portion of the meeting involved the presentation of a lengthy special independent investigation report concerning allegations made in prior podcasts regarding impropriety. The board committed to reviewing and disclosing parts of this report within 30 days, noting that some details must remain confidential due to safety and student privacy concerns. Discussions also covered an executive session held to address proposed litigation settlement, employment matters, and to receive legal advice. New board members and leadership roles for 2026 were recognized. Public speakers addressed several key issues, including a proposal to mandate adult and child CPR/AED and mental health training for staff and students to improve safety and wellness. Another speaker advocated against the potential closure of small schools like School 90, highlighting their vital role in specialized community support. A third speaker advocated for the creation of a memorial page on the district website instead of sending mass email notifications regarding the passing of employees or their loved ones, to better support mental health. Finally, the social workers' co-chair advocated for maintaining current staffing levels of Student Support Teams (SSTs) to ensure continued mental health and behavioral support for students, noting the high prevalence of mental health conditions among children.

The meeting commenced with the pledge of allegiance and a land acknowledgement recognizing the Hodeni Confederacy. Following this, board guard rails focused on student outcomes and appropriate board behavior were read. The board held an executive session to discuss proposed settlement agreements in multiple litigation matters and to receive legal advice, taking no official action in the open session. The agenda included board recognition for retiring members, specifically honoring Sharon Belton Conman, Jennifer Mosi, Teresa Shuda, and Paul Woods for their years of service, as well as recognizing Dr. Caresi for 27 years of service, including time as interim superintendent. Students performed poetry and music selections as a tribute to retiring board members and educators. A presentation was given on the WAZE education initiative, detailing its history, its expansion to K-12 students across all schools for equity, and the upcoming training schedule for teachers on robotics, drones, engineering, digital animation, cybersecurity, AI, and coding activities planned for January and April. The presentation noted that Buffalo Public Schools is the largest urban school district in New York State to offer this quality hands-on STEM programming.

The meeting focused on reviewing proposed Board Operating Procedures, which are intended to serve as a preamble to a policy diet aimed at improving student outcomes. Discussions covered the board's core duties: listening for community vision and values, identifying reflective policies (goals and guard rails), and implementing vision by delegating operational responsibility to the superintendent while monitoring progress. Significant attention was given to the role of individual board members, emphasizing that authority rests solely with the board as a whole, and consequences for violating procedures were noted. Furthermore, the role of board committees was discussed, proposing that such committees should only include board members to maintain clarity between board work (governance, goals, guard rails) and superintendent work (operations). The structure of board leadership, including the president and vice president duties, and the requirement for board members to avoid conflicts of interest were also addressed.