Amanda Allison

The meeting featured a presentation regarding the Winter Circle Project, which involves students building a 1965 Shelby Cobra from scratch, focusing on soft skills, critical thinking, and teamwork. The presentation detailed the project's structure, including build, marketing/visual communications, and pathways to success components. Student and coach testimonials highlighted activities such as team bonding, holding a fall car show, a trip to BMW headquarters, developing social media strategies, and learning digital citizenship. The competitive aspect involving simulation races and a final championship were also discussed. Furthermore, the sustainable funding model, which involves auctioning the finished cars to benefit the schools, was explained. The discussion confirmed that the entity hosting the meeting is the eighth school partnered with the Winter Circle Project.

The meeting included moving from executive and committee meetings to a public hearing concerning the district safety plan. The public hearing specifically addressed the required addendum for DESA's law concerning AED and CPR, necessitating the adoption of a cardiac emergency response plan. Recognition was given to an individual achieving National Board Certification, detailing the extensive work involved. Student Board of Education members provided updates on recent events, including a successful December pep rally, the ongoing winter sports season, and planning for February events like a soup sale, Valentine's Candygrams, and a Lunar New Year bake sale. They also mentioned ongoing work for Spirit Friday, community service initiatives, and an application to the National Student Council Gold Council of Excellence Distinction. Preparations for the spring musical, "Hello Dolly," and upcoming high school midterms were noted. Furthermore, eighth graders participated in a transition presentation. A key agenda item involved the tenure presentation and approval for Trudy Serenion, a teacher's assistant in the ESS program who supports students with specialized needs. The board also received the second presentation on digital literacy and artificial intelligence, discussing alignment with the New York State portrait of a graduate, the use of KIGO as a safe AI assistant, in-house professional development, and the establishment of a student administrative AI council to discuss related concerns.

The board meeting, identified as a budget workshop, focused extensively on financial projections and strategic planning for the 2025-2027 school years. Key financial discussions involved the impact of tax cap limitations on revenue, specifically noting the difference between the actual inflationary factor (2.7%) and the maximum accounted for (2.0%), as well as the tax base growth factor (1.02%). State aid, particularly foundation aid, was reviewed, with current budget presumptions based on a minimum increase proposed by the governor. Significant budgetary items related to benefits included anticipated rate increases for the teachers retirement system and the employees retirement system, with a note that the latter increase might save the district approximately $300,000. Health insurance budgets were projected to increase by 16% due to rising prescription costs, though final rates were pending confirmation in March. Academic and operational discussions covered continuing phase one initiatives, staffing based on enrollment, curriculum mapping audits, and reviewing graduation requirements against state shifts. Capital projects updates included the completion of the gymnasium renovation, design work for fields one and three, and plans for LED lighting upgrades, technology infrastructure improvements, and transportation facility upgrades. Personnel services focused on expanding social-emotional learning support programs through collaboration with external partners, increasing work opportunities for special education students, and planning for a new life skills department community engagement experience. Future plans involve developing a sustainable debt service budget.

The meeting began with the Pledge of Allegiance, followed by recognition for students and volunteers involved in the 'Cooking for Change' event, which raised $4,600 for a community kitchen in Merida, Mexico. The Student Board of Education report detailed recent high school activities, including strong fall sports performance, upcoming winter sports schedules, progress on the spring musical 'Hello Dolly,' and activities from the Student Council conference, which included CPR certification and planning for holiday season events like spirit week and a pep rally. The high school's physical environment changes, such as renovated lunch line rooms and the gym, were noted positively. A formal presentation was then given on district enrollment trends spanning from 2007 to 2025, noting a general decline in total enrollment but a leveling off in recent years, with elementary enrollment experiencing the largest decrease linked to lower local fertility rates. The presentation also covered per-pupil expenditure comparisons within the county and discussed staffing levels remaining steady despite increased state mandates like Common Core and ESSA. Programming expansions, including IB, STEAM, and the SRO program, were highlighted as attractive features for new and tuition-based students. Finally, the Chief Financial Officer welcomed the successor, Linda Steinberg, and discussed the general fund balance, noting $6.8 million in restricted reserves and over $4 million assigned from the previous year to assist in funding the current budget.

The meeting commenced with a public session following an executive session. Key presentations included the auditor's report and a facilities update detailing three capital project considerations for the upcoming May vote: securing additional funding for the Milro Elementary School HVAC project due to refrigerant hazard issues requiring a shift to a chilled water system; redesigning the aging Lamb's bus garage due to inadequate office space, poor restroom facilities, a dangerous mechanical area layout, and insufficient floor quality in the pole barn storage area; and upgrading the high school technology room to support expanding the welding program with certificate-level offerings, which necessitates electrical and ventilation infrastructure upgrades. Discussions also touched upon supporting community resources for food insecurity and upcoming Veterans Day recognition.