Cara Buckley

The meeting commenced with attention to open meeting procedures, including the Pledge of Allegiance. A significant part of the agenda involved Awards, Honors, Recognitions & Special Presentations, specifically Budget Workshop #1 which included a Fiscal Profile Presentation by the Business Administrator. The Board then entered into an executive session to discuss matters leading to the employment of particular persons.

The meeting commenced with an executive session to discuss the employment history and performance of specific individuals, immediately following the initial call to order and the pledge. During the regular session, the board appointed an individual as the district clerk for the evening. A personnel matter, agenda item 7.24, was added to accept the resignation of an employee effective December 19th. The minutes of the December 10th board meeting were accepted. The board recognized Coach Danielle Wolf for receiving the Section Two Class A Coach of the Year award, noting her long tenure and success since 2003. Under business considerations, the board addressed several items, including approving a $2,500 donation from the United Steel Workers, and the donation of historical materials to the local historical society. Personnel considerations involved accepting the resignation of four long-term staff members, approving three student teachers for the spring semester, and noting a document regarding site-based management shared decision-making. The Superintendent provided an update, mentioning the shift in focus to budget development and noting preliminary state aid projections indicating flat foundation aid, which necessitates conservative revenue planning and potentially increased taxes for the upcoming school year, as a previously anticipated PILOT payment was postponed to a later school year. Operational issues were discussed, specifically improvements made to address a reported odor in the auditorium area, which was traced to cracked plumbing pipes and unbalanced unit ventilators causing pressure to pull odors into classrooms; these issues have reportedly been corrected. Concerns regarding communication clarity during the cancellation of after-school activities were also raised and addressed.

The meeting commenced with an executive session concerning matters of a particular person. Key business considerations involved the Committee on Special Education (CSE) recommending approval for 40 Individual Education Plans (IEPs) for the 2025-2026 school year, and the Committee on Preschool Special Education (CPSE) recommending approval for 4 IEPs for the 2025-2026 school year. The Board accepted the October 2025 Treasurer's Report, approved donating historical items to the Ravena-Coeymans Historical Society, approved a Health & Welfare Contract with Greenville CSD for student services through June 2026, and accepted a $2,500 donation from the United Steelworkers for Operation Christmas. Personnel actions included adding an employee resignation. Informational items included updates from various administrators and a review of the November 2025 Treasurer's Report.

The meeting included discussions on additions to the agenda, followed by business and personnel considerations, including recognitions for tenure and retirements. There was an acknowledgement of a holiday donation from SEIC. The board also discussed a proposed board communication plan, addressing concerns and suggesting amendments to the language. The superintendent provided updates on the winter concert season and winter athletic season, along with a shout out to students who made a public service announcement video. The board also discussed a facilities naming request and the code of conduct policy.

The Board of Education meeting included discussions on a district-wide safety plan hearing, CSE and CPSE meetings, and approval of IEPs for students. The board accepted the September 2025 Treasurer's Report and the October 2025 Internal Claims Audit Report. A part-time Senior Keyboard Specialist position was created, and unused equipment was approved to be excised. Substitute pay rates effective January 1, 2026, were approved, and a holiday donation from Sabic was accepted. The board also approved Coxsackie Transport for student transportation and an educational trip to Germany. Amendments to the 2025-2026 Budget for PBC Boy's Bathroom repairs, the 2024-2025 Audited Financial Statement Corrective Action Plan, Greene County Commercial Bank as the District Bank, and an agreement with NYSSBA for Consulting Services were also approved. The amended District-Wide Safety Plan was approved, and the Superintendent's disciplinary determination of Student "A" was upheld. Personnel considerations were also approved.