Gina Connelly

The meeting included reports from the Technology and Policy Committees, covering topics such as AI pilot training for staff, security badges, website policies, and committee reviews. The Superintendent's report featured student delegates presenting Panther Pride certificates and updates on district events. Discussions also covered concerns about armed guards and the need for a crossing guard. The board addressed personnel matters, including resignations, appointments, and adjustments for club advisors. Business actions involved agreements with various entities, approval of a corrective action plan, and a minimum wage increase. Additionally, health service agreements and contracts for special education services were approved.

The meeting included a procedural entry into and subsequent reconvening from an Executive Session to discuss collective bargaining and personnel issues. The Board recognized elementary school students for exhibiting gratitude and received reports from the Technology Committee regarding teacher training on co-pilot and the ID card system implementation. The Superintendent's Report featured student delegate updates, performances by the Babylon Jr. High School Flute Ensemble, recognition of a student poet, and a presentation by AP Research students regarding the possible implementation of armed guards in schools. The Business Office Financial Reports for December 2025 were approved. Action items included personnel matters such as accepting resignations, approving childcare leave requests, approving appointments for substitute teachers, a part-time security guard, part-time aides, and monitors, and approving job title reclassifications for two employees. Business actions included accepting the Federal Single Audit Report for 2024-2025 and accepting a $2,500 grant from Tanger for an indoor courtyard play area. Other actions involved approving health services agreements with several other school districts and adopting amendments to safety plans to comply with Desha's Law, mandating Cardiac Emergency Response Plans (CERP). The 2026-2027 School Calendar was also adopted.

The key discussion topic for this meeting involved the review of the preliminary 2026-2027 Tax Cap Calculation.

The District-Level Safety and Emergency Management Plan for Babylon Union Free School District outlines comprehensive strategies for preventing, managing, and responding to various emergencies, ranging from minor incidents to catastrophic events. Key pillars include risk reduction, prevention, and intervention through enhanced communication, threat reporting, staff training, and proactive building security measures. The plan details robust response protocols for various emergencies, including multi-hazard incidents and acts of violence, emphasizing internal and external communication and coordination with emergency services. Finally, it addresses recovery efforts, focusing on continuity of operations and instruction, and the provision of mental health services.

The Board of Education meeting included discussions on external audit results, the year-end fiscal position, a potential bond timeline, and budget planning for 2026-2027. The external audit results covered the general overview of school district auditing, the five-point plan by OSC, and the annual audit for the fiscal year 7/1/24 to 6/30/25. The year-end fiscal position included a snapshot of current-year results, school district restricted reserves, and year-end reserve balances. The potential bond timeline covered financing options for capital projects and the timeline of a bond project. Budget planning for 2026-2027 involved discussing budget priorities, projecting salaries, calculating estimated property tax cap and revenues, projecting other expenditures, and disseminating budget worksheets to administrators.