Hope Cohen

The board convened for a special meeting, which included an executive session to address personnel matters such as resignations, leaves, appointments, and terminations, as well as collective negotiations. During the open session, the board approved a contract agreement with the Cornell Cooperative Extension of Sullivan County and nominated a representative for the Sullivan County BOCES Board of Education.

The meeting commenced with an anticipated executive session to discuss personnel matters including terminations, resignations, leaves, appointments, and collective negotiations. Key discussions during the regular session involved approving the agenda (with amendments), receiving student board member updates, and a budget presentation for several school buildings and athletics/physical education. Numerous items were addressed under the consent agenda, including personnel actions such as terminations, resignations (effective March 9, 2026), and various continuations or requests for FMLA and unpaid leaves for several employees. Appointments approved included a LAN Technician effective March 23, 2026, district-wide substitutes, and extra-curricular/athletic supervisor pay rates for the 2025-2026 school year. Miscellaneous actions involved amending maternity leave for one employee and altering the appointment status for another. The committee on special education recommendations for IEP approvals spanning 2025-2026 and 2026-2027 were accepted. Business considerations included awarding construction contracts for the KL Rutherford Elementary Classroom Renovation Phase 1 (General Construction and Casework). New business actions involved approving service agreements with Viznitz Institutions and Ichud Mosdos Monticello Inc., declaring laminator equipment as excess, approving the Kiryas Joel UFSD Agreement, and adopting policies related to Automated External Defibrillators, School Safety Plans and Teams, and Board Meeting Procedures.

The meeting included procedural steps such as the Pledge of Allegiance and adoption of the agenda. A significant portion involved an anticipated executive session to discuss personnel matters including terminations, resignations, leaves, appointments, and other related employment discussions, which was followed by a return to the regular session. The regular session covered the Rollover Budget Presentation, followed by the adoption of a comprehensive Consent Agenda covering personnel actions (terminations, resignations, leaves, appointments), amendments to the Cycle 2 Student Internship Program end date, and recommendations from the Committee on Special Education for the 2025-2026 and 2026-2027 school years. New Business items included the first reading of the 2026-27 Academic Calendar, and the second reading and adoption of policies 2150 (Filling Board Vacancies) and 2230 (Appointed Board Officials). The meeting concluded after recognizing School Board Appreciation Month.

The meeting commenced with an anticipated Executive Session to discuss personnel matters, including terminations, resignations, leaves, appointments, tenure, and other employment discussions, followed by a return to the regular session. Key actions taken during the regular session included the adoption of the agenda and the approval of the draft minutes from the January 8, 2026, Regular Meeting and the January 15, 2026, Special Meeting. Personnel actions approved via consent agenda included terminations effective December 31, 2025, and January 15, 2026, resignations for several employees effective in January and February 2026, and approvals for FMLA and maternity leaves for multiple staff members. Appointments approved included a School Lunch Manager, District Substitutes, Student Teachers, Winter Athletic Supervisors, and Coaches for the Spring Athletic season. Tenure was granted to Sophie Foss, effective April 24, 2026, and the successful completion of a probationary period by Virginia Seargent was approved. The Committee on Special Education recommendations for IEP approvals for the 2025-2026 and 2026-2027 school years were accepted. Business considerations included the approval of the Treasurer's Report for November 2025. New business actions included accepting the Warrant for November 2025, approving Contracts with Viznitz Inc., approving a Pre-Charge Settlement Agreement and Release for an unnamed employee, certifying Amy Brockner as a Qualified Lead Evaluator of Teachers, approving Confidential Management Benefits for Miranda Murphy, declaring certain books at RJK as excess, and approving the second reading and adoption of Policy 9620 (Child Abuse in an Educational Setting), Policy 2000 (Board Operations), and Policy 9620-E.1 (Confidential Report of Allegation), alongside the first reading of Policy 2150 (Filling Board Vacancies) and Policy 2230 (Appointed Board Officials).

The meeting commenced with an anticipated Executive Session to discuss personnel matters, including retirement, leaves, reassignments, resignations, appointments, and tenure, before returning to the Regular Session. Key actions during the Regular Session involved amending the agenda and its subsequent formal adoption. The agenda included informational presentations on Board Goals, Vision, Mission, and Strategic Plan. The extensive Consent Agenda covered numerous personnel actions: approvals of resignations (seven individuals), one retirement (Julie Yewchuk, effective 2027), several leaves of absence (FMLA, maternity), one administrative reassignment, multiple appointments including a probationary Speech tenure appointment, a School Bus Mechanic Driver, Districtwide Substitutes, Student Teachers, Administrative Mentors, and Athletic Supervisors, and one tenure appointment. Miscellaneous items included amending a return date for a maternity leave and approving a position transfer. The Committee on Special Education actions involved accepting recommendations for IEPs for multiple students across 2025-2026 and 2026-2027, as well as preschool special education IEPs. New Business action items included abolishing and creating specific personnel positions, declaring January 9, 2026, as National Law Enforcement Recognition Day, approving consultant services contracts, approving a MOA with the Teachers Association, acknowledging an Internal Audit Report and approving its corrective action plan, and approving the first reading of several new or revised policies (Policy 9620, 2000, 9620-E.1), rescinding Policy 1510, and reviewing other standing policies. Several capital project change orders were also approved.