Joseph DeLuca

The meeting commenced with introductory items, including the reading of the mission statement and public meeting notice. The Board conducted interviews for board applicants before entering an executive session to discuss negotiations, legal, and personnel matters, specifically regarding the board applicants. Upon returning to regular session, the Board approved a resolution to appoint Ms. Kelsey Shalinsky to fill a vacant board seat, pending background checks. Committee reports covered discussions on personnel/policy (policies, leave of absences, tutors, solar sprints), finance/operations (septic update, playground upgrade, health insurance change), and curriculum/instruction (Early Childhood advisory, community giving, PD day, Hour of Code). The Superintendent's report included congratulations to Teachers of the Year and Educational Services Professionals, acknowledgments of events, updates on facility improvements (PA system replacement), recognition of sports seasons, and the monthly Suspension/HIB Report, which the Board accepted. Curriculum updates involved planning for future meetings, analyzing curriculum implementation dates, and engaging in budget processes. The Technology Report detailed projector installations and equipment refresh discussions. The Child Study Team Report noted ongoing collaboration, special education director group attendance, student needs identification, and CST staff professional development planning. The Board affirmed findings on several HIB cases. Finance/Operations actions included approving monthly financial reports, transfers, bills list, building use requests, joining the Schools Health Insurance Fund (SHIF) and appointing fund commissioners, accepting the 2025 ACFR with no recommendations, approving a retroactive tuition contract, authorizing a state application for playground replacement, approving contracts for clinical services and an enrollment study, approving a professional learning webinar quote, acknowledging the minimum wage increase, approving substitute pay rates, accepting an ESEA grant amendment, and approving revised school calendars for 2026-2027 and 2027-2028, along with donations and tuition reimbursements. Personnel actions involved approving several leaves of absence, retroactive hiring of paraprofessionals, a new Payroll Coordinator, and stipends/payments for student tutors and advisors. The Curriculum/Instruction section approved professional development workshops, a field trip, and the implementation of the Law Enforcement Against Drugs (LEAD) Program for Grade 5 Health curriculum.

The meeting included introductory items such as the Pledge of Allegiance and the swearing in of a new board member, Ms. Byron. There was a presentation regarding GEOY & GESP Recipients. The agenda included provisions for an Executive Session to discuss confidential matters, including litigation, negotiations, and personnel issues. The Board also recognized January 2026 as School Board Recognition Month. Reports covered personnel actions, including the approval of a leave replacement teacher and a decrease in hours for a paraprofessional, as well as the withholding of salary increments for one employee. Finance and Operations actions involved approving the December 2025 financial reports, approving several building use requests, and contracting for garbage disposal and substitute custodian services. A Playground Grant application for approximately $700,000 was authorized. Curriculum items included approving student activities/trips and a Fun Fair focused on diversity. The Superintendent's report noted the installation of new PA systems, the budget process progress, and the HIB Report for monthly approval.

The reorganization meeting began with the call to order, pledge of allegiance, and a reading of the district mission statement and public meeting notice. Key organizational actions included the reading of certified election results from the November 4, 2025 General Election, the induction and administration of the oath of office to newly elected members, and the subsequent election of officers. Dr. Robert Koroski was elected President and Dr. Maria Dunbar was elected Vice President. The meeting also established special committees and ad hoc assignments, and approved the annual motions for the remainder of the 2025-2026 school year. These approvals covered the adoption of the Code of Ethics, the approval of the meeting agenda format, the 2026 board meeting schedule, re-adoption of existing contracts and curriculum, authorization for budget transfers, various reappointments of officers and liaisons, authorization to implement the 2026-2027 budget, and a policy on travel expenses. Public participation included a request for line-by-line budget expenses prior to approval.

The Reorganization Meeting focused on establishing the Board's structure and administrative functions for the upcoming year. Key agenda items included the official results and induction of elected members from the November 4, 2025, General Election. The Board proceeded with the nomination and election of the President and Vice President. A comprehensive set of annual approvals were addressed, such as adopting the Code of Ethics, approving the meeting format and schedule for the 2025-2026 and 2026-2027 school years, designating the official newspaper, setting school depositories and signatories, and approving annual appointments for key administrative roles (Secretary, Attorney, Physician, etc.). Additionally, the Board authorized the Superintendent and Business Administrator to implement the 2026-2027 budget and handled travel expense parameters.

The meeting included interviews of board applicants and an executive session to discuss confidential matters. The board also reviewed the 2024-2025 audit and committee reports. The Superintendent's report included congratulations to teachers and educational service professionals of the year, appreciation for the Ed Foundation and PTA, updates on winter concerts and community support initiatives, and a review of the suspension/HIB report. Other topics included curriculum, instruction, assessment, technology, and child study team reports. The board also discussed and approved several action items related to personnel, finance, operations, and curriculum/instruction, including leave of absence, new hires, student tutors, volunteers, policy readings, treasurer and board secretary's reports, transfers, bills list, building use, health insurance fund matters, financial reports, tuition contracts, playground replacement, contracts with service providers, minimum wage increase, substitute pay rates, grant amendments, school calendars, holiday schedules, donations, tuition reimbursement, and fundraising events. The meeting also covered professional development workshops and student activities/trips. The LEAD program was approved as part of the Grade 5 Health curriculum.