Lorraine Burrows

The Audit Committee and Regular Business Meeting included discussions and actions on various topics. The External Audit Report for the year ending June 30, 2025, was presented. The board recognized special programs and approved the consent agenda items, including the minutes of the September Regular Business Meeting, the Treasurer's Report, Committee on Special Education Recommendations, Acceptance of Donations, and Disposal Requests. Personnel matters were addressed, including retirements, appointments, and designations. The board accepted the External Audit Report for 2024-2025, approved an athletic merger, and opted into a licensing agreement with Erie 1 BOCES. An overnight field trip was discussed and preliminary approval was granted. The board also discussed NYSSBA resolutions, board member building walk-throughs, and the naming of the football field. Finally, the agenda was amended to include an amendment to the contract for the Assistant Superintendent for Finance and Operations, which was subsequently approved.

The meeting included oaths of office administered to re-elected board members, the election of the Board President and Vice President, and the authorization to procure a blanket undertaking to indemnify the District against losses. The Superintendent of Schools and Executive Director of Personnel and Instruction were certified as Qualified Lead Evaluators. Annual appointments, designations, and authorizations were approved, including officer appointments, personnel appointments, designations, bank depositories, and authorizations for various actions such as certifying payrolls and applying for grants. The board also discussed the Public Hearing for District Wide Safety Plan and Code of Conduct, the August Board Retreat, committee assignments, NYSSBA Convention attendance, and the NYSSBA Summer Conference.

The board discussed the district's vision, mission, and core values. There were questions regarding elementary furniture, special education concerns, and a cancelled NASA Club trip. The board approved personnel items, including appointments, resignations, and a Feiner agreement. They also approved ESY personnel appointments and substitute hires. The APWFA MOU for the 2025-2026 school year was accepted. The board approved disposal requests, board policy updates, the APW Reserve Plan, cooperative purchasing services with CiTi BOCES, a field trip request, an ice hockey combining contract, and a non-resident student application for admission. Discussion items included special education proposals, NYSSBA in NYC, a back-to-school staff luncheon, the 2025-2026 meeting calendar, and the Summer Law Expo with NYSSBA.

The meeting included a public hearing for the District Code of Conduct, followed by discussions and actions on various topics. These included presentations and reports from the Superintendent and Board Leadership, approval of the consent agenda, personnel items (appointments, resignations, terminations), faculty personnel items (leave of absence, probationary appointments), and approval of the Supervisor's Association MOA. The board also addressed substitute new hires, fall coaching appointments, extra-curricular appointments, co-curricular appointments, the annual data privacy officer report, district code of conduct, a wrestling combining contract, and a buildings and grounds disposal request. The meeting concluded with a discussion on board topics, the district-wide safety plan, financial reports, enrollment information, superintendent-approved third-party contracts, upcoming meetings, and an executive session.

The proposed budget for the Altmar-Parish-Williamstown Central School District for the fiscal year beginning July 1, 2025, through June 30, 2026, is $40,679,021. Voters will decide on the budget, a proposition to purchase three diesel large buses and two SUVs, and the election of three Board of Education members. The proposed tax levy is equal to the district's maximum allowable levy, requiring a simple majority vote for approval. The meeting is planned for May 13, 2025, at 6 p.m. at the JSHS Auditorium.