Susan Conniff

The board conducted an executive session to discuss personnel history and potential litigation. During the public session, the board reviewed news highlights and approved multiple tenure resolutions. Personnel action items for staff were processed, and the 2026-2027 budget was adopted. Additionally, the board approved the administrative budget and trustee election for the SW BOCES, discussed facilities updates, authorized a student trip to Spain for 2027, endorsed a health insurance advocacy resolution, and approved an agreement discussed in the executive session.

The meeting commenced with an executive session to discuss the employment history of particular individuals and potential litigation. Upon reconvening the public session, key discussions included the Superintendent's report detailing 'Bronxville Promise in Action: High School College Admissions Landscape' and various news highlights. The Board formally adopted the 2026-27 School Year Calendar. Personnel actions covering certified staff, leave replacements, hourly employees, and substitutes were approved. The Assistant Superintendent for Financial and Facilities reported updates, though no specific financial or facilities action items were presented for approval during the public session. The meeting concluded after a brief public comment period.

The Bronxville Promise articulates the core priorities and values of the Bronxville Union Free School District, serving as a guiding framework for student development. The plan's main pillars include Innovate, Lead, Engage the World, Think, and Belong. It aims to cultivate students who are curious, courageous, engaged citizens, critical thinkers, and empathetic individuals, fostering a supportive and inclusive environment.

The meeting included a presentation on a student project where students acted as innovators researching figures like Grace Hopper and Lewis Latimer, focusing on improving existing ideas to benefit the community, specifically addressing local flooding issues through the construction of floating school prototypes tested against simulated high water levels and winds. The discussion covered the design thinking process (Empathy, Define, ID8, Test, Reflect) applied to the floating school project, which aimed to solve the community's flooding problem. The board also heard updates regarding a study group addressing field availability, bus driver shortage, and referee shortage, with follow-up tasks assigned before the next meeting on January 6th. School highlights included updates on high school electives, successful student club fundraisers, secondary concerts, seventh graders completing the Graham Windham service project (resulting in the largest gift collection in a decade), elementary school holiday breakfasts, and the progress of the elementary school play, Frozen Jr. In personnel matters, updates included curriculum leader lists, leave replacements, a teacher aide change, new substitute teachers, and the creation of a new civil service position for bus driver maintenance. The financial update projected a combined surplus of about $400,000, discussed the 2026-2027 budget development timeline, noted an 8-9% increase in health insurance rates, and detailed the favorable tax-based growth factor and teacher retirement system contribution rates. A financial action item involved finalizing a contract with Strength Beyond the Barbell for strength and conditioning services for student athletes.

The meeting began with opening the public session. The board president addressed the community, welcoming attendees, mentioning the start of budget season for 2026, and emphasizing the board's commitment to improving student experience. Key discussion centered on the existing problem of a lack of outdoor athletic field space, compounded by shortages of referees and bus drivers, and anticipated stricter Section One rules. A study group process involving district personnel, the facilities committee, and community members is underway to research solutions, including permanent field lighting, which has improved in sophistication. The board emphasized that potential private funding would not drive decisions and confirmed that any decision on permanent lighting would include a village vote. Student presentations highlighted the success of an innovation-focused middle school project involving game development and problem-solving skills, as well as various student club activities. The board committed to updating the community via a summary and survey regarding the field use situation, with a further update scheduled for the next public meeting.