Toni D'Alessandro

The meeting featured citizen comments regarding school absenteeism and community support. The Superintendent provided an update on the district-wide reading challenge, highlighting progress toward the goal of one million minutes read and celebrating student participants with certificates and awards. Representatives from the Air Force Junior ROTC program presented their accomplishments, including community service hours, competition awards, and student scholarship successes. Additionally, a school board member was recognized for professional development excellence by the New York State School Board Association. The student board member provided feedback regarding concerns about the quality of the recent prom event.

The meeting was convened to declare the official results of the school district budget vote and election. The district reported the successful passage of the proposed budget and the capital reserve fund proposition. Additionally, the election results for the school board were announced, confirming the candidates elected to three-year and one-year terms.

The board meeting primarily focused on the declaration of results for the annual school election and budget vote. Key agenda items included an executive session to discuss personnel matters, the official canvassing and tabulating of election votes, and the formal declaration of newly elected board members. Additionally, the results of the school year budget proposition and the capital reserve fund proposition were recorded, and the board members and superintendent provided their respective comments.

The board conducted a budget public hearing and reviewed reports including a capital summer project update and a summer status report. Action items included ratifying multiple memoranda of agreement with the local teachers' association, approving student placements for special education, authorizing a professional service agreement with Girls Inc. of the Greater Capital Region, and approving various field trips. The board also approved several budget transfers, accepted an extraclassroom quarterly report, authorized contracts for flooring and abatement, accepted a resignation, and adopted a sexual harassment and Title IX policy.

The Board of Education conducted an annual vote regarding the Dutchess County Board of Cooperative Education Services (BOCES) 2026-2027 administrative budget and held an election for two vacancies on the BOCES board. Additionally, the Board awarded construction bids for site work, general construction, and electrical work related to phase 5 building improvements at local schools to the lowest responsible bidders.