William Lessa

The board held a regular meeting covering the fourth public budget work session for the upcoming school year. The agenda included the approval of various consent items, such as a new textbook, a supplemental agreement with the teachers' union, multiple student field trips, and the continuation of athletic team mergers for swim and ice hockey. Additionally, the board approved special education recommendations, personnel appointments, service contracts for special education, participation in cooperative bidding for school supplies, and budget transfers. Several donations from the local Parent Teacher Student Association were also accepted.

The Board meeting included a technology presentation, a superintendent's report, and reports from board committees and representatives. The Board accepted the official results of the 2026 Annual Election and Budget Vote and designated the date for the upcoming Annual Organizational Meeting. A calendar for the 2026-2027 school year board meetings was adopted. The Board also reviewed and approved various personnel actions, including resignations and appointments for activity advisors and summer learning academy staff. Significant business office actions included awarding bids for the Bus Maintenance Building and site work projects (General Construction, Plumbing, HVAC, and Electrical contracts) and approving multiple contracts for special education services for the upcoming school year. Several donations for music programs were accepted with appreciation.

The Board of Education meeting included an executive session for personnel discussions and a public budget hearing regarding the 2026-2027 school district budget. Key actions included the approval of numerous tenure recommendations, ratification of a Memorandum of Agreement with the Civil Service Employees' Association, and authorization of the Westchester Putnam School Board Association budget and officer slate. The Board also approved special education and preschool committee recommendations, personnel appointments, health and welfare contracts, and accepted various donations for school programs.

The board conducted public hearings regarding the district-wide safety plan and tax exemptions for volunteer firefighters and ambulance workers. Presentations included an overview of the gradebook system and recognition of National Merit semi-finalists. The board received updates on capital projects, scheduling initiatives, and committee reports. Key actions included the adoption of the volunteer tax exemption policy, ratification of multiple labor agreements, approval of an independent audit corrective action plan, and the formal adoption of several board policies. Additionally, the board processed personnel transactions including resignations and appointments, authorized the 2026-2027 budget calendar, approved transportation contracts, and acknowledged various donations to the district.

The board conducted a regular meeting featuring a public budget work session on the maximum allowable tax levy and heard reports from the Superintendent, Board President, and various committees. Key actions included approving tenure recommendations, authorizing the formation of new high school extracurricular clubs, ratifying a memorandum of agreement with the Ardsley Congress of Teachers, and accepting special education committee recommendations. Furthermore, the board approved personnel appointments, a retirement, the transfer of funds from the tax certiorari reserve to the capital reserve, and a service contract for special education staffing, while also accepting a donation from the Ardsley Friends of the Visual Arts.