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One nation, under God, indivisible, liberty.

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In November, I am accustomed to speaking a few minutes about what I'm grateful for,

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and I've got to tell you right now, I'm truly, truly grateful for the collective

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Psi-Asset School District and our community, because I know we're seeing an uptick in numbers

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members out there, but the plans that the, my fellow board members and the school district

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have put into place have really allowed us to say that we have no close contacts within

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in our schools and the collective because our staff in its entirety is so on board with

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adhering to those safety precautions and we've put in place every precaution that we've been

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able to and that is available. So I'm truly grateful for that. I'm hoping that everybody

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out in the community who has COVID has a speedy recovery and I'm grateful for

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all of us who are in good health right now. We're going to be taking one of our

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business items to the front of our meeting because it is the appointment

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of an assistant superintendent for human resources. It's a it's a big job

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And so, we'd like to do that before we continue with the rest of our meeting.

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So may I please have a motion for the appointment of Assistant Superintendent for Human Resources?

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Mr. Feldman, seconded by Mr. Gershon, are there any questions?

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All in favor?

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Opposed?

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Any abstentions?

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Okay, I'd like to congratulate Mr. Edward Escobar.

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Please

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stand so everybody can see you.

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You know, your experience and your reputation of knowledge preceded you, obviously.

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But your enthusiasm for the work itself as well as your enthusiasm for coming into our family is what struck me the most.

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and I'm so happy that you're here.

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And so we'd like to welcome you officially

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and we hope that you enjoy your stay.

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Yeah, thank you very much, babe.

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Fabulous, thank you so much.

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Okay, we will start with the approval of the minutes

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of October 8th, 2020.

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May I have a motion please?

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Susan Falcove, seconded by Mr. Ulrich.

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Are there any questions?

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All in favor?

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Opposed? Any abstentions? Approval of the minutes of meeting October 19, 2020, may I have a motion please?

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Ms. Levitan seconded by Mr. Feldman. Are there any questions? All in favor?

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Opposed? Any abstentions? Dr. Rufo, please give us the treasurer's report.

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Okay. As indicated in the Treasurer's Report, the cash on hand for the month and September 30th, 2020, was $108,716,062 and two cents.

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It shows that all cash accounts were reconciled to the book balances and were collateralized in accordance with the district's banking agreements and investment policy.

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Thank you, Dr. Rufo. Are there any questions for Dr. Rufo?

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Okay, may I have a motion to approve the treasurer's report?

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Tom Artolo, seconded by Ms. Chang.

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Are there any questions?

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All in favor?

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Opposed?

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Any extensions?

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Dr. Rogers, please give us your super intense report.

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Thank you very much, and I'll add my thanks to that of Ms. Frankel

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for all of the hard work that everyone has put in.

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Today is day 47, and yes, we are counting.

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We're obviously incredibly pleased that we're able to be back in person with students and we're working hard to preserve as much of that time together as we possibly can.

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On Wednesday of this week at seven o'clock, we're going to have what I'm calling a family conversation.

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And when I was a kid and I was eight years old, we lived in Syracuse.

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And my dad walked into the house one night after work and told everybody in the house that we needed to assemble in the kitchen and have a family conversation.

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And as an eight-year-old, I had no idea what that meant, but I found out it means we're moving to Binghamton.

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So I think we have to have a family conversation because we're definitely seeing things change around us.

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I do think that it's within our control and our ability to make things better, but we're all going to have to link arms figuratively only

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and find a way to work together as a community.

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So we'll talk a little bit about the contact tracing process

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because we get a lot of questions about how that works.

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We'll talk a little bit about how we work with the Department of Health.

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We'll have our school physician on hand,

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and what we've done is compiled a lot of the questions that have come into us,

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and he'll have the opportunity to answer those for the public in his own voice,

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but he obviously advises us on a very frequent basis.

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And we'll go through some of the statistics that we're following closely.

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And I know there have been a number of questions around the metrics that New York City is using

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and that the state is using. I'll allude to that a little bit later on my presentation tonight.

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And we'll end on an upbeat note.

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And that's the only tease that I'll give you.

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But there will be something a little special at the end of that family conversation.

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Unlike there was nothing special at the end of my eight-year-old family conversation,

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I realized I was going to have to lose all my friends, so that was no good.

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If I can, for quantified, have the slides please, it'd be great.

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Oh, why don't we do the student council report first, especially since you have it queued up.

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So every month, a different school reports to the Board of Education.

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This month, it's H.B. Thompson's turn.

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We have Salem Pryor and Hallie Fishbind, who are eighth grade representatives.

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Good evening, Representative Board of Education, Representative Administration.

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We are happy to present to you this evening.

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My name is Sarah Pryor.

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And my name is Hallie Fishbind.

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And we are eighth grade students at Harrie B. Thompson Middle School.

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Tonight we are here to tell you about all the great things the students and staff at HBT have been doing since school started back in September.

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Obviously, this year has a little different, but the staff and students of HBT are striving

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to make the 2020-2021 school year a great one.

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Our Student Activity Club brought back our fun Fridays, where everyone dresses in theme.

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We have Flannel Friday, Sports Day, Saturday Friday, and every time the day.

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Our clubs are up and running and the students are so excited.

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We have two new clubs at HBT this year, Sign Language and Thompson Mosaic.

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Some of our clubs are meeting virtually like the cooking club and the book club and others are meeting at school.

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In true HPT style, we celebrated Halloween with so many students and staff dressing up.

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Student activity club is once again sponsoring the food drive.

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We are partnered with Long Island Cares to help Long Islanders in need.

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Students will make donations to their advisors.

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We are excited for some fun activities that we will be having in the near future.

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Soon, Activity Club will be hosting a holiday movie before the 7th of April.

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Students will go on a movie of their choice through a advisor.

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An annual favorite around HBT has always been Spirit Week.

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This year, we are hoping to try it out virtually.

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And we will be having a big enhancement soon about our spring musical.

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HBT is also looking forward to our multi-cultural week.

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It will look different this year, but it will still be great.

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We are so happy to be back in school and are looking forward to the great activities HBT always has for us.

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Thank you and have a great night.

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Thank you to Salem and Hallie, and we will have them back again. There was a problem with the video, so I'm sorry that we didn't get to see them, but we'll arrange another opportunity for them to give you an update on what they're up to, so you do have the opportunity to see them.

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I'm also very proud to announce that we have a number of NISMA All-State and All-National musicians, and I believe we have a little recognition for them as well.

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Thank you, Dr. Rogers. Members of the Board of Education, it is my great honor to be able

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to introduce to you this evening 29 students who have been named NISMA All-State Musicians.

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29 is a very large number of All-State Musicians to come from any one high school. And I'm

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often asked, how is it that Sir Acid has so many All-State Musicians year after

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the year. And the answer is twofold and simple. One, we have an administration and a board

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of education that is enormously supportive of its music program and really understands

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the value of music in the lives of its students. And two, we are part of a community that

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would accept nothing less than excellence in performing arts. So with the support

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from the community, the administration and the board of education, we have a wonderful

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formula for continued excellence. At this time allow me to please introduce to you some

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really outstanding students.

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Autumn Avery is an alto selected to this year's All-State Treble Chorus. Elizabeth Byrne is

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a soprano also selected to this year's All-State Treble Chorus. Stella Chen plays the violin

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and will be in the All-State Symphony Orchestra.

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Evan Chang also plays the violin and will also be in the All-State Symphony Orchestra this year.

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Joseph Chung is a bass who will be singing with the All-State Mixed Chorus.

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Alexandra Cleary is an alto who will be singing with the All-State Treble Chorus.

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Alexandra Donak is a soprano selected to this year's All-State Mixed Chorus.

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Esther Hahn plays the flute and the piccolo and will be doing so in the All-State Symphony

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Orchestra. Alexander Hahn, a violinist, will be a member of this year's All-State Symphony

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Orchestra. M.O.E.M. plays the oboe and will be doing so in the All-State Wind Ensemble.

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Sophia Jaffe plays both the E-flat and B-flat clarinets and was selected to this year's

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All-State Symphonic Band. Alex G., a cellist, was selected as an All-State

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Alternate. Sajal Joshi is a soprano selected to this year's All-State Mixed Chorus.

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Kayla Kessler was selected as the bass player in this year's All-State

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Instrumental Jazz Ensemble. Michael Kopatch is a bass who will be

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singing with the All-State Mixed Chorus and was also selected as an

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alternate to the NAFME All-National Chorus.

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Stella Koo, a cellist, will be playing with

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the All-State Symphony Orchestra. Zach Levine will be playing drum set with this year's

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All-State Instrumental Jazz Ensemble. Eric Liang, a violist, was selected to the All-State

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String Orchestra. Bori Lu, a double-bass player, was also selected to the All-State String

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orchestra. Jay Maricic is an alto who will be singing with this year's All-State

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treble chorus. Grace Mundt, a violinist, will be playing with the All-State Symphony

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Orchestra. Augustine Park, a violinist, was also selected to this year's All-State

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Symphony Orchestra. Giselle Reschina is a cellist who was selected as an

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alternate for the All-State Orchestra.

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Nicholas Sayage, a bass, was selected to sing with the All-State Mixed Chorus.

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Oscar Shabayev plays the tenor saxophone and will be in the All-State 2020 symphonic band.

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Nicholas Thomas, a tenor, was selected for the All-State Mixed Chorus.

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Austin C. was selected to play timpani this year in the All-State Wind Ensemble.

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Michelle Yang is a cellist who is selected as an alternate to this year's All-State Orchestra.

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And Joshua Yoon is a cellist who is also selected as an alternate to the All-State Orchestra.

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Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, these students will be rehearsing and performing virtually

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with students from around New York State, and NISMA has arranged for what promises

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is to be a spectacular virtual Allstate concert.

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Congratulations to our Allstate musicians

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and thank you for the opportunity to recognize them.

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The arts are still alive and well

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and the pandemic has not dampened our spirits.

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If anything, it's caused us to find even more ways

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to be creative and what a better way

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to be creative than in the arts.

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So we're very proud of these young people

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and I'm actually looking forward to seeing

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what the final product looks like as they work together across the state to put something

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together.

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So not only are the arts alive and well in sci-acid, but the science curriculum is alive

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and well and one of the questions we got over the summer was how on earth are we going

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to do science labs in the pandemic if we're back in the school environment and the

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answer is there's plenty of ways to do that so we're going to talk a little bit

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about the progress we've made in our science program,

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already a rich program, made even better,

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and the ways that we're addressing science instruction,

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notwithstanding the challenges of the COVID pandemic.

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So I'm going to introduce our science coordinator,

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Mr. Ray Laversa.

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Good evening, members of the Board of Education

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and members of the administration.

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We are very happy to present to you this evening.

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Our district mission calls upon us

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to prepare students to thrive in both the future we imagine

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and one in which may involve in ways that we've yet to envision.

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Well, I was originally scheduled to present to you in March.

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As we all know, the world has changed a great deal since then.

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In essence, we all have the lived experience of preparing for a future that we've yet to envision.

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Whatever that future holds, science is uniquely postured to equip our students with the skills

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and the practices that they need to thrive.

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So as we've done work to accomplish this vision and to achieve our district goals,

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we've strategically supported our teachers and our students in a number of ways.

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First, we've realigned our science curriculum to the next generation science standards.

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Our focus has been on phenomenon-based teaching and three-dimensional learning.

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We started in our elementary schools.

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We've also deepened our professional learning

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and engaged with our peers across the region.

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We have a new STEM specialist that works

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in all of our elementary schools,

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and you'll be hearing from Barbara in a moment.

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We've enhanced our facilities.

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When I first arrived in Siasset,

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I met with the Board of Education,

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and we toured the science labs and mutually agreed

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that we needed facilities that better supported

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the work of our talented students.

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I'm looking forward to showing you how these enhancements have had an impact on our students.

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And lastly, we've remained laser focused on an instructional ramp that aligns our curriculum K12.

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So this evening, I'm excited to present a window into science education at all levels.

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We're going to show you how we're working to prepare our students for the future that we've yet to envision.

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But before doing so, I want to set the table, so to speak, and provide some background regarding the new science standards.

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When we say that we're teaching science in three dimensions, this is what we mean.

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There are three dimensions that we address in our science instruction.

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The science and engineering practices, the disciplinary core ideas, and the cross-cutting concepts.

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So if you think of science as a meal or a science instruction as a meal,

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the science and engineering practices would be the tools you're using in the kitchen.

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The core ideas are the ingredients.

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Turkey is still turkey.

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Cells are still cells.

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And lastly, there are cross-cutting concepts,

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which are like the seasoning we use to flavor meals,

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and you could use them differently to achieve a different flavor profile.

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We use cross-cutting concepts to connect science disciplines,

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but we also use them to take an interdisciplinary approach to problem solving.

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There's no one discipline that can adequately address the challenges of the future.

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Science alone cannot address the challenges of a record-breaking hurricane season.

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Although research and science is largely seen at the forefront of defeating the current pandemic,

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we know from experience that there's no one discipline approach

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that solves all the problems created by the novel coronavirus.

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Our students will need to draw upon skills and practices that they learned in ELA, math, social studies and science.

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Over the next few minutes, we will show you some examples of how our students practice this type of problem solving,

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where they have authentic opportunities to engage in process-oriented work of scientists and engineers.

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We're going to begin our journey in elementary schools.

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Last year, we had the opportunity to make our STEM specialist a full-time position.

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Ms. Barbara Fournier serves in this role.

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Over the past year, Ms. Fournier has worked with our teachers and our elementary school students to deepen our work in science.

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She has done model lessons with teachers, supported our curriculum modifications this past summer,

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and has addressed the three dimensions of science through phenomenon-based teaching.

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This allows our students to engage in the actual work of scientists and engineers.

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It's my pleasure to introduce our STEM specialist, Ms. Barbara Fortier.

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Good evening, administrators, trustees of the Board of Education.

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Thank you so much for inviting me here tonight to talk to you about some of the exciting things going on in K-5 sci-acid science.

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I've been doing pretty exciting work with all of our elementary schools using phenomenon-based learning.

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We use Phenomenon to engage students and make them curious about the world around them.

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Students think it's just cool.

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There are many great examples of Phenomenon-based learning in all of our grades.

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The one I'm going to focus on tonight is from third grade.

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Our third graders are studying forces and interaction through the engineering Phenomenon

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of bridges.

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This unit was modified from our regular forces unit from our Carolina curriculum

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to adjust to the COVID world.

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The challenge of getting to the other side turns out to be a pretty complex problem that students attempted to solve in this unit.

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For our third graders, this involved first learning about balanced and unbalanced forces through research, exploration, building, and testing.

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First, they built one-story structures to investigate how the structure responded when weights were added to them.

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I think they used index cards.

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Then they built two-story structures to withstand the force of the air particles of the wind,

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and we used a hairdryer for that.

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They also learned about the engineering design process,

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which involves defining a problem,

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how do I get my car across this body of water,

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planning and sketching out their designs,

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deciding on the best materials to use for their bridge,

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and then building and testing their designs,

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and really most importantly revising their designs after they see what doesn't work.

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This is a really rich process for students that builds creative thinking, problem-solving, and perseverance, and it's really fun.

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The video we have for you tonight shows Walt Whitman third grade students building and testing their bridge designs,

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and we hope you agree that their creativity and ingenuity as well as their joy of learning shines through.

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World problem can be solved using just one subject alone. And through this process, students

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are researching, measuring how much weight their bridges hold and their writing. Students are

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writing to reflect the merits of their design and to convey complex ideas, information, and

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information clearly and accurately. This aligns perfectly with our math and ELA standards.

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So learning forces through bridges allows students to learn and brainstorm collaboratively

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yet build independently.

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I appreciate the opportunity to represent our great work.

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Our elementary schools are doing in science,

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and I look forward to sharing some more exciting projects

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with you in the future.

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Thank you for your time.

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Thank you, Ms. Fournier.

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The third grade team at Walt Whitman made that video for us,

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and I wanna thank them for that.

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I don't know about you,

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but that song has been in my head all day.

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I was humming it online at Dunkin' Donuts.

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I'd like to introduce now

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Now, Krista Hachadorian from HBT, she's a middle school teacher, and Ms. Hachadorian

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is not here with us this evening, but she's made a video that showcases the incredible

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work taking place in our middle schools.

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Here again, our students are engaged in tasks that require them to draw upon skills

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that they learn in a variety of content areas.

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They're using ELA, math, and science as they tackle different challenges.

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You'll notice the first part of the video, students are working last year before we

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went virtual.

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The second half shows how our students are doing science this year and adjusting to the challenges in the COVID world.

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Good evening everyone. I am Chris Hachadorian, one of the seventh grade science teachers at HB Tape.

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I'm fortunate I could not be with you this evening, but I did not want to miss the opportunity to share some of the great things that our students have been doing.

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I would like to start by asking everyone to take a moment and think back to middle school science.

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What do you remember?

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Chalkboards full of notes?

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A teacher lecturing as you write copious notes in your binder?

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Rows of desks with lab stations around the perimeter?

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Maybe you remember your lab partner?

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And the labs with a series of steps to follow and questions to answer?

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These are the vivid memories I still hold to this day,

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and I am sure there are many of you who do as well.

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Now let's walk into the seventh grade science class at HBT.

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Upon entering the room, you will see groups of students at various stations around the room.

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They are collaborating with each other, gathering data, drawing models on whiteboards,

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sharing their findings with the class, or perhaps using their phones to capture a phenomenon in slow motion.

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This is the science class of today.

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These are the experiences that are guiding our students to not only become better learners today,

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but to prepare them for their future filled with limitless opportunities.

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Our students of today are our future innovators, thinkers, and change-makers, and the duty falls

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on us to provide them with the skills they will need to reach their true potential.

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As a part of our ongoing shift to the NGSS standards, we are asking our students to be

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the creators of knowledge rather than just consumers of facts.

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In the classrooms, we remember our teachers would bestow facts upon us and we were

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We're then asked to memorize this information and one day repeat it for a test.

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Our students today can gather this same information through a Google search or by simply asking

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Alexa or Siri.

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Success today is not marked by what you know, but rather how you use it.

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These new standards are shifting the focus towards why things happen and how this affects

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the world around us.

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So now, rather than reading a textbook and memorizing facts, they are using phenomena and hands-on experiences.

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These experiences are then used to create models that would help them make sense of the world around them

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and explain what it is they see and don't see.

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From this, we are building within them the skills that cross-cut through disciplines,

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skills such as problem-solving, collaboration, and communication.

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By now, you may be asking yourself, but how is this happening?

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With all our precautions, how can our students possibly complete these activities?

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The answer to these questions is simple.

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Like our students, the science teachers must be innovative.

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Rather than tossing the towel and go back to antiquated teaching methods,

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we are iterating our methods to meet the constraints that we are met with.

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With social distancing and the use of technology, such as Google Meet breakout rooms, Jamboard

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and others, we are moving forward in true sci-acid fashion.

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This year marks my 24th year as a member of the sci-acid educational community, and these

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changes that we are making are some of the most exciting and fulfilling that I have

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been a part of within the science department.

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I am proud of these changes we have embarked on, and even more so to be a teacher and role model for our future scientists and innovators.

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Thank you very much for your time, and have a nice evening.

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There's a great deal of wonderful work occurring in our elementary schools and our middle schools,

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and this work is really the foundation of our instructional ramp to high school, college, and beyond.

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As I mentioned earlier, when I first met members of the Board of Education,

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we discussed science classrooms and our research labs.

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We agreed that they were antiquated and did not support the high level of work of our students.

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Your support has helped create a space for students that's really more like a college lab as opposed to a high school lab.

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We now have an even greater capacity to support students with our new facilities.

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The level of lab work our research students engage in is on par with what most students

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experience in their second or third year of college.

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The work is remarkable.

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You always hear from our research students at the end of a successful journey.

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And just to give you some context, the pandemic has changed the landscape of what students

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could actually do in science research at the high school level.

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Due to COVID, many of our students have had to reconsider their project focus and

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their goals.

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Tonight I would like for you to hear from a student who had to change course in the middle of their journey

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and adapt to a future they definitely did not envision a year ago.

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The student is Giovanna Napoleon and she's prepared a video that summarizes her journey for you.

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Good afternoon. My name is Giovanna Napoleon and I am a student of the Science Advanced Research Program at Siasset High School.

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school. In 11th grade, my original project focused on my interests in neurology. It involved

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incorporating an antioxidant called hydroxy tyrosol within the food source of C. elegans

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and microorganism as a model for Parkinson's disease. However, as I finally completed my

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research plan and was able to go ahead with experimentation, New York City schools

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announced in early March that they would be closing due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

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I admit this announcement frazzled me at first. I would no longer be able to perform my experiment

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that I spent an entire year planning on and looking forward to. However, through the amazing help

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of research teachers Dr. Hendrickson, Ms. Loraca, and Mr. Allen, I was able to read up on all

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sorts of scientific literature and come up with a new project's idea.

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Through my independent research, I came across an online public database called IVGAP which

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provided tumor histological data on glioblastoma or brain tumors in human patients.

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Through noticing necrotic growth patterns presented in the images on the website, I

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decided to download them onto my laptop and analyze them using software such as Image

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and fracklack that can be used on my computer in order to assess the growth

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patterns of necrosis. Through the amazing help of Ms.Ade and Ms.Levin over the

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summer and email correspondences in Google Meets, I am proud to say that I

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was able to complete my project by early September and become an SCS

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applicant for the 2020 to 2021 school year on my project on prediction

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analysis of glioblastoma multi-form tumor spread through necrotic growth. I'm so

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grateful for all the opportunities and support that I've gotten through the

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science advanced research program and I hope to continue making scientific

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advancements in the future. Thank you.

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Giovanna submitted her entry to STS last week. I've got a chance to see that and

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it's really incredible. We're all very proud of her work. In addition to

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During the renovations in the research lab, many of our classrooms were newly renovated

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as well.

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This has fostered even more collaboration and engagement as our students do the work of

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scientists.

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We've made significant shifts in instruction to address the new standards, but we've

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also made shifts to address the unique circumstances of this school year.

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As always, knowing the content is a bare minimum for us.

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Learning how to use it as leverage and apply it in novel situations is the most important

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skills students get from a sci-acid science course. When we began the school

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year, one of my colleagues shared a great quote with his staff. I thought it

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struck the right tone for us and I decided to use a two. It was from Maya

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Angelou and she said, do the best you can until you know better. When you know

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better, do better. We've all been so worried, wondering, even hoping that our

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best would be good enough. We wanted our best to be good enough to meet

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the level of excellence SCIACID is known for. Well, let me assure you it is better than

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good enough. The creativity of our teachers in all buildings and the high school in particular

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has been inspirational. I see classes every day where our students are actively collaborating

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whether they're in person or virtual. Our teachers had systems for collaborative breakout

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rooms before Google released them in October. We're still doing labs. Some of them are

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hands-on, some of them are simulated, but we've learned to make all of them promote critical

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thinking and problem solving. Some of the best teaching I've seen in my career is taking

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place in our schools on a daily basis, and I'm very grateful to have the opportunity

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to represent that work this evening.

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It's been said that one of the best things about

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science is its ability to make the invisible become visible. And when you're working

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to prepare students for a future that we've yet to envision, you need to be able

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to make the invisible become visible.

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Our teachers do this every day.

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Their work allows students to see hidden relationships

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and patterns, and in the middle of one of the most

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extraordinary school years of our time,

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I've seen some of the best teaching in my career.

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When you see our students in action,

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it makes the joy of learning visible.

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I hope that we've made the excitement

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for science education in Sayasit

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visible for you this evening.

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I want to really thank you for your continued support, and I hope you have a great night.

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Thank you, Mr. Laverso, and thank you to Ms. Fournier and Ms. Hedgidurian, and everybody

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who worked so hard to put that together.

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I will take a moment and just reflect that this is a point of personal pride for me,

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both as a science major myself, and seeing what a tremendous shift this has been

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for Sci-Asset to really build on not just acquiring content but applying content, moving

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beyond memorization, moving beyond procedural labs to experimental labs, and the idea that

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we have cross-cutting concepts like the design plan build test revise cycle that is not

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not just applicable to a STEM project, but it's everybody's applicable to trying to write

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a new song or a poem or a piece of literature. You plan it, you build it, you test it, and

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you revise it. That's common to everything that we do. That's where excellence comes

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from. And so it's no surprise to me to hear a science teacher say she's so proud of

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the work that she's doing, because I think we all recognize that this has really

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taken it to the next level. And so Mr. Laverso, your leadership in that is to

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be commended because it really has taken an exceptional program and made it even better.

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So thank you for that.

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With that said, I don't know, were you planning on commenting, Ms. Frankel?

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As I saw your green light on and so I didn't want to step in, but just it was a very impressive

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presentation what a daunting task it must have been in the beginning, especially in

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March to try and figure out how you were going to engage kids virtually and then some virtually

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and some in class and by the looks of it the kids are really enjoying themselves and just

439
00:44:42,710 --> 00:44:52,430
give you and your staff a ton of credit for making that happen. Science is exciting and

440
00:44:52,430 --> 00:44:59,730
innovative and to be able to innovate the teaching methods on the fly is

441
00:45:00,590 --> 00:45:03,150
It's just very, very impressive. So thanks.

442
00:45:06,050 --> 00:45:09,190
All right. And Parkway, now we'll do my presentation. Sorry.

443
00:45:24,080 --> 00:45:26,360
Thank you. And I'll take the next slide, please.

444
00:45:31,370 --> 00:45:35,970
So I want to give you a little bit of a reopening update on where we stand.

445
00:45:36,170 --> 00:45:43,790
As we said at the beginning of the year, we would replace where possible in all of our air handling units,

446
00:45:44,010 --> 00:45:46,390
the filters that were in place with MRF-13 filters.

447
00:45:46,390 --> 00:45:49,130
That process is nearly complete.

448
00:45:49,730 --> 00:45:56,110
There were obviously shipping delays because we were not the only entity that was looking to try and upgrade our filters to this standard.

449
00:45:56,410 --> 00:46:03,210
But as they've come in, they've been installed and my understanding is that there's a round of filters being installed even this week.

450
00:46:04,170 --> 00:46:10,650
With the ventilation project, we've been in frequent contact with the State Education Department.

451
00:46:10,970 --> 00:46:15,110
We've gotten some information from them on how they'd like to see the project presented to them.

452
00:46:15,110 --> 00:46:19,990
That way of presenting it, we have to get the State Education Department's approval.

453
00:46:20,770 --> 00:46:25,250
They have suggested a path that will streamline their approval, but it does

454
00:46:25,250 --> 00:46:29,930
require us to invest more time up front in getting the project to them.

455
00:46:30,070 --> 00:46:33,950
That unfortunately is going to delay when we can get the project started.

456
00:46:34,290 --> 00:46:39,290
So our plan B, as a bridge, is going to be to purchase HEPA filters

457
00:46:39,290 --> 00:46:43,670
for the classrooms that don't have mechanical ventilation

458
00:46:43,670 --> 00:46:45,890
other than the use of windows.

459
00:46:46,390 --> 00:46:48,350
So those filters should be here shortly

460
00:46:48,350 --> 00:46:50,390
and we'll start putting them into rooms

461
00:46:50,390 --> 00:46:52,830
that don't otherwise have mechanical ventilation.

462
00:46:53,850 --> 00:46:56,110
And then obviously we will still work as quickly

463
00:46:56,110 --> 00:46:57,490
as we can to get the ventilation,

464
00:46:57,870 --> 00:47:00,610
the actual mechanical ventilation in place.

465
00:47:02,840 --> 00:47:06,600
So in terms of the return to the classroom,

466
00:47:07,300 --> 00:47:11,080
we have opened the portal for parents

467
00:47:11,080 --> 00:47:17,860
to who are currently have children who are studying 100% virtually if they want to come

468
00:47:17,860 --> 00:47:21,080
back to the in-person environment as part of our reopening plan this summer.

469
00:47:21,540 --> 00:47:26,580
We said that we would let elementary students come back after the first trimester, let secondary

470
00:47:26,580 --> 00:47:32,180
students come back after the first quarter, not really knowing what this fall would

471
00:47:32,180 --> 00:47:35,740
look like or how many people would opt for one option or the other.

472
00:47:35,880 --> 00:47:39,660
We just knew that we would have to have some sort of a point in time where we

473
00:47:39,660 --> 00:47:41,220
you would give people the opportunity

474
00:47:41,220 --> 00:47:42,520
and then see what happens.

475
00:47:43,680 --> 00:47:46,100
And see what happens is a lot of what we've been doing

476
00:47:46,100 --> 00:47:46,560
this year.

477
00:47:47,340 --> 00:47:49,960
So the good news is at the secondary level

478
00:47:49,960 --> 00:47:52,720
we will have no difficulty accommodating all

479
00:47:52,720 --> 00:47:55,220
of the students who want to come back there.

480
00:47:55,440 --> 00:47:56,860
We had always said that this would be

481
00:47:56,860 --> 00:47:58,340
on a space available basis.

482
00:47:58,920 --> 00:48:00,860
There's obviously limitations to the space

483
00:48:00,860 --> 00:48:02,760
because we're trying to maintain social distance

484
00:48:02,760 --> 00:48:03,540
in the classrooms.

485
00:48:04,060 --> 00:48:05,960
But the good news is at the secondary level

486
00:48:06,520 --> 00:48:08,200
we should be able to accommodate everyone

487
00:48:08,200 --> 00:48:12,460
at the elementary level, we're close to being able

488
00:48:12,460 --> 00:48:13,600
to accommodate everyone.

489
00:48:14,100 --> 00:48:16,480
We don't have to make assignments yet

490
00:48:16,480 --> 00:48:18,420
because the first trimester is not over.

491
00:48:19,020 --> 00:48:22,680
We did the survey early and we are still seeing

492
00:48:22,680 --> 00:48:25,480
some attrition from the in-person environment

493
00:48:25,480 --> 00:48:27,980
to the virtual environment that frees up space

494
00:48:28,440 --> 00:48:30,540
for virtual students who wish to return.

495
00:48:31,500 --> 00:48:35,560
And right now we believe that there are six grades

496
00:48:35,560 --> 00:48:38,520
at the elementary level, kindergarten through five,

497
00:48:38,920 --> 00:48:40,140
and then there are seven buildings,

498
00:48:40,300 --> 00:48:43,320
so that creates 42 different grade levels

499
00:48:43,320 --> 00:48:44,340
at the various buildings.

500
00:48:44,940 --> 00:48:48,940
And we believe that all but six of those 42 grade levels

501
00:48:48,940 --> 00:48:51,480
will have room to accommodate the students

502
00:48:51,480 --> 00:48:53,500
who want to return to the in-person environment.

503
00:48:54,140 --> 00:48:56,360
So that obviously leaves the remaining six

504
00:48:56,360 --> 00:48:59,140
that are a challenge and about 20 students

505
00:48:59,140 --> 00:49:00,700
that we're going to have to figure out about,

506
00:49:01,040 --> 00:49:02,160
I guess it's more like,

507
00:49:02,840 --> 00:49:04,740
yeah, about 20 students that we have to accommodate.

508
00:49:04,740 --> 00:49:08,500
So, we've been talking to the building principles about that.

509
00:49:08,600 --> 00:49:11,880
There are some creative ideas out there that we need to explore a little bit further.

510
00:49:12,200 --> 00:49:16,420
Again, we do have time, and there is still ongoing attrition.

511
00:49:16,680 --> 00:49:20,240
So, it may work out more easily, if not,

512
00:49:20,800 --> 00:49:24,020
we'll probably have to entertain something like a lottery system

513
00:49:24,020 --> 00:49:28,680
in order to be able to allocate the space that we do have as fairly as possible.

514
00:49:31,020 --> 00:49:34,800
And then the last bullet point on there is addressing rumors.

515
00:49:35,280 --> 00:49:43,740
And over the course of the last week, we fielded rumors that all of the superintendents had

516
00:49:43,740 --> 00:49:45,660
met with one another and made a decision.

517
00:49:46,280 --> 00:49:49,880
All of the superintendents had met with the county executive and made a decision.

518
00:49:50,380 --> 00:49:53,460
All of the superintendents had met with the governor and made a decision.

519
00:49:53,800 --> 00:49:57,760
And my secretary actually poked her head in my office and said,

520
00:49:57,760 --> 00:50:01,300
said, did you meet with the governor this weekend? And I said, I couldn't possibly.

521
00:50:01,420 --> 00:50:10,100
I'm far too busy. So I hope the governor never watches this. So my point is none of

522
00:50:10,100 --> 00:50:13,940
those things happened. Obviously, superintendents are in touch with one another constantly.

523
00:50:14,380 --> 00:50:18,880
That's part of how we do our jobs even in a normal year. And this is anything but

524
00:50:18,880 --> 00:50:22,880
a normal year. And so we're all trying to learn from one another. But we're

525
00:50:22,880 --> 00:50:25,160
not making collective decisions together.

526
00:50:26,020 --> 00:50:29,060
So in the presentation, if I could have the next slide,

527
00:50:29,820 --> 00:50:33,860
I can talk a little bit about some of what is going on

528
00:50:33,860 --> 00:50:37,600
and how I believe the state is going to be approaching

529
00:50:38,260 --> 00:50:41,960
the difficulty as we're now seeing cases go up.

530
00:50:42,840 --> 00:50:45,620
So New York City, as I'm sure you read in the papers,

531
00:50:47,100 --> 00:50:51,200
the mayor back in the summer had set sort of a standard

532
00:50:51,200 --> 00:50:56,620
considered for the city of 3%. If the positivity rate went over 3%, he was going to consider

533
00:50:56,620 --> 00:51:04,600
closing schools and going virtual again. That was a bold prediction very early on, and it's

534
00:51:04,600 --> 00:51:08,240
kind of constrained some of their ability to do some decision-making.

535
00:51:08,980 --> 00:51:13,580
The state, by contrast, has come up with more recently something they're calling a

536
00:51:13,580 --> 00:51:19,600
microcluster strategy. They're identifying pockets where the positivity rate has

537
00:51:19,600 --> 00:51:26,160
gone up sharply. They're identifying the localized reasons for why that positivity rate is going

538
00:51:26,160 --> 00:51:32,200
up. And they're doing closures, but those closures are focused in either a yellow zone

539
00:51:32,200 --> 00:51:38,140
or a red zone or orange zone so that they're not having such dramatic impact on the economy,

540
00:51:38,220 --> 00:51:42,000
but they're really focusing on the places where it appears that community transmission

541
00:51:42,000 --> 00:51:42,680
is occurring.

542
00:51:42,680 --> 00:51:45,820
So it's a complicated formula.

543
00:51:46,140 --> 00:51:48,400
It's not just when you hit 3% and you close.

544
00:51:49,120 --> 00:51:51,040
It's three layers.

545
00:51:52,200 --> 00:51:55,860
The yellow zone, obviously the least intrusive,

546
00:51:56,000 --> 00:51:57,180
orange zone and red zone.

547
00:51:57,380 --> 00:52:02,100
And so if there is a positivity rate over 2.5%

548
00:52:02,680 --> 00:52:07,860
on a seven-day running average for 10 days,

549
00:52:07,860 --> 00:52:12,820
then that's the first criteria that would be necessary

550
00:52:12,820 --> 00:52:14,040
to get into a yellow zone.

551
00:52:14,460 --> 00:52:16,680
If that positivity rate was over 3%,

552
00:52:16,680 --> 00:52:19,400
orange zone and 4% red zone.

553
00:52:20,380 --> 00:52:23,180
If you do hit the orange or red zones,

554
00:52:23,440 --> 00:52:27,300
schools are not permitted to be open for live instruction.

555
00:52:27,520 --> 00:52:29,460
It would have to be all virtual instruction.

556
00:52:30,000 --> 00:52:32,600
But that positivity rate is not the only metric.

557
00:52:33,120 --> 00:52:36,720
So there also has to be 10 cases

558
00:52:36,720 --> 00:52:41,950
of COVID on a daily average basis per 100,000 residents.

559
00:52:42,980 --> 00:52:45,600
And then there are a series of other criteria.

560
00:52:46,260 --> 00:52:48,940
For each zip code, you have to have more than five cases

561
00:52:48,940 --> 00:52:52,040
per day for zip codes that have more than 10,000 people,

562
00:52:52,240 --> 00:52:54,580
more than three cases per day for zip codes

563
00:52:54,580 --> 00:52:57,620
that have less than 10,000 people, et cetera.

564
00:52:57,900 --> 00:53:01,700
So not all of this data is readily available to us.

565
00:53:02,220 --> 00:53:05,300
We can see county level positivity data.

566
00:53:05,300 --> 00:53:15,940
We can see zip code level case data but not testing data so we don't know the percentage of tests that are positive.

567
00:53:16,480 --> 00:53:20,160
So we're a little bit in the dark in terms of knowing where we are.

568
00:53:20,580 --> 00:53:28,240
But the overall numbers are such that it doesn't appear that we're going to be in a yellow zone immediately.

569
00:53:29,100 --> 00:53:33,500
But obviously cases have been going up sharply in the last week or so.

570
00:53:34,940 --> 00:53:38,780
and that certainly is worrisome because they can't go up

571
00:53:38,780 --> 00:53:41,260
indefinitely without us going into a yellow

572
00:53:41,260 --> 00:53:42,620
or an orange or a red zone.

573
00:53:43,180 --> 00:53:44,520
If I could have the next slide, please.

574
00:53:46,860 --> 00:53:49,440
So these are the data.

575
00:53:49,580 --> 00:53:51,000
This is Nassau County's data.

576
00:53:51,180 --> 00:53:53,360
They do provide the positivity rate by county.

577
00:53:53,980 --> 00:53:56,940
And you can see that the county has entered

578
00:53:56,940 --> 00:53:59,960
into the yellow zone in terms of the positivity rate

579
00:53:59,960 --> 00:54:01,540
but not any of the other metrics yet.

580
00:54:02,400 --> 00:54:06,000
If it were to go up from here some more, that would be the orange zone.

581
00:54:06,660 --> 00:54:10,520
And the blue line is, you know, from day to day there's a lot of noise.

582
00:54:11,180 --> 00:54:15,980
The orange line is the rolling average for the county,

583
00:54:16,120 --> 00:54:19,320
but it has gone up very sharply in the last week and a half.

584
00:54:20,560 --> 00:54:21,520
Next slide, please.

585
00:54:23,200 --> 00:54:30,080
And then this is the number of cases per 100,000.

586
00:54:30,080 --> 00:54:39,620
So this, again, has crossed over the metric line, but we don't, the state has not designated

587
00:54:39,620 --> 00:54:42,260
any yellow zones on Long Island yet.

588
00:54:42,900 --> 00:54:49,880
So the state does have these microclusters on a map that is on the state's website.

589
00:54:50,440 --> 00:54:57,320
And there are clusters in Portchester, Westchester County, there's one in Orange County, there's

590
00:54:57,320 --> 00:54:59,840
in Broom County, Tioga County, Erie County,

591
00:55:00,040 --> 00:55:01,960
they are scattered throughout the state,

592
00:55:02,040 --> 00:55:03,800
but so far they're on Long Island.

593
00:55:04,380 --> 00:55:06,920
But obviously, these are worrisome trends.

594
00:55:07,480 --> 00:55:12,040
On this chart, the top line is the county's

595
00:55:13,620 --> 00:55:15,400
rate of increase of cases,

596
00:55:15,940 --> 00:55:19,360
and the bottom line is Siocet's rate of increase of cases.

597
00:55:20,140 --> 00:55:23,300
And so what you can see is that for much

598
00:55:23,300 --> 00:55:26,620
of the summer and fall, we have been well below

599
00:55:26,620 --> 00:55:33,160
that the county on a, you know, once you adjust for the size of our population here in Siocet,

600
00:55:33,780 --> 00:55:40,540
but these last few days, this last week or so, our rate of increase is steeper than the

601
00:55:40,540 --> 00:55:45,100
county's rate of increase, and the county's rate of increase is concerningly steep.

602
00:55:45,600 --> 00:55:48,540
So for us to be steeper is ever more concerning.

603
00:55:49,100 --> 00:55:54,380
And this is why we need to have a family conversation so that we can all work together

604
00:55:54,380 --> 00:55:57,440
to try and wrestle that curve back to the ground.

605
00:55:58,420 --> 00:55:59,340
Next slide, please.

606
00:56:00,480 --> 00:56:03,520
So some other data points to think about.

607
00:56:04,180 --> 00:56:08,120
And I take pride in I thank Ms. Frankel

608
00:56:08,120 --> 00:56:12,140
for her compliments to all the administration

609
00:56:12,140 --> 00:56:14,240
for the work that we've done to reopen schools.

610
00:56:14,800 --> 00:56:18,360
And it is very fortunate that we have not yet seen

611
00:56:18,360 --> 00:56:21,320
any cases of transmission that are occurring in school.

612
00:56:21,320 --> 00:56:27,120
And it's also fortunate that our own internal contact tracing work in cooperation with the

613
00:56:27,120 --> 00:56:32,640
Department of Health has allowed us to move very quickly so that we can ascertain what

614
00:56:32,640 --> 00:56:38,260
we need to know in order to make decisions about school the next day so that, again,

615
00:56:38,380 --> 00:56:41,580
we preserve as much in-person instruction as we possibly can.

616
00:56:42,040 --> 00:56:46,300
There's a whole team of people that works very hard when we learn of a case.

617
00:56:46,300 --> 00:56:51,720
but it's going to become more challenging as time goes on.

618
00:56:52,200 --> 00:56:55,580
So, and the point I wanna make is that

619
00:56:55,940 --> 00:56:57,340
just because we've moved quickly,

620
00:56:57,420 --> 00:57:01,100
just because we have not had to have a lot of closures,

621
00:57:01,520 --> 00:57:03,720
does not mean that all is well.

622
00:57:05,340 --> 00:57:06,200
There have been,

623
00:57:08,120 --> 00:57:10,920
every school district that closes a school

624
00:57:11,200 --> 00:57:12,580
is required to report that,

625
00:57:12,600 --> 00:57:14,000
so it's easy to track the data.

626
00:57:14,000 --> 00:57:20,880
Since the 8th of October, there have been over 120 school closures in Nassau County of varying lengths.

627
00:57:21,500 --> 00:57:26,240
So there are a tremendous number of closures. I probably get three or four of these emails daily.

628
00:57:28,420 --> 00:57:33,000
The good news is that we have 17 cases that are more than 14 days old,

629
00:57:33,200 --> 00:57:38,120
and for every one of those cases we have not seen any further transmission through the school environment.

630
00:57:39,820 --> 00:57:45,960
Again, it's reassuring because it means that the procedures so far have held up, but it's

631
00:57:45,960 --> 00:57:48,580
not an invitation for us to take more risks.

632
00:57:49,160 --> 00:57:53,360
It means that we're just on the right side of the risk line, at least for now.

633
00:57:54,340 --> 00:58:00,380
Since the start of school, there have been over 150 people that have been in some

634
00:58:00,380 --> 00:58:06,200
form of quarantine, even if the contact was not a school-based contact, it was

635
00:58:06,200 --> 00:58:12,660
family-based contact or as a party-based contact or as a sports-based contact. There has been a

636
00:58:12,660 --> 00:58:19,900
lot of people who have been in proximity of COVID and again these are not our data to report

637
00:58:20,500 --> 00:58:25,880
but we do follow it because we need to know who's not permitted in school yet so that we can

638
00:58:25,880 --> 00:58:30,860
make sure they come back on the right day and we are tracking all of these individuals as well

639
00:58:30,860 --> 00:58:35,420
and the point again is just because we're able to open school the next day

640
00:58:35,420 --> 00:58:39,920
does not mean that there aren't that there aren't that there isn't a

641
00:58:39,920 --> 00:58:44,200
significant impact from COVID there's a lot going on and we're trying to track

642
00:58:44,200 --> 00:58:50,880
all of it and then the the last point is in the summer and early fall we were

643
00:58:50,880 --> 00:58:55,880
seeing numbers of new cases on a daily basis for the county as a whole

644
00:58:55,880 --> 00:58:59,940
in the 60, 70, 80 cases a day range.

645
00:59:00,680 --> 00:59:06,120
The last several days, it has been in the 300 and 400 cases per day range.

646
00:59:06,800 --> 00:59:10,640
And so our ability to work quickly with the Department of Health

647
00:59:10,640 --> 00:59:12,640
is going to become more challenging,

648
00:59:13,160 --> 00:59:15,780
not because they are less inclined to work with us.

649
00:59:15,880 --> 00:59:17,960
Our relationship with them has been extraordinary

650
00:59:17,960 --> 00:59:20,160
and they have been magnificent to work with,

651
00:59:20,580 --> 00:59:24,500
so professional, so thoughtful, so on top of it.

652
00:59:24,500 --> 00:59:26,560
but it's clear that the strain

653
00:59:26,560 --> 00:59:28,720
of having 400 new cases a day

654
00:59:29,340 --> 00:59:32,680
feeding into their contact tracing department

655
00:59:32,680 --> 00:59:34,940
is it's going to have an impact

656
00:59:34,940 --> 00:59:36,500
on our ability to move quickly.

657
00:59:37,320 --> 00:59:41,300
So I do feel like we're entering a different phase.

658
00:59:42,000 --> 00:59:44,060
The last two weeks have felt very different

659
00:59:44,060 --> 00:59:45,720
from the first two months of school

660
00:59:46,300 --> 00:59:49,020
and we're obviously watching things closely

661
00:59:49,440 --> 00:59:51,620
but we're going to need as a community

662
00:59:51,620 --> 00:59:53,060
to make some shifts and adjustments.

663
00:59:54,740 --> 00:59:59,840
And then I just wanted to point out we do keep track of a dashboard on our website.

664
01:00:00,000 --> 01:00:07,340
It's updated daily with any new cases that we have. The nice thing, as I mentioned, is that

665
01:00:07,340 --> 01:00:12,860
we illustrate which cases are resolved, obviously not by name because of privacy considerations.

666
01:00:13,320 --> 01:00:18,060
But it does let the community know that we're tracking when these cases go past the 14 days

667
01:00:18,060 --> 01:00:22,840
so that we can see if there was any further transmission in the school environment. And

668
01:00:22,840 --> 01:00:28,620
if not, well, we kind of close those cases and we can focus our attention on the cases

669
01:00:28,620 --> 01:00:33,860
that are a little newer, a little pressure and obviously we're watching closely to make sure

670
01:00:33,860 --> 01:00:38,440
that there's no further transmission from those cases as well. And with all of these,

671
01:00:38,580 --> 01:00:44,340
and all of the plans that we've put together, the goal was because we know that there are people

672
01:00:44,340 --> 01:00:53,240
who may have the disease but are asymptomatic, you may never know who is infected and so

673
01:00:53,240 --> 01:00:57,480
the procedures that we have in place from the masks to the distance to the barriers

674
01:00:57,480 --> 01:00:59,780
are designed to keep people protected

675
01:00:59,780 --> 01:01:03,760
even if somebody were in our midst and had the disease

676
01:01:03,760 --> 01:01:07,380
or is pre-symptomatic and become sick a couple days later.

677
01:01:08,260 --> 01:01:12,240
So our hope is to be able to keep doing what we're doing.

678
01:01:12,740 --> 01:01:15,820
It appears to be holding up well.

679
01:01:16,540 --> 01:01:18,860
Obviously it's going to go through the biggest test

680
01:01:18,860 --> 01:01:22,600
that it could possibly have over the course of the next several weeks.

681
01:01:23,200 --> 01:01:26,480
But I do, with this microcluster strategy

682
01:01:26,480 --> 01:01:31,640
in other parts of the state that have made it into yellow and even orange zones, they

683
01:01:31,640 --> 01:01:33,220
have been able to turn it around.

684
01:01:34,000 --> 01:01:36,700
So we're not in a yellow zone or an orange zone yet.

685
01:01:37,220 --> 01:01:41,320
And so turning it around should be easier for us than it was for these other parts

686
01:01:41,320 --> 01:01:45,840
of the state that had an even bigger job to wrestle it down.

687
01:01:46,080 --> 01:01:51,000
So I do think we can do it, but it's going to take everyone's attention and everyone's

688
01:01:51,000 --> 01:01:51,420
dedication.

689
01:01:53,500 --> 01:02:01,340
So to that point, just a couple more things, not on reopening, but on more of the operation of the school district.

690
01:02:01,620 --> 01:02:07,360
On the agenda tonight is an agreement with South Nassau Mount Sinai Hospital.

691
01:02:08,440 --> 01:02:17,100
If the school does go into the yellow zone, they're required to test 20% of the students and staff every two weeks for COVID.

692
01:02:17,100 --> 01:02:20,980
And in order to do that, you need some sort of testing capacity.

693
01:02:21,220 --> 01:02:26,260
So we are in the process now of building that capacity.

694
01:02:26,680 --> 01:02:32,020
It will be here on this campus and we'll have availability through South Nassau.

695
01:02:32,440 --> 01:02:39,060
Should the board approve this resolution this evening to provide testing on site,

696
01:02:39,180 --> 01:02:41,260
it will be a convenience on the one hand.

697
01:02:41,320 --> 01:02:43,860
And if we're in a position where we have to do testing,

698
01:02:43,860 --> 01:02:48,980
we will already have that capacity up and running and in place.

699
01:02:49,880 --> 01:02:55,140
And we have been approaching this and exploring a partnership with the Jericho School District.

700
01:02:55,740 --> 01:02:58,220
Their Board of Education does not meet until later this week,

701
01:02:58,360 --> 01:03:04,560
and so I certainly don't want to speak for them, but we've invited them to join with us in this partnership.

702
01:03:04,820 --> 01:03:10,940
And if they so choose, they'll be welcome partners of ours, and we'll know about that later in the week.

703
01:03:12,280 --> 01:03:20,940
And then lastly, I just wanted to update the board on the Amazon project that is going in in the former Siro Wire site.

704
01:03:22,000 --> 01:03:26,060
We did meet, as we said we would at the last meeting with the developers.

705
01:03:26,820 --> 01:03:33,760
They gave us what seemed largely to be the same presentation they made to the NASA IDA.

706
01:03:34,200 --> 01:03:40,160
We got a fairly comprehensive understanding of what the site plan looks like,

707
01:03:40,160 --> 01:03:47,460
what their intended uses for the property are and we identified unsurprisingly the same

708
01:03:47,460 --> 01:03:52,860
things that we identified a couple of years ago with the Siocic Park project, worries

709
01:03:52,860 --> 01:03:58,860
about traffic, worries about construction, dust, noise, et cetera, worries about how

710
01:03:59,490 --> 01:04:06,060
the property would be remediated and questions about what the process looks like from here

711
01:04:06,060 --> 01:04:10,960
in terms of the remediation plan, the community air monitoring plan, the construction plan,

712
01:04:12,020 --> 01:04:14,300
the dust mitigation plan, et cetera.

713
01:04:14,480 --> 01:04:16,720
So we don't have answers to a lot of those things.

714
01:04:17,300 --> 01:04:23,040
We have foiled the town for a number of the documents that are in Amazon submission,

715
01:04:23,640 --> 01:04:25,160
and we are sharing those.

716
01:04:26,220 --> 01:04:31,660
We got one site plan, so we've shared that with our environmental consultant.

717
01:04:31,840 --> 01:04:33,980
We're waiting for a comprehensive report from her.

718
01:04:33,980 --> 01:04:41,180
And our intention is to do for the board what we did for you two years ago in 2018,

719
01:04:41,360 --> 01:04:47,200
which is to do a comprehensive review of any documents that were afforded the opportunity to look at.

720
01:04:47,560 --> 01:04:51,180
And then finally they have applied for a,

721
01:04:52,520 --> 01:04:57,180
I've gone before the NASA IDA to apply for a tax abatement.

722
01:04:57,320 --> 01:05:01,320
That's something the board wrote a letter to the IDA about back in the summer.

723
01:05:01,320 --> 01:05:07,800
And we don't have any information other than looking for an abatement on what exactly that might look like.

724
01:05:08,120 --> 01:05:14,440
But we are obviously trying to follow it as closely as we can with the documents that are publicly available.

725
01:05:16,040 --> 01:05:17,780
And so just

726
01:05:19,890 --> 01:05:21,890
making sure in my notes I haven't missed anything.

727
01:05:22,970 --> 01:05:25,010
No, that concludes my report. Thank you so much.

728
01:05:25,310 --> 01:05:30,330
Thank you, Dr. Rogers. Do any of our board members have questions about the superintendent's report?

729
01:05:32,230 --> 01:05:32,950
Yes,

730
01:05:35,650 --> 01:05:46,950
Dr. Rogers, on the testing, are these the antigen, the COVID-19 antigen test that

731
01:05:46,950 --> 01:05:50,970
will be, you're thinking of doing on the site?

732
01:05:53,360 --> 01:05:56,820
Yes, they are COVID antigen tests, that's a rapid test.

733
01:05:57,500 --> 01:06:02,260
There is a new test in the pipeline that is probably going to be available in December.

734
01:06:02,260 --> 01:06:10,400
It'll be a less expensive test and will also require less equipment in order to read the results.

735
01:06:10,760 --> 01:06:16,140
So we're going to go with the test that's available right now as we stand up the testing site.

736
01:06:16,460 --> 01:06:21,880
And then we're going to convert to the new test in December when the test becomes available.

737
01:06:22,520 --> 01:06:26,920
And South Nassau did indicate that they have an order placed for that.

738
01:06:27,040 --> 01:06:29,100
And so they're anticipating they'll have some availability.

739
01:06:29,100 --> 01:06:29,500
quality.

740
01:06:32,770 --> 01:06:44,350
The state is offering, on their website, and I confirm with them, free testing kits,

741
01:06:44,930 --> 01:06:46,730
the COVID-19 rapid test.

742
01:06:48,950 --> 01:06:57,700
And they also talk about schools can become approved to do testing

743
01:06:57,700 --> 01:07:06,580
using a wavered test if it becomes registered as a limited service laboratory, LFL.

744
01:07:08,830 --> 01:07:15,290
Is that something that we're taking advantage of rather than buying these tests?

745
01:07:15,850 --> 01:07:24,390
And if we do have to buy the tests, are they being covered by the members' health insurance?

746
01:07:27,140 --> 01:07:27,440
Yeah.

747
01:07:27,680 --> 01:07:28,960
We're not buying any tests.

748
01:07:28,960 --> 01:07:31,600
This will be a community testing site

749
01:07:31,600 --> 01:07:36,340
of the South Nassau Hospital that will be on our campus.

750
01:07:36,820 --> 01:07:38,920
So the convenience will be that it's on our campus.

751
01:07:39,460 --> 01:07:41,480
Our relationship with South Nassau already

752
01:07:41,480 --> 01:07:43,520
is that they furnish us with the school physician.

753
01:07:43,960 --> 01:07:46,700
So this will be an additional service through them.

754
01:07:47,380 --> 01:07:49,660
The testing will work the same as it would

755
01:07:49,660 --> 01:07:55,960
at a rapid testing and urgent care center

756
01:07:55,960 --> 01:07:58,800
where you would go in, if you had insurance,

757
01:07:59,180 --> 01:08:00,900
the test would be made available to you,

758
01:08:00,960 --> 01:08:02,400
the billing would go through South Nassau.

759
01:08:03,160 --> 01:08:05,240
The, my understanding of the tests

760
01:08:05,240 --> 01:08:07,120
that are being offered through New York State

761
01:08:07,120 --> 01:08:09,640
is that is for schools that are in yellow zones

762
01:08:10,080 --> 01:08:13,460
and need testing kits in order to be able

763
01:08:13,460 --> 01:08:14,820
to get to the 20%.

764
01:08:15,280 --> 01:08:17,560
Given the size of our students and staff,

765
01:08:17,700 --> 01:08:20,220
we would have to have probably 1,600 kits

766
01:08:20,220 --> 01:08:22,960
every two weeks in order to meet that need.

767
01:08:22,960 --> 01:08:27,580
So if it were that we were to become a yellow zone school,

768
01:08:28,140 --> 01:08:33,300
I think we would need to supplement our testing ability with the test that the state has.

769
01:08:33,720 --> 01:08:38,880
But my understanding is that those test servers are first for schools that are in the yellow zones.

770
01:08:39,540 --> 01:08:45,340
We did look into becoming a limited service laboratory at the beginning of the school year.

771
01:08:45,480 --> 01:08:48,860
Where we are now with South NASA was our fallback plan,

772
01:08:49,900 --> 01:08:54,160
which I think is actually a better plan than our original idea,

773
01:08:54,640 --> 01:08:56,720
which was to become a limited service laboratory.

774
01:08:57,280 --> 01:08:59,920
There are a number of requirements to become an LSL

775
01:08:59,920 --> 01:09:04,340
that we couldn't meet about having to have

776
01:09:04,340 --> 01:09:06,000
extremely cold storage,

777
01:09:06,560 --> 01:09:10,280
having to have certain types of people

778
01:09:10,280 --> 01:09:12,100
with qualifications on site.

779
01:09:12,640 --> 01:09:16,040
And it looked to me like the kinds of school districts

780
01:09:16,040 --> 01:09:21,120
districts that might be able to get LSL designations would have to be very large urban districts

781
01:09:21,120 --> 01:09:26,600
or districts that had health care. There are some districts that have health care providers

782
01:09:26,600 --> 01:09:33,240
on site that do medical and dental screenings for students right there. They probably would

783
01:09:33,240 --> 01:09:37,580
be better positioned to do it, but it looked to me like it would be very costly to try

784
01:09:37,580 --> 01:09:42,000
and stand up all the capacity we would need to have an LSL here, unless the state

785
01:09:42,000 --> 01:09:47,500
just changed the rules since the beginning of the year. But by using South NASA, we take

786
01:09:47,500 --> 01:09:52,480
advantage of their testing license without having to go and acquire one of our own. So

787
01:09:52,480 --> 01:09:58,800
in some ways it's easier to buy this license through them than it is to try and invent one

788
01:09:58,800 --> 01:09:59,340
for ourselves.

789
01:10:01,740 --> 01:10:08,620
And Dr. Rogers, I have one last question on the COVID. I heard some updates with

790
01:10:08,620 --> 01:10:18,860
the vaccine. They're already designing that the vaccine is free, that there will be a

791
01:10:18,860 --> 01:10:27,360
copay or small administrative fee if people don't have insurance. So that's, you know,

792
01:10:27,540 --> 01:10:36,200
the reports out there are very high percentage of success. And if that comes about whenever

793
01:10:36,200 --> 01:10:45,540
it does in the next few months hopefully. I guess we the school district needs to recalibrate

794
01:10:45,540 --> 01:10:51,940
to determine if students get vaccinated and how that may impact.

795
01:10:55,060 --> 01:10:59,280
Well I will say at a personal and professional level I'm very excited about the news of

796
01:10:59,280 --> 01:11:04,440
the last two weeks and two different manufacturers that are reporting really encouraging results

797
01:11:04,440 --> 01:11:10,760
for vaccines. I think the next question will be how quickly they can get approvals and then from

798
01:11:10,760 --> 01:11:16,840
there how quickly they can manufacture large numbers of doses and then lastly where and how

799
01:11:16,840 --> 01:11:23,980
those doses will be allocated among the population. So it may not affect us in the current school

800
01:11:23,980 --> 01:11:28,240
year. I don't have a good sense of how long it will take for all three of those steps to

801
01:11:28,240 --> 01:11:33,920
take place. But the one thing that I have learned since March is that every week appears

802
01:11:33,920 --> 01:11:40,060
to be a new challenge to learn how to fix. And I think we will probably cross that bridge

803
01:11:40,060 --> 01:11:48,040
as it comes to us, and it will require us to be nimble as it comes along. But I share

804
01:11:48,040 --> 01:11:49,620
your optimism and enthusiasm.

805
01:11:51,580 --> 01:11:52,580
Thank you, Dr. Rogers.

806
01:11:53,500 --> 01:11:57,100
Are there any other questions for Dr. Rogers in the superintendent's report? Tom Otolo.

807
01:11:57,100 --> 01:12:00,650
Thank you, Tracy.

808
01:12:01,210 --> 01:12:11,290
And I'd like to radiate what you had said before that as a resident and as a school board member,

809
01:12:11,770 --> 01:12:20,230
I'm very grateful for Dr. Rogers, the administration, the principals, the teachers, the security guards,

810
01:12:20,330 --> 01:12:27,250
the lunch aides, the IT staff, the custodial staff, everybody who has made this possible.

811
01:12:27,250 --> 01:12:29,190
Well, this is not business as usual.

812
01:12:29,670 --> 01:12:31,310
I want, I just want to stress that.

813
01:12:31,650 --> 01:12:35,630
And I want to thank also the students enduring all this

814
01:12:35,630 --> 01:12:37,010
and the parents making this happen.

815
01:12:37,070 --> 01:12:39,070
I know it's been very difficult on everybody.

816
01:12:39,710 --> 01:12:43,930
So I just want to, I just don't want that to go unnoticed.

817
01:12:45,530 --> 01:12:48,570
We are pushing forward and this is a very difficult time.

818
01:12:50,110 --> 01:12:51,810
And I appreciate the testing.

819
01:12:52,310 --> 01:12:54,070
I know again we're leaders in that,

820
01:12:54,190 --> 01:12:56,770
like we were with pushing on the online education

821
01:12:56,770 --> 01:12:59,550
before everybody else so I just want to point that out.

822
01:13:00,150 --> 01:13:03,690
With the testing, I know we've had some

823
01:13:03,690 --> 01:13:06,110
with returning students to school

824
01:13:06,570 --> 01:13:09,230
with the rapid tests that came out negative

825
01:13:09,230 --> 01:13:11,610
but then in turn were positive

826
01:13:12,450 --> 01:13:13,870
after they were sent to the lab.

827
01:13:14,050 --> 01:13:18,250
So any change on that to try to get the PCR test

828
01:13:18,250 --> 01:13:19,570
to return back to school?

829
01:13:21,940 --> 01:13:26,660
So there are, the PCR test is the most accurate test

830
01:13:26,660 --> 01:13:28,040
that is available right now

831
01:13:28,040 --> 01:13:31,500
but the turnaround time is between five and 10 days

832
01:13:31,500 --> 01:13:36,000
to get results back, so the state requires,

833
01:13:37,800 --> 01:13:41,360
the return to school protocol is in something called

834
01:13:41,360 --> 01:13:43,320
the tool kit, the New York State Tool Kit,

835
01:13:43,800 --> 01:13:48,520
and the tool kit explicitly states that you can accept

836
01:13:48,520 --> 01:13:52,160
either the PCR test or a rapid test and antigen test.

837
01:13:52,660 --> 01:13:56,280
So the advantage of the antigen test is it's very quick.

838
01:13:56,280 --> 01:14:00,440
The disadvantage is that you do get some false negatives.

839
01:14:01,100 --> 01:14:09,760
So the point I made earlier about having designed our school environment so that even if there

840
01:14:09,760 --> 01:14:14,840
was someone unknowingly in the school environment who is positive, we still have three layers

841
01:14:14,840 --> 01:14:17,560
of protection in place, the mass, the distance, the barriers.

842
01:14:18,240 --> 01:14:24,140
Whether that person is in school and positive because they're just simply asymptomatic

843
01:14:24,140 --> 01:14:27,000
or whether that person is in school and positive

844
01:14:27,000 --> 01:14:30,980
because they're asymptomatic and the first test

845
01:14:30,980 --> 01:14:33,760
that they got didn't show, it's kind of the same thing.

846
01:14:34,260 --> 01:14:37,900
So I don't know that we would gain any additional protection

847
01:14:37,900 --> 01:14:41,560
from requiring a PCR test because we'll still have,

848
01:14:42,460 --> 01:14:44,600
if somebody has symptoms, they shouldn't be in school.

849
01:14:45,120 --> 01:14:48,060
And even if you get a rapid test and you still have

850
01:14:48,060 --> 01:14:50,120
symptoms, even if the rapid test is negative,

851
01:14:50,460 --> 01:14:51,740
you shouldn't be in school.

852
01:14:51,740 --> 01:14:53,200
If you're sick, stay home.

853
01:14:53,660 --> 01:14:54,740
If you're sick, stay home.

854
01:14:55,980 --> 01:14:59,740
But I don't know that we will gain any additional, I think we'll

855
01:15:00,000 --> 01:15:06,040
Force kids out of the in-person environment, possibly unnecessarily, without gaining any safety

856
01:15:06,820 --> 01:15:08,160
in compensation for that.

857
01:15:11,160 --> 01:15:13,100
Are there any other questions for Dr. Rogers?

858
01:15:14,300 --> 01:15:16,160
Okay, great. Thank you, Dr. Rogers.

859
01:15:16,560 --> 01:15:18,640
We will begin audience to the public today.

860
01:15:18,900 --> 01:15:24,440
If you have any questions or comments for the board, please come to the register

861
01:15:24,440 --> 01:15:28,000
and identify your name and your address for the board.

862
01:15:28,460 --> 01:15:30,260
You must be a Psyosent resident to speak.

863
01:15:30,260 --> 01:15:38,700
You'll have an initial four minutes in which you can ask questions but you cannot pull board

864
01:15:38,700 --> 01:15:40,500
members on individual opinions.

865
01:15:41,060 --> 01:15:47,180
We'll do our best to answer questions at the end of that first round of four minutes when

866
01:15:47,180 --> 01:15:53,860
everyone has asked their questions and then if anyone wants to follow up in a second round

867
01:15:53,860 --> 01:15:57,380
of four minutes you can have that and we'll answer those questions at the end of that

868
01:15:57,380 --> 01:15:58,020
round as well.

869
01:15:58,020 --> 01:16:03,940
We don't talk about personnel matters and we don't talk about we don't talk

870
01:16:03,940 --> 01:16:08,500
about individual students for privacy reasons, so please respect that. And

871
01:16:08,500 --> 01:16:14,520
additionally we never speak from the audience. It's just not allowed. Safety

872
01:16:14,520 --> 01:16:19,420
is paramount here. So with that if anyone has any questions or comments for

873
01:16:19,420 --> 01:16:20,920
the board please come up to the podium.

874
01:16:26,460 --> 01:16:31,200
Going once, twice. Okay that closes

875
01:16:31,200 --> 01:16:37,160
audience to the public today. For discussion items, the many members of the Board of Education

876
01:16:37,160 --> 01:16:42,920
attended the New York State School Board's Association conference. We did this virtually,

877
01:16:43,600 --> 01:16:50,120
and I invite any board member who has a favorite seminar that they attended to share that with

878
01:16:50,120 --> 01:16:51,500
the board and the community.

879
01:16:55,230 --> 01:16:55,510
Anna?

880
01:16:55,510 --> 01:16:56,410
At

881
01:17:09,780 --> 01:17:16,980
the convention this year, I listened in on an engaging conversation with the State

882
01:17:16,980 --> 01:17:21,820
Education Department represented by the Interim Commissioner, Betty Rosa, and the Region

883
01:17:21,820 --> 01:17:26,940
Vice-Chancellor, T. Andrew Brown, who provided a statewide view from the State Education

884
01:17:26,940 --> 01:17:32,580
Department perspective of the key educational issues facing school districts and the Department

885
01:17:32,580 --> 01:17:38,160
of Education during these unprecedented times, including new financial and state aid challenges

886
01:17:38,160 --> 01:17:45,340
in equities, alternate graduation measures, and digital divide, which became even more

887
01:17:45,340 --> 01:17:46,600
apparent during the pandemic.

888
01:17:48,000 --> 01:17:53,620
While verbalizing the new challenges associated with navigating through these uncharted waters,

889
01:17:54,320 --> 01:18:00,260
both speakers pointed out how all stakeholders, including state legislature, are committed

890
01:18:00,260 --> 01:18:05,400
to working together to make sure public education now state remains intact and

891
01:18:05,400 --> 01:18:10,320
and accessible to all children regardless of their zip code and socioeconomic status.

892
01:18:11,160 --> 01:18:17,000
A special emphasis was made on making sure our students are not only prepared for furthering

893
01:18:17,000 --> 01:18:23,160
their education or entering a workforce upon graduation, but also becoming good citizens

894
01:18:23,390 --> 01:18:25,360
and contributors to our society.

895
01:18:26,180 --> 01:18:31,940
In her closing statement, Commissioner Rosa expressed her sincere hope that as social

896
01:18:31,940 --> 01:18:38,760
human beings, once we are through this pandemic, we remain connected, compassionate and kind

897
01:18:38,760 --> 01:18:40,500
and our children learn the same.

898
01:18:41,520 --> 01:18:47,300
I must say from my personal perspective, listening to all the new concerns, all the new concerns

899
01:18:47,300 --> 01:18:53,540
during this unprecedented times, I once again felt extremely fortunate to be a CIS at

900
01:18:53,540 --> 01:18:58,360
Paranova School-Aged Children, receiving quality education despite the rapidly changing

901
01:18:58,360 --> 01:19:01,940
educational format and remaining uncertainties.

902
01:19:02,480 --> 01:19:04,800
I must say our kids are really lucky

903
01:19:04,800 --> 01:19:08,480
and we're lucky to be here thanks to, as Tom said,

904
01:19:09,260 --> 01:19:12,880
everyone who made it impossible, possible really.

905
01:19:13,360 --> 01:19:16,820
Kudos to the teachers especially and everyone involved.

906
01:19:18,500 --> 01:19:20,440
Thanks for sharing that with us Anna.

907
01:19:21,460 --> 01:19:22,700
Are there any other board members

908
01:19:22,700 --> 01:19:24,500
that would like to share, Carol Chang?

909
01:19:24,500 --> 01:19:25,300
Okay,

910
01:19:30,450 --> 01:19:36,070
the workshop that I would like to share with everyone is bullying and students with disabilities.

911
01:19:37,030 --> 01:19:41,650
Bullying has created a national public health problem such as mental health and suicide.

912
01:19:42,150 --> 01:19:45,090
Research has shown long-term impact and effect on students.

913
01:19:45,730 --> 01:19:49,510
Bullying has a marked impact on student engagement and attendance.

914
01:19:50,190 --> 01:19:54,970
Students with disabilities may not understand the extent to which bullying behavior is harmful

915
01:19:54,970 --> 01:19:58,350
or may be socially pressured to stay silent.

916
01:19:59,190 --> 01:20:01,970
Responsibilities of districts to address bullying include

917
01:20:01,970 --> 01:20:05,190
send a clear message of anti-bullying from the outset,

918
01:20:05,690 --> 01:20:08,070
foster a positive and engaging school climate,

919
01:20:08,750 --> 01:20:10,550
develop and implement policies,

920
01:20:11,130 --> 01:20:13,130
investigate any reports of bullying,

921
01:20:13,610 --> 01:20:17,150
as well as take both proactive and reactive measures.

922
01:20:17,790 --> 01:20:20,470
In SCIA said, we put in tremendous efforts

923
01:20:20,470 --> 01:20:21,630
in addressing bullying,

924
01:20:22,030 --> 01:20:25,490
and we encourage students and parents to reach out.

925
01:20:25,490 --> 01:20:29,530
And I find this very, especially during the pandemic,

926
01:20:31,010 --> 01:20:33,610
this is something that the district

927
01:20:33,610 --> 01:20:35,850
has taken a lot of measure on

928
01:20:35,850 --> 01:20:39,730
and then we do encourage parents to reach out and speak up.

929
01:20:40,390 --> 01:20:40,710
Thank you.

930
01:20:42,010 --> 01:20:43,450
Thank you so much, Carol.

931
01:20:44,010 --> 01:20:44,690
Krista Filippo.

932
01:20:46,530 --> 01:20:47,450
Thank you, Tracy.

933
01:20:48,990 --> 01:20:52,850
As you know, I was the delegate for the board,

934
01:20:53,550 --> 01:20:59,450
the meeting, I don't know, it was about five hours, it was, you know, very interesting

935
01:20:59,450 --> 01:21:07,890
to go through all the resolutions and hear all the different conversations from the other

936
01:21:07,890 --> 01:21:14,170
school districts and then last minute change, you know, some of them were articulated better

937
01:21:15,110 --> 01:21:21,030
and then as a group we voted on it and, you know, that went very well.

938
01:21:21,030 --> 01:21:27,810
I just thought overall whereas there was a lot of very good points doing it

939
01:21:27,810 --> 01:21:35,550
virtually I would welcome back being in person and the conference to have an

940
01:21:35,550 --> 01:21:41,490
interaction with people either in the exhibits or in the different workshops

941
01:21:41,490 --> 01:21:52,630
stops. And I think that's where the trustees really get to the feel of how other schools

942
01:21:52,630 --> 01:21:59,970
you know operate and work. But they didn't give a break. You had to take your own break

943
01:21:59,970 --> 01:22:05,670
but you know you get a huge wrong judgment right. But I thought you know overall it

944
01:22:05,670 --> 01:22:11,830
was, it was good, you know, given the situation we're in, it was better to have it than not

945
01:22:11,830 --> 01:22:14,410
have it. So that's what I was saying.

946
01:22:16,050 --> 01:22:23,310
Thank you, Chris. To your point, I do, I do agree with you that there's something about

947
01:22:25,250 --> 01:22:34,110
being at a conference live that increases the impact that other districts have on

948
01:22:34,110 --> 01:22:43,230
each other, and I remember a few years ago going on a lunch break to a restaurant, and

949
01:22:43,230 --> 01:22:49,710
I sat down next to two people from, two board members from a very small school district,

950
01:22:50,230 --> 01:23:01,090
and we were talking about some of the more, I guess, progressive policies that were going

951
01:23:01,090 --> 01:23:09,790
going on in New York State and their school district when I say small, I mean like a hundred

952
01:23:09,790 --> 01:23:18,410
or so kids in the district small. And the conversation that we had was really incredible

953
01:23:18,870 --> 01:23:24,090
from where they stood at the beginning of the conversation on these policies to where

954
01:23:24,090 --> 01:23:30,630
they stood at the end of that conversation. And I think, you know, they impacted me as

955
01:23:30,630 --> 01:23:33,010
as much as I impacted them during that brief time.

956
01:23:33,290 --> 01:23:36,670
And so we certainly miss out on those experiences

957
01:23:36,670 --> 01:23:39,510
when it's not live, but grateful for NISBA

958
01:23:39,510 --> 01:23:43,090
for putting it together and making the,

959
01:23:44,050 --> 01:23:46,990
and making the seminars available to all of us

960
01:23:46,990 --> 01:23:52,410
because we certainly learn a lot from attending these things.

961
01:23:53,310 --> 01:23:57,490
Okay, with that, we'll go on to the next discussion item.

962
01:23:57,490 --> 01:24:08,330
BOCES has a budget review committee every year and the districts that are within BOCES are

963
01:24:08,330 --> 01:24:12,490
allowed up to two school board members to attend.

964
01:24:12,690 --> 01:24:17,770
I believe that there are three meetings, one in December, one in January.

965
01:24:17,990 --> 01:24:26,470
I don't recall when the third date is, but if we could have one or two volunteers to

966
01:24:26,470 --> 01:24:30,590
attend those meetings, and then report back to the board.

967
01:24:30,770 --> 01:24:34,690
Eventually, we all vote on the BOSI's budget,

968
01:24:34,990 --> 01:24:37,770
and so it's always important to be informed.

969
01:24:37,970 --> 01:24:38,770
Are there any takers?

970
01:24:40,730 --> 01:24:44,150
Carol Chang and Anna Levitan, thank you so much.

971
01:24:44,590 --> 01:24:46,330
And feel free to, you know,

972
01:24:46,450 --> 01:24:48,670
coordinate with the dates,

973
01:24:48,770 --> 01:24:51,650
so you don't have to all go to every single one,

974
01:24:51,710 --> 01:24:53,870
but if one date works for you, that would be amazing.

975
01:24:53,870 --> 01:25:00,030
So appreciate that. Fran, if you could note that Anna Levitan and Carol Cheng will attend

976
01:25:00,030 --> 01:25:05,790
and then let Boci Snow. Thank you. Okay, there's no unfinished business, so we will begin

977
01:25:05,790 --> 01:25:10,810
A items. A1 is the approval of staff changes for certified staff. May I have a motion?

978
01:25:12,070 --> 01:25:16,390
Christa Filippo, seconded by Carol Cheng. Are there any questions? All in favor?

979
01:25:17,190 --> 01:25:23,750
Opposed? Any abstentions? A2 is the approval of 2020-2021 stipends and hourly

980
01:25:23,750 --> 01:25:29,030
may have a motion please. Ms. Durgershaw, seconded by Mr. Feldman. Are there any questions?

981
01:25:29,810 --> 01:25:35,810
Call in favor. Opposed? Any abstentions? A3 is the appointment of interim Executive

982
01:25:35,810 --> 01:25:42,730
Director of Human Resources Revised. May have a motion please. Ms. Falco, seconded

983
01:25:42,730 --> 01:25:50,310
by Mr. Rotolo. Are there any questions? Call in favor. Opposed? Any abstentions?

984
01:25:50,310 --> 01:25:56,230
Okay, A4 we did at the top of the meeting, but we can always give another congratulations

985
01:25:56,230 --> 01:25:59,410
because that's exciting, so congratulations again at Escobar.

986
01:26:00,210 --> 01:26:04,850
A5 is the ratification of stipulation of agreement with the STA.

987
01:26:04,970 --> 01:26:05,990
May I have a motion, please?

988
01:26:06,350 --> 01:26:09,330
Crystal Filippa, seconded by Susan Falcov.

989
01:26:09,330 --> 01:26:10,170
Are there any questions?

990
01:26:10,930 --> 01:26:11,670
All in favor?

991
01:26:12,670 --> 01:26:13,250
Opposed?

992
01:26:13,970 --> 01:26:14,810
Any abstentions?

993
01:26:15,810 --> 01:26:19,570
A6 is the appointment of a per diem substitute principal revised.

994
01:26:19,570 --> 01:26:20,690
May I have a motion please?

995
01:26:21,610 --> 01:26:23,610
Ms. Chang, seconded by Mr. Rotolo.

996
01:26:23,770 --> 01:26:24,410
Are there any questions?

997
01:26:25,350 --> 01:26:25,990
All in favor?

998
01:26:26,770 --> 01:26:27,290
Opposed?

999
01:26:28,030 --> 01:26:28,790
Any abstentions?

1000
01:26:30,130 --> 01:26:31,050
B items.

1001
01:26:31,810 --> 01:26:33,690
B one is the approval of recommendations

1002
01:26:33,690 --> 01:26:35,810
from the committee on special education.

1003
01:26:36,030 --> 01:26:36,950
May I have a motion please?

1004
01:26:37,170 --> 01:26:39,690
Mr. Feldman, seconded by Ms. Levitan.

1005
01:26:39,910 --> 01:26:40,570
Are there any questions?

1006
01:26:41,370 --> 01:26:42,030
All in favor?

1007
01:26:42,910 --> 01:26:43,430
Opposed?

1008
01:26:43,970 --> 01:26:44,790
Any abstentions?

1009
01:26:45,410 --> 01:26:47,730
B two is the approval of recommendations

1010
01:26:47,730 --> 01:26:50,150
from the committee on preschool special education.

1011
01:26:50,370 --> 01:26:51,190
May I have a motion please?

1012
01:26:51,390 --> 01:26:53,150
Mr. DiFilippo, seconded by Ms. Valkov.

1013
01:26:53,230 --> 01:26:54,030
Are there any questions?

1014
01:26:54,950 --> 01:26:55,650
All in favor?

1015
01:26:56,930 --> 01:26:57,450
Opposed?

1016
01:26:57,990 --> 01:26:58,890
Any abstentions?

1017
01:26:59,970 --> 01:27:02,310
B3 is the appointment of attendance officer

1018
01:27:02,310 --> 01:27:04,310
and Title IX coordinator.

1019
01:27:04,530 --> 01:27:05,450
May I have a motion please?

1020
01:27:06,450 --> 01:27:08,290
Ms. Chang, seconded by Mr. Rotolo.

1021
01:27:08,430 --> 01:27:09,190
Are there any questions?

1022
01:27:09,890 --> 01:27:10,670
All in favor?

1023
01:27:11,430 --> 01:27:11,950
Opposed?

1024
01:27:12,590 --> 01:27:13,490
Any abstentions?

1025
01:27:14,410 --> 01:27:16,610
B4 is the appointment of residency officer,

1026
01:27:16,610 --> 01:27:18,870
or attendance officer and Title IX coordinator.

1027
01:27:19,090 --> 01:27:19,870
May I have a motion, please?

1028
01:27:20,050 --> 01:27:21,710
Mr. Feldman, seconded by Mr. Gershon.

1029
01:27:21,810 --> 01:27:22,570
Are there any questions?

1030
01:27:23,430 --> 01:27:24,130
All in favor?

1031
01:27:24,910 --> 01:27:25,430
Opposed?

1032
01:27:25,910 --> 01:27:26,790
Any abstentions?

1033
01:27:27,470 --> 01:27:31,230
B-5 is the approval of Student Club Charters 2020-2021.

1034
01:27:31,390 --> 01:27:32,290
May I have a motion, please?

1035
01:27:33,090 --> 01:27:36,670
Ms. Falco, seconded by Mr. DiFilippa.

1036
01:27:36,730 --> 01:27:37,450
Are there any questions?

1037
01:27:38,250 --> 01:27:38,890
All in favor?

1038
01:27:39,770 --> 01:27:40,290
Opposed?

1039
01:27:41,010 --> 01:27:42,050
Any abstentions?

1040
01:27:42,710 --> 01:27:44,830
B-6 is the first reading of policy

1041
01:27:44,830 --> 01:27:49,710
is school district records, parent and family engagement, board member, school district officers

1042
01:27:49,710 --> 01:27:54,650
and employee code of ethics, student attendance, student wellness, student records, and the

1043
01:27:54,650 --> 01:27:57,870
code of character, conduct and support. May have a motion.

1044
01:27:58,810 --> 01:28:04,430
Mr. Feldman, seconded by Ms. Levitan. Are there any questions? Okay, this will be

1045
01:28:04,430 --> 01:28:09,930
voted on at the December 14th, 2020 meeting. C1 is the authorization for service contracts.

1046
01:28:09,930 --> 01:28:11,010
May I have a motion please?

1047
01:28:12,190 --> 01:28:14,410
Ms. Falcove seconded by Ms. Chang.

1048
01:28:14,590 --> 01:28:15,310
Are there any questions?

1049
01:28:15,910 --> 01:28:16,750
All in favor?

1050
01:28:17,670 --> 01:28:18,230
Opposed?

1051
01:28:18,670 --> 01:28:19,570
Any abstentions?

1052
01:28:20,110 --> 01:28:22,490
C2 is the authorization for special education

1053
01:28:22,490 --> 01:28:23,490
and nursing contracts.

1054
01:28:23,710 --> 01:28:24,570
May I have a motion please?

1055
01:28:25,610 --> 01:28:27,670
Mr. Feldman seconded by Ms. Levitan.

1056
01:28:27,850 --> 01:28:28,550
Are there any questions?

1057
01:28:29,410 --> 01:28:30,250
All in favor?

1058
01:28:31,010 --> 01:28:31,570
Opposed?

1059
01:28:32,130 --> 01:28:32,950
Any abstentions?

1060
01:28:33,270 --> 01:28:35,350
C3 is the authorization for contracts

1061
01:28:35,350 --> 01:28:36,810
for federal Part B funds.

1062
01:28:36,970 --> 01:28:37,850
May I have a motion please?

1063
01:28:38,410 --> 01:28:42,470
Ms. Falco, seconded by Ms. Levitane.

1064
01:28:42,590 --> 01:28:43,290
Are there any questions?

1065
01:28:44,350 --> 01:28:44,950
All in favor?

1066
01:28:45,930 --> 01:28:46,390
Opposed?

1067
01:28:46,770 --> 01:28:47,730
Any abstentions?

1068
01:28:48,330 --> 01:28:50,790
C4 is the authorization for use of reserve funds.

1069
01:28:50,870 --> 01:28:51,770
May I have a motion, please?

1070
01:28:56,650 --> 01:29:00,470
Mr. Falcone, seconded by Ms. Levitane.

1071
01:29:00,590 --> 01:29:01,390
Are there any questions?

1072
01:29:01,970 --> 01:29:02,710
All in favor?

1073
01:29:03,910 --> 01:29:05,330
Oh, sorry, Chris, go ahead.

1074
01:29:07,660 --> 01:29:09,500
I have a few questions.

1075
01:29:11,860 --> 01:29:18,640
Is this going forward? Maybe I should read all the questions and then you can answer.

1076
01:29:19,200 --> 01:29:32,760
So is this the request going forward? Because I think we've approved the other use of reserve funds on October 8th.

1077
01:29:32,760 --> 01:29:35,740
So is this new expenditure?

1078
01:29:37,880 --> 01:29:37,880
And

1079
01:29:39,960 --> 01:29:49,840
what's the purpose of this? And do we know what we've

1080
01:29:49,840 --> 01:29:54,880
spent year to date per student on COVID related expenses?

1081
01:29:54,880 --> 01:29:54,980
Thank you.

1082
01:30:00,000 --> 01:30:06,760
The reserve fund that we talked about on October 8th was the capital reserve. And there are monies

1083
01:30:06,760 --> 01:30:13,800
in, there were $5 million put into that at the end of last year. That was funded from monies

1084
01:30:13,800 --> 01:30:19,320
that were unexpended last year partially because of the COVID related closure. And that money

1085
01:30:19,320 --> 01:30:26,360
has been allocated towards the ventilation project. What this item does is it allows

1086
01:30:26,360 --> 01:30:29,760
the school district to temporarily use reserve funds

1087
01:30:29,760 --> 01:30:32,840
to cover a short-term cash flow shortfall.

1088
01:30:33,460 --> 01:30:35,500
So there are two ways that we can cover

1089
01:30:35,500 --> 01:30:37,140
this cash flow shortfall.

1090
01:30:37,520 --> 01:30:40,800
One is to borrow in the marketplace

1091
01:30:40,800 --> 01:30:42,540
or to borrow from ourselves.

1092
01:30:43,400 --> 01:30:46,880
So this was actually something five years ago,

1093
01:30:46,940 --> 01:30:49,640
Mr. Gang suggested that we do,

1094
01:30:50,120 --> 01:30:52,160
he noticed that we were doing short-term borrowing

1095
01:30:53,400 --> 01:30:55,120
to cover expenses.

1096
01:30:55,120 --> 01:31:01,540
And he suggested that we borrow from ourselves since we have reserves.

1097
01:31:02,260 --> 01:31:10,060
The law didn't allow it at that time, but the law was changed this year because of COVID to allow this and other purposes.

1098
01:31:10,060 --> 01:31:14,680
But this is not going to be an expenditure from the reserves.

1099
01:31:15,220 --> 01:31:21,280
This will just be short-term borrowing from the reserves and then we pay the reserves back immediately.

1100
01:31:21,280 --> 01:31:28,900
And we're not sure we'll even need this authority, and if we do, we will only need it for a matter of maybe a week or two.

1101
01:31:29,300 --> 01:31:36,900
But the savings to the district of not having to do the closing costs of a borrowing, it's called a tax anticipation note at hand,

1102
01:31:37,600 --> 01:31:42,600
will save us quite a bit of money. So this really does make a lot of sense for us to do.

1103
01:31:45,130 --> 01:31:47,250
Are there any other questions on C4?

1104
01:31:47,250 --> 01:31:48,330
So

1105
01:31:54,380 --> 01:31:55,560
Dr. Rogers is,

1106
01:31:57,880 --> 01:32:03,200
well, that's what the anticipation that we could, I could understand, it's barring

1107
01:32:03,200 --> 01:32:03,760
it temporarily.

1108
01:32:04,180 --> 01:32:06,900
It has to be the intent is to replace it.

1109
01:32:07,020 --> 01:32:14,120
I think it's the guidelines, it's unlike the other one where there was a specific

1110
01:32:14,120 --> 01:32:16,940
purpose to that reserve and it was yours.

1111
01:32:18,120 --> 01:32:22,040
So would the, you would still need board approval, right?

1112
01:32:22,040 --> 01:32:34,980
this just facilitates it or what's the, you know, the framework around the approval process.

1113
01:32:35,140 --> 01:32:43,320
Using it is one thing, but do you still get a motion to approve if you needed to use that for something, right?

1114
01:32:46,190 --> 01:32:53,330
This motion is the authorization to allow us to use these reserve funds to cover this short-term cash flow issue.

1115
01:32:53,330 --> 01:32:58,610
As you know, we receive funds from the county for property taxes.

1116
01:32:58,790 --> 01:33:05,490
They collect the property taxes on our behalf, but the county has been offering delays in

1117
01:33:05,490 --> 01:33:08,530
collection in order to help homeowners.

1118
01:33:09,310 --> 01:33:14,750
And so those delays in collection are resulting in delays in sharing those monies with us.

1119
01:33:15,270 --> 01:33:21,510
And so to cover that timing gap, we absolutely anticipate that the county is going to

1120
01:33:21,510 --> 01:33:25,710
furnish us with those funds, they're just not going to give them to us as timely as they

1121
01:33:26,470 --> 01:33:33,430
ordinarily would. And so this is not an expenditure against budget. This is just replacing the

1122
01:33:33,430 --> 01:33:40,510
revenue that's necessary until the county furnishes the funds that we anticipate from them.

1123
01:33:40,650 --> 01:33:44,330
So this is just covering the cash flow need that we have in the short term.

1124
01:33:46,560 --> 01:33:46,760
You're

1125
01:33:46,760 --> 01:33:46,940
welcome.

1126
01:33:50,360 --> 01:33:55,600
So to piggyback on it, Christy Filippo, then once those funds come in, because this is a

1127
01:33:55,600 --> 01:33:59,120
timing difference, then do we reimburse the fund and replenish it?

1128
01:34:00,580 --> 01:34:01,700
Yes, 100%.

1129
01:34:02,200 --> 01:34:07,400
So whatever we use to cover this short-term cash flow shortfall will all be replenished

1130
01:34:07,400 --> 01:34:10,540
to the reserve as soon as the funds come in from the county.

1131
01:34:11,040 --> 01:34:16,640
And the way the law is written, we have to replenish it with whatever interest we

1132
01:34:16,640 --> 01:34:18,900
we would estimate would have been earned on the funds.

1133
01:34:19,480 --> 01:34:20,860
But again, the period of time,

1134
01:34:21,300 --> 01:34:23,000
it's probably just a matter of one or two weeks

1135
01:34:23,420 --> 01:34:26,280
is gonna be so short that's probably not much money,

1136
01:34:26,520 --> 01:34:29,320
but just for the sake of the board,

1137
01:34:29,380 --> 01:34:31,760
I just want you to know that we do have to repay it,

1138
01:34:31,880 --> 01:34:32,740
quote, with interest.

1139
01:34:33,140 --> 01:34:35,120
Just, I can't imagine it's gonna be very much.

1140
01:34:38,820 --> 01:34:42,420
Okay, all in favor of C4, opposed?

1141
01:34:43,160 --> 01:34:43,980
Any abstentions?

1142
01:34:44,680 --> 01:34:48,620
C5 is the adoption of grants for the 2020-2021

1143
01:34:48,620 --> 01:34:50,300
Anyone school year revised?

1144
01:34:50,700 --> 01:34:51,380
May I have a motion, please?

1145
01:34:51,880 --> 01:34:54,300
Mr. DeFilippo, seconded by Mr. Gershon.

1146
01:34:54,420 --> 01:34:55,100
Are there any questions?

1147
01:34:55,920 --> 01:34:56,440
All in favor?

1148
01:34:57,360 --> 01:34:57,860
Opposed?

1149
01:34:58,280 --> 01:34:59,180
Any abstentions?

1150
01:34:59,660 --> 01:35:01,840
C6 and C7 can be taken together

1151
01:35:01,840 --> 01:35:03,700
regarding an inter-municipal agreement.

1152
01:35:04,220 --> 01:35:05,460
They are the approval of disclosure

1153
01:35:05,460 --> 01:35:06,460
and consent agreement

1154
01:35:06,460 --> 01:35:08,520
and approval of inter-municipal agreement.

1155
01:35:08,720 --> 01:35:09,680
May I have a motion, please?

1156
01:35:10,340 --> 01:35:12,640
Mr. DeFilippo, seconded by Mr. Feldman.

1157
01:35:12,740 --> 01:35:13,420
Are there any questions?

1158
01:35:15,040 --> 01:35:15,840
All in favor?

1159
01:35:16,680 --> 01:35:22,620
Opposed? Any abstentions? C8 is the disposal of broken surplus and or obsolete

1160
01:35:22,620 --> 01:35:27,620
equipment in books. May I have a motion, please? Ms. Falcove, seconded by Ms. Chang.

1161
01:35:27,800 --> 01:35:34,780
Are there any questions? All in favor? Opposed? Any abstentions? Thank you all for attending

1162
01:35:34,780 --> 01:35:36,080
and motion to adjourn.