Board of Education, Regular Meeting

1. 0:07Stand for the pledge of allegiance. I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America and to the republic for which it stands. One nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all.
2. 0:26Um Leslie, roll call, please.
3. 0:38Mark here.
4. 0:38Amanda Grubler here.
5. 0:45Person Jones is absent.
6. 0:45Calvin Lewis here.
7. 0:50Matthew Macker here.
8. 0:50And Walker here.
9. 0:54Uh make a motion to accept the agenda as presented.
10. 0:59Second. All in favor?
11. 1:03Uh, brings us to our student representative report.
12. 1:08Good afternoon, everyone. Um, so first up this Thursday, our mock trial team has its county finals. Um, we previously had not received our scoring from our past competitions, but um, as of I think last Wednesday, we did. And now we know we're in the county finals which will be this Thursday in the courthouse um in Hudson, the Columbia County Courthouse at the park with the gazebo thing. Um it'll be in there with an actual judge um with a baift with a county with a court clerk. It'll be very official and we're very excited.
13. 1:46Um last meeting I talked about our uh model UN competition at Bard College and I'm pleased to announce that it went very well. Uh unfortunately I wasn't able to be there but two of our delegates won outstanding delegate which is like the second place um and another one uh won delegation commenation which is almost like a third place. There were only two committees so the fact that Hudson took second place in both of them is very very impressive.
14. 2:16Um today, uh Environ presented to uh a Columbia County Department of Environmental Conservations, uh member. And this was sort of a a practice for their competition in May, I'm pretty sure. As for our sports, today was I think track's first track meet if I'm correct. I think it was their first one. At least I think it was the first one here. Um it's probably still going on right now.
15. 2:43Um, but yeah, our tennis team is currently two and two. And as a reminder, uh, no one on the tennis team has played tennis before, or at least in an official capacity. Um, I'm on the team. It's a lot of fun. Um, very proud of how our team is doing. Um, yeah, our baseball team is also doing quite well.
16. 3:05Um, as for future events coming up, uh, we the student council will be hosting again as we did last year, the meet the board candidates night. Tentatively, this night is set for May, uh, 15th at 6 p.m. Um, however, this is not confirmed yet. Um, the ballots or the sorry, the petitions for uh, potential candidates is due April 30th. So once that day passes and we have all of the potential candidates, we will reach out and confirm their availability for the state. Um the event is completely voluntary. Um we got great public support last year. It was live streamed. Um people seem to really enjoy it and the candidates also seem to get a great deal out of it.
17. 3:50Um, oh, also in uh our sociology class uh this past the past week and into the start of this week, uh seniors have been sending out their sociology uh surveys. So, this is a part of a research project that this um each individual senior designs, they create a research question, hypothesis, and they create survey questions which are sent out um either throughout the district or um just to high schoolers.
18. 4:19There's going to be an expo for the findings of these surveys um on April 25th in the high school library and you are all invited. Um it's a public expo. Parents um public are all welcome to come uh the 25th, April 25th. And I think some of my favorite news is that we have break next week. So thank you. That's all.
19. 4:43Thank you very much. Good luck at the mock trial finals.
20. 4:47Thank you.
21. 4:52Uh next up we have a presentation from Cradle to Career by Greater Hudson Promise Neighborhood.
22. 5:07Thank you. Hi everyone. I'm not sure how I access the presentation, but I sent a PDF.
23. 5:21If not, can I get on Canva on here like online?
24. 5:55candle would be perfect.
25. 6:13Where's the mouse?
26. 6:33This works.
27. 7:13the app.
28. 7:16Um, it's a presentation.
29. 7:47It was sitting in my drafts. My apologies. Like I know I did it this morning.
30. 8:24Here it is.
31. 8:33No, no, no. It's an attachment.
32. 8:41Can I log into my Gmail? Yeah. Okay.
33. 8:56I think they need the same computer.
34. 8:59Oh, looks like they're close.
35. 9:05We're close.
36. 9:10Committees. Was it committees? Sure.
37. 9:20Okay. Got it. I want this as a PDF though. Yeah.
38. 9:28Does it have it on here?
39. 9:40Raheem, that should work. Oh, are you? Yeah. Okay.
40. 9:54Okay, sorry about that everyone. Here we go. Thank you, Rahee. Um, can everyone hear? Okay. Um, hi. So, I'm Joan Hunt, executive director of Greater Hudson Promise Neighborhood. And, um, Dr. Pennyman asked me to come talk a little bit about our cradle to career work that we're doing here in Hudson. Um, so I'll start with just a little bit of history. born and raised in Columbia County. Um I started working here in Hudson in 2006 when I started a music program at the local boys and girls club, the youth center now. Um and have just been working here in some capacity for the duration of that time.
41. 10:26Um I came to the Promise Neighborhood in 2012 right after they received the federal grant and I've sort of seen the the transition of the project since then. So, I'm going to talk through a little bit of that today and then focus on the cradle to career coalition and then answer any questions that you all may have.
42. 10:42Um, so just a little bit about our mission, uh, which has evolved over the years. Um, but we strive to build an equitable community by providing opportunities along the cradle to career continuum for individuals and families impacted by systemic oppression and failures. And we do believe that every family in our community will be supported and given the opportunity to grow, learn, and thrive.
43. 11:07We adhere very strictly to these core values that really guide all of our work and our programming and our interaction with the youth and families that we work with. Um so I'm not going to read them one by one, but um those are really what sustain us in this work and inform any decisions we make moving forward and what we do.
44. 11:26Um just a little bit of early history here at a glance. So in 2011 is when Hudson received the planning grant. We were one of 15 communities across the nation that year um that received this grant under the US Department of Education and it was Obama and Jeffrey Canada that came together um and decided you know if the Harlem Children Zone can really succeed in their cradleto career continuum in Harlem why can't we try this across the country in different ways and focusing on place so there are promised neighborhoods in Berea Kentucky in San Francisco all over the country that look very different and so for us here in Hudson It was about how do we bring stakeholders together from youth and families all the way to our elected officials and everyone in between to decide where are the gaps and where are the opportunities along this continuum.
45. 12:16And so over the past 13 14 years we've really focused on building those partnerships and um trying to address some of those gaps some by ourselves some in partnership with other organizations. Um, so Americanore was one of our big wins early on, um, in partnership with the Mental Health Association and that original model was based on the Harlem Peacemakers program, which was directly from the Harlem Children Zone and we got to work with them a lot early on in our planning process.
46. 12:45Um, we evolved from, you may recognize someone in this picture. Um, just to show you how long we've been around, you see Liia and her daughter Mariah on the left at our one of our very first community cleanups. And then over the years, um, we've made sure we take that picture every year to kind of show the growth. But, um, we have one coming up May 16th for anyone that wants to come volunteer. Um, but yeah, we've really evolved from being in a storefront on Second Street, which is now the Rowan Grosser, to having two locations on Warren Street. One to the right is in the First Presbyterian Church on the lower level, and the one that you see here is 364 Warren Street, which used to be the Register Star Building, and we're now upstairs and in the downstairs of that space. Um, so we've really kind of grown our operations and our locations along the way as well.
47. 13:39Uh I won't go into each one of these. I'm trying to just give an overview of what they are. But our five areas of impact are direct support and resources, community and collaboration, individual and systems advocacy, education and professional development, as well as legal system reform. And so all of these programs and initiatives on the left fall into one of those um areas of impact. Some there's overlap, but generally they kind of fit into some of those categories. Um, so I will give a brief overview of some of those moving forward.
48. 14:10And then our actual geographic area of impact has changed as well. When we started the promised neighborhood in 2011 2012, it was just the school district, but over time we've seen so many of our families be pushed out of the area and we didn't want to lose those relationships and connections. And so our programming has sort of spilled out into other areas of the county as well. Um, for example, our initiative for children of incarcerated parents, we were seeing families incarcerated or families having loved ones incarcerated at the county jail that didn't only live in Hudson. So, it kind of forced us to push our work outside of um just the school district, but this is still very much our our hub and our home.
49. 14:52Um, so just a glimpse at our early learning program. We run a Monday through Friday program from 10 to 12 at our location on Warren Street for 0 to 5 year olds. It's a drop in program. Um, and it's not uh licensed or anything. It operates under three hours and it's really aimed at bringing parents and their young children in. Um, we do steam projects, there's readalouds, some literacy activities. Um, and it's really to get kids that don't have the opportunity to engage in a formal program, just some socialization and some exposure to learning and literacy. um in a in the absence of formal programs. So, that's been great and it allows us to engage the parents, which is great.
50. 15:35We also coordinate a a literacy network across the county that includes 1920 partners um strictly talking about early learning and literacy um just because we know that's such a huge need and definitely impacts the district as you have kids coming into pre-K and kindergarten. Um, we also have an early learning traveling program which is aimed to go out to some of the more rural areas of the county to reach kids.
51. 16:01Our team TAM after school program um operates actually year round. So during the school year it's um Monday through Friday 2:30 to 5:30. We have busing directly from the school district to our location on Warren Street and then we have transportation to drive the kids home. In the summertime it turns into an after Oakdale program. Um, again, we coordinate with Oakdale to transport the kids from Oakdale to our location. So, it's really providing families with a full day of care, which is great.
52. 16:29Um, and these are just some stats around the kids that we serve in that program primarily. And we we've been working with some of the same kids since they were four and now they're, you know, 12, 13, 14. Um, and we have really incredible opportunities for our kids from tennis like you mentioned to circus, photography, 4, flying deer nature center, yoga. Um, the kids had a radio show which was really fun over the past several weeks. Um, so we try to give them opportunities that they may not have had otherwise. Um, and provide that access to them through our programming.
53. 17:07Um, beyond GED is a relatively new program for us. Um, and this really came out of a need we were seeing with kids that were not successful in the district, um, dropping out and kind of just lost. Um, many of whom were engaging in risky behaviors, getting involved with low-level misdemeanors and felonies. Um, kids we had relationships with along the way.
54. 17:29So, we were able to bring them in um, through our Beyond GED program. This is actually a kid that graduated um Josh Wallace who has successfully completed his GED actually within six weeks of enrolling in the program which was incredible. Um there are incentives for them to be there because if um we don't give them that we find that we struggle with engagement in the same way that they probably struggled in some other settings as well. So they do receive a paid stipen for hours that they study. We provide meals on study days as well as transportation to and from tests um and personalized support, so goal setting um for each individual student and really wraparound supports that aren't just about completing the GED, but what's what's next and what's beyond that.
55. 18:15Um so our enrollment has grown tremendously from one or two students to now we have 19. Um actually I think we're pushing 21 at this point. Um but yeah, so that's that program has been incredibly successful in getting kids to complete their GED.
56. 18:32Um transportation, which again is a close partnership with the school district, Dr. Pennyman mentioned, we're able to provide transportation daily for a preschool student who would otherwise not be able to get to school every day. So with this van that you many of you have probably seen all over the place. Um we provide transportation to school to afterchool programs after school to home um summer programming and we partner with other organizations locally to help with transportation as well.
57. 19:02Uh we also have a robust emergency assistance and rental assistance program. Um, for example, this year alone, we've already distributed $86,000 in rental assistance. And that just demonstrates the housing crisis that we're all in right now. And it's really about keeping families stably housed and local to their district, to their community, and not in motel, out of county, and you know, just yeah, without the resources and the community they rely on. So, uh, rental assistance, discretionary assistance, funeral assistance. We do an emergency air conditioner program as well.
58. 19:40We also run the Hudson up basic income pilot, which provides 128 people in Hudson with $500 a month for five years. Um, so that program has been hugely transformative for for many people and we are now expanding to a Bergkshire County Community Foundation guaranteed income which will serve the entire county. Um, two individuals per 21 townships will be receiving $500 a month for two years.
59. 20:10Um, in addition to that, we have a a credit building initiative that kind of connects to the guaranteed income because we don't want folks to not have the resources to actually build upon um, you know, what they're receiving with Hudson up. It's all uh, it's voluntary, but we do have that available as well. uh in addition to uh an internet um internet access through Unity now which is a local internet service provider actually started by Hudson High School graduate Shahim de Jesus um and so we've connected with them to provide referrals as well
60. 20:45um many of you have probably heard of co-host which is the Columbia County Hudson out of schooltime collaborative which we also coordinate it's 28 partner organizations that serve students in the district Um it includes uh anyone that works with youth in the community pretty much. Um and we meet monthly to coordinate which programs are happening, how to not overlap, what funding opportunities are available. We talk about data. We do professional development. We have a co-host retreat coming up which will provide free training to all of our out of school time providers.
61. 21:18Um, so we coordinate that as well as the youth prevention network which has sort of morphed into um our team focusing on attendance since we know that's a concern for the district and us attending the district's attendance meetings as well as the task force.
62. 21:37Uh we also do systems and individual advocacy and systems reform which includes some individual advocacy as well as systemswide advocacy really focusing on what impacts the families that we serve. Um so I could get into all these but it would take a while. Um so just know that we are advocating for for changes to systems that impact the people that we serve.
63. 22:00Um the initiative for children of incarcerated parents has been a a huge undertaking for us and resulted in us changing the way visits happen at the Columbia County Jail. So you'll see a mural to the left um which was one of the efforts to sort of make the visiting room at the jail more child-friendly um for visits that were happening and we now uh children don't have to visit behind a glass barrier anymore. We can actually bring them in. they can sit on their parents' lap and interact with them, play games, do homework, read books. Um, so it's really transformed the way visits happen and it's also being replicated in other county jails across New York State.
64. 22:39Um, and finally, Dr. Pennyman asked me to come talk about today, uh, but I felt like I had to give some context was the cradle to career career coalition. So, as part of our collaborative building work that we do, um we felt it would be really important to bring together some key high level stakeholders across the community to all work towards common goals as a collective. Um and so we've only had one meeting so far, but it's really it's a great group of folks that seem really committed to moving the needle on these outcomes.
65. 23:13um improving early childhood development, enhancing K12 education, you know, just focusing on what we can work on together all the way from early childhood to college and career because they're all interconnected. You know, the issues that they're having at Colombia Green are directly impacted by the lack of early learning opportunities and I know you see it here firsthand. So the goal here is to just bring folks together and decide on what we can do as a collective to move the needle on some of these issues.
66. 23:43So um I think that's uh community building is another thing that we do. Um I mentioned the cleanup and these are some other events that we have. Um but the team that we have really makes all of this possible. Many of them are Hudson High School graduates um and local to the community. Um, so they're super important to to everything that we do. Um, and if you'd like to learn more, here's more information. And I can also send this PowerPoint, actually send this PowerPoint to you, Leslie. Um, but happy to answer any questions or clarify anything that I've spoken about.
67. 24:21Thank you. Thank you very much. Um, with uh with it starting with a federal grant from the Department of Education, what does the funding look like now?
68. 24:31No more federal funding. Um, so it was a one-time grant, planning grant, uh, for half a million dollars. We stretched it out over two years and then they said, "If this is important to you guys, figure it out." So we went sort of from this large federal grant to a grassroots organization overnight and have just been building up kind of organically over the past 13 14 years.
69. 24:54So is it mostly just like local um, fundraising?
70. 24:56Yeah, and in this moment I feel really lucky that it's a lot of local funding. Um, so we have some state funding and some county funding. Um, but mostly we're foundation. We're supported by local foundations um and grants from some larger foundations. But yeah, that's that's where most of our funding about 75% of our funding comes from.
71. 25:16Thank you.
72. 25:16Sure.
73. 25:20I had I had another question. Um, uh, I don't know if I I'm assuming that wasn't all the students, but said you're currently servicing 35 students in in
74. 25:31That's just in our after school program. Okay. Yeah. So, annually we serve about 2,000 people across all of our programs.
75. 25:38And I'm wondering, is there space in your program?
76. 25:40Um, no, we wish. So, we have a pretty long waiting list for um most of our programs and that's just due to space restraints mostly. Um, so yeah, but the great thing about this community is that there are so many programs. So there's the afterchool program here, there's the youth department, there's Kites Nest, there's perfect 10. There's so many different avenues and we're pretty well connected to most of them that we can kind of refer out if we do get people that inquire about our program.
77. 26:07Thank you.
78. 26:09H how many students um have taken the GED program with you?
79. 26:12Uh you mean completed it?
80. 26:15Yes. Or or currently
81. 26:18Eight. We have 20 enrolled now.
82. 26:18Great. Yeah. Yeah.
83. 26:21I had a question about that as well. Um, is there a pretty good I mean I notic you you mentioned that um you had to provide incentives um in some cases and I'm wondering what the retention rate is for the GD program. Do kids stay with it the the whole time or
84. 26:38It's really good. We're actually having an issue now where we think there might be kids that should be testing that are trying to stay in the program because of the support that we have. So, we're trying to work through that and we've actually um instituted some additional incentives for testing because they'll be like, "We're not ready. We're not ready, but your test your scores are showing us that you're ready." Um, so we're actually running into that which we did not anticipate. But, um, yeah, I mean the good thing is that it's not just the financial incentives, there's other wraparound supports that we're providing to the students. So, I think there, you know, there's a mixture of both.
85. 27:15Thank you. Good questions.
86. 27:19And is there a direct referral process from the school for students for that program and the criteria they need to meet?
87. 27:26Um, so we work really closely with the high school on this. Um, and being at the attendance meetings is really helpful to to do that. Um, so there's very great communication between uh Mr. Payne and and the the counseling staff here around what might be a good fit for which student and there's very close collaboration on um what works there. But yeah, it's been partnering with the district on this has been hugely helpful.
88. 27:56Cool. Well, thank you so much for being here.
89. 27:57Thank you. We're sorry for the technical issues.
90. 27:59No worries. Thank you.
91. 28:14Thank you. Next, we have a field trip presentation.
92. 28:27Good evening everybody. My name is Janet Brust and I teach English 10 and 11 here at the high school. And I would like to thank Dr. Pennyman for getting this on the agenda. Um I would like to take my 11th grade to uh on a field trip to see The Great Gatsby on Broadway. U let's see next slide.
93. 28:48We're going to take approximately 36 students and chaperones. Um, we're going to go down to the city on Yankee Trails, which cost $2,300. But fortunately, we got two grants, one from the Berkshire Tonic Community Foundation, and one from Hudson River Bank and Trust to pay for the transportation. This would even only leave the students to pay $52 for the tickets.
94. 29:12Our chaperones are myself, Mrs. Benieri, Mrs. Manchock and Mrs. Isles. It will be on Saturday, May 10th. We'll leave the high school about 8:00 a.m. We'll arrive in New York City about 11:30. We'll take the students to lunch. Then we'll head over to the show at the Broadway Theater. It's a 2 o'clock matinea, 2 hours and 30 minutes. Then we'll get them a little snack and we'll head back to the bus and we should be back at the school at 9.
95. 29:42I think this is going to be a great experience for them. As you can see, we tried to give them that experience in the classroom. We had a a Gatsby day. Um, all the students got Gatsby hats and uh the girls got little bandanas to wear, but I think seeing a Broadway show will be very valuable to our students. Any questions?
96. 30:07Sounds like a great trip. Yep. I hope so.
97. 30:10All right. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you for being here.
98. 30:16Uh next up we have board reports. Uh start with the policy committee.
99. 30:24Um great. Um we I know I had said last week that we were going to put the first read of the promotion and retention policy on today's agenda. Uh we actually ended up delaying uh one cycle on that because we got some feedback from our lawyers. Um, so we did some more work on that uh policy today. We're sending it back for one more draft.
100. 30:44Um, so that's the update on that. Uh, what else did we do today? We, um, took a look at the org chart one final time, which is on today's as a first read. Um, which just sort of puts solidifies the roles that are currently in place. It doesn't make any changes. It just is the visual representation of what's there.
101. 31:01Um and we took a look at what it will take to build our our policy committee charter just to kind of formalize some of our processes. Um and then on deck is code of conduct grading policy um and refining the like policy on creating policies to get very meta for everybody. Did I miss anything? No. Sounds I think you got it all.
102. 31:30Uh great facilities committee. All right. Good evening everyone. Uh so facilities uh committee we met today at 4:00. Um and we reviewed um a number of topics that I'll go through.
103. 31:46Uh personnel uh we currently have an employee that's out on leave of absence. Um a temporary position um will be passed on to uh Dr. Pennyman. Um, our maintenance mechanic will be retiring uh this summer. Um, we've added a full-time custodian uh to the team that will replace the recent retiree.
104. 32:10Uh, as it relates to our smart schools investment plan, um, otherwise known as the SSIP. Um, currently, um, Cheryl is helping us with the data entry into the portal. Um, this will be presented uh later at um an upcoming board meeting. Uh the results from that from that data input. Uh this project will cost $1.7 million. And this is in an effort to update our phone systems, uh Wi-Fi, cabling, our uh PA systems, mass notification, and cameras.
105. 32:50Another topic we discussed uh was pool updates. Um on the 7th um we hosted the annual uh boat races in the pool um in Germantown districts attended. Um that sounded like a pretty uh cool uh activity there and so we're we're um hopeful to to see some photos from that. Um Catskill Elementary, they use the pool um during the winter.
106. 33:15Um and we are also um excuse me updating the website to reflect um the schedule for public swims. Um so stay tuned for that.
107. 33:27Um as it relates to the public information session, this was something that we discussed at our last uh meeting. We um without Tyler, we've identified two dates uh two potential dates to uh put that into effect. That would be April 29th uh and or May 13th from 5 to 6 pm. And this will be hosted in the cafeteria uh here at the uh high school.
108. 33:55Um Energia Johnston Controls and uh John Shy who is our architect from uh Rybeck Architect. They will be uh present um at those meetings to uh screen any questions that the public may have. Um in that meeting you can expect to gather a better understanding um of the scope of work, the photos, um the designs and the sorts. So uh stay tuned for that.
109. 34:27We also uh talked about a comprehensive audit uh as it relates to the energy proficiency um project. Um the CAE kicked off the excuse me the CA kicked off meetings um that will take place on the 14th of this month. Uh this will establish an overall project timeline, generate a list of improvements and give us a baseline of the financials and a final contract proposal. Uh the plan is to execute the EPC contract in August of this year.
110. 35:04Um there's also um updates about the newsletter that'll be going out. Uh Tyler will finalize that with uh Dr. Pennyman and Avi um later this uh week. Uh they'll be discussing um a mailer that will be sent to all taxpayers with the information needed to inform them about the capital project and the uh anticipated updates.
111. 35:26Um we have a few uh upcoming inspections um as it applies to uh the asbestous uh triannual inspection uh that's due this year. Uh this is completed um every 3 years. Um and here in 2025 we need to uh complete that. Um also uh sprinkler inspection was uh will be done in May at Mc Smith and the junior high. Uh we will also have to do lead testing uh in the uh in our water for in our drinking water. That also will be done um later uh uh this season uh but certainly uh before the end of the year.
112. 36:11Um our office of fire prevention uh there was a few changes. Um there is a new initiative from the governor as it relates to the heating bill excuse me. Um Essentially, if the classroom is too hot, um any uh if it's over 88 degrees, students have to be uh removed from the classroom. Um if it's over 82 degrees, um we need to take act.
113. 36:42And so that essentially just means to cool the classroom so that the students are in a comfortable setting um as well as the faculty. Um we uh also have a building envelope being added uh to the to the BCS which will involve the uh energy proficient project and that um is also uh state aidable. Um as it applies to our clean sweep um this will help the district. This is an effort to um rid the district of any waste as it applies to chemicals, um paints, uh things of that nature.
114. 37:17Uh that's something that's going to be taking place as well. And uh the paperwork that we have to submit to the state is due um this month. And I believe that that is uh that is all of my updates uh for the evening. Thank you. And thank you to Tyler as well.
115. 37:40Um, audit committee. Uh, the audit committee met April 3rd, uh, along with Dr. Pennyman, the district finance team, with Mr. Prusser, the independent external auditor. Uh, the topic of the meeting was the issues of the district's financial statements and the auditor's opinion. Uh, he issued an unqualified opinion on the statements for the 2324 school year. Uh, the statements are attached to the consensus agenda. The committee recommends the board approve it and they'll be posted to the district website.
116. 38:14Great. Thank you very much. Uh that brings us to the community budget workshop.
117. 38:52Good evening board. Um, this evening, Miss Ferry and I will present to you the draft of our proposed 2020 Thank you. Right. 2025 uh draft budget proposal. So our budget, the foundation of our budget begins with the vision and the mission statement. And it's also based on our six keys of su six keys of success.
118. 39:48The 202526 budget philosophy is based around student centered. It's student centered. It's fiscally responsible. It's based on resource allocation, transparency and engagement and long-term vision. And the Hudson City School is committed to developing a responsible, transparent, and missiondriven budget that reflects our core values, which are academic excellence, fiscal stewardship, and community partnerships.
119. 40:23The 2025 budget at a glance is we want to maintain general fund programs. We want to create efficient systems of support and we are proposing a tax levy increase of 3.55%. The objectives of the budget is to review the information that was presented previously. We're going to present a proposed budget expenses when rolled over that includes mandated and contractual obligations. And then we we will present proposed budget with adjusted revenue and expenses.
120. 41:13Good evening. My name is Christy Ferry. I am the new executive director of business and finance and I started in in this position four weeks ago in the middle of budget season. Um this presentation was created in collaboration with Cindy Rahome who is also the interimm business official.
121. 41:36So this is a historical view of um the expense totals and you can see it started from the school year 2021 to 2022 and the increase that has occurred um over the past years. If expenses are kept at the current level, there is an increase of 4.59%.
122. 42:08This expense budget shows a slight decrease in expenses based on a reduction of staff through attrition which is the retirements. It caused a 07% change. There was also a decrease in debt service but as you can see general support tr and transportation increased and there this created a 1 mill358,646 gap.
123. 42:57with an increase of of 3.55% tax levy, a decrease in foundation aid of projected.21% 1,147630 of assigned fund balance and 335,350 planned use of reserves. The result is a revenue of 56,79446. And you can see with this revenue there's an increase of 2.14%.
124. 43:43So what can contribute to the decrease of revenue? Sometimes a decrease in revenue is because of enrollment which affects possible revenue. So here you can see a 10-year trend um and there's a decrease of enrollment.
125. 44:11So this compares the estimated tax levy impact based on a possible 2% tax levy increase or 3.55% proposed annual tax rate. It's based on annual um the difference monthly and the difference sorry annual an annual or monthly. Um so an increase in revenue comparison based on 2% or 3.55% annual tax is an increase of approximately$2 to4 dollar a month.
126. 45:00Certain costs like those required in New York State must stay in place and can't be reduced. So to match expenses with expected revenue, the budget was adjusted by reducing ex spending in other areas. The instruction category which includes things like teaching and classroom support would need to be reduced and the amount set aside for paying off loans like debt debt service also has to be reduced. But um what can contribute to increase in expenses, increase in transportation costs, increase in mandated services and increase in health insurance and benefit costs.
127. 46:06Some possible reductions to general expenses and instructions may include um four teacher positions, three psychologists, two reading teachers, one speech pathologist or eight teaching aids. These are possible reductions in order to decrease expenses in instructions.
128. 46:33What are some of the unknowns? At this time, the New York State budget has not been fi finalized. So, that is an unknown. It's also unknown of federal funding in terms of grants for the future. And um unknown is inflation costs for goods and services that everyone is aware of. And that concludes the budget um presentation at this time.
129. 47:03Um when do you when would you expect the state budget to be finalized? Remember last year was right in between this meeting and the meeting where we had to finalize the budget.
130. 47:14I I don't have a projection. I mean, it was supposed to be April one, so I don't know. Yeah, I believe heard yesterday that the deadline was supposed to be a couple days ago, but it's still not right.
131. 47:30Okay. Can you explain? There's an expenses by budget category slide that says expenses by budget category rollover and it has a proposed budget for instruction of 27,565. And then on the last slide you just showed it says 26206. Uh not that one. There you go. there there's like there's a proposed budget for instruction there. Yeah. And then it's about a million dollars less on the last slide. Is that can you explain what the difference is there?
132. 48:09Yes. So this first slide is just representative when you take the 2425 budget and you roll it over but you you increase everyone's salaries based on the contractual rates. So the decrease occurred because of removing of some of the retirements, but you would still have to replace them with other people potentially. So it it created a a slight decrease. So the total if you look at the total will still be 58,153, um 92. So if you look at This proposed budget decreased almost 5% in the instruction category and then creating a total of 56,794,446 which is the same as the potential potential um revenue that we're expecting to obtain.
133. 49:30So So this instruction reduction is based on not replacing retirees in the district, you said.
134. 49:36No, this this one is based on a reduction of these positions or these this amount of positions.
135. 49:51And are those repurposing positions or are those layoffs?
136. 49:53Those are reductions. So layoff like Okay.
137. 50:04And sorry, is the reduction in positions um like uh a trend that we've been seeing recently or is that a completely new thing that would like a for just this like
138. 50:19all districts in Colombia County and across the nation is you'll be seeing reductions in every district in some capacity and that's unique to this year. This is Yeah, I Well, since I've been here, we didn't reduce anyone last year, but there's other there there's a lot of variables that contribute to this. So,
139. 50:42and are those positions the only positions that are um in like flux or in possibility of being reduced?
140. 50:51Well, this is a propo this is a proposal. There could be other positions as we con continue, but at this point, those are the positions we're proposing.
141. 51:04Thank you.
142. 51:09So, how did we go? How did we get to this instruction number from the numbers we saw Sunday night? I guess what what what's changed?
143. 51:23So the change the changes in the fact that the first so I think what was shared was the first one which was this one with the 58 million but that does not match the 56 million that we need for revenues. So the change is this is just a rollover but
144. 51:45okay the point is that there there needs to be okay I I guess that wasn't that wasn't clear when I read it. Okay.
145. 51:52Um, yeah. So, we're essentially right now trying to figure out where we're going to end up between the $58 million, which is a rollover budget, and this $56 million budget, which would result in reductions. Um, and I guess my um my questions would be about, you know, uh assigned fund balance and planned use of reserves. Are there other levers there that we can pull? um to use more of our savings uh uh so that we don't need to make such drastic changes right now and can take more time to make more of a long-term plan um that you know gets us where we need to be over the course of a number of years instead of all at once.
146. 52:41You you have the ability to adjust your assigned fund balance. However, um it seems historically this is the trend to um use a signed fund balance to balance the budget. Um however, when as soon as you you use all of it, there's none left. And so we're getting very close to a space where if we follow this trend, that's where we'll be.
147. 53:07Yeah. So that but that is of course an option to to work on increasing the revenue, right?
148. 53:15And do we know how much is available in the assigned fund balance right now?
149. 53:17We have that number. Um I don't have it. I I can get that to you. Okay. Was in one of the previous presentations if we can dig for it.
150. 53:28Is there a world I think I I am uncomfortable with this many proposed reductions this late in the game for people to like from a standpoint of people being able to find other jobs from impact on the district? I is there a world where we could look at using more reserves right now and then think about I I understand that like losing COVID funding potentially losing federal funding like I I fully understand that we may have to like have a long-term vision that has some reduction in staffing but is there a world where like I guess I wondering like how we can further explore thinking about retirement and and you know positions that sort of phase out in that regard rather than rather than direct reductions in this moment. in time.
151. 54:22Yeah, I would agree with that. What reserves are being proposed to be used here at the 335,000? So, that seems to be workman's comp reserves.
152. 54:33Okay. Is that our anticipated total cost for workers comp next year or I'll have to get back to you. I prepared this with Cindy.
153. 54:41Okay. Um I I'd also ask you to take a look at uh the tax reduction reserve. Um there's $550,000 that came from the Clark school sale which was 2016 and by law we have to use it within 10 years. So seems like the time we have to use it. Um so I think there's if nothing else there's money there that we need to use.
154. 55:08Um, and as far as the expenditures go for the budget, looking at rolling it over and whatnot, is there a comparison of current year expenditures and how we think we're actually spending money right now um to inform whether we've got, you know, pots that are sitting there available
155. 55:33because the audit was just finished last week. We're still working on um closing those um those budget items in order to have a good number for this year's budget.
156. 55:45Okay. Um interest income is another one which I know it doesn't show up in the revenue, but it's in the rents, tuitions, and pilots uh line. Um we've been budgeting $100,000 a year, which given the interest rate environment that's existed for the last 15 years, um probably made sense. uh the 2324 audit financial statements, there's $800,000 of interest. Um so it's just another item we should probably look at in terms of realistically budgeting the numbers.
157. 56:14I just pulled up the previous budget uh from two sessions ago and the the line here says that if we utilized 1,549690 we'd have 4,350,000ish remaining in fund balance just for numbers that were in that. That's approximately what we have.
158. 56:38You're correct.
159. 56:41Okay. Yeah, that's helpful. Thank you.
160. 56:44Um well I guess to start with uh start with the um tax levy. Is everybody in agreement um is everybody in agreement that based on what we're faced with we should be pursuing the 3.55% which is the maximum uh level allowable.
161. 57:11Yeah, I would agree with that. I think it's important to do what we can to keep as much money in here.
162. 57:15Okay. Yeah. And I I think it's um I agree with it. Uh I think it's important context that the district has been below the cap for a number of years. Um and you know when it wasn't needed it wasn't asked for. Uh so I would I would think uh some acknowledgement of that. Um but I also think that the state created this artificial limit that doesn't necessarily relate to actual expenditures uh over the long term. So uh I I would support going to the cap this year.
163. 57:46Okay, great. Um and then uh outside of that um you know I think we can always hope last year we were in a similar position and the state budget came back and we were able to secure more uh funds from the state. So we'll be keeping an eye on that. Um, does everybody else uh agree with the um idea of trying to identify other uh reserves and fund balances that we can uh use for this year's budget to try and limit the uh amount of reductions as much as possible?
164. 58:25Yes.
165. 58:25Okay. Um, and then yeah, and I think just in addition to that, it's really just, you know, we need to come up with this long-term plan um that allows us to track the the budget expenditures over course of years, not just from year to year. Um, and really figure out ways to bring things like transportation down and renegotiate some of these contracts so that we can be spending money on things that are um important and support people in the classrooms.
166. 58:57Um yeah, and just to be clear to everybody else, the the final budget will be that the board needs to be approved will be presented at the uh next board meeting. And we'll be all working very hard until then uh with our uh administrators and the rest of the board to try and come up with the budget that works for everybody. Anybody else have anything else to add?
167. 59:27Okay, great. Uh, thank you.
168. 59:41Oh, sorry. Could I ask one question?
169. 59:43Yeah, please.
170. 59:43Um, I'm looking here at the previous uh or one of the previous uh presentations for this budget and I'm curious how the reduction in force from what I'm looking at uh went from four positions to that much bigger number that was up there.
171. 59:59Well, I think in the last presentation um we were looking at versions of that budget that spent a much higher version of our reserves, right? Wasn't that total budget closer to 58 million?
172. 1:00:14This has 1.5 million in reserves allocated.
173. 1:00:16Yeah. As opposed to the 300,000 that I think that was on there.
174. 1:00:22Right. Yeah. So that's the difference.
175. 1:00:24So that's the difference. Yes. Okay. Exactly.
176. 1:00:25And does that indicate a I don't know a preference in which direction we go to that this
177. 1:00:32I think the administration is trying to show us different options so that we can have a a constructive conversation and give them some direction about where we want them to go. Um, so yeah, nothing's final at this point. Um, and the final budget will be presented at the next meeting.
178. 1:00:49Um, and you know, I think the the only further point of clarification that would be helpful to everybody is that there's a difference between reducing positions and repurposing positions. So, you know, we can find efficiencies by not replacing people as they retire. Um, and still helps us reduce our costs overall. Um so those are the two different strategies that are are being looked at right now. Thank you.
179. 1:01:13Yes, of course. Um at this time there is no need for an early executive session. Uh brings us to the uh personnel agenda. Um like to make a motion to accept personnel agenda items A 1- 10 and B 1 through 3.
180. 1:01:34Second.
181. 1:01:34All in favor?
182. 1:01:42Uh, brings us to the superintendence report.
183. 1:02:10Good evening again. On March uh 28, we saw a great performance of Susicle um in the elementary schools. So, congratulations to all of the students and staff who worked diligently to prepare such a great pres uh promotion or activity.
184. 1:02:31So tonight's spotlights on excellence um I'm going to present these spotlight on excellence to the fourth grade team at the elementary school and the reasoning behind this is we have been working uh this year Dr. KT and um Marina, the principles um just uh just trying to really get our PLC's um going and the fourth grade teachers at MCSEs has the best PLC's that we have seen thus far. They get it.
185. 1:03:12um their PLC meetings are all about what PLC's should be about looking at data etc. And this is the reason for the spotlight on excellence when we see across the district we know of things that are happening and are and great things are happening um then we celebrate and we spotlight them. So, first uh Victoria Casiaro, Kerianne [Applause] Daniel, Heather Holmes. [Applause]
186. 1:04:15Patrica Kinsey, Tiffany Shamway, [Applause] and Nicole Warden. [Applause]
187. 1:04:41And um the other spotlight on excellence tonight goes to Augustus or as we call him Gus Ellsworth. Mr. Ellsworth goes above and beyond for us when we need to have our budget presentations at the different avenues across the district. He's right there. He's setting things up for us. He's making sure that they're available for us when we need to have community meetings at the firehouse, etc. He's gotten things like that um ready for us. So, he's going above and beyond. And I just want to say thank you This ends our spotlights on excellence for this week.
188. 1:06:07One, two, So, I'm going to start highlighting our students as we find out uh great things about them. So tonight I'm highlighting three students and we'll continue to do this at the board meetings going forward. I'm highlighting Olivia Man who was accepted to Clark Atlanta University. These are three of our seniors that we know thus far. So um we will continue to reach out to the counselors and the principles and the families.
189. 1:07:04um they will let us know and these are spotlights of great things that are worth celebrating in our districts. Romela Robinson was accepted to Morgan State and he'll be majoring in electrical engineer. And then we have Hale Lima Hutvani earned outstanding financial aid packages covering in full cost to attend Cornell University. She was also accepted in Hamill College and St. Lawrence University and Romelo's first choice was Morgan State and he got into his first choice college and Olivia man um when I spoke to her mom she was so excited because I did obtain my masters at Clark Atlanta University.
190. 1:07:47So um we have that in common. So we've been I've been having conversations with her um about um going to Clark Atlanta. So, congratulations to our students and I'm looking forward to be able to report on many more students in the upcoming board meetings.
191. 1:08:11And last but not least, another celebration, we received a head of the class um safety um award from Udica. So, we were one of at least 160 schools to receive this award. And the plaque is in central office. If you ever come to central office, you can just ask to see the plaque. It's all hung um on the wall. And so, we are very proud because this is for school safety and excellence.
192. 1:08:48So this is Hudson Senior High School honored students and it's on it's called on and popping event. So these were 299 students were celebrated um they were free from attendance issues, discipline issues etc. So this was celebrating at the high school and students were treated on and popping. So they were treated with popcorn on March 21st as a way of uh to reward them who demonstrated exemplary conduct consistently.
193. 1:09:18So students are worth celebrating any little celebrations that we can. It's the small wins. We have to continue to promote our district in a positive manner and promote the positivity in our district. And I'm going to keep doing this at every board meeting and in every publication that I can. So congratulations to our students and our staff that work hard to support them.
194. 1:09:47So I did witness this. We had a visiting dancer um Baka Patel. So she performed Catholic dance for the junior high in the cafeteria and I was down I watched it and then I saw some of the students participate with her. It was fun. Just some reminders, uh, conversations with the superintendent.
195. 1:10:12April 17th, we do have kindergarten screeners, screening that will be happening April 15th and 16th. And then we still have uh pre kindergarten um applications. So, preK enrollment is alive and well.
196. 1:10:28And now I'll have the department updates. Each department will give you a brief update and we will begin with um Dr. KT, followed by Miss Ferry. Um, then our manager of instructional technology, Miss Rabinowitz, and then human resources, Miss Brooks.
197. 1:10:48Good evening, everyone. Congratulations, fourth grade team. Nice job. Woohoo.
198. 1:10:56Um, so I just wanted to reiterate the work that the fourth grade team has done. One of the things that um came up at one of their PLC's is their um addressing the nextgen standards and um they made some adjustments in the curriculum to reflect a standard that was not that they found out and this is what a PLC does through data. They find out what's going on, right? what's the problem of practice? and they found out that a particular standard was not being addressed prior to the assessments and so um they adjusted their curriculum so that particular standard would be addressed and work like that is also being um completed and and done not only in the fourth grade PLC but at all the PLC's they're trying to do um address a problem of practice that pertains to their grade level and what this what they're seeing with their students.
199. 1:11:58So, um the elementary school um meets regularly, the PLC's meet regularly there and um I have attended various meetings where um data is discussed and and then they analyze the data and come up with some solutions to problems of practice. So, congratulations to the fourth grade team and all the other teachers that are working really hard to ensure that we address the issues that are happening at the elementary school.
200. 1:12:31With that said, um we have been very busy working with uh Miss Padusi in trying to also elicit teacher recommendations for our summer scholars program. Our summer scholars program will begin July 7th and will end August 7th. And um I would like to mention that this is a unique opportunity. I want to thank the board and Dr. Pennyman for um supporting us with this program.
201. 1:13:00We want to continue um to have a and ensure that the students have academic programs throughout the year, not just until June, but that they continue to learn in the summer when school is not in session. This program will also um accomplish several things. It will strengthen teacher capacity and tier one instruction because it will combine um embedded professional development that teachers will be receiving every week into their teaching and then that will carry over into the regular academic school year. Um we also want to um achieve academic gains by having continuous um learning going on expand an an extended school year if you will for our students.
202. 1:13:57We're also preparing for the New York State assessments and um believe it or not they're here April 22nd and 23rd to be exa exact with the junior high school. They will begin um testing on that day on those two dates and they will be taking the ELA on those two dates following the ELA assessment. The math assessment will occur April 29th and 30th and then finally their testing on May 8th with the science assessment.
203. 1:14:32At the elementary school, we will begin um testing on April 29th with the science assessment, May 6 and seven with the ELA assessment, and end with the math assessment on May 13 and 14. I urge the community to support us by having your children participate in these assessments as as it helps us plan our educational programs, curricula, and instructional supports for our students.
204. 1:15:02Also, please support us by giving your children plenty of rest during the times of assessments. Um, make sure they go to bed early and a positive mindset. You know, continuously talking to them about this is not to um punish you in any way, but to gain more insight into what you're learning and how we can support you as you continue to learn in school. um make sure that they also have a healthy breakfast in the morning.
205. 1:15:30So um yesterday we had our district comprehensive improvement plan team meet and this team is focused on adjusting and evaluating the progress of our DEP plan and so members of the DEP came together and we um I want to thank first of all the people that showed up. Um we had a really good meeting where each of the um schools was represented and they broke up into the three schools and um they looked at the four priorities that are outlined in the DIP.
206. 1:16:08Um and just to give you a sense of what the priorities are, they are related to PLC's once again, MTSS, social and emotional learning and lastly projectbased learning. And so we looked at how are we doing in each of our schools with respect to those three uh four priorities.
207. 1:16:29We will meet again um sometime in the at the end of the year to um see how we did with those priorities for the 2425 school year but also to action plan for next year. Um and so those um that meeting will be forthcoming and we will let everyone know when they will take place. Thank you. And that is it for the teaching and learning department.
208. 1:16:56Thank you. Good evening. Excuse me. Good evening. I'm going to speak about three brief updates.
209. 1:17:06The first thing is the Bluehawk Tech Talk, which is not a separate newsletter, but it's a section in the district technology newsletter. We started it this month. you'll see different resources that we want to provide students and families and staff. So, we're very excited about that. It'll be both in the newsletter as well as we'll post it on our website. Um, and also the instructional technology coaches will post it on their internal news uh letter in the website for them.
210. 1:17:38Next, our district technology committee, which you may be aware meets regularly. We had our recent meeting last week. The committee discussed instructional technology re recommendations for digital citizenship, gaming, and digital media. We also reviewed to make recommendations. We looked at the technology policies and we're making recommendations to Dr. Pennington and the board for your consideration of the policy committee.
211. 1:18:03Uh we're also looking at an AI policy and plan. So that will be forthcoming. Um, and lastly with the technology committee, we're finalizing survey questions to provide to our students, staff, and families. We're going to send it out the rest of the spring, and we're going to keep it open through the summer to the fall. And then next year, we'll use that data to write our technology plan. We're very excited about that.
212. 1:18:29And lastly, the team was involved in two grants um that we applied for. One, as you may be aware from the last time I presented, was the records grant part two. And just to clarify from the last time we met, um this grant will be used for digit digitization. We won't be using it to purchase software. It'll be used to scan the records and then ultimately whatever format they're scanned in, we can look at a software program to read them. But meanwhile, the records will be easily accessible. So, we're very excited about that. And that grant was submitted on March 24th, and we'll wait to if we are awarded that grant.
213. 1:19:11And then lastly, another grant that we're very excited about is called Connect All. And connect all program capacity grant. And that grant, if we are awarded that grant, would provide updated equipment, laptops or devices, what we choose, you know, with the teachers for the teachers. Would also provide mobile devices, additional mobile devices for every classroom. and then also some professional development and we'd hope to get an instructional technology coach for the elementary school. So, our fingers are crossed and that grant was submitted um March 31st. So, we hope to hear uh and then once we know it would be for next school year. Thank you. Thank you. Now, I'll turn it over to Shant.
214. 1:20:27Good evening everyone. My name is Shante Brooks. I'm executive director of human resources. I'm here to do a yeartodate report. So this is from the beginning of the year to currently where we are now. Just to give you a little insight about what HR was uh is working on, currently working on where we're going towards. Just want to say you know we just have a lot going on. We just want to make you guys all aware.
215. 1:20:50All right. So how do we get there? The six keys for school improvement. We all know what these are. Strengthen instructional core. Improve datadriven practices. Promote a positive inclusive school environment for all stakeholders. Strengthen instructional leadership capacity. Tiered approach to school support and intervention. Increase monitoring and accountability.
216. 1:21:15Human resources. Oh, that kind of got a little funky. Sorry about that. Um, human resources has a mission statement that we um that we go by. The mission of the Hudson City School District Human Resources Department is to support the district's vision by cultivating a high-erforming workforce that is committed to fostering academic success and student growth at all levels. We provide strategic and responsive human resource services that align with the district's six keys for school improvement, incorporating a tiered approach to school support and intervention to ensure targeted and effective support for all students and staff.
217. 1:21:58So get it. Okay. So these are your six keys and this is how human resources ties into the six keys. You may look at them and say okay they seem like they instructional only but no we abide by them as well.
218. 1:22:09So for the first one will be strengthening instructional leadership capacity. I won't read all of this but just give you a few few words of how it connects to human resources that that key is to recruit highly qualified teachers and staff improving datadriven practices is collaborating with teaching and learning on professional development promoting a positive inclusive school environment that's when we do our HR huddles and we do onboarding and offboarding increase monitoring and accountability that would be certifications probation probation ary appointments, tenure recommendations, fingerprints, mandatory trainings and etc.
219. 1:22:49Increase monitoring and accountability, collaborating. I'm a little off. So, I'm sorry. It's just the first one's really messing me up because I'm a perfectionist. So, I'll just say that that's just kind of making me a little bit crazy right now.
220. 1:23:06So, number five is strengthening instructional core. So that is collaborating with teaching and learning again to ensure adequate preparations for pedagogical and assessment practices as well as curriculum and knowledge. And number six is tiered approach to school support and intervention. And that's where we ensure schools are physically responsible with human capital. That's how human resources align with the six keys here in the district.
221. 1:23:32So my team, I'm executive director of human resources. Everyone knows Missy Noble is a personnel clerk and Tracy Gaffne is the administrative assistant to HR. There's a hiring process here in the district that um we have redone and we have modified to make things more equitable and to make a smooer process.
222. 1:23:56But this is just a simple tracking device that we use to let you know how we employ every employee here in the district. So it's not this person applies and we can hire them the next day. That's not what it is. We do an indepth report and um try to get everything that we need before they get to the board agenda. So that requires a lot of time and a lot of input from the candidates here. So this is the administrative track for certificated um to get them employed here in the district.
223. 1:24:24And this is also the hiring process for civil service. Now, when you're looking at civil service, there's a lot more forms that need to be completed that's mandated by local and state civil service laws and rules. So, there's a lot of more forms that's added to this as well.
224. 1:24:43We also provide postings out of the HR department of cost for new and vacant positions. Just this year alone, it's an enormous amount. We had 156 postings created in our school district. That is a large amount compared to any other district. There's 70. One of them was administrative and certificate and then 85 of them was civil service offboarding.
225. 1:25:08Now this is something that we have incorporated this year as well. So you ask how many people have left the district from 2024 2025 school year to date is 59. There was a question at the board meeting months ago that's asking do we know why? Do we know why people are leaving? So, we sent out 103 exit interview surveys sent out by email asking old employees to fill it out so we can get a good gist of what was happening. We only got nine back and those nine exit surveys will be here in this um you could click on here.
226. 1:25:45I don't know if it's going to do Oh, no. Can't do it. Oh, yeah. Here it is. So, these are all the surveys. We have taken out the names of the people of course, but you're able to read some of the comments that were being that was made. I shouldn't have done that. So, how do I get back? Right. Okay. Okay. There we go. I got it.
227. 1:26:04So, with that being said, since we only got nine back from 103 exit interview surveys, since then, I have incorporated exit interview personal with me. That way, I can get more in-depth questions and I can get more in-depth answers. and we could also use that to kind of uh make our district a little bit better, get a sense of how we can improve in a district. So, I think the surveys were go to your email. They're not trying to hear it. They don't want to do it. So, I think face-to-face interviews, I get a better understanding of what's happening with people so I can kind of share this with the cabinet understands what's going on.
228. 1:26:402023 to 24, we had employee turnover of 14.7%. 202425, employee turnover is 16.3% to date. However, we're not proud about those numbers. So, we're going to try to do something to decrease those numbers and that's our goal here in human resources.
229. 1:27:01Another aspect of human resources is that we copy, we work with Questar to figure out what workshops is needed and we assign workshops in the beginning of the year for everyone in this district to take. However, everyone is not required to take all of the SL um the workshops. So here we have about 360 employees here in the district and those are the numbers that the workshops have been completed. I don't have the numbers prior to the years but I did speak to the ref from quest and it was less than that.
230. 1:27:28The reason why it's less is because in the beginning of the year we need to provide a list of employees for the district by department so we know who needs to take what. coming this coming summer. That's what I'll be working on so that we can get an accurate number of who's taking these workshops, who's not taking these workshops, ensure that they are taking the workshops because they're very important during the superintendent's conference day in the beginning of the school year.
231. 1:27:52Um, so over the summer, we're going to be working on a few things to just make sure that the this is done during the onboarding process. Another thing that we didn't know is that when people are hired throughout the district, throughout the school year, after that September 1 date, they weren't assigned the workshops. So that's a part going to be a part of our onboarding process as well so that everyone has that um ability to take these workshops. That's and that's important.
232. 1:28:16This year, um, New York State Department of Education mandated everyone to take a reporter training that was due and completed by April 1st, 2025. Out of 185 certified um, personnel or people I'm going to say people who were who needed to take this training because everyone is not necessary to take the training. So, it's not the entire district. Um, it's listed by schools about the completion of those uh, trainings.
233. 1:28:52This is something that I really enjoy. Uh and then we we we have a HR huddle and this is a place where we uh work towards enhancing an environment throughout the district of collaboration, communication, accessibility. Um we started this in November 2024. This does not um this allows for people to have access to HR without walking through district, without making an appointment. They just have a question.
234. 1:29:14Nothing really personal is spoken at this time because it is an open area. We want to keep everything personal. You know, we'll tell them to make an appointment or I'll get their question and I'll email them back. So, it's just really a open place. Once a month, we go to the elementary building and then another time in the month we go to the junior senior high school conference room. Um, we hear suggestions, concerns, issues, inquiries about payroll, staffing, FMLA, the morale of the district. So, people really get to talk on in these huddles.
235. 1:29:43They just want people to feel where they are, how it's going. And I think it's a really really important piece of the puzzle to just unite and have that communication between the district and the other buildings.
236. 1:29:57This is an initiative that I've taken on. Um I was reached out by a p a friend of mine at Mercy University and this is the initiative to have teaching assistants to become special education teachers. So, we had our info session yesterday. We have seven people that were interested, but there is a um caveat to this, which they cannot have a bachelor's degree already. They go, they need to have um GPA of 2.5 from a community college. They need to have an associates degree.
237. 1:30:26So, there's a lot of things that's in it. If you click on the Hudson City one pager, this will give you a little bit more information about the requirements. Um, that's not going to work right now, but I'm sure if you do it from your desktop, you will be able to see. It gives you all the information about the requirements, what is offered, and what it does is it allows teaching assistants inside of a classroom to work with student with disabilities while they're working, they submit portfolios and while they're doing it, and they submit they submit a portfolio once a week and they go to classes at in the evening time.
238. 1:30:58So they can do this both ways and this is a is a way of showing professional growth of people who have kind of like a tendency to not know where to start and it's a guided program. It's a collaboration between Bloomberg Bloom I'm sorry Bloomboard and Mercy University and Hudson City School District coaching lifeguard licenses and certification.
239. 1:31:26So life, all employees must have CPR, AED, and first aid training. That wasn't the issue here in the district. Everyone did that and they took a really good account of that. Where we got into an issue is that we had a lot of coaches that were not certified. And in order to get certified by New York State education, you needed to take a course and you needed to kind of really do your certification.
240. 1:31:45So what that impacted a lot of our coaches, teachers that are coaches are not impacted by this. They're automatically granted granted and grandfathered in. they don't need to get an additional certification, but outside people do, and that's for a safety for our own students here in the district.
241. 1:31:59So, we have 19 teacher coaches, 19 non-teing coaches, and four volunteer coaches, which we helped and supported day by day, sitting down with them, helping them sign on, helping them get a teach account, helping them understand what certification they need to take. They had to pay a small fee, um, and just helping tracking them with our regional coordinator friend over at Questar.
242. 1:32:19So, we kind of help them all officially now they're either all licensed or they're in the verge maybe like two is on the verge of still getting it. They have some things to do. But currently, right now, all of our spring coaches are good. Now, we're starting to work on our fall coaches and our winter coaches for the next following year.
243. 1:32:42Other lensurers that we work with side by side is as occupational therapists, physical therapists, OT assistants, registered nurses, licensed practical nurses, licensed master social worker, licensed clinical social workers and speech path, speech language pathologists. They have to stay registered with the state. that is something they do on their own, but we help them to support them to remind them of their dates that's coming up and the expiration dates and so forth just to keep them aware so they don't fall out of um lensure.
244. 1:33:14We also do workman's compensation in FMLA. So in 20124 we have done over 49 total cases filed for workman's compensation. For FMLA, we've had 14 total cases filed in 2025. Year-to date, we've had nine total cases filed for workman's compensation and six total cases filed for FMLA.
245. 1:33:34I'm not going to go into what how this the steps, but I will tell you this, it is a lot of steps that happen with this and there's a lot of counting that happens with this. Not only do we have to get the application and uploaded, but we also need documentation. Then we're counting days. then we're counting how the accidents happening or now we got to talk about time and leave. So we work really hard with the business office to ensure that payroll and time and le leave is accounted for.
246. 1:34:06EAP employee assistance programs and self-help member resources. So here we have a district who are is not really utilizing all of it and that's something that I'm going to work on this summer to try to get it out there. They do have a new mobile app that's accessible for employees to use and it really focuses on giving them little kind of classes and meditations and social uh emotional health and wealth.
247. 1:34:31Um so that is pushed out this year as of January and I'm working with the um coordinator for the EAP program to bring some supports here into the buildings into the districts so that we could be accessible as well. As you can see, our district utilizes a lot of our ser a lot of the services by legal. Legal is one of our leading ones.
248. 1:34:52It's 42.42%. Um employee well-being 15.15% HR supervisor that's 3% lifestyle changes benefits 15%. Personal finance education center 9% wellness center physical health 3% workplace 12%. So, we're using it and it's working well, but we're just going to just try to make sure that that it it's more accessible and it's more notice and it's easier access to get to.
249. 1:35:21I also go to recruitment fair. I went to the recruitment fair at Sunni News University this year, March 19th. This fair's opportunity to connect with over 200 teaching candidates for current and potential teaching vacancies anticipated for the 202526 school year. Um they all have uh in they all have uh education certification programs in their curriculum from new Paul's Mount St. Mary's Bard College and Maris College. I was able to pre-seelelect 18 candidates to interview. There were six candidates I was qualified and ready to commit to Hudson.
250. 1:35:52This happened prior to the budget. So I just want to say that this is not what we're doing right now. But it was a great opportunity. I know how to prepare for it next year. We already you know we're on the map. People are really interested in Hudson. I bought them so many things from Hudson from the town center just to explore our town and people didn't know really too much about it. So it was really interesting um interesting day and I really had a really good time connecting with other people and learning how to uh move it about to get qualified candidates to come to Hudson.
251. 1:36:27So we had a HR winter break potluck. So this was a week where we had a lot of moving and people were like kind of tired. So, we did like a little potluck here and um it was really successful. It was a really great team building exercise. If you click on this, you'll be able to see a lot more pictures and it won't happen again here, but if you click on that, you will be able to see a bunch of people enjoying each other, having conversations, team building, and we had different departments there.
252. 1:36:54So, we were able to talk and collaborate and get to know one another without the restrictions of work, but just, you know, food makes everyone happy. So, we had a really good time there as well.
253. 1:37:08items that have been addressed are ongoing all the time. Board agenda reorganization, hiring process, if you click on a link that will be there as well. FTE status of the district, organization of the interview process, time and leave issues, labor relations, employee evaluations, schoolfront district digitalization, windcap input of information to improve the effect efficiency of school business and human resources operations and webpage updates. These are just going to be ongoing as we go, as we get better and we learn more.
254. 1:37:38And in collaboration appreciation to the board of education members, thank you my colleagues, executive cabinet members. Thank you. technology department, buildings and grounds, building ad administrations, building administrators, business office, student services, and the faculty and staff. They will let me know what they need. They will let me know what they want. Um, and I think it's really important to be that listening ear to the ground. So, I just want to thank everybody for the presentation and sitting patiently. Thank you and have a good night.
255. 1:38:09Thank you. Thank you. Um, does that include the conclude the updates?
256. 1:38:28Yes. Okay, great. The business office was a budget presentation. Great.
257. 1:38:35Um, let's see. We have we have Laura Bender. Uh ladies and gentlemen, we're about to convene into the public comment period of our meeting. Although state law does not require us to hold a public comment period, we have chosen to do so because we believe it is crucial for us to hear from our community members about their concerns and issues. Having said that, please note that the board is here to listen.
258. 1:39:01The public comment period is not designed to be a discussion accordingly. We do not expect the board to respond to your concerns and questions tonight. We take your concerns and questions seriously and want to have sufficient time to process and research issues if need be. Um, under state and federal privacy laws, we're unable to entertain any comments about school personnel. Uh, each speaker has three minutes.
259. 1:39:35Hello again everyone. Good evening. Hello. Um I wasn't intending to speak tonight so um apologize my for my use of phone. Um I was just typing up some things to get ready. Um in each step of the budget development process this year, you've stated that your goal is to minimize the impact on students as we try to close the budget gaps.
260. 1:39:51However, it hasn't gone unnoticed that the first solution presented are proposed cuts to our instructional staff. These proposed cuts to teacher positions, support staff, and student services seem to do the opposite of minimize impact to our students. These cuts will directly harm them. I know that you know that teachers, counselors, and support staff are essential for providing individualized attention and care for our students that they rely on. Students need them to help meet their goals.
261. 1:40:17For example, we've identified that students in our district need assistance in reading, but we're proposing cutting reading teachers. I'm having trouble connecting the dots. Every student deserves a teacher who has time to provide individual instruction, a counselor who can address their emotional well-being, and an aid who can help bridge the gaps.
262. 1:40:38As many members of the board have already expressed tonight, and I thank you. I urge you to reconsider these instructional cuts and find alternative solutions that truly prioritize the well-being and success of our students. Thank you again for your time tonight.
263. 1:40:51Thank you.
264. 1:40:57Next we have Berlin second session. You're in the second session. Can we Can we It's okay. We can just do now. the first session. I don't think anyone meant to sign up in the second session. Hey, we can do all the all the uh speakers now. Yeah.
265. 1:41:26Well, now I'm glad that I uh went second. Uh thank you, Miss Bender. Um I want to echo what she just said. Uh that slide that popped up, I wasn't intending on speaking until I saw that slide.
266. 1:41:41Um it it's really disturbing to me that that we're going for teachers and aids especially and psychologists. We saw that uh presentation about how many kids are in these programs with incarcerated parents. We need these issues to be addressed for our students. Um, also it's very confusing to me that a few years ago the assistant superintendent position was cut and the reason given was that we did not need that position for such a small school district.
267. 1:42:13And since then it's from where I've been sitting, we've hired a lot more administrative positions and we've hired a ton of consultants. And I'm just so curious to know how much these consultants are being paid by the hour compared to an aid compared to a teacher. These the teachers and the aids are the heartbeat of our school. They're the ones who are they've got their boots on the ground. They are dealing with our students every single day.
268. 1:42:43And for all the talk about the six pillars being all student centered, it just seems contradictory for us to start talking about cutting teachers, cutting AIDS. Um, I really really hope that this board will evaluate this budget as presented before it it it's voted on next at the next meeting. Um, I don't have a problem paying more taxes as long as I think that this administration and the board are being good stewards of our money and I just really really hope that you will take another look at this budget and really start questioning all the positions and where other cuts could potentially be made. Thank you.
269. 1:43:26Thank you.
270. 1:43:39Now it's my turn. Um, I just want to say really I I didn't plan to talk as well, but I was stirred by what I saw up on the board. I agree with both of the speakers that came before me. You know, I took a look. I didn't make the last meeting that was on the 25th, but I read uh what was talked about and you know somehow I feel that the cart is before the horse here.
271. 1:44:09We're going to spend money on LED lighting on wraparound for the school. You know, I don't know the particulars, but when I think this is a school for students, this is not a corporate building.
272. 1:44:27That's where our concern should be. You know, what are we doing for the children in this district? Less teachers, less psychologist, less speech pathologists. I thought that's the heart of a school, not the administrators. So, that's all I want to say. Thank you.
273. 1:44:53[Applause]
274. 1:45:05Good evening. Um, I recognized that the uh, uh, presentation recognized the, uh, positions as being reductions, not necessarily being layoffs or they could potentially be repurposing uh, certain positions and stuff, but I would like to emphasize the fact that specifically with AIDS, that number of eight seemed very uh, surprising to me.
275. 1:45:33And I would like to say as the student representative to this board, um any less teacher aid is a is a detriment to a student's experience in this building. Um aids are already um I think an understaffed position um within the district and our aids are wonderful and they do a great job at supporting um and bettering students experiences. And again, that number of eight just seemed very uh just really shocked me.
276. 1:46:10Um I don't want uh I mean I again I'm I'm I would like to hope that those positions would be repurposing and um potentially giving more uh I guess responsibilities to certain positions. But again, uh, those numbers seem very high to me and I would hope that the board reconsiders those numbers a lot. Thank you.
277. 1:46:38Thank you.
278. 1:46:45Anyone else, Leslie? All right. Thank you everybody for speaking.
279. 1:46:52Um, brings us to new business. Uh, this is a district organizational chart. um which based on conversations in policy committee I think needs another uh pass you agree all right so we're going to table um some uh just questions on uh where lines are drawn um brings us to the uh consensus agenda um I make a motion to approve consensus agenda items A through H second. All in favor?
280. 1:47:29Um, anybody, nobody else signed up for uh public participation? Um, brings us to board discussion. Anybody have uh anything else to add?
281. 1:47:44Do we know the last date in which we have to approve the budget for the ballot?
282. 1:47:49It's the next meeting. Well, the next meeting is the next scheduled meeting, but is there a drop dead date?
283. 1:47:56It has to be filed by, am I correct, April 25th? Say 25th or 28th. Okay. Yeah. So, um you know, obviously we can continue to uh if we need to have special meetings, we can have special meetings to try and push it forward. Um and but you know obviously want to get it into a a better place.
284. 1:48:28Um anyone else have anything to add? Uh, on a positive note, I would add uh that I had the uh maybe privilege isn't the right word, but of chaperoning the fourth and fifth grade dance put on by the PTO last Friday at MC uh elementary school. And um there I think there were 98 kids who signed up. And so just shout out to the work that our parent teacher associations are doing this year to bring, you know, money but also just lots of joy and screaming to uh our children on a Friday night. Sounds like fun.
285. 1:49:03All right. Uh, important dates. Uh, the following meetings are scheduled. Policy committee meeting. Tuesday, April 22nd, 2025 at 5:00 pm in the high school library. Uh, board of education meeting, including Quest Rar 3 annual budget vote and election. Tuesday, April 22nd, 2025 at 6 PM in the high school auditorium.
286. 1:49:24uh policy committee meeting Tuesday, May 6, 2025, 5:00 pm in the high school library. Um uh special board of education meeting including budget hearing Tuesday, May 6, 2025 at 6 pm in the high school auditorium.
287. 1:49:43Um uh at this time there'll be an executive session. Make a motion to enter executive session at 7:50 p.m. for the purposes of discussing the medical, financial, credit, or employment history of a particular person or corporation or matters leading to the appointment, employment, promotion, demotion, discipline, suspension, dismissal, or removal of a particular person or corporation.
288. 1:50:09Second.
289. 1:50:09Uh all in favor? Um there'll be no further business after uh this executive session. And thank you all for being here.

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