Here not yet. Here. Present. John is not going to be here tonight. Nope. Okay. So currently we do not have quarum yet. So I just want to have you guys
look at the minutes so we could adopt the minutes into from last month. She's on her way. She's on uh Zoom for right now. Wait, is Bob online? Bob is on because he's gonna be sharing
his screen. Oh, that's right. Save the paper. Save the Got it. If anyone sees anything that needs to be changed, let me know. If not, we can adopt the minutes. So, I'll give everyone a minute or two. That was a call. Beth's last name is spelled
wrong. Which one? Beth's last name is spelled wrong for the curriculum adoption application. Yes. her last name. We have to just update. I'll give you the spelling. Anybody see anything else other than that? We will make sure to correct that
and then get the minutes up on the website. Look at Lewis front and center on the camera tonight. Anybody have anything? Okay. So, I'm going to turn it over to Dr. Mike next. Sure. For his presentation. Good evening, everyone.
Hope you guys are all doing well. My report is relatively short today, but there are a couple of things that I do want to mention. Some of them in the space of celebration of
our students here in um in district that I think are important to shout out. Um and then a couple of just brief updates and want to share with you the uh a new goal that was created in terms of the uh safer college program after
touching base with uh DPAC DT uh president's council um and you guys last month there was agreement that we should really be moving forward with uh creating a goal to really push um the safer college. So, I'll talk share with you that goal in just a few moments, but
a couple some updates and reminders and then just a review of priority four and five for our district. I was hoping that we'd have uh all of our students tested by this time, but we still have about 3,000 kids or so uh to test, but right now we are trending more positive than
last year uh in reading and mathematics. Um I'm hoping that trend continues uh over the next uh over the next week or so. uh and then I'll be able to share more at uh future meeting dates. Uh but just so that everyone knows uh we do
have our our final sessions coming up. Uh actually tomorrow we have our next Aadian session for our families and kindergarten right now is performing as high as they ever have which is really exciting. um about 600 more kids that still have to test in kindergarten, but
we are at a at a rate right now that if it continues, uh we'll be in a really really good place for our 5-year-olds moving into first grade. So, uh but at any rate, Aadian sessions coming up. I do encourage our families part to participate. Uh first session being
tomorrow and the next session will be on June 11th. It happens to be the same day as a number of things CC wise. um you know, one being the the uh the the final award ceremony. Uh we'll also be doing an I Ready session later on in June as
well. Uh just to make sure that those continue to be on your top of mind. Uh we held a civics uh for all share fair on Thursday, May 22nd. Uh big shout out to uh Melinda from our team. Um this was
really a a great event, the second annual of this event where we had students were given the opportunity to share their soap box speeches across rooms. We did it in grade bands from K to 2, 3 to 5, and then six to eight. And I have to tell you, listening to the little ones talk about the things that
they're passionate about um is really just quite a treat. Um, so I'm hoping in future future civics events that we're everyone's able to come and join to hear our kids and um, you know, the work that they were able to get accomplished, including participatory budget projects
and take action projects were all shared uh, during this event. Big shout out to not only Melinda, but all of our teachers that uh, supported this work across our district community. um we're fortunate that we have each of our schools engages in this and that's not necessarily something that happens
um you know across all districts just yet but I'm pretty proud of of that work uh that started several years ago and even more proud now that we're able to continue to sustain it and build so more to follow on this and and the goal later on which I'll share with you a few
updates on that uh diagnostic testing window I just mentioned this we finish up the last date will be on June 13th. Um, so we're almost there and we are again, as I said, trending in a positive d direction at this time. More to follow on that
when all kids have been tested. Youth leadership team. This I shared with you during the last last meeting and I have to tell you this was an amazing event. Um, we've brought over a hundred children to Adelfi University. Again, this is through the direction of
Miss Willins, uh, Miss Stein, uh, Miss Chung from our team, um, all supporting, uh, about 10 of our kids from across our middle schools. And what they really wanted to organize and their initial inclination was we want to invite the
Harlem Magic Masters to come and we'll have a little bit of fun. They'll talk to us about leadership. And where this wound up going was a space of um former collegiate athletes speaking with our kids about leadership, about kindness,
and about how to make sure that we're doing that inside of our everyday lives. We also had a professional athlete speak to the kids and then a series of activities through the lens of social work. So we had social workers there talking to kids about how do we how do
we communicate with one another when there is a difficult uh scenario. We had a dance teacher present and share kids all the different types of dance movements. We had a series of team building activities done on the Adelfi
uh sports field. Um and the um each of these athletes spoke to to the kids in a way where they would be able to connect. And the coolest part is, you wouldn't think that kids would get this excited, but our middle schoolers over to the collegiate athletes asking for their
autographs. That's how connected they became with these athletes. And they were just giving it to them in a very frank, straight way around specific scenarios in their lives where one individual made a great deal of impact
on them as collegiate athletes. um one talking about how a knee injury really derailed her at a certain time in her ac um athletic life and it took people around her to really help get her
on the the right track again. to another person who wound up getting his start um in a prep school where he said during the only thing around him were Woods and it had a me a huge impact on his mental uh psyche and how he it was his coach
that brought him into a space of understanding where it is that he needed to go next and just the stories for our kids was really quite impactful to a point where I challenged all of our students that were there to think about how they're bringing back those things
into their own school. Uh so many of them intend on bringing back to their field days or their next set of community days with their schools these team building activities. One example was a hula hoop and the kids had to join hands and figure out how to contort
their bodies to get that hula hoop all the way around their circle. Say again. Oh, you you added in there, Louis. So this is the example of of that hula hoop experience right here. You see the
kids organizing themselves and working together. We had another experience where kids were were blindfolded and they needed the direction of their peer in order to make it through an obstacle course. So it's really about team building and the reliance on other in order to support them. And I think the
message was was very well received by our uh by our students uh and certainly by us as adults. So this we're hoping becomes a springboard into what we then take this moving forward to next. Um so we were really really excited about this
and um it was such a job well done by everyone on the team and big thanks to all of our chaperones and um and volunteers from Adelfi. Aside from all of that, the cool experience be able to go into a university. They heard from an adi
admissions officer around what it takes to get into the school, the types of degrees that were available. It was just an allon great opportunity for the children that were able to join and we're going to continue to build on it moving forward because it was so wellreceived. Um, first in math
competition, big shout out. Who I lost something. Whole screen went crazy. What happened? first in math competition. Um we had two schools um that went up to New York State um upstate New York um to participate in the first and math
competition and we have PS 209 and 499 were earn championship recognition. Um and because of that they earned some money to go back to their schools to support instruction which I think is a really cool thing. So, a big shout out
to both of those schools for their participation in this work. We also have congrats to 194. They had three students travel to Chicago uh for the Mathcon competition um and they placed one of
them earned honorable mention while the others also earned um just recognition for their participation. But this was a national math tournament that our kids participated in and super excited that one earned honorable mention inside of that. So really cool work for
them. We also earned PS24 and JHS 185. Uh won the elementary and middle school battle of the burrows for Minecraft. Uh, and what this basically is is that the kids were given a challenge and each of these schools has a team and they were given a challenge to create a more
sustainable New York City. So they their challenge inside of this gaming program was to create an environment that promoted sustainable tools. So whether it was adding in a wind turb turbine to promote uh to build electricity, they created
strategic places in New York City where those would exist. And based on the work that they had done, and this is the back-to-back year that PS24, who you see, they were featured in a um in an in an article um where that was the image that came from the article, and you see
the teacher on the right hand side um with those the the cheerleading in that space. But they both of those schools did earn um the uh the one for Queen, the Burrow of Queens. They then went to go on to
the mayor's cup. um through the um uh the mayor's cup Minecraft educational finals was held at the city's inaugural New York City video game festival that was convened in New York City. So uh they unfortunately did not win that round, but they I was super proud of
them for earning um the Queens Burough Championship for both elementary and middle school. So job well done for our schools and their coaches that brought them through that space. also want to celebrate um we have
Lillian from JHS 194 um was one of 20 hand selected performers for the Queensboro Arts Festival that was held at Queens College. Uh, I did ask for permission and I do want to share with you just the rehearsal video um of this
young lady because it was really really fantastic. And I I know that you guys have heard me mention that we do need to start creating space to hear the arts to see the arts kind of be um at the forefront as well because we have our kids just do amazing things. So, I'm
going to briefly unshare and then reshare so you can hear my volume. got to add that before. So, we'll reshare so you can hear this young lady uh because it was really really quite nice. This was the rehearsal going into
the the the festival event later on that day. Can't hear it. Le I have to put my volume on my computer. Right. I don't recognize me. But these shoes and
this place and its patrons have taken more than I gave them. It's not easy to know. I'm not anything like I used to be. No, it's
true. I was me. Attention sweet sister, but I still remember that she's imperfect, but she tries. She is
calm, but she lies. She is hard on herself. She is broken and won't ask for help. She is
messy, but she's kind. She is lonely. Most of the time she is all this mixed up and baked in a beautiful pie.
She is gone, but she used to be love. It's not what I asked for. Sometimes life just slips in through a back door. It carves out a person and makes you
believe it's all true. And now I've got you. You're not what I asked for. If I'm hest, I know I would give it
all back for a chance to start over and be an ending soon. [Music] I just wanted to give you a quick little a little clip from from Lillian. I thought she did an amazing job during
the rehearsal and um know that she did fantastic at uh the the festival that was held uh just last week. So when uh when I received this from from Miss Miller, I said I wanted to make sure that we were able to kind of showcase a little bit of that during this meeting
because our kids do fantastic things. Um, and sometimes they are only shared at the school level and you guys don't get to hear it uh or see the the the real brilliance in some of our learners um when they show it, you know. So, as much as possible, I do want to make sure
that we create time and space uh during these meetings to showcase some of our kids and the work that um that they do. Um, okay. DC, this is just the the goal. I wanted to make sure that I shared with you uh and highlight for you what it is that we kind of called out
that by June 2026 uh all schools will raise awareness of the safer college program throughformational events uh and parent chat to improve participation rate resulting in a minimum of 10%
um oops let me don't worry about that I can't see uh I'll brief my resulting in a minimum of 10% increase in activated counts. Um, as I said, we are below uh below 40% uh in the the low30s that uh
from the last time that I checked. We have two of our team members that are actually responsible for helping write the curriculum for the safer college program. So, our team members are are wellversed in helping support, but I do think that more information needs to be shared um to take advantage of this as
much as possible. um some families just might not want to participate in it and that's totally fine. Uh but I think they should be able to make that choice by having the information. So if they don't have the info, there's no way they can say that they do or don't want that account uh to be made for themselves. So
we want to we want to do a little bit more outreach to make sure that this this whole notion of a pathway um for college and career readiness is accessible uh to families and just in a small form of a small account that can be created for each kid. Uh the program
is for children in kindergarten through third grade there. I know that there's hopes of an expansion over time, but as kids age up, not adding on for kids that are in grade six or seven now, but I think the goal is that as they age up, so third grade is moving into fourth
grade and so on down the line so that there is that additional funding uh for future kids. But this is the the current goal. Would love any feedback on this as we move forward uh to see if there's anything else that we need to add. I also wanted to share just some of the
the the space of um the civics's work and things that we're going to be working on in terms of making sure that there's access. The goal for for us in terms of promoting um the the seal for civic readiness for all of our children by the time they leave 8th grade is that
every student engage in a minimum of 10 civics space lessons. That every student um over their course of time in in district writes and presents a soapbox speech. that every student engage in some kind of a take action project across grade bands. So whether from K to
two, three to five and six to eight that they have an opportunity that to do that and that every student votes in participatory budgeting which you guys know are already doing that. Our kids are already participating in that work. They are voting for things inside of their schools whether it's recess
equipment or an outdoor classroom or you name it, they're participating in that work already. uh which is really great. So for us it's about how do we continue to grow it um and build on it as a district community which is something that I intend to do. Yeah. I just had a quick question. Yeah. So I know for
instance the school where my daughter attends they do soap box speeches in fourth and fifth. Are other schools doing it in earlier grades? Yeah. So some some of our kids even down to kindergarten um they will bring down that uh that experience for our
learners. So, so is it a goal to fully get that? The goal is to to eventually get this across across all of our schools, but it's not a you must across all of our grade levels yet. Um, it's a it's a aspirational thing for us that we start building it across all grades
because I I Melinda could attest to this. I saw her pop on just just in a moment ago. The our five and six year olds had some amazing amazing uh topics that they brought up. one around um around the types of foods that are available and
how they believe they should have a choice in uh in making those decisions to which we're able to say let's we're going to connect you with a dietitian in the building so that you can have a chat about the school lunch menu. So it's about making sure that that kids have an opportunity to not only use that voice
but use it productively to make a positive change. Um but yeah, the goal is over time is that we're able to do this across grade bands in our buildings. Okay. Thank you. U, so this is something that was actually just shared today um just with our folks just so that we're all having the same
mindset. This is just that what I just said in in text. Um you know, one of the ideas that I had for uh for the civics work is something that I know that they're actually working towards adopting. And I said, "It would be nice if that as a school the kids identify
one soapbox speech in their buildings that they really that really called to all of them and that they all work towards that end of making a full-on project as a school so that it's something that becomes much more meaningful for our learners. It's not that I'm going to call on our local
elected officials by calling them out inside of my speech. It's how do I make something happen from that, you know, are two very, very different things. So, that's the direction we want to be able to go where it's not just about saying that we need X, Y, or Z, but it's we need it and here's what we're going to
do as learners to make some of that improve in our buildings. So, really excited about this and I think it's going to make for more robust experience for our learners moving forward um as a community, but we're in a really really good place with the civics work. uh
still always more to do but we're in a good place at this time uh in our schools. And lastly, this is just something that I I had asked you guys to kind of ponder around this wellness kindness community and uh what goals can
we create to promote this idea across our buildings in a in addition to what we're already doing. So, kind of going from that good to great um you know, what what what area do we really want to kind of dig into more um as a district
community and this doesn't necessarily have to fully fully be answered now, but will be an ongoing conversation as part of our collaboration together uh to make it more of a robust entry. And I know we talked about even in the beginning of the school year, what are the community
events that we do to start the school year, which I think if we come to an agreement um on that as a CEC in collaboration with the district, it could be a set of recommendations we share. Here are the things we would love for you to do AC for your school as we enter into the start of a new school
year. Um so I don't know if any of you gave this any thought or have any feedback on this, but if you do, I'd love to hear any of your thoughts. Um well you propose
uh using these three words wellness, kindness and community. Just um wellness, kindness, community are strong roots. Yes. Can be like at the end. Yeah. At the end to go along with your
strong roots. Wellness, kindness, community. Our strong roots. our strong roots. Yes. To integrate our previous model. So
um also as we have been doing uh PS21 like uh when in the SLP so it can be of proposing on other schools uh to
think about what kind of uh specific activities can we do uh in the more of our SPS. So it can be like uh extra strategic to work with our schools.
Yes. So for example we have uh set uh two main goals for next year. First on October October we are going to do a multicultural night and also an additional fitness night. Yes. like but
we also want to include uh in the par university uh conversation with parents about what yes that like little by little but yeah and I do I I agree with you Grace I think the the
small little spaces of growth it doesn't have to be everything at once but small little wins that we want to add into our work as buildings or thought processes as buildings that continue to build on themselves over time. Um so that it
doesn't seem to be I always say too much too little in return um is usually what winds up happening. We want everything and then by the time it's all said and done we wind up having nothing. So I think organizing ourselves in a small way and then building overtime is probably the best case scenario. And I
think, you know, just in in and of itself, adding an agenda item to school leadership team conversations around wellness, around community can be an initial start of that work. Actually, yeah, just to chime in also. Um, Dr.
Mike knows my my son's actually in a new school um for the last month of the school year, unfortunately. And something that I saw like within the first week of him being at this school was another way to engage families and parents coming in but also focusing on the wellness. They actually do a yoga
event monthly where parents could sign up to come in for yoga. And it's to bring the parents in and promote it also within the parents, not just the children. So, just something that I saw that was kind of interesting that I could see us using here as a district also, whether it be yoga or something else like other activity, but like just
to get more people involved, not just the students, but also the families. 194 is also having a yoga um a yoga night. I don't know if it's coming up or if it just passed, but they are also having another wellness event for the
community very very soon. Yeah, and I think this is something that we can bring back, you know, to the district leadership team. We have a meeting on Monday um that we can encourage that all as part of this collaboration that all SLTs add in an
agenda item that's around this space of wellness, around this space of kindness, this space of community in their buildings. I do think that we should land on one of those three um as the agenda item and not all of them. Um, so maybe perhaps that's something that else
that we can add on in a future meeting, but I think that is a really nice way of connecting all of this work um, moving forward. Okay, the last thing and I and I actually just um, Katherine, as you're speaking, I can't believe I forgot about this, but I know that you were there and
it just reminded me. We had our debate competition at um, 185 at 185 um, last week. It was like it feels like every day there's another another big event that's going on in the in the district.
But the the it was really really a great great experience. You know, I went around to some of the classrooms and there was a young lady uh from I think she was from IS-25 that honestly if I had to debate her I would be in a lot of
trouble. She was on point with every element of that talk that she had. That was I was intimidated just listening to her. That's how concise she was with her arguments, you know. And that's what this really does for for our kids. Kind
of preparing them for what's ahead of them. It's not easy to engage in public speaking at all. At all. Uh but to do that in a way where not only do you have a judge, but you have parents that you don't know coming in. You have people like myself just coming into rooms and
they don't skip a beat. They just keep on focused. They have their information. They're knowledgeable about it and they're able to not only know their argument but the counterargument so that they can dispute any claim that comes their way. It was just a really really cool event. Um so big thanks again you
know Melinda getting lots of shout outs today but Melinda helped a great deal in helping organize that with the American Debate League. Um and they do have intentions. They want to bring our kids to places like Harvard um so that they can engage in this work in in a space a
university like Harvard to be is is all inspiring for us as adults let alone a child in eighth grade in seventh grade in sixth grade. Um so it is something we're going to continue to do. The goal is that we bolster and increase the volume of schools that participate. Um I
wish I can say we had all 34. We don't have all 34 yet, but the goal is that we continue to increase that number over time. Uh because I think the kids really really enjoy it when they're doing it. We had one school that was there with only three participants and they wound
up placing for the first time in their school. So it's really really cool experience and um just you chatting just reminded me that I didn't included include it in there and I think uh it was worth it was worth also noting um that because really both those kids
were they were so well prepared. There was so much research and hard work that went in to them getting ready for these debates early mornings of school, late afternoons, and they put their hearts into it and they
really and to be able to have a really productive discourse whether you agree with the person across from you or not. the kids were in a space of mutual respect for everyone in that room and it
was it was so impressive. It was really an impressive space. Yeah. And that that was part of my initial uh kind of speech to them is that yes, you can be competitive and yes, you can make your point, but you do that in a respectful approach. Um, you know, and I think
there, you know, sometimes when we when we when when we even see a, you know, a debate as adults, you wonder why it is that they go certain ways sometimes. Um, and that's not what we want to see for our kids. We want them to have the knowledge. We want them to be able to be respectful with their with their peers. Um, but also to be assertive enough to
make your point. Um, and that's what we were able to see. So, looking forward to continuing to grow that. Uh but it's something that I had forgotten to include in here and it's really worth mentioning because it was really really worth uh was really really well done. Uh but that concludes my um my presentation
for tonight. Bob, before you guys go, I just want to backtrack for one second. Um I meant to start the meeting with this, but I just wanted to go over some like meeting norms going forward. Um, I know it's our last month as a full council together, but it's something that I think is very important going
into the next two years for the new council. Um, and especially with a lot of the stuff we're trying to get done within this last month. So, just put it out there for everybody. For us, we want to be present. We want to be engaged. No side conversations like walking away during the meeting. We have to be
present. Um, be respectful of time. Stick, we're going to stick to the agenda. And if you're speaking or if it's public speaking, we're going to be timing going forward the two-minute speaking. Just kind of key to that, but just not interrupting one another or anything like that. Um, give everyone a chance to speak. If it's the same topic
or you feel the same way, you don't necessarily need to chime in and add that, but share your thoughts, but be respectful to each other, even if we disagree. Um, also, we want to always be solutionoriented and help move the process forward. not just bring up
concerns, but suggestions as well to help that. Um, and just make it a safe space for everybody. And if we take a responsibility of something, we want to follow through on those signed actions so we can be accountable and communicate and progress so we don't run into any roadblocks. So, I just wanted to have
that so when we do have public speaking, I will be keeping the timer. Um, but I'm going to turn the floor over to Bob who's going to share his screen for the resolution that Katherine, him and Grace are bringing up about tonight. Great.
Thank you, Eden. Um, so I was going to say because there this resolution is um, uh, there's a number of us supporting it. So, I was thinking maybe because everyone's just there, maybe if the three of us sit here. Does that make sense? Grace, are you okay with that? He
wants to come over together. U because then I can turn the camera on here just like Dr. Mike has his camera on and it'll capture the three of us. Okay. Yeah. I mean, I don't do that. [Music] Okay. Yep. I'm just trying to see how we
can I'm just trying to see. All right. Great. Um you guys All right. Great. So, um there's a little better.
Okay. And and now I'm going on this this mic here. Okay, cool. Okay, great. Um, thank you everyone. Um, so I'm Bob Wizoric. Um, this is uh Katherine St. Pierre and um
uh Grace Torres. Um, so thank you for uh taking the time to uh to hear our um presentation. So we've put together some thoughts around um preks and preks. I'm going to share screens right
now. Okay. So, um this is um our community uh resolution number two um relating to moving 3ks and prek programs to community- based organizations. Okay. So, this is about the 3K preks for all where um there's a
program in place to have 3Ks and preks um in community- based organizations um funded by the Department of Education. Okay, as I mentioned, the three of us are supporting this. Um in
fairness, Katherine was uh her initial idea. Um I started putting together some thoughts. Grace was kind enough to contribute her thoughts as well. Um so this was really a group effort. Um and we went through many um iterations to try to be as thoughtful as possible and
inclusive as possible as we were putting this uh resolution together. Okay. So we were looking at um the preks and preks. We're looking at the number of classrooms that are throughout district 25. And so this uh
table just summarizes uh those um those classrooms throughout the district. Um as best as we could tell um there were 947 almost 950 seats that were within
the 3K prek system and that's excluding uh PS248 uh PS 409 and uh PS499. 242 PS4. Oh, 242. I'm sorry. Thank you. Um, and so that just gives you a a basic lay of
the land of sort of what um current DOE, schools, classrooms are being utilized for 3Ks and preks within the district. Um so just also to set some context there's um approximately
4,800 students in preks and preks um programs throughout the district. Of those um all-incclusive, 1300 are in the DOE sites right now. So, as you can see, the
bulk of the 3K and preK programs already existing within the district are um already in what are called community- based organizations. We'll explain uh a little bit more about sort of what those are, give you some examples of those. Um but this is already happening, already
been um in place for a number of years at this point. And our resolution is just to encourage that to the extent classroom uh space is needed to either comply with the class- size um implementation of the class size law or
create opportunities for specialized classroom spaces. that um this is an opportunity to in aggregate increase um the square footage and number of classrooms within the district without having the capital investment by simply
moving those 3Ks and preks from DOE buildings into community- based organizations. Um so in addition to opportunities to or a mechanism to help comply with the class size uh law without um foregoing other services um
this you know helps either preserve or create opportunities for uh specialized classrooms as we put here art uh science uh music rooms dance rooms and also libraries. So to either retain or create
these uh specialized rooms while complying with the class- size laws. Okay. Opportunities for all. So just to give you a some sense of what a community- based organization is. Um these are some examples that are in and
around the district. Um so they vary um from uh being uh commercial entities to being religious organizations. Um but they are within our communities and you can see some of them are highlighted. We've got a number in Whiteststone, Wood
Haven, Parsons, Hillside, Bayside, Flushing, um uh Central Queens. Um, so there's a number of of these organizations throughout um throughout the uh the district. A number of these
organizations have uh multiple locations. Common Point comes to mind. Uh Circle Academy comes to mind with um multiple uh locations for 3Ks and preks. Kitty Academy also has two, by the way. Kitty Academy has a couple of locations.
They do at least. Okay. Awesome. Great. Thank you. Um so quite simply what what would this um uh resolution do? Um it would create opportunities for more educational
square footage within the district. Um it'd be simpler to expand uh capacity through the CBOS's as compared to uh expanding existing DOE buildings. Of course, we're happy for that. But, um, this is something that can be
implemented in a much shorter uh much shorter time scale. Okay. Um so there is um a DOE plan to um potentially cancel contracts with certain CBOS to the extent that
they are not running um at full capacity. Full capacity being uh defined as 95% full. Um that would have the opposite effect of reducing capacity within um our district. And so this way
we're looking at opportunities to increase uh capacity and to ensure that those CBOs have the ability to continue to operate um in an economically viable way um and without having to um uh incur
additional construction costs to uh to build within the DOE um uh infrastructure. This also creates opportunities for wellness. And I I know I'm not plausing this. Grace and and Katherine, by all means, please please uh feel free to to
jump in here. Um but um in addition to just uh compliance with the law, there's really opportunity here to uh to be consistent with the theme that we've been pushing on wellness and uh educating um in a in a well-rounded way
that um the the complete well-being of the student is beyond just academics, but also involves things whether that um is um uh the specialized music room, the science lab, um quiet spaces um really
opportunities to um to support the students. Um go ahead. Yeah. Yeah. Because we as the resolution that uh the use of these rooms uh depends of the uh need by each
school uh community. Yes. So can be what we mentioned before about music, dance. So even being uh aligned with this polic wellness policy. So it depends of the need of each school. Yeah. Just to
highlight that. Yes. Yeah. Thank you very Yeah. Go ahead. So and to continue with that whole thread, these are spaces that will be have to be used as
traditional classrooms in order to comply with class size law. principles are already restructuring the schools and we will be losing art rooms, we will be losing library spaces, we will be
losing dance rooms in order to meet the class size requirements. And while we think it is wonderful to get, you know, to for ch students to be learning at with a room full of only 20 peers, um it
is it it is at the loss of those those rooms that mean so much to the entire school community and it enriches all of their learning throughout um the entire year. This is not to say they're not going to have art class. It's just not going to be in an
art space. Um, so yeah. Yeah. Different different. And I think just to to reiterate what what Grace was saying is that each community, each building was going to decide what its priorities are. This
resolution just creates the opportunity for space to be available, whether that's for compliance to the law or for utilizing that space in in specialized ways. Okay. So, the resolution itself is actually quite simple. Um, so um the
resolution is if um a school needs additional classroom space to comply with the class size law or needs space for specialized classrooms, for example, art, science, music, dance, or libraries. um and it is currently
operating a 3K and/or preK program. The resolution um states that the 3K and preK programs should be moved to suitably nearby community- based organizations, CBOS to free up the needed classroom space for
the these for compliance with the law and opportunities for uh for enrichment uh for the students. And that's that's it. Um, as a matter of form, do we read the resolution? Do we get comments? Okay. Do we get comments
first? Comment from the council and then the public. Okay. All right. So, I'm going to read uh so forgive me for reading, but I'm going to read the resolution. Okay. Um, so again, the I'm the sponsor. Um and then uh Robert Wizoric. My
co-sponsors are Katherine St. Pierre and Grace Torres. This is resolution number two. Okay. Whereas on June 2nd, 20 2022, the New York State legislature passed a bill by a vote of 59 to4 in the
Senate and 147-2 in the Assembly that required New York City schools to implement a 5-year class-size reduction plan beginning in the fall of 20 um 22.
On September 8th, 2022, Governor Kathy Hokll signed the bill into law based upon an agreement that the five-year phase in period should begin in the fall of 2023 instead. The bill is now known as
chapter 556 of the law of laws of 20 2022. Okay. Whereas prek and prek classes do um uh do not exceed 18 students in each class. Whereas
kindergarten to third grade, no more than 20 students per class. Whereas fourth to 8th grade, no more than 23 students per class. Whereas high school, 9th through 12th grade, no more than 25
students per class. Whereas certain New York City Department of Education buildings may be constrained in the availability of classrooms to comply with this reduced class size law. Whereas to the DOE,
there are 495 schools that currently do not have a enough space to lower their class size limits uh uh in the law. 30 of them being in district 25.
Whereas 13 of these district 25 schools are elementary schools that currently do not have enough space to meet the class size caps but do have prek and/or 3k classes. Whereas the New York City early
education community-based organizations are independent community-based organizations that partner with the New York City public schools to provide free fullday highquality early childhood education.
CBOS are run by notfor-profits, community- based organizations, nursery schools, daycare centers, private pay programs, or faith-based organizations.
As prek and prek providers, CBOS are held to the same expectations as district schools and CBO teachers receive the same professional development and support from the Division of Early Childhood as NYCPS
teachers. Whereas to the two evaluation systems used by the DOE to evaluate preK quality in one of the systems preks located in CBOS rate equally in quality to that of other
CB and in the other CBOS rate better than they are able to provide more appropriate space and furnishings for young children, personal care, routines, social interaction. and classroom
activities. Whereas many school districts across the country now recognize that it is better for small children to have learning environments specifically designed for their needs and in investing in separate facilities
because they recognize the advantages of having smallcale settings uh that can provide a more personalized, intimate and play-based environment. Whereas prek and prek programs, NCBOs
are also better able to offer extended day and extended year programming, which is very valuable to working parents. Whereas there are community- based organizations that would like to offer a 3K or preK for all programs
funded by the DOE. Whereas there are thousands of empty preK and 3K seats in CBO CBOS's citywide and yet the DOE is threatening to close any
CBOS's CBO preK program that does not fill 95% of their seats. Whereas many CBOs are already struggling financially and find it difficult to cover costs um of their staff because they are
underenrolled. Um they are also reimbursed by the DOE uh uh per student rather than per class. If CBO programs are closed, this would likely lead to an even more overcrowding uh in elementary
schools. Whereas for the 2023 24 school year, District 25 has 2,8 preK students and
2,651 preK students enrolled. Of these 4,669 students, 3,375 or 72% are currently in community-based organizations funded by the DOE.
Whereas district 25 committed to wellness and holistic development of its students and whereas relocating prek and prek programs to community-based organizations would free up valuable classroom space in elementary schools
throughout the district. Whereas this additional space could be repurposed to comply with the class- size laws or preserve and expand essential enrichment programs. preserve and expand essential enrichment
programs such as art, music, dance, science, libraries, and calming corners that support students social emotional growth, creativity, and academic
achievement as needed by each school community. Whereas based on the maximum 3K prek of 18 students, we estimate that an additional classrooms in district 25 could be a total of 57 classrooms
without considering uh the previously mentioned PS 242, PS 409, and PS499. Whereas moving prek and prek classes out of overcrowded elementary schools into
nearby underenrolled CBOS was one of the many recommendations of the chancellor's class size working group report to accelerate the facilitation of creating more space for classroom recommend uh uh reduction class size reduction whereas
other New York City school districts could benefit from similar analysis and other CEC C's should consider similar resolutions. This is now the resolution. It therefore therefore be resolved. New York City DOE schools in need of
additional classroom space that have existing 3K and or preK programs housed within the school. move those programs into suitable nearby community-based
organizations to free up classroom space to help comply with the class- size rules. This will also preserve space in schools to help comply with the class size rules while maintaining specialized
classrooms for art, science, music, dance, and libraries. Thank you. Thank you, Bob. I will open the floor to anybody that has questions or comments in regards to the resolution. Also on Zoom, please raise your hand if you want
to chime in at all and we will call out. Bob and the ladies, it's a tremendous effort you put in. Um, I think it's a great idea. Um the only issue I have is they have to be on a different schedule than or the CB have the phone longer
because um in the school my children don't know. There's a gentleman got mad at the teacher once because she left the kid out two minutes too late. She says I have two other kids have to pick up the other side. So I asked the teacher if it's possible the
teach during the pandemic. So what ended up happening frequently is that he picks up this little one go to the front and the other one's in the auditorium because he didn't arrive in time. So if they CBO can stay a little longer or they have more flexibility that makes it possible for a parent to
travel from day school to that side to pick up the child. Okay. Yeah, Joe, I think that's a that's a great point. Um I think what I've seen and and please chime in um is that a lot of the CBOS do offer uh extended hour days. Um, and I
think even you have some experience with this as well. Um, and then also extended years where they will potentially offer programs into the into the summer as well. So, um, that is CBO by CBO, but um, that's fairly typical to see
extended day programs within that structure. I think that that would be the major concern for most parents. Yeah. I was lucky cuz my little ones went to the same elementary school for prek, K, first grade, 7th grade. So the older one
I was able to pick up in the morning, drop them off, pick them up, I have to go someplace else, I'm going to have an issue. Understood. Understood. Thank you, John. Thank you. I had the same concern, the pickup. So I don't want to say more.
He's saying the concern that I had with the pickup with the kids. Again, I was lucky my kids went to the same uh but u the resolution clearly states that nearby ideally I don't think it would be a problem but it is something as a
concerning parent the pickup times. It answered all my questions. Thank you. No, I started writing. It's like okay and then I'm like okay go back. Okay, I got the answer. I think one other thing to chime in. Um
Bob and I were talking about this a little bit and the extended day thing is definitely a huge advantage um that parents do take advantage of. I happen to be a parent that worked 12-hour shifts at the time. So for me, I would do the early drop off late pickups and my son did go to a CBO where my daughter
went to public school prek program. My biggest concern that I've seen is the turnover of staff in the CBOS's. It's just something I was explaining to Bob that I just my son went through three teachers in prek because of turnover. And I think that's
where my only fear is is like what do we do to prevent that turnover from happening should that be the route that everyone goes across New York City, not even just like District 25. So I also had um kids in multiple
buildings. My youngest was in a CBO while my other two were in the elementary school a few blocks away. And I can't say that I had that same experience of there being any staff turnover. Um my my my teachers, it was
the same teachers for my children from the beginning um through to the end. And in fact, those teachers are still there. My and my my first twoborn, they were also in um they were in different CBOS. they weren't in the same that my youngest went to, but those teachers are
also still in their positions um to this day also. So, I'm sorry that you had that unfortunate experience with so much turnover in your location, but I don't having had the personal experience of multiple CBO locations for myself, I
can't say that that is um the norm of what you experienced. Um, and and I will say also that it was I had excellent experience for all three of my kids in the other locations that they were housed in. And I did it was
difficult to be in two places at once for pickup. um and and for drop off, but with clear communication to the schools and just letting them know either I needed to pick up my littlest one a little early or sometimes we were maybe a little bit
late in the morning, but as long as I was communicating that as a parent to the staff in charge, it never was um it never was an issue for for me in my experience. Um, but I think communication is really the key
component to any relationship that you have in any school. So I just wanted to say that. Do they have anything else they wanted to add? Is there anybody
add based on what you just said right? um teachers turnover I don't think has like but this particular resolution it is a concern I get what you're saying but for this resolution uh based on what uh me
and Joe said um is there a way that we can maybe add um a line that says they should offer extended um care I'm not sure I'm just saying so that
It ensures that they do offer that the CBOS. I'm assuming that most of them do, but what if there is an instance I just thought about it right now. What if there is an instance that the CBO that my child happens to go to does not offer extended? And it's possible because
there is no and I'm not sure if we can add that. It's not necessary. Both my kids are out of place. It is a good start. I I don't want it to hold up this resolution, but I'm saying is there room to put something along those lines. Um,
if there is, great. If there isn't, I think this is fine. Well, okay. My my I I I agree with your your point wholeheartedly. My my thought on that is that, you know, as a parent and you're
looking at CBOS, like we gave a number of examples. There's, you know, probably dozens in in the um district 25. So, one is if one didn't offer it, well, you would go to a different one. And then
two, I think that is really the competitive environment that they're in that they kind of need to do it because it's not uncommon to have two working parents and that pick up and drop off is long. You know, Eden having a 12-h hour day. um I'm not saying there's a norm,
but I mean these are not unusual unheard of things and you know if you want to serve the community well then that's what the community is demanding is is extended hours. So I I I think it's covered through there's not just one and the other thing
is when if we vote this that it is a recommendation that we're pro providing but it doesn't mean it's what's going to happen. we send it up. It's a starting process and it's just our recommendation if
we go forward with it. Um, but I want to make sure everyone has a chance to have their say or if anyone on Zoom wanted to speak, let us know before we go to a vote for this. There's something in the chat. No, they didn't want to raise their hand.
Okay, perfect. So, I think we can move to a vote. I'm gonna have Egypt do roll call vote so we can vote on the resolution. Just mention what the options are. Oh, it's going to be yes, no, or upstate.
It's not. Yes. Yes. Yes. Yes. Oh, she doesn't. I don't get to vote. Yes. Yes. I vote yes.
Okay. Yes. Yes. Yes. Okay. All right. Well done. Well done. Yes. Well done. All right. [Laughter] Okay, that was a good team. Yes, great
team. Great teamwork rallied in 24 hours. Um, all right. So, let me accept the president's report. Um, more so for the public than for the council because I'm sure they all know this. Next week, well, tomorrow
we have a special meeting, uh, which you can log on via Zoom, but we will be in person for our C4E presentation and next week is our CEC awards ceremony on the 11th at 194. Those children and staff that are getting awards have been
notified and have been invited and we're looking forward to a great attendance there. Um, it's always a really good event. Um, other than that, we're going to move to public speaking if anyone wanted to speak. There's nothing. Nothing in the
chat and no hand. Okay. So, if that's the case, we can get a motion. Motion to adjurnn. Who's going to second it? I got Bob and Isva. Okay. I will give you guys since we're actually moving well on time. I'm
going to give it five minutes. Don't change it. Five minutes. Breathe for five minutes and we'll take we'll continue again in five minutes of business meeting. Oh, into our sorry. Okay, we are moving into our
business meeting. I'm going to call it to order at 8:16 and I'm going to have Egypt do the roll call for us. Okay. Great. She'll be back, I guess.
Alvin present. Yeah. Aiden here. Present. Not here tonight. and Shirley J is not here. Sorry, I said her name. Okay, so first thing on the business meeting is our
award ceremony. Um, Egypt and I have been on pretty regularly talking through this Lewis also. Um, we have every school's nominations at this point. We are working on getting the awards ready. All the other gifts are ready. Invitations went out. Um, we've got
bunch of our SVPs. That's what Louisis was just sharing. and 194 said that they'll be providing water. Yes, 194 will provide a like water and cookies for the students in the um area while they're waiting. So, that was taken care of by them, which is greatly
appreciated. Um, so we are starting at 7, but if everyone could get there at least 30 minutes before, I understand if like people are trying to work, but if we could get there at least 30 minutes before just to get ready, make sure we're on the stage
and situated before we start, that would be perfect. Anybody have any questions about the award ceremony? When is next Wednesday? The 11th. Are we color boarding?
No. Yes. We can if you want, but no. How are you? The only the only thing that I would say that might be um you know, a good thing just to to mention just before the onset is sometimes
uh folks after their child receives their recognition, they do tend to want to escape um quickly. And I do think just, you know, for all of the kids to be able to be recognized in a way there where it doesn't become a distraction
for uh for their child. It's not this huge grandiose thing. You're just being able to announce a kid's name, get their get their photo taken with the awards with you guys. Uh but it would be nice if if and listen, I get it. Everyone's got a busy schedule, but just maybe just
to frontload that and hope as possible. I'm gonna announce that at the beginning for sure. um so that we can make sure we're putting it out there and hopefully people do respect that. We also in addition to the regular awards that we have, we also have the Big Apple
finalists that we're going to be recognizing that night. And also I wanted to bring up I guess since she's not here, I could say it out loud. I wanted to hopefully make sure that Shirley Jen will be here for it because I would like to create a award that we can give her just to say thank you for
her time this past year before she goes off to college. So, just wanted to put that out there. You already created it. Like you have you got We're gonna put it together Egypt and I um we don't have the names on like the medals anyway. So, there'll just be one. Yeah. We're going to make a certificate for her like thanking her.
So, I'll get with Egypt about that. Um but I feel like we should recognize her. She was here. I know she hasn't been able to be here last month or right now, but I'm going to touch base with her and make sure she is at the award ceremony for us. Um, the next thing on the agenda, I'm going to skip for one second just so we
can do the quick treasury report because I know the other item will take a little bit longer. So, I'm going to move to Joe first. Good evening, ladies and gentlemen, and the rest of you and everybody else. We have zero amount left for equipment that we bought the
computer. In the reimbursements, we still have $525. In in meeting expenses, we have $5,81 for the open. Uh PE card, we have $500 left. We
touched it. Supplies, we have $514 left. And in repairs, we have nothing left. I'm done. Thank you. Thank you, Joe. So, we're going to move on to the discussion about the bylaws. I'm going to turn it over to Alvin and Isma to
kind of walk us through what changes they have there and then we can have any discussion or questions asked and see where we're going from that point. So, the floor is yours. I do have extra. They should be in your folder. It's a
big plant. Yes, the thicker package. Okay, thank you. Uh, the firewalls uh were reviewed by ISMAT and myself and after reviewing it, we we have uh seen
that it hasn't been really really been updated for quite some time. But every one of you has an updated copy here from from us that we would like to present tonight.
Uh one of the main issues that was presented to us was that uh during these last two to three years the uh state of New York under the governor has mentioned about the open meetings
law requirement. you know, governing, you know, hybrid meetings also for CC councils like members, the president being in the meetings.
So, if everyone of you has a copy right now, we just like you to have a quick take look at it. Can you point out like just in case for anyone, can you just point out specific items by any chance? These are all highlighted. So, it's where it's like the darker highlights.
Okay. Um, sorry. It has printed very funny. It's okay. Um, no, but it's printed very funny. I don't know why. Because they came out with their Yeah, it's um it's all highlighted. So, it's an example. Page number four.
Whatever is highlighted is what has been added. Okay. It was not there before. So I just on page four, what is the individual performance report? Maybe Marbel, maybe you want to
chime in on that because it's not something that I've heard of come up before. So the individualized performance report is also known as an IPR. Um you can see a copy of it in the back of the manual. Pull it up if you like. It's where um monthly the members
should fill out saying what they're doing. So I attended the calendar meeting. I went to the business meeting. I um I this school visit. I went to this committee meeting. Whatever that is. The AA will take all of the um individual report to file it um report and that
gets sent to the and I'm sorry they get sent where us get the panel for educational policy. Is is there a form? There's a form for I was I was issued that form when I was voted in. I was given that in the my
welcome packet. Okay. All right. It's not something I had ever seen or been made aware of fully. So that's why I'm like that was one of the reasons that it was it's being put on here because it is a
requirement. Um, and we just want to make sure that it's reflected in the bylaws as something that uh you as the president, whoever is the next president that's going to be understands and knows that they have to enforce that from
their members. You don't have to fill it out. The president doesn't have to fill it out for the members. Me individually, I have to do it. But it becomes somewhat the president's responsibility to make sure her council or his council members actually
comply. That was the intent of that line. Okay. Perfect. A very simple form. It's just one here or I went to this or I called them and they didn't answer. That's it. It's okay. It's interesting. A lot a lot
of the uh council members that potentially will be elected in the upcoming election, they will have their own orientation and they do have a binder with all the requirements that have that governs like each individual
uh committee education council. In there, there's a lot of bylaws that do reflect on individual CDC bylaws. So basically it's it's it's copying from what um the bylaws that were given to
the elected members that that were presented and basically are put into individuals CC platters so that you know we all follow as we want. uh most of these bylaws if
you if you look at individual CDC's they're pretty much the same but it's just that you know we feel that in there there might be a few items that you know could be put out for resolution could be
discussed and you know you know other CC's that present their own resolutions their own pretty much they're um following a template. So the next one that we're going yeah
page six um the meetings this is the main one of the main ones. This is extremely important and as you see I've made a comment there uh specifically for the rest of the members that this is where we have the opportunity to put in
the extraordinary circumstances for a hybrid meeting. So you can see that all out. However, I think I did cover almost anything and everything under the sun for excused, non-exused. Um, and that hybrid line, everything
that starts from the council is authorized. That's taken directly from the current um amendment floor that we have. I haven't written that. The only thing we did was um the following can be counted as exchange absences.
there is room to add, remove, edit. Um, so what we have uh under section two of uh member attendance at meetings, the highlighted items uh that we have put out is the following shall be counted as excused absences. Members may request an
absence for prior engagement made before becoming a council member. members may request an absence due to a religious holiday that one has been uh in the past given that because of religious holidays
that you know it falls on the same day maybe the CC still has to have the meeting. Uh additionally members may request an absence if the requested if the request is submitted at least 30 days in advance. Such absences are limited to no more than two in the
calendar year given that uh each council member holds a two-year term. That would be uh four total. Uh death of a relative or attendance at a relative's funeral, serious illness or injury of the member
or family member, mandatory court attendance including but not limited to jury duty, military duty, etc. a prior family commitment involving a child or spouse a job related conflict um
pandemic and religious uh observance. So, uh, unexcused absences in traffic excused not explicitly listed shall be notified to the council in writing at least 48 hours before the
meeting and put on the meeting agenda on the council to take a vote on. So, I I just have one question. I think Joe, you had something also, right? Yeah. I'll let you go first and then I'll explain. So item number
three, I can just ask for a day off. Do I have don't have to give you a reason? Technically, yes. But then how how is that how is that going to be 30 days prior? Like if I that's why that's why we want it 30 days prior. You can't ask
for a day off next week. If you want it 30 days prior, you would put it in and it still ends up going on a boat, right? My my Okay, so the only meetings I missed is in July, August because I'm not around, right? And then one year I
was in Death Valley. There's no internet access. So I couldn't Right. Right. Well, because you're planning on vacations, right? Because a lot of parents before they get voted in or before they enter a CC, they were never
told how a CC operates. So they coming in, they think, "Oh, we don't have summer meeting because school is out." Yeah. So the first two meetings that are actually required July and August, a lot of parents say, "Oh, let's
go on vacation." No. So that's why a lot of So you're saying if I were to if I'm if I continue to serve I'm going to go on vacation July August if I let you know now I can just like free you should you should uh write have a written letter and notify the council and
another thing that's why we have the hybrid I I think I think you may you may want to like the date 30 days is like a long time like the next meeting is going to be July whatever but then that's Right.
For the new console, I'm saying if I would have said on that, I want to Well, this would be on your second year if you decide like you you got you got on the end, but then on your second year of of your term, you decide, oh, I just don't have the time to come in for the for the
meeting. So, I would like to request the excuse from attending that council's meeting or Alvin, we could simply just meet number three. Yeah. Know I that's kind of where I'm leading is that it probably should not
be there. We're not going to win. Yeah. Yeah. Why do you want people to know they can just take a day off, you know, 30 days? That's fine. We don't need to discuss it more. We could I'm not serving anymore, but still. No, I'm saying we could remove it because the other 80% of the excuses are already
there. Yeah. And excuses excuse not explicitly listed is also there. So it also covers that if he wants to go on vacation or has no internet and he's like okay that becomes he gets something that can be voted on and I think that
was the concern last month that people were a little unsure with the 30 days. Let's remove it. And I also think number two and number 10 is repeat. Yes. Yes. Right. Mar, do you have something? Um no just thinking about number number three.
um if council members have three unexcused absences in a term then they could be voted off of the council removed um from the council right so I don't know if number three is necessarily needed because of the things you're saying like the other reasons and
if you know you're not here one time that's okay unless you're doing those three absences but adding something like this in could lead a member to being absent almost five or six times. Yeah, we removed number two and number three.
Yeah, because we already have religious observance which is number 10. Yes. Okay. And then the question I had is just based on the wording. So like a job related conflict. I copied that from the previous. Yeah. So I think that's
exactly what all the CC's have. No, that that's not my So what I'm trying to picture in my mind is let's say for instance somebody tells me four hours before the meeting okay I cannot be there I have a job related thing is that
something that we would no fall under the excused or would it now fall into the first line the actual um bylaw state you have to provide at least 72 hours notice so all of this well that that is not there because It's a job emergency.
There's a job emergency, but we did have something previously where it was six hours notice. I know in ours, wouldn't that fall under excuse not explicitly listed? You should we could just vote on it. How about we vote it on that part then? Can
we put something that we could vote on if somebody notifies within hours? the the part she's saying makes sense because because we could put it on there to take a vote like it comes up but I still think at there has to be a window that we
definitely put in there of time but because you can't let's say somebody says an hour before well guess what I got stuck at work I can't I'm not coming after we're counting on them towards quarum that's where my concern comes in well we never had that but yeah I think hypothetically so we don't run into that
kind of thing I think if we open that up We are always gonna have work stuff. Yeah, that's why I'm like trying to make sure that six hour window up. We are always going to have last minute work stuff with the exception of
uh number one. Number yeah, number one unexcused absences and the excuse not explicitly listed. Everything else is already present in the current Bible.
Um, I think the 72-hour notice is enough time. And because we have the hybrid in, you're able to be present by logging on to a Zoom call. That is my take. And let's say for
instance you do end up having an actual work related conflict and you are not able to make it and you inform us two hours before you still have what you can vote on it and the council members can vote to say it is an excuse absence for
that particular it basically covers you. Yeah. Without keeping it open. Is 72 hours something that's that comes from base ed or is it something like what we could say 48 hours um in regards to which giving notice is that could be a
cons decision um and you know thinking about the big circumstances like you don't know if you're going to be sick sometime two hours in advance right which is why absent always need to be voted on even though it's in the Bible we still want to vote on it because
there's always kind of nuances different as long as we have quum in person to answer your question right as long as quum's in person the person will be able to Eden and look at page number eight
I've also covered it there um if the council deems it's appropriate other absences may be excused by vote okay so it basically covers from every single part that we can possibly think of
without letting a council member take advantage or use it to their advantage and use it as an excuse. That way, if you have seven of us that agree that yeah, it's much should get an excuse absence because she's fasting, I agree.
But if seven of you think no, we don't think so. Then it's it's not contingent upon just the president or the VP or one person. Um, so it's impartial. I mean, that's at least what I'm thinking. So, you're supposed to notify the council.
Is it does this need to specify how you're supposed to notify the council? I believe in email. I believe in writing. Notify the council in like a text message. Yes, it's fine. I think somewhere in there it's there. I
don't know where I put it, but I think it's there. But if it's not um I saw that it said in writing but I was wondering we can come back and leave where there I know what you're saying to be specific as to what's the medium of communication in form of the more paper
trail through email there's not exactly a paper trail so I understand this uh this bylaw said we're in a group how come we cannot touch on the special meetings or any type of meetings since
everything has be in person for a special meeting, right? If let's say during counter meeting if we board it for the anything that we need to discuss in a special meeting can it be done in a hybrid like as in a virtual we could
vote it. So for example, you have to vote it for something. So the hybrid all meetings the hybrid clothes is for all meetings standby but voting is no voting has to be in person right not hybrid but uh I understand is there any way that we
could no for for that to change we have to go through the whole resolution first then that means that all all the councils have resolution that's a totally different we have a proposal already hopefully if I got voted in for next year and even if I'm not I'm still
going to pursue of it. Um, but that's a different ball game alto together. So, because we only have one week, we did our best to make sure it is as less complicated with less amount of
issues as we possibly can so that we can move this and sign this on. Hopefully, the next council can take a look at it. But yes, I want to stay there. So the most part that you guys uh added it will be the section one
uh section one and a little bit of section two. Yes. Then we go 10 as um updates. Um I also want to uh when you look at the agendas right page number 10 that's page on now. Yeah. Um whatever I have crossed out um was after
discussing it with Marville um I had the wrong items. the wrong items were in the like the business meeting is a different uh agenda like the U. So I put that there. So I also have the each item on the
agenda shall have a time limit which is page 11. um so that people like me don't sit there and talk for like two hours because I can or you know um and the other part that was important to us
was parent association and I say this from personal experience because I'm very disappointed that I didn't get assigned a school. So, I would like to make sure that when the new council um starts, if I'm part of it, great. If I'm
not, that it's somewhere in the bots that it is something. And this would also be in line with I think what we're trying to do with um having meetings in different schools like that's what we had said. So this sort of jags in but
also makes sure that council what you're pointing out there just so you know that is something we try do at the beginning of the year. I know because you guys came in late it's a little different but usually between the second and third meeting is where we make sure we get people put like their ideas of what school they want and we finalize the
list. Yeah. want to touch on this point more um so we can have a discussion in the reason we've put a minimum of six school visits required in a calendar year a good faith effort can be provided in case of scheduled commitment conflicts between parties so what that
means is this also helps the council members fill out the performance report um if it's in the bylaws schools are assigned uh I'm trying to go to the school and I'm unable to do uh it doesn't really mean that I didn't
try, but at least I'm making me as a council member accountable to make that effort because we're council members. We play an important role and it I joined in too late unfortunately, but I wish I was
able to do more. So I just want to make sure that whoever is the new committee knows that it is their responsibility. They do play an important role between schools and parent associates for the school visit I have to say because you know I totally agree that's why we are
here right during our visit schedule. So what happened is normally in order for us to make a school visit normally assistant right administrator has to contact the school and principal
has to give us the date when we can call like okay sign if we don't get it ku show up they have to be expected yes so in that progress we had a some difficulty yeah this year we had a little bit of specifically with it so when when we went through with the
school visit last Yeah, it was really good. When we put this here, when I put this here, right, it was taking that into account, which is why I say a good good faith effort. Yeah. So, you've sent an email to the administrator and she sent one. There's a trail and when
you're when you're submitting your monthly report, you're basically writing that I tried to I tried doing this, I was not able to. So, it shows that you're doing it. You have something to fill out in your report. And it also makes you conscious that just because
the principal is not available on such and such date, we don't stop. We we keep trying and at the end of the entire two years, if you still don't get one date, then I would change all the principles. We bring it up for you. We
pause it and if we don't get in contact with any principal, yes, Mike is here. Then he kind of goes 100%. I love it works. It's just that the connector who has to be the assistant administer we're missing.
That's we had a you had but we are not blaming. It's just that we had the list but it we didn't have a way to like really make the connections as much with Egypt here. Once we picked whoever the new council is once they get schools she'll reach out to parent coordinators tell them this is the person that's
assigned and kind of bridge that gap and we can schedule. The only thing that I was asking is is the six school visits six to each school that you're assigned or six overalls. Six overalls. Okay. That's what I wanted to check. That's why I would like no.
So, I don't know if we want to just maybe word that a little bit differently by overall visits to your overall overall. Yes. Just to like kind of be more specific is all. Okay. And I was just going to add um required in the
calendar year. I mean, I think it would be the school year because the calendar year required in a school because I don't think we really care if they do it they they come in next month. We don't care if they they don't have to do it by December. Yeah. Yes. So instead
of so instead of calendar we put our No, it doesn't happen this way. But it's but I think it's there and we're supposed to do our best effort. I think that's totally appropriate. Maybe the time limits are cuz you don't
honestly they never been here to almost No, I'm not I'm not doing that again. They kick us out. It was like that back then. Right now we're doing pretty good right now actually. But stay with it. No, that I think that's very very important. Just make sure the time limits are kept to which
is why I brought it up this evening also. Um going forward. Thanks. And I don't see anything else on the other pages. Right. Those were the the main ones that everything else is exactly the same. And even the see the by that you
had emailed saying take a look at this. We had used that previously as a reference also. Perfect. Um there are some lines that I actually saw in the previous uh in other people's bylaws pertaining to the hybrid uh meeting. Um
and we've used all that. Again, we wanted to do a lot more than this, but we are constrained with time. Um well, this is great. That's a lot of effort. So, thank you very much. Thank you. I have a question for Mirabel. Yes.
Awesome. I know that the issue of trying to assign a district 75 parent member to to this council has been ongoing for such a long time. Is it possible that we can put in our bylaws instead of having that D75 if we still cannot find a D75
parent that we put in a regular parent member? No, I asked that too and they said no, but we did have somebody initially. They just never showed up. We can't change it. I think our initial council did have somebody going to change the council.
It's going to be the state and No, Alvin. When we got elected for the this term, we did have somebody. They just never showed up. Showed up. Yeah. Or he So hopefully the whoever it is that's elected this time around will show up and we won't run into that issue again.
Um I'm also working on making sure the burough president's seat is filled in a timely manner for us. Page number eight. Um I have crossed out the lines death of relative attendance relative funerals various
illness because we already have that number seven. Um, I would also like you to tell me how you want me to change the notify to the council inviting Libya. What would be email is best so that it's
documented so Egypt has a copy of it and the president gets a copy at least but we did mention you give them a text message just to notify the final we don't
have any s not right now I'm scared Not yet. Have a meeting of them? Not yet. We're We're getting there. Yeah. Last time that that's for conversation tonight. Okay. Um um the first part I do not
know, it wasn't changed by me, so I'm not sure if it was read except in an emergency. Members shall notify the president and the administrative assistant at least 72 hours prior to scheduled meeting time of the intent to attend remotely or be absent. So I didn't put that there. It was always
been there. Uh I just page it up in case you're inage page seven but it wasn't highlighted. I didn't add it. It's there always being there. A and B. Right. That's where we were talking about whether I thought we make
it like 48 hours rather than 72. I don't know if anyone has any thought there like 48 hours more than enough rather than 72. I think 40 is Because I feel like if they're going to know it in 48 hours, they're going to know it in 72 hours.
Like 48 also said except in an emergency, right? Except in So if you have a vacation coming, you could say, so I Yeah, I think 48 hours I would would just be my
recommendation. I'm open to other people's Yeah, I think that makes sense. It's fine. Grayson's agreeing there. Okay. So, is there any points in there that we did not go over? Not the ones that we've I've changed. If we've read everything else, we should be okay. But I'm going
to read one more time. So, there's a comment on page six. This is the part where you have opportunity to add. Is there anything that we need to add? It's that's open. Unexcused absences. We we want to make sure we
have food delivery. We said we were getting rid of three two and three because they were repetitive. Okay. I don't know if I should leave that traffic part there, but I know because I feel like they're going to get here. They just might be a little
delayed unless they decide like, hey, I'm turning around. I'm just not coming because I'm sitting in this traffic and I'm just not showing up. I think that's the only time that the traffic will come off to be honest like that because but I don't know if there's anything else we would I don't know that
we need to list anything specific other than just stay with unexcused absent because this personal car I don't think we need to raise any anything because once this is something that we could vote it or we could not over there personal emergencies if it's brought at all we
could decide by voting if right here. So the way I covered this that we could vote. Yeah, I the way I've covered this is I put the excused absences that we have previously discussed on and we we know that they're there. I know where but what if this actually happened not
during this council but I heard was pregnant. No before the meeting went to the hospital maybe but it's not concern illness or you know concerns a personal matter. emergency. It's an emergency,
but you know, it would be that would come into like the emergency. Yeah. So, the way I've covered this is I've listed the excused absences. I've given the opportunity to vote on anything that hasn't been listed. And over and above that, it's like if both of those have
been exhausted, there is still a chance where you can bring it on the table. You still vote on it and you're okay. So, the president would bring it up like, "Hey, this is what came up." and we would vote about that like we do we could page
eight look at eight other absences may be excused the second paragraph on page eight so I think that's where that's coming into play I think we could cross out the traffic personally and just say unexcused
I think what what basically it does is it it protects the integrity of the council and then doesn't force allow the council member to take advantage of by attending meetings, but also gives them the
opportunity to come in if if they do make it to like three, you know, without having automatic, you know, dismissal of the council. I think we pretty much done. All right.
So from Marabel question for you if we've given our feedback now we have like little tweaks that they know we're going to make what's our be voted on at the next um public
meeting which is our over tomorrow it's our special meeting you can't do it tomorrow it's not on your um notice so we would have to add it in a worse ceremony at as a special
meeting after the award ceremony if we feel that we're ready to vote on it. So, we would have to take a vote here of whether or not to hold that extra meeting to vote on it at that meeting. Otherwise, it wait it's a vote to do a vote. Otherwise, it would wait for the
new council to come in. We present this is what was started and let them go and finish it. Is it the only business that would be a vote to vote? Basically, you don't know. You don't know if we can have seven people showing up the first time. Second of all, it's really not fair if someone just walk in to vote on
Sunday. They're totally unfair. So, one, they'll make the edits that we talked about today. I'll have Egypt do a roll call vote of whether we would like to add this to a special meeting at the end of the award ceremony for a vote. Would this be the only thing added the end of
the This would be it. It would be just for the bylaws. So, does everyone feel comfortable taking a vote on whether or not to put a special meeting on for that night? Well, is it possible that we can just approve
it before the ceremony? Preapprove it. We have to do the vote. That would be having the special meeting or we can do the special meeting before and then we'd have to get there even earlier that way. I don't think you want to do that. Everybody show up, you know. I don't I don't I don't I don't think we
want to have people having to show up at like 5:30 instead of show up at 6:30 for a 7:00 type thing. That's what I'm I'm trying to think. So that's why I feel like after would be the best option unless there's a date out there that people have before the end of the month that they want to put a special meeting
on the calendar. The only thing I would say about after is just know that there's going to be a lot of people that are delivering and it might take you a little bit longer to actually get to the vote than than you may like. Might take a little bit longer. You won't have the special meeting at 5:30.
I believe you can ask a question. Last No, no. 6:30 meeting, we had a lady by the name of Beth who wasn't on the agenda yet. She spoke. So why can we not put this for
tomorrow? She was speaking under under my superintendent's report. It was part of his presentation. Part of his report. Yeah. That's that's where that came into play. Can you put this right here? We could take a vote that we want to make a special meeting to vote and then
we could discuss a date whether it be the award ceremony date or a different date. So, let's just vote if we want to make a special meeting. Yeah, let's be honest. Nobody's nobody's meeting one another after June 11. That's why I'm trying to figure this out. I love the not happening after June 11th. So, we
either do anything. Well, that's why I'm asking everyone before I have us vote. What does everyone feel comfortable with? Is there anything else that needs to get done this year that we're obligated to do before the school year ends? Website's up. Resolution just got done. Bylaws is
updated. Next thing. And they just got to make those few edits that we talked about and then we could bring it to a vote. But we also want to put it up. We have to put that on the website also, right? Yeah. Get it up on the website. obligated. Yeah, we're not obligated, right? But it's whether we want to
finish this out, but there's nothing else is 9:00. Are we voting to put it as a special meeting after the award ceremony that night? Yes. Okay. So, that's the vote we're going to take. Go through the roll call and we'll go from there. So, and get a vote. Yes.
Everybody does. I don't know things get a vote. No, you're good. Right. Okay. So, it's fine. Yes. Yes. Yes. Yes. Yes. Alvin. Yes. Catherine, we have
a phone. Okay. Yes. Yes. Yes. Bob, I'm fine with it. Yes. Don's not here. and our student member. So, this we'll we'll put out a notice that
there will be a special meeting at the end of the award ceremony. Just be aware, we might be there a little late that night, guys. And I'm going to Virginia the very next day. So, I don't want to be there too late. I have to make sure they extend the permit. So, we will extend that permit a little bit.
Permit back a little bit. No, we just do we have to read the whole thing the way we had to read the resolution. So before we finish up and adjourn the meeting, I just I wanted to bring something up to everybody. I don't know if everyone noticed, but our participant number did go up since the business
meeting started. I know that there were some people that were planning to be on the meeting for the calendar meeting and it looks like they joined for the business portion. We don't have public speaking in our business meeting, but I'm asking the council if they would like to give the chance for some of
these people to speak briefly, but two minutes each person and we limit it so that we're not here for how many people are there? I don't know. Okay. 28. 28. 28. I think all 28 are those people.
Okay. Yeah. I don't think they're human beings. They're AIS. Talk to Firefly. Say hi. How are you? What is AI? Is there anybody that's currently on Zoom that is looking to
speak? If you can just raise your hand, No, I don't want to do that yet. Please, Louis, if there's somebody that would like to speak, just raise your hand so we are aware. Go to the second screen. There's two screens of people. Yeah.
Okay. All right. So, you move to So, if that's the case that nobody is raising their hand, given the chance for that to come up, um I will take a motion for us to motion to second. Bob and Shirley, I heard. All right, we are done for tonight and I
will see whoever is coming tomorrow. I will see you tomorrow at 6:45. We're starting. What time is tomorrow? 6:45. Can we stop the recording? Yes. Yes. Um, can I tell