Members Present
Dr. Archer
Mr. Babikian
Mr. Baxter
Mrs. Cortese
Mrs. DeForest
Mr. Gross
Mrs. James Murad
Mrs. Scott
Mr. Zoghby
Mr. Mantalios (student board member)
Administration Present
Dr. Smith, Superintendent
Mr. Reyes, Assistant Superintendent
Mr. Franz, Assistant Superintendent
Mr. Bartlett, Business Administrator
Others in attendance: Janet Rider and Mike Fitzpatrick
Mr. Gross called the meeting of the Board of Education to order at 6:15 p.m. in the board room of the District Office and via Zoom.
At 6:15 p.m., Mr. Babikian moved, and Mr. Baxter seconded the motion to adjourn to Executive Session for the purpose of discussing the employment of a particular person.
Motion carried. (9-0-0)
At 6:47 p.m., Dr. Archer moved, and Mrs. James Murad seconded the motion to adjourn Executive Session.
Motion carried. (9-0-0)
At 7:00 p.m., Mr. Gross called the regular meeting to order.
Mrs. Scott moved, and Mrs. James Murad seconded the motion to amend the agenda to add an item, Overnight Field Trip Request, to routine business.
Motion carried. (9-0-0)
2025-26 Budget Presentation, Mr. Bartlett
Mr. Bartlett shared the final budget presentation with the Board. He will review the presentation again on May 12 during the budget hearing. The presentation included the proposed revenues, proposed three-part expense budget, summary, propositions, and key calendar dates. Mr. Bartlett stated the proposed budget is $75,327,667, which is a difference of $3,970,687, or a 5.56% increase over last year.
(See Supplemental Minutes)
Red Ram Recognition
During Red Ram Recognition, Mr. Gross recognized and congratulated the following:
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- J-D High School Technology Student Association who attended the State Conference and was awarded First Place for Technology Bowl, Senior Solar Sprint, Audio Podcasting, On-Demand Video Production and Flight; Second Place for Robotics, Music Production and Dragster; and Third Place for Dragster, Photo Tech and Coding
- The model United Nations team representing Jamesville-DeWitt at Cornell. The team consists of Jisan Lamichhane, Matthew Centolella, Sabah Ghanim, Kaylie Sheedy, Sanjima Dhakal, Violet Gross and Alex Paratt. Gross congratulated Alex Paratt who was recognized as an Outstanding Delegate in his committee.
- J-D High School students who were inducted into the National Technical Honor Society on April 8 at SRC including, Ella Alfaro-Rooney, Maxwell Curringa, Revelo Fico, Kayla Lisk, Jenna Quinn, Samaria Ricks, Keigan Rogers and Malik Watson
- J-D High School Students Lucas Chiorini, Judah Eglash, Udochukwu Okereke and Evan Wagner-Flynn named as finalists in the Soung Playwrights’ Festival, with the staged readings taking place on April 29.
Mr. Gross also recognized High School students in the Women’s History course who had an opportunity to travel to the National Women’s Hall of Fame in Seneca Falls, NY, as well as students from Mrs. Endreny’s 6th and 7th grade Sustainability Club who released young salmon into Butternut Creek.
Community Comment Time
There were no comments.
Approve Consent Agenda
Mr. Gross asked for a show of hands to approve the Consent Agenda.
Consent Agenda Items:
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- Superintendent’s Personnel recommendations and Substitute Appointments
- CPSE and CSE Recommendations
- Accept Internal Claims Auditor Reports
- Approve Treasurer’s Report
- Approve Minutes of April 7, 2025, Board meeting
The Consent Agenda was approved. (9-0-0)
Superintendent’s Personnel Recommendations – April 21, 2025
INSTRUCTIONAL
Appointments
Name and position: Melissa McCarthy, School Nurse, Part-time (.6 FTE), replacing L. Knuth
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- Location: High School
- Salary: $32,771.40 (prorated)
- Certification: Registered Professional Nurse
- Effective: May 5, 2025
NONINSTRUCTIONAL
Appointments
Name, assignment, location, and effective date:
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- Megan Leach, Typist II, 52-week probationary appointment, High School, $18.25/hr., June 6, 2025, replacing R. Reichel
- Mitzi Longway, Typist II, Middle School, $19.50/hr., April 23, 2025
Resignation
Name, assignment, location, and effective date:
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- Megan Leach, Teacher Aide, High School, June 5, 2025
- Mitzi Longway, School Secretary I, Middle School, April 22, 2025
Retirement
Name, assignment, location, and effective date:
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- Debra Hiller, School Secretary I, Moses DeWitt, July 1, 2025
Approve Resolution with OCM BOCES for 2025-26 Technology Lease, five-year service contract
Mrs. James Murad moved, and Mr. Baxter seconded the motion to approve a Resolution with OCM BOCES for the 2025-26 Technology Lease, a five-year service contract.
Motion carried. (9-0-0) (See Supplemental Minutes
Approve Resolution with OCM BOCES for lit fiber for high-speed communications services
Mr. Baxter moved, and Mr. Zoghby seconded the motion to approve a Resolution with OCM BOCES for lit fiber for high-speed communications services.
Motion carried. (9-0-0) (See Supplemental Minutes)
Election of OCM BOCES Board of Education Members
Mrs. Cortese moved, and Mr. Baxter seconded the motion to approve the ballot of candidates for election to the Board of Cooperative Educational Services (BOCES).
Motion carried. (9-0-0) (See Supplemental Minutes)
Approve OCM BOCES 2025-26 Administrative Budget
Mrs. Cortese moved, and Mrs. James Murad seconded the motion to adopt the resolution to approve the OCM BOCES 2025-26 Administrative Budget
Motion carried. (9-0-0) (See Supplemental Minutes)
Approve Overnight Field Trip Request
Mr. Zoghby moved, and Mr. Baxter seconded the motion to approve the Overnight Field Trip Request for members of the Boys and Girls Track Team to travel to White Plains High School in White Plains, NY from May 9, 2025, to May 10, 2025.
Motion carried. (9-0-0)
Adopt 2025-26 Budget for Jamesville-DeWitt
Mr. Babikian moved, and Mrs. Scott seconded the motion to adopt the 2025-26 Budget for Jamesville-DeWitt.
Motion carried. (9-0-0)
Adopt Property Tax Report Card
Mrs. Cortese moved, and Mr. Baxter seconded the motion to adopt the 2025-26 Property Tax Report Card.
Motion carried. (9-0-0) (See Supplemental Minutes)
Potential Consideration for Future Meetings
There was none.
Assistant Superintendent’s Report, Mr. Franz
Mr. Franz shared the 30-week Impact Report which provides data on attendance, course enrollment, referrals, and suspensions. Mr. Franz also provided a look at participation in study halls and electives. Lastly, Mr. Franz shared information about the development of the 2025-26 Professional Learning Plan. Mr. Franz took questions from the Board.
(See Supplemental Minutes)
Superintendent’s Report, Dr. Smith
Dr. Smith shared an update on enrollment. Jamesville Elementary School is still down a section of kindergarten based on projected enrollments, but every other section is holding steady. He said there are markers for when we would add an additional section at a building and that we are not even close in any K-4 areas yet. He said we are monitoring Moses DeWitt Kindergarten, which has historically been the most difficult to predict. He said we will keep advertising for kindergarten registration.
Dr. Smith shared an update on the weapons detection systems. He said that he has met with one vendor and that vendor uses artificial learning with their system. He said machine learning helps identify items, making arrival time much quicker. He said Mr. Bartlett is working on setting up meetings with other vendors for more information. Dr. Smith believes we are still within the timeline to have a system installed in the fall.
Dr. Smith shared information regarding the closing of Tops in DeWitt. He said he believes the property will be sold relatively soon and within that property is the small auxiliary parking lot at Moses DeWitt. The parking lot was created between the former P & C and Jamesville-DeWitt for use by Moses DeWitt staff, and with the possible sale of the property, the board should be aware of this.
Dr. Smith shared upcoming events including spring sports, ELA, Math, Science and ELL testing, and World Language Honor Society Induction. He also recognized that May 5 begins Teacher Appreciation Week and took a moment to recognize the teachers on the Board of Education.
Board President’s Report
Mr. Gross shared an update on the Superintendent Search. He said the board was extremely happy to announce the appointment of Dr. Darcy Woodcock as the next Superintendent. He said that it is his expectation to appoint Dr. Woodcock as Superintendent ahead of the Public Forum taking place on Thursday. He said it would be a brief, one item agenda meeting. He once again thanked Dr Matt Cook for his guidance and all the candidates, board members and stakeholders. He said the district is working on the transition.
Mr. Gross announced the four candidates that will be running for the Board of Education on May 20: Dr. Sharon Archer, Mrs. Lorianne DeForest, Ms. Laurin Haddad and Ms. Jing Lei.
Student Board Member Report: Mr. Mantalios
Mr. Mantalios did not have a report.
Committee Reports
Mrs. DeForest shared an update on the Finance Committee. She said the committee met on April 8 and reviewed the budget presentation, analysis of reserves, and long-range planning. She said the committee discussed the exit survey which will be set up at the budget vote and encouraged all community members to vote and to participate in the exit poll. She said the committee discussed transitioning to nVision which is on target for July 1. Mrs. DeForest said the committee discussed the status of capital projects, electric buses, weapons detections systems and the budget, interior doors. Lastly, she said they discussed enrollment and the per pupil expenditure.
Community Comment Time, 2
There were no comments.
Unfinished and Continuing Business
There was none.
At 8:20 p.m., Dr. Archer moved, and Mr. Zoghby seconded the motion to adjourn the meeting.
Motion carried. (9-0-0)
Respectfully submitted,
Brian Bartlett
Clerk of the Board
BOARD APPROVED: 5-12-25