Members Present
Dr. Archer
Mr. Baxter
Mrs. Cortese
Mrs. DeForest
Mrs. James Murad
Dr. Lei
Mrs. Scott
Mr. Ghanim (Student board member)
Mr. Zoghby
Members Absent
Mr. Babikian
Administration Present
Dr. Woodcock, Superintendent
Mr. Bartlett, Business Administrator
Mr. Franz, Assistant Superintendent
Mr. Reyes, Assistant Superintendent
Others in attendance: Tyson Preve
Dr. Archer called the Regular Meeting of the Board of Education to order at 7:14 p.m. in the Board Room of the District Office and via YouTube Livestream Link.
Red Ram Recognition
Dr. Archer recognized Jamesville-DeWitt Science Teacher, Elise Juetzler who was selected as the recipient of the 2025 Science Teachers Association of New York State, Excellence in Teaching Award. She said we are proud to have her teaching our students and representing Red Rams. She also gave a shoutout to all the fall athletes who have been getting ready for the upcoming season.
Community Comment Time #1
There were no comments.
Approve Consent Agenda
Mrs. Scott moved, and Mrs. Cortese seconded the motion to discuss the Consent Agenda.
1. Superintendent’s Personnel Recommendations, Substitute
Reappointments and New Substitute Appointments
2. Accept CSPE and CSE Recommendations
3. Accept Internal Claims Auditor Reports
4. Approve Disposal of Surplus Property
Motion carried. (8-0-0)
Superintendent’s Personnel Recommendations – August 25, 2025
INSTRUCTIONAL
Appointment and Change in Status
Name and position: Alyssa Ascenzo, Special Education Teacher (.5), replacing M. Coir
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- Location: Tecumseh Elementary School
- Salary: $30,908.00 (B2-M+30) (prorated)
- Certification: Prof. SWD B-2, SWD 1-6
- Effective: August 27, 2025 – June 30, 2026
Change in Status: Alyssa Ascenzo, Tecumseh Elementary change from 1.0 TA to .5 TA and .5 Special Education Teacher
Appointments
Name and position: Sydney Caramanna, Speech Pathologist, (.75)
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- Location: Non-Public Schools and District
- Salary: $48,338.25 (B1-M+50) (prorated)
- Certification: Initial Speech and Language Disabilities
- Effective: August 27, 2025 – June 30, 2026
Name and position: Colin Mashkuri, Social Studies Teacher, four-year probationary appointment, replacing J. Mangram
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- Location: Jamesville-DeWitt Middle School
- Salary: $53,908.00 (B1)
- Certification: Initial Social Studies 7-12
- Effective: August 27, 2025
Name and position: Mary Pidkaminy, Special Education Teacher, three-year probationary appointment, replacing E. Nowicki
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- Location: Jamesville-DeWitt Middle School
- Salary: $68,464.00 (B6-M+42)
- Certification: Professional Students With Disabilities, all grades
- Effective: August 27, 2025
Name and position: Katie Whelan, Library Media Specialist, four-year probationary appointment, replacing, M. Panek
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- Location: Moses DeWitt Elementary School/Jamesville Elementary School
- Salary: $65,654.00 (B5-M+33)
- Certification: Initial Library Media Specialist*
- Effective: August 27, 2025
Extra Duty Assignment – Extended Teaching – PPS Department – 2025-2026
Name, assignment, and stipend:
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- Kara Azria, CSE Chairperson, Jamesville-DeWitt High School, $2,587.00
- Kelly Beaudoin, CSE Chairperson, Tecumseh Elementary School, $2,587.00
- Amy Harmon, CSE Chairperson, Non-Public Schools, $2,587.00
- Courtney Lehman, CSE Chairperson, Jamesville-DeWitt Middle School, $2,587.00
- Beth MacKenzie, CSE Chairperson, Moses DeWitt Elementary School, $2,587.00
Extra Duty Assignment – Extended Teaching – High School – 2025-2026
Name, assignment, and stipend:
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- Katie Byrd, National Honor Society Co-Advisor, $1,213.00
- Sue Techman, National Honor Society Co-Advisor, $1,213.00
Extra Duty Assignment – Extended Teaching – Fall Coaching – 2025-2026
Name, assignment, and stipend:
-
- Margaret McBurney, Girls Modified Swimming Coach, $3,635.00
Request for Retirement
Name, assignment, location, and effective date:
-
- Marybeth Cummings, Teaching Assistant, Tecumseh Elementary School,
November 7, 2025
- Marybeth Cummings, Teaching Assistant, Tecumseh Elementary School,
Resignation
Name, assignment, location, and effective date:
-
- Brae Fuller, Teaching Assistant, Jamesville-DeWitt Middle School, August 20, 2025
- Colleen Kenney, Science Teacher, Jamesville-DeWitt High School, August 26, 2025
NONINSTRUCTIONAL
Appointments
Name, assignment, location, and effective date:
-
- Ariana Burrows, Teacher Aide, 52-week probationary appointment, Moses DeWitt Elementary School, $16.20/hr., August 27, 2025, new position/increased enrollment
- Nevaeh Hall, Teacher Aide, 52-week probationary appointment, Jamesville-DeWitt Middle School, $16.20/hr., August 27, 2025, new position
- Kirsten Hess, Procurement Specialist, 52-week probationary appointment, District Office, $47,500.00, September 29, 2025, replacing A.Young
- Ashlyn McGrath, Teacher Aide, 52-week probationary appointment, Jamesville-DeWitt Middle School, $16.20/hr., August 27, 2025, new position
- Krista Petrie, Teacher Aide, 52-week probationary appointment, Moses DeWitt Elementary School, $16.20/hr., August 27, 2025, replacing E. Kesselring
- Courtney Shevenell, Teacher Aide, 52-week probationary appointment, Jamesville Elementary School, $16.20/hr., August 27, 2025, replacing K. Gesek
Resignation
Name, assignment, location, and effective date:
-
- Emma Kesselring, Teacher Aide, Moses DeWitt Elementary School, August 5, 2025
- Ariana Richardson, Teacher Aide, Jamesville-DeWitt High School, August 18, 2025
Addendum to Superintendent’s Personnel Recommendations – August 25, 2025
Mrs. DeForest moved and Mrs. Cortese seconded the motion to approve the Superintendent’s Addendum to the Personnel Recommendations.
Motion carried. (8-0-0)
Addendum to Superintendent’s Personnel Recommendations:
INSTRUCTIONAL
Appointments
Name and position: Rebecca Gould, TOSA, K-6 Classroom Teacher, (Teacher on Special Assignment, 11-month position) four-year probationary appointment, replacing K. Berry
-
- Location: District
- Salary: $71,238 (B6-M+30)
- Certification: Professional Childhood Education, 1-6
- Effective: August 27, 2025
Name and position: Kristi Mullin, Teaching Assistant, four-year probationary appointment, replacing B. Fuller
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- Location: Tecumseh Elementary School
- Salary: $30,626.00
- Certification: Teaching Assistant Level 1
- Effective: August 27, 2025
Extra Duty Assignment – Extended Teaching – Athletics – 2025-2026
Name, assignment, and stipend:
-
- Heather Cavalluzzi, Nurse Manager, District $5,603.00
NONINSTRUCTIONAL
Resignation
Name, assignment, location and effective date:
-
- Kimberly Farnett, Teacher Aide, Tecumseh Elementary School, August 25, 2025
Approve Minutes of the August 4, 2025 Board Meeting
Mrs. DeForest moved and Mrs. Cortese seconded the motion to approve the minutes of the August 4, 2025, board meeting.
Motion carried. (7-0-1) Mr. Zoghby abstained.
Approve the Fiscal Year 2025-2026 School Tax Rates
Dr. Lei moved and Mrs. Cortese seconded the motion to approve the Fiscal Year 2025-2026 School Tax Rates.
Motion carried. (8-0-0) (See Supplemental Minutes)
Board Policies, Second Reading
Mrs. James Murad explained that there were no new comments or questions and that Policies 5685 and 7316 were ready for approval.
Mr. Zoghby moved and Mrs. Scott seconded the approval of the following board policies:
-
- 5685 – Maximum Temperature for Buildings and Facilities
- 7316 – Use of Internet-Enabled Devices During the School Day
Motion carried. (8-0-0)
Potential Consideration for Future Meetings
Dr. Archer said there is currently one consideration on the agenda, which is the Equity Council. Dr. Woodcock indicated that she would like to get this going, starting with student voices and building out to the community. She would like equity teams in all buildings and to be able to make all decisions through an equity lens.
Mrs. DeForest said that as part of the Governance Handbook, the Community Comment Time needs to be addressed to include the new changes and to clarify that the Board does not respond to comments during Community Comment Time.
Assistant Superintendent’s Report: School Climate Survey, Mr. Reyes
Mr. Reyes provided the Board with a report on the 2024-2025 School Climate Survey. His report included the rationale for the survey, significant changes in participation, and data review for students, families and staff broken down by building. Lastly, Mr. Reyes summarized his report with a brief overview, and information on stakeholder inclusion and ongoing work. He took questions from the Board.
(See Supplemental Minutes for presentation).
Superintendent’s Report: Dr. Woodcock
Dr. Woodcock began her report with an invitation for Board members to attend the opening Day presentation and luncheon on Wednesday, August 27 and said she will be focusing on staff feedback from the survey. She said she wants to let staff know we are listening and will concentrate on morale, communication, safety and security. Dr. Woodcock said she wants to make JD the best place to work and to be a part of.
Dr. Woodcock updated the Board on a safety alert that she previously shared. She said the person of concern was not deemed to be a threat by the Manlius Police Department. She said she was thankful for the way the Superintendents were alerted and the way the Manlius Police Department reached out, as it gave us an opportunity for practice. She shared how the information was disseminated to staff.
Dr. Woodcock shared an enrollment update. She said there are areas which are currently being watched and that the numbers are monitored daily.
Dr. Woodcock stated that the Governor has signed the Southwood Property bill which has been 35 years in the making. She said the bill allows the District to lease the property to the Town of Onondaga at fair market value. Dr. Woodcock and Mr. Bartlett met with Town Board member, Lisa Goodwin, and Town Supervisor, John Mahar last week to lay out the next steps. The District will be drawing up a draft lease agreement which the Board will see first.
Lastly, Dr. Woodcock shared upcoming events.
Committee Reports
Mrs. DeForest said the Finance committee met on August 18 and have already begun discussing the school budget for 2026-2027 with a priority to maintain high quality programming. She reported that the District is transitioning from the current financial program, WINCAP to NVision and that it is going well. Mrs. DeForest provided updates on current capital projects as well as the Southwood Property bill, the Verizon cell tower, the e-rate project, formalized standard branding and electric buses.
She said the Finance Committee has set up monthly meetings for the third Tuesday of the month.
Board President’s Report: Dr. Archer
Dr. Archer reminded the Board of the upcoming Annual NYSSBA Conference in October. She said if you are interested, please contact either herself or Tish.
Community Comment Time #2
There were no comments
Unfinished and Continuing Business
Mr. Ghanim shared that he had created an Instagram page for Jamesville-DeWitt High School and he said the account currently has 113 followers of which most are senior students. He said he posed a question on how the new rule of no backpacks in school affects students and shared some of their responses with the Board. He said that most students are unhappy with the new rule and asked that the District and Board reconsider.
Mr. Zoghby asked why we are not allowing students to use their backpacks in school. Dr. Woodcock responded that when the cellphone ban was discussed with administration and staff, the District had two options. The first would be to lock them in a pouch which the District would need to purchase, and put the pouch in their backpacks, or to lock them in their lockers. The law stated that backpacks could not be used as storage. She said the team felt backpacks have been a safety issue this past year, and the only way to ensure that cellphones are in lockers, is to require backpacks in lockers as well.
Dr. Woodcock reminded everyone that the backpack rule is not part of Board policy, but part of the District procedure. She said the cellphone ban was part of Board policy, required by the State.
At 8:14 p.m., Mr. Zoghby moved, and Mrs. Cortese seconded the motion to adjourn the meeting.
Respectfully submitted,
Brian Bartlett
Clerk of the Board
BOARD APPROVED: 9-15-25