Members Present
Dr. Archer (attended remotely)
Mr. Babikian
Mr. Baxter
Mrs. Cortese
Mrs. DeForest
Mrs. James Murad
Mrs. Scott
Mr. Ghanim (Student board member)
Members Absent
Dr. Lei
Mr. Zoghby
Administration Present
Dr. Woodcock, Superintendent
Mr. Bartlett, Business Administrator
Mr. Franz, Assistant Superintendent
Mr. Reyes, Assistant Superintendent
Others in attendance: Tracey Menapace, Kara Azria, Maeve Dadey, Tom Dadey, Owen McQuiston, and Cameron Stafford
Dr. Archer called the Regular Meeting of the Board of Education to order at 7:00 p.m. in the Boardroom of the District Office and via YouTube Livestream Link.
Mr. Babikian moved and Mr. Baxter seconded the motion to amend the agenda to change the Student Board Member Report to the beginning of the meeting so that Mr. Ghanim could attend a student event.
Motion carried. (7-0-0)
Student Board Member Report
Mr. Ghanim reported that students are in agreement that the school lunches have not been provided efficiently. He said some students have to wait 20 to 25 minutes to be able to receive their lunch, and this does not include the time they need to eat their lunch. He shared an example of a student that is constantly, unfairly “cut in line”, as well as students that have special dietary needs, that need to wait longer for their options. He said we have a fantastic food service staff, but we need to do better to ensure students do not go without a lunch.
Mr. Ghanim was excused from the meeting at 7:06 p.m. to attend a student event.
Pupil Personnel Services, Mrs. Menapace and Ms. Azria
Mrs. Menapace, Director of PPS and Ms. Azria, Administrative Intern and Special Education Teacher, shared a presentation from the PPS Department which covered an in depth look at the Resource Room Program at the High School and an explanation of the Suspension of Students with Disabilities. Mrs. Menapace and Ms. Azria took questions from the Board.
(See Supplemental Minutes for Presentation)
Red Ram Recognition
Dr. Archer recognized the entire community for their support of the Red Out taking place in the gymnasium which supports the Live Like Liam Foundation. She said it was very heartwarming to see and thanked everyone involved.
Dr. Woodcock recognized Jamesville-DeWitt Board of Education members as Board Member appreciation week is during the month of October. She thanked all members for volunteering their time and provided them with a gift of appreciation.
Mrs. Cortese recognized school principals during appreciation week in October and school psychologists during their appreciation week at the beginning of November.
Community Comment Time #1
There were no comments.
Approve Consent Agenda
Mrs. Cortese moved, and Mrs. James Murad seconded the motion to approve the Consent Agenda.
1. Superintendent’s Personnel Recommendations and Substitute
Appointments
2. CPSE and CSE Recommendations
3. Internal Claims Auditor Reports
4. External Auditor Report
Motion carried. (7-0-0) (See Supplemental Minutes)
Superintendent’s Personnel Recommendations – October 27, 2025
INSTRUCTIONAL
Appointments
Name and position: Sandra Reilly Lalonde, School Nurse, 52-week probationary appointment, replacing N. Trendowski
-
- Location: Jamesville-DeWitt Middle School
- Salary: $51,121.00 – prorated (B10)
- License: Registered Nurse
- Effective: October 28, 2025
Change in Status Appointment
Name and position: Sydney Caramanna, Speech Pathologist, four-year probationary appointment
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- Location: Non-Public Schools and District
- Salary: $60,906.20 – prorated (B1-M+50)
- Certification: Initial Speech and Language Disabilities
- Effective: October 28, 2025
Change in Status: from .75 FTE to 1.0 FTE
Extra Duty Assignment – Extended Teaching – High School – 2025-2026
Name, assignment, and stipend:
-
- Anna Delaney, PM Bus Supervision, $1,391.00
- Scott Howard, AM Bus Supervision, $1,391.00
Extra Duty Assignment – Extended Teaching – Middle School – 2025-2026
Name, assignment, and stipend:
-
- Kristen Panzetta, Lunch Duty, $1,989.00
Extra Duty Assignment – Extended Teaching – Jamesville Elementary School – 2025-2026
Name, assignment, and stipend:
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- Gretchen Bliss, Bus Dismissal Supervisor, $546.00 (prorated), effective October 28, 2025
Extra Duty Assignment – Extended Teaching – Winter Coaching – 2025-2026
Name, assignment, and stipend:
-
- Amanda Brown, Girls Varsity Asst. Cheerleading Coach, $3,563.00
- Jonah Cavallo, Boys Varsity Asst. Wrestling Coach, $3,845.00*
- Duane LeBlanc, Boys Modified Wrestling Coach, $4,254.00
- April Parks, Girls Varsity Head Wrestling Coach, $5,822.00*
- Tekonbla Wright, Girls Varsity Head Basketball Coach, $8,935.00*
*Pending completion of the certification process
Extra Duty Assignment – Extended Teaching – Winter Coaching – 2025-2026
Name, assignment, and stipend:
-
- Emily Rowles, Substitute Head Indoor Track Coach, November 11, 2025 through December 13, 2025, $2,578.18
Request for Leave of Absence
Name, assignment, location, type of leave and effective date:
-
- Karen Graham, Teaching Assistant, Tecumseh Elementary School, FMLA, February 6, 2026 through March 25, 2026
Request for Retirement
Name, assignment, location, and effective date:
-
- Kenneth Kline, ELA Teacher (AIS), Jamesville-DeWitt Middle School, July 1, 2026
Resignation – Extended Teaching – Jamesville Elementary School – 2025-2026
Name, assignment, location, and effective date:
-
- Kristin Middleton, Bus Dismissal Supervisors, October 27, 2025
NONINSTRUCTIONAL
Appointments
Name, assignment, location, and effective date:
-
- Hallie Barrett, Teacher Aide, 52-week probationary appointment, Tecumseh Elementary School, $16.20/hr., October 28, 2025, new position
- Joanne Cacchione, Food Service Helper 1, part-time, Cafeteria, $17.70/hr., November 10, 2025, replacing P. Martin
- Samantha Cantor, Teacher Aide, 52-week probationary appointment, Moses DeWitt Elementary School, $16.20/hr., October 28, 2025, replacing M. Vacchiano
- Charles Fain, Substitute Bus Attendant, Transportation Dept., $16.00/hr., October 28, 2025
- Andrea Johnson, Food Service Helper 1, part-time, Cafeteria, $17.70/hr., October 28, 2025, replacing E. Webb
- Margaret Lewis, Substitute Bus Attendant, Transportation Dept., $16.00/hr., October 28, 2025
- Donald Pooler, Bus Driver, 52-week probationary appointment, Transportation Dept., $35.39/hr., October 31, 2025, replacing D. Nass
- Donald Wilbur, Substitute Custodian, Custodial Dept., $16.00/hr., October 28, 2025
Change In Status Appointments
Name, assignment, location, and effective date:
-
- Tracy Lewis, Food Service Helper 1 to Cook 1, 52-week probationary appointment, Cafeteria, $20.89/hr., October 28, 2025
Request for Retirement
Name, assignment, location, and effective date:
-
- Dean Nass, Bus Driver, Transportation, October 30, 2025
Resignation
Name, assignment, location, and effective date:
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- Laura Fowler, Cook Manager, Cafeteria, October 6, 2025
- Nicole MacCombie-Casimiro, Food Service Helper 1, Cafeteria, September 30, 2025
Termination
Name, assignment, location, and effective date:
-
- Paul Martin, Food Service Helper 1, Cafeteria, October 27, 2025
Approve Minutes of October 6, 2025 Board Meeting
Mrs. Cortese moved and Mr. Baxter seconded the motion to approve the minutes of the October 6, 2025 Board of Education meeting.
Motion carried. (6-0-1); Mrs. James Murad abstained.
Approve Memorandum of Agreement, Management Confidential Clerical Employees
Mrs. Scott moved and Mr. Babikian seconded the motion to approve the Memorandum of Agreement for Management Confidential Employees.
Motion carried. (7-0-0) (See Supplemental Minutes)
Oath of Office, District Clerk
Tish Hauser read and signed the Oath of Office for District Clerk.
Potential Consideration for Future Meetings
Mrs. Cortese would like to discuss the topic of food service at a future meeting.
Superintendent’s Report: Dr. Woodcock
Dr. Woodcock said that Mr. Ghanim had messaged her before the meeting to let her know he would be discussing the topic of lunches and appreciates his respectfulness. Dr. Woodcock said she has added school lunches to her calendar for the next week and that she will be in the cafeteria helping, until they are fully staffed. She also said that three new food service workers were approved tonight.
Dr. Woodcock reported on the OCM BOCES Capital Project. She said the vote will take place on November 19 at all four OCM BOCES locations. She said both herself and Mr. Bartlett have attended a presentation on the project. Dr. Woodcock will be putting out a message to the community regarding this Capital Project and sharing a video which is on their website.
Mr. Bartlett gave an overview of the internal audit. He said the area of focus was procurement and shared the results. He said it was a good audit for the district. Mr. Bartlett also provided a response to submit to the State Education Department.
Dr. Woodcock thanked Mr. Bartlett for being proactive and submitting the corrective action plan ahead of time.
Lastly, Dr. Woodcock shared upcoming events which include another budget roadshow presentation, cafeteria tour dates, and a list of athletic events.
Committee Reports
Mrs. DeForest reported on the Finance Committee meeting of October 21. The committee talked about the budget presentation and reviewed the budget timeline. She said they will be discussing the budget calendar at the next meeting and presenting it to the Board at the December 8 meeting. Mrs. DeForest said the committee reviewed our grant status and said our application for a grant to digitize records was denied, but that we will continue to seek out other grants. She said that NVision transition from WINCAP is going well, and that there is still additional data to transition over. She thanked the staff for their cooperation. She said the committee discussed the status, timelines and payments for capital projects, as well as the OCM BOCES Capital project on November 19.
Board President’s Report: Dr. Archer
Dr. Archer started her report with a conversation regarding the Board Retreat. The Board landed on a date of November 13, from 6 to 8. She suggested a couple of topics for the retreat: portrait of a graduate; finance, school law, restorative practices and discipline data.
She reported on the NYSSBA conference sessions she attended. She said there was an information session on Executive Session and that she would be sending her notes out. She will also be sending a link to a presentation by the keynote speaker, who spoke about dignity and the root of understanding people.
Mrs. James Murad recommended going to next year’s NYSSBA conference which will be taking place in Buffalo. She suggested attending the legal conference and said it is geared towards board members, not just lawyers. She said she has links to all the presentations from the conference.
Community Comment Time #2
There were no comments.
Unfinished and Continuing Business
Dr. Woodcock stated that she will request a brief Executive Session to discuss legal updates.
Adjournment
At 7:54 p.m., Mrs. Cortese moved, and Mrs. Scott seconded the motion to adjourn to Executive Session.
Motion carried. (7-0-0).
At 8:09 p.m., Mr. Babikian moved and Mr. Baxter seconded the motion to adjourn Executive Session.
Motion carried. (7-0-0)
At 8:10 p.m., Mrs. Scott moved and Mrs. Cortese seconded the motion to adjourn the meeting.
Motion carried. (7-0-0)
Respectfully submitted,
Tish Hauser
Clerk of the Board
BOARD APPROVED: 11-17-25