Jamesville-Dewitt Central School District > Board of Education > Minutes of March 24, 2025, Board of Education Meeting

Minutes of March 24, 2025, Board of Education Meeting

Members Present

Dr. Archer
Mr. Babikian
Mr. Baxter
Mrs. Cortese
Mrs. DeForest
Mr. Gross
Mrs. James Murad (attended remotely)
Mr. Zoghby
Mr. Mantalios (student board member)

Members Absent

Mrs. Scott

Administration Present

Dr. Smith, Superintendent
Mr. Reyes, Assistant Superintendent
Mr. Franz, Assistant Superintendent
Mr. Bartlett, Business Administrator

Others in attendance: Carolyn Pfister, Megan Fahey, and Katherine Fahey.

Mr. Gross called the meeting of the Board of Education to order at 7:00 p.m. in the board room of the District Office and via Zoom.

Red Ram Recognition

Mr. Gross shared Red Ram Recognition. He recognized and congratulated the following:

    • Cast and crew of the 7th and 8th grade performance of Beetlejuice
    • Senior Peter Drew, National Merit Scholarship Finalist
    • JDHS who were named Young Playwrights’ Festival finalists: William Hougland, Alyssa Forgione, Juda Eglash, Evan Wagner-Flynn, Udochukwu Okereke and Lucas Chiorini
    • JD Model United Nations Team who were awarded “Best Small Delegation” at the MUN Conference on March 7 and 8
    • Deam Bratslavsky and Evan Wagner-Flynn for winning outstanding delegate awards at the MUN Conference
    • Paul Fisci for winning Honorable Mention at the MUN Conference
    • Alex Parrat for winning Best Delegate at the MUN Conference
    • 8th grader Simran Sanders who won the Post-Standard-Syracuse.com Spelling Bee for the third consecutive year. Simran will compete in the Scripp’s National Spelling Bee in Washington D.C. at the end of May.

Mr. Gross also recognized the 12th annual Learning Pad Lemonade Stand. He said Senior Olivia Clark has been working on the expansion of the Lemonade Stand as part of her Senior Capstone Project. The Lemonade Stand will expand to all buildings including the Transportation Department and the District Office.

(See Supplemental Minutes)

Community Comment Time

Megan Fahey commented on the superintendent search and expressed her concern of a conflict of interest should the new superintendent have children in the district. She requested that the stakeholder survey be reopened and asked that names and qualifications of final candidates be made public.

Shanna Zeckzer commented on the district’s response to school safety concerns. She referred to a specific student situation and said the behavior demonstrates an escalation. She said there is no consistency in what is being reported and suggested reaching out to other districts to see how they manage transparency and dissemination of information.

Carolyn Pfister commented on building security and safety. She said neither the High School nor the Middle School have secure entry ways. She said double doors in the foyer and security at the main entrances should be in place and that money should be put towards this safety measure. She also commented on inconsistencies between buildings and how they release students to adults.

Approve Consent Agenda

Mr. Gross reviewed the items on the consent agenda:

    • Superintendent’s Personnel Recommendations and Substitute Appointments
    • CPSE and CSE Recommendations
    • Internal Claims Auditor Reports
    • Approve Treasurer’s Report
    • Approve Minutes of March 3, 2025, Board Meeting
    • Approve Resolution Calling the 2025 Annual District Meeting and Election of the Jamesville-DeWitt Central School District and Authorizing Related Matters

Mr. Baxter requested the personnel recommendations be removed from the consent agenda.

Mr. Zoghby requested the Minutes of March 3, 2025, Board Meeting to be removed.

No motion. The board voted in favor of approving the consent agenda (8-0-0).

At 7:18 p.m., Mr. Baxter moved, and Mrs. Cortese seconded the motion to adjourn to executive session.

Motion carried. (8-0-0)

At 7:52 p.m., Mr. Baxter moved, and Mr. Babikian seconded the motion to adjourn executive session.

At 7:54 p.m., Mr. Gross called the regular meeting back to order.

Mrs. Cortese moved, and Mr. Baxter seconded the motion to approve the Superintendent’s Personnel Recommendations and Substitute Appointments.

Motion carried. (8-0-0)

Superintendent’s Personnel Recommendations – March 24, 2025

INSTRUCTIONAL

Change in Status Appointment

Name and position: Jonathan Mangram, Social Studies Teacher, Middle School, called back to full-time from Preferred Eligibility List, replacing A. Bissetta

    • Location: Middle School
    • Salary: $61,830.00 (B8)
    • Certification: Initial Social Studies 7-12
    • Effective: August 27, 2025

Extra Duty Assignment – Extended Season – Coaching Winter Season – 2024-2025

Name, assignment, and stipend:

    • David Beseth, Varsity Wrestling Assistant Coach, $1,047.00
    • Robert Bewley, Varsity Boys Swimming Head Coach, $2,121.00
    • Dajuan Coleman, JV Boys Basketball Coach, $1,185.00
    • Joseph Corridori, Varsity Boys Indoor Track Assistant Coach, $1,302.00
    • Patrick Gillette, Varsity Girls Indoor Track Head Coach, $1,911.00
    • Alanna Jones, Varsity Cheerleading Head Coach, $1,074.00
    • James Jones, Varsity Boys Basketball Head Coach, $1,785.00
    • Paul LeBlanc, Varsity Wrestling Head Coach, $1,758.00
    • John Lenish, Varsity Boys and Girls Indoor Track Assistant Coach, $1,047.00
    • Parker Noble, Varsity Boys Indoor Track Head Coach, $1,497.00
    • Alexandria Payne, Varsity Girls Indoor Track Assistant Coach, $1,047.00
    • Ryan Pietrzak, Varsity Boys Diving Coach, $840.00
    • Tekonbla Wright, Varsity Girls Head Basketball Coach, $1,983.00

Extra Duty Assignment – Extended Teaching – Coaching Spring Season – 2024-2025

Name, assignment, and stipend:

    • Dominic Biddlecome, Varsity Baseball Coach, volunteer ($0)
    • Ian Crawford, Varsity Baseball Coach, volunteer ($0)

Extension to Leave of Absence

Name, assignment, location, and effective date:

    • Erin Brauner, Special Education Teacher, Jamesville Elementary School, FMLA leave of absence April 9, 2025, through June 27, 2025

Request for Retirement

Name, assignment, location, and effective date:

    • Suzanne Spinelli, Teaching Assistant, Moses DeWitt Elementary School, June 30, 2025

Resignation

Name, assignment, location, and effective date:

    • Lauren Knuth, School Nurse (.6 FTE), High School, March 14, 2025

NONINSTRUCTIONAL

Appointments

Name, assignment, location, and effective date:

    • Nicholas Cappelletti, Substitute Bus Driver, Transportation Department, $26.00/hr., March 25, 2025
    • Joseph Lubeck, Custodial Worker I, 52-week probationary appointment, Custodial Department, $19.42/hr., April 8, 2025, replacing J. Connors
    • Nicole MacCombie-Casimiro, Substitute Custodian, Custodial Department, $15.50/hr., March 25, 2025

Resignation

Name, assignment, location, and effective date:

    • Joseph Czornij, Custodian II, Custodial Department, March 5, 2025
    • Rachel Reichel, School Secretary I, High School, June 6, 2025

Approve Minutes of March 3, 2025, Board of Education Meeting

Mr. Babikian moved, and Mr. Baxter seconded the motion to approve the Minutes of the March 3, 2025, Board of Education meeting.

Motion carried. Mr. Zoghby abstained.

Approve Town of DeWitt Request for Use of Buses for J-D High School Senior Trip to Darien Lake

Mr. Babikian moved, and Mr. Zoghby seconded the motion to approve the Town of DeWitt Request for Use of Buses for J-D High School Senior Trip to Darien Lake.

Motion carried. (8-0-0) (See Supplemental Minutes)

Potential Consideration for Future Meetings

Mr. Zoghby requested an update on the SRO hiring.

Mr. Gross stated that there would need to be an amendment to the agenda, to add an additional executive session to discuss the employment history of an individual. All board members were in favor.

Mrs. DeForest requested the board look at more data relating to sports participation and connectedness to school, electives at the High School and Middle School and percentages of those students participating in those as compared to those students in study halls.

Dr. Archer requested an Equity Council update.

Budget Discussion: State Aid Update and Instructional Budget, Mr. Bartlett

Mr. Bartlett shared a presentation on the budget. His presentation included an update on projected revenues for the 2025-26 school year, the draft 2025-2026 instructional budget, budget status and reserves as of March 24, 2025, ballot propositions, and key calendar dates in the budget development.

(See Supplemental Minutes).

Presentation: 2025-27 Strategic Plan, Dr. Smith

Dr. Smith shared a draft of the 2025-2027 Strategic Plan which builds on work started in the previous plan that concludes at the end of 2024-25 school year. He thanked Dr. Kevin McGowan who facilitated this work with the community team and the Board of Education. He said this plan is a two-year plan as opposed to the previous five-year plan. Dr. Smith shared the process overview which included community feedback, drafting of the mission/vision and core values by the Board of Education and Leadership Team, development of action plans, revisions and review completed by the Leadership Team and communication to the community and implementation of the plan with stakeholders. Dr. Smith shared the mission, vision and core value statements and identified three priority areas: Academic excellence, Enhanced student and family experience, and Safe and efficient operations. He showed how the district’s commitment to equity is connected to each of the priority areas. For each priority area, Dr. Smith explained the goal, equity goal, focus of work, and action steps. Lastly, Dr. Smith provided a timeline of the next steps including adoption of the plan at the next meeting. Dr. Smith thanked all the people who provided input and feedback to help create the plan. He took questions from the Board.

(See Supplemental Minutes).

District Safety Plan discussion, Weapons detection systems

Dr. Smith said the Proposed Strategic Plan calls for an evaluation of the addition of weapons detections systems in the schools. He said there have been two instances of students bringing bb guns to the High School this school year. He offered the following questions/topics that the Board needs to think about when making a decision about adding these systems:

    • What is the research on the effectiveness of systems and what do professionals recommend for their use in public schools?
    • What systems would we consider?
    • What will logistics and staffing look like?

He said this would be a substantiative change to the District Safety Plan which would require a 30 public comment period, and an adoption of the changes by the Board. Dr. Smith also said this would require training for staff, students, and families on the usage, as well as an exploration around the rights of students and the public. Dr. Smith said there is a wide range of systems on the market and that there is some aid available. He said the Board would need to think about the timelines for implementation and where they would be used. Dr. Smith reported that Dr. Lawson had visited a high school which already has a weapons detection system in place and both Dr. Smith and Mr. Bartlett spoke with a Superintendent of a different district which also has a system in place. They were able to gather information around implementation, training, and other issues that they have experienced. There was a board discussion on the topic. It was decided that the topic will be put on the agenda for the next couple of meetings.

Superintendent’s Report, Dr. Smith

Dr. Smith shared an update on the Moses DeWitt Principal hiring and said that there is a deep and talented pool of candidates. He said interviews will take place over the next couple of weeks with a recommendation for board appointment in late April or early May.

Dr. Smith shared an update to the 2024-2025 District calendar. He said that based on the emergency days that were used, there will be no additional days off around Memorial Day. Dr. Smith said that Dr. Lawson will soon be announcing to the High School families that June 10 and June 11 will be Regents Exams days and there will be no school for High School students.

Dr. Smith shared a projected enrollment update for the 2025-2026 school year, He said that as of right now, we are down a section at Jamesville Elementary School. He said the total number of students enrolled at both Moses and Tecumseh remain solidly the same.  Dr. Smith spoke about the change in enrollment moving through the district. He said there is a decrease at High School and a slight increase at the Middle School.  He said enrollment will continue to increase over the next few months as kindergarten students are registered. Dr. Smith shared an update on UPK and said registration has started, and assignments to the buildings are done. He said all four classrooms in the district as well as the classroom at RECC are full. He said that current slots are available at Little Lukes and no students are on the waiting list. Dr. Smith said Pre-K orientation is taking place on March 26.

Lastly, Dr. Smith shared upcoming events including Eid al-Fitr, Monday, March 31, which is no school for students, but a staff development day.

Committee Reports

Mrs. DeForest shared a Finance Committee Report. She said the committee met on March 18 to review the 25-26 revenue and instructional budget as presented earlier. She said they discussed BOLD Systems, exit polling at the budget vote, the district shifting their financial management from WINCAP to Envision, updates on Southwood Property, which is moving through the legislative process, and the cellphone tower will be presented to the Town of Dewitt Planning Board sometime in late April or May.  Mrs. DeForest also shared updates on the e-rate project, 2009 Capital Project, Smart Schools Bond Act, IP Paging and Access Controls Phase 1, and Phase 2, Capital Outlay Project for 24-25 and Capital Outlay Project for 25-26. Lastly Mrs. DeForest said they discussed long-range planning for reserves and are continuing to monitor electric bus discussions at the state level. The next meeting is April 8.

Board President’s Report

Mr. Gross updated the board on the superintendent search. He thanked the board members who have given their time to the search. He said that significant progress in the search has been made and reminded the public that this is a confidential search which means the public will not know the names of the candidates until we have a recommendation. Mr. Gross said he would check with Dr. Cook to see if the survey mentioned earlier could be re-opened. He thanked the public for participating in the survey. The next phase in community input is the focus groups and thanked those who volunteered to attend the focus groups as well as board members who will be attending.  Mr. Gross said we are on track to name the next Superintendent within a couple of months.

Mr. Gross spoke about budget advocacy and directed board members to the NYSSBA’s graphic of what was in the governor’s budget, assembly budget and state senate budget. He also suggested that any community members interested in doing so please contact their local representatives to advocate on behalf of schools.

Lastly, Mr. Gross reminded the community of the Board of Education Election in May. He said petitions are due by 5:00 p.m. on April 21. He said to contact any board member for more information.

Student Board Member Report: Mr. Mantalios

Mr. Mantalios did not have a report.

Community Comment Time, 2

Tiffany Gratien requested to speak but could not be found online. Mr. Gross instructed her to email the board with her comments.

Unfinished and Continuing Business

Mrs. Deforest asked where we are at with the District Safety Plan, which projects we have decided on, what has been completed, hiring and training, what has not been completed and what are the next steps.

Mrs. DeForest asked interested participants to work on the board governance handbook.

At 9:15 p.m., Ms. Cortese moved, and Mr. Baxter seconded the motion to adjourn to executive session to discuss the employment history of a particular person.

Motion carried. (8-0-0)

Mrs. James Murad left the meeting at this time.

At 9:19 p.m., Mr. Baxter moved, and Dr. Archer seconded the motion to adjourn executive session.

Motion carried. (7-0-0)

At 9:20 p.m., Mr. Zoghby moved, and Mr. Baxter seconded the motion to adjourn the meeting.

Motion carried. (7-0-0)

Respectfully submitted,

Brian Bartlett
Clerk of the Board

BOARD APPROVED:  April 7, 2025