Typeset from the official record — motions and recorded votes are detected automatically. The official copy governs.
District Office Conference Room December 1, 2025 7:00 p.m.
President, Rob Southworth, called the regular BOE Meeting to Order at 7:00 p.m. Jim Brooker Jim Graham Wayne Halstead Kate Kehn Cliff Pelton Keith Renfrew Earl Rudy Jeffrey Slater
Aurora Rose - Student Board Member
Superintendent Chris Byrne Administrative Team
Rob Southworth, led the Pledge of Allegiance.
None
Superintendent Christopher Byrne began by saying before break he gave recognition to the athletic department but wanted to take time to recognize Jason Perkins, at the NYS Cross Country Championship in Queensbury, where he placed 22nd in Class C. Mr. Byrne shared that tonight was officially his last night as Superintendent before he retires and shared some sentiment about his career in Phoenix. For the past 25 years, it’s been an incredible honor to serve this district and work alongside so many dedicated, talented and compassionate people. He is extremely proud of all that has been accomplished together through collaboration with the Board of Education, Administration, Faculty and Staff. Everyone’s professionalism and commitment has shaped the District. He thanked the entire Phoenix School District community for their trust, partnership and unwavering belief of what our students can become. Thank you to our students who have been the heart of every decision, every effort and accomplishment. It’s been a privilege and a joy to work with such incredible students. This school district and community are truly special and I am overwhelmingly grateful for the opportunity to have served it.
SUPERINTENDENT’S REPORT
District and Building Guiding Coalitions & Strategic Plan - A diverse group of educators committed to working together to improve our school. The guiding coalition members represent different grade levels, departments, and roles to ensure a broad range of perspectives. Guiding Coalition - What we do-Monitoring progress, Communicating Progress, Collaborating on Solutions, Advocating for Change. Why it Matters - Shared Leadership, Building Capacity, Driving Change, A Voice for All. Goal #1: Implement a comprehensive data analysis training program for all school-based teams by March 2026. This initiative will empower teams to use data and the DataWise process to create data-informed action plans, thereby improving student achievement. Goal 2: by June 2026, the district guiding condition will work to increase the use of high-impact Tier 1 instructional strategies by 20% in all three school buildings. This progress will be measured using a combined date from at least four rounds of administrative learning walks focusing on Displayed Learning Targets/Standards, Students Leading their Learning, Student Engagement, High Expectations/Rigor and Positive Classroom
Culture. Goal 3: To enhance the overall safety and functionality of our school, we will create and implement a comprehensive school safety and facilities plan by June 2026. This will involve regular walkthroughs and risk assessments to identify and address any potential safety or maintenance concerns. We will also strengthen our partnerships with school resource officers (SROs) and other security experts and establish a reliable system for disseminating safety protocols to all staff. New process launched with intentionality and purpose. Ensured clarity, alignment and consistency before expanding to buildings. District Guiding Coalition went first, Modeled the full goal-setting process from start to finish, identified challenges early and refined tools, templates, and expectations. Troubleshooting before rollout to buildings: Allowed us to streamline the process and provide stronger support to principals and school teams. Building Guiding Coalitions started later by designs - Naturally at an earlier stage of implementation because their work followed the district’s, Principles and building teams are working through the process with clearer guidance and supports. Pacing reflects thoughtful, staged implementation - our goal is quality and consistency -not speed. Taking the time now ensures stronger, more sustainable systems long-term. School level goals are being presented tonight for the first time - Reflecting early progress and foundational work underway in each building.
Comprehensive updates and data will be provided at the end of the school year - Allows time for new systems to take root and produce meaningful evidence; Deliberate groundwork today sets us up to “hit the ground running: next year - stronger alignment, clearer processes and more cohesive districtwide direction. MAM - Goal #1 All Pre-k through 4th grade students will achieve at least 90% fluency in each targeted math operation by the end of the school year by practicing grade level math fact fluency at least 3x per week for 10 minute increments during math instruction, Goal #2 By the end of the 2025-2026 school year, 80% of students in grades K-4 will meet or exceed their projected growth targets in ELA on the NWEA MAP Growth Assessment. Goal #1 By June 2026, all EJD Middle School teachers will collaboratively begin to identify, post, and use Essential Learning Targets (ELTs) aligned with the New York State Learning Standards to guide instruction and assessment in every content area. Goal #2 By June 2026, all EJD Middle School teachers across all content areas will learn and be trained to provide strategies on constructed response tasks using the CER (Claim, Evidence, Reasoning) framework and utilize a common, easy to use rubric for evaluation, resulting in an increase in the average student growth percentile on the NWEA Craft and Structure, and Part II of the NYS assessment. Goal #1 The accumulative student average of points earned for June 2026 Regents Exam short-answer responses will increase by 5% (from 46% to 51%). The exams include Algebra 1 (part II), Geometry (part II), Global History & Geography (part II), U. S. History (park A), Earth & Space Sciences (short answer), and Biology (short answer). Goal #2 - By Spring 2026, the JCB building MAP Reading Growth Score will increase by 5% from 55% to 60%. Peter Clough who serves as the Director of Construction Management at GYMO gave an update on the Capital Project and their general approach as they are getting started. The Phase I schedule update: they will be having a Preconstruction meeting next week December 11, 2025. The project was bid and came in under budget. Construction Milestones: Park Street Reconstruction March 23, 2026, Volney Street & North Entrance May 4, 2026, Tennis Court Lighting/EJD Boiler Room June 1, 2026 and MAM Drive Expansion /Other Improvements June 29, 2026. Phase 2: Submitted to SED October 29, 2025, Architectural Review Approved, Mechanical & Fiscal Review Underway, Owner Page Turn December 4, 2025, Mobilization Summer 2026. Project Management - King & King FTP Site, Daily Reports -
GYMO (Raken) and As-Built Documentation - GYMO (FIeldwire). King & King - FTP Site - Submittals, Request for Proposals, Request for Information Allowance Authorizations/Change Orders, Job Drawings and Payment Applications. Daily Reports - Distributed to the Project Team Each Day, Photo Documentation Attached, Manpower Tracking & Work Areas & Activities. Fieldwire - All Projects Documents on Hand, Deficiencies Documented in Real-Time, RFI Submitted to Design Team Immediately, Electronic Construction As-Builts and Running Punchlist. Construction Phase - Work has started - High School Electrical Panel Issue, Senior Construction Manager Onsite Daily, Project Documentation sent out daily, Develop and Maintain the Project Schedule. Monthly Budget Report - Project Completion by Approved Payment Applications, Construction & Incidental Budget Report, Allowance Authorizations, Change Orders and Expense Tracking by SED Number. Future Considerations - Project Management Software,Two Main Programs, Procore (Contractor Based), Newforma (Design Professional Based), Phoenix should own and maintain the software, District will own/possess the date no matter the consultant. Electronic as Builts -Add development of construction AS-Builts to Architect’s Contract. It was moved by Jim Graham, seconded by Cliff Pelton, that the BOE Minutes from December 1, 2025 be approved as submitted.
Motion Carried
It was moved by Jeffrey Slater, seconded by Kate Kehn, that based on the Superintendent’s recommendations the entire Personnel Appointments, Retirements and Resignations be accepted.
Motion Carried
Rebekka Croft-replacing Sarah Pirrello Social Worker MAM *$76,860.19 pro-rated from start date $40,959.52
● Salary subject to change depending on transcripts
Jonathan Schmidt Sub. Teacher Sub. Teaching Assistant ALL $140/day $120/day
Matthew Shutts-replacing Melissa Trask Bus Driver Transportation $31.57/hr.
Mary Farfaglia Sub. Nurse ALL $140/day
Jean Smith Sub. Clerical DO $18/hr.
Amber Graham Sub. Custodial Worker ALL $15.50/hr.
Amy Thesier Sub. Custodial Worker ALL $15.50/hr.
William Carvell Sub. Custodial Worker Sub. Maintenance Worker ALL $15.50/hr $16.50/hr.
Jennifer Meyers Rebekka Croft MAM 112 days remaining $761.61 (prorated)
It was moved by Earl Rudy, seconded by Wayne Halstead, that the Recommendations from the Committee on Preschool Special Education and Special Education be approved as submitted.
Motion Carried
It was moved by Jim Graham, seconded by Jim Brooker, that the Board of Education hereby appoints Nicole Covell, Assistant Superintendent of Instruction and Personnel, to serve as Acting Superintendent of Schools effective December 2, 2025, with all the powers and duties of the office of Superintendent is appointed by BOE Resolution.
Motion Carried
It was moved by Earl Rudy, seconded by Keith Renfrew, that the rate of payment for substitutes effective January 1, 2026 be proposed as follows:
Teacher Aide Substitutes $16.00 hr. Food Service Helper Substitutes $16.00 hr. Bus Aide Substitutes $16.00 hr. Community Track Supervision $16.00 hr. Custodial Substitutes $16.00 hr.
Motion Carried
It was moved by Jeffrey Slater, seconded by Earl Rudy, that the following state contract quote to provide and install Daktronics Electronic Message center for the District Capital Outlay Project.
Motion Tabled
It was moved by Keith Renfrew, seconded by Kate Kehn, that the Board of Education authorize the replacement of two transportation center/bus garage bus lifts and declare the costs of such replacement to be an emergency ordinary contingent expense as submitted.
Motion Carried
It was moved by , seconded by, the Phoenix Central School District that the board accept the report of the tax collectors for Clay, Lysander, Granby, Hastings, Palermo, Volney and Schroeppel as presented.
It was moved by Earl Rudy, seconded by Cliff Pelton, that the attached Treasurer’s reports for the period ending October 31, 2025 are accepted.
TREASURER’S REPORTS FOR
None
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It was moved by Earl Rudy, seconded by Jim Graham,, to move into
Executive Session at 9:01 p.m.
Motion Carried
It was moved by Earl Rudy, seconded by Jim Graham, to move out of open session and Adjourn the meeting at 9:45 p.m.
Motion Carried
It was moved by Earl Rudy, seconded by Jim Graham, that the meeting be Adjourned at 9:46 p.m.
Respectfully Submitted,
Maureen Haney District Clerk