The North Syracuse Central School District Board of Education used its May 4 meeting to formally adopt a new policy on artificial intelligence, restructure a set of district office positions, and sign off on a three-year labor contract, while also processing a large batch of staffing changes for the 2026-27 school year. Five of the board's nine members were present and voting throughout the meeting -- President Michael Mirizio, Vice President Paul Farfaglia, and members Robert Crabtree, Michael Shusda and Joshua Ludden. A roll-call vote taken during the meeting recorded the other four members, Matthew Hermann, Cheryl McDonald, Amanda Sugrue and Mark Thorne, as absent. Every other motion of the evening is recorded in the minutes as carried "with five yes votes." The board's Policy Committee met April 14 and reviewed Policy 5840-Artificial Intelligence, then recommended approval of its second reading and formal adoption. Mr. Shusda made the motion to approve the Policy Committee's recommendation, Mr. Farfaglia seconded, and it carried. The minutes do not describe the policy's contents beyond its title. The board also approved a resolution restructuring several Civil Service office jobs. Citing an analysis of job duties "for reasons of efficiency," the resolution abolishes, effective June 30, 2026, a 1.0 FTE Typist I (10-month) position at GRMS, a 1.0 FTE Typist I (10-month) position at RRMS, and a 1.0 FTE Secretary I (12-month) position at the District Office. Effective July 1, 2026, it creates a 1.0 FTE Typist I (10-month) position at the District Office and a 1.0 FTE Secretary I (12-month) position at C-NS -- three positions abolished against two created, a net reduction of one. Mr. Shusda made the motion, Mr. Ludden seconded, and it carried. The board approved a three-year contract between the district and the North Syracuse Per Diem Professional Association, running July 1, 2026 through June 30, 2029, on a motion by Mr. Ludden seconded by Mr. Crabtree. On the money side, the board voted to accept, "with gratitude," a $25,000 gift from the estate of Ronald A. Dickson for a high school scholarship fund; the gift will be transferred to Dollars for Scholars for scholarships. Separately, representatives of the North Syracuse Education Foundation -- Vice President Jen Murphy and Secretary Carolyn Gross, joined by Treasurer Nat Ordway and board member Mary Eidt -- presented grant certificates to 11 teacher projects, with individual awards ranging from $234.90 to $2,799.00, at schools the minutes identify only by abbreviation: KWS BRE, RRMS, GRMS, NSJH and CNS. By roll call, the board approved a request from Mr. Crabtree to nominate Peter Nowacki for the NYSSBA Area 4 Director position; the five members present voted yes, with Hermann, McDonald, Sugrue and Thorne recorded as absent. The board also acted on an unusually large volume of personnel business, approved in three separate reports -- Personnel A (instructional), Personnel B (support staff) and Personnel C (administrative) -- each on a motion by Mr. Ludden seconded by Mr. Shusda and each carried with five yes votes. Personnel A included numerous probationary teacher appointments effective at the start of the 2026-27 school year -- for example, a probationary Speech Therapist at an annual salary of $86,461 and a probationary Reading Teacher at $97,968 -- along with a slate of teachers recommended for tenure. In Personnel C, the board considered tenure for Sara Kees as Director of Special Education, effective August 22, 2026, and amended Associate Principal Kimberly Rice's probationary period. Mr. Mirizio separately acknowledged the retirements of five employees: Amy Brisson (Account Clerk III, 26 years), Kelle Santa (School Psychologist, 20 years), Kathleen Pope (School Bus Driver, 36.6 years), Bonnie Scott (Typist II, 25.9 years) and Elaine Welenc (School Bus Driver, 10 years). The board also approved the classification and placement of disabled and preschool disabled students identified by the district's Committee on Special Education, acknowledged the Business Office reports, declared certain surplus equipment for disposal or online auction through Auctions International, and approved an extra classroom account for the Community Club at Gillette Road Middle School to handle fundraising for donations to nonprofit organizations. In board comments, Mr. Crabtree reported that New York State has not yet adopted a final budget and that an additional extender has been issued, and Superintendent Dr. Terry Ward said the issues discussed at the prior meeting remain unchanged. Board members reminded the community of the district's own budget vote on May 19, and noted that the next Board of Education meeting will be held on a Tuesday and will include the required budget hearing beforehand. Mr. Farfaglia also reminded members of a $20-per-member contribution toward a "Dollars for Scholars" sign sponsorship previously approved. The meeting opened with a proclamation declaring May 12, 2026 Teaching Assistant Appreciation Day and May 19, 2026 Teacher Aide Appreciation Day, and included presentations on Family and Consumer Sciences and on the district's MTSS framework. No members of the public spoke during comments from the audience, and the board held no executive session before adjourning at 6:54 p.m.