North Syracuse Board Member Says District Gave Board Too Little Information on Possible Return of BOCES SKATE Students
At its February 23 meeting, the North Syracuse Central School District Board of Education heard a board member's concern that it had not been given sufficient information about a possible return of BOCES SKATE students to the district, previewed the 2026-27 budget process, and approved a non-resident health and welfare rate increase, non-resident tuition rates, and several personnel and tenure actions.
●Mr. Crabtree asked questions about the potential for some BOCES SKATE students to return to NSCSD and said he felt the Board had not been given sufficient information on the matter
●Mr. Keegan, Associate Superintendent for Business Services, was scheduled to present the initial 2026-27 budget draft; Mr. Ludden and Mr. Crabtree said early signs point to an on-time budget, and Mr. Farfaglia reported attending Lobby Day on February 11 and meeting with state legislative staff on the tax cap formula
●Board approved the estimated 2025-2026 non-resident tuition rates: $7,726 (Full Day K-6), $10,944 (Full Day 7-12), $50,295 (Special Education K-6), and $53,513 (Special Education 7-12)
●Board approved the 2025-2026 Non-Resident Health and Welfare Services rate at $1,047.66 per pupil, a $172.56 increase from the 2024-2025 rate
●Board granted tenure to Heather Pellegrino as Middle School Principal at Roxboro Road Middle School, effective May 16, 2026
●Erika Carter Grosso resigns her ENL Teacher position at Cicero-North Syracuse High School, effective June 30, 2026, to accept a Teacher on Special Assignment - ENL Coordinator position district wide, replacing Ariana Rosario
●Minutes of the February 9, 2026 meeting were approved 8-1, with one board member abstaining
●Susan Commisso, Food Service Helper I, retired with 18.6 years of service
●Board declared non-marketable surplus equipment for disposal and marketable surplus equipment for sale through an online auction by Auctions International
●Board declared March 2, 2026 as Athletic Trainer Appreciation Day
A North Syracuse Central School District Board of Education member said he felt the Board had not been given enough information about a possible change affecting district enrollment, according to minutes of the Board's February 23 regular meeting.
During the board comments portion of the meeting, Mr. Crabtree asked questions regarding the potential for some BOCES SKATE students to return to NSCSD and indicated that he felt there had not been sufficient information communicated to the Board on this matter. The minutes do not record a response or further discussion on the point.
The meeting, held at the Jerome F. Melvin Administrative Office Building and called to order by Board President Michael Mirizio at 5:30 p.m., also touched on the district's budget outlook. Mr. Ludden stated that the District expects to have an on-time budget, while noting there is still work to be done. Mr. Crabtree said everyone should have received the agenda before break and mentioned a new Veterinary Science Program being offered at OCM BOCES. Mr. Farfaglia reported that he attended Lobby Day on February 11 and met with Assemblyman Stirpe, staff from Senator Ryan's office, and dropped off materials for Assembly member Pam Hunter, adding that Dr. Ward and Mr. Keegan have already met with the district's legislators regarding the tax cap formula and that any long-term solution would likely need to be addressed through a bill. Donald F.X. Keegan, Associate Superintendent for Business Services, was set to present the initial budget draft for the 2026-2027 school year; the minutes do not detail the contents of that presentation.
The Board took up several rate-setting items required under state law. It approved estimated 2025-2026 non-resident tuition rates of $7,726 for full-day K-6 and $10,944 for full-day 7-12, along with special education rates of $50,295 (K-6) and $53,513 (7-12) - figures used to bill other school districts whose students are placed in NSCSD through Family Court or the Department of Social Services. The Board also approved the 2025-2026 Non-Resident Health and Welfare Services rate at $1,047.66 per pupil, calculated under a State Education Department formula and representing a $172.56 increase from the 2024-2025 rate; the rate covers health and welfare services billed for non-resident students attending private and parochial schools in the district.
The Board granted tenure to Heather Pellegrino as Middle School Principal at Roxboro Road Middle School, effective May 16, 2026. Separately, Erika Carter Grosso will resign her ENL Teacher position at Cicero-North Syracuse High School effective June 30, 2026, to accept a Teacher on Special Assignment - ENL Coordinator position district wide, replacing Ariana Rosario. Other personnel actions included the hiring of Nicholas Brown and Naomi Holliday as long-term substitute Special Education Teachers at Roxboro Road Middle School, several leave requests and returns from leave, and the resignations of Alisha Blasi, Lindsy Sprague and Susan Stukus. The Board acknowledged the retirement of Susan Commisso, Food Service Helper I, with 18.6 years of service, and approved support-staff and administrative personnel items by votes of nine yes.
The Board declared non-marketable surplus equipment for disposal and marketable surplus equipment for sale through an online auction conducted by Auctions International. It also acknowledged the business office reports as presented and approved the classification and placement of disabled students certified as eligible for special education through the District Committee on Special Education and the District Committee on Preschool Special Education for dates in early February.
Earlier in the meeting, Mr. Mirizio asked for a moment of silence for two district graduates, Dr. James Casey and Richard Reale, and Raymond Patsos, and two district retirees, Mary Craven and Kathleen Harte. The Board declared March 2, 2026 as Athletic Trainer Appreciation Day, and Daryle Redmond, Director of Fine Arts and Co-Curricular Programs, presented on the Scholastic Art Competition's Gold Key Awards to NSCSD students. There were no comments from the audience. Student Ex-Officio Brigid Gill noted that the following week was Choose to Include Week at Cicero-North Syracuse High School, that the cheer team won sectionals, and wished a happy Ramadan to those who celebrate. Minutes of the February 9, 2026 meeting were approved by a vote of 8 yes with one board member abstaining. The meeting adjourned at 6:18 p.m. by a vote of nine yes.
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Coverage of the Board of Education (NSCSD) meeting on 2026-02-23,
Town of Clay, NY.
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This district publishes meeting agendas but no minutes on BoardDocs; this record is built from the published agenda. Agenda items are proposals until an official record of the votes exists.
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