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🎓 Board of Education (Liverpool)

Behind Liverpool School Board's Unanimous Votes, Three Quiet Abstentions and a Closed-Door Investigation

2025-02-03 · 1289 words
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Key Actions & Decisions

  • Approved minutes from four prior sessions — the Jan. 17 special meeting, the Jan. 21 public hearing, the Jan. 21 regular meeting and the Jan. 28 special meeting — each 9-0.
  • Approved Committee on Preschool Special Education and Committee on Special Education placement recommendations, a surplus-items list and routine business items — all 9-0.
  • Recognized Soule Road Elementary School with a POOLS Award.
  • Adopted increased income limits for partial property tax exemptions for senior citizens and persons with disabilities — 9-0 roll call.
  • Adopted partial property tax exemptions for Volunteer Firefighters and Ambulance Workers — 9-0 roll call.
  • Adopted partial property tax exemptions for Veterans — 8-0 roll call, Hayley Downs abstaining.
  • Authorized a Special District Meeting for March 27, 2025 — 9-0 roll call.
  • Created a 1.0 FTE Clerk II position — 7-0, Jecenia Bresett and Kimberly Melnik abstaining.
  • Acknowledged receipt of the November 2024 Treasurer's Report (9-0) and approved personnel actions as submitted (8-0, Stacey Chilbert abstaining).
  • Entered executive session to confer with district counsel on an ongoing investigation, with the district's audit firm on confidential information that could lead to investigating particular persons, and on a potential appointment of a person or corporation, then returned to open session and adjourned — all 9-0.

At its Feb. 3 meeting, the Liverpool Board of Education adopted property tax exemptions for veterans, senior citizens and disabled residents, and volunteer firefighters, and created a new Clerk II position — but three of those votes each drew a lone abstention, with no reason recorded in the minutes. The board then entered executive session to discuss an ongoing investigation, confidential audit findings, and a potential appointment before adjourning.

People
Nicholas Blaney (Liverpool CSD Board of Education member) Jecenia Bresett (Liverpool CSD Board of Education member) Kimberly Melnik (Liverpool CSD Board of Education member) Matthew Jones (Liverpool CSD Board of Education member) John Solazzo (Liverpool CSD Board of Education member) Daniel McKeever (Liverpool CSD Board of Education member) Stacey Chilbert (Liverpool CSD Board of Education member) Kimberly Martin (Liverpool CSD Board of Education member) Hayley Downs (Liverpool CSD Board of Education member) Briana O'Brien (Liverpool CSD administrator (recurring in meeting attendance)) Kasey Dolson (Liverpool CSD administrator (recurring in meeting attendance)) Brett Woodcock (Liverpool CSD administrator (recurring in meeting attendance)) Dana Ziegler (Liverpool CSD administrator (recurring in meeting attendance)) Gail Massett (District Clerk, Liverpool CSD) Jonna Ball (Liverpool CSD administrator (recurring in meeting attendance)) Jason Armstrong (Liverpool CSD administrator (recurring in meeting attendance)) Jennifer Woody (Liverpool CSD administrator (recurring in meeting attendance)) Harmony Balintfy (Liverpool CSD administrator (recurring in meeting attendance)) Douglas Lawrence (Liverpool CSD administrator (recurring in meeting attendance)) Dan Farsaci (Liverpool CSD administrator (recurring in meeting attendance))

Typeset from the official record — motions and recorded votes are detected automatically. The official copy governs.

Liverpool Central School District

Board of Education

Regular Board Meeting, Monday, February 3, 2025

Members present

Nicholas Blaney, Hayley Downs, Kimberly Martin, Jecenia Bresett, Daniel McKeever, Stacey Chilbert, John Solazzo, Kimberly Melnik, Matthew Jones

Others present

Interim Superintendent, Douglas Lawrence, Jennifer Woody, Jason Armstrong, Jonna Ball, Dana Ziegler, Kasey Dolson, Dan Farsaci, Brett Woodcock, Briana O'Brien, Harmony Balintfy, District Clerk, Gail Massett

Meeting called to order at 6:00 PM

1. OPENING

1.1 Call to Order and Pledge of Allegiance

2. RECOGNITION

2.1 POOLS Award - Soule Road Elementary School

3. ROUTINE BUSINESS

3.1 Approve January 17, 2025 Meeting Minutes

Resolution: Motion to approve the minutes from the January 17, 2025, Special Board of Education meeting.

Motion to approve, acknowledge and/or accept the Routine Business items as submitted.

Motion by John Solazzo, second by Kimberly Melnik.

Final Resolution: Motion Carried

Aye: Nicholas Blaney, Hayley Downs, Kimberly Martin, Jecenia Bresett, Daniel McKeever, Stacey Chilbert, John Solazzo, Kimberly Melnik, Matthew Jones

3.2 Approve January 21, 2025 Public Hearing Minutes

Resolution: Motion to approve the minutes from the January 21, 2025, Public Hearing.

Motion to approve, acknowledge and/or accept the Routine Business items as submitted.

Motion by John Solazzo, second by Kimberly Melnik.

Final Resolution: Motion Carried

Aye: Nicholas Blaney, Hayley Downs, Kimberly Martin, Jecenia Bresett, Daniel McKeever, Stacey Chilbert, John Solazzo, Kimberly Melnik, Matthew Jones

3.3 Approve January 21, 2025 Meeting Minutes

Resolution: Motion to approve the minutes from the January 21, 2025, Board of Education meeting.

Motion to approve, acknowledge and/or accept the Routine Business items as submitted.

Motion by John Solazzo, second by Kimberly Melnik.

Final Resolution: Motion Carried

Aye: Nicholas Blaney, Hayley Downs, Kimberly Martin, Jecenia Bresett, Daniel McKeever, Stacey Chilbert, John Solazzo, Kimberly Melnik, Matthew Jones

3.4 Approve January 28, 2025 Meeting Minutes

Resolution: Motion to approve the minutes from the January 28, 2025, Special Board of Education meeting.

Motion to approve, acknowledge and/or accept the Routine Business items as submitted.

Motion by John Solazzo, second by Kimberly Melnik.

Final Resolution: Motion Carried

Aye: Nicholas Blaney, Hayley Downs, Kimberly Martin, Jecenia Bresett, Daniel McKeever, Stacey Chilbert, John Solazzo, Kimberly Melnik, Matthew Jones

3.5 Approve Committee on Preschool Special Education Recommendations

Resolution: Motion to approve the classification and school placement of students who are certified as eligible to receive preschool special education services by the District Committee on Preschool Special Education.

Motion to approve, acknowledge and/or accept the Routine Business items as submitted.

Motion by John Solazzo, second by Kimberly Melnik.

Final Resolution: Motion Carried

Aye: Nicholas Blaney, Hayley Downs, Kimberly Martin, Jecenia Bresett, Daniel McKeever, Stacey Chilbert, John Solazzo, Kimberly Melnik, Matthew Jones

3.6 Approve Committee on Special Education Recommendations

Resolution: Motion to approve the classification and school placement of students who are certified as eligible to receive special education services by the District Committee on Special Education.

Motion to approve, acknowledge and/or accept the Routine Business items as submitted.

Motion by John Solazzo, second by Kimberly Melnik.

Final Resolution: Motion Carried

Aye: Nicholas Blaney, Hayley Downs, Kimberly Martin, Jecenia Bresett, Daniel McKeever, Stacey Chilbert, John Solazzo, Kimberly Melnik, Matthew Jones

3.7 Approve Surplus Items

Resolution: Motion to accept surplus items as presented.

Motion to approve, acknowledge and/or accept the Routine Business items as submitted.

Motion by John Solazzo, second by Kimberly Melnik.

Final Resolution: Motion Carried Aye: Nicholas Blaney, Hayley Downs, Kimberly Martin, Jecenia Bresett, Daniel McKeever, Stacey Chilbert, John Solazzo, Kimberly Melnik, Matthew Jones

3.8 Approve Routine Business Items

Resolution: Motion to approve, acknowledge and/or accept the Routine Business items as submitted.

Motion to approve, acknowledge and/or accept the Routine Business items as submitted.

Motion by John Solazzo, second by Kimberly Melnik.

Final Resolution: Motion Carried

Aye: Nicholas Blaney, Hayley Downs, Kimberly Martin, Jecenia Bresett, Daniel McKeever, Stacey Chilbert, John Solazzo, Kimberly Melnik, Matthew Jones

4. REPORTS, UPDATES AND PRESENTATIONS

4.1 President's Report

4.2 Superintendent's Report

4.3 Student Liaison Report

4.4 Committee Reports

4.5 Department Update

5. FOR DISCUSSION

5.1 Current Budget Update

5.2 Superintendent Search Overview

6. POLICY REVIEW

6.1 Policy Comments

6.2 Proposed Policy Revisions - First Reading

7. COMMUNICATIONS

7.1 Public Communications

7.2 Board Communications

8. FOR ACTION

8.1 Adopt Increased Income Limitation for Partial Property Tax Exemptions - Senior Citizens Motion by roll call vote to adopt the increased income ceilings for entitled to partial property tax emptions for eligible senior citizens and persons with disabilities and limited incomes and approve the Resolutions as companion documents as presented.

Motion by Daniel McKeever, second by Matthew Jones.

Final Resolution: Motion Carried

Aye: Nicholas Blaney, Hayley Downs, Kimberly Martin, Jecenia Bresett, Daniel McKeever, Stacey Chilbert, John Solazzo, Kimberly Melnik, Matthew Jones

8.2 Adopt Partial Property Tax Exemptions - Volunteer Firefighters & Ambulance Workers

Motion by roll call vote to adopt the partial property tax emptions for eligible Volunteer Firefighters and Ambulance Workers and approve the Resolution as a companion document as presented.

Motion by Kimberly Melnik, second by John Solazzo.

Final Resolution: Motion Carried

Aye: Nicholas Blaney, Hayley Downs, Kimberly Martin, Jecenia Bresett, Daniel McKeever, Stacey Chilbert, John Solazzo, Kimberly Melnik, Matthew Jones

8.3 Adopt Partial Property Tax Exemptions - Veterans

Motion by roll call vote to adopt the partial property tax emptions for eligible Veterans and approve the Resolution as a companion document as presented.

Motion by Jecenia Bresett, second by Matthew Jones.

Final Resolution: Motion Carried

Aye: Nicholas Blaney, Kimberly Martin, Jecenia Bresett, Daniel McKeever, Stacey Chilbert, John Solazzo, Kimberly Melnik, Matthew Jones

Abstain: Hayley Downs

8.4 Approve Resolution Authorizing Special District Meeting on March 27, 2025

Motion to approve, by roll call vote, the Resolution as presented.

Motion by Stacey Chilbert, second by Kimberly Martin.

Final Resolution: Motion Carried

Aye: Nicholas Blaney, Hayley Downs, Kimberly Martin, Jecenia Bresett, Daniel McKeever, Stacey Chilbert, John Solazzo, Kimberly Melnik, Matthew Jones

8.5 Personnel - Create Position - Clerk II

Motion to approve the creation of a 1.0 FTE Clerk II position.

Motion by Daniel McKeever, second by Kimberly Martin.

Final Resolution: Motion Carried

Aye: Nicholas Blaney, Hayley Downs, Kimberly Martin, Daniel McKeever, Stacey Chilbert, John Solazzo, Matthew Jones

Abstain: Jecenia Bresett, Kimberly Melnik

8.6 Acknowledge receipt of November 2024 Treasurer's Report

Motion to acknowledge receipt of the November 2024 Treasurer's Report.

Motion by Daniel McKeever, second by Kimberly Martin.

Final Resolution: Motion Carried

Aye: Nicholas Blaney, Hayley Downs, Kimberly Martin, Jecenia Bresett, Daniel McKeever, Stacey Chilbert, John Solazzo, Kimberly Melnik, Matthew Jones

8.7 Personnel Actions

Motion to approve the personnel actions as submitted.

Motion by Kimberly Martin, second by Matthew Jones.

Final Resolution: Motion Carried Aye: Nicholas Blaney, Hayley Downs, Kimberly Martin, Jecenia Bresett, Daniel McKeever, John Solazzo, Kimberly Melnik, Matthew Jones

Abstain: Stacey Chilbert

9. ANNOUNCEMENTS

9.1 February 25, 2025 (Tuesday) - Board of Education Meeting, 6:00 p.m., District Office

9.2 March 10, 2025 - Board of Education Meeting, 6:00 p.m., District Office

10. EXECUTIVE SESSION - AS NEEDED

10.1 Executive Session - As Needed

To confer with district counsel regarding ongoing investigations.

To confer with the District's Audit Firm regarding confidential information which may lead to the investigation of particular persons.

To discuss the potential appointment of a particular person and or corporation.

Motion by Matthew Jones, second by Kimberly Martin.

Final Resolution: Motion Carried

Aye: Nicholas Blaney, Hayley Downs, Kimberly Martin, Jecenia Bresett, Daniel McKeever, Stacey Chilbert, John Solazzo, Kimberly Melnik, Matthew Jones

Motion to return to open session

Motion by: Kimberly Martin, second by John Solazzo

Final Resolution: Motion Carried

Aye: Nicholas Blaney, Hayley Downs, Kimberly Martin, Jecenia Bresett, Daniel McKeever, Stacey Chilbert, John Solazzo, Kimberly Melnik, Matthew Jones

11. ADJOURNMENT

11.1 Adjourn Meeting

Motion to adjourn the meeting.

Motion by Stacey Chilbert, second by Matthew Jones.

Final Resolution: Motion Carried Aye: Nicholas Blaney, Hayley Downs, Kimberly Martin, Jecenia Bresett, Daniel McKeever, Stacey Chilbert, John Solazzo, Kimberly Melnik, Matthew Jones