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🎓 Board of Education (Liverpool)

Liverpool School Board's Only Split Vote: Whether to Discuss 'An Investigation' Behind Closed Doors

2025-01-21 · 1134 words
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Key Actions & Decisions

  • Voted 7-1 (Stacey Chilbert dissenting) to enter executive session "to obtain an update from legal counsel regarding an investigation and to discuss the superintendent search process" — the meeting's only non-unanimous vote
  • Returned to open session afterward, 8-0, with Chilbert voting yes
  • Appointed Hazard, Young, Attea and Associates as the district's Superintendent Search Consultant "as a result of the RFP" — 8-0
  • Approved nine Routine Business items — including minutes from Jan. 6 and Jan. 13, creation of eight 1.0 FTE Cook I positions, personnel actions, special education and preschool special education committee recommendations, a budget amendment and a surplus item — each 8-0
  • Appointed Andy Lalonde, Esq., Director of Labor Relations at OCM BOCES, as lead negotiator for ULFA successor contracts — 8-0
  • Accepted gifts and grants — 7-0 with Jecenia Bresett abstaining
  • Approved a settlement agreement in the matter of "910012931 v Liverpool Central School District" — 8-0
  • Heard public comments from Katherine Roberts on accountability and taxpayer bills for legal fees, from Lenny Ciricillo on the Board, and from Brian Christopher, who spoke "in support of unity and healing"
  • Recognized Morgan Road Middle School with a POOLS Award; meeting adjourned at 8:56 p.m. after opening at 6 p.m.

At its Jan. 21, 2025 meeting, the Liverpool Board of Education passed a full slate of routine business unanimously, then split 7-1 — the only non-unanimous vote of the night — over entering executive session to discuss "an investigation" and the superintendent search process. The board also appointed Hazard, Young, Attea and Associates as its superintendent search consultant.

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) 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) 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))

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 Tuesday, January 21, 2025

Members present

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

Others present

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

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 - Morgan Road Middle School

3. ROUTINE BUSINESS

3.1 Approve January 6, 2025 Meeting Minutes

Resolution: Motion to approve the minutes from the January 6, 2025, Board of Education meeting.

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

Motion by Jecenia Bresett, second by Kimberly Martin.

Final Resolution: Motion Carried

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

3.2 Approve January 13, 2025 Meeting Minutes

Resolution: Motion to approve the minutes from the January 13, 2025, Board of Education meeting.

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

Motion by Jecenia Bresett, second by Kimberly Martin.

Final Resolution: Motion Carried

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

3.3 Personnel - Create Positions - Cook I

Resolution: Motion to approve the creation of eight (8) 1.0 FTE Cook I positions.

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

Motion by Jecenia Bresett, second by Kimberly Martin.

Final Resolution: Motion Carried

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

3.4 Personnel Actions

Resolution: Motion to approve the personnel actions as submitted.

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

Motion by Jecenia Bresett, second by Kimberly Martin.

Final Resolution: Motion Carried

Aye: Nicholas Blaney, Hayley Downs, Kimberly Martin, Jecenia Bresett, Daniel McKeever, Stacey Chilbert, 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 Jecenia Bresett, second by Kimberly Martin.

Final Resolution: Motion Carried

Aye: Nicholas Blaney, Hayley Downs, Kimberly Martin, Jecenia Bresett, Daniel McKeever, Stacey Chilbert, 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 Jecenia Bresett, second by Kimberly Martin.

Final Resolution: Motion Carried

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

3.7 Approve Budget Amendment

Resolution: Motion to approve the Budget Amendment as presented.

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

Motion by Jecenia Bresett, second by Kimberly Martin.

Final Resolution: Motion Carried

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

3.8 Approve Surplus Item

Resolution: Motion to accept surplus item as presented.

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

Motion by Jecenia Bresett, second by Kimberly Martin.

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

3.9 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 Jecenia Bresett, second by Kimberly Martin.

Final Resolution: Motion Carried

Aye: Nicholas Blaney, Hayley Downs, Kimberly Martin, Jecenia Bresett, Daniel McKeever, Stacey Chilbert, 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 Updates

5. FOR DISCUSSION

5.1 Creation of Clerk II Position in Student Services Department

5.2 Creation of Network Administrator Position in IT Department

5.3 Current Budget Update

5.4 2020 Capital Project - Phase C Update

6. COMMUNICATIONS

6.1 Public Communications

Katherine Roberts spoke regarding Accountability and taxpayer bills for legal fees.

Lenny Ciricillo spoke regarding the Board.

Brian Christopher made a statement of concern in support of unity and healing.

6.2 Board Communications

7. FOR ACTION

7.1 Appointment of Lead Negotiator - ULFA

Motion to appoint Andy Lalonde, Esq., Director of Labor Relations, OCM BOCES, to be the District's lead negotiator for the development of successor contracts for the ULFA bargaining units.

Motion by Kimberly Martin, second by Jecenia Bresett.

Final Resolution: Motion Carried

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

7.2 Accept Gifts and Grants

Motion to accept donation as presented.

Motion by Kimberly Martin, second by Daniel McKeever.

Final Resolution: Motion Carried

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

Abstain: Jecenia Bresett

7.3 Approve Settlement Agreement

Motion to approve settlement agreement in the matter of 910012931 v Liverpool Central School District as presented.

Motion by Kimberly Martin, second by Daniel McKeever.

Final Resolution: Motion Carried

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

8. EXECUTIVE SESSION - AS NEEDED

8.1 Executive Session - As Needed

Motion to enter into executive session to obtain an update from legal counsel regarding an investigation and to discuss the superintendent search process.

Motion by Matthew Jones, second by Jecenia Bresett.

Final Resolution: Motion Carried

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

Nay: Stacey Chilbert

Motion to return to open session

Motion by Kimberly Martin, second by Kimberly Melnik

Final Resolution: Motion Carried

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

9. FOR ACTION

9.1 Appointment of Superintendent Search Consultant

Motion to appoint Hazard, Young, Attea and Associates as the Superintendent Search Consultant as a result of the RFP.

Motion by: Matthew Jones, second by Daniel McKeever

Final Resolution: Motion Carried

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

10. ANNOUNCEMENTS

10.1 February 3, 2025 - Board of Education Meeting, 6:00 p.m., District Office

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

11. ADJOURNMENT

11.1 Adjourn Meeting

Motion to adjourn meeting

Motion by: Hayley Downs, second by Jecenia Bresett

Final Resolution: Motion Carried

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

Meeting adjourned at 8:56 PM