North Syracuse School Board Splits on $1 Million BOCES Contract, Declares Heating Emergency at Junior High

Key Actions & Decisions

• ◆ Board approved a contract with OCM BOCES's Regional Information Center for up to five years, not to exceed a $1,000,000.00 principal amount plus borrowing fees and yearly support charges, carried six yes to one abstention, the only non-unanimous vote of the meeting.
• ◆ Board declared an emergency under General Municipal Law §103(4) after an asbestos-containing heating line failed at North Syracuse Junior High School, authorizing no-bid emergency abatement and repair work, 7-0.
• ◆ Board abolished four Civil Service office positions (School Secretary I and Typist II titles) and created four replacement positions, largely upgraded to School Secretary II, effective retroactively to October 24, 2025, 7-0.
• ◆ Superintendent Dr. Terry Ward reported meetings with state legislators and a Board of Regents member on excluding PILOT agreements from the state tax cap calculation, citing the size of the district's Micron PILOT agreement.
• ◆ Board proclaimed February 12, 2026 as School Resource Officer and School Patrol Officer Appreciation Day, 7-0.
• ◆ Board accepted a Logiflex Volt desk valued at $3,579.20, donated by inLine and Co, for use at North Syracuse Junior High School, 7-0.
• ◆ Board acknowledged the retirements of teaching assistants Renee Merritt (26 years of service) and Jeri Williams (19 years of service).
• ◆ Board member Robert Crabtree said he wants the district to keep advocating for expanded Universal Pre-Kindergarten, noting the program currently serves approximately 250 students across multiple locations outside district buildings.
• ◆ Board approved routine Personnel A and Personnel B actions covering new hires, leave requests, a voluntary transfer, and one termination, both 7-0.