The Goshen Central School District Board of Education convened on October 21, 2024, to address pressing issues affecting the community, including a significant incident involving a student. The meeting began with a moment of silence in memory of Gary Vanderweerd Sr., a retired school bus driver who recently passed away.

During the public comment session, Lisa Zalewski, a parent of three children in the district, raised urgent concerns regarding the school’s code of conduct and the safety of students outside school property. Zalewski recounted a distressing incident where her eight-year-old daughter was assaulted by a group of boys while walking home from school. The attack, which left her daughter visibly shaken, occurred on McNally Street, an area that Zalewski argued falls under the school district's jurisdiction due to its maintenance responsibilities.

Zalewski criticized the district's response to the incident, stating that school officials claimed they could not take action because the assault did not occur on school property. She emphasized the need for clarity in the code of conduct regarding the boundaries of school property and the enforcement of disciplinary measures for incidents occurring in areas maintained by the district.

She proposed three key changes:
1. Increased awareness among administrators about which streets are considered part of the school district and ensuring they are supervised.
2. Establishing clear consequences for students who commit violent acts on these streets, similar to penalties for misbehavior on school buses.
3. Updating the code of conduct to explicitly define the areas where it is enforceable.

Zalewski's passionate plea highlighted the need for improved safety measures and communication within the district, urging the board to take immediate action to protect students and provide families with clear information regarding school property boundaries. The board listened attentively, indicating a willingness to consider her suggestions as they move forward.