[{"_1":2,"_87":-5,"_88":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,75],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":56,"_74":56},"mediaId",6337472,"mediaKeyId","2273001-2488f479d7fda09454a00ae234328662","parentId",2273001,"title","Sweet Home board approves new 2025-26 start/stop times; mixed busing measure passes 4-2-1 after extended debate","audioSeconds",1696,"startMs",680000,"endMs",2376000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=2273001-2488f479d7fda09454a00ae234328662&start=680&end=2376","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2273001-2488f479d7fda09454a00ae234328662/thumbnail_680000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6337472/New-York/Sweet-Home-board-approves-new-2025-26-startstop-times-mixed-busing-measure-passes-4-2-1-after-extended-debate","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6337472-ca9164ba4667eebf1fc2d85303c7d7b5/orig.mp4?Expires=1777431442&Signature=X6cfiTaFSgP3bKoFoH6JgM8gYj9UXMb9dI6Ff6HFMqy8Ci8ZWBPpoJOMIfo-lOt0oHbiRwiA-llx-3pt15srTqPWQtz42C-V58eZRvku-ar0G9vg50aYqm4CIRRHP9MkuKLBMOHX9cJgoLFDhqfoksI6EPGawVVz718cknrKA11LAMiBNN2q~p9zVklRjXViu~RhHySDxOg25nAwMzwG1vE0OsQ5UO-i6dGrztzkMpzQSTkUWRRG6X9pBKqX4~VDEfVrZ7wrpBQ~gWUjUnPBxY0FmauhvkkdxjjJEOBAVwG21nVUngOLZvWVylPUYdymUPnT7mqFAg9jGC4UQ4AAUQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","","date","2025-02-12T12:53:54Z","article","The Sweet Home Central School District board voted 4-2-1 to approve item I, a package of revised start and stop times for the 2025–26 school year that will change busing runs and in some cases place sixth‑grade students on the same buses with upper‑grade students.

The decision followed a public comment from resident Josh Korman, who said he is “very worried” about sixth graders being bused with older students and warned of bullying and other safety risks if younger students ride with seniors. A student speaker, Maisha, told the board the change could increase high‑school participation in after‑school activities but acknowledged concerns about mixed busing.

Why this matters: the board and speakers said the plan affects roughly 3,800 students districtwide and is tied to efforts to add 15 minutes of instructional time at every school building and to create more after‑school runs. Board members split over whether to delay the decision for broader community and student outreach; the final vote approved the measure, with four board members in favor, two opposed and one abstention.

Board members and commenters questioned whether the building‑use committee had directly surveyed students and families before finalizing its recommendation. Multiple board members urged additional outreach: one called for a broader survey of affected families and the student body, while others argued the district has already used multiple communication channels and that delaying the vote would complicate planning for routes, childcare and budget preparations.

During the meeting several practical details and tradeoffs surfaced. Board members noted a shortage of bus drivers as the main operational constraint and discussed options including contracting additional runs or using reserves to cover temporary costs. The recommended walking eligibility in the plan is a 0.25‑mile radius for walkers (board members said the committee considered a 0.5‑mile option earlier). Some board members asked that the committee consider exceptions where walking distance is longer in practice because of barriers or routing.

The board rejected a motion to table consideration of item I (the motion to table failed), and proceeded to a recorded vote on item I. The board announced the final tally as 4 yes, 2 no, 1 abstain; the presiding official stated, “the motion carries.”

Next steps and monitoring: board members who supported the timetable asked district staff to prioritize communicating specifics to families, to track bus referrals and incidents closely, and to report data back to the building‑use committee and the board. Supporters emphasized that aligning elementary start times and consolidating runs would allow the district to add after‑school busing and expand extracurricular access. Opponents said the district should maintain flexibility to adjust routes or driver staffing and urged additional student and family input.

No change to policy or contract language was adopted at the meeting beyond the approved start/stop schedule; the board directed staff to proceed with routing and operational planning under the approved item.

Votes at a glance: Motion to table discussion — failed (vote count announced during meeting). Approval of item I (start/stop times and revised routing) — approved, 4 yes, 2 no, 1 abstain.

The board moved on to informational items and planning for the budget calendar and other district business after the vote.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Tuesday, February 11, 2025 Board of Education Voting Meeting","oneSentenceSummary","The Sweet Home Central School District board voted 4-2-1 to approve new 2025–26 start/stop times that will change bus runs and in some cases pair sixth graders with high‑school students.","taxTitle","SWEET HOME CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT, School Districts, New York","taxId",69150,"location","New York","headline","shortSummary",{"_33":76,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":77,"_41":78,"_43":79,"_45":80,"_47":81,"_49":82,"_51":83,"_53":84,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":85,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":86,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":56,"_74":56},6337469,"Sweet Home staff seek public comment on Smart Schools plan to add internal door swipe systems; Harding project estimated at $551,000",114,175000,289000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2273001-2488f479d7fda09454a00ae234328662&start=175&end=289","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2273001-2488f479d7fda09454a00ae234328662/thumbnail_175000.jpg","/articles/6337469/New-York/Sweet-Home-staff-seek-public-comment-on-Smart-Schools-plan-to-add-internal-door-swipe-systems-Harding-project-estimated-at-551000","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6337469-3b5638beddef9e67f04e1511eaee7f1b/orig.mp4?Expires=1777431442&Signature=WARd7FGkaOD5jufrwIt3Cs6edRwGoMm~0NIpoVOSmslg1SEn6aF9A-U5xr-0Jn6OSpjjufge0xiNI3BqKY7R9ZxCBopbjMZYHT0BWzIi0tuKtGaxXFV7wCqCTFHRjPbpSjb1imuiAqgWPVO9DSXM0VgBWLgWfFrUl~gAKRZXDm3uTQ0JE43PDFPfg6tJKkFvowYpkdPoiHaoxX10rDW6eb2mUmOv5oU1-dyGx4j4ankUhmXtOBvCuZTDnqRDo08yuqnKL9kF0WG8rdnv~gstsPTovdwivJwz9vqHQl66NimNJ-0QkhhV5uLIkte-yx-b7~jzgRnc51zFQx0HKVnORg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Sweet Home Central School District presented a Smart Schools Investment Plan proposing electronic internal door swipe access at the high school and middle school and other technology and security upgrades. The board was told that, if the board approves the plan, a 30‑day public comment period will open and the district will submit the plan and any comments to the New York State Education Department for consideration under the Smart Schools Bond Act.

District staff said the Smart Schools Bond Act — enacted at the state level several years ago and which created a multi‑billion dollar pool for school technology and security projects — can fund security upgrades. Dr. Genestri summarized the plan and noted the district expects the Harding project portion to cost approximately $551,000. He said the funds should cover the high school work and most of the middle‑school work.

Dr. Genestri said: “If approved tonight the public comment period starts for the next 30 days and then we can submit our plan plus any comments to state ed to try and get the money flowing.”

Board members were given a general funding outlook and a timeline for the district budget process: the first program maintenance budget review occurred Feb. 8; the next budget study sessions are scheduled for March 11 and April 8, the budget hearing is set for April 22 and the annual budget vote and school board election on May 20.

The board did not take a final vote on the Smart Schools plan at the meeting; the superintendent asked that the plan be placed on the agenda for approval so the district can begin the public comment period if the board approves later in the meeting cycle.

District staff also said the Smart Schools funding can be used for security upgrades and that the plan includes eliminating keyed door systems in favor of card‑swipe entry for internal doors at the middle and high schools to improve controlled access.

If approved the public comment record will be included in the submission to the state for review under the Smart Schools Bond Act.

Smaller items discussed during the same report included student engagement projects (a student‑designed “Sweet Home Panther” logo contest with more than 300 submissions and a $500 scholarship for the eventual winner) and a budget calendar to guide planning for the spring budget vote.","District officials presented a Smart Schools Investment Plan for electronic door access and other security upgrades; if approved by the board the plan will open a 30‑day public comment period prior to submission to the state Department of Education.","actionData","errors"]

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Sweet Home board approves new 2025-26 start/stop times; mixed busing measure passes 4-2-1 after extended debate

Sweet Home staff seek public comment on Smart Schools plan to add internal door swipe systems; Harding project estimated at $551,000