[{"_1":2,"_112":-5,"_113":-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",[32,76,88,100],{"_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":74,"_75":74},"mediaId",6661003,"mediaKeyId","2415132-c0f7759db4f4d719564643419914956d","parentId",2415132,"title","Votes at a glance: Pelham board approves calendar revision, donation and consent items on Feb. 26","audioSeconds",222,"startMs",13252000,"endMs",13474000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=2415132-c0f7759db4f4d719564643419914956d&start=13252&end=13474","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2415132-c0f7759db4f4d719564643419914956d/thumbnail_13252000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6661003/New-York/Votes-at-a-glance-Pelham-board-approves-calendar-revision-donation-and-consent-items-on-Feb-26","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6661003-d97f87df35b42413d1b405ea7d5d5336/orig.mp4?Expires=1776321944&Signature=b8UO7F5Ys4VDAkHvcvsN-IxYdYOFNpdxLiqW9wv8wRuxmtp1XuqKIkQLVNvW~A8L8hk6IapIX3W0pF-yxrkouNf1bFEnA-BWoOP9TJMZ6dePBofKCVj4EkQSZ7DHN~MoaKzM7NdflP0ATZ~Jjfqk3sZzlhyGTeIz1xw7pfkl8vdu1TZF6z0OVvAY~LsRoEusIufw1HjtemV5rcQi6Grs1UDNshlEBEU2JbllX8oWHgjj2Ry-ktBQco5lqX5GU7P16zgS35xiFdRHpZn28gPLsZRrFQhl~o0VWdrHL5FG7Aa1o5XkgAyrIT~9oL5bE20y67bmOkKMqcBeaEYnLuJ1Og__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","PELHAM UNION FREE SCHOOL DISTRICT","date","2025-02-27T04:34:55.797Z","article","At the Feb. 26 meeting the Pelham Board of Education recorded several formal actions on routine business and calendar planning.

Votes at a glance
- Revised 2024‑25 school calendar (agenda item 5.1): Motion to adopt a revision that converted a snow‑makeup day into a regular school/work day (Thursday, May 20, 2025). Outcome: Approved (voice vote). Mover/second: not specified in transcript. Vote tally: not specified.
- Acceptance of donation (agenda item 5.5): Motion to accept a donated painted wooden desk and chair (a Monet bridge replica) valued at $500, donated by Maggie Klein (desk originally from Hutchinson School). Outcome: Approved (voice vote).
- Consent agenda items (multiple consent motions covering items 5.2–5.4 and 5.6–5.8, and 7.1–8.1): Motions to accept routine business items (personnel, minutes, routine contracts, etc.) were presented and approved. Outcome: Approved by voice votes; details in the district minutes and consent packets.
- Policies (agenda 6.1–6.13): The board moved to table a first reading/discussion of a set of 13 policies and will revisit them at a future meeting. Outcome: Motion to table carried.
- Adjournment and procedural business: Meeting adjourned by voice vote.

Notes and context
- Most votes were conducted by voice and recorded as “Aye” in the meeting; no roll‑call tallies were published in the transcript excerpt. Where specific roll‑call tallies were not recorded, this summary lists outcomes as recorded in the meeting’s public proceedings. The district will publish official minutes with full motion language, mover/second and recorded roll calls where applicable.

Ending: The board concluded business on routine approvals and scheduled multiple March budget review meetings as the district prepares for the May 20 budget vote.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Events from the Pelham Public Schools -","oneSentenceSummary","The Board of Education approved a revised 2024‑25 school calendar (one snow‑makeup day added), accepted a donated painted desk and chair, approved consent agenda items, and tabled the first reading of a group of policies; the board scheduled line‑by‑line budget reviews in March.","taxTitle","PELHAM UNION FREE SCHOOL DISTRICT, School Districts, New York","taxId",48009,"location","New York","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":77,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":78,"_41":79,"_43":80,"_45":81,"_47":82,"_49":83,"_51":84,"_53":85,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":86,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":87,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6661010,"Pelham recognizes two Regeneron STS scholars; administrators thank teachers and community partners",930,2785000,3715000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2415132-c0f7759db4f4d719564643419914956d&start=2785&end=3715","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2415132-c0f7759db4f4d719564643419914956d/thumbnail_2785000.jpg","/articles/6661010/New-York/Pelham-recognizes-two-Regeneron-STS-scholars-administrators-thank-teachers-and-community-partners","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6661010-09dc5ec55ce22af267c834516b91174b/orig.mp4?Expires=1776321944&Signature=VCcGhpuozPebUS3lblrxVEXzp8tIpc3MzZwD4xsvDSgDZDAqqgM7tm2xAWI5jK57rjnK1-ZfLnoeMe68KlEKXQXd5-SM2N2XFTelGpffoq0B0IapGw41KiDx3ibPwDxJgF1BSpXdRKO6wRYSr~sJASdaehNzAyEOb~m~yVTq1V7uFuJMbzsOOnf691KFXbjwIycPFjVlECxc5etxMw6o070lFg8IEg~ppYye6IXidFEc51I0BVb6bBr4uF8VTx22r9TCtneK7wEIWd5rIYuwA2snd7JN8ew7fTZfR2L2JtVLLNqREd2bggfnZKwZCi7uxztlxWXU27Oog39ttO7ZbA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Pelham Union Free School District on Feb. 26 recognized two Pelham Memorial High School seniors — Madeline Paciella and Axel Robinson — who were named among the 300 Regeneron Science Talent Search scholars for 2025.

The district presented the students and invited family and teachers to the board meeting, with administrators highlighting the scholars’ original research projects and the district’s role in supporting science research opportunities.

Nut graf: The Regeneron Science Talent Search is a national competition for high‑school seniors. Each scholar receives $2,000 and their high school also receives a $2,000 award. District officials said the scholars’ national placement reflects both the students’ sustained effort and the school’s research programming.

Details
- Madeline Paciella presented research on B‑cell classification changes associated with a monoclonal antibody treatment used in multiple sclerosis (transcript title sampling: “Analyzing B cell classification changes ... with the [treatment]”).
- Axel Robinson presented research on insomnia phenotypes and associated adverse health effects; staff noted Axel will present at upcoming national conferences.

Administrators’ remarks
- District leaders and Dr. Callahan, the district’s director of math and science, praised the students’ “grit, passion and perseverance,” telling the board the students had navigated mentorship changes and sought in‑person lab experiences at university partners.
- Teachers and program mentors named in the remarks included Mr. Beltakis and Ms. Tortorella. The Pelham Education Foundation and parent booster group Amplify were singled out for financial and event support for the research program.

Ending: Board members and administrators posed for photos with the scholars and thanked teachers, family and community partners for supporting high‑school science research that produced national recognition.","Pelham Memorial High School honored seniors Madeline Paciella and Axel Robinson as Regeneron Science Talent Search scholars, with district administrators and teachers praising their research and perseverance and noting school and community supports that backed their projects.",{"_33":89,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":90,"_41":91,"_43":92,"_45":93,"_47":94,"_49":95,"_51":96,"_53":97,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":98,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":99,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6661013,"Pelham board reviews 2025 operating budget; proposed levy rise 3.69% within tax‑cap calculations",1433,11667000,13100000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2415132-c0f7759db4f4d719564643419914956d&start=11667&end=13100","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2415132-c0f7759db4f4d719564643419914956d/thumbnail_11667000.jpg","/articles/6661013/New-York/Pelham-board-reviews-2025-operating-budget-proposed-levy-rise-369-within-taxcap-calculations","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6661013-38773a0e252ff17d489d5eea43457bdc/orig.mp4?Expires=1776321944&Signature=mHI2wMhvaS7pTrZ1GBQkSYMYRLMKd4wM6JpVziEApPzJdPL4N0Y3mmmLbkcXQYEmNgVNV3o~UQJWtWqtrDapG5YTYTyzed6u45V6bkcavDvlYNkEuyca22Vaz1EtPl0u651-f6vUWP3e3UHhMdozVucz-ApbbGVASqAH13Q5Rl~i6NAGGhszm2LB56R5wysci-MZ4q1jvcgNxj3ZCA~cH58VIHb6J8nHNKefdCv9E6ozS0-vUyuGxG0D~6FHbLWOuN3EDMaF839~sHOtFDSOqA15EdxZFCnwHALWJRO01-pk3ItHP0v3sGlU5k0BpiWKwVkNDQ8wP3j~csZUygcy~A__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","PELHAM UNION FREE SCHOOL DISTRICT officials gave a high‑level presentation of the 2025–26 proposed operating budget at the Feb. 26 board meeting, reporting a $96.29 million spending plan and a proposed allowable tax‑levy increase of 3.69% — a figure the administration said complies with New York State’s tax‑levy limit formulas.

Why it matters: The operating budget determines annual spending on instruction, staff salaries and benefits, special education services and facilities maintenance. The board will hold three detailed budget review sessions in March before adopting a final budget and presenting it to voters at the May 20 budget vote and school election.

Key figures and drivers
- Total proposed appropriations: $96,290,000 (up $2,700,000 from the prior year; +2.9%).
- Proposed allowable tax levy increase (tax‑cap calculation): 3.69%.
- The administration said that, after planned uses of debt‑service reserves, 2.4 percentage points of the levy change derive from operating increases and 1.29 percentage points reflect capital costs embedded in the budget presentation. Without use of reserves the comparable levy impact would be higher.

Major budget drivers
- Salaries and benefits remain the primary drivers of expenditures (roughly 70%–80% of the budget). The administration reported contractually obligated salary increases and higher health‑insurance costs as primary upward pressures.
- Special education costs have grown and the district plans targeted increases in secondary-level special‑education staffing.
- The administration identified retirement‑driven “breakage” (staff retiring at higher salaries replaced by lower‑paid hires) that produced partial savings; staff used attrition and scheduling efficiencies to reduce net staffing costs while maintaining program obligations.
- Building aid decreases from prior capital work produced about an $850,000 reduction in state building aid relative to earlier years, which affected the overall revenue mix.

Programs and investments maintained or added
- The district reports continued investment in core curriculum work, professional development (including MTSS/RTI and responsive classroom coaching), refreshed 1:1 device rollouts and ongoing facility maintenance and HVAC work.
- The presentation noted maintenance of IB programming, expanded special‑education supports, and a transition of a humanities research course to AP Seminar at the high school to encourage research pathways beyond the science research program.

Process and next steps
- The business office and superintendent asked the board to review the budget binder and attend March line‑by‑line review sessions (three meetings starting March 12). The public budget hearing and final adoption schedule were outlined; the budget vote and school board election are scheduled for May 20, 2025.

Quote
- The superintendent thanked the business office and administrators for “a tremendous amount of work” preparing the budget and said staff would present more detailed line items and respond to board requests at the March sessions.

Ending: The proposed 2025–26 budget attempts to address rising employee‑benefit and special‑education costs while staying within state tax‑levy limits. The board will review detailed line items in March before taking a final vote in May.","Superintendent and business staff presented the district’s 2025–26 operating budget: $96.29 million total, a 2.9% increase from the prior year. Staff proposed a tax‑levy increase of 3.69% (tax‑cap compliant) and said the board will review line‑by‑line budget details at three March meetings before the May 20 vote.",{"_33":101,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":102,"_41":103,"_43":104,"_45":105,"_47":106,"_49":107,"_51":108,"_53":109,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":110,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":111,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6661018,"Pelham board narrows bond planning to revised Siwanoy addition, advances high-school science wing study",4034,3792000,7826000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2415132-c0f7759db4f4d719564643419914956d&start=3792&end=7826","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2415132-c0f7759db4f4d719564643419914956d/thumbnail_3792000.jpg","/articles/6661018/New-York/Pelham-board-narrows-bond-planning-to-revised-Siwanoy-addition-advances-high-school-science-wing-study","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6661018-91f3a6a9c0329b2a7114102f008abfdc/orig.mp4?Expires=1776321944&Signature=LPGuPD32QxgD8k6bta0wJtaxXuwFvDNcRAzIgzdxLjnlLPMnvv-Prv3LonW56Woo0o6TNm8b2Nh09J8HmTu-aQG5N0O3xQAvMJpTRZiIeqZo6GXdHpHaeIRFkYmOGxwA7zOGlnXJQeTdEabsI5qSzEiwSNrR~p-KB6Bgfhr31pQZ69hZNJ4Pe3xnG5KwN68P6XIg84u8NOVha-wmxwVNo31gpJ9DNxl29~BMVkzwaHCfqhgbBnQJLYF8gvW-4bQ8y2dUpbcZVwlIZxyol3YnTahNgXN1ghM6QUnsHAOzc6rQrEvGaUQNuf4aROsCfNJqqN2es1BulEJBO5bEyH4GMQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Pelham Union Free School District officials on Feb. 26 advanced a streamlined facilities plan that keeps most of Siwanoy Elementary School’s historic footprint while adding classroom space and a new cafeteria, and reviewed a multi‑floor science addition at the high school as part of a possible bond proposal.

The board signaled consensus to continue developing “Option B” for Siwanoy — a plan that shifts a proposed classroom addition to the rear‑right corner of the campus, preserves much of the existing outdoor play area, and locates a new cafeteria under the gym — and asked architects and the district’s construction manager to refine cost, tax‑impact and staging details ahead of a work session next Monday.

Why it matters: The Siwanoy changes are expected to be a central element of any upcoming bond referendum and will shape construction staging, neighborhood impacts and estimated tax increases for local homeowners. Board members said preserving the school’s historic appearance and limiting disruption to neighbors were high priorities in selecting the revised Option B.

What the board heard and decided
- Staff from architecture firm KG&D (Walter Hauser and Sarah Dursa) and construction manager Triton Construction (Kevin Sawyer) presented updated designs informed by recent community information sessions and building tours. The revised Siwanoy concept moves the classroom addition closer to the building’s right side to keep the principal play area intact, adds eight classrooms in the new wing, and proposes a basement cafeteria under the gym to create a larger assembly/gathering space without enlarging the addition’s footprint.
- Walter Hauser told the board the team is pursuing stormwater strategies on site that would reduce impervious asphalt, introduce rain gardens and add underground detention to slow runoff into Pelham Manor’s system. The team proposed replacing rubberized asphalt play surfaces with permeable options or turf to improve infiltration.
- Kevin Sawyer said the construction team is planning logistics that minimize disruption and maximize summer work; he estimated the addition’s active construction exposure on site could be about 14 months, with overall district construction scenarios ranging from roughly 29 to 41 months depending on packaging and phasing. The current planning assumption in the schedule is a June/summer 2027 start and a finish in 2030 for an all‑in program.
- Board members repeatedly asked for clearer tax‑impact analyses. Superintendent Dr. Champ and the business office said they would return with refined figures at the next meeting; early staff estimates presented that evening placed a likely initial levy impact for an infrastructure + Siwanoy proposition in the order of about 1%–1.5% on top of the district’s operating levy assumptions, with larger program packages (high school additions, geothermal) layered on above that.

Numbers and scope presented
- Option B (revised): staff estimate held near $28,000,000 total for the Siwanoy component (addition, site and renovation combined), with internal breakdowns presented that evening roughly $14.8 million for the addition, about $2.5 million for site/stormwater/play improvements, and roughly $10.7 million for interior renovation of the existing building.
- Option C (replacement approach): earlier concept estimated near $39.95 million and would have demolished two wings to create a larger single addition; that option remains on file but the board signaled a preference for the revised Option B.
- High‑school science/commons: staff described a three‑story addition concept that would provide eight new science labs (four per upper floor), a student commons/snack bar area, and renovations to annex labs; an estimate shown that evening for a mid‑range high‑school package was $38,850,000 (including a $34,000,000 addition and associated renovations).
- Geothermal and incentives: presenters noted ground‑source heat pump (geothermal) options remain on the table but would add to upfront capital cost; the federal direct‑pay investment tax credit could offset roughly 30%–40% of qualifying geothermal and tied HVAC/heating costs if the district pursued that path, but staff cautioned the credit should not be assumed as a guaranteed net dollar in referendum planning.

Construction scheduling and logistics
- Triton Construction presented a high‑level schedule: about one year for design, three months to early SED review assumptions (varies), bidding in fall 2026, and a construction window starting in summer 2027 under one assumed timeline. Kevin Sawyer said district‑level scenarios could take approximately 41 months from start to finish if multiple campuses are included in a single program; shorter timelines are possible with limited scope and aggressive phasing.
- The team described construction‑site fences, temporary playground relocation options (including a short‑term use of a district parcel across the street), crane/set‑up needs and neighbor outreach strategies. Kevin said the team anticipates advance, signed communications with neighbors and periodic schedule notices tied to temporary increases in site work.

Community and partner input
- The team reported detailed coordination with Pelham Manor officials on stormwater strategies; Village Manager Lindsay Luff attended a meeting about aligning site drainage work with Pelham Manor’s stormwater plans. Staff also credited the district’s landscape architect for helping restructure play surfaces and increase green areas.
- Public commenters said they welcomed changes that reduced the addition’s footprint but urged still tighter sizing and clearer detail on how much outdoor space would remain available for community events. A parent asked whether the revised plan would allow the gym/cafeteria to host whole‑school events and requested ergonomics of circulation and exits be studied.

Next steps
- The board directed staff to continue advancing Option B for Siwanoy, to produce refined tax‑impact scenarios that show how different proposition packages (elementary + infrastructure; high school; geothermal options) would affect the levy, and to return at the upcoming work session with a draft scope decision and updated estimates. Staff said they planned a more detailed cost‑verification process with Triton over the next several weeks and additional community information sessions before any referendum decision.

Quotes
- Kevin Sawyer, construction manager, said the team was taking a “very fine, finer look at the impacts of the individual scenarios” and that 14 months of active site exposure on the Siwanoy addition was an achievable but aggressive target.

Ending: The board’s move to concentrate on a right‑sized Siwanoy Option B reflects an attempt to balance neighborhood concerns, historic preservation and educational program needs while keeping a prospective bond package fiscally readable for voters. Staff will return next week with refined cost and tax projections to inform a decision about referendum packaging and timing.","After weeks of community outreach, Pelham school officials endorsed a streamlined plan for Siwanoy Elementary and reviewed a three‑story high‑school science addition as part of a potential bond package; board signaled consensus to advance Option B for Siwanoy while directing staff to refine tax‑impact estimates and construction phasing.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Votes at a glance: Pelham board approves calendar revision, donation and consent items on Feb. 26

Pelham recognizes two Regeneron STS scholars; administrators thank teachers and community partners

Pelham board reviews 2025 operating budget; proposed levy rise 3.69% within tax‑cap calculations

Pelham board narrows bond planning to revised Siwanoy addition, advances high-school science wing study