[{"_1":2,"_110":-5,"_111":-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",[32,74,86,98],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":44,"_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":55,"_73":55},"mediaId",6100733,"mediaKeyId","2812551-815075650f308c4322163e3b7fbf8163","parentId",2812551,"title","Board approves consent agenda and routine items; several motions carried by voice vote","audioSeconds",0,"startMs",7418000,"endMs","viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=2812551-815075650f308c4322163e3b7fbf8163&start=7418&end=7418","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2812551-815075650f308c4322163e3b7fbf8163/thumbnail_7418000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6100733/New-York/Board-approves-consent-agenda-and-routine-items-several-motions-carried-by-voice-vote","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6100733-da555ceae773ddcafc4f32745c15506a/orig.mp4?Expires=1771077795&Signature=hDEKGe5irtKMWmtiEYuiRHF42~vbXnFkY8wQn64RTeQd6r1N8Zg3uWPJTl6jMFYsFWVw6O~LrZbMxleoH4aXu2NEQtirtrxawULSzeHhEf2QBVEMSZvYEuigZMPQhVpkfAnnIPTH43Ywm~UNLovJWBGoCN~SqwH0~un31S7Ym5GbQW4SYT59fI~Qr4Ly3bsUb-1LawNmuWCR9gQwK8nFXaycJ-QhEKWdSWxRtcI481D5D5hzOPsQBjCuCrSyWuzBVJrmoHFa1I-IQ1Zgm8sd0BzWwgl6y40j0JY9WZvpT71aYJsMGX6bTWZ-QheMq7mAJRC1UMKzuptcQVKYNhXNOw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","","date","2025-03-28T21:09:09.44Z","article","The Board of Education approved the consent agenda and a series of routine items by voice vote during the meeting; the transcript records motions, seconds and the chair’s announcement that each motion \"carries\" without a roll‑call tally.

Key actions recorded in the public record:

- Acceptance of the consent agenda (minutes from March special and regular meetings and routine consent items). Motion to accept: moved and seconded; outcome: motion carries (voice vote).

- Superintendent reports and routine audits: acceptance of the Risk Assessment Update for the 2024–25 school year (agenda item SR‑five). Motion moved and seconded; outcome: motion carries.

- Acceptance of internal audit separation and paid time off for the 2024–25 school year (SR‑six). Motion moved and seconded; outcome: motion carries.

- Field trip approvals (SR‑seven). Motion moved and seconded; outcome: motion carries.

- Personnel and policy items: motions to move policy 25‑03‑PO‑1 (new policy 9150 staff‑student relations/fraternization) and revised policy 6110 (budget planning) were presented. Trustees voted to waive a reading and proceed; outcome: motion carries.

The transcript records the usual procedural moves — \"Move it\" and \"Second\" — and the chair’s voice rulings that motions carried. Individual member votes or roll‑call tallies are not listed in the public transcript excerpt.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Middle Country CSD Live Stream - Board of Education Meeting - 3/26/2025","oneSentenceSummary","The Middle Country Central School District Board of Education approved the consent agenda, adopted several superintendent recommendations and advanced first‑reading and policy waivers during the meeting; all identified motions carried by voice vote with no roll‑call tallies provided in the transcript.","taxTitle","MIDDLE COUNTRY CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT, School Districts, New York","taxId",13430,"location","New York","headline","shortSummary",{"_33":75,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":76,"_41":77,"_43":78,"_45":79,"_46":80,"_48":81,"_50":82,"_52":83,"_54":55,"_56":57,"_58":84,"_60":61,"_62":63,"_64":85,"_66":67,"_68":69,"_70":71,"_72":55,"_73":55},6100738,"Nurses and a parent urge action on staffing and safety; board clarifies drug‑testing practice",521,6885000,7406000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2812551-815075650f308c4322163e3b7fbf8163&start=6885&end=7406","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2812551-815075650f308c4322163e3b7fbf8163/thumbnail_6885000.jpg","/articles/6100738/New-York/Nurses-and-a-parent-urge-action-on-staffing-and-safety-board-clarifies-drugtesting-practice","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6100738-3bbe7f979ed3b9f7f0c5afb17cef45ce/orig.mp4?Expires=1771077795&Signature=SYRy3z7B4OONr1QpLy87FDSyuZmOt2y3nsYOFEiYjlZVVTSgn-Cm3JjW-LJVhyhV55mlZ9SCgHxY-xRX08Ld7ZkZVV2MolMVnWN9WHJvQlNtyVgPjci284o1bq3nNKtxlSXEBhgrSDoPMvLMgV27EytKzfZ-eqYJSsYoqD43ZYD3S3ow6Ne4BZV~Y-pTx~HThErKIA87hTP-5Af8Ubgt1ltdhOEbg-ZD24EwxegoAXy~FnTQodgRmKw9Xd5W5gJ7INs48k5gIs2fI1MERA2r9KlRmFl1GYBKs3JTbOza2kFtm0EIaJ8Ym8mSr50h26tGy~9S31RCcVjyjCprIUxXEw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","At the public‑comment portion of the meeting, Carrie Mirabella, identified as a Middle Country school nurse, told the Board of Education the district is experiencing an ongoing nursing shortage that she said affects daily student care.

\"We have had 3 resignations last year, and we are still short of full time float and a full time permanent subs since then,\" Mirabella said. She told trustees that, because of shortages, the district has sometimes pulled a nurse from a two‑nurse building to cover another absence and that the practice is unsafe.

Mirabella provided counts and examples: she said New York State recommends one nurse per 750 students in a generally healthy population and a different ratio (cited in her remarks as about one nurse to 125 students) when many students require daily nursing interventions. She said the district recorded 22 short‑staffed instances in January (20 school days), 23 in February (15 school days) and 30 short‑staffed days so far in March (18 school days). Mirabella said two days the prior week left an elementary building without any nursing coverage for part of a day and that three of the district's five elementary praise programs for medically fragile students had no nurse coverage.

Mirabella described common medical needs in her building (Center High School): 17 students with epilepsy (nine requiring emergency medication), four type‑1 diabetics, 45 students with epinephrine auto‑injectors and six daily medications, and she said such cases can require rapid care.

Parent and local resident Joseph Gerardi also spoke, raising concerns about on‑campus drug use, vaping and escalating violence. Gerardi said he had heard administrators were actively using the district's new metal‑detector policy at some schools and urged the board to ensure consistent policy application. He also said some administrators had been asking nurses to help evaluate students for suspected intoxication and expressed concern about liability and lack of training for nurses conducting assessments.

Gerardi proposed the district explore partnerships with local nursing schools to provide clinical rotations for student nurses as a workforce pipeline and to increase staffing capacity. \"Such partnership offers numerous benefits: increased staffing resources, enhanced quality of care for our students, and the cultivation of a direct recruiting pipeline for future nurses,\" he said.

In response, a board officer clarified at the meeting that \"we don't have our nurses do drug testing,\" and said the letter to which a speaker referred did not come from the district. The board president invited public‑comment speakers to submit written questions to district staff for followup.

Ending: School staff recommended the board consider staffing investments and clarified operational practice; the district agreed to follow up with the speakers and provide written responses where appropriate.","A district nurse and a parent raised concerns about a nursing shortage, staffing impacts on medically fragile students and safety measures including metal detectors and 'reasonable‑suspicion' assessments during public input; the board said nurses are not conducting drug tests and suggested follow‑up.",{"_33":87,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":88,"_41":89,"_43":90,"_45":91,"_46":92,"_48":93,"_50":94,"_52":95,"_54":55,"_56":57,"_58":96,"_60":61,"_62":63,"_64":97,"_66":67,"_68":69,"_70":71,"_72":55,"_73":55},6100742,"District finance director reviews fiscal‑stress score, cost drivers and 2025–26 budget plan",2756,4646000,7402000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2812551-815075650f308c4322163e3b7fbf8163&start=4646&end=7402","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2812551-815075650f308c4322163e3b7fbf8163/thumbnail_4646000.jpg","/articles/6100742/New-York/District-finance-director-reviews-fiscalstress-score-cost-drivers-and-202526-budget-plan","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6100742-4aa0f2466afaaa3c5ad81c72796848a6/orig.mp4?Expires=1771077795&Signature=d0Yc7ZuxAofyRqZFpEmVZlTET89rWUE3cWdPnvgWqK8wJFHOKcZMtdWq5wy~zWPEf9B0yhVcZF32gi8We1SQ98GNKVuO4iFd0LLMwSPRDbaGQL3favBPRPUodbwR63sxbGNLwWb89b9FC9BXk3qsiYO9axRoT7T76ecLKVB6MN2dGXB6DKO0lYBMx0arNotvKxGv6Ql7kX4Q43xylBUy~mejSg-5XzJrlmcbDVVSn5q~SPioguSxB~eGAJnT88CyhqwtdwA2CUfpJy34L4lK2u4tt2Chm0TJajLqtyJY6PMlUTfAFBVsxwsucza0YKW0Q1UbigA1OTgR4gTc4tleEw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Doctor Rella, presenting the district's 2025–26 budget development overview, summarized the Office of the State Comptroller fiscal‑stress indicators and the district's recent reliance on reserves.

Rella said the district’s unassigned fund balance and total fund balance are below the Long Island averages cited by the comptroller and noted the district’s fiscal‑stress score was approximately 21.7 points — below the 25‑point threshold used to place districts on the comptroller’s susceptible list. She told the board the district has used reserves and fund balance in recent years but has reduced the prior $4.5 million deficit to near neutral as part of recovery efforts.

On the expenditure side, Rella listed the primary cost drivers in order: contractual obligations, health care costs, special‑education expenses (including additional praise classes and related IDEA grant costs), transportation, utilities, additional teacher aides required by IEPs, loss of pre‑K grant funds shifted to the general fund (about $400,000 cited) and increasing liability insurance and technology costs. She said the district had contained transportation increases through a contract extension and that prior solar installations limited electricity cost growth but could no longer fully offset rising utility prices.

Rella explained the three required budget components — administrative, program and capital — and said programmatic spending remains the largest share. She summarized capital priorities and the proposed transfer to capital: the district proposes a $3.5 million transfer to capital for 2025–26, with the top priority being Center Reach High School’s chiller and boiler project. Other listed capital needs included the Hawkins Path roof, a Jericho playground, electrical transformer relocation at Hawkins Path, sidewalk and paving work and other site and mechanical upgrades. Rella described the district goal of shifting dollars into a transfer to capital as existing bonds roll off, allowing district funds to fund projects without borrowing.

On revenues, Rella walked the board through the tax levy calculation and allowed capital exclusions and pilot adjustments; she calculated a district tax levy cap of 2.21% and said the proposed budget stays within that cap. She reviewed the governor’s executive budget proposal for state aid and noted a projected increase in foundation aid for 2025–26. Rella warned, however, that excess cost aid (reimbursement for special‑education excess costs) was not increasing at the same rate as special‑education expense growth.

Rella closed by listing next steps: await adopted state aid around April 1, finalize revenue and expenditure plans, adopt the budget by 04/23 and hold the public vote on 05/20. She urged continued financial advocacy on several points: fewer restrictions on pre‑K grant usage, higher aid for students with disabilities and continuation of universal free meals.

Ending: Board members thanked staff; Rella provided links to prior presentations and asked the trustees to continue financial advocacy at the state level.","Doctor Rella presented the district's fiscal‑stress designation, reserve levels, cost drivers for 2025–26 and the proposed revenue plan, including state aid assumptions and a tax levy cap calculation that keeps the proposed levy within the cap.",{"_33":99,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":100,"_41":101,"_43":102,"_45":103,"_46":104,"_48":105,"_50":106,"_52":107,"_54":55,"_56":57,"_58":108,"_60":61,"_62":63,"_64":109,"_66":67,"_68":69,"_70":71,"_72":55,"_73":55},6100747,"Pupil Personnel Services director outlines special‑education caseloads and budget needs",1353,2982000,4335000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2812551-815075650f308c4322163e3b7fbf8163&start=2982&end=4335","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2812551-815075650f308c4322163e3b7fbf8163/thumbnail_2982000.jpg","/articles/6100747/New-York/Pupil-Personnel-Services-director-outlines-specialeducation-caseloads-and-budget-needs","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6100747-bd81852bd7008fa0c36801a03e1a4d6b/orig.mp4?Expires=1771077795&Signature=SjxrXFBKhTFJXX49JBcSlwoxSq7mk2hQRni0AkoFV-p5E-sUkIEx-1PdKj8IvVDIY8OPpui8GihLElGlZzT7W~2p8WvLKSr0nDCc0ix4lL8MIgTstxkRW3lJekRN-9PgkKqtkNgRivlrSYaGFxh-wICol-DjwkZbqVJUfcFyfiSKQWgjeZCEb1L4d42je5UfDq23bKJ-wRiSiFVtRjJ5oO170lnO8wnsxxZyko0Aabh34hFaY5XM7L9k70KPJXz6UFOa6ovxcEUC0IJ1OYVO2AjJtaZ019eRNrE2HPTegem-8zdiP5DuR2hsKs0GCQu7DT6Ek62Xo6GDE4dD~pqdhg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Jennifer Harrison, director of Pupil Personnel Services for the Middle Country Central School District, told the board the department is serving roughly 1,607 students classified with disabilities for the 2024–25 school year and that the figure does not include preschool students or students with 504 plans.

Harrison said about 261 preschoolers with disabilities are also served and that 51 Committee on Special Education (CSE) meetings were pending at the time of her presentation. She told the board there are about 555 students with 504 plans. \"Students classified within the district make up approximately 16% of the population,\" Harrison said.

The presentation listed the district's continuum of services — related services (speech, occupational and physical therapy), consultant teacher models, resource rooms, integrated co‑teaching (ICT), special classes, out‑of‑district placements and homebound or hospital instruction. Harrison said about 125 students attend out‑of‑district programs, including BOCES and other specialized providers.

Harrison described federal IDEA grants (commonly referred to as IDEA 611 and 619) that subsidize staff costs. She said the grant supports approximately $2.9 million in salaries and benefits and described line items funded by IDEA: roughly $69,000 for related services, about $306,000 for behavior and autism consultant services, $10,000 for outside evaluations and $62,000 for home instruction services. She said some positions supported by the grant — such as reading specialists, a team leader and several special‑education teachers — remain partially grant‑funded and that the district covers remaining benefit costs through the general budget.

Harrison reviewed payroll and support staffing: the district has about 79 teacher aides and 61 teaching assistants across elementary and secondary schools; some decreases in aide assignments reflect reduced individual needs or changing class ratios. She described recent program additions, including new praise classes and a 12:1:1 special class at Newfield High School the district added two years ago; the district plans additional sections next year and anticipates opening five kindergarten classes for 2025–26 based on pre‑K enrollment projections.

Harrison also described training and supports: registered behavior technician (RBT) training, CPI nonviolent crisis intervention training, PACE vocational labs and unified basketball and Best Buddies programs. She told the board her office is working with the business office and an outside vendor to resume and expand Medicaid claiming; staff reviewed hard files to collect parental consent and the district can submit claims up to 15 months retroactively. \"Right now, we're at about $223,000,\" Harrison said of recovered Medicaid reimbursements, and she said she expects that amount to increase as the unit resumes processing claims.

Harrison closed by restating the PPS mission and noting the department continually monitors needs and adjusts staffing based on CSE and 504 recommendations. \"Each student will continually identify personal goals and develop and implement plans for achieving those goals,\" she said.

Ending: Board members asked several follow‑up questions about preschool forecasting, federal‑grant reliance and homeless student counts; Harrison and other administrators said they would provide additional details and numbers at a future meeting or in follow‑up materials.","Jennifer Harrison, the district's director of Pupil Personnel Services, presented an overview of special‑education enrollments, program types, staffing and IDEA grant support and described Medicaid‑claiming work and rising costs during the March Board of Education meeting.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Board approves consent agenda and routine items; several motions carried by voice vote

Nurses and a parent urge action on staffing and safety; board clarifies drug‑testing practice

District finance director reviews fiscal‑stress score, cost drivers and 2025–26 budget plan

Pupil Personnel Services director outlines special‑education caseloads and budget needs