[{"_1":2,"_122":-5,"_123":-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",[32,74,86,98,110],{"_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",6083339,"mediaKeyId","2934925-dce3273cb18afc3ca27367524a45f991","parentId",2934925,"title","Board approves 2025–26 budget proposition, multiple contracts and capital work; several routine motions pass 7–0","audioSeconds",0,"startMs",6643000,"endMs","viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=2934925-dce3273cb18afc3ca27367524a45f991&start=6643&end=6643","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2934925-dce3273cb18afc3ca27367524a45f991/thumbnail_6643000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6083339/New-York/Board-approves-202526-budget-proposition-multiple-contracts-and-capital-work-several-routine-motions-pass-70","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6083339-c708e5e6e7e25594ddcdeabf16efd2b7/orig.mp4?Expires=1770921606&Signature=mZR8AnNNI6xCFNkUwDyEbWOo8d9QiLCblx10XPnxP8fYTLSfio-yfWsPR3hsyBUnHjodFnqzzLGHP32ggZrbXOx-aSjyxZ08ZswGA3krf1TMBLKxDuwGihCaDEnfWhqXiTcc1M8EZFHwj9t2UWxJjCzv4yIfP4GcobmyzK-tk4t1v6cUDx24lww5ZI7EcEA063Ch3zF~z3iN1lFl1xU23b2~0s3T4NTwloU72QipSRw3LUOSKcorEfhDYGPtyrI5CL0ZmzNWXz2vO3QIVmr5o1MbkUifZyhuPs0do-0leqPm5ziGAAq5A-COGcxJVeh2UDeqr38mNmwQ0AWV7XPIwg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","","date","2025-04-09T20:04:02.1Z","article","The Valley Central Board of Education took a series of formal actions on April 7, including adopting the 2025–26 budget and approving multiple contracts and capital‑project bid recommendations. Most motions were approved unanimously by voice vote (recorded as 7–0), while the earlier motion to gather additional information on Walden options passed 5–2 (separate coverage).

Key votes recorded during the meeting (motions shown as presented in the agenda or as read aloud):

- Adopt 2025–26 budget and approve property tax report card: motion passed (roll‑call vote recorded; outcome 7–0). The administration presented a “Simply Put” page estimating estimated monthly and annual tax impacts for sample property full values; presenters said the proposed levy increase was 2.49% (under the district’s levy limit of 5.1% referenced on the slide).

- Approve consent agenda (general agenda items): motion approved by voice vote (7–0).

- Approve Branching Minds proposal: motion approved (7–0).

- Approve textbook adoption — high school college math: motion approved (7–0).

- Approve agreement with The Center for Discovery for 2025–26: motion approved (7–0).

- Approve CSR water-study proposal for Bridal Elementary School (entry/vestibule abatement and study): motion approved (7–0).

- Adopt resolution to purchase HVAC controls from Siemens through the General Services Administration (GSA): motion approved (7–0).

- Approve contracts related to the 02/2023 capital project (phase 1) and the 02/2022 capital project (phase 2): motions approved (7–0).

- Approve bid recommendation for the 2024 Capital Project electrical and plumbing construction work: motion approved (7–0).

- Adopt municipal cooperation resolution (procurement/municipal cooperation): motion approved (7–0).

- Additional routine contract awards and approvals related to capital projects and operational items were approved by voice vote (recorded as 7–0 in meeting notes).

At the meeting the board also reviewed the schedule for candidate petitions for the May board election (petitions due April 21; drawing on April 22) and confirmed the district vote date of Tuesday, May 20. The board adjourned by motion at 8:45 p.m. (vote 7–0).

Where the motion text in the agenda or on the dais was brief, the minutes and agenda items should be consulted for the precise legal language of contracts and procurement resolutions; the board’s approvals at this meeting align with the agenda items posted by the district.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Board of Education Meeting 04/07/2025","oneSentenceSummary","At the April 7 meeting the Valley Central Board of Education approved the proposed 2025–26 budget and property tax report card, and approved multiple contracts and capital‑project bid recommendations by recorded voice votes, typically 7–0; the board also approved several administrative contracts and project-related resolutions.","taxTitle","VALLEY CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT (MONTGOMERY), School Districts, New York","taxId",60078,"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},6083345,"Parents, students ask board to fund FCCLA national competition, cite equity concerns",104,2651000,2755000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2934925-dce3273cb18afc3ca27367524a45f991&start=2651&end=2755","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2934925-dce3273cb18afc3ca27367524a45f991/thumbnail_2651000.jpg","/articles/6083345/New-York/Parents-students-ask-board-to-fund-FCCLA-national-competition-cite-equity-concerns","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6083345-fc8e1759456eeea6d1af55316ccb07f4/orig.mp4?Expires=1770921606&Signature=j-zoGEAAhBFFex~8DMlnkjNRg8fS80REVR5puLNuYRsCocqK-2Ess0aJnCfKvd5nyGrvoKieV4AsY-P2x4nSnExtKAIzIhEfIc6Q37XxiQEZG6wFK0tifVlu0JgGxvdjkt0KXdjPf3Ab9ur5wBcSC97pFmw8ySj9dyRSSjdoNq0TqEF-1GqSCg6AkL68K5MhlBVZavYNE1K1qFxuWLs8tTt7BQ3HsBxwVVE2HH7qZ3vJMWxPBupWYZcPQte1iMN8NFPkO1waoSQWQXZuVyduJonXQyt~lH2skaLNbuMDIPj0ruP3bIsCeA0x4RW-LR4XDd72nwmdjlng6HHvF5MBig__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Two public commenters at the Valley Central Board of Education meeting on April 7 urged the district to fund or reconsider its position on student attendance at an upcoming Family, Career and Community Leaders of America (FCCLA) national competition after parents said they learned late that attendance would require out‑of‑pocket payments.

Parent Jade Elise Polanco said she has children in multiple district grades and that parents were not informed in advance that attending the national competition would be a financial obligation. She told the board that the late notice — after the competition qualified students at the state level — left families with insufficient time to fundraise and that the district’s Title I status means many families face financial constraints. Polanco asked the board to “reconsider the funding for the FCCLA national competition to uphold the principle of equity.” She also said FCCLA needed a response by Wednesday about which students would attend, and that alternates should be able to attend if other students cannot.

Student Julissa Nieves, who identified herself as an FCCLA member and said FCCLA “changed my life,” described earning qualification to nationals and said she was disappointed by administrative decisions that she said denied the class an opportunity without a full understanding of FCCLA’s impact. Nieves said the program embodies district priorities and urged the board to consider students’ voices and the community pride generated by the team’s achievement.

Board members did not take a vote on the matter during the meeting. Commenters requested a reconsideration of funding and asked the board to respond in time for the roster deadline for attendance.","A parent and an FCCLA student urged the Valley Central board to fund students’ attendance at the FCCLA national competition, saying families learned late that attendance would create an out‑of‑pocket obligation and arguing that district support is an equity issue for a Title I community.",{"_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},6083350,"Valley Central board votes 5–2 to gather more information on intermediate-school option for Walden",385,5555000,5940000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2934925-dce3273cb18afc3ca27367524a45f991&start=5555&end=5940","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2934925-dce3273cb18afc3ca27367524a45f991/thumbnail_5555000.jpg","/articles/6083350/New-York/Valley-Central-board-votes-52-to-gather-more-information-on-intermediate-school-option-for-Walden","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6083350-7c24d3f106bf56eb5a1cc973a4a18b3c/orig.mp4?Expires=1770921606&Signature=WHeFdWTQ1f-xD9i5A4fhjqrJCUqHii4Qu2Yxw-k99vO5~nH7OG6T3SoECbrsEGX-tBM7xECXcQ~Vv2wmywreHMypnHRlS2uIv~AlmSvJZjHusGbWmNFDwgfkOaIorNiQiFxtfcG561h83EyiEvOik1KlXrOs7ztXzpaHRgdJMUCuTBPv6EOHy5d4l9iW-XoeooISlJJjzsJ2hvpvvrnclO8MX6dvjycIW3x9~bNWdLVWSW8DqzwreOq6ZU1DDQaU00VwIuJtpaP6ZcFVXvNj0GIkx6uWUGXIAu2MqnxNDlqt545tOqOS7PvBXcPo7xm6qyTtOoyznQwXTRWwgA8M4Q__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Valley Central Board of Education on April 7 voted 5–2 to direct district staff to gather more detailed information comparing an intermediate‑school reorganization to the previously discussed options for Walden Elementary, including renovation or construction of a single new school. The board said it wants cost estimates, enrollment projections and an assessment of State Education Department (SED) funding/aid implications before making a final decision.

Board members discussed an intermediate model during a roundtable at the meeting. One board member described an intermediate configuration as K–3 in neighborhood elementary schools and grades 4–6 in an intermediate building; that board member — who identified herself on the record as Angela (surname not given in the transcript) and who has served on the board — said preliminary analysis showed “significant savings” (she cited a figure of about $30 million in the discussion) compared with building a single new elementary school. The speaker also argued an intermediate model could better align staffing and instructional specialties and could help address anticipated high‑school crowding over a longer planning horizon.

Several board members asked staff for a common packet of analyses to inform deliberations. Requested materials included more detailed cost estimates (beyond earlier “T‑shirt” estimates), the estimated taxpayer impact per household over the life of financing for each scenario (e.g., 20‑ or 30‑year debt service), updated five‑ and ten‑year enrollment projections, and clarification about whether SED would provide building aid for a reorganization or reopening of a closed building (the consensus in the meeting was that SED typically evaluates the next five years of enrollment when considering aid and that reopening an existing building or reorganization may not automatically trigger SED aid without demonstrated need).

District staff and the district architect said they would compile the requested analyses and provide timing for return to the board. The motion to gather information passed by a 5–2 margin; board members said after the vote that once the packet is delivered the board will need to make a decision and not continue indefinitely gathering options.

At the same meeting several community members spoke — some in favor of preserving Walden’s place in the village and others urging transparency on timing and costs. Board members reminded the public that SED approval and public voting timelines mean any project would be multiple years away: the first formal step is state approval, followed by a public vote, and construction timelines extend beyond those steps.

Board President (name not specified in the transcript) said staff will outline the exact items requested and return with a schedule for the analyses.","The Valley Central Board of Education voted 5–2 to direct district staff to gather additional information comparing an intermediate-school reorganization (K–3 at elementary schools with a 4–6 intermediate) against rebuilding or renovating Walden Elementary; board members asked for cost, enrollment projections and state-aid implications.",{"_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},6083354,"County ADAC outlines prevention services, Clyde youth survey and Valley Central impact specialist",846,1804000,2650000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2934925-dce3273cb18afc3ca27367524a45f991&start=1804&end=2650","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2934925-dce3273cb18afc3ca27367524a45f991/thumbnail_1804000.jpg","/articles/6083354/New-York/County-ADAC-outlines-prevention-services-Clyde-youth-survey-and-Valley-Central-impact-specialist","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6083354-79e8b3d50f833db2f7664671d871ae2d/orig.mp4?Expires=1770921606&Signature=F3iQ5AAmhJQHKhQDmG~AbT~bthqHm2AW-lmn4dz0kwVCx7OQedeV41cdu7481ATl1N3wZ-g6RdYZAvOdLisAyd5agOZYuovw9tcsHSGBN7ObfirfAKq79~gywHRDnDH-ZaRpHQ4ajbhkv4Upmq-jGHAmR71A1IAX45aLlt~vL9jqGBAceLXzJQ7uT3moo2o2TJNwKi35egQnhejuKaP8H0e6yiJdyiBcl~LlbA2qk9X9yZnVugdyDjfL74tI1dz6c2QFvu6QAH~5Ah2I77IHTXkK4LAGDk4mbtUmi-fjLvz-cUtpkCmAgSaWazd1sFfaQxbdzSP9rlubO7l2qXJYSw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Cynthia Lardy, Impact supervisor for the Alcohol and Drug Awareness Council (ADAC) of Orange County, presented the ADAC Impact program to the Valley Central Board of Education on April 7 and introduced Natalie Gatto as Valley Central’s ADAC prevention specialist. Lardy told the board ADAC has operated in Orange County since 1972 and that the Impact program places trained prevention specialists in school districts to provide universal substance-use prevention messaging and targeted brief interventions.

Lardy said ADAC’s Clyde survey — a validated, anonymous youth survey measuring recent use, lifetime use and perceived harm — is being rolled out in 10 Orange County school districts and will survey eighth, tenth and twelfth graders. She said ADAC is funding the survey with opioid settlement funds and expected the district surveys to be completed by April 30; the goal is to repeat the assessment in two years to track changes over time.

Lardy outlined ADAC programming that Valley Central students have received: “Too Good for Drugs and Too Good for Violence” (a universal, evidence‑based curriculum) and Teen Intervene (a three-session SBIRT — screening, brief intervention and referral to treatment — model for adolescents with mild to moderate substance use). She said Valley Central has received the Too Good series in kindergarten through fourth grade districtwide since 2016 and that the Impact program has delivered hundreds of presentations and tabling events reaching thousands of students.

Lardy said ADAC has provided 1,016 Teen Intervene referrals in Valley Central since Impact started in January 2024 through March 3, 2025 (transcript numbers). She also said ADAC conducts teen‑focused peer services, family support navigation, workplace programs, senior wellness (WISE), and collaborates with Stop DWI and TASC for justice‑involved interventions.

Natalie Gatto, presented as Valley Central’s prevention specialist and a district alumna, described her school work: delivering classroom lessons (vaping, alcohol, social media and mental health), running a journaling club, coordinating lunchroom tabling events (“spin the wheel”) that reach students with brief education and prizes, leading Teen Intervene sessions with parental permission, collaborating with counselors and behavioral specialists, and assisting at prom and other events. Gatto said the approach is to be a consistent, trusted adult across grade levels so students know where to go for confidential help.

Gatto said Teen Intervene is typically three one‑hour sessions that use motivational interviewing and that parental permission is required; most students she worked with did not require referral to higher‑level treatment, though some were referred for outpatient or inpatient services when appropriate. Lardy and Gatto emphasized that Teen Intervene protects confidentiality except when there is imminent risk to self or others.

Board members and ADAC representatives discussed outreach to parents; Lardy said parent turnout for presentations could be low and requested board help getting parents engaged. Lardy and Gatto also described a recent local trend ADAC tracked — misuse of smelling salts — and said ADAC keeps materials on current drug trends.

The presentation closed with an offer to bring parent sessions to the district and with board members thanking ADAC for the work.","Representatives from the Alcohol and Drug Awareness Council (ADAC) described countywide prevention services funded with opioid settlement dollars, the Clyde youth survey being rolled out in 10 Orange County districts, and introduced Valley Central’s prevention specialist, Natalie Gatto.",{"_33":111,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":112,"_41":113,"_43":114,"_45":115,"_46":116,"_48":117,"_50":118,"_52":119,"_54":55,"_56":57,"_58":120,"_60":61,"_62":63,"_64":121,"_66":67,"_68":69,"_70":71,"_72":55,"_73":55},6083357,"Walden Elementary students describe year-long trout-raising project and Thursday release",785,95000,880000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2934925-dce3273cb18afc3ca27367524a45f991&start=95&end=880","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2934925-dce3273cb18afc3ca27367524a45f991/thumbnail_95000.jpg","/articles/6083357/New-York/Walden-Elementary-students-describe-year-long-trout-raising-project-and-Thursday-release","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6083357-48787179d380baab1b0b37be21103d4d/orig.mp4?Expires=1770921606&Signature=OrOvBryGYwDdRkxCerDFBM-~o7xOYULOb-4MihYpAsn8FFHUKO6xpJk1SgnUUSw~WOTA5VpZZt~6m3h91DEv8L7T8WJxg9fTGU8rrkUk2l7lhuZuxoVNRWXRPNx1qRAiCk0NHjz~s5NxdSjr7w3mgKNCuQ~Yyel4tEJfwaLpXoqkYZ8lXj1YemhWd8HkOVSTJcxmzrCvIvDvhuDs9k2M~Hc8LStZg7TeR5oNDKG1mgyOSUq80TuGHRYJIQLf-JwY5oE-v6uf~p8za7IxFK~KbjdM2WReH6I3yWIRpIdPqbbXjUaHFuNVYHPbAaNfV2bWBT6ZTs0WhDAjQtKLiSWoCw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Walden Elementary fifth-graders and their teacher described a hands-on Trout in the Classroom project during the Valley Central School District Board of Education meeting on April 7. The students and their teacher said they raised trout from eggs in a 55-gallon tank at Walden and planned to release the surviving trout at Tin Brook in Wooster Grove Park on Thursday.

The project, led by the classroom teacher, aimed to meet science standards and give students a practical experience with ecosystems and water quality. The teacher told the board he had been a principal for 15 years and that the trout project became “one of the coolest hands-on, engaging learning” experiences at Walden.

Students described daily duties and equipment: a chiller to keep water in the low 50s, an aerator for oxygen, a filter, a webcam for remote observation, gravel siphons for cleaning, five‑gallon buckets for treated water, and a quarantine net for sick fish. Classroom responsibilities included regular water testing, partial water changes of about 5 gallons, monitoring for fungus on eggs, and removing visibly ill fish to quarantine to prevent disease spread. They said most water was stored in a closet sink to allow chlorine to dissipate before adding it to the tank.

Students explained trout life stages encountered in class — egg, embryo, alevin (with yolk sac), fry, fingerling — and said they removed white eggs (a sign of fungus) and sometimes used turkey basters to transfer eggs or sick fish to quarantine. They described losses: two malformed two-headed alevins and other mortalities, and noted that “in the wild, the survival rate is around 1 percent.” Students said they do not know the final number of fish that will be released until release day but reported the most recent loss before the meeting had occurred on April 2 (and another earlier loss on April 10).

The classroom credited community donors and helpers: materials were obtained via donations and a used tank; Logan Heaney and Berry’s Grove (a local nonprofit) were named for donating materials; Thruway Sporting Goods was cited as providing prizes for a volunteer raffle; and custodial and technology staff were acknowledged for support with feeding and livestream setup. Students said they used a raffle-ticket system to encourage volunteering so more students could participate on release day.

Teacher and students said the work addressed curriculum topics including matter and movement, water scarcity and quality, and identifying living things in an ecosystem. The teacher said the classroom’s goal is ambitious — eventually aiming to release 1,000 fish in a year if the program is scaled districtwide — but that initial start‑up costs are “decently high” while annual costs would be lower for consumables.

The release was scheduled for Thursday at Tin Brook in Wooster Grove Park; students also said they planned to learn about fly fishing, stream flow rates and other ecosystem topics as part of the release activities.

The presentation closed with students and the teacher thanking the district, community partners, and classmates for support.","Students and a fifth-grade teacher at Walden Elementary described a year-long Trout in the Classroom project that raised trout from eggs for a planned release at Tin Brook, Wooster Grove Park, on Thursday; they explained classroom procedures, equipment and safety measures used to care for the fish.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Board approves 2025–26 budget proposition, multiple contracts and capital work; several routine motions pass 7–0

Parents, students ask board to fund FCCLA national competition, cite equity concerns

Valley Central board votes 5–2 to gather more information on intermediate-school option for Walden

County ADAC outlines prevention services, Clyde youth survey and Valley Central impact specialist

Walden Elementary students describe year-long trout-raising project and Thursday release