[{"_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",6655388,"mediaKeyId","5401293-3d7ede0c9cb229d3f7712b78c60d4adc","parentId",5401293,"title","Board approves consent agendas, tax warrant and donations; routine contracts and appointments carried","audioSeconds",360,"startMs",1548990,"endMs",1909810,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=5401293-3d7ede0c9cb229d3f7712b78c60d4adc&start=1548&end=1909","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5401293-3d7ede0c9cb229d3f7712b78c60d4adc/thumbnail_1548990.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6655388/New-York/Board-approves-consent-agendas-tax-warrant-and-donations-routine-contracts-and-appointments-carried","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6655388-e0919bc6cec0e21fcf43af33d22f7a9c/orig.mp4?Expires=1771192373&Signature=bdYkZte4zH0WA2cA0IOhe49W7bghXg1~vCQNFfC6YSOqPhpZWXOAXbGtckK55atIXX6JKqGi9J1fAFpSNR3gAdcnd9Mt3iLK3dYz2MDdaDDG8BQCQD-Qg-~o~TTBpGCdvuCzWErP6jwDi7HzODdYAcf9ZcAGjRSGITPrcGP8JBSNGx7RrTDepI3EQ5kux-n3GiSxCcDYCQNY3ilCJNBAQbbHHgsGQLxGGLg0RHJitgJsNH-p3YMgPwMe1qsoZYJ3-7vyAR4vmm4tZRg1aECMdG6i9qO7hU01wfyAt56mTW3nHjgcJbzaYZqIiIo0RibiE7XO9OZrYkljy8s1IacNTg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","PELHAM UNION FREE SCHOOL DISTRICT","date","2025-07-16T11:04:30Z","article","At its July 15 business meeting the Pelham Union Free School District Board of Education approved a series of consent agendas and individual motions covering meeting minutes, personnel and program appointments, vendor contracts, student-services designations, and donations.

Key votes recorded in the meeting transcript (voice votes, recorded as “Aye. None opposed.” unless noted):

- Consent agendas: The board took combined motions to approve grouped consent items (including agenda blocks 5.1–5.12 and 6.1–6.9) covering routine annual designations, administrative appointments and special-education committee assignments. Trustees approved the grouped items by voice vote.

- Minutes: The board approved meeting minutes for sessions from May 28 through June 30 as part of the consent agenda.

- Tax warrant: The board approved a motion to authorize submission of a warrant to the town tax collector to raise the amount required under the adopted 2025–26 budget, based on the 2024 assessment roll. A board member explained the warrant procedure: the district will submit the signed warrant to the town tax collector after the vote. The motion carried by voice vote.

- Vendor contracts and routine authorizations: The board approved a large set of annual vendor authorizations and contracts (items listed on the agenda, including insurance, food-service contract arrangements and bonding services). One item noted a new life-insurance vendor for group policy required under labor agreements. The board approved an extension of a residency-investigation services contract (identified as a third year with the investigator).

- School meals / food service: The board discussed the state budget change that makes the first breakfast and first lunch free under Governor Hochul’s program. The district said the state will pick up the expense for the first meals but students who purchase second meals will still be charged; the district noted that food-service pricing was adjusted last year to address a cafeteria-fund shortfall and that second-meal prices reflect ongoing contract costs with its vendor, Whitsons.

- Donations: The board approved three donations by consent: PTAs donating funds for field trips and related costs for six district schools; extra classroom activity funds from Pelham Memorial High School and Pelham Middle School to cover transportation and independent-contractor costs for extracurricular activities; and a fundraising donation to support the high-school music program, to be accounted for in an expendable trust fund.

All motions described above carried by voice vote with no opposition recorded in the meeting transcript. The board made clear that some routine or larger donations will still be brought to the board separately for public recognition.

Why it matters: these approvals set the administrative, contractual and fiscal framework for the coming school year, including how the district will collect tax revenue, contract for services and accept community donations that support extracurricular programming.

","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Events from the Pelham Public Schools -","oneSentenceSummary","The Pelham UFSD board approved multiple consent agendas covering minutes, appointments, special-education designations, contracts and vendor lists; it approved the amount to be raised by taxes for 2025–26 and accepted three donations for extracurricular and music programs.","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},6655393,"Pelham board opens public hearing on code of conduct; district plans AI guidance and handbook updates",101,1183000,1284710,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5401293-3d7ede0c9cb229d3f7712b78c60d4adc&start=1183&end=1284","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5401293-3d7ede0c9cb229d3f7712b78c60d4adc/thumbnail_1183000.jpg","/articles/6655393/New-York/Pelham-board-opens-public-hearing-on-code-of-conduct-district-plans-AI-guidance-and-handbook-updates","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6655393-aad0b56842aaf461c9d74bffef73948c/orig.mp4?Expires=1771192373&Signature=EL9zCUeGgvFKEN~Av8uEZ8GNEcU~-Q5jZzsUXybyPxHhQ2-rhQ0jCc2rhQlv1keGOGBDGINyfKHLQ1Btsv8JgyXzFOczkNAfC~nKcuBCN~hQxmby7WEVqeYKUiGws0iuN8390mikulUaBxGvV78NOlKrSRlWdKy0KmGXrHwzV8Z30zOv~77fANMQLqXAK5iO1Aj14avIYdGD2~v-aXZ5T1DbImkebusG~2z7Ot5Ec24hVs3u51liPRUoSMhQceeYPtJ42RvX4xxaWvR4jhZkjNgv920tF8x2BQIyo4e2YZHsux8kbi3yhf2zOoqWGNmaQIyGD82ptHy1bhwf9t1zRQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Pelham Union Free School District on July 15 opened and then closed a public hearing on the draft district code of conduct, noting the document before the board is substantially the same as the version approved the prior year.

Board and staff members said the code already addresses issues such as plagiarism and misuse of technology and that any procedures around cell phones are typically handled through separate policy and student-handbook language rather than embedded directly in the code. One board member noted: implementation around cell phones would appear in the middle- and high-school handbooks rather than as a new code provision.

The district announced it is also studying artificial intelligence in classrooms. The board said Dr. Commerford (district staff lead on instructional technology) has led a summer committee to review AI and that the district is developing best-practice guidance and revising the acceptable-use policy. The board expects guidance for teachers and students to be issued at the start of the school year and later integrated into policy and the code as appropriate.

A member of the public, Greg Farrell of the Pelham Examiner, asked whether recent personnel-related events at a school suggested changes were needed in the code. District leaders replied the code covers expectations and that personnel matters are handled through separate processes; the board declined to respond to personnel questions in the public hearing.

Why it matters: the code of conduct defines expected behavior, disciplinary procedures and the district’s approach to technology misuse; clarifications about cell phones and AI guidance affect day-to-day student expectations and teacher practice.

Next steps: the public comment period for the draft continues and staff will circulate handbook updates, acceptable-use policy guidance and any proposed code changes for board consideration before the start of school.

","The board opened a public hearing on the district code of conduct, said the draft matches last year's approved version and reported the district is working on AI guidance and student-handbook updates for implementation in the fall.",{"_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},6655398,"Pelham UFSD opens 30-day public comment on district safety plan; cameras grant near $1.3 million under state review",208,907380,1115550,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5401293-3d7ede0c9cb229d3f7712b78c60d4adc&start=907&end=1115","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5401293-3d7ede0c9cb229d3f7712b78c60d4adc/thumbnail_907380.jpg","/articles/6655398/New-York/Pelham-UFSD-opens-30-day-public-comment-on-district-safety-plan-cameras-grant-near-13-million-under-state-review","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6655398-07cf6f6061af0177cb01424ae1730aff/orig.mp4?Expires=1771192373&Signature=BKvo1QjQ5xDhMmuFAuRAfxkBCT-o5OOhMr9yiCc0LEMSaRkxSE-hLf3fe1uEYTvneC03qI9ZGwB9Sa2miuPZdPfsXMajkE37V77SmKM4Ln2dhzJcS7yuMfKTxJERSAl~x0q39X2zC5~fxTLfAe8tYhH3~lGShcjdW7GyVXo1L0r2DuVsN1InlYQf96XHaQMAGIsdiO~5BY7hUWvQ8b6TaCQYLDn-q86NBfvA959DD90yjOPXmHcAWQ4NzlyEGKsHJKMhBzv47GNBYh1I0t-xtT6aacVSBvuN6dwCK9qn~-TTy-7u5SHf2061la3mWSezjuID1L54H5-1e76u-9X6-w__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Pelham Union Free School District on July 15 opened a public hearing and 30-day comment period on its draft districtwide safety plan, the annual document districts prepare to comply with state requirements and to guide building-level emergency procedures.

Board members said the draft was developed with the district’s safety consultant, Alteris, who met with building emergency response teams and the districtwide safety committee before the draft’s publication. The public-facing plan is available on the meeting agenda and may also be viewed at the district office; confidential building-level emergency response documents are not part of the public record.

During the hearing district staff said the draft contains only minor changes from last year. As one staff member summarized: “Just some minor changes that we have every year. We've got a slight another mention of heat related issues just related to the, to the new heat law, signed by Governor Hochul.” The board observed that a late state budget last year required many districts to incorporate late-arriving legislative changes; the district said it aims to complete its final plan before the first day of school and noted the official state deadline of Oct. 1 for required elements.

The superintendent and staff also updated the board on a previously announced security-camera grant. The district said the grant package, which includes internal and external cameras intended to bring most buildings to a common standard (Hutchinson School already meets the standard), is “just about just a little bit, under $1,300,000,” and that the district submitted updated, under‑one‑year quotes as required by the state. The application was described as currently with the state’s Ways and Means process.

The board called for public comment; none was offered during the hearing. A motion to close the safety-plan public hearing and open a separate hearing on the draft code of conduct carried by voice vote.

Why it matters: the districtwide safety plan and any capital or grant-funded security upgrades directly affect student safety practices and district expense plans; a large state grant would shift upgrade costs off the district budget if approved.

What’s next: the draft safety plan will remain open for public comment for 30 days; the final plan will return to the board for formal approval after the comment period. The district will continue to track the cameras grant through the state approval process.

","The board opened a public hearing on a draft districtwide safety plan, said the plan was prepared with consultant Alteris and noted a cameras grant application of just under $1.3 million is currently with the state Ways and Means committee.",{"_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},6655402,"Pelham UFSD board reelects Jackie DeAngelis as president, swears in officers",611,39710,650830,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5401293-3d7ede0c9cb229d3f7712b78c60d4adc&start=39&end=650","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5401293-3d7ede0c9cb229d3f7712b78c60d4adc/thumbnail_39710.jpg","/articles/6655402/New-York/Pelham-UFSD-board-reelects-Jackie-DeAngelis-as-president-swears-in-officers","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6655402-b6cb259023a6c3eb295176d27756df16/orig.mp4?Expires=1771192373&Signature=nOZ1HtsSwLSQGOhiNy~NM-tTbNd93bQkwWfsjfDkCWjqNr3dGjpGfOcmbl4JEi73-4sT2H5OPeaEBM8IOtS3nuwCqdyA1ltQtg7LtjjKm6orhAnGQEbp1uzL49e-ZugUXm0n~m9rYb~YhNSs0qjl3Y7mzgAXwYJUZU8c3e3a32ymH0oOO6a0mWoBrPP407LuOAAzf0BBTMmfCwt-MaDe2xvZomVvkV7tWdRWS11nS0U12zcS7c6s7RK10~7rGVukE3CtWokkF6-W4IUydn5M3umo8nwh5od0gTWGgVx0rnoQsR4JhZG5U8hBAlKe3fItR9w0-9s2AdqlfMr-xJ1J1Q__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Pelham Union Free School District Board of Education on July 15 held its annual reorganization meeting, swearing in reelected trustees, appointing district officers and reelecting Jackie DeAngelis as board president and Natalie Marrero as vice president.

The board administered oaths to returning trustees. Jackie DeAngelis recited the oath and then was nominated to continue as president; the motion to nominate DeAngelis was seconded and carried with the board responding “Aye. None opposed.” Natalie Marrero was nominated and approved to continue as vice president by voice vote. Valerie Miller was sworn in as district clerk; Cheryl Champ recited the oath of office as superintendent of schools.

The reorganization included routine appointments required at the start of the year. The board voted to appoint the district clerk, deputy clerk, district treasurer and deputy treasurer by consent motion. After those votes the reorganization session was adjourned and the business meeting was called to order.

Why it matters: annual reorganization actions establish the board’s leadership, the district’s official recordkeepers and fiscal officers for the coming school year, and enable the board to sign warrant and authorization documents needed for operations and tax collection.

Board discussion and procedure: the nominations were made from the board floor. Natalie Marrero placed the motion to nominate DeAngelis; multiple trustees spoke in support before the voice vote. The district clerk, Valerie Miller, and Superintendent Cheryl Champ each took the statutory oath required of their offices.

What the board approved (high-level): reappointment of board leadership (president and vice president), administration of oaths to trustees and superintendent, and continuation of district clerk and treasurer appointments. Each item was approved by voice vote with no opposition recorded in the meeting transcript.

Looking ahead: with officers in place the board proceeded to open the business meeting and public hearings scheduled for the evening.

","At its annual reorganization meeting July 15, the Pelham Union Free School District board swore in reelected trustees, reappointed district officers and unanimously approved leadership roles; Cheryl Champ was sworn in as superintendent.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Board approves consent agendas, tax warrant and donations; routine contracts and appointments carried

Pelham board opens public hearing on code of conduct; district plans AI guidance and handbook updates

Pelham UFSD opens 30-day public comment on district safety plan; cameras grant near $1.3 million under state review

Pelham UFSD board reelects Jackie DeAngelis as president, swears in officers