The Binghamton City School District Board of Education voted during its Oct. 21 regular meeting to schedule a work session with community partners to discuss homelessness affecting district students.

The motion, made by Board member Liza and seconded from the dais, passed when the board called the question and recorded no opposition. The board directed staff to invite local advocates and agencies to the meeting and to report back with recommended short- and mid-term action items.

The vote followed public comments from parents, community members and staff describing an increased number of students experiencing homelessness and gaps in local shelter capacity. Speakers urged the district to press city and county leaders for housing set‑asides for families with school‑age children and to coordinate services so students do not lose instructional time.

Superintendent (name not specified in the public record) summarized district supports already in place, including a McKinney‑Vento homeless liaison, Denise, who works from the attendance and civil service office, and Carrie, who assists families with navigation of county services. The superintendent said district staff had compiled data through June and offered to continue sharing updates with the board.

Board members and community speakers discussed immediate and longer‑term steps: better information-sharing with families, targeted advocacy to city and state officials for funding, and forming a committee or task force to coordinate with the mayor’s office, city council and nonprofit providers. Several members called for short-term actions that could protect students before new housing projects come online.

During the discussion board members cited local housing projects and grants already announced—Clinton Street redevelopment, YWCA units, and other moderate-income projects—but said those projects will not house all families in need immediately and that the district should seek commitments that a share of new units be reserved for families with school‑age children.

The board asked the superintendent’s office to contact Rebecca (community advocate referenced in public comment) and representatives from economic development, Catholic Charities and other providers to set the work session date before the next regular meeting, subject to invitees’ availability. The board also asked staff to provide a concise list of immediate, measurable steps the district could take to support students living in hotels, shelters and other unstable housing.

Board members and staff said the goal of the work session is to produce concrete, actionable items—short‑term supports for children currently experiencing homelessness, and an advocacy plan to secure more housing and funding at the city and state levels.