The Ithaca City School District Board of Education on Sept. 9 approved an amendment to the superintendent’s employment agreement that extends the contract through June 2029, after a lengthy public-comment period during which parents, teachers and students urged the board either to delay the vote or to reject the extension.

Supporters and critics packed the meeting and the virtual queue, and dozens spoke during an extended public-comment period. Many callers and in-person speakers said academic performance has declined in recent years, cited state data showing multiple district schools flagged for improvement, and urged the board to prioritize settling the teachers’ contract before extending central leadership.

Why it matters: The vote came after weeks of public discussion and amid ongoing negotiations between the district and the Ithaca Teachers Association (ITA). Speakers argued the extension would affect district priorities and bargaining dynamics, while board members said leadership stability is needed to complete planned fiscal and operational work.

“Early this morning when people woke up and saw that the agenda for this meeting, which was published late yesterday, had this important issue on it, my phone started ringing,” said Catherine Cernera, president of the Ithaca Teachers Association. “I cannot speak with integrity to the collective opinion of the nearly 600 members of the ITA on this topic until I have had the opportunity to talk with them.”

Several parents and community members cited state accountability data and local metrics. “Five of our schools have been flagged by the state as ‘in need of improvement,’” said Karina Lochenhoff, identifying district schools named in New York State Education Department reporting. “Teacher turnover is close to 20 percent,” said other speakers, who urged the board to resolve the teacher contract before extending superintendent tenure.

Board members exchanged views at length. Board member Adam said he was uncomfortable moving forward without more time to hear from the community. Another board member, speaking at length about fiscal pressures, described a multiyear revenue/expense mismatch that the district must manage and argued that a predictable leadership timeline helps complete a planned restructuring and demographic study.

A motion to table the item failed. The board then considered and approved a motion described on the agenda as “to approve the amendment to the employee agreement of a particular individual”; the public record and multiple speakers identified that agenda item as the superintendent’s contract extension through June 2029. The board chair called the question, and the motion passed.

Board members who spoke against the vote asked for more time. “I do not see the need to vote to extend a contract for reasons that are largely speculative in nature,” one board member said before the vote. Several members who opposed the timing said they do not question the superintendent’s work personally but were persuaded by the public’s request for delay.

Other actions at the meeting: the board approved a consent agenda, authorized board member attendance at an October New York State School Boards Association conference, appointed a voting delegate for that association, approved amendments to some central-office employment agreements, postponed a TST BOCES presentation to Sept. 30, and voted unanimously to enter an executive session at the start of the meeting. The board also voted to extend the public-comment period by 30 minutes earlier in the evening.

The outcome is procedural: the contract amendment was approved and will be enacted as written on the board’s personnel motion. The board discussed but did not adopt any changes to the superintendent’s duties or an immediate buyout; several members emphasized future decisions remain possible and that contract end dates can be revisited by future boards.

Board and district officials said they will continue negotiating with the ITA and pursue a demographic and facilities study to guide longer-term fiscal decisions. The board president said follow-up opportunities for community engagement remain available and encouraged residents to use established channels for comment.

Votes at a glance
- Motion to enter executive session for litigation, collective negotiations and personnel matters: moved by Adam; seconded by Jacob Shifrin; passed unanimously.
- Postpone Agenda Item 11.1 (TST BOCES presentation) to Sept. 30: announced by the board; postponed (no formal roll-call vote recorded).
- Extend public comment period by 30 minutes: moved by Board member Adam; seconded by Emily (board member); passed unanimously.
- Consent agenda (accounts, personnel reports, students, minutes): moved by Adam; seconded by Karen; passed unanimously.
- Approve expenditures for board attendance at NYSSBA/NESPA annual convention: moved by Adam; seconded by Aaron; passed.
- Appoint voting delegate for NYSSBA: Jacob Shifrin appointed; motion passed unanimously.
- Approve amendments to certain central-office employment agreements (agenda item 11.4): moved by Adam; seconded by Erin; passed unanimously.
- Motion to table agenda item 11.5 (superintendent amendment): moved by Emily; seconded by Todd; motion to table failed.
- Motion to approve amendment to the superintendent’s employment agreement (agenda item 11.5): moved and seconded on the floor; motion passed (final roll-call not read into the public transcript).

The board did not provide a full roll-call tally in the public audio for the final personnel amendment; the meeting minutes will contain the formal record.

Looking ahead: Several speakers asked the board to delay the vote and allow the ITA membership to deliberate; board members urged ongoing engagement as the district moves into budget and contract negotiations. The board president said the district will follow up with additional public-engagement opportunities and that the board will continue work on long-range fiscal planning and the demographic study.