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Board approves minutes, policy revisions, personnel items, resolutions and sole-source pre-K curriculum; emergency pesticide use authorized
Summary
At its March 11 meeting the South Colonie Board of Education approved meeting minutes, policy revisions, personnel appointments, two monthly resolutions, a sole-source pre-K curriculum purchase and an emergency pesticide-use resolution; all recorded motions carried unanimously.
The South Colonie Central School District Board of Education recorded unanimous votes on multiple routine and policy items at its March 11 meeting. Board actions included approval of minutes from the Feb. 25 regular meeting, two policy revisions, personnel appointments, several resolutions and a sole-source purchase for a prekindergarten curriculum. An emergency pesticide-use resolution for prescribed areas of the high-school fields was also approved.
All recorded motions below passed 9-0 unless noted.
Votes at a glance
- Approval of minutes (regular meeting of Feb. 25, 2025). Motion made by Thomas Blakely; seconded by Rose Gabriello. Outcome: approved, 9-0.
- Policy revisions. The policy committee recommended final approval of two policies listed in the meeting packet as 8130 and 8131 (stream risk protection order and pandemic plan revisions). Motion presented on behalf of the policy committee (committee chair cited in packet). Outcome: approved, 9-0.
- Reports and recommendations (letters a through e in meeting packet), including a change order for additional parking stalls at Shaker Road Elementary. Motion made by Mr. Keane; seconded by Mr. Masek. Outcome: approved, 9-0.
- Instruction personnel changes (pages 9-10 of the packet): approvals included coaching appointments, reappointments and retirements noted in the packet. Motion made by Mr. Casey; seconded by Mr. Keane. Outcome: approved, 9-0.
- Support personnel changes (pages 11-13): routine appointments and resignations. Motion made by Mr. Blakely; seconded by Mr. Meisick. Outcome: approved, 9-0.
- Resolutions: National Autism Awareness Month and National School Library Month. Motion made by Christopher Larrabee; seconded by Mr. Casey. Outcome: approved, 9-0. Administration noted there are 76 students identified with autism receiving special education services as background information provided to the board.
- Sole-source resolution authorizing the purchase of a pre-K curriculum referred to in the packet as "Pre K on My Way" (identified by staff as a New York State-approved package and presented as a sole-source purchase because Scholastic Educational Solutions is the listed provider). Motion made by Rose Gabriello; seconded by Thomas Blakely. Board members asked clarifying questions about the use of the term "sole source" versus "single source;" administration said the vendor is the sole provider of the chosen package on the approved list. Outcome: approved, 9-0.
- Emergency pesticide-use resolution for specified high-school athletic fields to address invasive weeds and crabgrass. Administration said the application will be limited to prescribed field locations, scheduled when the fields are not in use (application planned for a weekend) and that parents and the community will be notified with pesticide information and Safety Data Sheets. Motion made by Mr. Casey; seconded by Christopher Larrabee. Outcome: approved, 9-0.
- Adjournment: Motion made by Mr. Keane; seconded by Mr. Blakely. Outcome: approved, 9-0.
Several items on the agenda were informational only (notably the first-draft budget presentation) and will return to the board for further action on the dates in the meeting timeline.
