Pelham board adopts goals, governance protocols, organizational chart and authorizes architect services for bond; personnel appointments approved

The Pelham Union Free School District Board of Education on Sept. 3 approved a series of governance, personnel and contract items, including board goals for 2025‑26, amended governance and communications protocols, an organizational chart for the 2025‑26 year, committee roles, personnel appointments and authorization to contract with architects for bond projects.

Board actions at a glance

- Adopted the 2025‑26 Board of Education goals and related objectives focused on supporting student outcomes, strengthening communications and sustaining fiscal planning. (Approved; motion moved and seconded; unanimous voice vote: “Aye,” no opposing votes recorded.)

- Approved and adopted the 2025‑26 organizational chart, including a title change for Alex Wolf to Director of Communications and addition of a PPS liaison (grant‑funded). (Approved; unanimous voice vote.)

- Approved and adopted amended Board of Education governance, meeting and communications protocols after board discussion and edits. (Board tabled an initial motion and then approved the amended version; unanimous voice vote.)

- Approved committee roles and responsibilities for 2025‑26, with minor adjustments to committee sizes for efficiency. (Approved; unanimous voice vote.)

- Approved personnel appointments on the consent agenda, including instructional assignments, school monitors, secretarial hires and a part‑time nurse; payroll and human‑resources items were listed and approved as part of consent. (Approved; unanimous voice vote.)

- Authorized a contract amendment to KG&D (referred to in agenda as KGD) for district‑wide architectural and engineering services for routine small projects. (Approved; unanimous voice vote.)

- Adopted a resolution authorizing an agreement with KG&D (KGD) for architectural services related to the voter‑approved capital bond program (amounts described in the draft agreement include architect fees tied to the two bond propositions; the board discussion noted the combined architect fee is substantial and within the soft‑cost budget for the projects). The board approved the resolution following discussion of scope, allowances and carved‑out services such as hazardous‑materials testing. (Approved; unanimous voice vote.)

Motions and voting

Most motions on the agenda were moved, seconded and approved by voice vote with “Aye” and no members recorded as opposed. The transcript records repeated procedural motions of “So moved” and “Second” followed by the clerk’s call for “All in favor? Aye. None opposed,” indicating approval; individual board votes were not recorded by name in the public transcript.

Contract and budget context

District staff and the board discussed that architect and construction management fees are included within the soft‑cost portion of the bond budget. The superintendent and district staff confirmed allowances and pass‑through arrangements for specialized services (for example, hazardous‑materials contractors, blasting consultants or other third‑party consultants) that may be needed in addition to base architect services; those items are typically handled as pass‑throughs with no district upcharge.

Next steps

District staff said they will continue bond steering and design work in coming months and will bring construction management recommendations to the board. Communications and finance teams will also continue work on outreach plans—especially as the district seeks to restore historically high budget‑vote support levels—and will finalize timelines and metrics for communications deliverables and the SCOPE survey planned for this fall.

The board also scheduled standard committee solicitation and onboarding for October and confirmed that staff will return with additional implementation details for the adopted goals and protocols.