Pelham board adopts Code of Conduct, denies transport appeals and approves on-site mental health clinic

The Pelham Union Free School District Board of Education on Aug. 26 adopted the district—ode of Conduct for the 2025 nd'026 school year, denied four student transportation appeals and approved a consent agenda that includes an extension of the Student Assistance Services contract to stand up an on-site mental health clinic at Pelham Memorial High School.

The actions were taken during a brief business meeting that immediately preceded the board nnual building tour. Board members recessed the meeting to open and close a public hearing on the draft district safety plan; no members of the public spoke during the hearing.

Board adoption of the Code of Conduct updates the student handbook and incorporates new connected internet device policies included in the July draft. The board voted unanimously to approve the code as presented in July, with no additional amendments at the Aug. 26 meeting.

Board members also took action on several personnel and operational items through two consent agendas. The first consent package (agenda items 6.1through6.6) included routine disposals of equipment, the district-wide safety plan as presented for immediate use pending a state-mandated revision, and an extension of the Student Assistance Services contract so the district can launch a school-based mental health clinic while funding is moved to BOCES later in the year. The board approved the consent items by unanimous vote.

On the mental-health item, district staff told the board that Director Ellen Warhouse has developed grant opportunities that would allow a service model combining a full-time student assistance counselor with on-site clinical mental health services. District officials described the offering as available to Pelham Memorial High School and middle school students who are enrolled in the district, billable to private insurance or offered on a sliding scale; staff said the clinic would be provided at no cost to the district for the immediate launch. "It's a service that would be available for Pelham Memorial High School students and middle school students who are currently enrolled in the school," a district administrator said. "The great part is it's no cost to us." The board was told the position and billing will be transitioned through BOCES once approvals are completed.

During the meeting the board approved mergers of certain athletics programs (girls ice hockey and coed wrestling) and accepted a stipulation of settlement in an unspecified special-education matter; the settlement details were not disclosed at the meeting.

On a separate set of motions the board denied four student transportation appeals for the 2025 nd'026 school year (appeals numbered 1, 2, 3 and 4). The motions to deny the appeals were each moved, seconded and approved; board members said the district will notify the families who filed appeals on the following day. "The district will be in communication with the families who put those appeals forward, tomorrow," a board member said.

The meeting opened with a brief statement that the board had earlier met in executive session "to discuss the record of a particular student," a matter the board did not take further public action on.

With routine personnel motions approved in the second consent agenda (agenda items 8.1through9.1) — which included multiple instructional appointments and noninstructional resignations and appointments — the board adjourned to proceed with its scheduled facilities tour.

Votes at a glance

- Recess business meeting to convene a public hearing on the draft district safety plan (agenda item 4.1): approved, unanimous. - Close public hearing on the draft district safety plan (agenda item 4.1): approved, unanimous. - Adopt consent agenda (agenda items 6.1—.6), including disposal of equipment, adoption of current district safety plan pending state edits, extension of Student Assistance Services contract and athletics program mergers: approved, unanimous. - Deny student transportation appeals numbers 1, 2 and 4 (resolution): approved, unanimous. - Deny student transportation appeal number 3 (resolution): approved, unanimous. - Approve Code of Conduct for 2025 nd26 school year (agenda item 7): approved, unanimous. - Adopt consent agenda (agenda items 8.19.1) including instructional hires and noninstructional personnel actions: approved, unanimous. - Adjourn meeting (agenda item 10.1): approved, unanimous.

Why it matters: The Code of Conduct governs student expectations and technology use; the new on-site mental health clinic aims to expand access to clinical services for students during the school day; the safety plan will be placed in effect immediately but is likely to return to the board for readoption after the state issues late changes; and denied transportation appeals affect families' access to district transportation for 2025 nd26.

What the board said: At the start of the meeting a district official said, "We entered into executive session to discuss the record of a particular student." A board member told the room the district would notify families whose transportation appeals were denied "tomorrow." The administration described the mental-health arrangement as "no cost to us" for the district initially and said insurance or sliding-scale fees would be used for family billing where applicable.

What was not disclosed: The meeting record did not include details of the special-education stipulation of settlement beyond its approval, nor did it provide itemized contract terms or dollar values for the Student Assistance Services extension. The state statute cited for new cardiac-emergency training and plan language was described as "new legislation" but was not named at the meeting.

Next steps: District staff said they will notify families whose appeals were denied, finalize the BOCES arrangements for the mental-health services during the school year, and return the safety plan for readoption after receiving state-required language.