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Schenectady BOE holds public hearing on 2025–26 districtwide safety plan; no public comments received
Summary
The Schenectady City School District Board of Education opened a public hearing on the 2025–26 districtwide safety plan and emergency remote instruction plan as required by state regulation; district staff said the draft was posted for 30 days and no public feedback was received during the comment period.
The Schenectady City School District Board of Education opened a public hearing Wednesday on the districtwide safety plan and emergency remote instruction plan for the 2025–26 school year, and district staff said the draft was posted for 30 days with no public comments received.
Jeff Russo, the district’s chief safety officer, told the board the posting and feedback period met state requirements. "This has been done consistently for the last 3 years," Russo said, and he noted the plan had been available on the district website and through the district’s "Let’s Talk" feedback tool.
Russo said the public-comment window had closed with no respondents. "The plan every year is updated and reviewed. We did not have any feedback from the public this year," he said. He invited anyone present to comment; none signed up.
Board members asked a clerical question about the list of schools included in the draft plan. One board member noted Washington Irving was not listed, and the chief safety officer confirmed the district would add Liberty and other programs located at Proctors and Smart Scholars to the list of covered sites.
The board president closed the hearing and proceeded with the regular meeting agenda. The transcript does not record a formal vote on the safety plan during the public portion; staff indicated the item would be placed before the board for resolution later in the meeting or on the agenda for board action.
Why it matters: State regulations require districts to hold a public hearing on safety and emergency-remote instruction plans; posting the draft and inviting public comment are part of the statutory process that informs school-level emergency preparedness.
What’s next: Board members and the district’s safety office indicated the plan will advance to the board for resolution and any final edits noted during the meeting (for example, adding Liberty and program locations) will be made prior to formal adoption.
