Board approves routine business, personnel moves, contracts and denies private-school transportation request

The Hempstead Union Free School District Board of Education approved a slate of routine business items, personnel actions and vendor agreements and moved to deny a private-school transportation request after an executive-session review during its October meeting.

The board unanimously approved the minutes of the Sept. 8 meeting and the district’s financial reports. It also accepted the annual financial statements prepared by RS Abrams for the year ended June 30, 2025, as recommended by the audit committee on Oct. 6, 2025.

The board approved multiple personnel items, including retirements, resignations, and new appointments. Among actions recorded on the agenda, the board accepted the retirement notification for Eileen King, with an intent-to-retire date at the close of business Feb. 27, 2026. The board approved the full-time probationary appointment of Mary Ella Canales as a teacher assistant at Terryville Road Elementary School effective Sept. 25, 2025 (probationary period Sept. 25, 2025–Sept. 24, 2029). Other approved appointments included Fabiola Morales Navaros (senior office assistant, CSEA) and Emmanuel Anwalter (night foreman), and the board accepted listed resignations and appointments for part-time and substitute staff effective Oct. 6, 2025.

The board approved teachers and advisors for extracurricular clubs and coaches for the 2025–26 school year; it removed one extracurricular club and its advisor for lack of interest. The board also approved drivers for special education programs, the district’s driver’s-education instructor, and updated substitute teacher and nurse lists.

Procurement and contract actions included approval of a multi-year service agreement with BOCES (Board of Cooperative Educational Services, supervisory district of Suffolk County) to acquire and install Canon networked copiers and related services, a scope license agreement for an SAT preparatory program for 2025–26, amended rate sheets for consultant service contracts previously approved July 14 and Sept. 8, 2025, and several additional contracts for 2025–26 as listed on the agenda. The board approved requested budget transfers and declared multiple district items obsolete, including a 2015 Ford Fiesta.

In board-initiated business, trustees moved to rescind several older attendance-related policies (71.22; 71.22.1; 71.22.2) and approved a set of updated policies on attendance, screening and related matters (including 71.10, 71.20, 71.21, 71.22.3), as well as a series of special-education policies (76.20–76.80) covering participation, appointments and training of CSE/CPSE members, use of recording devices, transition services, parent involvement, and impartial due process procedures.

After a closed-session review on Sept. 30, 2025, the board adopted a resolution denying a request for transportation to a private school. The motion to deny was approved as listed on the agenda.

All motions on the public agenda carried as announced at the meeting by board members; where the record shows a motion and a second followed by "Aye" and the clerk’s confirmation, the outcome is recorded as approved in the board minutes.

The board acknowledged receipt of committee recommendations from the Committee on Preschool Special Education (CPSE) and the Committee on Special Education (CSE) for the dates listed on the agenda.

The meeting concluded with the board adjourning after routine closing items and a brief reminders about photo-taking for the board.

Votes at a glance (motions recorded on the public agenda and outcome): - Approval of Sept. 8 minutes — approved (motion: Miss Enright; second: Mr. DeStefano). - Approval of financial reports — approved (motion: Mr. DeStefano; second: not specified). - Acceptance of RS Abrams annual financial statements (year ended 6/30/2025) — approved (motion: Mr. Sanchez; second: Miss Enright). - Approval of listing of nonresident students for 2025–26 — approved (motion: Miss Alabaugh; second: Miss Enright). - Acceptance of retirement notice for Eileen King (effective close of business 2/27/2026) — approved (motion: Miss Alabaugh; second: Mr. DeStefano). - Accept listed resignations (CSCA, PGSTA, etc.) — approved (motions as listed on agenda; seconds recorded in meeting audio). - Appointment of Mary Ella Canales, teacher assistant, Terryville Road Elementary (probationary, effective 9/25/2025) — approved (motion: Miss Alabaugh; second: Miss Enright). - Appointment of Fabiola Morales Navaros, senior office assistant (CSEA), step 4, effective 10/6/2025 — approved (motion: Mr. Sanchez; second: Miss Alabaugh). - Appointment of Emmanuel Anwalter, night foreman, effective 9/2/2025 — approved (motion: Miss Alabaugh; second: Mr. DeStefano). - Removal of one extracurricular club and advisor for lack of interest — approved (motion: Mr. DeStefano; second: not specified). - Approval of extracurricular club advisors and Boyle advisors for 2025–26 — approved (motions as listed). - Approval of drivers for special education and driver’s-education instructor — approved (motion: Miss Alabaugh; second: Mr. Sanchez). - Approval of coaches for 2025–26 — approved (motion: Mr. DeStefano; second: Miss Alabaugh). - Approval of part-time and substitute appointments and resignations effective 10/6/2025 — approved. - Approval of substitute teacher and nurse list — approved. - Acknowledgement of CPSE and CSE recommendations — approved. - Approval of multi-year service agreement with BOCES for copier technology project — approved (motion: Mr. DeStefano; second: Miss Enright). - Approval of SAT preparatory program scope license for 2025–26 — approved (motion: Mr. Sanchez; second: Miss Enright). - Approval of amended consultant contract rate sheets (noted prior approvals 7/14/2025 and 9/8/2025) — approved. - Approval of contracts for 2025–26 (as listed) — approved. - Approval of requested budget transfers — approved. - Declaration of district items as obsolete (including 2015 Ford Fiesta) — approved. - Resolution denying private-school transportation request (considered in executive session 9/30/2025) — approved (motion: board member as recorded; second: Miss Enright). - Rescind older attendance policies (71.22; 71.22.1; 71.22.2) — approved (motion: Miss Alabaugh; second: Miss Enright). - Approve updated attendance and special-education policies (71.10; 71.20; 71.21; 71.22.3; 76.20–76.80) — approved (motion: Miss Enright; second: Mr. DeStefano).

(Where the audio records only “Aye” and the clerk’s confirmation of motion carry, the minutes record the motion as approved. Individual vote tallies by name were not given on the public record for these items.)