At the Nov. 19 public works session, the Rockville Centre Union Free School District Board of Education accepted a donation of five trees to be planted at the district's elementary schools. Superintendent Gavin said the donor and the labor and landscaping were provided by Mr. Klizes and the RBC conservancy, and he emphasized the planting must occur before the ground freezes.

President Barry asked for a motion to accept the gift; a motion was made and seconded and the board approved the gift by voice vote.

The board also reviewed several policy updates. The policy committee has been aligning the manual with current practice and ensuring citations to Ed Law are current. Items discussed included "Board of Education Authority" (stage 1), communicable-disease policies (cited as 5691 and 5690) and HIV-related policy 5692 with accompanying regulation 5692r and a student regulation 5692r0.1. A board member raised a specific wording concern in the blue section of regulation 5692r and asked that it be corrected to match the student regulation before moving forward.

On transportation, the board discussed policy 5710 (transportation program) and more detailed student transportation services policy; a change was noted that a parent or guardian making a change to athletic transportation now needs to provide 24 hours' notice instead of a week. The board also confirmed that transportation for athletic events is arranged by the athletic director or the athletic department and noted an online form for the notification.

President Barry moved to approve items for action G2 through J4; the motion was made and seconded and the items were approved by voice vote. The board moved policy 5684 (use of surveillance cameras) from stage 2 to stage 3.

The meeting adjourned with the board announcing its next meeting on Dec. 11 at 7 p.m. in the auditorium and wishing the community a happy Thanksgiving.