Wappingers board approves consent agenda, capital committee charter and policies; parent raises repeated bus delays

The Wappingers Central School District Board of Education on Nov. 17 approved the consent agenda and several governance items and heard public comment raising transportation concerns.

During routine business, the board approved the consent agenda (agenda item 6.01) with the exception of one held item (6.02 number 39) and several other listed items. The motion to approve the consent agenda was seconded and carried. The board then considered 6.02 number 39 separately; the transcript records that the board approved the item but that multiple members abstained. The minutes indicate abstentions by Miss Kellen and Mr. Lumia, and that Mr. Capilari asked to be recorded as abstained on that item.

Trustee Meggitt reported for the Capital Improvement Committee on a Nov. 6 meeting that introduced the new Assistant Director of Facilities, Dan Asher, summarized a Day Automation assessment of the district's fire alarm systems, and provided progress updates on the 2023 capital projects. Meggitt said "the shunt trip breaker work is expected to be completed around the nineteenth or twentieth," and noted that restroom work at Ketchum was completed in time for recent plays. She also outlined planned geotechnical work and a phased schedule for the 2025 capital project, with Phase 1 at John Jay planned to begin in 2026 and Phase 1a for Royce Ketchum planned for 2027.

On agenda item 7.01 the board approved a revised Capital Improvement Committee Charter as recommended; a motion by Mr. Loomis, seconded by Miss Kellen, carried unanimously. On 7.02 the board approved the second reading and adoption of several policies reviewed by the policy committee, including clarifications to the district's public information and media relations language to address social media; that motion passed unanimously.

During the public comment period, Anthony Cardenal described a transportation incident on Oct. 28 in which his daughter's bus arrived 45 to 60 minutes late and parents received a late text an hour after the scheduled arrival. "Ten to 15 minutes might be an inconvenience, but 45 to 60 minutes is now becoming a safety concern," Cardenal said, and he told the board that transportation had not returned repeated phone calls. Lisonbee Conte used her allotted time to thank district administrators and described a positive personal experience regarding her son's support from the schools.

The board adjourned the meeting at 8:39 p.m. after a motion by Mr. Odom, seconded by Mr. McFarland, with a unanimous vote recorded.