The Elwood Union Free School District Board of Education debated whether to join New York State 24 24regionalization efforts and agreed to draft a written notice ahead of a Jan. 15 deadline.

Several board members said the initiative was rushed and recommended opting out. "I think we should opt out," one member said, arguing the program was an "emergency order" without a clear emergency and saying the district could not accept unknown risks to teachers, taxpayers and students. Another member echoed that concern, calling the changes sudden and urging caution.

Superintendent Dr. Steele urged a different approach: "I am going to encourage my colleagues and our superintendent to send a needs assessment," he said, noting that submitting an assessment is voluntary and would not obligate the district to participate. Dr. Steele said sharing a needs assessment could preserve a "seat at the table" and allow Elwood to learn whether resource-sharing would benefit the district amid a difficult budget season.

A resident speaker, identified as Miss Hernd during public comment, told the board the state 24 language made the "visualization planning process" optional but not the visualization itself, and urged the board to make any written notice explicit: "Try saying that you're opting out of implementing our visualization plan," she said, arguing the wording otherwise could permit the state to use district-provided data in ways the district does not control.

After discussion — with different members recommending either immediate opt-out or further fact-gathering — the board agreed to prepare a written letter and to circulate it among members before submission. The superintendent said administrators will assemble the draft for the board to review before the Jan. 15 deadline.

The next procedural step is the board's final review and approval of the letter before it is submitted to the state; no formal vote on opt-in or opt-out occurred at this meeting.