Sachem Central board approves personnel items, introduces new facilities director; one member opposes cellphone payments

The Sachem Central School District board approved minutes, several consent agendas and multiple personnel items during the meeting. Routine motions to approve minutes, personnel and contract items were made, seconded and carried across the agenda.

During consideration of the consent agenda, board member Rob objected to continued district payments for employee cell phones. Rob said, "We should not be paying for anybody's cell phone... Everyone has unlimited minutes, unlimited data... the taxpayers are paying for people's cell phones," and stated he would vote no on that item. The chair acknowledged one recorded opposition, but the consent motion was carried.

The board welcomed new employees and introduced Pascal Lamia as the district’s new director of facilities; staff noted Lamia joins the district from Westbury and has experience in both the private and public sectors. The district asked probationary and labor-placement teachers and teacher assistants present to introduce themselves to ensure the board could match faces to names.

The board accepted donations from the Waverly Avenue/Waverly Elementary School PTA and approved Committee on Special Education consent items. Board members also began assigning volunteers to standing committees, with several appointments to be finalized and communicated by district staff.

The meeting record shows multiple routine approvals with few public objections aside from the cellphone-pay issue; the board moved on to operational items after approving personnel and committee-related business.