Board approves refunds, CAP, personnel actions and moves HVAC work into capital project; denies DASA and student discipline appeals

The Rome City School District Board of Education approved a series of resolutions at its Jan. 26 meeting covering finance, personnel, policies, and facilities.

Finance and facilities: The board approved an amended real property tax refund in the case of Donna Benton for the 2024–25 school year and authorized district officials to issue a refund in the amount of $518.14. The board approved the 2024 corrective action plan (CAP) addressing findings in the independent audit for 'extra class' and directed administration to implement the plan and submit required documents to the New York State Education Department.

On facilities, the board rescinded prior emergency emergency resolutions that had authorized replacement of compressors and coils related to the chiller/HVAC system at Stroud Middle School and authorized inclusion of the compressors, coils and related HVAC scope within the district's approved 2022 capital improvement project—subject to NYSED review. The board characterized the action as a Type II action under the State Environmental Quality Review Act and found no further environmental review required in the public meeting record.

Personnel actions: The board placed a probationary instructional employee on paid administrative leave effective Jan. 16, 2026; accepted a separation agreement with a CSEA clerical probationary employee; accepted the resignation of Emily Till, payroll coordinator, effective Jan. 5, 2026; and accepted retirements of multiple employees (Adelina Johnson; Thomas Waldron; Claudia Decker; Christopher Whitmore; Kimberly Seifert) with the effective dates listed in the resolution.

Policies and governance: The board adopted several policies on second reading (including nondiscrimination/equal opportunity and harassment policies) and approved first readings of additional policies including school safety reporting, expense reimbursement, naming of district facilities, an artificial intelligence policy, and disclosure of wrongful conduct. The board also appointed Nadia Rashid to represent the board on the Rome Parent Partnership Council, effective Jan. 27, 2026.

Appeals: After executive‑session deliberation to protect student education records and personally identifiable information, the board denied a written appeal of a DASA (Dignity for All Students Act) determination and denied a separate student discipline appeal, affirming the decisions of building administration and the superintendent. The board authorized the president or district clerk to prepare and mail letters informing appellants of appeal rights to the New York State Commissioner of Education.

Votes and minutes: The meeting record in the transcript reflects motions moved and seconded for each resolution and voice votes recorded as "Aye"; the transcript does not include a full roll‑call tally for individual board members on each vote. The board approved minutes from Jan. 6 and Jan. 12 and approved the consent agenda earlier in the meeting.

Next steps/implementation: The board directed the superintendent and relevant administrators to submit CAP documents to NYSED and to coordinate revised plans/specifications and procurement for HVAC work through the district’s architect, engineer and construction manager, subject to NYSED approval. The district clerk was directed to prepare and mail letters related to the appeals, and the superintendent’s office will contact families who requested transportation.

The board moved into executive session during the meeting; the record indicates the board expected not to return to regular session after that executive session.