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Rome City School District board approves contracts, policies, appointments and amended lease; several personnel actions recorded
Summary
Trustees approved a package of finance, personnel and policy items including a contract amendment for vision services, tenure and appointments, an amended lease for 800 Cypress Street, policy adoptions and the tentative administrative BOCES budget; one personnel appointment carried a recorded abstention.
The Rome City School District Board of Education approved a series of routine and administrative resolutions at its meeting, including contract amendments, personnel appointments, policy adoptions and an amended lease for district program space. Most motions passed unanimously by voice vote; one personnel appointment recorded a single abstention.
In finance and contracts, trustees approved an amendment to the district's agreement with the central administration for blind and visually impaired services to add one student at a cost not to exceed $1,650 and to revise the total contract to a not-to-exceed $50,725 for the 2025–26 school year. The board also approved the dissolution of the Class of 2025 club and authorized changes to the district's flexible spending plan to align dependent-care contribution limits with Internal Revenue Code Section 125. The treasurer's report for March 2026 was accepted.
The board authorized the superintendent or designee to approve emergency herbicide applications on district property when necessary, subject to integrated pest management and environmental regulations. Trustees approved the Madison and United Board of Cooperative Educational Services (BOCES) final budget for 2026–27 and adopted the district's property tax report card for 2026–27. The board approved the tentative administrative BOCES budget allocation as presented.
On personnel and human-resources matters, the board approved tenure for Alyssa Clayton (elementary teacher), authorized paid administrative leave for a Rome Teachers Association employee effective March 31, 2026 and for an administrators association employee effective April 13, 2026, and appointed Timothy Saffin as maintenance supervisor (effective March 18, 2026) with one board member recorded as abstaining because the appointee is a spouse. Trustees also approved Nancy Operman as a long-term substitute principal beginning April 16, 2026 at a $550 per day rate.
In policy business, trustees approved second readings and adoption of policies including facility naming, student religious expression, student personnel expression, school safety plans and pandemic planning; they also approved first readings of a broader policy packet including sexual-harassment procedures and bullying prevention regulations.
The board authorized the clerk to certify ballots naming candidates for several BOCES seats and appointed election inspectors and assistant poll clerks for the May 19, 2026 budget vote and board election. Trustees approved two conference attendances for Superintendent Nolan Ensalm with cost caps and approved a five-year amended lease for the building at 800 Cypress Street (the former Rome Catholic Academy) to be used for pre-K classrooms, administration offices and related purposes, contingent on commissioner of education approval and identified as a Type II action under SEQR.
Votes at a glance: - Vision services contract amendment (approved) — cost not to exceed $1,650 for one additional student; revised contract total not to exceed $50,725 (SEG 562–585). - Dissolve Class of 2025 club (approved) (SEG 589–612). - Amend flexible spending plan to follow IRC Sec. 125 limits (approved) (SEG 613–656). - Accept treasurer's report for March 2026 (approved) (SEG 657–671). - Authorize emergency herbicide applications (approved) (SEG 672–713). - Approve Madison and United BOCES final budget for 2026–27 (approved) (SEG 714–733). - Adopt property tax report card for 2026–27 (approved) (SEG 734–743). - Approve tenure for Alyssa Clayton (approved) (SEG 776–791). - Approve administrative leaves effective March 31 and April 13, 2026 (approved) (SEG 792–816). - Appoint Timothy Saffin, maintenance supervisor (approved; 1 abstention recorded) (SEG 817–837). - Appoint Nancy Operman, long-term substitute principal (approved) (SEG 843–866). - Adopted policies on second reading (approved) (SEG 867–891). - Approved first-reading policy packet (approved) (SEG 892–930). - Approve amended lease for 800 Cypress Street (approved; contingent on commissioner sign-off) (SEG 1063–1109).
Most motions were approved by voice vote with trustees saying "Aye"; the Timothy Saffin appointment recorded one abstention from a board member who identified the appointee as a spouse. The board scheduled budget forums and a "meet the candidates" night ahead of the May 19 budget vote and board election.
