Ithaca board unanimously adopts revised Climate Action Plan and passes multiple governance policies

The Ithaca City School District Board of Education voted unanimously on June 9 to adopt a revised ICSD Climate Action Plan after public support from teachers and student representatives and several hours of board discussion.

Catherine Sornara, president of the Ithaca Teachers Association, told the board the teachers and students who helped design the plan created a document that "acknowledges that climate change is real" and addresses disproportionate impacts on communities of color and low‑income families. "For these reasons, Ithaca Teachers Association strongly supports this resolution and urges you all to vote to adopt the plan tonight," she said. (Catherine Sornara)

A board member moved the resolution to adopt the revised plan; the board discussed the plan’s revision history, committee work and implementation structures and heard support from student reps and LACS representatives. The chair called the question and the resolution passed by unanimous voice vote. The board noted the plan will require follow‑through on staffing, resources, and an advisory council to guide implementation.

The meeting included other governance actions. The board approved, at second reading and adoption, policy 1600 (Naming of Facilities and Dedication of Spaces). Members debated whether to bar naming public facilities after currently serving elected officials and discussed timing and a possible moratorium on renaming; the policy as adopted reserves naming and renaming authority to the board and allows the board to request additional information or public hearings for contentious proposals.

The board also considered policy 2111.1 (School Visits by Board Members). Members debated whether observations or concerns should be communicated "in collaboration with the superintendent or designee," whether a single board member should be allowed to visit in an official capacity without additional approval, and whether legal counsel’s guidance and contractual considerations required stronger language. After extended discussion and a friendly amendment to emphasize collaboration with the superintendent, the board voted to approve the policy at second reading while several members requested further review by the policy committee and counsel.

Separately, the board accepted a first reading of revisions to policy 9520.7 concerning leave for breast and prostate cancer screening to align district policy with New York State law; the item will return for second reading and adoption.

Earlier in the meeting a board member read and moved a resolution honoring Dr. Sean Eversley Bradwell for more than 17 years of service; the motion was seconded and accepted for entry into the official minutes as a lasting tribute. The board concluded the business portion of the meeting with a motion to enter executive session under New York Public Officers Law to discuss personnel and student‑privacy matters.