Board elects new leadership, adopts resolutions and establishes task forces at reorganizational meeting

The Katonah-Lewisboro Union Free School District held its reorganizational meeting, during which trustees selected leadership, approved the board's annual resolutions and consent agenda, and set up two new district task forces focused on an International Baccalaureate feasibility study and student well-being.

The board moved to elect a board president and vice president at the start of the meeting. After nominations, the board approved the leadership slate by voice vote; the chair reported the choices were approved by a unanimous 7–0 vote. Newly seated leaders took the oath of office and signed required paperwork.

Board president (newly seated) thanked colleagues for their trust and asked trustees to consider committee and liaison assignments for the year. "We really are at the point where we're organizing ourselves for next year," the president said, noting opportunities for trustee liaisons to parent and community groups.

Administrator S7 outlined two new task forces the board will support. On the International Baccalaureate front, S7 said a feasibility review would involve a small team of parents, faculty and a board liaison, include about three school site visits, and aim to complete its work by early to mid spring. "That group will have completed their work in early to mid spring," S7 said.

On student well-being, S7 described a task force tied to the district's CARE survey that would expand feedback to K–12 (including grades 3–5), consider tools such as the Search Institute's 40 developmental assets, include student-led leadership components, and set 3–5 goals over roughly a 36-month period. In response to a question about time commitment, S7 said the well-being group would meet "roughly six to seven meetings" of about 90–120 minutes, beginning with a fall kickoff and culminating in a spring debrief.

Trustees adopted the board's annual resolutions — which include standard reorganizational appointments such as the district clerk and other officers — by a reported 7–0 voice vote. The board also took up a regular consent agenda and approved it unanimously. During that portion of the meeting trustees discussed the district's gifts and donations policy; one trustee asked whether the item was a second reading and whether language had changed. An administrator noted new language near the bottom of the draft and said the administration would supply tracked changes for trustees to review.

An administrative official described the intent of the gift-policy updates: to "empower building administrators and our PTOs to have a little bit more latitude with certain gifts so that they can process those gifts in a more timely manner" while still reporting to the board. The official said they would share the specific thresholds and wording at a later time.

During board dialogue and public remarks, parents and trustees praised the district's circle-based wellness work and linked it to both social-emotional benefits and academic outcomes. The board also introduced Andres Soltren as the district's new Latin teacher; Soltren thanked the board and said he was "excited to be part of the community." One trustee also mentioned an additional hire transcribed as "John Jenny Pratt."

Trustees discussed community surveys: the LES (food/family) survey and related tools. An administrator reported the LES survey had drawn more than 1,000 responses and that analysis and focus-group selection would be reported at the board's next meeting on July 30.

The board scheduled its next meetings for Thursday, July 30, at 7 p.m. and Thursday, Aug. 27, at 7 p.m. S7 said the July 30 agenda will include UPK request-for-information updates, survey results and facility-related information to inform deliberations in August.

The meeting closed after a motion to adjourn carried by a reported 7–0 vote.