Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Board Reorganization topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Rome City School District elects Jen Yaxel as board president, approves financial designations and committee appointments
Summary
At its July 16 reorganizational meeting the Rome City School District Board of Education elected Jen Yaxel president, named Sue Carvelli vice president, approved officer and firm appointments for the 2026–27 school year and authorized financial designations including a single-depository limit of up to $100,000,000.
Jen Yaxel was elected president of the Rome City School District Board of Education at the board's reorganizational meeting on July 16 and immediately took the oath of office.
The board also elected Sue Carvelli as vice president and approved a series of routine organizational resolutions for the 2026—7 school year, including appointments of district officers and outside firms, bonding for specified personnel and the designation of M&T Bank and Community Bank NA as official depositories. The board authorized the district treasurer to maintain district funds in a single designated depository in an aggregate amount not to exceed $100,000,000 when operational needs make that necessary, provided federal and state collateralization and legal requirements are satisfied.
The reorganizational meeting opened at 5:30 p.m., with the district clerk calling the meeting to order and leading the Pledge of Allegiance. The clerk noted that "Mr. Capone has already done his oath of office" and administered the oath to other newly seated members. Sukarveli recited the oath for a board member: "I do solemnly swear or affirm that I will support the Constitution of The United States and the Constitution of the State of New York and that I will faithfully discharge the duties of the office of board member according to the best of my ability." President Yaxel likewise recited the oath after her election.
On leadership: a board member nominated Yaxel for president and a second was recorded; the motion was carried and the clerk announced the result. After assuming the chair, President Yaxel opened action item 5 to elect a vice president, nominated Sue Carvelli, and the board approved that nomination; Carvelli then took the vice-presidential oath.
On appointments and outside firms: the board approved a roster of district officers and contracted providers to serve for the 2026—7 school year. The packet named individuals and firms for roles that include attendance officer (Jennifer DiPurno), school district clerk (Sandra Russell), interim treasurer (Jeffrey Sessions), tax collector (Georgia Gonzales), school attorney (Ferencia P., as read aloud), external auditor (D'Carlo D'Arcangelo & Company), district architect (La Bella Associates), district engineer (La Bella Associates), construction manager (C and S Companies), and others. The board moved and carried the resolution approving those appointments.
On financial authorities: among several broadly worded resolutions the board approved a package of financial authorizations (item 13, letters A—DD) and a resolution designating depositories for district funds. The board explicitly resolved that the District Treasurer or other authorized officers may maintain district funds in a single designated banking institution "in an aggregate amount not to exceed $100,000,000 at any one time" when necessary for efficient financial management, subject to applicable law and collateralization requirements.
On petty cash and receipts: the board established petty cash funds, specifying a cafeteria petty cash fund set at $310 and a stadium support ticket-sales petty cash fund set at $1,000. A board member asked for clarification about how ticket receipts and petty cash are handled; a staff member explained the district cuts checks to the departments, maintains petty cash for making change, deposits ticket receipts separately and reconciles at the end of the school year.
On committee assignments and board appointments: the board approved the slate of committee assignments and appointments listed in item 17 (pages 19—21), covering policy, finance, audit, district safety, the parent partnership council (naming Nadia Rashid with Rocky Caponi as alternate) and representation to regional school board associations. There was discussion about policy committee workload and confirmation that an absent member (Jeff) had indicated he would remain on the policy committee and that was documented in writing.
The reorganizational meeting concluded with President Yaxel announcing a brief recess and the board adjourning the reorganizational portion to begin regular business at 6:00 p.m.
What the board did not do: the meeting record shows routine approvals and appointments; there were no substantive policy changes, contract awards, or contested votes recorded during the reorganizational portion of the meeting.
