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Beacon City School District board meeting, Oct 19, 2026

1 h 48 min · 3 public speakers

AI in schools ▶ 1:13:09Reading and test scores ▶ 42:03
Meeting video · YouTubeBeacon City School DistrictOct 19, 2026Watch on YouTube ↗Opens at 0:00 in a new tab

This board doesn’t post agenda times. Click a board member to jump to where they first speak; we list only members whose voice our check named. Video length 1 h 48 min.

  1. Who spoke · first speaks at
  2. Kaitlyn SecorBoard Member
  3. Catherine BuscemiBoard Member
  4. Meredith HeuerVice-President of the Board
  5. Eric SchetterBoard Member
  6. Christopher LewineBoard Member
What happened

What happened at this meeting

Beacon school board approves consent agenda; public comment raises Glenham building concerns 27:26

  • At public comment, a speaker raised concerns about conditions at Glenham Elementary School, including suspected mold on the stage and water leaking near an electrical panel, and asked the board for a building-wide assessment. 27:26
  • The principal of Beacon High School presented graduation and exam results and an overview of New York Inspires, the state's changes to graduation requirements. 42:03
  • The superintendent outlined plans for a communications app, family and student surveys, a technology committee and year-round budgeting. 1:12:50
Item by item (10)
  1. Opening and roll call 21:57
    • The meeting opened with the Pledge of Allegiance and a review of fire exits. 21:57
    • A roll call was taken. 22:47
  2. Student recognition 23:01
    • The board recognized the September Duchess BOCES Student of Distinction. 23:01
    • The principal for the Career and Technical Institute for Duchess BOCES and an HVAC teacher presented the award. 23:45
  3. Public comment on Glenham Elementary conditions 26:38
    • A speaker at public comment described water staining, damaged ceilings, suspected mold on instruments and a makeshift chute above an electrical panel, and asked for an independent assessment, a corrective plan with timelines and records of testing and maintenance. 28:19
    • A district staff member said an environmental hygiene review of the stage was planned for Wednesday and that assessors also do a visual inspection for mold. 34:16
    • The staff member said the band instruments were visually inspected and recleaned, and that the playgrounds were funded with leftover money from a previous capital project. 37:32
  4. High school update 41:24
    • The principal of Beacon High School said 169 students graduated in June and 2 graduated in August from the 2022 cohort. 42:03
    • The principal said that starting with the class of 2028, students will no longer have to pass a set list of Regents exams to graduate, with a state vote expected by June of 2027. 43:43
    • Kaitlyn Secor noted the addition of an AP course in business and personal finance as the state shifts to a personal finance requirement. 1:10:24
  5. Superintendent report on plans 1:12:50
    • The superintendent said a communications app would be piloted with the administrative team starting in January and that budget sessions would begin in December. 1:12:50
    • The superintendent said over 40 people asked to join the technology committee and that it may be divided into 2 groups, one on artificial intelligence policy and one on Chromebook use, screen time and software. 1:19:51
    • Kaitlyn Secor said they would remain the board representative on the technology committee unless someone else wanted to join. 1:26:00
  6. Student representative comments 1:30:56
    • A student representative said the student council is organizing a district-wide Toys for Tots effort and a district-wide coat drive. 1:32:26
    • The presiding speaker noted there were no changes to the agenda. 1:33:28
  7. Superintendent announcements 1:33:28
    • A staff member said 138 students attended Girls in Sports Day and thanked the Foundation for Beacon Schools for its gala, now in its 5th year. 1:33:42
    • The staff member said facilities staff would begin reviewing the parents' concerns the next morning. 1:33:42
  8. Board member comments 1:37:03
    • Meredith Heuer said 6 policies were on the agenda for approval and that the out-of-district placement policy would stay on the agenda for future discussion. 1:37:57
    • A speaker said capital project priorities are based on a building condition survey done every 5 years, and another said bids were expected to be awarded for summer '27 work including vestibule updates, air conditioning and bathroom upgrades. 1:38:40
    • Christopher Lewine asked for an update on board school visits, and a staff member said the dates would be sent out the next day. 1:42:59
  9. Consent agenda 1:45:27
    • A staff member said a no-cost contract for Impact Tutoring, connected to AmeriCorps, would provide math help in the elementary schools. 1:45:32
    • A speaker asked for a motion to approve consent agenda items 10.01 through 14.05, and another speaker offered a second. 1:46:21
    • The motion passed 6⁠-⁠0, the presiding speaker said. 1:47:11
  10. Executive session 1:47:11
    • A motion was made to adjourn to executive session to discuss the employment history of a particular individual. 1:47:11
    • The motion passed 6⁠-⁠0. 1:47:31

Written by software from the meeting's transcript and checked sentence by sentence against it.

Other meetings

Other meetings of this board

Video: posted by the district as “Beacon City School District Board of Education Meeting 10/19/26”