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Garrison Union Free School District board meeting, Aug 19, 2026

1 h 46 min · 0 public speakers

Safety, weapons and police ▶ 1:03

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 46 min.

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What happened

What happened at this meeting

Garrison staff outline plan for all 8th graders to take algebra in 2027⁠-⁠2028 17:55

  • The superintendent's report included updates on the summer program, a new middle school math pathway and a new teaching model for 4th and 5th grade. 9:18
  • Under new business, the board took up the resolution to confirm the tax rolls and authorize the tax levy, the code of conduct for '26-'27 and renewal of the SPO contract. 1:08:29
  • A district staff member described returning unspent funds from completed capital projects and recommended increasing three reserve funds. 1:15:21

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Item by item (15)
  1. Opening and agenda 0:00
    • The meeting opened with a roll call and the Pledge of Allegiance, led by Peter Lesser. 0:00
    • No agenda changes were offered, and a motion to accept the agenda as presented was made and seconded. 0:36
  2. Public hearing on districtwide safety plan 1:03
    • A district staff member said the plan was open for public comment from July 10th to August 10th, no public comments were received, and it was the same plan as last year with changes only in individuals who changed roles. 1:24
    • A district staff member said the building safety plan is confidential and the board reviews it in executive session. 2:26
    • Asked whether the plan is reviewed with staff, a district staff member said BOCES will provide safety training during next week's superintendent's conferences and that staff take part in drills. 7:47
  3. Summer program review 9:18
    • The superintendent said about 26 students enrolled in the summer scholars program, about 10 fewer than last year, and the district spends about $20,000 on it. 10:00
    • Sarah Tormey asked whether historical numbers exist from when it was a 2-week program. 12:43
    • One board member asked whether there is a student count at which costs rise, and suggested a survey of participating families. 14:14
  4. Middle school math pathway 16:45
    • A district staff member said 100% of students passed the biology Regents exam and that the district aims to have all 8th graders take algebra in 2027⁠-⁠2028. 17:55
    • A district staff member said all rising 7th graders will take Math 7 accelerated and incoming 6th graders will start a new model condensing 4 years of math content into 3 years. 19:49
    • Peter Lesser asked about effects on the elementary school, who would provide extra classroom support and how the plan compares with other schools. 26:21
  5. Grades 4 and 5 teaching model 33:31
    • A district staff member described a model that splits math, ELA, social studies and science among teachers across 2 sections of 4th grade and 1 section of 5th grade. 33:31
    • A district staff member said the district would be prepared to follow the model for the next 5 years while monitoring data. 38:34
  6. Curriculum maps, counseling plan and capital projects 39:17
    • A district staff member said curriculum maps for math and ELA went live on the district website and that the '26-'27 school counseling plan was the same as the plan adopted last year. 39:17
    • A district staff member said the gym roof project was out to bid, and another staff member said the goal was to reach the second September meeting. 43:32
    • A district staff member said the front steps would be done for the opening of school and other work may continue into the school year. 45:04
  7. Playgrounds, enrollment and opening updates 49:11
    • A district staff member said the upper playground would not be available the first couple of days of school while its surfacing is replaced, and that new playground equipment was on the installation calendar for October 2026 at around $105,000, with GCEF raised funds covering the cost over the district expenditure. 49:11
    • The superintendent said enrollment is 211 students pre-K through 8, Aramark will be the new food service vendor, and September 1st is the first day of school. 53:13
  8. Board remarks and board goals 57:21
    • The board's three draft goals address next-generation learning environments, communication with the community and long-term financial stewardship. 59:09
    • Peter Lesser said goal number 2, on community engagement, was changed and invited comments by email. 1:01:29
    • The board discussed adopting the goals at the first September meeting. 1:02:23
  9. Board operational guidelines 1:02:36
    • The board took up a resolution to adopt the 2026⁠-⁠2027 board operational guidelines as presented, and a motion was made and seconded. 1:02:36
  10. Public comment, minutes and claims audits 1:03:10
    • No members of the public were present for public comment. ~1:03:10
    • The board took up the minutes of the July 15th, 2026 meetings and the June 2026 and July 2026 claims audit reports. 1:04:07
  11. Personnel consent agenda 1:05:07
    • The personnel consent agenda included appointment of the districtwide safety team and of a leave replacement special education teacher. 1:05:07
  12. Tax levy, code of conduct and SPO contract 1:07:58
    • The new business items included confirming the tax rolls and authorizing the tax levy, the unchanged code of conduct for '26-'27 and renewal of the SPO contract. 1:08:29
    • A district staff member said the SPO contract is word for word the same as the '25-'26 one, while supplemental schedules from the Sheriff's Office are under review by counsel. 1:09:21
  13. Donation for makerspace project 1:12:15
    • A speaker said the district would accept a $1,000 donation from WW Norton in honor of board member one board member for the makerspace project, and they said this is where they would want the money to go. 1:13:47
    • One board member said this is where they would want the money to go and asked whether to abstain on the item. 1:14:22
  14. Unspent capital funds and reserve transfers 1:15:14
    • A district staff member said $26,912 and $3,960 from emergency roof projects return to undesignated fund balance and $8,517 returns to the capital reserve. 1:15:21
    • The staff member recommended increasing three reserves, including raising the TRS reserve to $195,610, which would leave undesignated fund balance closer to 17%. 1:19:07
    • One board member said a 4% target is unrealistic for running schools. 1:26:54
  15. Transportation contract and reserve advocacy 1:31:08
    • A district staff member said the transportation contract is a 1-year extension based on the CPI. 1:31:17
    • Sarah Tormey asked about a reserve for utilities, and the discussion turned to asking legislators to create reserves such as one for special education. 1:32:27
    • One board member suggested small districts advocate as a group and said the effort should be presented as protecting Garrison taxpayers. 1:35:06

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

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Video: posted by the district as “Garrison School BOE Meeting August 19, 2026”