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Garrison Union Free School District board meeting, Sep 2, 2026

1 h 00 min · 0 public speakers

AI in schools ▶ 15:34Phones in school ▶ 25:01

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What happened

What happened at this meeting

Garrison school board reviews 2026⁠-⁠27 goals, plans task forces on communications and reserve funds 36:17

  • The superintendent reported on the opening of school, transportation, capital projects and goals for the year, including a study of AI and screen time. 1:00
  • The board reviewed revised 2026⁠-⁠27 goals and discussed task forces for strategic communications and branding and for engagement on reserve funds. 36:17
  • The board also took up the minutes, the personnel consent agenda and new business items that included a student teacher agreement and roofing change orders. 51:44

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Item by item (11)
  1. Opening and agenda 0:01
    • The meeting opened with a roll call and the Pledge of Allegiance. 0:01
    • No changes to the agenda were raised, and a motion was made to accept the agenda as presented. 0:39
  2. Professional learning and transportation 1:00
    • The superintendent said staff came in from August 26th to August 28th for professional learning that included safety training and training on EpiPens and AEDs. 1:00
    • The superintendent said the district covers about 37 square miles and transports about 295 students each day. 1:00
    • A staff member said the district is still seeking a part-time bus driver, and a staff member said the rate is $32 an hour. 6:48
  3. Food service and capital projects 7:14
    • The superintendent said the new food service vendor, Aramark, served lunch on the first day and that food is now made on site instead of being transported. 7:14
    • The superintendent said Phase 2 was complete ahead of schedule and under budget and that bids for Phase 1, the gym roof project, would be opened next week. 11:03
    • The superintendent said new playground surfacing was finished and students can now use the playgrounds. 13:47
  4. Superintendent goals and technology study 13:47
    • The superintendent said goals include a budget within the tax cap, long-term capital planning, a communication framework and a study of AI and screen time to develop guidelines. 13:47
    • Jennifer Harriton-Wilson, Ed.D., said the policy committee did not adopt an AI policy last year because it was too early, and Sarah Tormey asked whether the district could seek community input on screen time through the PTA. 20:13
    • The superintendent said the district completed the annual report required under Policy 7316, on the use of internet-enabled devices during the school day, and posted it on the district website. 26:28
  5. President's remarks 28:51
    • The board president welcomed the community back, thanked the facilities team and said the board would consider revised goals. 28:51
  6. Facilities and transportation update 32:23
    • A staff member said work continues on the forest project and that SHPO must be notified because the site is a historic area. 32:23
    • A staff member said the district would likely add a website page on high school transportation. 34:07
    • A staff member said unused money from the completed capital projects would go to the debt service reserve. 35:31
  7. Board goals for the school year 36:17
    • The chair read three goals covering next-generation teaching and learning, communications and community engagement, and responsible financial stewardship. 36:17
    • One board member asked whether the board could set up task forces or put the goals on the agenda regularly so they do not fall by the wayside. 40:06
    • One board member said they were happy to work on the engagement side, and the chair listed volunteers for strategic communications and for engagement on reserve funds. 46:18
  8. Public comment, minutes and personnel 51:37
    • No speakers came forward during the first public comment session. ~51:44
    • Motions were made to accept the minutes of the August 19th, 2026, meeting and to approve the personnel consent agenda. 51:44
    • The superintendent described a recommendation to hire a per diem substitute who completed student teaching in the district last year. 53:39
  9. Student teacher agreement and roofing change orders 54:35
    • The superintendent asked the board to approve an agreement with Pace University for a student teacher. 54:52
    • A staff member said the Titan Roofing items included two releases of allowances and two change orders covering roof edge work, a damaged copper valley and chimney caps. 55:46
  10. Board comments 58:13
    • Ted A'Zary thanked staff, administration and teachers for their work over the summer. 58:25
    • Jennifer Harriton-Wilson, Ed.D., acknowledged paperwork completed over the summer, and Sarah Tormey noted the audit also took place over the summer. 58:39
  11. Executive session 59:45
    • The chair read a resolution to enter executive session to review the building-level emergency response plan. 59:45
    • The chair said the board would adjourn without any further action taken. 1:00:06

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 September 2, 2026”