Menu

Garrison Union Free School District board meeting, Sep 16, 2026

1 h 33 min · 0 public speakers

Reading and test scores ▶ 13:53

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 33 min.

  1. Who spoke · first speaks at
  5. Peter LesserVice President
What happened

What happened at this meeting

Garrison board hears 2026 state test data showing 81% math proficiency 13:53

  • A presenter reported that students in grades 3 to 8 reached 81% proficiency in math and 75% proficiency in ELA, and 80% proficiency on the grade 5 science exam. 15:10
  • The board discussed proposed New York State School Board Association resolutions, and a speaker listed 8, 19, 20 and 28 as the ones the board would oppose. 55:33
  • District staff presented a design contract for an energy performance project and a recommended bid for the gym roof replacement, which a staff member said was $500 under budget. 1:20:36

Until Nov 4, lines where a board member takes a side don't name the member. Why →

Item by item (13)
  1. Opening and agenda 0:00
    • Peter Lesser opened the meeting, asked for the roll call and led the Pledge of Allegiance. 0:00
    • The board took a voice vote on a resolution to accept the agenda as presented. 0:26
  2. Superintendent's report 1:14
    • The superintendent said Phase 1 of the capital project, other than the gym roof, and Phase 2 were complete, and that SHPO told the district's architects the forest classroom work could proceed without additional digging. 1:14
    • The superintendent said state education officials asked the district to change the way the courtyard door swings and add an emergency strobe before the makerspace project can go out to bid. 1:19
    • The superintendent said the district developed procedures under a new law, 3201B, on immigration authorities seeking access to schools and would test the emergency notification system on Tuesday, September 22nd. 7:08
  3. Board president remarks 10:37
    • Peter Lesser said O'Neill High School asked the district to attend its October 1st board meeting and asked for a volunteer to go in Peter Lesser's place. 10:37
    • Jennifer Harriton-Wilson, Ed.D., said they were knowing the new high school principal for many years. 12:11
    • Peter Lesser asked board members to finish feedback on vision statements so the district could bring them to firms it might engage for a communications strategy plan. 12:23
  4. Student performance data presentation 13:53
    • A presenter said enrollment was 209 students and that math proficiency in grades 3 to 8 grew from 73% to 81%, compared with a 2% increase statewide. 15:10
    • Peter Lesser asked what moved the needle, and the presenter cited professional development for teachers and reported a 100% passing rate on the Algebra 1 and life science biology Regents exams. 18:48
    • The presenter said ELA dips in grades 3 and 5 aligned with statewide trends, and a district staff member said the district would question the state about the 11% and 14% statewide dips. 22:12
  5. State association resolutions 47:40
    • Speakers discussed resolution 7, which calls for the New York State School Board Association to support a new state bond act for school district capital and facility needs, and resolution 27, on pausing the mandate requiring districts to offer full-day pre-K to every 4-year-old by the start of 28⁠-⁠29. 59:02
    • Ted A'Zary said those were the main points of discussion and that there was a lot of discussion on the AI technology resolutions. 1:11:29
    • A speaker said the board was opposing resolutions 8, 19, 20 and 28. 1:11:44
  6. Public comment and minutes 1:12:02
    • The chair said no members of the public were present to comment. ~1:12:02
    • The board took a voice vote on accepting the minutes of the September 2nd, 2026 workshop meeting. 1:13:07
  7. Claims audit report 1:13:38
    • The board considered accepting the claims audit report for August 2026, which a staff member described as a standard report on payments the district made. 1:13:38
  8. Audit Committee report 1:14:17
    • Sarah Tormey said the auditors gave the district an unmodified opinion and would present a full report on October 7th. 1:14:30
    • Sarah Tormey said the auditors reviewed fund balance and had some recommendations. 1:14:30
  9. Special education recommendations 1:16:32
    • The board took a voice vote on Committee on Special Education and Committee on Preschool Special Education recommendations and placements. 1:16:32
  10. New business items C through E 1:17:02
    • A district staff member said item D, the STEPS plan MOU, would allow the district to uncouple teacher evaluations from New York State assessments and student learning objectives, and that the plan was a year in the making. 1:17:42
    • A staff member said item C formalizes a design contract with CPL for the energy performance contract, with substantial completion in December of 2027. 1:20:36
    • A staff member recommended awarding the gym roof bid to New York State Builders in Staten Island, said the bid was $500 under budget and said completion was targeted for the end of November. 1:21:57
  11. Final contracts item 1:25:40
    • The board took a voice vote on a resolution to approve the final 25⁠-⁠26 AS7 contracts. 1:25:47
  12. Board comments 1:26:06
    • Sarah Tormey noted a regional dinner on November 12th at Tilly Foster Farm in Brewster and an online education law lunch on the 30th of October. 1:27:14
    • One board member suggested the district work toward having a NISPPAC resolution with Garrison's name on it in the future. 1:28:51
    • One board member, asked administrators to bring a building thinking practice to a board meeting for the board to experience with the public. 1:30:21
  13. Adjournment 1:32:24
    • The chair said there was no executive session and called for a motion to adjourn. 1:32:24

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 “Garrison School BOE Meeting September 16, 2026”