West Islip Union Free School District board meeting, Sep 10, 2026
51 min · 2 public speakers
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What happened
What happened at this meeting
West Islip board approves district goals, hears public comment on AP and IB fees 13:10
- The board marked the 25th anniversary of September 11, 2001, with a brass ensemble performance and remarks from students. 0:55
- The board approved the district goals and objectives for the 26-27 school year. 13:30
- The board also approved personnel items and business items, including a resolution on the allocation of fund balance and the reserve plan for 2025-26. ~22:23
- A speaker at public comment asked the board to explain and reconsider charging parents for AP and IB fees, and Anthony Tussie said the exams cost $140,000 last year as the district faced an $8 million budget gap. 39:46
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Item by item (13)
- Opening and September 11 anniversary 0:23
- Anthony Tussie said tonight was the eve of the 25th anniversary of September 11th, 2001, and introduced students from the Brass Ensemble to perform. 0:55
- Students spoke about the significance of September 11 for a generation born after the attacks. 8:10
- Anthony Tussie said 25 candles were placed on the dais for the 25th anniversary. 13:10
- District goals and objectives 13:10
- A district administrator said a governance goal on advocating for budget reform was expanded from the state level to include the federal level. 14:20
- The administrator said new goals include expanding opportunities for gifted and high-achieving students and supporting neurodivergent learners. 14:20
- The administrator said a technology goal was added on exploring approaches to limiting student screen time. 15:57
- Anthony Tussie announced that the motion carried. 16:30
- Student representative report 16:38
- First reading of policy manual 20:09
- A staff member offered first readings of the new policy manual, covering Series 0s through 9,000 personnel policy. 20:20
- The staff member said the goal is a second reading and adoption of a full policy manual at the planning session. 20:20
- The staff member said work on the manual has taken 3 years. 21:17
- Minutes and personnel 21:20
- Anthony Tussie asked for a motion to approve the minutes of the August 25th, 2026 regular meeting. 21:20
- A staff member read in a probationary appointment of a BCBA in the special education tenure area for September 1st, 2026 through August 31st, 2029. 21:45
- The staff member requested a consent agenda for all other personnel items, including mentors and wrestling coaches. 22:12
- A motion on a consent agenda for the other personnel items carried. 22:12
- Curriculum update and education committee report 22:27
- A speaker said the district had a great opening of school last week with both teachers and students. 22:38
- Richard Antoniello said it is year 2 of Arts and Letters for grades K through 3 and year 1 of Foundations for grades 4 and 5. 23:43
- Richard Antoniello said middle school teachers want to bring back middle school final exams. 23:43
- Finance committee report 24:44
- Christina Marks said the district spent 98.64% of its 2025-2026 expenditure budget and the remaining fund balance will be allocated to the workers' compensation, ERS and TRS subfunds. 26:39
- Christina Marks said the board will evaluate several property tax exemptions for the 2027 tax year. 27:10
- Christina Marks said the exemptions will be decided prior to March and would still apply for the 2027 school year. 27:11
- Buildings and grounds committee report 28:13
- Peter McCann said the pool construction is on schedule, with completion targeted for the beginning of March. 28:21
- Peter McCann said the board is looking with the administration at placing a porta-potty near the field and is getting prices. 28:21
- Peter McCann said the Lawn Avenue gate will be open during game hours. 29:40
- Special education committee report 30:27
- Debbie Brown said the committee heard a report on the growth of the district extended school year program. 30:32
- Debbie Brown said the district will support dyslexia awareness during October and that SEPTA's first meeting will be September 30th at Beach Street Middle School at 7 PM. 31:43
- Christina Marks noted fall sales by PTAs. 34:01
- Business items 34:23
- Motions were made on budget transfer 4657 from the general fund, surplus items, and resolutions on the allocation of fund balance and the reserve plan for 2025-26. 34:34
- Anthony Tussie called for motions on the Hawkins, Delafield and Wood engagement letter, a donation agreement and special education committee recommendations. 35:10
- Public comment on field bathroom access 36:11
- Public comment on AP and IB fees 39:34
- A speaker at public comment asked the board to explain and reconsider charging parents for AP and IB fees and said the change was not communicated earlier. 39:46
- Anthony Tussie said the exams cost $140,000 last year, the district faced an $8 million budget gap, and the change was discussed at budget meetings in March, April and May. 43:31
- One board member said guidance may need to discuss the fees with students and parents in advance and that the board will continue the discussion. 49:39
- Executive session 50:36
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 “Board of Education Meeting - September 10, 2026”