[{"_1":2,"_111":-5,"_112":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,75,87,99],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":56,"_74":56},"mediaId",6279756,"mediaKeyId","2619875-c1e0eedca8dc693d3ef7f06abf20bf9d","parentId",2619875,"title","Board advances stage‑1 policy proposals including student ex officio member and strengthened audit provisions","audioSeconds",274,"startMs",7414000,"endMs",7688000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=2619875-c1e0eedca8dc693d3ef7f06abf20bf9d&start=7414&end=7688","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2619875-c1e0eedca8dc693d3ef7f06abf20bf9d/thumbnail_7414000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6279756/New-York/Board-advances-stage1-policy-proposals-including-student-ex-officio-member-and-strengthened-audit-provisions","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6279756-171b106f172adfd00953f239fdb75bd5/orig.mp4?Expires=1771154824&Signature=jSQ3aCQQxClxthCC3YPmYPKrfITygQT4wMjInUXE~OCf9nDriR2HuPaSlRM9P31pmkNaXNXnsOsDXqn-B0S8nZ7zydSAw87ItbaLm6ovisLL7xKoJrJOEAgUqEE5qjU3-5q4t91XHCf3tfBkau0dVL707zz7GAebpc9FNG4ADNl2xAeYpg6KuX3Hz1IiptyG-ORGd73HPFd0Sm~VfxortZTQXJLGeDdsWj-RTtfkZyx9nXfCpMmEjoM9nQN4TmCY8aOPyBXUNbqBsamv8cWjh2qtU08GTKr5PQ931Zm935GPJymspUZj4hCCfTxA2TPzf1TgQX0vGCg3kB~ZRCzNcw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","","date","2025-03-07T17:06:13Z","article","The Rockville Centre Board of Education moved several policy reviews forward at its March 13 meeting, including a new policy to add an ex officio student member and several policy updates concerning audits and financial oversight.

President Barry and district staff described the ex officio student-member policy as a way to formalize student voice and to comply with a cited state reference (referred to in the discussion as \"New York’s Education Law 17 O 2 Part 3\"). Under the proposed process, an ex officio student would be elected by the student body at South Side High School and invited to sit at board meetings without voting rights; the policy document would not expect the student to attend routine July/August reorganizational meetings. The board agreed to advance the policy to stage 2 for further review.

Separately the board reviewed and moved to the next stage related policies on allegations of fraud (including whistleblower protection and a chain-of-command reporting procedure), creation of an audit committee, and a district internal-audit function. Administrators said these items clarify accountability steps, identify the audit committee’s role in corrective action plans and confirm the claims auditor’s continuing role in checking expenses.

Two additional policies were discussed: information-security breach notification (held at stage 1 pending clarification of language) and accounting for fixed assets (which expands capital-asset language to include intangible assets such as software licenses). Trustees asked for clarifying language and indicated they expected staff to return with refined wording at a subsequent meeting.

Board members asked for public feedback on specific language and discussed timing for implementation. The motion for stage-1 advancement passed on voice vote for the items taken up that evening.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Board of Education Regular Meeting - Thurs, March 13, 2025 at 7PM","oneSentenceSummary","The board advanced several stage‑1 policy reviews March 13, including a policy to add an ex officio student board member elected by South Side High School students, and updates strengthening audit and fraud-reporting procedures.","taxTitle","ROCKVILLE CENTRE UNION FREE SCHOOL DISTRICT, School Districts, New York","taxId",55785,"location","New York","headline","shortSummary",{"_33":76,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":77,"_41":78,"_43":79,"_45":80,"_47":81,"_49":82,"_51":83,"_53":84,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":85,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":86,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":56,"_74":56},6279758,"Board hears preliminary 2025–26 budget: $139.9 million proposed, tax levy within cap at 2.6%",917,4564000,5481000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2619875-c1e0eedca8dc693d3ef7f06abf20bf9d&start=4564&end=5481","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2619875-c1e0eedca8dc693d3ef7f06abf20bf9d/thumbnail_4564000.jpg","/articles/6279758/New-York/Board-hears-preliminary-202526-budget-1399-million-proposed-tax-levy-within-cap-at-26","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6279758-04beff2df85cde71019564eef42bcfa3/orig.mp4?Expires=1771154824&Signature=ogze~qXpWi-stHcUqvEkVxxebnBi~s8U2PzooKvCZGzsNb92BcUUAtIX0zBk-qVsECNfTD6-FR1YuSBF8kjRSVI7Xf2rA-~xZ3I5VUMtrdy~rSjc-yMd9rb7DywGVLmU7fWXslb6RsGzLogCzOH~c~2RawGKAspa8d~JE1GBQDWzv-LFic8Gvwy-kxOmGf60Hb-NpTL~SZpy4sINRTUV4unlCn0jlE85HRrnuv8mUtQE8680BijFCufoz7p5YDJvnqpLdE9VXl6dnSHCOsdj-3Cz3B78SYcj1qCuSW5IV~iYiNWha9FXj8gORCwYTrUqWS6OQJjIWaiq~hVv1RmDSw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Ms. Rehak, presenting district budget materials, briefed the Rockville Centre Board of Education on the proposed 2025–26 spending plan during the March 13 meeting.

The proposed budget stands at $139,889,187 — an increase of 1.63% from the current year, Ms. Rehak said. The district’s tax levy proposal is $109,240,000, a 2.6% increase that remains within the calculated tax cap of 2.62% after an updated BOCES capital share. The presentation listed a reduced appropriated fund balance from $2.8 million to $2.4 million as a change since the previous meeting.

Program-by-program highlights presented included: instructional administration at $4,649,976 (about 3.32% of the budget); the instruction component at $43,205,728 (30.89% of the budget) with a projected decrease of roughly $307,000 (0.71%); special education projected up about $140,000 (0.74%); and pupil personnel services projected up about $64,000 (3.3%). The district plans to hold a transfer to capital at $1.8 million.

Ms. Rehak said reductions from prior estimates came from staffing adjustments tied to retirements and the conversion of certain services that lowered contracted platform costs. She said some program increases reflect a return to more in-school assemblies and arts in motion activity since the pandemic.

Key dates in the budget calendar are: March 27 (work session on music, arts, phys ed and athletics), April 10 (preliminary budget hearing), May 8 (formal budget hearing) and May 20 (annual election and budget vote). Ms. Rehak noted that the district remains attentive to state budget changes; she said proposals under discussion at the state level could increase the minimum foundation aid and affect final numbers, but the legislative budget had not been finalized.

Trustees asked about enrollment trends and where declines might affect Foundation Aid; Ms. Rehak said the aid formula includes enrollment and wealth-ratio components and that the district’s February census figures have been used so far. Board members also asked about enrollment projections for several new course pilots; Rehak and other administrators said some classes (for example, Intro to Fashion Design and AP Human Geography) have strong early interest but final sections will be determined in late spring when selections firm up.

In public comment, a resident asked about charter-school tuition and federal aid exposure; administrators said the budget currently assumes nine charter-school placements and an estimated $195,000 for charter tuition, and that the district receives roughly $1.5 million in federal grants (excluding lunch reimbursement) that fund positions and programs. The administration said it will continue to monitor federal and state developments and adjust if legislative changes arrive before budget adoption.","District business staff presented a preliminary budget of $139,889,187 (a 1.63% increase) with a proposed tax levy increase of 2.6% (within a 2.62% cap). The board reviewed component changes, a reduced appropriated fund balance and the schedule toward the May 20 vote.",{"_33":88,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":89,"_41":90,"_43":91,"_45":92,"_47":93,"_49":94,"_51":95,"_53":96,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":97,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":98,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":56,"_74":56},6279759,"Rockville Centre arts director recommends new courses, scheduling changes and expanded inclusive programming",2954,1822000,4776000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2619875-c1e0eedca8dc693d3ef7f06abf20bf9d&start=1822&end=4776","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2619875-c1e0eedca8dc693d3ef7f06abf20bf9d/thumbnail_1822000.jpg","/articles/6279759/New-York/Rockville-Centre-arts-director-recommends-new-courses-scheduling-changes-and-expanded-inclusive-programming","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6279759-f8ae41ff46a4c7a0aaae54ce4b59803d/orig.mp4?Expires=1771154824&Signature=U4UanmqB3VixozTe4NQbJ~p5ktFbVP29n-AcZSxnLDqcG3ajuL-XAmKm92-1qpSMh-nzXMJRMdXbWQKayMki5PxWBQBGqo7uwNO-95D~JZ8aV8lb8qswgR4SCo1ze0dprzNKWCJChnK1zXI68VmFy3d7WJ2k7~WPAOT-ifCH0cXTH-rFoMWQxgePe1p8lfZOeb3OJ80q3OCm3T0yeZqbgxNTcFnLxOMSZ5oQrZBVdOONGiJcz4kYfR-m4VO47NdQyidwt~i8vj-uwUU7jgEBm1ZPoPSfAkPLunb-LGrfJTIlo0kheZXh1BXlUrHujIpIzM6pj2pi6kxtuMKhTr1FWg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Katie Mark, director of the arts for the Rockville Centre Union Free School District, presented a curriculum review to the Board of Education on March 13, outlining program strengths and a set of recommendations to expand arts access and alignment across grade levels.

Mark said the review drew on feedback from teachers, students, parents and alumni and produced a vision to \"cultivate creative, empathetic and informed citizens through a comprehensive arts education.\" She recommended several course additions for next school year — Unified Theatre, IB Dance and Intro to Fashion Design — and urged fuller participation in the International Baccalaureate (IB) model’s six-subject program so that arts study remain a consistent component of an IB diploma.

Mark proposed structural changes at the middle-school level: combine smaller elective ensembles into single grade-level ensembles (she estimated a single combined ensemble would grow from about 40 to roughly 75 members) and shift the middle-school theater production from May to February. She argued that larger grade-level ensembles increase repertoire options, provide stability across student choices and, she said, improve retention into high school. She also recommended instituting small-group instrumental and choral lessons for grades 6–8 and expanding instrumental lessons to RISE (special education) students.

Mark identified access for students with disabilities as a cross-cutting concern and said many students’ connection to school is through the arts. She said teachers requested dedicated planning time and arts-focused professional development; the district has begun targeted training this year and planned another session in April on inclusive language and practices.

On budget impacts, Mark told the board that \"for all of the recommendations that I'm proposing next year, everything can be done with the existing staff we have. There would be no increase in costs.\" Board members pressed for additional detail on retention, scheduling and how expanded offerings would be communicated to families; Mark described outreach through departmental social media, collaborations with the public library for the high-school musical and targeted recruiting in middle schools.

Board members praised the inclusivity of the plan and asked for further follow-up on arts staffing, enrollment projections for new classes and potential pilot programs. Several trustees highlighted the district’s recent student recognitions in music, visual arts and writing as evidence of the program’s strength.

The presentation ended with questions about maintaining extracurricular continuity for students (for example, keeping students engaged in theater before and after the consolidated production) and with board members urging continued attention to communicating options to families as course enrollments are finalized.","Katie Mark, the district's director of arts, presented a curriculum review and a package of recommendations including new courses (Unified Theatre, IB Dance, Intro to Fashion Design), a shift to grade-level middle school ensembles, small-group lessons for chorus, and a plan to run the proposals without added cost next year.",{"_33":100,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":101,"_41":102,"_43":103,"_45":104,"_47":105,"_49":106,"_51":107,"_53":108,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":109,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":110,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":56,"_74":56},6279754,"Board accepts donor equipment and approves consent items; motions pass by voice vote",5869,1851000,7720000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2619875-c1e0eedca8dc693d3ef7f06abf20bf9d&start=1851&end=7720","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2619875-c1e0eedca8dc693d3ef7f06abf20bf9d/thumbnail_1851000.jpg","/articles/6279754/New-York/Board-accepts-donor-equipment-and-approves-consent-items-motions-pass-by-voice-vote","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6279754-f5b2f942fb0b07ae3976b0bd18f3681f/orig.mp4?Expires=1771154824&Signature=kDif1PaMaK992vNalCLBN-WVIR0huk2DDPJehLWzAsfEHub1XhkOFbhie6H7pT-pNTuyol--ntRWKX2BFFmn6R5qMen6Ady0RJAPd30V8QgaXbjgTnNCbOPRm9o6Ynp0GbzNibUQU5dnIdtrvEFbAULqAAKnJJf5elr0HEML-frxZcY0LqAJPSxOS1pMalN~KuVGpEoYjDup9lQ3TzN~3GAnUtNSJxPZeqoAodAF0MOkbxgFNoMHbA1z1Nhz2tzBTp0lKnyJ1cy~4P9TOmLR72ILEGl0oy3Cj07s5rzELgfbStsyYSlUd7MI3doHUaaWKl8fcJy9iXP6QFDTs11d-w__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Rockville Centre Board of Education recorded two votes at the March 13 meeting.

First, the board accepted a gift: 17 tennis rackets and four tennis bags donated to Southside Middle School by Larry Dooley. A motion to accept the gift was made, seconded and approved by voice vote.

Later in the meeting the board moved to approve items for action numbered n1 through q10 (consent agenda). A motion to approve that slate was made, seconded and passed by voice vote; the transcript records the verbal response \"Aye\" but does not provide a roll-call or individual vote breakdown.

The minutes and official vote record will reflect the formal resolutions and any detailed roll-call if subsequently provided in the district minutes.","On March 13 the board accepted a gift of 17 tennis rackets and four tennis bags to Southside Middle School and approved consent agenda items (n1 through q10) by voice vote. No roll-call tallies were recorded in the transcript.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Board advances stage‑1 policy proposals including student ex officio member and strengthened audit provisions

Board hears preliminary 2025–26 budget: $139.9 million proposed, tax levy within cap at 2.6%

Rockville Centre arts director recommends new courses, scheduling changes and expanded inclusive programming

Board accepts donor equipment and approves consent items; motions pass by voice vote