[{"_1":2,"_99":-5,"_100":-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],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":44,"_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,"_74":73},"mediaId",6480317,"mediaKeyId","5682171-1a786b11eda9b6ee09a7399abfb702ec","parentId",5682171,"title","Superintendent reports on construction progress, solar installation and high school ranking","audioSeconds",0,"startMs",1042000,"endMs","viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=5682171-1a786b11eda9b6ee09a7399abfb702ec&start=1042&end=1042","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5682171-1a786b11eda9b6ee09a7399abfb702ec/thumbnail_1042000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6480317/New-York/Superintendent-reports-on-construction-progress-solar-installation-and-high-school-ranking","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6480317-0421f655bb05a9c9284bdb8b00363d25/orig.mp4?Expires=1770848377&Signature=VI0kSgQx5VgsVJ8mj5WLM9ViMup2vUi-6mVVWHgolO~LiOXbyXmFabJfOgNtvYczQKRYZcSQe5Qb15nNVTM8jPMkQcCX78Pi1HE~L8lC6P7usYo7kQUoJSFm1O0R89ZnOd1fPZjQjsVfbge8ua6Cg0CQ3k0N5B-4W1sYISK1V45zgjK-Z3sYr~3fTtYbnVj9zUCDWwyfQJ3DgqXIj4pnEVWO-QahB4TtmQeuU~5MBk48KDMLqokVEDUO5w1vQDhkDnTVe80zG4rZ3ksZnY7aEDQ8kBPMnz7AWIQW7sUMF1vAnTcJJ53Em5jZiA0ZAplk3HGS-2UIuBicf3MLySFfgg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","SAYVILLE UNION FREE SCHOOL DISTRICT","date","2025-08-27T10:46:10Z","article","Superintendent’s report: District officials told the board the middle-school cafeteria bathrooms are nearing completion and that partitions and final accessories will be installed before opening day. High-school bathroom renovations near the guidance office and gym are complete with only a minor punch list remaining.

The superintendent also said all cafeterias and the high-school auditorium now have air conditioning, the middle school received a new boiler and repairs are underway on a second boiler under the district’s energy performance contract. Solar-panel installation has begun at the high school and will proceed building by building through the fall and into the winter; district officials said the project is expected to produce future electricity-cost savings once operational.

The superintendent congratulated Principal Bricker and the high-school staff after the district was named in U.S. News & World Report rankings: the high school was placed in the top 8% of U.S. high schools, in the top 11% for New York State and ranked eighth in Suffolk County on metrics the ranking used including AP enrollment, academics and graduation rate.

District staff said a district communications guide will be mailed to families and will explain the appropriate chain of contact for concerns (teacher or original source first; then guidance counselor, athletic director, assistant principal/principal; for special education issues, the special-education director; then central office staff). The superintendent also promoted the community Stay Sable color-mile run/walk on Saturday, Sept. 27 with a rain date of Sept. 28; the event begins at 10 a.m. at Sable Middle School.

The board thanked buildings-and-grounds and custodial staff for their work preparing schools for opening day.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Sayville BOE Public Session 2 Aug 26th, 2025","oneSentenceSummary","The superintendent reported progress on building projects (bathroom renovations, boilers, AC units), solar-panel installation and a national ranking for the high school; the superintendent also outlined a communications guide for families and promoted an upcoming community run/walk.","taxTitle","SAYVILLE UNION FREE SCHOOL DISTRICT, School Districts, New York","taxId",40139,"location","New York","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":76,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":77,"_41":78,"_43":79,"_45":80,"_46":81,"_48":82,"_50":83,"_52":84,"_54":55,"_56":57,"_58":85,"_60":61,"_62":63,"_64":86,"_66":67,"_68":69,"_70":71,"_72":73,"_74":73},6480322,"Sayville board debates expanding SportsU access for students; asks staff to consult administration",454,66000,520000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5682171-1a786b11eda9b6ee09a7399abfb702ec&start=66&end=520","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5682171-1a786b11eda9b6ee09a7399abfb702ec/thumbnail_66000.jpg","/articles/6480322/New-York/Sayville-board-debates-expanding-SportsU-access-for-students-asks-staff-to-consult-administration","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6480322-d7386c6b552cb9684ec397ea8ca4f4e6/orig.mp4?Expires=1770848377&Signature=FYHiTlpPR9pwklFqOucvzj~aW8UCBbygr7fAt0riUCk6mNuSgZtuRPrp1woCEGQnRrKEIHKBTjzXAb760UpKEopTeAP1opc0ZviaTb3qJJkC3Ni21aIzxUimV0aeKQlmB5Slkz94i~R1bjgc~ABm0YxQ~G1bkmatLWflq9byeAsTOsmR63C7SRH7xtDQiUP1mgmINXk~htTPvlGBTa~V3s43iO-CwiM3T0uqcvfHTubxjuxRIFEwoJkN-8Bq671OfyjLlIti5TgvODB8SR8Wp1tG-5~pNFBcviLEpSw8bRugbzc-4bo9FfIYpO3kgVg4QCIp2quJyCg29jVmHbOcLg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Sayville Union Free School District Board of Education spent substantial time discussing whether to expand access to SportsU — a messaging/communication platform used for athletic and team communications — to all students as a limited exception to the district’s cell-phone and social-media policy.

Supporters said expanded access would let students in distress contact parents quickly without going through an office; opponents warned that opening SportsU beyond its current, limited use would “open Pandora’s box,” generate large group chats and undercut the intent of the phone restriction. Several board members said they were torn between the competing goals of student safety and preserving the policy’s limits.

Possible compromises discussed included restricting SportsU access to designated locations (for example a supervised space where students could send messages), limiting use to direct parent–student messages rather than group chat, or revisiting the policy after a trial period. Board members raised operational concerns: who would supervise a dedicated space, how many devices would be available, and whether students would be tardy returning to class after use.

A brief, informal roll-call produced several affirmative responses to asking staff to consult with building administration about expanding the SportsU concept; the board did not record a formal vote. One participant said, “Here’s where I stand. I think we use SportsU, but we put it in the part of the building where kids can access it if they want it,” and suggested keeping the platform off students’ Chromebooks to avoid constant notifications during class.

Board members asked staff to report back with implementation options and recommended guardrails, and to gather feedback from teachers, students and athletic staff during the early weeks of the school year. Several members said the matter should be revisited in December after input from teachers and students.","Board members debated whether to open SportsU messaging access to all students as an exception to the district's phone/social-media policy. Concerns included undermining the policy, group chat proliferation and supervision; the board asked staff to consult administration and return with recommendations.",{"_33":88,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":89,"_41":90,"_43":91,"_45":92,"_46":93,"_48":94,"_50":95,"_52":96,"_54":55,"_56":57,"_58":97,"_60":61,"_62":63,"_64":98,"_66":67,"_68":69,"_70":71,"_72":73,"_74":73},6480327,"Sayville board agrees to leave open seat vacant until May, cites cost of special election",697,723000,1420000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5682171-1a786b11eda9b6ee09a7399abfb702ec&start=723&end=1420","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5682171-1a786b11eda9b6ee09a7399abfb702ec/thumbnail_723000.jpg","/articles/6480327/New-York/Sayville-board-agrees-to-leave-open-seat-vacant-until-May-cites-cost-of-special-election","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6480327-354c4e560dd48793b9927c3b9080e128/orig.mp4?Expires=1770848377&Signature=oEEb8PTUeeLvNZiZueRErW1Q2UK74YnEu33sAkbhrHV~Ju76aj9QIE~h6UsQsVMAff0XjYjaqXXHOHqgvSM5I4E4QMq6HpZDwNjQ8~BwrQi~kFJotiwbenk8lXgx-NrTvu8gJ6Y5XvAbrPiQKyxpXGJixBc6VCSYBrvpXXfiyICER3KsI7tksGhbbL7Bf2zFFbge39JzzzdOwBR6WDi3a9VZpcfraDJlCisTb9cNYbiyhpdvqxLpWa-847lfz707Di3tTsllAUWF7DW0y6NO759r7SH~E4xJwk7O8vqyY5fgiV0qqV0ibLBtdUUi0tWTBAX9GQVunYlTYQAdWwPOdQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Sayville Union Free School District Board of Education agreed at its meeting to leave the open board seat created by the resignation of Dr. James Burch vacant until the district’s regular May election cycle.

Board members said counsel outlined three legal options — hold a special election, appoint someone to fill the seat until the regular election, or leave the seat vacant until May — and that the costs and timing led them to favor waiting for the regular cycle. A district official said a separate special election would cost “about 18 to $20,000.”

Board members who spoke said the district is strapped for funds and that the roughly one-off cost of a special election would divert money from instructional priorities. One member said the board generally reaches consensus and can operate with six members until the May election; another cautioned that the board would revisit the decision if conditions change.

The board did not record a formal roll-call vote during the discussion. Members said they have a consensus to keep the seat open through May and to revisit the matter if circumstances — for example, the number of active members available to attend meetings — change before then. The board chair said papers for the May election will be distributed in March.

Board members also discussed the petition circulating in the community calling for a special election. Members noted the petition had not been formally presented to the board and said turnout for a late special election is likely to be much lower than the regular election, which is another reason they favored waiting.

The decision to leave the seat open is procedural; no appointment was made and no special election was scheduled. The board said it will reexamine the issue if new information or changed circumstances require action before the May election.","The Sayville Union Free School District Board of Education agreed at its meeting to keep an open seat vacant through the regular May election cycle, citing the roughly $18,000–$20,000 cost of a special election and the timing of the resignation.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Superintendent reports on construction progress, solar installation and high school ranking

Sayville board debates expanding SportsU access for students; asks staff to consult administration

Sayville board agrees to leave open seat vacant until May, cites cost of special election