SANY July 2023 - December 2023 Board Minutes

Science Academies of New York (SANY) Charter Schools

Board of Trustees

Regular Meeting

Minutes

 

Date :       7/19/2023

Place   :       SANY Conference Center

 

Zoom Link:
 https://us02web.zoom.us/j/87697116896?pwd=RG5lVUF4UUJhakdERXpCMFhYL2lCdz09

 Meeting ID: 876 9711 6896
 Passcode: 125272

 

I.     The regular meeting was called to order at 6.35 pm. The board reserves the right to act on any and all agenda items.

 

Open Public Meeting Act Statement

This meeting has been publicized in accordance with the requirements of the

New York State Open Meetings Law (OML) and notification given to all appropriate parties. The notice of this meeting was posted on the school website.

        

Others present at the meeting:

 

II.     Approval of Meeting Minutes

 

Motion to accept the following minutes of the Board of Trustees Meeting (Minutes forwarded to Trustees via e-mail.)

 

Regular Board Meeting of 6/22/2023

 

Roll Call: Adopted unanimously

III.         Agenda for Finance committee

1.     Bank accounts reconciliation

2. Review of payments

3.     Internal audit review

IV. Agenda

1. Approval of New Hires for SAS, UAS, CSAS, and CSAR.

2. Approval of  new board member Dr. Halil Zaim  

3. Approval of the 2023-24 academic calendars

4. Approval of the 2023-2024 SANY Student Handbook

5. Approval of the 2023-2024 staff handbook

6. Approval of updates to teacher dashboards

7. Approval of board members term renewal for Fehmi Damkaci, Jawwaad Rasheed and Jodi DeAugustine

8. Approval of purchasing additional school vehicles.

9. Approval of leasehold improvement agreement for the Rochester building.

10.  Approval of OCM BOCES ’23-’24 

11.  Approval of 2023-2024 SANY Emergency Response Plan

12.  Approval of 2023-2024 SANY Stipend and Additional Compensation Chart

13.  Approval of New District Office Staff Position and Salary

14.  Approval of Change Order for Curriculum Associates

 

 

Discussion

1. Strategic Board meeting

2. Enrollment updates

3. Grant updates

 

Roll Call: Adopted unanimously

V.     Executive Session

Motion to adjourn to Executive Session in accordance with the New York State Open Meeting Law §105, to discuss topics such as personnel matters, attorney-client privilege matters, pending litigation, negotiations and other such related matters.

Roll Call: Adopted unanimously

Please Note: The matters discussed will be made public if and when the circumstances requiring confidentiality no longer exist; however, it is not presently known when such circumstances will exist.

VI.     Reconvene Public Session

VII.     Motion to exit the executive session.

Roll Call: Adopted unanimously

VIII.     Discussion Items

1. Strategic Board meeting: August 4th, at Double Tree Hotel at 9 am until 4 pm. Will serve breakfast and lunch.

2. Enrollment updates: Enrollment numbers look good for Rochester, Utica, and SAS. Utica will increase its total number of student and getting new students to satisfy the new approved cap.

3. Grant updates: Citizenship middle school received $750K from NYSED  for labs, computers, smartboards, robotics, etc. Utica Academy received $75K from Homeland security for the increasing safety of the school. Terra provided $120K for hiring high quality teachers grant.

 

      I.         Superintendent’s Report

 

SAS 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Project name: Creating a Synthetic Violacein Fabric Dye Out of Transformed E. Coli.

Silver Medal- Migual Mathis & Grace O'Neill

 

Project Name: A novel study to solve the global threat Antimicrobial Resistance (AMR): Herbal remedy; Hibiscus Sabdariffa bactericidal invasion on the molecular composition of Fusarium Oxysporum Fungi.

Yakina Sika Amoha-Bronze Medal

 

Robotics: Bronze medal- Samara Hurtado, Lester Gonzales, and Mickayla Pagan 

Honorable mentions: Andre McClain, Jenell Virgilio, and Theodore Simon

Aamiran Ridha, Araceli Goodyear, and Elda Goodyear.

 

10.  Tuesday, June 13th, 2023: Syracuse High School Seniors took a trip down memory lane for our annual senior walk. Seniors put on their caps and gowns and walked through Syracuse Elementary School to the beat of Pomp and Circumstance playing through the PA speakers. SAS Elementary School students lined the halls to cheer and hold up signs for the graduating Seniors. This tradition allows the Seniors to reflect on their achievements and show the Elementary Schoolers what they are working towards.

 

11.  Friday, June 9th, 2023: Syracuse Academy of Science 8th graders celebrated their hard work with an end-of-the-year field trip to Six Flags Darien Lake! Thrill-seeking Atoms spent the day going on countless roller coasters, playing games, and eating delicious food! It was an exciting day spent with friends that our Atoms will remember forever!

 

12.  Thursday, June 1st, 2023: Syracuse Academy of Science Middle School hosted its annual 5th-grade science and academic fair in June. Students showed their knowledge of the scientific method by performing several different experiments. Art projects completed by our talented 5th through 7th graders were also on display.

 

13.  Thursday, June 1st, 2023: Syracuse Academy of Science Elementary School second graders learned about influential historical figures who fought tirelessly to improve the world. These included Martin Luther King Jr., Susan B. Anthony, Jackie Robinson, Rosa Parks, and Eleanor Roosevelt. Following the "Fighting For A Cause" Listening and Learning unit, students visited the Women's Rights National Historical Park in Seneca Falls, N.Y. Atoms saw statues of famous historical figures and explored the museum to further their learning.

 

14.  Friday, May 26th, 2023: Syracuse Academy of Science Elementary School and Dance Expressions have partnered together to offer dance classes at school! This past spring, we offered a shortened version as a sample for our families. Students in Kindergarten through 4th grade were offered the opportunity to sign up for Ballet or Hip Hop classes, and hopefully, we'll be able to offer full sessions next year! Here are a few pictures of what they've been up to!

 

15.  Friday, May 26th, 2023: Ooooooooo, who lives in Syracuse and goes 158 feet under the ground?! That’s right, a group of Syracuse Academy of Science tenth-grade Atoms took a trip to Howe Caverns. Scholars explored the vast underground caves, took a boat ride, and learned about one of Upstate’s most remarkable natural attractions.

 

16.  Friday, May 26th, 2023: During Memorial Day weekend, Mr. Stowe and Mr. Yaman took Congressional Award students camping at Lake Durant. The group spent four glorious days in the Adirondacks region hiking Castle Rock Summit and Bald Mountain, visiting Old Forge and Indian Lake, swimming, canoeing, fishing at Lake Durant, and eating like they never had food before! Congressional Awards are the highest honor youth can receive in the United States. Awards are earned by students who successfully complete four categories: physical fitness, personal development, voluntary public service, and expedition & exploration. This outing was part of the expedition and exploration category. Congressional Award candidates at Syracuse Academy of Science have gone to International festivals, taken weekend camping trips, and even traveled out of the state.

 

17.  Thursday, May 25th, 2023: It’s time to introduce the next person awarded into the SANY Hall of Fame by Superintendent Dr. Hayali. Ronald Tascarella is the Pathfinder Bank EVP and Chief Banking Officer. Ronald has over 43 years of experience in banking. Ronald was introduced to SANY during one of their early expansions when funding was needed, and their existing bank could not develop a strategy that met their financial needs. Pathfinder Bank created a creative approach that allowed them to grow. The first time Ronald toured the school, he was so impressed by the staff's enthusiasm and the student's behavior. The schools provided hope and opportunity to their students for a better life. Thank you for believing in SANY and for supporting all children in the community!

 

18.  Friday, May 19th, 2023: “If you are going to get anywhere in life, you have to read a lot of books.” –  Roald Dahl. Mrs. Tracy's 3rd-grade class ventured to Ms. Negron and Mrs. Goyer's Kindergarten classroom to read with a friend! The older kids each read a book to their younger partners. Our Atoms love having a reading buddy! 

 

 

CSA Syracuse

 

 

UAS

 

1.     Friday, April 28th, 2023: Utica Academy of Science 2nd graders had an electrifying time on Friday, April 28th, at the NY Energy Zone in Utica. They were introduced to the exciting world of electricity. Through interactive exhibits and videos, Atoms learned how different forms of energy can be used to power our homes and communities.

 

2.     Friday, June 23rd, 2023: Congratulations to the Class of 2023! We are so proud of all your accomplishments. Wherever life takes you, we hope you will hold Utica Academy of Science in a special place in your heart. We are many Atoms, one family.

 

3.     “Success doesn’t rush. The greatest reward is the journey-” Oscar Wilde. The Utica Academy of Science Class of 2023 is already successful. These students have completed 13 years of school filled with hard work and late nights. They have successfully participated in sports, music, and extracurricular activities. Some students even ventured outside their comfort zones to take college-level courses for credits. Other scholars devoted themselves to our cybersecurity classes, and even received certifications after passing the exam. Students achieved all this while developing friendships and making memories that will last a lifetime. We made this senior video so our Atoms can have a memento for years. We hope you reflect on your time at #UASCS and remember the good times. We hope you remember your journey from the second you stepped into your first Utica Academy of Science classroom to your graduation walk from the cafeteria to the gym. We wish you all the best and more success than you can measure. Congratulations to the #Classof2023!

 

4.     Thursday, June 22nd, 2023: Utica Academy of Science 6th-grade entrepreneurs presented their business ideas in our version of Shark Tank. Scholars designed their products, calculated the cost to get their company up and running, and showed their vision to our panel of Sharks. The scholars were questioned about the sustainability of their fictitious companies, the cost of making the product, and the profit they expect to make. 

 

5.     Friday, June 16th, 2023: 2nd graders took a field trip to Sherrill Brook Park. Teachers set up obstacles for soccer, relay races, and hula hoops. After all that exercise, Atoms chilled out with some popsicles and the playground. It was a great way to celebrate the end of the school year!

 

6.     Tuesday, June 13th, 2023: On this beautiful evening, the Utica Academy of Science Elementary School band performed “A Concert Under the Stars.” Under the direction of their talented conductor, Ms. Parr, the musicians performed four foot-tapping rhythms that showcased their progress since the beginning of the year. During one song, several of our teachers joined forces with their instruments, thanks to the diligent coaching from our remarkable students and Ms. Parr! To finish the evening, a local magician performed his bag of tricks for the enthralled crowd. It was truly a magical evening under the beautiful sky where dreams became a reality, and music became the language that united our school community!

 

7.     Tuesday, June 13th, 2023: Roses are red Violets are blue We had a great time at the Poetry Slam How about you? The Utica Academy of Science JSHS Poetry Slam showcased our students' immense creativity and artistic prowess. They fearlessly took the stage, using their voices to shed light on diverse perspectives and share their personal experiences. The energy was electric as each performer poured their heart and soul into their poetry, leaving a lasting impact on everyone who attended. We want to extend heartfelt congratulations to all the participants who graced the stage with their poetic prowess. Your words touched our souls and reminded us of the power of self-expression. Thank you to everyone who came out to support these incredible young poets, and special thanks to Ms. DeBuono, Ms. Calabria, Mr. McElroy, Mr. Bullis, and all our other dedicated teachers who helped organize this unforgettable event. Our goal is to continue to celebrate and nurture the literary talents of our students, fostering a community where creativity can thrive. 

 

8.     Thursday, June 6th, 2023: Utica Academy of Science 4th graders visited the underground wonders of Howe Caverns. Atoms enjoyed an afternoon exploring the 1.25 miles of the caves and even took an underground boat ride.

 

9.     Monday, June 5th, 2023: The Utica Academy of Science 6th grade class visited WonderWorks at Destiny USA. Atoms were thrilled to experience over 100 entertaining, hands-on exhibits that challenged the mind and sparked the imagination.

 

10.  Thursday, June 1st, 2023: It’s been an incredibly successful year for our Atoms Soccer Club! Scholars from kindergarten to 6th grade have worked with the high school soccer coaching staff to hone their soccer skills and learn essential team-building techniques during training sessions. Every Sunday, our young athletes put their skills to the test by playing in games on the turf fields at Accelerated Sports. Our families come out to watch and cheer on their favorite players while building a strong SANY community. Let’s go, Atoms! 

 

11.  Tuesday, May 30th, 2023: As a college prep school, we like to introduce our young Atoms to all the opportunities that can come with a degree in higher education. On Tuesday, May 30th, Utica Academy of Science Elementary School celebrated Career Day. Community members from twelve employers came to share their knowledge and expertise with our scholars. It’s never too early for Atoms to start thinking about their future careers. We hope our students felt inspired!

 

12.  Thursday, May 18th, 2023: Utica Academy of Science kindergarten classes went on a field trip to Fort Stanwix in Rome. The Scholars had a wonderful time getting a first-hand look at what life was like in Colonial Times and exploring a military fort. Students had fun dressing as the children did, learning to do some of their chores, and playing with the toys made so long ago!

 

CSA Rochester



1.     Friday, June 9th, 2023: Citizenship & Science Academy of Rochester had an incredible celebration honoring our outstanding P2 scholars who have exemplified remarkable leadership, perseverance, respect, and genuine care for others. The Positivity Project Parade was a fun occasion filled with cheers and applause. We want to congratulate all our fantastic Atoms who have demonstrated these exceptional qualities. Your commitment to making a positive difference in the lives of others is truly inspiring. Keep shining bright and spreading positivity!

 

      I.         Public Comment on Any Agenda Item

 

Board President or designee opens the public comment session on any agenda item.

Each person is limited to speak for a period of one (1) minute and will be asked to give their full name, spell their last name and provide their address.

Board President or designee closes the public comment session on any topic.

 

II.         Motion to adjourn the meeting at 7.38 pm.  Roll Call: Adopted unanimously


Science Academies of New York (SANY) Charter Schools

Board of Trustees

Regular Meeting

Minutes

 

Date :       8/16/2023

Place   :       SANY Conference Center

 

Zoom Link:


 https://us02web.zoom.us/j/86034147677?pwd=aExNQUx5RmxOSW1CYlliYlEvYUtwZz09

 Meeting ID: 860 3414 7677
 Passcode: 913463


 

I.     The regular meeting was called to order at 6.36 pm. The board reserves the right to act on any and all agenda items.

 

Open Public Meeting Act Statement

This meeting has been publicized in accordance with the requirements of the

New York State Open Meetings Law (OML) and notification given to all appropriate parties. The notice of this meeting was posted on the school website.

        

Others present at the meeting:

 

II.     Approval of Meeting Minutes

 

Motion to accept the following minutes of the Board of Trustees Meeting (Minutes forwarded to Trustees via e-mail.)

 

Regular Board Meeting of 7/19/2023

 

Roll Call: Adopted unanimously

III.         Agenda for Finance committee

1.     Bank accounts reconciliation

2. Review of payments

3.     Internal audit review

IV. Agenda

1. Approval of New Hires for SAS, UAS, CSAS, and CSAR.

2. Approval of  Strategic Goals

3. Approval of Updated Code of Ethics Policy (#1070)

4. Approval of SANY District-Wide Safety Plan

5. Approval of Updated Budget for SAS, UAS, CSAS, and CSAR

6. Approval of SANY Remote Work Policy

7. Approval of Updated Curriculum & SPED Coordinator Payscale

8. Approval of Purchasing Copy Paper for SANY

9. Approval of Janitorial Supply for SANY

10.  Approval of New Copiers Lease and Service Agreement

 

Discussion

1.     Enrollment:

2.     Internal Audit Report:

 

Motion to adopt the agenda as presented.

Roll Call: Adopted unanimously

V.     Executive Session

Motion to adjourn to Executive Session in accordance with the New York State Open Meeting Law §105, to discuss personnel matters, payroll issues, student issues, and other such related matters.

Roll Call: Adopted unanimously

Please Note: The matters discussed will be made public if and when the circumstances requiring confidentiality no longer exist; however, it is not presently known when such circumstances will exist.

VI.     Reconvene Public Session

VII.     Motion to exit the executive session.

Roll Call: Adopted unanimously

 

VIII.     Discussion Items

1.     Enrollment: Rochester school is not certain due to its system. All other schools are looking good.

2.     Internal Audit Report: reviewed, no exception was reported, one corrective action was taken.

3.     School welcomed 9 international teachers from five different countries. They are mostly math teachers, and two of them are computer science teachers.

4.      

      I.         Superintendent’s Report

 

SAS 

 

1. Wednesday, August 9th, 2023: Dr. Basic, SANY District Safety Coordinator, provided a presentation to SANY parents, families, students, staff, and stakeholders for the annual public hearing for the District-Wide School Safety plan. Syracuse Academy of Science places huge importance on school safety and works with all stakeholders to ensure we are constantly improving our policies and emergency plan. The 2023-24 SANY Safety Plan can be found here. Thank you for working together to make our school safer for all Atoms.

 

2. Friday, August 4th, 2023: More than 50 Syracuse Academy of Science and Syracuse City School District students are now officially digital ambassadors. The AT&T 'Cuse Youth Digital Ambassador Program, powered by Tech4Kidz and Syracuse University, graduated its first class of local digital ambassadors in grades 5 through 7. These students live in areas impacted by the digital divide, meaning the households can't access or afford internet or computers. Students spent a week of their summer vacation learning skills like artificial intelligence, cybersecurity, coding, and media literacy. On the program's final day, participating scholars were surprised with new laptops presented by Syracuse Mayor Ben Walsh, State Senator Rachel May, and State Assemblywoman Pamela Hunter. Students also received an AT&T Digital Ambassadors certificate for their hard work and dedication.

 

3. Wednesday, August 2nd, 2023: During July, Syracuse Academy of Science Elementary School combined learning with fun at the Summer Enrichment program. During the three-week session, students worked on various projects and science activities. Some highlights include a Rube Goldberg Machine, where scholars created a chain reaction using marbles, cardboard tubes, and dominoes based on Rube Goldberg Machines; paper making, where students made paper using paper pulp and confetti pieces and were able to draw on it and create with it again! There was also a paper airplane contest, skittles rainbows, borax crystals, and daily building challenges! Students also made kaleidoscopes and penny spinners! We can't wait to continue the enrichment program next year.

 

4. Thursday, July 27th, 2023: It’s time for a #SeniorSpotlight. Meet Class of 2023 graduate Naomi Garcia. What is one major accomplishment you had in your senior year of high school? Graduating with almost a year's worth of college credits. What are your goals for after high school? Go to college and study law. Name one person that inspires you. My mom, despite all the hardships she went through, pushed through everything and continued to preserve. What advice would you give to the next senior class?  Don't give up, and be your biggest supporter. Nothing comes easy. Reaching your goals will take work, but you must keep pushing yourself to improve. Where do you see yourself in five years? In law school. If you could have dinner with anyone living or dead, who would they be and why? I would have dinner with Adam Sandler because he's funny. Name three traits that describe you. Considerate, determined, and funny. What is your favorite hobby? Listening to music. What is a hidden talent that no one or only a few people know about you? I know how to play the trombone. What is your favorite memory of SAS? The last day of my junior year when there was a big water fight outside.

 

5. Tuesday, July 18th, 2023: Get ready for another Senior Spotlight. This time it’s Natyah Johnson’s turn! What is one major accomplishment you had in your senior year of high school? Getting accepted into 8/10 colleges. What are your goals for after high school? Attend Bowie State University with a major in child and adolescent studies. Name one person that inspires you. My mom. What advice would you give to the next senior class? Have Fun and create as many memories as possible. Where do you see yourself in five years? Transferring into Law School somewhere. If you could have dinner with any person living or dead, who would they be and why? Probably Snoop Dogg, so he can tell me stories about the music industry and what really happened to Tupac and Biggie. Name three traits that describe you. Funny, persistent, and hardworking. What is your favorite hobby? Sleeping. What is a hidden talent that no one or only a few people know about you? I can play 2 1/2 instruments. What is your favorite memory of SAS? Junior prom and the last week of my junior year.

 

6. June 25- 30th, 2023: Syracuse Academy of Science High School students attended a summer cyber security camp at Le Moyne College. Throughout this enriching program, they delved into the fascinating world of cybersecurity, exploring different concepts, practices, and hands-on activities. With their passion and dedication, they presented outstanding projects to round out the week. As a token of recognition for their hard work, each participant was awarded a well-deserved certificate and a Raspberry Pi device, empowering them to continue their journey in technology and innovation. Congratulations to all the bright minds who participated in this camp—you are the future guardians of cyberspace! Keep shining and exploring the endless possibilities of cybersecurity!

 

7. Thursday, June 8th, 2023: Syracuse Academy of Science Elementary School hosted its annual Art Night. Over 850 pieces of artwork from our talented toms were displayed, featuring two or more pieces from each student! The art show featured paintings, drawings, collages, mixed media pieces, sculptures made of toilet paper, and art that glows under black lights. Various stations also allowed students and families to create new art that night. Ms. A-B put on a fantastic night, and everyone had a great time! We can’t wait to do it again next year!

 

8. Thursday, June 8th, 2023: Syracuse Academy of Science Middle School students enjoyed the fanciest lunch. These students worked hard throughout May, showing respect, responsibility, and safety in their classrooms and throughout the school building. It was amazing to celebrate their hard work and dedication to making the Middle School the best place to be!

 

9. Friday, May 26th, 2023: The Syracuse Academy of Science Random Acts of Kindness Club organizes fundraisers and drives to benefit community organizations. One of those was a coin drive to benefit the Friends Forever Animal Rescue in Pennelville, New York! Classes had a friendly competition to bring in the most change. The winning class even got to name the new kittens! SAS Elementary School raised just over $2,000 for the animal shelter! The Random Acts of Kindness Club also decorated ping pong balls to donate to the animals.

 

10.  Wednesday, May 17th, 2023: Syracuse Academy of Science High School athletes competed in the Onondaga High School League Track Meet. Under the direction of Coach Terry, Coach Harrison, Coach Walker, and Coach Rouse, the boys' Track & Field team finished in 3rd place, and the girls finished in 13th place! Several of our athletes also placed individually.Congratulations, Atoms! 

 

Amir Taylor-1st place 110 hurdles, 1st place Triple Jump 41-4.50, 3rd place 200 Meter 

Kenyon King-  3rd place in 100 meter, 6th place in the 200 meter, 3rd place in High Jump 

Darius Mitchell- 5th Place in High Jump 

Canaree Green- 4th Place in 200 meter, 4x100 Boys Relay 2nd place, 4x400 Boys Relay 5th place, 4x800 Boys Relay 6th Place 

Grace O'Neill- 6th Place High Jump 

Zion Rivera- 5th Place Shot Put

 

11.  Wednesday, May 10th, 2023: Before the summer break, 10th-grade Atoms took a morning hike through Green Lakes State Park. Students explored three miles of nature trails taking in the sights and sounds of upstate NY. Students were encouraged to capture nature images as part of a photography unit surrounding the flora and fauna of New York State.

 

12.  Saturday, May 6th, 2023: Syracuse Academy of Science congressional award students visited Boston over the weekend. It was a very successful trip exploring the capital of Massachusetts and making great memories along the way! The group walked at the Boston inner harbor, grabbed food at the Quincy Market, visited the Old State House of Massachusetts, and enjoyed the walk at the Boston Common.

 

13.  Monday, May 15th, 2023: Students and families gathered to celebrate the arts at Syracuse Academy of Science High School with our Spring Music Concert and Art Show. Students in choir and band performed a show-stopping concert with music in several different styles, featuring solos from students and small ensembles in addition to the full band. 9th through 12th graders showcased their artwork in 2D and 3D. Art students have created projects such as Art Nouveau, Realism, color theory, and many more. Students even created sculptures using the "Trompe-l'oeil," which means style to deceive or trick the eye. Everyone enjoyed a reception sponsored by Wegmans following the concert. What a tremendous year the arts had at SAS! We can't wait to see what the 2023-24 school year will bring!

 

14.  Friday, April 21st, 2023: Congratulations to Syracuse Academy of Science High School student Andre Mcclain for being selected to attend the 19th Annual Symposium on Energy in the 21st Century for his project titled "Using dark dyes to create solar cells." The symposium features speakers that cover the most up-to-date and relevant topics on renewable energy.  This year's theme was on preparing for climate change with renewable energy.

 

15.  Monday, April 17th, 2023: Did you know Syracuse Academy of Science Elementary School has several clubs and after-school activities? One of them is Lego Club! In Lego Club, students work in small groups to create and build various contraptions/simple machines with Legos based on the building plans they make. Through reading, working together, and building, students work on #STEAM projects to become engineers in a team setting.

 

16.  Thursday, April 13th, 2023: Syracuse Academy of Science Elementary School combined art and science for a vibrantly brilliant project. How? Kindergartens became color scientists for the day by using a pipet for water to see colors come alive.

 

17.  Wednesday, March 29th, 2023: Syracuse Academy of Science Middle School had a surprise student teacher! 7th-grade student Mahir Yavuz quickly jumped in to help continue the ELA lesson when Mrs. Nickless's phone kept ringing. Mahir did a great job, and the students were so engaged that he was allowed to complete that part of the lesson on "theme." Look at all those hands in the air! Way to go, Mahir! 

 

18.  Monday. March 27th, 2023: We love celebrating our student's accomplishments at Syracuse Academy of Science Elementary School. We especially enjoy it when a student runs to us excitedly to tell us about their latest achievement. So, Mrs. Miller created this wall outside her office: the "Mrs. Miller's Marvelous Minds" wall. Whenever students do something particularly outstanding in their classroom, they are sent to Mrs. Miller to sign their name on the wall for the whole school to see. Each week the number of names on the wall grows! We can't wait to watch it fill up this year.

 

19.  Friday, March 24th, 2023: Syracuse Academy of Science believes real-life experience is just as important as lessons in the classroom. Therefore, students are taken on several field trips every year. Kindergarteners stepped out of the school and into some fun at Little Ray's Nature Center. Little Ray’s is right inside Destiny Mall, and although their name may be "little," they are packing some big fun! Atoms saw and touched animals, from turtles, snakes, and other reptiles down to a tarantula! Some kindergarteners were even willing to hold the tarantula! Scholars had a great time learning about these animals.

 

20.  Thursday, March 23rd, 2023: Take a PIZZA this! 1st grade served up a slice of fun in art class! These young Atoms practiced their cutting and gluing skills while making a pizza collage with toppings of their choosing.

 

21.  Monday, March 20th, 2023: The Syracuse Academy of Science High School annual chess tournament champion was Halis Mutlu. There were also solid performances by Ather Shew (2nd place) and Meron Hailu (3rd place). Thank you to Ms. Coe, Ms. Mills, and everyone who attended and supported the chess club. Congratulations to the winners! Hopefully, you’ve been practicing this summer for next year.

 

22.  Thursday, March 16th, 2023: Families joined Syracuse Academy of Science for an evening of pirate-themed math fun! Students and their families began by figuring out their Pirate names. The night's object was to complete four math tasks in 4 classrooms. Upon completion of each lesson, Atoms received a piece of a map. When families finished all four, the completed map led to a secret treasure in the gym! Also, in the gym were more math games and visits with Bett's Branch Library and Empower Credit Union, who bought games and treats!

 

23.  Monday, March 6th, 2023: Syracuse Academy of Science Middle School Student Council members gave back to their school community with a library project! Council members began re-organizing the school library by genre so their peers could easily find books by their favorite themes and authors. We love to see our Atoms helping out their peers!

 

 

 

 

CSA Syracuse

 

1. Wednesday, August 9th, 2023: Dr. Basic, SANY District Safety Coordinator, provided a presentation to SANY parents, families, students, staff, and stakeholders for the annual public hearing for the District-Wide School Safety plan. Citizenship & Science Academy of Syracuse places huge importance on school safety and works with all stakeholders to ensure we are constantly improving our policies and emergency plan. The 2023-24 SANY Safety Plan can be found here. Thank you for working together to make our school safer for all Atoms.

 

2. Friday, April 28th, 2023: Spring has sprung in class 1A at Citizenship Academy! Our 1st graders learned the importance of good soil, water, and sunlight to help little seeds grow. Students decorated their own growing cups to add some love to the process. We cannot wait to see what blooms!

 

UAS

 

1.     Wednesday, August 9th, 2023: Dr. Basic, SANY District Safety Coordinator, provided a presentation to SANY parents, families, students, staff, and stakeholders for the annual public hearing for the District-Wide School Safety plan. Citizenship & Science Academy of Syracuse places huge importance on school safety and works with all stakeholders to ensure we are constantly improving our policies and emergency plan. The 2023-24 SANY Safety Plan can be found here. Thank you for working together to make our school safer for all Atoms.

 

CSA Rochester

1.     Wednesday, August 9th, 2023: Dr. Basic, SANY District Safety Coordinator, provided a presentation to SANY parents, families, students, staff, and stakeholders for the annual public hearing for the District-Wide School Safety plan. Citizenship & Science Academy of Syracuse places huge importance on school safety and works with all stakeholders to ensure we are constantly improving our policies and emergency plan. The 2023-24 SANY Safety Plan can be found here. Thank you for working together to make our school safer for all Atoms.

 

      I.         Public Comment on Any Agenda Item

 

Board President or designee opens the public comment session on any agenda item.

Each person is limited to speak for a period of one (1) minute and will be asked to give their full name, spell their last name and provide their address.

Board President or designee closes the public comment session on any topic.

 

II.         Motion to adjourn the meeting at 7.55 pm.  Roll Call: Adopted unanimously


Science Academies of New York (SANY) Charter Schools

Board of Trustees

Regular Meeting

Minutes

 

Date :       9/20/2023

Place   :       SANY Conference Center

 

Zoom Link:

https://us02web.zoom.us/j/87674282684?pwd=Ty91OERxV0ZOdXhLWUp4THhYaCsyQT09

 Meeting ID: 876 7428 2684
 Passcode: 082309


 

1. The regular meeting was called to order at 6.34 pm. The board reserves the right to act on any and all agenda items.

 

Open Public Meeting Act Statement

This meeting has been publicized in accordance with the requirements of the

New York State Open Meetings Law (OML) and notification given to all appropriate parties. The notice of this meeting was posted on the school website.

        

 

Others present at the meeting:

 

2.     Approval of Meeting Minutes

 

Motion to accept the following minutes of the Board of Trustees Meeting (Minutes forwarded to Trustees via e-mail.)

 

Regular Board Meeting of 8/16/2023

 

Roll Call: Adopted unanimously

3.     Agenda for Finance committee

1.     Bank accounts reconciliation

2. Review of payments

3.     Internal audit review

4.     Agenda

1. Approval of New Hires for SAS, UAS, CSAS, and CSAR

2. Approval of TCMP eligibility requirements

3. Approval of Congressional Award dashboard

4. Approval of Security Service Rate Change

5. Approval of Janitorial Supplies Provider Company

6. Approval of SMART Board Purchase

7. Approval of Strategic Goals

Discussion

1. 2022-2023 Teacher Survey Summary

2. Role of board Treasurer

3. Internal Audit Report

 

Motion to adopt the agenda as presented.

Roll Call: Adopted unanimously

5.     Executive Session

Motion to adjourn to Executive Session in accordance with the New York State Open Meeting Law §105, to discuss personnel matters, Payroll Issues , Medical, financial, credit, or Insurance Matters , Choose an item. and other such related matters.

Roll Call: Adopted unanimously

Please Note: The matters discussed will be made public if and when the circumstances requiring confidentiality no longer exist; however, it is not presently known when such circumstances will exist.

6.     Reconvene Public Session

Motion to exit the executive session.

Roll Call: Adopted unanimously

 

7.     Discussion Items

a. 2022-2023 Teacher Survey Summary: postponed for next board meeting.

b. Role of board Treasurer: explained, needs to elect a treasurer.

c. Internal Audit Report: internal audit report and KPIs were presented and discussed with internal auditor.

 

 

      I.         Superintendent’s Report

 

SAS 

 

1. Greetings, Syracuse Academy of Science Families and Staff, With great pleasure, I welcome you to another exciting year at the Science Academies of New York. Serving SANY Charter Schools with nearly 3,000 students in grades K-12 in Syracuse, Utica, and Rochester as the Superintendent for the 2023-24 school year is a privilege. I look forward to working with you. I hope you had a safe and enjoyable summer and are ready to tackle anything the new school year brings. I am especially looking forward to introducing Virtual Reality learning at the High School. SANY Scholars completed 2022-23, including graduating with an associate degree, completing many college-level courses for free, receiving nationwide known micro-credentials through cybersecurity, regional championships in robotics, Gold and Silver Medals from the Congressional Award Program, science fairs, and many more. I hope that the list will grow this year. SANY celebrated the milestone of serving the community for 20 years. SANY continues to be the most extensive Charter School system in Syracuse. We pride ourselves on offering high-quality public education with a college preparatory STEM-based curriculum. Incredible things take place in our classrooms thanks to our outstanding teachers and staff, as well as the hard work and dedication of our Atoms. From music and art to sports and extracurricular activities, our scholars are well-rounded in and out of the classroom. Almost one-third of  SANY High School graduating scholars completed most college-level courses needed to earn a two-year associate's degree, and a few even graduated with both a High School and Associate’s Degree Diploma. Through this program, SANY Charter Schools cover the cost of classes, books, technology fees, and lunch. Last school year, SANY celebrated its first student in history to graduate high school with an associate's degree. Our philosophy is the money SANY receives from the New York State per-pupil funding belongs to each student and will be spent for whatever helps make them successful. It is a beautiful feeling building a village through partnerships with higher education institutions like OCC, MVCC, SUNY ESF, LeMoyne College, Utica University, and D'Youville University and partnering with community business leaders. The saying "it takes a village to raise a child" comes from an African proverb and conveys that it takes a large group of people to provide a safe, healthy, loving environment. I am grateful to our community for working together and looking forward to seeing caring, contributing citizens from our beautiful Syracuse, Utica, and Rochester communities. Safety remains the top priority of our school. Our teachers and staff received safety and crisis management training over the summer, and I am confident we will have a safe and healthy year with the implementation of our safety protocols. Seeing recent events in the news can be highly upsetting, but with our vigorous efforts, I know we can continue to keep violence out of our school. While we succeeded in our efforts last year, we must always be active regarding safety. Your efforts in assisting with this are highly appreciated. While looking ahead to this year, please take the time to go over our emergency and safety plan: https://www.sascs.org/about-us/required-notifications/emergency-and-safety-plan. Our faculty and staff care significantly about every student who walks through the door. I admire how teachers diligently plan their lessons while catering to each student’s ability. This year, I will continue my school visits and special events like Breakfast and Lunch with the Superintendent. I cherish the days that I get to spend with our bright students. They always teach me something new! Thank you for all you do, and I look forward to working with you for the 2023-24 school year. Warmest Regards,Dr. Tolga Hayali, Ed.D Superintendent SANY Charter Schools

 

2. Thursday, September 14th, 2023: Syracuse Academy of Science 4th graders used tablets in the art classroom to upload their masterpieces to their Artsonia portfolios. Students completed a pixel artwork project using circles after reading the story "The Dot" for International Dot Day on 9/15! Soon, parents can log into Artsonia to see their student's digital portfolios.

 

3. Thursday, September 14th, 2023: Have you heard about International Dot Day? It’s celebrated every year on September 15th. The holiday is inspired by a children's book written by Peter H. Reynolds called "The Dot" in 2003 to celebrate creativity. The plot is about a girl named Vashti who discovers her artistic talent. Syracuse Academy of Science Elementary Atoms in Ms. A-B's classroom celebrated their originality by reading "The Dot" and making all kinds of Dot Day art! This is one of our favorite days to celebrate and we hope our Atoms will always be courageous with their unique expressions of creativity.

 

4. Saturday, September 9th, 2023: Mr. Kovar and Mr. Zengin took Syracuse Academy of Science robotics members to the First Tech Challenge Kick-Off event at Mohawk Valley Community College. This year's mission was revealed, and the game is called "CenterStage." It challenges our students to unleash their creativity and problem-solving skills as they design, build, and program robots. The game's objective is to collect hexagon-shaped plastic pieces, known as pixels, in four different colors, lift them to the desired level, and then place them on the backdrop panel. Participants include Andre McClain, Migual Mathis, Jenel Virgilio, Yakina Sika Amoah, Mickayla Pagan, Samara Hurtado, Araceli Goodyear, Quatice Williams, Aamiran Ridha, Lester Gonzales, Arna Boatema Amoah, and Elda Goodyear. Congratulations to all participants, and good luck!

 

5. Friday, September 8th, 2023: This year at Syracuse Academy of Science Elementary, we are working on developing the key character traits we celebrate each month. This month, our character trait is “Responsibility.” On Friday, September 8th, Ms. Cahalan and Mr. Robinson went to each classroom to discuss the meaning of “Responsibility.” Stay tuned later this month to see which Atoms will be recognized for showing Responsibility and will be named September's Students of the Month!

 

6. Wednesday, September 6th, 2023: Ladies and gentlemen, introducing our Syracuse Academy of Science Elementary School teachers and administrators! It’s tradition for the staff to take a family photo before the start of the year. This year was no different! We are so ready for a fantastic year!

 

7. Tuesday, September 5th, 2023: Before there was the first day of school, there was an Open House. Families and scholars were invited into Syracuse Academy of Science Elementary on Tuesday, September 5th, to meet their teachers, see their classroom, and have a fun photoshoot! We had a fantastic turnout, and seeing everyone before the school year began was terrific. Here's to an incredible 23-24 school year!

 

8. Tuesday, August 23rd, 2023: Syracuse Academy of Science Elementary School is gearing up for the start of the year with some Parent/Student Orientation Sessions. Parents and students have been invited to the building to meet with our behavior team and get refreshed on the expectations of a SANY scholar. Ms. Rob and Mr. Robinson reviewed the dress code, the code of conduct, and behavior expectations. There are two more opportunities for Orientation: Thursday, August 24th at 12:00 or 4:00. It's been great to see our returning and new students before school starts, and we hope to see more!

 

9. Grab your headset and get ready to explore a new way of learning. Syracuse Academy of Science high school is delving into the technology of the future. During the 2023-24 school year, the school will add Virtual Reality and META software to its learning library, where teachers and students can immerse themselves in a new world of education. Software programs have been installed on the VR headsets where students can talk with people from the past, dive into plant and animal cells, and explore virtual artifacts which make learning come to life. We are so excited to be able to offer our students and educators this opportunity.

 

 

 

 

CSA Syracuse

 

1. Greetings, Syracuse Academy of Science Families and Staff, With great pleasure, I welcome you to another exciting year at the Science Academies of New York. Serving SANY Charter Schools with nearly 3,000 students in grades K-12 in Syracuse, Utica, and Rochester as the Superintendent for the 2023-24 school year is a privilege. I look forward to working with you. I hope you had a safe and enjoyable summer and are ready to tackle anything the new school year brings. I am especially looking forward to introducing Virtual Reality learning at the High School. SANY Scholars completed 2022-23, including graduating with an associate degree, completing many college-level courses for free, receiving nationwide known micro-credentials through cybersecurity, regional championships in robotics, Gold and Silver Medals from the Congressional Award Program, science fairs, and many more. I hope that the list will grow this year. SANY celebrated the milestone of serving the community for 20 years. SANY continues to be the most extensive Charter School system in Syracuse. We pride ourselves on offering high-quality public education with a college preparatory STEM-based curriculum. Incredible things take place in our classrooms thanks to our outstanding teachers and staff, as well as the hard work and dedication of our Atoms. From music and art to sports and extracurricular activities, our scholars are well-rounded in and out of the classroom. Almost one-third of  SANY High School graduating scholars completed most college-level courses needed to earn a two-year associate's degree, and a few even graduated with both a High School and Associate’s Degree Diploma. Through this program, SANY Charter Schools cover the cost of classes, books, technology fees, and lunch. Last school year, SANY celebrated its first student in history to graduate high school with an associate's degree. Our philosophy is the money SANY receives from the New York State per-pupil funding belongs to each student and will be spent for whatever helps make them successful. It is a beautiful feeling building a village through partnerships with higher education institutions like OCC, MVCC, SUNY ESF, LeMoyne College, Utica University, and D'Youville University and partnering with community business leaders. The saying "it takes a village to raise a child" comes from an African proverb and conveys that it takes a large group of people to provide a safe, healthy, loving environment. I am grateful to our community for working together and looking forward to seeing caring, contributing citizens from our beautiful Syracuse, Utica, and Rochester communities. Safety remains the top priority of our school. Our teachers and staff received safety and crisis management training over the summer, and I am confident we will have a safe and healthy year with the implementation of our safety protocols. Seeing recent events in the news can be highly upsetting, but with our vigorous efforts, I know we can continue to keep violence out of our school. While we succeeded in our efforts last year, we must always be active regarding safety. Your efforts in assisting with this are highly appreciated. While looking ahead to this year, please take the time to go over our emergency and safety plan: https://www.sascs.org/about-us/required-notifications/emergency-and-safety-plan. Our faculty and staff care significantly about every student who walks through the door. I admire how teachers diligently plan their lessons while catering to each student’s ability. This year, I will continue my school visits and special events like Breakfast and Lunch with the Superintendent. I cherish the days that I get to spend with our bright students. They always teach me something new! Thank you for all you do, and I look forward to working with you for the 2023-24 school year. Warmest Regards,Dr. Tolga Hayali, Ed.D Superintendent SANY Charter Schools

2. Wednesday, September 6th, 2023: Citizenship & Science Academy of Syracuse Middle Schoolers have been back at school for almost a week now. Take a look at some of the precious moments captured on the first day. Welcome back, Atoms. Good luck this year!

 

3. Tuesday, September 5th, 2023: Citizenship & Science Academy of Syracuse Middle School held its new student orientation. New students got a walkthrough of the school and met their teachers. Welcome to the Citizenship family! Let's get ready to have some fun and make this an unforgettable experience!

 

4. Wednesday, August 30th, 2023: While students are away, teachers will play! Our incredible Citizenship Middle School staff emerged victorious in a friendly game of matball against Syracuse Academy of Science Middle School. Major props to our courageous staff for giving it their all and displaying team spirit that made this win possible!

 

UAS

 

1. Greetings, Syracuse Academy of Science Families and Staff, With great pleasure, I welcome you to another exciting year at the Science Academies of New York. Serving SANY Charter Schools with nearly 3,000 students in grades K-12 in Syracuse, Utica, and Rochester as the Superintendent for the 2023-24 school year is a privilege. I look forward to working with you. I hope you had a safe and enjoyable summer and are ready to tackle anything the new school year brings. I am especially looking forward to introducing Virtual Reality learning at the High School. SANY Scholars completed 2022-23, including graduating with an associate degree, completing many college-level courses for free, receiving nationwide known micro-credentials through cybersecurity, regional championships in robotics, Gold and Silver Medals from the Congressional Award Program, science fairs, and many more. I hope that the list will grow this year. SANY celebrated the milestone of serving the community for 20 years. SANY continues to be the most extensive Charter School system in Syracuse. We pride ourselves on offering high-quality public education with a college preparatory STEM-based curriculum. Incredible things take place in our classrooms thanks to our outstanding teachers and staff, as well as the hard work and dedication of our Atoms. From music and art to sports and extracurricular activities, our scholars are well-rounded in and out of the classroom. Almost one-third of  SANY High School graduating scholars completed most college-level courses needed to earn a two-year associate's degree, and a few even graduated with both a High School and Associate’s Degree Diploma. Through this program, SANY Charter Schools cover the cost of classes, books, technology fees, and lunch. Last school year, SANY celebrated its first student in history to graduate high school with an associate's degree. Our philosophy is the money SANY receives from the New York State per-pupil funding belongs to each student and will be spent for whatever helps make them successful. It is a beautiful feeling building a village through partnerships with higher education institutions like OCC, MVCC, SUNY ESF, LeMoyne College, Utica University, and D'Youville University and partnering with community business leaders. The saying "it takes a village to raise a child" comes from an African proverb and conveys that it takes a large group of people to provide a safe, healthy, loving environment. I am grateful to our community for working together and looking forward to seeing caring, contributing citizens from our beautiful Syracuse, Utica, and Rochester communities. Safety remains the top priority of our school. Our teachers and staff received safety and crisis management training over the summer, and I am confident we will have a safe and healthy year with the implementation of our safety protocols. Seeing recent events in the news can be highly upsetting, but with our vigorous efforts, I know we can continue to keep violence out of our school. While we succeeded in our efforts last year, we must always be active regarding safety. Your efforts in assisting with this are highly appreciated. While looking ahead to this year, please take the time to go over our emergency and safety plan: https://www.sascs.org/about-us/required-notifications/emergency-and-safety-plan. Our faculty and staff care significantly about every student who walks through the door. I admire how teachers diligently plan their lessons while catering to each student’s ability. This year, I will continue my school visits and special events like Breakfast and Lunch with the Superintendent. I cherish the days that I get to spend with our bright students. They always teach me something new! Thank you for all you do, and I look forward to working with you for the 2023-24 school year. Warmest Regards,Dr. Tolga Hayali, Ed.D Superintendent SANY Charter Schools

 

2. Friday, September 1st, 2023: Grilling, Chilling, and Getting Ready to Inspire, Which is Thrilling! Utica Academy of Science Elementary School teachers took a well-deserved break from their preparations for the start of the year by firing up the grill and having a courtyard BBQ. Burgers, veggie burgers, and hot dogs were on the menu, and the staff brought a variety of homemade dishes. After lunch, the faculty worked on a special tie-dye project that will be worn on the first day to greet students. Only two more days until our classrooms come back to life!

 

3. Monday, August 28th, 2023: Utica Academy of Science started the Summer Institute, providing teachers with professional development and team-building activities. One of the main goals is to introduce SANY's history, goals, achievements, importance, and future projects. This was explained in a presentation by Ms. Vickie Smith. We hope this was a beneficial time of enrichment and growth for our teachers.

 

CSA Rochester

1.     Greetings, Syracuse Academy of Science Families and Staff, With great pleasure, I welcome you to another exciting year at the Science Academies of New York. Serving SANY Charter Schools with nearly 3,000 students in grades K-12 in Syracuse, Utica, and Rochester as the Superintendent for the 2023-24 school year is a privilege. I look forward to working with you. I hope you had a safe and enjoyable summer and are ready to tackle anything the new school year brings. I am especially looking forward to introducing Virtual Reality learning at the High School. SANY Scholars completed 2022-23, including graduating with an associate degree, completing many college-level courses for free, receiving nationwide known micro-credentials through cybersecurity, regional championships in robotics, Gold and Silver Medals from the Congressional Award Program, science fairs, and many more. I hope that the list will grow this year. SANY celebrated the milestone of serving the community for 20 years. SANY continues to be the most extensive Charter School system in Syracuse. We pride ourselves on offering high-quality public education with a college preparatory STEM-based curriculum. Incredible things take place in our classrooms thanks to our outstanding teachers and staff, as well as the hard work and dedication of our Atoms. From music and art to sports and extracurricular activities, our scholars are well-rounded in and out of the classroom. Almost one-third of  SANY High School graduating scholars completed most college-level courses needed to earn a two-year associate's degree, and a few even graduated with both a High School and Associate’s Degree Diploma. Through this program, SANY Charter Schools cover the cost of classes, books, technology fees, and lunch. Last school year, SANY celebrated its first student in history to graduate high school with an associate's degree. Our philosophy is the money SANY receives from the New York State per-pupil funding belongs to each student and will be spent for whatever helps make them successful. It is a beautiful feeling building a village through partnerships with higher education institutions like OCC, MVCC, SUNY ESF, LeMoyne College, Utica University, and D'Youville University and partnering with community business leaders. The saying "it takes a village to raise a child" comes from an African proverb and conveys that it takes a large group of people to provide a safe, healthy, loving environment. I am grateful to our community for working together and looking forward to seeing caring, contributing citizens from our beautiful Syracuse, Utica, and Rochester communities. Safety remains the top priority of our school. Our teachers and staff received safety and crisis management training over the summer, and I am confident we will have a safe and healthy year with the implementation of our safety protocols. Seeing recent events in the news can be highly upsetting, but with our vigorous efforts, I know we can continue to keep violence out of our school. While we succeeded in our efforts last year, we must always be active regarding safety. Your efforts in assisting with this are highly appreciated. While looking ahead to this year, please take the time to go over our emergency and safety plan: https://www.sascs.org/about-us/required-notifications/emergency-and-safety-plan. Our faculty and staff care significantly about every student who walks through the door. I admire how teachers diligently plan their lessons while catering to each student’s ability. This year, I will continue my school visits and special events like Breakfast and Lunch with the Superintendent. I cherish the days that I get to spend with our bright students. They always teach me something new! Thank you for all you do, and I look forward to working with you for the 2023-24 school year. Warmest Regards,Dr. Tolga Hayali, Ed.D Superintendent SANY Charter Schools

 

 

      I.         Public Comment on Any Agenda Item

 

Board President or designee opens the public comment session on any agenda item.

Each person is limited to speak for a period of one (1) minute and will be asked to give their full name, spell their last name and provide their address.

Board President or designee closes the public comment session on any topic.

 

II.         Motion to adjourn the meeting at 7.59 pm.  Roll Call: Adopted unanimously

Science Academies of New York (SANY) Charter Schools

Board of Trustees

Regular Meeting

Minutes

 

Date :       10/18/2023

Place   :       UAS High School

 

Zoom Link:
 https://us02web.zoom.us/j/85707367922?pwd=ZktIbXpYNVpobm9nUmYzMmlyMXVVZz09

 Meeting ID: 857 0736 7922
 Passcode: 705851

 

1. The regular meeting was called to order at 6.40 pm. The board reserves the right to act on any and all agenda items.

 

Open Public Meeting Act Statement

This meeting has been publicized in accordance with the requirements of the

New York State Open Meetings Law (OML) and notification given to all appropriate parties. The notice of this meeting was posted on the school website.

        

 

Others present at the meeting:

 

2.     Approval of Meeting Minutes

 

Motion to accept the following minutes of the Board of Trustees Meeting (Minutes forwarded to Trustees via e-mail.)

 

Regular Board Meeting of 9/20/2023

 

Roll Call: Adopted unanimously

3.     Agenda for Finance committee

1.     Bank accounts reconciliation

2. Review of payments

3.     Internal audit review

4.     Agenda

1. Approval of New Hires for SAS, UAS, CSAS, and CSAR

2.     Approval of Increasing Saving Account Fund

3.     Approval of Computer Lab Computers for SASHS

4. Approval of new Gym Floor Project at SAS MS

5.     Approval of 2022-23 SANY Financial Audits

6. Approval of MOU between SANY and Terra Science for Conference Center Upgrades

7.     Approval of Utica Soccer Field Project

 

Discussion

1. Internal Audit Report

 

 

Motion to adopt the agenda as presented.

Roll Call: Adopted unanimously

5.     Executive Session

Motion to adjourn to Executive Session in accordance with the New York State Open Meeting Law §105, to discuss personnel matters, and other such related matters.

Roll Call: Adopted unanimously

Please Note: The matters discussed will be made public if and when the circumstances requiring confidentiality no longer exist; however, it is not presently known when such circumstances will exist.

6.     Reconvene Public Session

Motion to exit the executive session.

Roll Call: Adopted unanimously

7.     Discussion Items

1. Audit Report: External Auditors presented their audit report and financials for the last year. The audited has no findings, and there were recommendation to increase the number of staff at business office to support the increased size of of district office. 

 

      I.         Superintendent’s Report

SAS 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

CSA Syracuse

 

1. Wednesday, October 11th, 2023: The Citizenship & Science Academy of Syracuse Elementary Atomic Singers Club had its first meeting! Atomic Singers is an enrichment activity that allows students to learn popular music, sing in harmony, and enhance teamwork skills after school.

 

2. Tuesday, October 10th, 2023: Mrs. Daniel’s reading groups at Citizenship & Science Academy of Syracuse Elementary worked hard on their Chromebooks. Some Atoms were completing assessments, and some were working on a lesson. We have many flexible seating options thanks to a recent donorschoose project getting funded! Our Atoms love having comfortable options to work around the room!

 

3. Monday, October 2nd, 2023: Harry Potter, Captain Underpants, A Wrinkle in Time, The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn, and Bridge to Terabithia. What do these book titles have in common? They are all censored or challenged books. October 1-7 is Banned Books Week. This year’s theme is Let Freedom Read. We are taking the time to recognize censorship and how it can be reversed so students like ours can still access these books and others considered “banned.” It is important for scholars to have free and open access to information and to support the freedom to express ideas.

 

4. Thursday, September 28th, 2023: Introducing the Citizenship & Science Academy of Syracuse Elementary School Distinguished Atomic Educator for the 22-23 school year... Ms. Claire Fagan! Ms. Fagan is a fourth-grade teacher who goes above and beyond every day. Her loving demeanor and strong teaching skills resulted in Ms. Fagan having the highest reading and math STAR student growth percentile in the entire school! Way to go, Ms. Fagan!!

 

5. Wednesday, September 27th, 2023: Thank you to Onondaga Community College President Dr. Hilton for visiting the Citizenship & Science Academy of Syracuse Middle School and giving such an inspirational speech this morning. Dr. Hilton discussed what it means to have an “opportunity” and debated good vs. bad opportunities. Bad opportunities don’t always look bad; young, impressionable minds must understand the difference. Dr. Hilton told Atoms about growing up in the inner city of Philadelphia and how he had to work hard in school to be a successful adult. He stressed the importance of taking advantage of the dual college credit program in High School. And he kept the talk fun and enlightening for students while giving away some free OCC swag!

 

6. Tuesday, September 26th, 2023: Check out our fantastic writing strokes and shapes! Citizenship & Science Academy of Science Kindergarteners got out the Play-Doh and practiced making squares, triangles, and circles. While doing this, students discovered they could put together writing strokes to make something new, like a shape. This will be important to remember when it comes time to write letters.

 

7. Monday, September 25th, 2023: Do you hear what I hear? Citizenship & Science Academy of Syracuse Elementary School Atoms came to their senses with bread explorations! Ms. Youker's class used their five senses to imitate animals' ability to explore their environment. Students made observations about the sight, taste, touch, sound, and smell of the bread! The Positivity Project helped inspire Atoms to ask questions like a scientist!

 

8. Thursday, September 21st, 2023: Citizenship & Science Academy of Syracuse fourth graders participated in their first team-building science investigation. We first studied the blueprints of the Eiffel Tower and talked about what we see, think, and wonder about how towers are constructed. Students then put their design skills to the test by using a shared grappling tool to make cup towers! They had to use their knowledge of the Eiffel Tower’s design, teamwork, communication, and perseverance to build a tower with their group!

 

9. Friday, September 15th, 2023: We love reading in 2C! It's only the second full week of school, and these second graders are reading book after book! We love partner reading, reading independently, and getting comfy around the room while we read. Excited to see all the books we read this year!

 

 

UAS

 

 

 

 

 

CSA Rochester

1. Tuesday, October 10th, 2023: Citizenship & Science Academy of Rochester Kindergarteners have spent the first couple weeks of school learning the different colors of the rainbow. Recognizing colors and identifying their names is an important part of a child’s brain development. Early identification of colors helps improve the children’s ability to communicate and express themselves.

 

2. Friday, September 22nd, 2023: Citizenship & Science Academy of Rochester celebrated Grandparent's Day.  Grandparents were welcomed into school for a special time to share their artistic abilities with their grandchildren while enjoying delicious muffins and coffee. Our grandparents also had a wonderful time getting to know their scholars' teachers and other staff at CSAR! Ultimately, our dean thanked our grandparents for their wisdom and insight into their grandchildren's and others' lives! 

 

      I.         Public Comment on Any Agenda Item

 

Board President or designee opens the public comment session on any agenda item.

Each person is limited to speak for a period of one (1) minute and will be asked to give their full name, spell their last name and provide their address.

Board President or designee closes the public comment session on any topic.

 

II.         Motion to adjourn the meeting at 7:30 pm.  Roll Call: Adopted unanimously­­­

Science Academies of New York (SANY) Charter Schools

Board of Trustees

Regular Meeting

Minutes

 

Date :       11/15/2023

Place   :       SANY CC

 

Zoom Link:

Join Zoom Meeting
 https://us02web.zoom.us/j/81726043435?pwd=WEl3WmdFTVk2SENVSTVoanZ5UmlWZz09

 Meeting ID: 817 2604 3435
 Passcode: 344676


 

1. The regular meeting was called to order at 6.00 pm. The board reserves the right to act on any and all agenda items.

 

Open Public Meeting Act Statement

This meeting has been publicized in accordance with the requirements of the

New York State Open Meetings Law (OML) and notification given to all appropriate parties. The notice of this meeting was posted on the school website.

        

Others present at the meeting:

 

2.     Approval of Meeting Minutes

 

Motion to accept the following minutes of the Board of Trustees Meeting (Minutes forwarded to Trustees via e-mail.)

 

Regular Board Meeting of 10/18/2023

 

Roll Call: Adopted unanimously

3.     Agenda for Finance committee

1.     Bank accounts reconciliation

2. Review of payments

3.     Internal audit review

4.     Agenda

1. Approval of New Hires for SAS, UAS, CSAS, and CSAR

2. Approval of SANY Data Privacy and Security Policy

3. Approval of Vector Solution Libraries

4. Approval of Health Benefit Renewal

5. Approval of Dental Benefit Renewal

6. Approval of Ancillary Benefits Renewal

7. Approval of Technology Equipment for CSAS

8. Approval of Technology Classroom Furniture for CSAS

9. Approval of SANY Annual Tax Return (990 form)

 

Discussion

1. Insurance plans

2. Annual Tax Return

 

Motion to adopt the agenda as presented.

Roll Call: Adopted unanimously

5.     Executive Session

Motion to adjourn to Executive Session in accordance with the New York State Open Meeting Law §105, to discuss personnel matters, Medical, financial, credit, or Insurance Matters , Payroll Issues , and other such related matters.

Roll Call: Adopted unanimously

Please Note: The matters discussed will be made public if and when the circumstances requiring confidentiality no longer exist; however, it is not presently known when such circumstances will exist.

6.     Reconvene Public Session

Motion to exit the executive session.

Roll Call: Adopted unanimously

 

7.     Discussion Items

1. Insurance plans were discussed and presented.

 

      I.         Superintendent’s Report

 

SAS


1.     We promised something special for the spooky season, and we are delivering. Coming to you straight from Nevermore Academy… I mean SANY… we present “The Atoms Family.” Don't miss out on this highly unique take on a classic where cartoon-like gothic macabre meets a twist of contemporary humor. Plus, you’ll definitely want to see Wednesday’s killer dance moves. Whether you’re a newcomer to the Addams Family or a seasoned veteran, there’s something here for everyone to love. So do us all a favor, grab your friends and neighbors, no don’t you wait ‘till later…. Here’s the Atoms Family! *Snap* *Snap* If you want to be part of the Atoms Family, visit apply.sany.org.

2.     Wednesday, November 8th, 2023: Everyday is STEM Day at Syracuse Academy of Science, but we’re honoring National STEM Day today. Let's celebrate the exciting world of science, technology, engineering, and math! As most of you know, STEM is an important part of our education at Syracuse Academy of Science. From powering our technology to inspiring new ways of thinking, students who learn essential STEM skills have the potential to revolutionize our society. On National STEM Day, honors Chemistry students conducted the flame test during lab. The flame test is used to visually determine the identity of an unknown substance based on the color the flame turns on the Bunsen burner.

3.     Friday, November 3rd, 2023: Students in Ms. Cueto and Ms. Teitelbaum's Kindergarten C class used their dress-down passes! Dress-down passes were given out in KC for receiving 125+ dojo points on Class Dojo! Students can earn dojo points in class by completing homework, helping others, following directions, and staying on task. Congratulations Atoms! Thanks for being so awesome!

4.     Friday, November 3rd, 2023: Students in Ms. Cueto and Ms. Teitelbaum's Kindergarten C class used their dress-down passes! Dress-down passes were given out in KC for receiving 125+ dojo points on Class Dojo! Students can earn dojo points in class by completing homework, helping others, following directions, and staying on task. Congratulations Atoms! Thanks for being so awesome!

5.     Wednesday, November 1st, 2023: Syracuse Academy of Science 4th grade representatives were selected to share a special breakfast with SANY Superintendent Dr. Hayali. During their breakfast, they discussed with Dr. Hayali what they think a Superintendent does (principal of all the principals, if you were wondering!), what they want to be when they grow up, what they would add to our school if they were the principal, and what they love most about Syracuse Academy. These 4th graders are most interested in being scientists (paleontologists, archeologists, geologists, and engineers!), soccer players, and joining the army! And they all agreed that they love our school community. There were even a couple of shout-outs to some favorite teachers and subjects like Mrs. Bloss and Ms. AB's art classes! These breakfasts with Dr. Hayali are a special treat for the students and Dr. Hayali, who was sure to let the students know that they are the most important part of what we do at SANY and SAS and that they are the future! Thank you for joining us, Dr. Hayali!

6.     Wednesday, November 1st, 2023: Syracuse Academy of Science Elementary celebrated the October Students of the Month! October's character trait was Trustworthiness, which means you are reliable, keep your promises, and do what you say you will do. Trustworthiness is also shown when you tell the truth and are honest with words and actions, even when it's difficult. Join us in celebrating these awesome Atoms!

7.     Monday, October 30th, 2023: Each month at Syracuse Academy of Science Elementary, students are encouraged to complete a Family Project that gives us a look into their origins. Where we come from is an essential part of every one of us! For October, the first family project was for students to create a magazine cover about themselves and their families, showcasing what makes them unique! Some truly amazing magazine covers were brought in!

8.     Wednesday, October 25th, 2023: A week has passed since Otto the Orange surprised Syracuse Academy of Science Elementary and invited us to join his Reading Challenge! You “Otto” believe our Atoms are already doing an outstanding job! Walls are filled with footballs, indicating all the books our students and classrooms have read. We are even getting pictures sent in from students reading their books at home. It's plain to see that SAS is super pumped to dominate this reading challenge!

9.     Friday, October 20th, 2023: We’re continuing to pave the path to success for our Syracuse Academy of Science Atoms. A representative from Utica University visited campus to teach students about the college, the admissions process, and what majors and courses they offer. College visits are a large part of the curriculum as a college preparatory school. Stay tuned for more visits from colleges!

10.  Thursday, October 19, 2023: The 6th-grade team grabbed their lunches and jackets, hopped on a bus, and headed to the Museum of Science and Technology. Students enjoyed exploring exhibits about space, the human body, Dinosaurs, and the Earth. They even had a new area dedicated to the advanced Micron plant opening in New York soon!

11.  Tuesday, October 17th, 2023: Syracuse Academy of Science Elementary Atoms received a special surprise when Otto visited! Otto came straight from the Syracuse University campus to tell our students about his fall reading kickoff. Teachers can read with their students, or students can read by themselves, with friends, or at home and keep track of how many books they’ve read. Each grade level has a different goal. Once that goal is met, the class will receive complimentary tickets to the Syracuse Orange V. Wake Forest football game, free bookmarks, and special recognition at the game!

12.  Saturday, October 14th, 2023: The Syracuse Academy of Science High School Robotics team did it again! On Saturday, October 14th, the team attended the CNY Steamboat Challenge tournament at the Museum of Science & Technology. Nine teams and 18 students were challenged to construct a miniature working steamboat. Teams were judged based on fastest race time, boat design, knowledge of STEM principles, aesthetics/ creativity, and teamwork. Our Atoms crushed the competition, earning first, second, and third places in the high school division!! Congratulations to the Syracuse Academy of Science Robotics Team! We are so proud of your hard work and dedication!

13.  Saturday, October 14th, 2023: Syracuse Academy of Science 4th graders got the chance to compete in the Steamboat Competition at the Museum of Science & Technology! Students used their creativity and recycled materials to build miniature working steamboats. Students were judged on their design process and how they worked as a team. We are very proud of their hard work!

14.  Saturday, October 14th, 2023: Syracuse Academy of Science Middle School participated in the Steamboat Challenge at the Museum of Science & Technology. With hard work and commitment, the Proton Paddlers received 4th place. Congratulations to the winners, Liam, Solomon, and Jeremiah, and all the middle school participants!

CSA Syracuse

1.     We promised something special for the spooky season, and we are delivering. Coming to you straight from Nevermore Academy… I mean SANY… we present “The Atoms Family.” Don't miss out on this highly unique take on a classic where cartoon-like gothic macabre meets a twist of contemporary humor. Plus, you’ll definitely want to see Wednesday’s killer dance moves. Whether you’re a newcomer to the Addams Family or a seasoned veteran, there’s something here for everyone to love. So do us all a favor, grab your friends and neighbors, no don’t you wait ‘till later…. Here’s the Atoms Family! *Snap* *Snap* If you want to be part of the Atoms Family, visit apply.sany.org.

2.     Monday, November 6th, 2023: Citizenship & Science Academy of Syracuse 5th grade Atoms got to meet Sindu Mulukuri and Matt Bellinger, engineers in Air Traffic Management Safety and Efficiency from SAAB. They demonstrated the Aeroban Global Flight Manager software used at airports in the US and around the world. The students learned the difference between a software engineer and a systems engineer and they really enjoyed asking questions about the speakers' jobs, education and how much money engineers earn. Watch out! We may have a few future SAAB interns in our 5th grade class!

3.     Friday, November 3rd, 2023: In Social Studies, Citizenship & Science Academy of Syracuse 5th Graders have been learning about the Aztec, Inca and Mayan Civilizations. They learned how the civilizations were alike and different. Atoms learned about the different social classes within each civilization and their leaders. They learned how the sundial was used to indicate the time of day by the position of the shadow cast upon it. Students also learned that totems are a natural object or animal that is believed by a particular society to have spiritual significance and that is adopted by it as an emblem. A totem can be a spirit being, sacred object, or symbol that serves as an emblem of a group of people, such as a family, clan, lineage, or tribe. Scholars chose six animals that represented them and created a totem of their own.

4.     Thursday, November 2, 2023: Our 5th-grade students were lucky to have a visit from Dr. Leanne Powers, assistant professor of chemistry at SUNY ESF. Her specialty is Oceanography, and she studies the chemistry that takes place in the ocean waters. Dr. Powers showed Atoms pictures from expeditions she calls "science parties at sea.” She explained some of the work she's done in laboratories on vessels of various sizes, explained the types of equipment that are used to collect samples from the ocean, and discussed how the ocean is different at 4,000 meters than we might expect. We learned that styrofoam cups have all of the carbon crushed out of them at that depth, resulting in a new miniature version of the original cup! We ended the visit with the promise of our very own decorated cups going on the next ocean expedition with Dr. Powers. She agreed to return them for us to keep in our STEAM room!

5.     Friday, October 27th, 2023: Citizenship & Science Academy of Syracuse Elementary celebrated Heritage Day! Throughout the month, we researched countries that represented the cultures at Citizenship Academy. We created crafts representing us as individuals and how we come together as a school family. On Heritage Day, we dressed in attire that celebrated, honored, and highlighted the rich cultures within our classrooms. Students wore clothing that represented their backgrounds. Students could display their clothing and attire with classmates and teachers.Thank you to students, staff, and parents for coming together to make this day great!From a student: "Hello I‘m from Sudan. My name is Munasa. I love Sudan, and Allah let us all reach Jannah together. Thank you so much for reading this. I wear my hijab because it shows modesty and how strong my beliefs are.""Hi, I'm Nyaliep. I’m from South Sudan. I love my culture and the people in my culture. We have a house gown for boys and girls. Anybody can wear it. I wore it today because of Heritage Month and I'm proud of it. I want to learn it, but I'm struggling to. I hope one day I can be fluent in speaking Arabic. My full name is Nyaliep Patrice Dak. My whole name means “girl in waiting.” I love love love African food. That's all about me and my cultural home."

6.     Wednesday, October 18th, 2023: Citizenship & Science Academy of Syracuse Elementary Atoms got familiar with the different parts of the ukulele, strummed a few notes, and most importantly, smiled a lot! We love seeing our scholars learn new skills.

7.     Saturday, October 14th, 2023: Citizenship & Science Academy of Syracuse Elementary students participated in the CNY Steamboat Challenge at the MOST. Atoms worked extremely hard on their design while testing and making changes to ensure they had the best possible outcome. Students begin by designing the boats. After designing the boats, the students used the engineering design process to design their boilers. The boiler is what creates the steam and provides power for the boat to move. Mr. Zinger is extremely proud of our Atoms' accomplishments and their hard work!

 

UAS

1.     We promised something special for the spooky season, and we are delivering. Coming to you straight from Nevermore Academy… I mean SANY… we present “The Atoms Family.” Don't miss out on this highly unique take on a classic where cartoon-like gothic macabre meets a twist of contemporary humor. Plus, you’ll definitely want to see Wednesday’s killer dance moves. Whether you’re a newcomer to the Addams Family or a seasoned veteran, there’s something here for everyone to love. So do us all a favor, grab your friends and neighbors, no don’t you wait ‘till later…. Here’s the Atoms Family! *Snap* *Snap* If you want to be part of the Atoms Family, visit apply.sany.org.

2.     Monday, November 13th, 2023: Utica Academy of Science Kindergarteners in Ms. Moziak’s art class made paint dotter pumpkins over the past week to celebrate the fall season! They had a great time experimenting with different color combinations, and were very proud to show off their art in the main hallway.Check out these little artists!

3.     Thursday, November 9th, 2023: Ms. Mumpton’s class has grown by two! Since the class reached their goal of 2,000 Dojo points for October, on November 8th, two guinea pigs were adopted as class pets! Their names are Coco and Honey. The students will be responsible for cleaning the cage, feeding them, giving them water, and everything they need to thrive in the classroom. Studies have shown that a classroom pet may help improve children's academic performance and social skills. These Atoms are excited to welcome the new classmates to their fourth-grade classroom!

4.     Thursday, November 2, 2023: Some Utica Academy of Science scholars had breakfast with our Superintendent, Dr. Hayali. They enjoyed delicious chocolate chip waffles and fruit. These breakfasts are such a special treat for our scholars and Dr. Hayali. It serves as a time for Atoms to get to know their school better and make suggestions for improvements. What a great way to start the day!

5. Wednesday, November 1st, 2023: What's the craziest day of Spirit Week at Utica Academy of Science Elementary?! It's Crazy Hair Day on a wacky kind of Wednesday! Students and staff went all out and showed us their wildest hairstyles. Check it out!

6. Tuesday, October 31st, 2023: Utica Academy of Science Elementary Atoms threw on their favorite Halloween costume and did the Monster Mash around the school! Junior-Senior High School students lined the hallway to cheer on their younger classmates. Even Clifford the Big Red Dog made a cameo! Hopefully, this was great practice for Atoms who went trick-or-treating after school!

7. Monday, October 30th, 2023: Utica Academy of Science celebrated the students' achievements and rewarded good behavior. October’s Character Trait was Honesty. Atoms in each homeroom displaying Honesty characteristics were nominated for the Student of the Month Award. Students also earned awards for Dojo achievements and attendance. One class from each grade earned the Golden Tray Award for good behavior in the cafeteria. Congratulations, Atoms!

8. Friday, October 27th, 2023: Double, double, toil and trouble! 2nd-grade Atoms celebrated STEM Friday by making a magic potion in science class. They combined yeast, food coloring, water, dish soap, and hydrogen peroxide. Our scholars enjoyed the experiment in small groups and then as a big group.

9. Thursday, October 26th, 2023: Ghosts, goblins, and Clifford the Big Red Dog! It was a howlin' good time when #UASCS Elementary School held its first-ever Trunk-or-Treat night. Staff and families decorated their trunks and passed out treats for our scholars and their families. It was a wonderful evening full of laughs, play, dancing, and community. Huge thanks to the FSA and Ms. Smith for helping organize this wonderful event and to everyone who came and participated. We can't wait to do it again next year!

10.  Friday, October 20th, 2023: Every Friday is Fun Friday for the 4th grade! Our STEM activity on Friday, October 20th, was a spooky experiment to see which liquid dissolves candy corn the fastest! The classroom bet on vinegar, but it turns out soda was the winner!

11.  Wednesday, October 18th, 2023: Utica Academy of Science Elementary scholars and staff participated in Unity Day, the main event of National Bullying Prevention Awareness Month, to send a visible message that no child should ever experience bullying. Everyone wore orange and displayed orange artwork throughout the school that was made by scholars and staff. Each class also discussed bullying and completed a classroom pledge to stand together against bullying and unite for kindness, acceptance, and inclusion. 

12.  Saturday, October 14th, 2023: Utica Academy of Science Atoms in 6-9th grade competed in the “Steamboat Challenge“ at the Museum of Science & Technology in Syracuse. Students were tasked with constructing and designing a mini-working steamboat. There were 11 teams from Utica Academy of Science and a total of about 70 teams in the competition. Please congratulate the following 8th graders for receiving  6th place: Amazyn Edwards, Joud Milhem, and Amineh Shehadeh.

13.  Tuesday, October 10th, 2023: What’s orange and faster than a speeding train? Super Pumpkin! It was a beautiful fall day when second graders visited Savicki's Farm Market in Clinton, NY. #UASAtoms enjoyed a hayride, a corn maze, and even picked pumpkins. Happy Fall!

 

 

CSA Rochester


1.     We promised something special for the spooky season, and we are delivering. Coming to you straight from Nevermore Academy… I mean SANY… we present “The Atoms Family.” Don't miss out on this highly unique take on a classic where cartoon-like gothic macabre meets a twist of contemporary humor. Plus, you’ll definitely want to see Wednesday’s killer dance moves. Whether you’re a newcomer to the Addams Family or a seasoned veteran, there’s something here for everyone to love. So do us all a favor, grab your friends and neighbors, no don’t you wait ‘till later…. Here’s the Atoms Family! *Snap* *Snap* If you want to be part of the Atoms Family, visit apply.sany.org.

2.     Monday, November 13th, 2023: KC Citizenship & Science Academy of Rochester Atoms are creating triangles out of straws! Students learned how to make three sides and three points to form the perfect point.

3.     Thursday, November 2nd, 2023: “Today a reader, tomorrow a leader.” Citizenship & Science Academy of Rochester held its first Drop Everything And Read with Distinguished Men event on Thursday, November 2. Dr. Paul Miller, CEO of Charter Champions, and Willard Brown served as the distinguished readers. They read books about sharing and school spirit and explained to #CSARAtoms what they meant. Mr. Brown also told scholars about his time in the Navy. Thank you for reading to our Atoms! Keep working on those reading skills because it’s almost time for our next Drop Everything And Read event!

4.     Friday, October 20th, 2023: Citizenship & Science Academy of Rochester teachers enjoyed meeting new families and catching up with current ones at our annual Open House. Families toured the school and enjoyed snow cones, cotton candy, hot dogs, and jumping in bounce houses. It’s been a  great start to the beginning of the school year!

5.     Monday, October 16th, 2023: Curiosity, Teamwork, and open-mindedness are the character strengths that we have been working on at the Citizenship & Science Academy of Rochester. Congratulations to these Positivity Project (P2) scholars for demonstrating leadership skills through these character strengths!

 

      I.         Public Comment on Any Agenda Item

 

Board President or designee opens the public comment session on any agenda item.

Each person is limited to speak for a period of one (1) minute and will be asked to give their full name, spell their last name and provide their address.

Board President or designee closes the public comment session on any topic.

 

II.         Motion to adjourn the meeting at ____ pm.  Roll Call: Choose an item.

Science Academies of New York (SANY) Charter Schools

Board of Trustees

Regular Meeting

Agenda

 

Date :       12/20/2023

Place   :       SANY CC

 

Zoom Link:

https://us02web.zoom.us/j/82988100608?pwd=ZEo5Mmpub1JBcW1NWVU0K3hxZVRXZz09

 Meeting ID: 829 8810 0608
 Passcode: 128535


 

1. The regular meeting was called to order at 6.41 pm. The board reserves the right to act on any and all agenda items.

 

Open Public Meeting Act Statement

This meeting has been publicized in accordance with the requirements of the

New York State Open Meetings Law (OML) and notification given to all appropriate parties. The notice of this meeting was posted on the school website.

        

Others present at the meeting:

 

2.     Approval of Meeting Minutes

 

Motion to accept the following minutes of the Board of Trustees Meeting (Minutes forwarded to Trustees via e-mail.)

 

Regular Board Meeting of 11/15/2023

 

Roll Call: Adopted unanimously    

Agenda for Finance committee

1.     Bank accounts reconciliation

2. Review of payments

3.     Internal audit review

3.     Agenda

1. Approval of New Hires for SAS, UAS, CSAS, and CSAR

2. Approval of SANY’s school policy regarding prohibition of candies containing THC or Drug-Related materials

3. Approval of Walk In Cooler Project to CSAS ES

4. Approval of additional to leasehold improvements to CSAR

5. Approval of SANY Saving Account Fund Investment

6. Approval of Updated Curriculum, SPED and Gifted&Talented Program Coordinator Payscale

7. Approval of SANY Moving Stipend

8. Approval of SANY Financials and Presentation

9. Approval of Engineering Service Proposal for CSAS MS Field Project

10.  Approval of SANY updated Dashboard 2022-2023 and 2023-2024

 

Discussion

1.     Staff Survey Results

2.     Academic data

 

Motion to adopt the agenda as presented.

Roll Call: Adopted unanimously

4.     Executive Session

Motion to adjourn to Executive Session in accordance with the New York State Open Meeting Law §105, to discuss personnel matters, Payroll Issues , Student Issues , Choose an item. and other such related matters.

Roll Call: Adopted unanimously

Please Note: The matters discussed will be made public if and when the circumstances requiring confidentiality no longer exist; however, it is not presently known when such circumstances will exist.

5.     Reconvene Public Session

Motion Choose an item. to exit the executive session.

Roll Call: Adopted unanimously

6.     Discussion Items

1.     Staff Survey Results: Fall Staff survey results were shared, including top five strengths and top five concerns. Board asked to receive more information about the materials support concern to address to issue.

2.     Academic data: State data was published and shared with board in comparison to NYS and districts. The concerns were shared for the grades we were below district level.

 

      I.         Superintendent’s Report

 

SAS


 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

CSA Syracuse

1.     You’re the gift that keeps on thanks-giving. While you prepare your Thanksgiving dinners, before the hustle and bustle of the holiday season sets in, we want to express our sincere gratitude to each of you. It's easy to get lost in the things we don't have. The fancy car, the clothes, the latest phone. Instead, try focusing on everything you do have. Ultimately, you will find it's a much greater list with a more significant impact.This season, focus on the things you're thankful for, and the gratitude will follow. May your blessings be many, your troubles be few, and your Thanksgiving be wonderful. Superintendent Dr. Hayali has prepared a special Thanksgiving message. Take a look.

 

2.     Thursday, November 30th, 2023: Citizenship & Science Academy of Syracuse Elementary School girls had the chance to do an activity with Tiffany Weiskotten from Girl Scouts. She asked the girls what they thought it meant to be a Girl Scout. Of course, they all said selling cookies, which gave Tiffany a chance to talk about entrepreneurship and the skills that can be learned by being part of the largest female-run business in the world. Atoms loved hearing about the Girl Scout camps and some of the famous women who were also Girl Scouts.

 

3.     Thursday, November 16th, 2023: Citizenship & Science Academy of Syracuse Elementary Atoms collected 595 items to be donated to the United Way of CNY Care Package Project! Katie Hanlon, the Community Engagement Manager for The United Way of Central New York, came to collect our donations and she brought two guest speakers. The President of The United Way of Central New York, Nancy Kern Eaton, spoke with Atoms about ways everyone can help the community and inducted students into the philanthropist family. Atoms love their new title: Philanthropist! Elizabeth Osei-Kwame, a Volunteer Administrator for The United Way of Central New York, spoke to the scholars about all of the services The United Way offers to neighbors in Syracuse. Thank you to everyone that brought in donations! We are looking forward to working with them again on another volunteer project soon!

 

4.     Thursday, November 16th, 2023: The music room enjoyed interviewing David P., a remarkable individual with a rich musical history. David spent 20 years in Nigeria, cultivating his passion for music, becoming a DJ, music producer, and a Doctoral Candidate for the Department of Pharmacology at SUNY Upstate Medical University. Atoms had the opportunity to explore David's unique musical background, delving into his Afrobeat creations and drumming expertise. Through this cultural exchange, students shared songs, learned from David's experiences, and emphasized the transformative power of music. A huge thank you to David P. for contributing to positive change through the universal language of music!

 

UAS

 

 

 

 

 

CSA Rochester


1.     You’re the gift that keeps on thanks-giving. While you prepare your Thanksgiving dinners, before the hustle and bustle of the holiday season sets in, we want to express our sincere gratitude to each of you. It's easy to get lost in the things we don't have. The fancy car, the clothes, the latest phone. Instead, try focusing on everything you do have. Ultimately, you will find it's a much greater list with a more significant impact.This season, focus on the things you're thankful for, and the gratitude will follow. May your blessings be many, your troubles be few, and your Thanksgiving be wonderful. Superintendent Dr. Hayali has prepared a special Thanksgiving message. Take a look.

 

2.     Thursday, November 30th, 2023: Citizenship & Science Academy of Rochester held November's final “DEAR With Distinguished Men” event. Atoms were thrilled to welcome three exceptional guests into our school. Rochester Mayor Malik Evans read fan favorite “If You Give A Mouse A Cookie” to the third graders. Regent Adrian Hale from the New York State Department of Education read two books to second graders. Finally, City of Rochester Fire Department Fire Chief Stephano Napolitano read our first and second-graders a story about fire and emergency safety. Rochester Atoms enjoyed being read to and asked some very intellectual questions! Thank you to everyone who participated in our first-ever “DEAR With Distinguished Men.” You helped make reading fun for our scholars!

 

3.     Friday, November 17th, 2023: Citizenship & Science Academy of Rochester Atoms are learning about the Ancient Roman Civilization and the gods and goddesses of the Roman Empire. Scholars worked together to find important information like their Greek name compared to their Roman name and what they were god/goddess of.

 

      I.         Public Comment on Any Agenda Item

 

Board President or designee opens the public comment session on any agenda item.

Each person is limited to speak for a period of one (1) minute and will be asked to give their full name, spell their last name and provide their address.

Board President or designee closes the public comment session on any topic.

 

II.         Motion to adjourn the meeting at ____ pm.  Roll Call: Adopted unanimously