KYSERIKE – A lengthy Rondout Valley Central School District Board meeting was held Tuesday, October 10.

Twelfth graders Shilo Cole and Anthony Austin petitioned the board regarding a new lateness policy they regard as unfair.

"Basically," said Cole, "the high school has popped something up on us. It doesn't have a specific name yet but they're calling it the Three Late Program. If we get three 'lates' — and they could be a minute late, two or three minutes late, or a doctor's appointment late — with the third 'late' you get after-school detention. Even if you bring a note, you still get a 'late'. If you miss a bus and have to wait for someone to bring you in and have a parent note, they still call it a 'late'. Even with a doctor's note, they don't accept the note and you get a 'late'."

Board members were friendly, with several stating they supported the two students' point of view. Rebecca Versace wondered where the new late policy had come from. The board said that it would look deeper into the new lateness policy, and see if anything could be done to amend it.

There was a lengthy discussion regarding the ongoing search for a superintendent. Search focus groups will be meeting on Thursday. The salary range was voted to be in the $175,000 – $195,000 range. Some members thought this $20,000 range was too limiting.

The board viewed two presentations. The first was a transportation study from Joseph Canepa of Lynx Transportation who appeared via video. The study examined bus timetables and numbers and considered how efficiency and costs could be contained. The board called for more details.

The second presentation was from board Member Lisa Pacht on the district's Enhanced Reading Program. Pacht noted that the program, applied to all grades, was highly successful, and thanked board members for their continued extensive and generous support.

Bids for athletic transportation was then discussed. It was noted that only one bid had been received and it was twice the cost of last year's athletes' buses. Some board members, out of a fear that there would be no athlete buses at all this year, thought the bid should be accepted regardless of the cost. A recommended motion that the board approve the bid for athletic transportation was tabled until the next meeting on Oct. 24.

Finally, a motion that the Board of Education transfer $10,265 of already received New York State Energy Research and Development Authority funds to the district's general fund to pay for a 2-Car Charging Station was approved.