The Pine Plains Central School District Board of Education approved $50,000 in facility repairs on Tuesday, July 1, while also addressing concerns over the implementation of a state-mandated cellphone ban and renewing the superintendent’s contract.
At a public hearing, the board unanimously voted to use the District Repair Reserve Fund for three projects at Stissing Mountain Junior/Senior High School: fixing a boiler leak, repairing 1,600 square feet of the auditorium stage floor, and replacing 200 square feet of deteriorating terrazzo flooring in middle school hallways.
“Currently, there is moisture under the tiles which causes it to blister and separate,” said Business Official Laura Rafferty. The terrazzo flooring was temporarily patched years ago, she said, but continues to degrade, creating potential health and safety issues.
The boiler repair involves installing and fixing a return water manifold drain to ensure proper operation during the upcoming heating season. The auditorium stage floor repair addresses flaking finish that poses tripping hazards during productions.
The District Repair Reserve Fund, which has a balance of $750,000, is designated for capital improvements and equipment purchases that don’t occur annually or at shorter intervals.
The Board also renewed Superintendent Brian Timm’s contract with the district, who will now be serving through the 2029-30 school year, and approved consolidating the audit and compensation committees into a single Audit Finance Committee.
“This way we can take some time to really dig into the data and take a look at that at a more granular level than sometimes we’re permitted to at the board level,” Timm said of the committee restructuring.
Board members raised several concerns about implementing the state-mandated cellphone policy, which bans student access to personal devices that connect to the internet, during school hours. The policy includes personal tablets, laptops, and smart watches. Board member James Griffin questioned the timing of phone collection relative to bus departures, noting parents often coordinate pickup logistics via text.
Timm acknowledged the concern, suggesting the district might adjust bus schedules to allow phone access after school ends.
Board member Jean Stapf asked about accommodations for students with devices not connected to the internet, such as flip phones. Board members also discussed whether the district would purchase phone lockers or require students to use existing lockers. The board reached no conclusions on the cellphone policy details but identified potential challenges for future consideration.
Timm reported on efforts to address extreme heat conditions in classrooms. During the last week of classes in June, a custodian measured temperatures throughout the building to identify hotspots that might need addressing. The district is considering purchasing or renting standalone air conditioners for certain rooms, with more detailed findings expected at the August board meeting.
The next school board meeting is scheduled for 4:30 p.m. on July 15.