Board denies level-3 grievance, approves consent agenda and gets update on voting machines

During a walk-on item read into the record, a board reader moved a resolution stating: "Be it resolved that the Board of Education of the Eastport Southbound Central School District hereby denies the level 3 grievance submitted by the Eastport Southmanta Teachers Association dated 12/04/2025 and authorizes the board president to provide written notice of such determination on behalf of the Board of Education." A motion and second were made and the board approved the resolution by voice vote ('Aye').

Later the board considered and approved the consent agenda, which included: the budget schedule referenced in the meeting, acceptance of the auditor's report, disposal of obsolete technology, a set of contracts (student-teacher agreements and vendor agreements, including Lifetouch for yearbooks), budget transfers and housekeeping entries, a change order for alarms in a building addition for $20,384, multiple personnel actions (resignations, leaves, appointments, substitutes and extracurricular appointments), and an hourly-rate adjustment (up to $17/hr) for certain positions.

Board members also received an update about recent changes from the Suffolk County Board of Elections. County staff will provide training and on-site support for new voting machines; the district will pick up two machines after Jan. 5 and will pay an estimated additional $900 for on-site assistance on election day. The district plans to store the machines on site and to arrange retraining as the vote approaches.

What happens next: the board will issue written notice of the grievance denial; the administration will continue preparations for voting machines and finalize consent-agenda administrative items ahead of the January budget cycle.