Three board candidates speak as Tri Valley board adopts safety, meal policies and approves reserve transfers

Three candidates seeking three open seats on the Tri Valley Central School District Board of Education introduced themselves and the board processed several routine but consequential actions.

Tim Diamond, who said he has served previously as a vice president and in the presidency role, described his priorities as keeping schools safe and paying staff competitively: "I want my kids to be safe when they come to school, I want everybody else's kids to be safe." Ian Constable said he is a local business owner and framed his candidacy around supporting students and serving as a mentor. Kaylin Bartholoff, who said she works at the Center for Discovery and is a Tri Valley parent, emphasized experience with students with complex needs and IEPs and said she would prioritize supports for those students and for teachers.

Following candidate introductions the board took a series of formal actions. After committee review, the board conducted second readings and adopted policy 81-30 (school safety plans and teams), policy 85-05 (charging meals and other food items) and policy 85-20 (free meal services); each adoption was recorded as carrying unanimously.

The board approved a financial resolution transferring $215,000 from the repair reserve fund to the Teachers' Retirement System (TRS) reserve and $200,000 from the repair reserve to the Employee Retirement System (ERS) reserve to fund future retirement contribution obligations. The resolution authorizes the school business official and district treasurer to make the transfers in compliance with applicable law (the transcript cites General Municipal Law provisions in the resolution language).

The board also authorized the district to accept electronic payments for school taxes and other legal purposes, including credit/debit cards and online bank transfers; administrators confirmed card surcharges would be paid by the payer and that ACH-style bank transfers would not incur a fee.

Votes at a glance

- Policy 81-30 (school safety plans and teams): adopted unanimously.
- Policy 85-05 (charging meals): adopted unanimously.
- Policy 85-20 (free meal services): adopted unanimously.
- Transfer to TRS ($215,000) and ERS ($200,000): approved unanimously.
- Authorization to accept electronic payments for taxes: approved unanimously.

The board also voted to enter executive session earlier in the meeting to discuss confidential personnel/medical/financial matters and later returned to open session to read a memorial resolution honoring Mary Lee Haig.