BCSD Board Meeting Brief – January 7, 2026

The BCSD Board Meeting Brief is designed to be a quick, high-level rundown of Bedford Central School District’s Board of Education meetings. While the full information is always available to the public on BoardDocs, we know you’re busy and we want to deliver an easily digestible overview of each of our meetings.

Special Presentations

• Fox Lane Middle School Presentation: Ms. Mary Harrison, Principal
  • The Board and Ms. Harrison had the following discussion following the presentation:
    • Discussion of STAR reading screener data for grades 6–8 confirms cohort-based growth
    • Greeting initiatives (at the door/classroom) are a deliberate, research-based strategy to improve attendance and build a welcoming climate. Community-building events like open gym nights are successfully helping incoming sixth graders connect
    • Structured teaming and shared STAR data have become central for coordinating consistent interventions for struggling readers
    • Collaboration with a consultant, Angela Lawler, is ongoing, and morphology and syllable-type instruction is already being implemented
    • Data shows that interventions are successfully moving students out of "urgent" (red) and "potential" (yellow) intervention tiers. The middle school is committed to a cross-curricular literacy approach, integrating reading and writing into subjects beyond ELA
    • The school also maintains a strong collaborative professional development culture that supports the consistent implementation of these practices

Student Announcements

• Do you have old or extra neck ties? Donate yours to the high school’s fashion department so students can work on creating their unique clothing pieces for class. Donations can be dropped off to D155 at the high school
• The Fox Lane High School clinical team is having a test anxiety workshop during lunch for three Wednesdays in January starting next week (1/14, 1/21, 1/28). Students must attend all three and should email their guidance counselor to sign up

District Presentations

• Health Insurance Presentation: Ms. Tiggs, Mr. Formoso, BCSD & Ms. Vanessa Flynn, Segal
  • The Board discussed the following after the presentation:
    • The current self-insured plan has seen a sharp, unexpected increase in claims experience, making the self-funded model no longer financially sustainable. NYSHIP offers more predictable, single-digit rate increases (historically 5-6%) compared to the double-digit increases the district has been experiencing. The move is viewed as a "win” for better budgeting, taxpayers, and employees, who will receive "phenomenal insurance"
    • NYSHIP operates on a calendar year. Consequently, employee health insurance contribution adjustments will occur on January 1 (mid-fiscal year) to align with NYSHIP's rate cycle, instead of the district's July 1 fiscal year start
    •  The current NYSHIP plan being adopted is not HSA-eligible, but the district will continue to offer an FSA (Flexible Spending Account). Existing dental and vision plans will remain in place, as the change only affects the medical and prescription drug side
  • The Board approved moving to the new plan
• Update on Pupil Personnel Services/Special Education Merger: Dr. Glass
  • The merger is intended to improve collaboration and provide seamless services to students and families
  • An immediate six-month interim plan is proposed to begin the transition
  • Personnel Changes:
    • The PPS director position (previously held by Lisa O'Shea) will be left vacant for the rest of the year
    • Dr. Carey will lead the combined department as Interim Assistant Superintendent of Special Education and PPS
    • Dana Keith will be promoted to Interim Director of Special Education and PPS
    • An opening for an Interim Supervisor of Special Education and PPS will be posted immediately
  • The six-month trial will be used to evaluate the new structure and inform the final, permanent department structure and budget planning for the next fiscal year. Future positions below the Assistant Superintendent level will be openly posted

Superintendent Announcements

• Bond Construction work took place over the break
  • The front entrance structure at Fox Lane Middle School has been installed. There is a temporary new entryway
  • Projects were also completed at Fox Lane High School, including restrooms in the commons, two staff bathrooms, an update of restrooms near the turf field and new restrooms for the public in the basement of Central Office
• The posting for the Bedford Hills Elementary School principal has been advertised. There are a high number of applicants. Focus groups with stakeholders at the school have taken place. The structure will be the same as the last round of principal searches which were highly successful
• On Wednesday, January 14, at 7pm in the Suzanne Grant Theater at Fox Lane Middle School, Northwell Health will be holding a Community Forum to answer any questions the community may have in regards to the partnership with their mental health clinic

Old Business

• The Board approved the Corrective Action Plan for the Medicaid Reimbursement Comptroller's Audit

New Business

• Board Goals: 5-Year Plan
  • The Board discussed that the district needs to establish five-year budget plans, adjusting them annually to look ahead. The goal is to start planning for significant, budget-related items that are not currently attainable within a single year
  • In addition to the list on Board Docs, trustees are being asked to consider:
    • Best practices for student support staffing
    • Working to improve district programming to increase BCSD's ratings. Strengthen the district’s visibility, image and attractiveness to prospective families. Highlighting BCSD's strengths and reinforcing BCSD’s reputation
    • Incorporate environmental stewardship into long-term goals to support sustainable practices and responsible resource management
    • Improve Board advocacy, especially as it relates to state funding 

To view the Consent Agenda, as well as the meeting minutes, visit BoardDocs