One notable issue during the meeting was the modification of school start times, particularly for elementary students now scheduled to start at 9:00 a.m. Parents like Mona Thally expressed that this change could complicate morning routines for working parents unable to afford before-care services. She stated, “Did you take into account the parents that have to be to work in the morning and can’t afford before care?” This sentiment was echoed by Janisa Farah, who shared her own struggles with staggered start times and the punctuality of teachers in opening school doors.

Concerns about the start times extended beyond parental logistics to broader educational impacts. A parent highlighted that a late lunch schedule, where children eat as late as 2:00 p.m., is not conducive to effective learning. They noted that the staffing issues, compounded by low salaries forcing teachers to take secondary jobs, further complicate the ability to provide adequate support and supervision. This was supported by Kathy Watson from the Pleasantville Education Association, who emphasized that many educators are also parents affected by the schedule, raising questions about the timing and supervision of extracurricular activities.

Superintendent Dr. Marilyn Martinez attempted to address these concerns by explaining that the revised schedule aims to reduce congestion and support high school students. She assured parents that a program would be in place for students arriving early, and the schedule would be communicated soon. However, conflicting reports on lunch timings and student dismissal persisted, leaving some parents and educators dissatisfied with the explanations provided.

Community engagement and representation were also topics of discussion. Christian Moreno Rodriguez raised concerns about the need for greater inclusion of Latino and immigrant communities in school board meetings and events, citing past decisions that seemed to alienate these groups. His call for protections for immigrant students highlighted ongoing community tensions and the board’s responsibility to address these issues comprehensively.

In addition, the board faced criticism over its handling of transparency and communication. One speaker criticized the board for a lack of transparency regarding decisions made in executive sessions. They stated, “You come out of executive session and you make a motion to approve some kind of expenditure for the attorneys. What case? What did you talk about?” The board attempted to clarify that recent legal fee resolutions were not related to case settlements but rather reimbursements for dismissed prosecutions, yet questions about overall transparency remained.

The meeting also touched upon the district’s educational performance metrics, with Dr. Martinez presenting positive data on graduation rates and dual enrollment. However, chronic absenteeism remains a challenge, with the district’s rate notably higher than the statewide average.

A particularly debate surrounded the waiver of fees for a pageant event. Board members deliberated on whether waiving fees for the Miss Puerto Rico and Miss Latina pageant was fair, considering previous instances where fees were waived for similar nonprofit events. There was a call for ensuring equitable treatment for all organizations using district facilities, with some members suggesting partial fee waivers as a compromise.

Moving forward, the board has scheduled community partnership meetings to engage more directly with parents and community members in creating a strategic plan for district improvement. These meetings are intended to foster collaboration and address the concerns raised during the session, with an emphasis on transparency and effective communication.