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MOUNT PLEASANT-COTTAGE UNION FREE SCHOOL DISTRICT — Annual Organizational Meeting, Monday, July 13, 2026.
Our parent watchdogs have scanned the upcoming agenda for MOUNT PLEASANT-COTTAGE UNION FREE SCHOOL DISTRICT. We found 5 items that need your immediate attention before the vote.
| 🚨 HIGH CONCERN (LEVEL 9) |
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Hiding the Superintendent’s New 5-Year Contract from the Public
The Board is scheduled to approve a five-year contract for Superintendent Dr. Christina Torres under Item 21.4, but the contract itself has not been made public in the agenda. This is a massive financial and leadership commitment being voted on without any public transparency. Parents have a right to see the terms, salary, and performance clauses before the Board locks taxpayers into a long-term deal.
Recommended Action Plan
DEMAND TRANSPARENCY: Email the Board of Education. ‘I demand Item 21.4 be tabled until the full proposed contract for the Superintendent is posted publicly for review. The public has a right to see the details before you vote on a five-year commitment.’
💰 Taxpayer Impact: Undisclosed (Likely a multi-million dollar, 5-year commitment)
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| 🚨 HIGH CONCERN (LEVEL 8) |
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Secret Changes to Administrator and Staff Contracts
Under items 21.5 and 22.2, the Board is voting to approve an ‘Addendum’ for School Monitors and the Assistant Superintendent. The actual text of these addendums, which change the terms of employment and likely compensation, are not attached to the agenda. This is a pattern of hiding important financial and personnel decisions from public view.
Recommended Action Plan
DEMAND TRANSPARENCY: Email the Board of Education. ‘I demand Items 21.5 and 22.2 be pulled from the Consent Agenda for a separate vote. The public must be able to review the proposed contract addendums before they are approved.’
💰 Taxpayer Impact: Undisclosed
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| ⚠️ NEEDS REVIEW (LEVEL 7) |
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Hiring ‘Behavior’ Staff to Implement Social Emotional Learning
The district is hiring multiple ‘Behavior Modification Aides’ (Item 22.12). A review of their resumes shows their expertise is not in academics, but in ‘Social Emotional Learning,’ ’emotional regulation,’ and ‘prosocial skills.’ This is a strategy to embed SEL ideology directly into the classroom through personnel, bypassing curriculum review and focusing on modifying student attitudes and behaviors.
Recommended Action Plan
ASK THE BOARD: Email the Board of Education. ‘Regarding the new hires in Item 22.12, what specific training and curriculum will these Social Emotional Learning-focused aides be using with students? Will parents be notified and have the right to opt-out of these behavioral interventions?’
💰 Taxpayer Impact: Undisclosed salaries for multiple new aides.
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| ⚠️ NEEDS REVIEW (LEVEL 6) |
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Using Your Tax Dollars to Lobby Against Parental Rights
Under item 11.1, the Board is appointing ‘Legislative Advocates’ to represent the district with the New York State School Board Association (NYSSBA). This organization is a powerful lobbying group that frequently opposes policies like curriculum transparency and parental notification. This appointment means our district’s influence and resources are being used to lobby the state government, often against the interests of parents.
Recommended Action Plan
PUT THEM ON NOTICE: Email the Board of Education. ‘Regarding Item 11.1, I demand that the district’s Legislative Advocates provide a public report each quarter on the specific legislation they are lobbying for or against using their position as our representatives. Taxpayer-funded lobbying must be transparent.’
💰 Taxpayer Impact: District membership dues to NYSSBA.
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| ⚠️ NEEDS REVIEW (LEVEL 5) |
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Paying Staff to Coordinate ‘Therapeutic Crisis Intervention’
Item 22.10 approves $8,500 in stipends for ‘TCI/HWC Coordinators.’ TCI, or Therapeutic Crisis Intervention, is a behavioral management system that often promotes ‘trauma-informed’ and ‘restorative’ approaches to student discipline. This can lead to policies that replace real consequences for misbehavior with therapy, potentially compromising classroom safety and accountability.
Recommended Action Plan
ASK QUESTIONS: Email the Board of Education. ‘Regarding the TCI/HWC stipends in Item 22.10, how does this crisis intervention model handle violent or severely disruptive behavior? Please provide the board policy that ensures this therapeutic approach does not override consequences for code of conduct violations.’
💰 Taxpayer Impact: $8,500 in stipends, plus future training costs.
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