001Are we good? Yeah, we're live. Oh, I didn't know that. So, welcome everybody. Thank you so much for being here. Uh, I want to welcome the board of education, Dr. Gunderson, our central administration and building staff. Uh, I want to thank our our teachers and other staff members that are here. I want to thank family members, spouses, children, parents, and our tenure recipients. We have 18 recipients this year. It's a really big [Applause] class. 16 of which are are here tonight. Uh three of the 18 have already received tenure earlier this year. And if you want to know who they are, they're the ones that are very relaxed out there right now sitting. Everyone else still hasn't gotten tenure yet technically, even after the vote. So, we are still going to be watching the clock
002tomorrow to make sure that they're here. I'm just joking. Just Billy we're going to be doing that for. Um, so thank you for the tenure recipients for joining us and suffering. I know some of you it's the first time you're receiving tenure and it's such a great milestone to get that achievement especially the first time. I know others of you who we've stolen from other districts or who have come into new positions in the district have already had it but it is a great accomplishment because obtaining tenure and suffering is not a given. It's a tough process. Every year you have multiple observations by different administrators, some building level, some central office. And it can be very nerve-wracking, especially those in their first few years. But our goal in Suffren is to attract, develop, and
003retain the best teachers and administrators that we can, the best in the county. And by receiving tenure tonight, you've proven to us that you were definitely worthy of that. And we are so proud to have you with us in Suffren. So, thank you so much. Uh what's great this year too is we have all six of our buildings represented. So we're going to have all of our principles uh speak tonight. So what they're going to do is I'm going to invite them up by building. They're going to call you up and you're going to stand up here awkwardly as they say nice things about you in front of your family so we can get some nice pictures as well. Um and then again with the family, we know you guys work hard here because we
004see you every day. Your family knows how hard you work outside of school. They see you on the weekends, at nights, your children, and your and your spouses and your parents see how hard you work. We want to thank the family for all the support you've given them, too. Because to be successful, you not only need the support that we can give you here, but also the support of your loved ones and friends as well, and also your colleagues who have helped and mentored you in the district. Um, and finally, I just want to thank Janet uh Janakio for all the great food up there. [Applause] And when we're done with the ceremony, there'll be an opportunity to grab some more after that. So without further ado, I would like to invite up the principal
005of Cherry Lane Elementary School, Miss Angela Aguilar. [Applause] Thank you, Larry. [Music] All right, Morelia Reva Andrade, come on [Applause] up. So, Dr. Gunderson, members of the board of education, it is my honor and great pleasure uh to present to you Mrs. Melia Reeba Andrade as a candidate for tenure for the 2025 school year. Merelia earned her bachelor's of music and music education from Sunni Fredonia in May of 2019, followed by her master's degree in Tissole in December of 2020. With a strong background in instrumental music, her passion has always been rooted in elementary music education, where she believes the joy of music begins. She's a proud graduate of Suffren Central School District. Meria is a true product of our community. As a student, she immersed herself in every musical opportunity available, experiences left a
006lasting impression, and inspired her to return home to give back to the program that shaped her. Since joining our district, she has demonstrated remarkable adaptability and professionalism. She began her career teaching general music and when the need arose, she seamlessly transitioned into her current role as our elementary band director. Her flexibility, collaborative spirit, and her commitment to students have made her an invaluable member to Cherry Lane and Suffren Central. What sets her apart is the deep connection she builds with her students. She creates a supportive, fun, and encouraging environment where young musicians not only learn to play an instrument, but they also discover the confidence, the creativity, and love for music. Her classroom is a place where students feel uh safe to take risk, to grow, and to definitely shine. Beyond her own classroom, she
007is deeply involved in the broader music program here at Suffren Central, contributing her time and her talent to many things such as the middle school school productions, assisting with high school marching band, and I'm just naming a few. She is out constantly. Tenure is more than a milestone. It's a recognition of excellence, dedication, and meaningful impact. really embod embodies all of these qualities and more. Her quiet passion is contagious, her commitment is unwavering, and her influence is profound. Tonight, as we recommend her for tenure, we celebrate not just what she has accomplished, but the lasting difference that she continues to make in the lives of our students here at Suffren Central. Congratulations, Meria. Thank you, Angela. And now from Montabelloo Elementary School, Teresa Ivy. [Applause] [Music] [Applause] Good evening and come on up, Mr. Gray.
008[Applause] [Music] So, first, happy teacher appreciation week to everyone. And it is with great pleasure that I stand before you tonight to recommend to the board of education that Mr. Canard Gray receive tenure. Canard, if I were our as artistically talented as you, I might have captured your time at Montabelloo in a masterpiece on canvas. But alas, I am not. So, I've had to rely on words, which for everyone's sake is probably for the best. That said, I've been known to channel my inner Picasso and create art alongside the students in your classroom. And that is because Mr. Gay's classroom is welcoming. It's one where everyone is an artist. It is a place where curiosity and expression come alive, where individuality is encouraged and celebrated. It is a place where every student is invited to
009see the world through a broader compassionate lens. His lessons are detailed, engaging, and full of depth. Whether he's talking about the artists themselves, technique, or the history that shaped it, he is the kind of teacher who teaches students not just to make art, but find their voice in it. And most importantly, Canard, you teach students that creating something impressionable takes more than talent. It takes thought, intention, courage to try and make mistakes and then try again. Mr. Gray is not only artistically talented, but he is also musically talented and has been known to play the bass clarinet at our concerts. Students love seeing Mr. Gray as a musician as well, which enhances his connections with them and shows them that creativity doesn't live in just one space. It flows between disciplines and it's something that
010you can carry with you throughout life. Tonight, Canard, you are standing here because you are passionate about shaping the world through your teaching. We celebrate the work you have done thus far and the lasting mark you will continue to leave on students, our school, and the world of art. Congratulations. We are lucky to have [Applause] you. Congratulations. [Music] Thank you, Teresa from RP. Connor, Kelly Bennady. [Applause] [Music] the mic for the shorties. We should do size order. Okay. Thank you. I'd like to invite up Katie Ali. [Applause] Good evening everyone. It is a great pleasure that I recommend Katie Ali for tenure as a teaching assistant. I first met Katie when she was a fifth grade student and I was her math tutor. Even then, her kindness, thoughtfulness, and determination stood out. It's been a
011privilege to watch her grow into the compassionate, reflective, and skilled professional she is today. Katie joined our team as a leave replacement teacher and later became a teaching assistant in special education. She consistently demonstrates a deep commitment to the academic, social, and emotional success of every student in the classroom. She adapts materials, supports IEP goals, and creates a nurturing environment where students feel seen and supported. Her calm demeanor and positive behavior management skills help foster both academic and emotional growth. Katie collaborates seamlessly with colleagues, contributing valuable insights and supporting the school community. She also takes the initiative to grow professionally, continuing to seek out training opportunities to improve her impact. Katie is the kind of educator every school is lucky to have, and I wholeheartedly recommend her for tenure. I know you do that, but
012I do too. She's earned this recognition through her dedication, compassion, and unwavering commitment to our students. Congratulations, Katie. This is welld deserved. [Applause] Now, let's invite up Carly Palagus. [Applause] Good evening again. Good evening. It's truly my pleasure to speak tonight about someone who in just one year has become a valued part of our school community. Our colleague Carly Palagudus. I first met Carly four years ago during the hiring process. While she wasn't placed at my school then, I was immediately impressed by her skills and knew she would be a perfect fit. I'm grateful she's now with us at RPC Connor. Carly brings energy, creativity, and warmth to everything she does. She doesn't just deliver lessons, she creates experiences. For example, during the ancient Greece unit, her students dressed in togas and explored the world
013of gods and philosophers. Her ability to bring learning to life is remarkable. What sets Carly apart is her commitment to all learners, especially our English language learners. She works seamlessly with our ENL teacher, Mrs. Camilillo, to ensure that all students engage meaningfully with content. Beyond the classroom, Carly builds strong connections with families as our PTA leaison. She communicates effectively and supports colleagues with a smile. She is a connector and a constant source of support for our school community. Congratulations, Carly. You are already making an extraordinary impact. [Applause] Alexis [Music] [Applause] Cardian. Okay. I first met Alexis four years ago as well during the interview process and I was immediately impressed by her calm presence and thoughtful responses. When she joined RP Connor after the district restructuring, it was clear that she was the perfect fit
014for our community. Alexis has grown into a reflective student- centered educator, creating a warm, inclusive classroom that reflects her values. She is respected by her colleagues and families for her professionalism and leadership. This year, her co-eing partnership with Miss Santoro has become a model of integrated instruction, and her classroom was even showcased during administrative visit. Alexis embraced the opportunity to attend a three-part professional development series with the Arburn on ENL and co-eing, returning energized and eager to implement what she learned. Her enthusiasm and dedication to growth benefit not only her own practice, but also her students and her colleagues. Beyond the classroom, she builds strong relationships with students and families, contributing positively to our school culture. She is truly an outstanding educator. Congratulations, Alexis. You've earned this moment. Thank you, Kelly. I'd like to welcome
015up from Slotzburg Elementary School, Vanessa [Applause] [Music] Rodriguez. Good evening everyone. Um, I would like to call up Melissa Seagull Inhabber to begin with Slober. [Applause] It's with great pride that we recognize tonight Melissa this this evening as she receives tenure. A proud graduate also of Suffron High School. She returned to our district in 2021 bringing with her an incredible blend of artistry, compassion, and commitment to education with degrees from Sunni Buffalo Hofra and the School of Visual Arts. She's taught students from preK through fifth grade. first at Biola with me actually and now at Slodesburg Elementary School. Melissa is not only a talented educator but also a valued voice for student inclusivity and belonging as well as a champion of student creativity through art exhibits and contests across New York State. Whether she's sparking
016imagination in the classroom or encouraging her students to pursue art in their spare time, Melissa's impact is deeply felt. Most of all, she brings heart. Inspired by a family full of educators and most especially her mom, she leads with kindness, integrity, and a passion for helping every student grow into their best, most creative self. Congratulations on this milestone, Melissa. [Applause] [Laughter] [Applause] All right, next up, I'd like to call Nicole Pagnatada. [Applause] [Music] It is my absolute pleasure to congratulate Nicole on earning her tenure this evening. An honor that not only reflects years of dedication, but a deep and lasting impact on our entire school community. Since joining the district in 2015 as a long-term sub and officially taking the reigns at Slotzburg in 2016, Miss Pagnata has brought music to the life of our
017students through her classes and unforgettable schoolwide and community performances. From writing and directing a village anniversary concert to launching a second grade podcast and even assisting with musicals at the middle school level, her energy and creativity are unmatched. She is also someone that others can count on, myself in particular. Whether it's pitching in at PA PTA events, leading traditions with her own unique flare, or inspiring students to find joy in performing from the earliest of ages, and of course behind the scenes, we know she has a rockstar team, her fiance Mike on the drums, her sister Sam helping with set design, and her dad Frank who's in the audience, and of course her dog Chester helping to keep it all into perspective. So congratulations, Nicole. We are so lucky to have your heart and talent
018in this [Music] [Applause] [Music] district. All right. Next, I would like to call Christy Torres to join me. It is truly an honor for me to stand beside Christie and celebrate her on achieving her tenure tonight. She joined the district in 2021 and since then has brought passion, purpose, and deep expertise into every classroom that she has entered. From transitional bilingual classrooms to dual language kindergarten and first grade, her commitment to empowering bilingual learners has been nothing short of inspiring. A proud Lehman Col College graduate with a background in sociology and early childhood special education, Mrs. Torres has been a driving force in advancing bilingual education here in Suffron. Whether helping to pilot UFly initiatives, supporting district-wide kindergarten screenings, or collaborating on strategies with Dr. Bwena to grow our dual language program, her impact has
019been wide-reaching and deeply meaningful. Beyond the classroom, she's been a joyful presence at multicultural nights and one suffering day, sharing, celebrating, and honoring the diverse voices throughout our entire community. Christy leaves with heart. She lifts her students with care. And she partners with families both as an educator and a proud mother of two. Thank you for your dedication and congratulations on this well-earned milestone. [Applause] [Music] And last, but certainly not least, I would like to call up Mrs. Jamie [Music] [Applause] [Music] Frasier. Don't be nervous. We're just here with friends. Congratulations, Jamie, on achieving tenure. Jaimeie has brought nonstop Maui pride and unwavering commitment to her students every single day since joining the district in 2021. Mrs. Frasier is a graduate of West Virginia University and she has touched the lives of learners from kindergarten
020all the way through fifth grade at Saltzburg Elementary School. always, always creating a safe, welcoming space where students feel both challenged and nurtured. Whether launching the Great Writing Challenge, championing positive role models through her leading leaders initiative, or lighting up multicultural night, which she says is her favorite night of the year, Jaime's passion for education and community is unmistakable. She is not only a gifted educator, but also a devoted mother of three and a proud West Virginia who has now made suffer her home. Mrs. Mrs. Frasier, thank you for inspiring us all, for everything that you do to help our students grow. [Applause] Congratulations. Thank you. [Music] Thank you, Vanessa. Uh, from the middle school, I'd like to welcome up Andrew [Applause] [Music] Trust. Good evening, everyone. Dr. Gunderson and Board of Education. I'm proud
021to present three candidates for tenure at Suffren Middle School. Our first candidate tonight is Tom Nolei. [Applause] Larry told us to keep the speeches short. So Tommy, you're good. Thanks. I'm just kidding. It's a real pleasure to stand here tonight and recognize someone who truly embodies the spirit of suffering. Tom Natoli as a as a as he receives tenure as a physical education teacher at Suffer Middle School. Tom isn't just a fantastic educator. He's a proud Mounty, a dedicated coach, and a role model for our students. Whether he's leading his PE classes, coaching the modified hockey team, coaching the modified baseball team, or volunteering with the varsity hockey team, Tom brings passion, pride, and purpose to everything he does. Now, I've known Tom a long time. In fact, I had the experience of coaching against
022him when he was a student athlete right here at Suffren High School. And let me tell you, he was incredibly frustrating to coach against. Why? Because he was a goalie. He was Natoli the goalie. And not just any goalie, a legendary suffering goalie. He didn't just [Applause] play. He didn't just play the whole game. He owned it. No matter how many quality chances we had, Tom always found a way to make the save. The same focus, competitiveness, and leadership that defined him as a player now defines him as a teacher and a coach. Tom, we're proud of you, not only for earning tenure, but for the positive impact that you make every day in our school community. Congratulations on this well-earned milestone. The Mounties are lucky to have you. [Applause] Come on, Tommy. They told
023us to keep it quick. [Music] Our next candidate for tenure is Mr. Matt Fucci. There he comes. We all got those at home. It's a true pleasure to stand here tonight and recognize Matt Fucci on receiving tenure as a special education teacher at Suffer Middle School. This moment is especially meaningful to me because believe it or not, Matt was my TA when I first started teaching early in my career. Even back then, it was clear that he had a natural gift for connecting with students and the calm, steady presence that brought out the best in those around him. Watching Matt grow from that role into the outstanding educator he is today has been incredibly rewarding. Matt's dedication to his students goes far beyond the classroom. He works tirelessly with his case load to make sure
024they're not only keeping up with their assignments, but truly understanding the material and building the confidence that they need to succeed. His attention to detail, his patience, and his ability to meet each student where they are academically and emotionally set him apart. Matt, your commitment, your heart, and your professionalism have made a lasting impact on this school community. We are lucky to have you here and I'm proud to officially welcome you as a tenure teacher hopefully to Suffer Middle School. Congratulations. [Music] Our final candidate is Marissa Mendoza. [Applause] [Music] Marissa began her teaching career in Suffren at Montabelloo Elementary School where she quickly distinguished herself as a passionate and dedicated educator. She was instrumental in the development of the school's bilingual program helping to build the foundation that continues to serve students today. Beyond the
025classroom, Marissa has also led the Girls on the Run program at Monavello, empowering young girls to build confidence, devel develop healthy habits, and support one another, an effort that speaks volumes about who she is as a mentor and a role model. When Marissa joined Suffren, joined the team at Suffren Middle School, she brought her vision, experience, and deep commitment to equity with her. She has played a vital role in continuing the development and leading our sixth grade bilingual program. She creates a welcoming and supportive space for our multilingual learners so that they can thrive. Marissa's dedication, warmth, and leadership have made her an integral part of our school community. Congratulations, Marissa, on this well-earned milestone. We are happy to have you. [Applause] [Music] Andrew, did you get tenure, too? Uh, thank you, Andrew. And now
026Paul Adler from the high school. [Applause] Dr. Gunderson, members of the board, we have three wonderful educators to recommend for tenure this year at Suffren High School. First, I would like to call up Dr. Tyena Ortiz [Applause] Veles. I'm honored to recommend Dr. Tyena Orte Or Ortiz, our wonderful school psychologist. Dr. Ortiz Veles came to suffer after serving for seven years at the Mid Hudson Forensic Psychiatric Center where she also trained graduate students in psychology. She received her doctorate in child psychology from the yeshiva university in 2007. Tyena brought her expertise to Suffren High in 2020 where she provides not only regular one-on-one support and counseling for some of our highest need students but also provides effective crisis management to our school. When it comes to crises, Tyena simply does not acknowledge the hours of
0277:30 to 2:5. She goes above and beyond to make sure our students ina are safe and getting the care they need no matter the time of day or the day of the week. Dr. Ortiz Bles also happens to be be bilingual, which has given our Spanish student speaking students and families a much needed source of support and a safe place to share their concerns. I can't tell you the amount of times that I see Tyena comforting a parent or relative and explaining to them how they're going to get the resources and support they need. Her colleagues also noticed Tyena's commitment to her role here at Suffren High. And I'd like to share some comments from them that they shared with me. Tyena from their first uh colleague. Tyena has unw an unwavering dedication to her
028students and is an incredible support to our team. She brings a rare blend of professionalism, integrity to everything she does, constantly showing up with care, commitment, and a quiet strength that inspires those around her. From another colleague, I feel honored to work with such dedicated colleagues, and SHS is lucky to have them as clinicians on staff. Tyena is smart, accessible to her students, and always considering ways to better support and connect with them. She can fang an office like a pro and turn a hallway into a welcome center for students. from our next colleague. Tyena is an unmistakable talent and not to be confused with Tana, Tanya, or Tena. She's not only proficient with assessments, Tyena is exceptional at collaborating and interacting with students and staff, her students love her and are eager to seek
029her out. One hidden gem most don't know about is that Tyena has a gift of decorating. She's created a wonderful space for our office and has helped other staff members decorate their spaces. And finally, she always is willing to create a safe space and advocate advocate for students, especially those who are among our Spanish speaking population. She's a she has a great talent for knowing how to decorate office spaces to make them more efficient um and welcoming to students. So, on behalf of our entire team at Sver High, we so value uh Tyena and uh we we proudly recommend you for tenure. Congratulations. [Applause] It is now my pleasure to call up Mr. Josh [Applause] Pilgrim. And Josh had to dress better than me again. So Josh came to us in 2020 having served as
030a school psychologist prior at the um at an elementary school in Middletown, New York. He seamlessly transition to suffering high developing really really really strong rel relationships with students to the point where students seek him out even during their non-mandated times. He'll often have a line around uh around his office. Josh goes above and beyond as committed his time to serving students not just during the school day but outside the school day. Whether a student is in crisis or needs support um when they are not in school due to health reasons, he is always available for our students. Always there for our kids. Mr. Pilgrim has also recently stepped into a leadership role at Suffren High as he pursues his certificate advanced study at Sunni Newalts. He has led and coordinated our afterchool homework club
031which is no small program. uh serves up to uh 30 students a day and it provides vital academic support for students as well as a quiet and safe place for students to study. He spent hours analyzing our discipline data to inform our approach to consequences and restorative practices. Quite simply, Josh pitches in wherever the school needs him to. His colleagues also think Josh is a special person. And here's what they said about him from his first colleague. What makes Josh truly special is his ability to bring humor into even the most stressful situations, lightening the mood for everyone. This makes it easy for students to approach him. As a colleague, he's easy to talk to and always willing to genuinely provide support. From another colleague, Josh has the ability to make his students feel supported
032and hold them accountable when necessary. They just want to be in the room where it happens, which happens to be Josh's room, and it's understood that they are welcome. He smiles and laughs easily and raises the bar in dressing for success with his always freshly pressed garments. From your next colleague. Now Joshua Pilgrim is not to be confused with Tyena. Whereas Tyena is gifted with interior decorating, Joshua is our fashion king. He is handy with an iron and can put together an outfit with exceptional ease. Joshua's presence has students lining up at his door literally every lunch. Josh is quick to collaborate with others, seek advice, and is an avid learner. His calm demeanor and humor allow students and staff alike to be drawn to him. And finally, Josh is the kind of person every
033school needs. Someone who brings humor, heart, and a helping hand to every corner of the building. He has a natural way of connecting with students and staff alike. Funny, relatable, and always willing to pitch in wherever he's needed. And we are so fortunate to count Josh Pilgrim as one of us. Thank you, Josh. [Applause] And finally, I'd like to call up Mrs. Cassie Lyken. [Applause] [Music] Cassie uh comes to us from East Remipo where she taught seventh and eighth grade seventh and eighth grade English for several years. Here at SHS, Mrs. Lyken teaches writing, ELA and AVID and her classroom practices are a model for the school. In fact, she helped train our teachers in AVID strategies earlier this year. Every one of Miss Lyken's lesson is tightly planned with clear objectives, timed agendas, and
034resources for struggling students. Most importantly, she centers her lessons around things students truly care about. One year, she built an entire unit around the serial podcast and had students analyze how the writers and producers of the show built suspense and engagement in the production. During another unit, students debated the difference between justice and fairness using key and core texts. Cassie is also the wonderful adviser to our newspaper club which p publishes high quality and professional quality student journ journalism. Mrs. Lyken teaches two classes of seniors and she truly goes above and beyond to support those who may be at risk for not graduating. Last year in particular, I remember her working with several students during lunch and behind the scenes to ensure they succeeded not just in her class but all classes. She truly breathed
035belief into them when they doubted themselves and they would not have graduated without her work. Given what she means to students, I asked them to share their thoughts on what it's like to be taught by Mrs. Lyken. Here's what they said. Don't worry, this was on a good day. Okay, the first student says, "Mrs. Lyken is so amiable and nurtures her students like they are her own. She always strives to connect with others while making learning enjoyable." from our next student. I love having ad within Miss Like Mrs. Lyken because not only do we study for college readiness, we're always having a lot of fun. On on days when we're not in a great learning mindsets, she has us refocus with Cornell notes or helps us study for another class. Now that we're starting our
036college essays, she's really been pushing us to look inside ourselves. She uses her own personal experiences to help us learn, and I love that she feels like she has made us part of her family. We spent time throughout the year getting to know each other. Whether it be learning how each of us got our names or telling us stories about her wonderful trophy, we all grow together as a class. Thank you, Mrs. Lyken, for everything you do. From our next student, Mrs. Lyken is an amazing teacher because of how she treats every student with the same amount of kindness and respect. And finally, what makes Mrs. Lyken a good teacher is her compassion and commitment to teaching. She never fails to show us how much she believes in us and pushes us to meet our
037goals. She's been so helpful because junior year is stressful and I don't know what I would do without her. She is such an amazing teacher. We feel the same way as our students and we are so lucky to have Mrs. Cassie Lyen as our teacher. Thank you. [Music] Thank you, Paul. And finally, I'd like to invite up uh our superintendent, Dr. Eric [Applause] Gunderson. Good evening, everyone. It is my honor and pleasure to ask Dr. Billy Castellane, our assistant superintendent for finance and business operations to come on [Applause] up. Billy Castellane is a is a fixture around the Suffren Central School District. And so many of you wouldn't be incorrect in wondering this guy's been here for over a decade and he's only getting tenure right now. But yes, Billy Castellane has played so many
038roles in our district. He has served for over 12 years in the district starting off as a supervisor of special services. Then he became an assistant principal here at the high school. Then a few years later he became principal of Slatzburg Elementary. And then in a time about three years ago when our district was searching for a new leader to lead up our business department, Billy Castellane stepped up and said that he was ready for the job. And I have to tell you that as an individual who was an educator for a long time, even before you came to Suffren Central, it is fantastic not only for me and for all of you, but our entire Suffering Central community to have a lead business official who is focused and has experience with what takes place
039in the classroom as well as has a financial background. Billy Castellane brings the educator component to the business office and I thank you for that. On a day-to-day basis, Billy Castellane knows how to make very difficult decisions, sometimes unpopular decisions, but always does so, keeping the students needs at the forefront of his decision-making. He is a compassionate, intelligent, incredibly hardworking, a little witty too every once in a while, but a focused educator and an incredible asset to our district. So, Dr. Castellane, I congratulate you on your tenure as the assistant superintendent for finance and business operations in the district. Congratulations. [Applause] In closing, I would like to thank all of you and congratulate all of you on your tenure here in Suffren Central. It truly is a special place to work and for our students,
040it's an incredible place to go to school. And I often equate the tenure process as kind of like a relationship where for the first three or four years you get to test the waters. You get to make sure that you're getting the appropriate attention and support from the school district and we get to see if you truly have what it takes to be the best educator for our students. Now we've gotten to that point. We've tested out the waters, right? There have probably been some bumps in the road for you here and there and for us. We're learning with each other, but now we're fully committed. Tenure is not a finish line. Tenure is just past the starting mark. And in two weeks from now, this board of education is ga going to gather again
041here in the cafeteria to celebrate our retirees. and know that all of those retirees at one point were recognized as newly tenured staff members as well. And my hope for all of you and for the suffering central community is that you thrive in what comes next after your tenure appointment. And at some point, let's hope in the distant distant future or for some of you maybe not too too distant future, you'll get to celebrate an incredible career here in Suffren Central at a retirement ceremony. So, thank you for all you do for our students every single day. Together, we truly are one suffering. Congratulations. [Applause] And before we take a a fivem minute break so you can congratulate each other, grab some more snacks on your way out. And by the way, you're more than
042welcome to stay for a full board meeting if you'd like. But before we take that five minute break, I want to acknowledge the 10 students who are just the most recent students to make our district so proud. and they are going to be here in a little while to present to the to the school board on the accomplishment that they had at the DECA international competition. Our DECA students over there in the [Applause] corner. I want to congratulate them because for some of you, you may have had them in class or some of their other 66 teammates. They have made us proud. You can even tell some of them have some hardware from the accomplishments down there in Florida. And they are an excellent representation of why I know that each and every one of
043you work so hard day in day out in the evenings on the weekends to challenge our students to achieve greatness. So to our DECA students, congratulations. We look forward to your presentation later. Thank you for being [Applause] here. I would like to close this portion of the board meeting. Help yourself to snacks. Congratulations everyone. Thank you very much for coming. [Music] Good evening, folks. If we can take the next minute or so to take a seat and we'll begin. to order here. Uh the meeting of the Suffren Central School District. Um how we doing over there, Sheruk? Just give me five seconds. Okay, great. [Music] or live. Okay, wonderful. All right, thanks everyone. Uh we're going to recall to order the regular meeting of the Suffren Central School District Board of Education for Tuesday, May
0446, 2025. Uh may the record reflect that all board members are present except for uh Mr. Matthew Kerna, who uh unfortunately cannot be here tonight, nor was he with us in executive session, but I know he does extend his congratulations to the tenure uh recipients, as do we all. Uh at this time, uh would everyone please rise for the pledge of allegiance? [Music] I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America and to the republic for which it stands, one nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all. Okay, now we're going to go to student report. We uh oh, where's our student? Okay. Uh Elijah, wherever you are, we miss you. Um okay, we're going to just go slightly out of order because we have some students present tonight and
045uh they may have to get home to do homeworks or tests or something. So, we're going to move on uh superintendent comments. We're going to take that uh item right now. Thank you very much. Certainly uh our DECA students often are very busy folks doing a lot of different things. Uh so we very much appreciate them being here this evening. DECA is a long-standing club at Suffren High School and a national organization that focuses on preparing high school students for careers in marketing, finance, hospitality, and management. This year there are 76 suffering students in the DECA organization and 10 10 of those 76 qualified and competed in the national competition in Orlando last week. And tonight, six of the students who just got back from competing in Orlando and their advisor, Miss Stacy Samara, are
046here to tell us more about DECA and their experiences this year. So, Mr. Ben Courtourtney, the the leader of the DECA organization, would you like to come up to the microphone and uh and begin? There we go. All right. Thank you all. I'd like to begin by introducing our amazing adviser, Miss Stacy Samura. All of our success, all of the back-end work has been thanks to her. So, Miss Samora, thank you. Good evening. I'd like to begin by expressing my sincere gratitude to the administration, Dr. Adler, the school board, the superintendent, Dr. Gunderson for all your steadfast support on our initiatives. Your encouragement plays a vital role in our success. Having spent seven years in the corporate sector prior to my teaching career, I can confidently attest that serving as an adviser for this club
047for the last seven years has been a deeply rewarding experience. It is truly inspiring to witness the growth and development of our members in the field of business with each passing year reflecting their increasing passion and proficiency. The success of our club is largely due to the exceptional leadership of our board members. President Ben Courtourtney, vice presidents Aaron Z and Ethan Schwarz, vice president of finance Sedarth Krishnan, vice presidents of communication Aushi Mhotra, Justin Silver, and Brandon Marusk, as well as vice president of competition Joy Yin and Andrew Corman. Their dedication coupled with the all of the club members drives our achievements with whether engaging in productive lunch meetings or collaborating in library after school. The effort and enthusiasm demonstrated by our members are truly commendable. I wish to keep my remarks short as we
048have a few that are going to speak today. However, I want to emphasize that if I were to lead a company, I would be honored to have suffering deca students as part of my team. Now, it's my pleasure to introduce our club president, Ben Courtourtney, who will provide further insights into DECA and its impacts on our students. Thank you. [Applause] Thank you again, Mr. Moore, and thank you all for your time, and it's truly an honor and a privilege to have the opportunity to speak with you guys today. As Miss Moore mentioned, my name is Ben Courtney, and it's been my honor to serve as this year's Suffren DECA president. To elaborate a bit on what Dr. Gunderson says DECA serves to prepare emerging leaders and entrepreneurs for the challenges that they'll face in the
049actual business world. It's unique in the fact that students have the opportunity to speak with industry experts, people who actually work in the business world and get judged on real competitive events. DECA is structured with competitions at the regional level, the state level, and the international level, which we just returned from. We were lucky to send over 40 students to states this year, which is up from 15 last year, where we also minted a few state champions. Additionally, at ICDC this year, we had the honor of having the first suffering deca ICDC finalist in decades, Titan Spelos. Let's clap it up for [Applause] Titan. He was in the top 10% of his event performers in the whole world. Now, before I yap too much about DECA, it's best that we hear from our club members
050that led to the success of our club. So, first, Aiden Anthony. Thank you, Ben. And hello everyone. My name is Aiden Anthony, and this year I created a presentation that consisted of an original campaign event with my two partners, Brandon Marusk and Liam Cordon. We created our very own car show and spent dozens of hours working on our project. Our hard work eventually paid off, allowing our group to qualify for the international competition and also place third in the entire state for our event. More importantly, however, I was able to serve as the campaign manager for my very good friend Ben Cordon. Conducting a successful campaign gave me the opportunity to network with others and also perform a speech in front of thousands of DECA students. Thank you. Thank you, Aiden. My name is Link
051Pantelli and this year DECA introduced me to a new potential career path. Before I joined, I had no experiences in the business world. And within a year, I learned to analyze real world business situations and generate a response in a limited time. It improved my on the spot thinking, teamwork, creativity, and public speaking. Without DECA, I never would have had this opportunity, and it taught me valuable skills that I can take with me for the rest of my life. Thank you. [Applause] Thank you, Lincoln. My name is Aayushi Morra and I've been a part of DECA since my freshman year. At first, I had no interest in business, but after being in the club and speaking with real business professionals, I learned more about the business world. This year, my partner and I created an
052event based around Hydro Flask in which we spoke to real Hydro Flask executives and gained feedback on our event, which eventually led us to internationals. And DECA isn't just about a club about learning. It's about meeting new people and also meeting professionals in the real business world. [Applause] Thank you, Aayushi. My name is Titan Spelos. In the beginning, like many other people, I didn't have a large interest in business. My main interest was computer science. But after joining DECA and learning more about business, I was a I managed to combine these two interests in my project that I had this year that combined both computer science principles as well as business. As business is important in all fields of getting a job as you get a job in a business. My task this year I
053used large language models, optical character recognition and image segmentation models to design an automated inventory system for the Wow, that's unusual antique store. This is what managed to place me as a finalist in my competition. and combining business as well as unrelated business fields that I never expected to really allowed me to prevail and has given me new interests and career paths and also scholarly [Applause] paths. In my own DECA experience, I had the privilege of running for DECA state office where I was successfully elected as New York State's vice president of competition. In this role, I'm one of five executive board members who has the honor to serve the entire state of New York's 9,000 DECA members and spend next year working with business executives to raise funding and traveling across the state to
054help with regional competitions. All in all, we are very thankful for all of your support from being able to go to Orlando to compete with 25,000 other people to growing our academics and soft skills in a way that complements our amazing education that we get here in Suffren. Suffering Deca has been an amazing experience for all of us and it wouldn't be the same without the support that we received from a community. I'd like to thank Mrs. Oti who's here in the audience. Retired Teachers Association graciously donated us for states. And I'd also like to thank Dr. Gunderson and Dr. Adler. They helped cover the cost of transportation to states and they were extremely helpful in every matter whatever we needed for our DECA competition. At Suffren, we know that we have the backing of
055our amazing board and our amazing administration for all of our pursuits. And as we continue to grow and hit new highs next year, we're excited to see what we can achieve together. Thank you all for your time and have an amazing night. [Applause] Well, Mr. Courtney, I have to say that you and your colleagues have uh have impressed us just by your your brief, enthusiastic, very professional overview of the incredible experience that you've had not only in Florida, but throughout the entire year in DECA. I had the opportunity to stop by, I think once or twice, when you were organizing before the state competition, right? There was a lot of discussion about funding, about uh campaigning, and about the projects that you were all about to embark on. And I have to tell you, I
056think I speak for everybody up here. Um, you make us very proud and thank you for what you're doing to shine a very positive light on Suffering Central. You have bright futures and thank you for allowing Suffin to be a part of that future for all. Thank you. Good job, guys. I'm going to wrap up my uh my um superintendent's comments with just a couple of quick other comments. Uh, I had the distinct pleasure of attending the Sixth Grade musical this past weekend, and I know a number of other folks in the room attended that musical as well. I have to tell you, I walked out of that theater and was just absolutely amazed that those were sixth graders with the talent, choreography, the skills, the set design, the the cast and crew was just
057absolutely incredible. And we all know that they're led by adults in Suffren Central that just go above and beyond. So, bravo to them. Um, two more quick announcements. Uh, Miss Merkelstein will continue to remind everyone, including every time you click on the website, that One Suffren Day is coming up on May 18th, Sunday, May 18th from 10:00 a.m. to 100 p.m. at Suffren Middle School. We are going to have our One Suffren celebration. This is a wonderful opportunity for those of you that have not attended before um for especially our younger families to see what is in store for their children when they enter middle and high school. We have a variety of athletic organizations, co-curricular clubs, academic or um programs that are going to be presenting at one suffering day. It really gives young
058families that flavor of just the incredible opportunities that students will have in the middle school and the high school. So we welcome you out there for a threehour block of time. There'll be a lot of fun games, educational opportunities to learn about suffering and some cool food trucks as well. Not to mention a fun color run also with free t-shirts. And then I'm not going to steal the thunder of Mr. Paul Shapiro, but I figure we'll mention it before or the beginning of the meeting and then somebody can wrap it up a little bit later on. And that is our budget vote is coming up on May 20th. I should say budget vote and board candidate vote May 20th. Please go ahead and find your polling locations. It's an incredibly important vote for our entire
059suffering central community. Just know that uh this budget has been developed by a wide variety of uh folks on our team, administrators, teachers um and board members. It is a responsible budget and we are asking the community to come out and um and place your vote. So, thank you very much. Thus concludes my superintendent report. Okay. Thank you very much. Uh thank you to our DECA students for being here tonight for your very uh professional and informative presentation and your professional appearance. You look like you're ready for the business world. Um we are now going to return back to the agenda and we are going to move on to item 1.09 which is the public hearing on the proposed 202526 budget. Uh if you are looking for budget information, it is available on the Suffren
060Central School District website under the community tab as well as under the departments tab. Uh if you go to the business um and perhaps you've seen um some of the previous public presentations on the budget by our recently tenured uh assistant uh superintendent, Dr. Billy Castelin on February 4th, March 4th, and April 1st. Those are available on YouTube if you want to go back and review them. Um, so with regard to the public hearing, is there anybody who is here to speak um on the proposed budget? Uh, now would be that time. Okay, it looks like there are not. So, we are going to close that portion of the meeting. Um, also, uh, on the website there, uh, in those areas are the voter deadlines for early and absentee registration. lots of useful information for
061the upcoming election on May 20th. Very important for everybody to get out and vote. Um we are now going to move on to the minutes of the regular meeting of April 22nd, 2025. Do I have a motion to approve the minutes? Uh that's Mr. Donnelly. Second, Mr. Frasier. All in favor signify by saying I. I. Anyone opposed? Any abstensions? Yes, extension from Paul Shapiro. And now we're going to move on to public participation. This is on action items only. Action items are on our agenda tonight. 2.01 through 2.17. Is there anyone who is here to speak on an action item only at this time? All right. Seeing as there are none, we're going to close that portion of the meeting. Uh prior to requesting a consent agenda, is there any item that any board member
062would like to pull? I have something I'd like to pull. Yes. 2.13, please. Okay. We're gonna pull 2.13. I think you I think you might need to shut off your mic or else I can bring feedback at the same time. Okay. Anything else? All right. Uh at this time, do I have a motion for a consent agenda to approve items 2.01 01 through 2.12 and 2.14 through 2.17. Do I have a motion? Mrs. Hodgej. Second. Mr. Shapiro. All in favor signify by saying I. Um, anyone opposed. Any abstensions? Okay. Very good. Uh, 2.13. Um, discussion. Um, Dr. Gunderson, thanks for filling me in a little bit about generation ready. And Mrs. Weber, you as well. Um, but I was hoping you might be able to share a little bit more about what is involved with
063the program and funding and how it's um been successful in the past and your hopes for the upcoming use of the program. I'm going to ask uh Miss Lee Weber who oversees that department and actually I'll pass along my microphone if that one's not uh turning on for you. Um, but this is an initiative that has really been centered on Miss Weber's department for curriculum and instruction. Thank you. Thank you. Um, yes, this um specifically um this contract with Generation Ready is for job embedded coaching supporting our mathematics teachers working with English language learners. So earlier this year, um we had a couple of coaches come in from Generation Ready and support math teachers in grades 4 through nine um with supporting our English language learners. One of those coaches was extremely successful and um
064the uh intermediate level three through five buildings asked if possible to have more days with that coach and so we had sufficient title three funding which is the federally funded program for English language learners. We had sufficient funds in title three to support a few more days of coaching and so we're really fortunate to be able to provide this support for our teachers. Thanks so much. Thank you so much, Mrs. Weber. All right. Uh, do I have a motion to approve? Um, oh, before we go to that, are there any other board members with any discussion or questions about 2.3? No. Okay. Uh, do I have a motion to approve item 2.13? Mr. Shapiro. Second. Uh, Mr. Donnelly. All in favor signify by saying I. I. Anyone opposed? Any abstensions? Okay, very good. Uh, then
065we are going to move on to item 6.01 which is board member comments. Are there any board members with any comments tonight? Mr. Shapiro. Yes. Oh, I do. Okay. Um, actually there are two two things. One of them is uh this is teachers recognition or appreciation week. So uh I guess it was fitting that we had teachers who received tenure. Um but I think all of us should um really think about thanking those teachers who have made a difference in our lives, a positive difference. Um, a number of years ago, I got in contact with my six sixth grade teacher. Uh, when you're my age, many of your teachers, unfortunately, are no longer around, but he was around and he was actually still teaching. Uh, not in the grade school that I was in, but
066he was now teaching a graduate course. And I got to speak speak to him and I let him know what an impact he had on my life. So, for everyone who's here, for every adult who's here, think of a teacher who made an impact on your life, a positive impact. Um, and if you can look look them up, you know, the internet is great. Google them and maybe you'll find out where they may live. You might find a phone phone number for them and give them a call and just tell them how much they meant to you um when you were going through school. So, that's number one. Number two is two weeks from tonight. Actually, two weeks from today, starting at 6:00 a.m., ending at 900 p.m. is the uh budget vote and the
067candidate vote um for suffering. And for every school district in Rockland and every school district in New New York State, uh please make sure that you get the vote out. Speak to your neighbors. make sure that um um they know and you know that you're both going to the same place if they're your neighbor. And if you have friends throughout the district, please make sure that they go out and vote. And they may say, "Well, it really, you know, my vote doesn't doesn't matter." Um, for those of us who read profiles in and courage, um, there's one particular story where one vote did make a difference, very large difference in the impeachment of Andrew Johnson. Um, and um, if it wasn't for that person voting uh, against the impeachment, Andrew Johnson would have been impeached
068and who knows what would have happened in 68. or seven whatever it was and I wasn't around then but I do remember the date but but anyway please make sure that you get out the vote it's very important that we have large numbers going out and just like when you go to a store and it says BOGO and I guess that stands for buy one get get one is that what it stands for usually it's buy one give give one no it's get get one but if each one of us can bring someone else who might not normally vote and who is registered. Uh please make sure that you get them out there for the vote. So, it's two weeks from tonight. Polls open at 6. Uh if you want to be the first person
069to vote, be my guest, but I would not be doing that. And once again, they do close at 9. Thank you. Thank you. Are there any other board member comments? No. Okay. Well, I do want to echo what Mr. Shapiro said. Um, we count the votes. I mean, we don't do them, but we're there while they're counted. And, um, count everyone. Um, it's a really important day. Your vote does matter. Um, and I also just want to extend um, thanks to our many election volunteers who will be working that night. They have a long, long day, but they they treat it with really good spirit and their participation is so so very important. So, thank you to them as well. Um, and, uh, let's see. Uh, I'd like to extend my congratulations and on behalf
070of the board to all of our tenure recipients tonight. It's wonderful that they received it on teacher appreciation day and many of them have presented at board meetings before and it's just really, really meaningful to see uh, people who've come in and just done great work with their students get tenure tonight. So, congratulations to all the staff and thank you for all staff members who were here supporting your colleagues. That's really wonderful to see. We we love evenings like that. They're really uplifting. And now, uh I'm going to close public participation and go to superintendent's closing comments. I have no further comments. Oh, whoops. You're right. Thank you. Oh my goodness. I skipped right ahead. Okay. Public participation. This is on any district related business. Uh thank you for approaching the podium. Please keep your
071remarks to three minutes and uh please give us your name. All right. Um I'm Rose Schmidt and I live in Saltzburg. Um Dr. Gunderson, board of education and a suffing. Um, I want to start with saying as a supporter of restructuring over the past year and receiving quite a bit of push back for that support, I want to thank the district for doing a good job with the transition. While of course there will be hiccups along the way, I honestly believe there were a lot less than anticipated. The teachers, staff, and even the busing in most cases have been handled well. The buildings look great, and all communities have been welcoming. I know my son, though sad to have left Saltsburg, is thriving and loving Monttoello. And I know my almost 5-year-old, who will be
072in Saltzburg next year, will do just as well. That said, I want to raise a concern I had expressed going into this year and would like to bring up again, especially in light of new developments within the preschool community. As part of the restructuring and push for equity for all students, the district's proposal said the lower elementary schools, Slotzburg and Connor, would be prek to two schools. Currently on our website it states that Connor is in fact a prek2 school and yet Saltzburg is still listed as a K2 building. I completely understand that right now the YMCA is in charge of the UPK in Saltzburg as my son attends there but I'm still confused on why as part of equity for all students in Suffren Central. Why is Saltzburg why Slburg has not been moved
073to a district UPK? Especially as our resident as our redistricting proposal stated it would be a preK2 school is not being equitable. Currently, the UPK in Saltzburg run by the YMCA, which I have nothing but good things to say about is not receiving the same or equitable programs. They go to school 30 minutes or so less than in district and do not receive the programs of gym, art, and music through the school. They do not get the assemblies, the art show, the district art show, spirit days, or being in the yearbook that their peers receive. Music once or twice a month is not the same as having it once a week. Um, it took till mid-occtober to get them the free lunch throughout the district that everyone else in the school district was getting. As
074much as my kids have done well with the YMCA, it is not the same structure or consistency as those who were able to go to the program's economy. Now that the YMCA has pulled all preschool programs from Suffren after 50 years, minus the one in Saltzburg, I implore the board and the new incoming board members to reconsider this arrangement and please put our district program at Saltzburg, making it a prek2 school as originally proposed and agreed upon in the restructuring of our schools. It was always said the prek program at Saltsburg along with other reasons made it ideal to become a lower elementary school and it is the best. So let's get our youngest Mounties the equity consistency and opportunities that their counterparts at Connor have. It is the only fair option moving forward. Thank
075you. Thank you very much. Um is there anyone else here to speak um on any district related business? Don't want to close it too early. Okay. All right. Thank you so much. And we are going to close that portion of the meeting um and go back to superintendent's closing comments in case he's uh come up with any. I continue to have no further comments. Very good. Uh our next meeting will be Tuesday, May 20th, uh back in Hillburn. Um so please join us there and yes please vote and because that's also the election. And at this time uh do I have a motion to adjourn this meeting? Uh Mr. Frasier. Thank you. Second. Mr. Shapiro. All in favor signify by saying I. I. Anyone opposed? Any abstensions? All right. See everyone back in Hilburn on
076May 20th. Thank you.