001Good evening. This is a regularly scheduled Board of Ed meeting. The board was in executive sessions with our attorney for specific personnel matters. I'd like to call Ms. Baldwin up to the podium for her students to lead us in the Pledge of Allegiance. All right. Start again. So good evening. I'm Melaina Baldwin, the principal of Jericho Elementary School. I'm joined tonight. Come on up, boys. I'm joined tonight by Jericho's fifth grade students of the month, Joseph Beatus, Jamie Siegel, and Leo Sequencia, who will now lead us in the Pledge of Allegiance. Please stand. I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America and to the republic which stands, one nation, under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all. The Middle Country Central School District Character Education word for the month of
002November is citizenship. At Jericho, when we discuss citizenship, we often talk about how students can be productive members of the classroom and school community. We look for ways that they can make a positive impact on those within the community. When I asked the fifth grade teachers for their recommendations for students that exhibited the qualities of a good citizen, the names of the students with me tonight were immediately mentioned. Mrs. McCrane, Joseph's teacher, stated that Joe exemplifies citizenship in the classroom by always offering a helping hand to those around him. She added that Joe is always inclusive to all of his peers. He's an active member of the classroom and sets a good example for his classmates. Joseph notes that an example of his citizenship on display is that he makes sure that when he's outside
003at recess or in the classroom, other students don't throw trash on the ground. He suggests that others can be good citizens by being kind to each other. When speaking about Jamie, his teacher, Mr. Burchard, noted that Jamie demonstrates citizenship both inside and outside of the classroom. Inside, he carries a positive attitude and has proven to be an eager listener to others. He is helpful to those around him and is a soothing presence when disagreements occur. Outside of the classroom, he is a great teammate to those on his baseball team through victories and losses. Jamie notes that he acts as a good citizen by retrieving forgotten lunchboxes and reuniting them with their owners. It's important. He suggests that others can be good citizens of Jericho by not shouting in the cafeteria. Mrs. Cooper, Leo's teacher, noted
004that Leo demonstrates citizenship on a daily basis. He is kind and compassionate to everyone in the class and is always willing to help others. He makes sure everyone feels included in all activities. Leo identifies his citizenship on display when he helps his classmates when they are stuck on a question. He suggests that others can be good citizens by trying to understand each other more. I look forward to seeing these students continue to embody the qualities of citizenship as they progress through their final year at Jericho. I am so proud of their daily efforts to make Jericho an amazing place to come to school each day. I know that they will do great things at Felden and Dawnwood and beyond. Congratulations. Now I'd like to call Mr. Graviano to the podium, please. Good evening, everyone. It
005is with great pleasure that I introduce to you Newfield High School's Student of the Month for November, Ms. Rose Fernandez, another easy choice for us to make this month at Newfield. She's currently maintaining a weighted GPA of 94.5457 and will have the potential to graduate in June with more than 25 college credits. Outside of her academic success, she's a member of the Yerba Club and has served as the Class of 23 president since her freshman year, and by June will have completed a full presidential term of office. She's quite busy out of school as well, working as a crew member at Chipotle while continuing to dance, as she has for the past 11 years at a dance school with a name that most certainly fits, Roseland School of Dance. She's had so much success there
006that she was actually asked to start teaching some classes which Rose was quick to say yes to. For as long as I've known Rose, she's been that breath of fresh air in the building with her pleasantries and positive energy that is shared amongst everyone. I can say with confidence that I don't think I've ever seen Rose without a smile on her face with a warm greeting. Her inspiration is mom, who is here with her tonight. Rose says that they are the same person, and to use her words, Rose describes herself as a copy and paste from mom. Ms. Ziegler, a former teacher of Rose and her class advisor for the class of 2023, described her beautifully, stating, There is no one more deserving of earning student of the month than Rose. I've had the pleasure
007of both teaching and working with her since she was in the seventh grade at Selden Middle School. As a student, Rose is fantastic. She is focused, diligent, and willing to help her peers in any way she can. In addition to seeing Rose flourish as a student, she's also had the privilege of having her serve as president of the class council for the class of 23 for the past four years, and in her role as president, Rose has been invaluable. She's never had to be asked twice to complete a task and honestly after nearly four years She's able to anticipate what is needed or what the club needs before even needing to be asked Her dedication to the class of 23 is unmatched from inclusive events that she has single-handedly orchestrated for the senior class To
008her tireless efforts to make junior prom and fundraising events happen. She is truly irreplaceable Her graduation from Newfield will be a lost hour school community, but I have no doubt that she will thrive in her future and will make the world a better place. Though she's applied to many SUNY schools, her top choice is Stony Brook, where she will pursue her bachelor's degree in education with the goal of being an elementary school teacher. Rose, I have no doubt that you're going to continue to do great things. Keep that energy right where it is. As long as you do, the world is going to continue to smile upon you the way you do to all of us. Thank you for all that you've done and that you continue to do for Newfield and congratulations on being
009our student of the month for November. Congratulations, Rose. Next, can I please have Mr. Kachidas to the podium? Good evening. It is with great pleasure that I introduce eighth grade student Kaylee Hacker as Dawnwood Middle School's November Student of the Month. Ms. McGowan, who happens to be here tonight, said, I had Kaylee as a sixth grade student. After about a week, Kaylee was navigating her way through the hallways of Dawnwood as if she was an eighth grader. I quickly saw that education was really important to her. In class, she was always kind and respectful to herself and others. She was attentive, focused, and organized. She worked hard to understand new concepts and never settled for anything less than her best. Caylee's current ELA teacher, Ms. Panciaco, said, Caylee is an incredible student that continues to
010shine brightly with her ideas, insights, writing, and work ethic. Although she excels academically, Caylee is forever humble in her accomplishments. Her hard work, ambition, and friendly manner make her an unassuming leader amongst her peers. I am eager to see what amazing accomplishments she has in store. Kaylee's Spanish teacher, Mr. Ivan, said Kaylee is a hardworking, dedicated student. She is always prepared, punctual, and polite. She is an active participant in class discussions and activities. She puts forth an extraordinary effort to be successful and a well-rounded young lady. Kaylee's overall average for her sixth and seventh grade school years at Dawnwood was a 99 even. I don't know how that happens. Kaylee's average for first quarter of this school year, slightly higher, 99.38. Kaylee is a member of the Dawnwood National Junior Honor Society. She plays trumpet
011in the Dawnwood eighth grade band and the jazz band. She's participated in NISMA in fourth grade, sixth grade, seventh grade. What happened fifth grade? Oh, COVID. I knew it had to be something. And she currently participates in the NASA Suffolk Honor Band. Kaylee regularly volunteers for the Long Island Cares, where she collects and bags food for families for Thanksgiving. When I met with Kaylee, I asked her who inspires her. She immediately said, my father. My father is a teacher. He always inspires me to learn new things. Kaylee also told me her favorite subjects were Spanish and math. And I kind of scratched my head and I said, she's left and right brained or full brained. Kaylee hopes to become an elementary teacher or a lawyer when she finishes college. We joked and we said that
012they're kind of the same thing. Kaylee, it's an honor and a pleasure to have you as a member of the Dalbert student body. Congratulations. Congratulations. Can I please have Mr. Bennett to the podium? Good evening. The Selden Middle School Student of the Month for November is 8th grader Jeanette Trinidad. Jeanette was a popular choice this month amongst the staff. In fact, teachers from every grade and discipline, as well as club advisors and coaches, spoke up on her behalf. Here are just a few of those statements. Ms. Hess, one of Jeanette's 6th grade teachers, emphatically stated, Jeanette would be the perfect recipient of this reward. I had her as a student in sixth grade, and she not only was an exemplary student, she was kind, helpful, and a role model to her peers. She's an awesome
013kid all around. Mrs. Stafford, her seventh grade math teacher, reported, Jeanette is one of the most conscientious students I have ever had and also one of the sweetest. And Jeanette's orchestra teacher, Ms. Mayorca, said, she is an outstanding student, respectful and hardworking. She is diligent and self-motivated. She is always helping others in class. Amazing choice. It is no wonder that Jeanette's teachers have such a high opinion of her. Jeanette's academic performance is truly outstanding. She maintained a 99 average throughout her sixth grade year, and her seventh grade year included two perfect quarters and a yearly average of 99.9. Jeanette has a nearly perfect first quarter this year, and that includes two Regents-level courses. Jeanette's grades and teacher accolades, however, are not the only impressive things about her. She tends to do everything to the fullest.
014Jeanette is a member of our Art Club, the Yorker Club, the Photography Club, the 8th Grade Events Club, Youth for Humanity, the Chamber Orchestra, the National Junior Honor Society, and our Student Government. She was a valued member of our tennis team, plays the piano, dances jazz, and is involved in a variety of community service activities at the library and Stagecoach Elementary School. And if that wasn't enough to keep her busy, she also wrote an essay for the VFW Patriots Pen Competition this year and placed fourth in the county. Jeanette is joined tonight by her mother and father and her three-year-old brother, Jonah. Jeanette, you shared with me that you are very proud of what you have accomplished thus far in your academic career. As everyone here now knows, you have a lot to be proud
015of, and so do we. Congratulations. Congratulations. May I please have Mr. Bell to the podium? Good evening. It's my pleasure tonight to present two students of the month, one for October and one for November, and I think you'll see some common themes amongst their accolades. It's my pleasure to introduce to you Wazdi Khan as the Center for High School Students of the Month for the month of October. Many of you on the board may recognize Wazdi as he serves as our geo-president. This means that he and his fellow officers are in constant communication with Ms. Melfi, the advisor, the teachers, and the building administration. Wazir was instrumental in the planning and the great success that we have had thus far this year. Through his efforts, our evening pep rally and cougar carnival at homecoming this
016year were major successes. Our challenge school-wide is to make this the best year ever. Ms. Melfi and our geo-officers... have definitely taken on this challenge. To quote her, I've been lucky to have WASDE both in class and as an advisor. In class, no matter what the situation, he has always been willing to take chances. He works hard, and he never stops working until he reaches his fullest potential. Now, as geo-officer, he's always willing to work on whatever needs to be done to ensure things go smoothly. I know he'll be successful in whatever he does. Wozni definitely has become a leader while in high school. In reviewing his accomplishments, it's become apparent that he set out in ninth grade to become involved in a wide range of activities. Since entering Center Reach, Wozni has been involved
017in class and school activities, including the History Club, which organizes our cultural celebrations throughout the year, our Yearbook Club, and our Environmental Club. He's a member of our National Honor Society, our Tri-M Honor Society, our World Language Honor Society, and Chamber Orchestra. His music teacher, Ms. Wesnovsky, states, Wazzy's demeanor, work ethic, and spirit in orchestra have been evident since freshman year. His peers in the cello section all want a chance to sit next to him, not only due to his ability to play the music, but because he is so helpful and they feel comfortable asking him questions about sections that they might be struggling with. Not only does he relate well with his peers, but he has an excellent rapport with music teachers past and present. Everyone knows and loves Wazdy. Academically, Wazdy truly excels.
018His GPA ranks him in the top 10% of the class of 2023. Most impressive when reviewing his transcript is the diversity amongst the courses that he has taken. He challenges himself with demanding courses while taking the opportunity to explore all of the different types of courses that we offer. He will graduate this year having taken 12 advanced placement classes and three additional college courses. That is well over 40 college credits before graduating high school. Wassey's applied to numerous schools including Stony Brook, NYU, Cornell, and Columbia University. At college, he plans to study computer science. I wish him the best. Wazdi, I thank you, not only for what you have done for our school, but also for how you've helped, always with a smile and a positive attitude. Congratulations. Now it's my honor to introduce Isabella
019Perez as our November Student of the Month. Selecting Isabella was one of the easiest decisions I've had to make as a principal. The staff was in complete agreement as she has definitely had a positive impact on Centering High School in so many areas. To start, Isabella is an outstanding student. With a weighted GPA of 96.6, she's ranked in the top 20% of our graduating class. Most noticeable when reviewing her transcript is the wide array of courses that she has selected over the years. AP World History, College English, College Pre-Calc, and Cosmetology. Isabella seems to enjoy challenging herself, pushing beyond any limits in order to explore learning. Truly a mature outlook. At the completion of this year, Isabella will have completed no less than three advanced placement courses and four additional college tie courses. She's most
020recently known for her incredible efforts in making our most recent drama production, Pinocchio, such a great success. Her talent on stage was mesmerizing to the children in the audience as she played the part of Glissandra. Children could not take their eyes off of her as she narrated and performed her part. Her efforts went far beyond the actual night of the performance. Isabella was also one of two student directors for the show. She has many responsibilities off stage as on and she performed them all flawlessly. Her abilities were no surprise to Ms. Duryea and Ms. Metzendorf, the faculty advisors. Isabella has been in every show since she entered the school in ninth grade. She played a lead role last year as the Red Queen in Alice in Wonderland, and she's a remarkably talented performer who has
021helped lift our drama productions to new heights. When not on stage, Isabella remains active in our school. This year, she's the president of our SkillsUSA club and treasurer of the Thespian Honor Society. She previously worked on our school newspaper and will continue to perform in our upcoming musical in the spring. While not at Centering High School, she can be found working at a local salon as an assistant. I don't really think she knows the meaning of the word rest. I've been honored to be able to present to you some outstanding students over the years. Few have been as talented and as humble as Isabella. She's not a diva. In speaking with Isabella and asking what she will remember about Center Reach High School after graduation, she was quick to recognize the kind and welcoming teachers
022and staff that she has had that have helped her succeed in so many areas. Well, Isabella, these teachers have now recognized you. Ms. Fitzgerald, her college English teacher, stated, Isabella is strong-willed, self-assured, and proud of who she is. I quote Ms. Michaels, our cosmetology teacher, regarding Isabella. She is a student that one will never forget. She's consistently empathetic towards others and helpful. She's a true leader. Adjectives used by all of her teachers to describe Isabella are confident, insightful, dedicated, and humble. Isabella plans to pursue a degree in English literature after graduating high school. Combining her passions, she has dreams of a career in publishing as it relates to the entertainment industry. I'm confident that however Isabella chooses to use her talents, she will do it wholeheartedly and have fun. To me, that defines success. Isabella's
023next stop to continue her studies is still up in the air, as it is for most of our seniors. She's applied to NYU, Marymount, Manhattan College, Pace University, Emerson College, and Boston University. I'm sure all of those schools will be pleased if Isabella chooses them. Isabella, congratulations, and thank you for all you've done for our school and our community. Congratulations to you both. Mr. Mercado, can you please come to the podium for Athletes of the Month? Good evening. It's my pleasure to introduce our Student Athletes of the Month for the month of October. The first athlete that we're going to recognize this evening is from our Middle Country Golf Team, and that is Donovan Gilmartin. Coach Gallo couldn't be here this evening, but he sent along these words. Last February, the Middle Country golf team
024hosted a free clinic and invited any junior high student that was interested. It was then that we noticed the fluid swing of a young seventh grader. Donovan came out for the team in August and steadily improved as our golfers ventured out onto the course. For the first few weeks of the season, Donovan was not in the lineup, as only the top six compete in golf. He was on the outside looking in. As the season progressed, Donovan slowly but steadily lowered his scores so much that he cracked the lineup in match number five and stayed there for the rest of the season. After his first competing match, his score was as low as if not better, and if not better than the rest of our team. It is a credit to his perseverance and hard work,
025as well as whatever you need coaching attitude. We look forward to watching him grow as an athlete, a golfer, a student, and an all-around great kid. Athlete of the Month for October for Center Reach, Donovan Gilmartin. Donovan, if I play against you next spring, you can't play that well, okay? Next, we're going to invite our Newfield Female Athlete of the Month up to the podium, and that is Eva Taravicius, and she'll be introduced by her head coach, Ms. Paige Paternostro. Good evening. I have no voice. I'm so sorry. It is my pleasure to introduce Newfield's Female Athlete of the Month, Yava Teresavisius. It's hard to believe when I first met Yava in seventh grade and told her to play field hockey, she looked at me like I had five heads and didn't actually say any
026words to me, just stared at me. And here we are now, Athlete of the Month. Yava has been our starting sweeper on Newfield Varsity Field Hockey for the last three years. Last year, she won the team's Most Improved Flyer and continues to be the backbone of our team's defense. While she does not have the same stats or get the same recognition as an offensive player, she is one of the many reasons why we were so successful this season. She leads by example and is always a positive force. So Yava is our fly on defensive corners, and for those who don't know what that means, she quite literally puts herself in front of the ball to stop the other team from scoring. She's selfless, dedicated, and extremely coachable. She communicates with her defensive line like a
027true leader and steps up when they need her and when the team needs her most. This season we had five shutouts and four games with less than one goal scored on us. After each game, almost every coach complimented Yava on her defensive skills. This season, Yava received an all-classification award through the Suffolk County Coaches Field Hockey Association. Yava is only a junior and is proactive about her future. She has already looked into multiple colleges to play field hockey, where she plans on studying to become a PA. Yava embodies what a student athlete should be. She's a three-season varsity athlete, kind of forced in the winter, and maintains a 97 GPA. Yava is absolutely an asset to her team, school, and community. This program would not be where it is today without her. I am so
028excited to have one more season with her, and I know she will continue to be successful her senior year. Congratulations, New Fields Athlete of the Month. Next, we have our Center Reach Athlete of the Month. And that is center-reach volleyball player Leah Kaplan. And she'll be introduced by her head coach, Mr. Mike Weaver. You good? Okay, just checking. It's my pleasure to present the Center Reach Player of the Month, and it's Leah Kaplan. And the first impression that Leah made five years ago was a JV player. And going after a ball in a game, it literally went through the scorer's table at Half Hollow Hills and broke it on them. And right off the bat, you knew what kind of player you were getting with Leah. Leah's a three-year varsity starter. She's a setter on
029the team. This year as a setter, she led the team both on and off the court. And this was a big growth year for her. She stepped up her game and had her most productive season. And it was a huge part of the team and contributing to our success. She finished the season with 215 assists, most on the team, 141 digs, which I know she's very proud of, played defense, okay, fourth on the team, and 31 aces second on the team. But most importantly is Leah's personality. Her personality and drive, and I know a lot of you up here already know Leah, for her... Funny demeanor, but her drive this year was very obvious. She's made herself a better player. She's in turn helped made the rest of her teammates better, younger players better. She
030loves to help younger players become the player that she made herself as she went along. We're going to miss her, her leadership, her energy, and her Leah personality. Congratulations, Leah. Just as an FYI, this shyness that Leigh is showing is fake. I can't walk down the hallway without hearing her scream from somewhere. See? I told you. See what I mean? Unfortunately, Hannah Hughes is one of our Middle Country Athletes of the Month. She couldn't be here this evening as she is at the Section 11 gymnastics dinner this evening. She'll be recognized at a later date. Our Newfield Male Athlete of the Month is not here this evening as well due to a Section 11 event as well, and that's Joe Fuentes. But we do have the pleasure of introducing our final Athlete of the Month.
031He is the Middle Country Athlete of the Month. He's from the Newfield Football High School team. And that is Christian McDaniels and he'll be introduced by his head coach. Mr. Nick Adler Good evening Christian is here tonight for his performance on the field this past October He and I both know he's really here tonight because of the work he put in all year since last season ended The summer commitment on the hot turf all that extra time he put in on the field The dedication he had to become a great player through all those months of the real reason he's here tonight to accept this award Nothing gives me more pleasure than seeing a pretty good player transform themselves into a great player through primarily hard work and believing in themselves. The level which Chris
032achieved this year was remarkable. I consider him one of the best defensive backs in the county. Now, often great defensive backs do not have a long list of stats, and that is the case with Christian. This is because when teams learn how good he is, they just don't throw the ball near him very often. When teams did throw his way, the result was almost always the same. It was an incomplete pass. And that is what we call a lockdown corner. What makes it most impressive, though, is through October, Chris played against the number one team and the number two team who were playing for the championship. The other two teams were our crosstown rivals, Center Reach and Smithtown West, who had the number one scoring offense. He locked them all down. To add to that,
033he also became our number one receiver on offense through most of those games. Another thing I will say that I love about Christian is that he rose to the occasion against these great teams after taking some pretty strong constructive criticism and being challenged by the coaching staff. Not all of today's athletes are able to respond so positively to those kinds of things, but Chris certainly did. And Chris, I will tell you again how proud I am of that. You have shown mental toughness, physical toughness, commitment to your team, and to yourself. You have demonstrated nothing but high character behavior and respect for your teammates and coaches. And that, in turn, has earned my highest respect for you. The entire coaching staff wishes him the best of luck next week in the Suffolk County All-Star Game.
034You are so very deserving of this award tonight. Congratulations. Congratulations to all the athletes of the month. Could I please have the PTA president for Jericho Elementary to the podium, Ms. Soraviero? Sorry, I know I just... Hi, it's Soraviero. I know it's a tough one. Hi, thank you for having me tonight. We welcome back our Jericho students in September with Welcome Back Lawn Signs, a breakfast for the teachers and staff of Jericho, and our Welcome Back Barbecue for the students. Last month, we had a very busy month, which included our Fall Book Fair, Picture Day, our annual Fall Harvest Day, which included pumpkins for the entire school, a fall craft, relay races, and the most exciting thing the students love, which is our Spooky Lab. Our fall dance was the same night and was also
035a big hit. The children had a lot of fun. We also gave Halloween crafts to all the students in the school. We just finished our Miss Chocolate fundraiser and White Post Farms pie fundraiser as well. We look forward to our holiday boutique in December and a future paint night. Thank you for your time. Thank you and thank you very much to the PTA. We're all very appreciative of all the work that you do for the students. There will now be a brief break so that all the students that were recognized this evening. Together with their families principals coaches, please go outside for some photos with miss Pabon Thank you. I'm going to now turn the microphone over to miss McMahon for a special presentation Mr. Donovan says no Thank you for the opportunity to showcase
036our district's instructional programs and their respective budgets. The information that I'm going to share with you tonight was presented during last year's budget deliberations, and this review of the many programs which make our school district truly a comprehensive one will serve as the backdrop for the current budget deliberations which are taking place in the 23-24 school year. We begin with our mission statement, which was crafted over 20 years ago and which has been and continues to be our beacon throughout our years of educating our children and formulating the comprehensive instructional programs that we offer here in Middle Country School District. We recognize that today's students are tomorrow's engineers, lawyers, tradesmen, surgeons, scientists, business owners, and architects, and we are charged with giving them the tools with which to hone their abilities to help sustain a
037healthy environment for Mother Earth, or to right civil wrongs and injustices, or to be able to cure disease and to save lives, and ultimately to contribute positively to the life of any community USA. And now on to some historical facts about our district. Middle Country Central School District was formed in 1957, and back then it consisted of only four buildings. It serviced an estimated 1,500 students in grades K through 8, with students in grades 9 through 12 being shipped off to complete their educational careers at E. Vandermeelen High School in Port Jefferson. Then it covered 16 square miles, including Center Ridge, Selden, parts of Lake Grove, Coram, Lake Ronkonkoma, Port Jefferson Station, and Farmingville. And those very same geographical boundaries exist today. But now, Middle Country is the third largest district on Long Island, with
038a student enrollment at over 9,000 students who are housed in 14 buildings across the school district. Fast forward to the year. Fast forward to the year 2014, the world was changing quickly, driven by technology, which was evolving daily before our eyes, opening up new opportunities and challenges for instruction. And so we created a carefully orchestrated long-range plan to ensure that the needs of all of our students would be met adequately. The Middle Country Educational Advancement Commission, a subcommittee of the Board of Education, was formed in 2014 to oversee new programs and initiatives as they were developed by administration. And so our STEM initiative was born. The following slides follow us through some of the additional curriculum milestones as they have evolved with board support for that long-range plan that I spoke of a little bit
039earlier. The school year 2014-15 saw the first year of the implementation of our STEM initiative. The Educational Advancement Committee was created. The Capstone Project graduation requirements were established for the class of 2024 and beyond. The middle school math period and a half in algebra and additional support for grade six was initiated. Full day universal pre-K was established and the first annual STEM celebration was held. The 2015-16 school year, which was the second year of our STEM initiative, saw the creation of the ROSES program, which is the reallocation of supplemental educational support. The grade five curriculum was developed to support the implementation of capstone projects at the elementary, and we began a collaboration with the Carnegie Science Foundation at the middle schools, culminating with the grade six STEM day. AND AT THE HIGH SCHOOL LEVEL, ADDITIONAL
040COURSES WERE ADDED IN ALL CORE AREAS. DURING THE 2016-17 SCHOOL YEAR, THE THIRD YEAR OF OUR STEM INITIATIVE, GRADE 5 CAPSTONE PROJECTS BECAME REQUIRED AT THE ELEMENTARY. GRADE 6 ELA RESEARCH STRAND WAS INTRODUCED AT THE MIDDLE SCHOOL. GRADE 8 RESEARCH COURSE AND LIVING ENVIRONMENT RESEARCH STRAND WAS IMPLEMENTED. ART AND MUSIC CLASSES WERE RESTORED TO THE KINDERGARTEN LEVEL. AND ADDITIONAL HIGH SCHOOL COURSES BECAME AVAILABLE FOR OUR STUDENTS. THE 2017-18 SCHOOL YEAR, SO THE FOURTH YEAR OF OUR STEM INITIATIVE. HERE WE RESTRUCTURED THE ELEMENTARY CHARACTER EDUCATION PROGRAM BY INTRODUCING A GUIDANCE COUNSELOR FOR DELIVERY OF MONTHLY CLASSES. WE PROVIDED OUR MIDDLE SCHOOL TEACHERS WITH THE NECESSARY CATSTONE PROJECT PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT TO MAKE OUR STUDENTS SUCCESSFUL. ONCE AGAIN, WE EXPANDED OUR HIGH SCHOOL COURSES FOR OUR STUDENTS. with an eye to creating study that was more centered on
041real-world careers, the most notable of these curriculum additions being Introduction to Veterinary Science. And 2017-18 saw the start of our one-on-one initiative in technology, with Grade 5 being the first grade in the district to receive their Chromebooks. 2018-19, the fifth year of our STEM initiative, saw a universal living environment introduced to all grade 8 students. Further curriculum restructured, taking place at the high school level. Our district's child development student offering is but one of these examples. The addition of the only high school health 2 course offered in Suffolk County and the expansion of our one-on-one Chromebook initiative. In the 2019-2020, during the sixth year of our STEM initiative, we were hit with the COVID March pause. But while that slowed our pace down, it did not stop our progress. Full implementation of the Grade 8
042National History Day research strand was accomplished and students were able to participate in the virtual New York State competitions. The Grade 5 capstone was paused but not forgotten and moved to Grade 6 for 2020-2021. And in technology, the one-on-one Chromebook initiative was expanded to include grades four, five, and eight. Year seven of our STEM initiative took place in 2021, and we call this the COVID hybrid year. Even though students were attending school either virtually or in a hybrid model, the Grade 8 National History Day research strand was expanded and our students continued to attend virtual symposiums and competitions. 24 high school capstone courses were identified to be offered to students. The ROSES program was enhanced at the elementary level. And the one-on-one Chromebook initiative was expanded to include grades K, 1, 2, 3, 4, 10,
04311, and 12. Last year, the 2021-22 school year and the eighth year of our STEM initiative, we worked to assess the learning loss that students suffered as a result of the COVID crisis. Using federal dollars, high school capstone courses and advisors were added for student support. Summer opportunities for enrichment for grades K-8 were developed and made available to students. A credit recovery program for grades 9 through 12 was offered. An additional PE pilot for grade 1 students was implemented to support the development of gross motor skills lost during COVID. Academic support core area academies were instituted at the middle and high school level. Class size was reduced at the elementary level. Enhanced instructional assessment tools for grades K through 8 in the form of iReady were introduced, and the one-on-one Chromebook initiative for students in
044grades K through 12 was completed. This school year, the 2022-23 school year, is the ninth year of our STEM initiative, and we identified this as the post-COVID return to normal year. The analyzation of student achievement in all core areas with the establishment of new baselines for post-COVID aspirational goals has begun. A partnership with Stony Brook University related to the Northeast Offshore Wind Renewable Energy Project has been established. The relevance of all CTE courses is being evaluated. District-wide K-12 intervention teams developed to assist with the identification and support for prospective chronically absent students have been created and are operational. The second year of our summer credit recovery program for students in grades 9 through 12 has been completed. And with the addition of the pre-kindergarten students, our one-on-one Chromebook initiative has finally been totally completed. after-school
045clubs that were begun at the elementary school last year and are continuing, as are the club expansions at the high school level. Research consistently shows us that an outstanding early education can and does play a critical role in how students perform in their later school years. Understanding just how crucial these years of education are is important, and we take our charge very seriously to provide an outstanding and firm footing to our youngest learners. Here is a look at our overall elementary program for grades pre-kindergarten through five and what we offer to support and ready our children for their middle school experience. The capstone research experience, of which you will hear more a little bit later on in this presentation, is begun here in grade five. The current pre-kindergarten... THE CURRENT PREKINDERGARTEN PROGRAM IS UNIVERSAL FOR
046ALL DISTRICT STUDENTS WHO WILL BE FOUR YEARS OLD ON OR BEFORE DECEMBER 1ST OF THIS YEAR. THERE ARE 24 SECTIONS WHICH ARE HOUSED AT THREE LOCATIONS THROUGHOUT THE DISTRICT, BICYCLE PATH, UNITY DRIVE, AND NORTH COLEMAN ROAD ELEMENTARY SCHOOL. AND BOTH FULL DAY AND PART DAY SESSIONS ARE AVAILABLE TO ALL DISTRICT FAMILIES. HERE CHILDREN LEARN FUNDAMENTAL ACADEMIC SKILLS IN READING, BATH, SCIENCE AND SOCIAL STUDIES THROUGH DISCOVERY AND CREATIVE ACTIVITIES. IT'S IMPORTANT TO NOTE THAT A DISTRICT PREKINDERGARTEN PROGRAM IN ONE FORM OR ANOTHER HAS BEEN IN EXISTENCE IN MIDDLE COUNTRY SINCE 1986. Currently, there are 153 sections of elementary general education classes, kindergarten through grade five, which are spread over 10 buildings. Core programs in math, language arts, science, and social studies, which are fully aligned with New York State standards, are offered in a carefully planned
047continuum. Classes are also conducted weekly for each grade level by appropriately certified teachers in art, music, physical education. character education, and library. Also, there is an additional math literacy class which is administered to students at the kindergarten level. Academic intervention through the ROSES program is offered at every grade level and in every elementary building in our district. This is the overall cost of our elementary school budget for the year 2023. OUR MIDDLE SCHOOLS PROVIDE 6TH, 7TH, AND 8TH GRADERS WITH A RICH SCHOOL EXPERIENCE THAT WE BELIEVE PREPARES THEM WELL FOR HIGH SCHOOL. THE ACADEMIC PROGRAM AT THE MIDDLE SCHOOL INCLUDES THE CORE AREAS OF ENGLISH LANGUAGE ARTS, SOCIAL STUDIES, MATHEMATICS, AND SCIENCE, ALONG WITH RELATED SUBJECTS AS PRESCRIBED BY NEW YORK STATE. THERE ARE 26 SECTIONS OF GRADE 6 GENERAL EDUCATION CLASSES, PLUS 26 SECTIONS
048OF GRADE 7 AND GRADE 8. all of which are divided between two buildings, Dawnwood Middle and Selden Middle Schools. Core programs in science, social studies, mathematics, ELA, and world language are offered to all students in a carefully planned continuum. Mathematics, which is Algebra I, and science, living environment, are accelerated for all students at the middle school level. And additional mathematics instruction is given to all students on a weekly basis by certified math teachers. Academic intervention is offered at every grade level. in push-in and pull-out settings and there is a dedicated AIS lab in each of our middle schools. All eighth grade students participate in the completion of a capstone project similar to the activity which was completed at the close of their elementary career. Here's a listing of the additional coursework which is covered during
049middle school years. All programs on all grade levels are delivered by appropriately certified teachers in each specific subject area. Here is the 2022-23 middle school instructional budget. And this is an overview of the levels of coursework which are available at both of our high schools. The philosophy and expectation of the Middle Country Central School District is that all students will receive a regents diploma. All students are required to take a math class for every year of their high school enrollment. and all students are also required to take a science class for three years of their high school enrollment. Commencing with the class of 2024, all students will be required to complete a capstone project in order to be successfully graduated. This is a list of the, I'm sorry. For further clarification regarding our capstone graduation
050requirements for youngsters, which begins in grade five, is revisited again in grade eight, and was mentioned earlier in the presentation, we believe that the capstone project is ultimately not only an opportunity for all students to engage in a meaningful self-selected research experience, but it is a demonstration of the research skills which have been learned over the course of a student's school career. Completion of the capstone project is an indicator that students are ready to bring these skills with them into their lives after high school. By definition, comprehensive high school offers more than one course of specialization in its program. In concert with our mission, we offer not only a solid college preparatory program, but a variety of rich vocational pathways for our students. I'm having technical difficulties. Shown here is a list of all of
051the departments which are part of the secondary level, and it's my pleasure to introduce you to the offerings that are made available to our students through these departments. Career and Technical Education. CTE students are students who are enrolled in an accredited secondary school seeking a high school diploma and enrolled in a CTE program. The Middle Country School District offers the following in-house CTE programs, business, technology education, family and consumer science, and cosmetology. In addition to our in-house coursework, listed here are the offerings available to our students this year through the Academy of Applied Technology, formerly Eastern Suffolk BOCES. As you can see, technical and trade education courses are offered in a wide variety and range of occupations, such as automotive technology, pilot training, HVAC training, plumbing, and welding. When students enroll in occupational education, they
052remain students of middle country. The same kinds of vocational career opportunities are afforded to our special education students. The business department seeks to prepare students for entry-level positions in today's labor market. It also offers all students a vast array of elective subjects for their own personal growth and seeks to prepare students for further study in business at the post-secondary level, should they so choose. This is an example of the variety of course and work-based learning activities that are made available to CTE students should they choose to pursue a CTE graduation pathway in entrepreneurship. Family and Consumer Science helps students prepare for family life and future careers by providing opportunities for practical knowledge and vocational preparation. For those students pursuing a career in the field of beauty, we offer a robust cosmetology program coupling skills with
053required coursework for certification in the field. The Technology Department OFFERS PREPARATION FOR CAREERS IN DRAFTING, ELECTRONICS, ENGINEERING OR COMPUTERS, WHICH INCLUDES PROGRAMMING AND SOFTWARE OR WEB DESIGN, WEB ANIMATION, VIDEO PRODUCTION, EVEN COMPUTER REPAIR. SORRY ABOUT THAT. THE VISUAL ARTS INSPIRE OUR STUDENTS TO CREATE THROUGH HANDS-ON EXPERIENCES IN COMPUTER GRAPHICS, PHOTOGRAPHY, PAINTING, DRAWING, VIDEO HISTORY, CERAMICS AND SCULPTURE. Their expressions through these various mediums are on view each year at our annual art show and exhibit. The English department is designed to support students in developing 21st century literacy competencies and to provide students with tools to appreciate and evaluate a broad scope of literature. In math, every student is offered a sequence in developmental mathematics which stresses an understanding of processes, facts, and concepts. The program is committed to furthering each student's problem-solving abilities, appreciation of, and
054confidence in the increasing complexities in today's society. Our music and theater departments need no introduction as they continue to charm and beguile us at every turn. They offer multifaceted programs that can accommodate a full range of student interests, levels, and abilities while developing cultural and aesthetic values. A variety of skills are taught here to our students. Personal responsibility is learned through mastering one's own part and realizing how it contributes to the success of the whole group. Ethics are learned through the appreciation of the value of dedication and adaptability is acquired through interaction with peers of differing skill levels. The science curriculum consists of courses designed to allow the individual student to interact with science as a method of investigation and to recognize what is learned in class can be applied in making decisions in an
055age influenced by mathematics, science, and technology. Students also learn to work collaboratively and are taught to collect and analyze data. surrounding real world problems, determine valid trends, and to draw relevant contributions. The social studies curriculum presents students with a view of the world, past, present, and with an eye to the future. The global perspective, fundamental for success in our society, is explored as is education in citizenship, government, and culture. And finally, instruction in world languages is used as a tool for understanding the other nations' cultures and globalization of our economy and societies as societies continue through the 21st century. This is a copy of our high school instructional budget, and this is a copy of the total instructional budget for the elementary, the middle, and the high school level. I'd like to leave off where
056we began with our district mission statement, and I'd like to echo some of the sentiments of our subject area coordinators who have the responsibility to review their departmental performance with you throughout each year. We are always mindful of our shared vision and how we are working together to provide the best possible educational experience for our students. And while we don't know what the future will bring, we will prepare our students to think, to reason, to question, to analyze, and to ultimately know that every problem has a solution, no matter how hard it seems. We actualize the mission statements called for students to contribute responsibly in a diverse and dynamic world, and we prepare them to act as informed citizens, to be community helpers, to think like historians, to reason like economists, and to explore the
057world as geographers and anthropologists, while helping to design solutions to problems that we have not yet even imagined, so that through their successes in life, we will someday be able to say, mission accomplished. Thank you. Do any board members have any questions or comments? Okay. Well, thank you very much for that, Ms. McMahon. Moving on to board commentary. Mr. Halleck. Mr. DiBenedetto. Yes, I just want to take a quick minute to thank our veterans in our community for their service for our country. I know we have many members of this community who served, and I greatly appreciate their sacrifice. And also for our teachers, especially elementary level, that my children come home truly understanding the significance of the holiday, and it's great to see that that's still being educated in their classrooms, and I greatly
058appreciate that. Thank you. Ms. Mann-Rodriguez? I have a cold, but I'm going to get through it. So I just wanted to. Thank the elementary building principal, Robert, myself, and Dawn, and who else came with us? Arlene. We went to go see the pre-K programs in the elementary schools and the pre-K centers, and we just had such a fun time just watching the kids sing and dance, and it happened to be Blue Day that day, and everybody was in blue. They were playing with blue Play-Doh. It was just such a fun time, and I was speaking to the director, and I was telling her that both of my kids, they went through the pre-K program. And I have to say that I really do believe that it gave them a really good head start on just
059social skills and, of course, academia. But I'm just so grateful that I'm a part of this district that offers these programs because they're so important. That's all. Thank you. Ms. Haggerty? I'd just like to wish everybody a happy Thanksgiving. And on that note, just let you all know how grateful I am for everything you do for our students each and every day. That goes from parents to bus drivers to secretaries, teachers, administrators, and my colleagues here on the board. It's an incredible community to be a part of, and I'm very grateful for all of you. Thank you. Ms. Feldman? Sound like a broken record, but I just want to say that I feel that we are a blessed community and I wish every single one of you a very blessed Thanksgiving Mr. Beanie I, too,
060just want to echo. I loved, loved being in the pre-K. I could have stayed there all day. It's good for the soul. It was a great start to our Monday, and it really, truly, you do see how much the children learn and what they get from our program, and we are fortunate that we have it here. So it was a good day, and I thank my colleagues for being able to join me. I need a motion to accept the consent agenda. Oh, minutes. Oh, I almost had it. I was so close. Exactly. We have our minutes from 1026. If nobody has any comments or suggestions for changes, we'll accept the minutes. Now I need a motion to accept the consent agenda. Instruction, there's no action. Any questions or comments on pupil personnel? Pupil personnel services?
061Questions or comments on personnel instructional? Questions or comments on personnel classified? Questions or comments on finance? All those in favor? Opposed? Motion carries. I'd like to just ask anyone who was newly tenured this evening to please stand up to be acknowledged. Congratulations. We thank you for your service and dedication, and we look forward to you continuing with us. So thank you and congratulations. Moving on to superintendent report we have 22-11-sr-1 appointment of additional or replacement positions to schedule 22-07-om-4. Motion. All those in favor? Opposed? Motion carries. 22-11-SR-2, other designations and authorizations, addition or replacement to Schedule 22-07-0M-13. All those in favor? Opposed? Motion carries. And 22-11-SR-3, dedication of a bench and a plaque. All those in favor? Opposed? Motion carries. Policy? No action? I know they have met twice, though, so I will. So I've
062heard now just getting Correspondence just please make sure you're checking your emails and you are responding to Stephanie or if anything changes, please let Stephanie know as well unfinished business new business Mr. Feeney? Yes, the Educational Advancement Committee met today. Guidance Director Mark Paglios provided an update on the building attendance committees. Attendance committees are being informed at the elementary level and have been meeting monthly at the secondary level. New York State has identified three levels of student absences. Universal means zero to 12 days absent. Select means 13 to 17 days and targeted includes students with 18 or more absences for the year. Last year, Newfield had 258 students who were classified as targeted, while Center Reach had 262 students with 18 or more. Each of our middle schools had about 150 each in this category.
063So the aims of these committees are to discuss particular interventions that are working and to deal with particular students. Home visitations were part of addressing the chronic absentee rate. The elementary committees were formed to address students early on in their career who are demonstrating attendance patterns that are not good at this point. Director of Athletics, Phys Ed and Health. Joe Mercado then described the requirements and the process for maintaining athletic eligibility in our district. On the high school level, an athlete who has failed one class is on probation, and those with two or more absence of failures are ineligible to participate on a team. It was indicated that 75% of our teams last year achieved the distinction of being named scholar-athlete teams. Nick Cangiero. Then informed the committee about the wind and energy expo at
064the Cradle of Aviation. The event was sponsored by the Nassau Suffolk School Board Association. The purpose was to develop the workforce needed to develop the wind farms on Long Island. New York State expects to create 10,000 jobs to support this development. Internships will be available at the high school level and certification programs will exist at Suffolk Community College, SUNY at Farmingdale, and SUNY at Stony Brook. We are currently looking at our technology classes and reworking them for the middle school level for the CTE credit to prepare for these future employment opportunities. In Pacifico, social studies coordinator then gave an update on the National History Day capstone project and the symposium that will be held at each middle school with 60 participants that can earn a point towards the state's seal of civic readiness for each
065student. She also explained the Title IV grant, which is allowing the purchase of resources to purchase globes, atlases, and maps for all of our third graders. ELA coordinator Kari Siegel then explained the professional development program that is occurring virtually for grades K through 1 teachers and with in-person coaches for teachers in grades 2 through 5 while they're working with their students in class. It's a pretty interesting opportunity. And that's how we left off today. Thank you. Anyone else? I just have a quick update. I'm moving over to the district community. Is that okay? Okay, so the diversity equity and inclusion committee we met on Thursday November 10th and Looking at the roadmap gold the goal is to have completed phase one which is to raise awareness and support cultural culturally responsive sustaining framework One of
066the things that we discussed is how do we bring more awareness and be more cohesive within each school in terms of diversity and getting the message out. We have things that are being celebrated, but we need to increase our attendance rates among the community. I think this past month, the Hispanic Heritage Month Festival was held at Center Reach High School, I believe. And it was fun. I was supposed to go, but I couldn't make it. One of my kids was sick. Fun, dancing, food. It was a fantastic evening. The language department was there. The art department was there. And everybody who attended had something great to say. But again, the attendance was lacking. So we're going to try to fix that. We were brainstorming about ways in which we can encourage diversity, inclusion, and equity,
067and belonging within our everyday language. Just to make sure that the community members are aware. of what these words mean globally and how they impact our community. We discussed ways in which we can include individuals' native languages. We mentioned talking points and Google Translate and also the newsletter that is released. We wanted to actually change that to Google Docs so that it can be a living document instead of just a PDF. and the focus of that will be community, students, parents, and belonging. We briefly discussed a parent committee that we're forming. These meetings are planned to be casual and in person and have a clear and intentional plan. The steering committee will meet prior to the parents meeting to discuss topics of discussion and agenda items. And I think that's in December. I don't know
068if we chose a date for that. I think the parents are going to meet in January. I'm not sure, but I'll get back to you with a concrete date. Thank you. Anyone else have a liaison? Ms. Feldman? I think I was supposed to do it on the last batch, but I'm just filling in for Kathy. I just want to tell you that the Middle Country Educational Foundation is trying to change the date from July to August for the outing. We do not have a solid date yet. We're working on it. It may be August 1st or August 8th, right? First week or the second week of August. We know it's going to be hard because everybody's used to us doing it in July, but you still have time to change those vacation plans. Anyone else?
069I just wanted to briefly say two weeks ago I went to the New York State School Board Association, their convention up in, where was I, Syracuse. I love that. It's kind of, I call it like professional development, I think, for us board members. We take a weekend of classes. They had some really great... Classes, more of the popular ones this year were mental health, DEI, school safety. I actually made it into the room. I stood along the wall. They had a debriefing on Uvalde. So as you can imagine, that was a more popular one. But some really great conversations, learned some great things. Also had a conversation with the commissioner. They're really focusing on looking at... graduation requirements and what that region's diploma what is the weight of it what does it mean what changes
070can be made they're really focusing on that this year as well as also Clear path for CTE for all students who want to take that path They want to make sure that every student is afforded that it was stated that this wouldn't be something they mandated and made school districts responsible for cost so I find that Interesting and I really want to stay on top of that because we do know how expensive you know It can be for BOCES and not being able to give all students that path They're really passionate about making sure all students have that path. So I will keep everyone updated more that I learn on that or we always bring that up in our legislative committee meetings as well. So it was a great experience. I thank my colleagues for
071voting me to go. I appreciate it. Follow-up board discussion. Okay. Moving on to public input. Public input. So is there public input this evening? Any speakers? We have one speaker this evening. i'm sorry actually two people are going to come up to the podium but only one person is going to speak thank you prob we have ellen munos and maria willms you have three minutes i will keep the the time on my phone um if you run out of time i will please let i'll let you know that your time is up if you just wrap it up i appreciate it thank you Good evening. My name is Ellen Munoz. I am currently president of the Middle Country Association of Teacher Aids. Marie Wilms, she is the vice president of the Middle Country of Teacher
072Aids, and we are here representing them tonight. As some of you may know, our unit is presently in negotiations. Our previous contract expired June 30th. Middle Country is not retaining teacher aides. It is our goal for our unit to change that. It seems as if there's a revolving door that is in this for this position. Over the last 10, 15 years or so, out of approximately 200 members, only 40 have remained. That's only 20%. After having conversation with many of the members, almost all conveyed that they feel less than or feel like they are just an aid. This perception is not exclusive to any one school, but it is district-wide. The turnover for teacher aides is difficult for us to keep up with, as we can imagine it being so for the district as well.
073Unfortunately, nobody benefits from this. In fact, it is a great disservice to the students in our care that need continuity in service. The Middle Country Policy Manual Series 9000 Code 9240. states that the district will take action. I'm sorry, let me just revert that attract and retain excellent staff members that I was going to read the policy, which I'm sure you all know, but I found this little handy dandy pamphlet, which states that right in front. So a teacher aids They are every position that you could think of in the school. We are, in fact, with the children longer than any adult during the school day. Because of this, we are confidants. We are a support system. We are motivators. We are a safe place, advocates, and even targets when the students are lashing out.
074You can say we are a work of heart. So it is our belief that together... We can retain the best quality staff at the negotiation table. Creating a sense of worth in a selfless job is something that we can accomplish during this process. And I welcome any board member to come visit us in our classrooms and in our schools and see what we do on a daily basis. By the way, all of my notes here. Our handy dandy news day headline from October 22nd of this year. We all love news day. We know that. School struggle to hire teacher aides. But we thank you for your time and your consideration. Everybody have a wonderful Thanksgiving. Thank you. That was all you said. Need a motion to adjourn? All those in favor? opposed motion carries thank
075you thank you everyone good evening enjoy your holiday