001board members. Board members What? He left. He did. I'm good. Thanks. Okay. There's Adam. Here we go. I'd like to call this meeting to order. Um, can we all please stand for a moment of silence? Please join me in the pledge to the flag. 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. Thank you. Greetings everyone. Looks like a good crowd here tonight to uh do some recognitions celebrations. This is wonderful. Um just do a public participation reminder. Persons wishing to address the board must sign up prior to the start of the public participation. Speakers must register on the form provided by the district at the entrance of the boardroom to maintain a
002first come first serve process for purposes of following up with speakers. The speakers must provide their name, address, telephone number, and or email address. To limit comments to matters which may be properly discussed during public participation, the speakers will provide the topics. Any group or organization wishing to address the board must identify a single spokesperson. Thank you for that. One more piece. Reading of the emergency evacuation procedure. In case of an emergency, would everyone please follow the exit signs to the outside of the building. Please stay completely clear of the building to provide space for emergency vehicles. Thank you for that. And there's the hush over the crowd. All right. I need a um motion to approve this evening's agenda, please. Elizabeth second. Lisa. Any comments or questions from the board on tonight's agenda? Hearing
003and seeing none. All in favor say I. I. Any opposed? Abstensions? Motion carried. Thank you. Okay, the best part of our meeting, the presentation recognitions. We are going to begin with uh boys bowling and I want to introduce the assistant bowling coach Jamie Labre please. [Applause] So, for those who don't know me, I am coach Leak. I am the assistant bowling coach for boys and girls bowling team. Uh, Coach Foder could not be here tonight. He's coaching lacrosse. I guess he's got a match tonight, so he's not here. asked if I could come here and read his speech for him that uh he wrote to for Adam. So to all board members, guests, parents, and friends, thank you for the thank you to the board of education for taking the time out of your schedule
004to recognize Adam Wakeley for his gold medal and state championship in boys division one composite bowling category. This is Adam's second medal and state championship in three years. Adam was automatic qualifier for his team with a 215 season average that was a fifth fifth best seasonal average in section five. The state state championship was a highlight finish to another outstanding year. Adam led the Victor boys team to a second straight and undefeated regular season. This is the first time in school history the boys program went backto back. Adam's 215 seasonal average was fourth in Monroe County Division 1. In tournament play, Adam helped his team win the Rush Enrietta tournament over a tough West Senica West team and placed second in our annual Martin Luther King tournament. At sectionals, Adam bowled his way onto the
005all tournament team with a 1261 series. That's over six games. Beyond section sectionals, Adam was voted in his f in as a first team all Monroe County Division One and first team all greater Rochester Bowler. at states. Adam won the sportsmanship award as well as rolling an impressive 1346 series which finished 12th overall. Again, that's over six games. For the team, Adam won Mr. Strike 386 strikes for the season. His uh high average of 215, an additional being a thirdyear captain. Adam and his team also set six school records for the boys bowling program. Perhaps the most impressive accomplishment of the season is both the boys and girls teams qualified as scholar athlete award teams. This is the girls 10th straight year earning this award and the boys seventh straight. Adam has won that award
006all five years of being in the program. Adam is the definition of what every coach wants in an athlete. His mentorship of the younger bowlers is the driving force to our success. In closing, I would like to thank the board for their continued support of our program and our kids. Thank you, Coach Foder. [Applause] Do we bring up Adam? Hi, [Applause] Adam. And I would just like to take a minute to to say something about Adam. When I first met Adam, he was in fifth grade. He was bowling Saturday mornings down at the bowling alley at the Rosland Bowl in the junior bowling program. And I saw this little kid, fifth grade. I could tell that he had some talent and he he had on a Victor shirt and I'm like, "This kid goes to
007Victor. We got to get him on the bowling team when he gets in seventh grade." So I started talking to him and I said, "You know, Adam, you know, you can get on a varsity team in seventh grade. You know, the Victor bowling team. we could use you. He goes, I don't know. I kind of like swimming. I'm like, swimming? Come on. So, and then I started talking to his mother and the same thing. She's like, I don't know. He kind of likes swimming more than bowling right now. She said, "Well, maybe if he could do both, maybe we could do that." And so, it's what he's been doing ever since is competing in both. And he's done great in both. It's been an honor to coach him. And we got one more year. I'm
008sure he'll be stage next year as well. [Applause] Okay, for that height estimate, I guess I was as tall. He was as tall as I am in fifth grade, right? I think still time. Yeah. Okay. Not for me. Next one. National Association for Music Education, All Eastern Band member. Uh, let's see, who am I introducing? Music teacher Laura Brewer, [Applause] please. All right. Good evening and thank you for including this recognition tonight. My name is Laura Brewer and I'm the director of the senior high wind ensemble and I had the honor along with Anthony Dagustinino of accompanying Ethan Smith to the National Association for Music Education All Eastern Conference from April 24th through the 27th in Hartford, Connecticut. The All Eastern Ensembles exist every other year and are made up of 600 student musicians from
00910 states spanning from Maine to Maryland. Ethan was one of seven bassoonists selected to perform in this year's All Eastern Band under the direction of Dr. Travis Cross from UCLA. Ethan participated in many hours of rehearsal starting on Thursday which culminated in exceptional concert on Sunday afternoon. The band performed a diverse program of music which included a composition by Dr. Cross himself. Ethan would most likely tell you his favorite pieces were Aurora Wakes by John Mackey and Chester Overture for Band by William Schumann. Now, I told Ethan, Chester is on my bucket list, but after the concert, I think I have to add Aurora Wakes to my bucket list. So, any of you that have been to a concert, I have a bucket list of pieces. So, one unique aspect of this conference was that
010all the ensemble musicians attended the Thursday and Friday evening conferences concerts that the teachers got to attend. Ethan and his peers were treated to performances by the Boston Brass, Nation Beat, which is out of New York City, the Affinity Big Band, which is made up of music educators from Connecticut, the vocal ensemble Concora, which is Connecticut coral artist, and the cool thing about that concert was they actually premiered a work that night by one of the members of the choir. So, that was really neat to be involved in. And additionally, Ethan also was able to see all the student concerts of the ensembles of All Eastern. So, in a nutshell, we heard a lot of music over the course of four days, and it was inspiring, and we've brought back so many memories to share
011with our peers. So, on behalf of myself, Ethan, and his family, and the K12 music department, we wish to extend a heartfelt thank you. Thank you to the board of education, Dr. Teranova and senior high school principal Brian Siestto for supporting Ethan in his participation in this conference and for Kim Dole for everything you did to support him socially on social media and for your work this evening. He is the first band student from Victor to ever be selected for this honors ensemble and he certainly represented the school district and the community with a high level of professionalism and musicianship. Congratulations Ethan. We are so very proud of you and again thank you for taking the time to recognize this huge achievement. Congrats and this is here I think she [Applause] Okay, thank you. Uh,
012let's see. Next up is the robotics team, Buckeye Regional Alliance Champions, Brian Shelvin, please. Chevlin, sorry. [Applause] Gathering behind me, guys. Keep going. Keep going. We're a little bit larger of a bunch. So, um, I didn't prepare anything formal. We like to kind of do things organically. Um, uh, so Dr. Dr. Teranova, Mr. Siestto, board members, parents, uh students, this is the uh Victor robotics team. Uh how many people here are actually aware of that we have a robotics team? Okay, see we have some hands if we don't. Um this robotics team was uh established 21 years ago uh by Mr. Pete Fleenstein who I don't think is here tonight. Um and has also been guided for the last 15 years. Where is he? Back. He's hiding. Get down here, Mr. Flack. Come on, Mr.
013Flackle. So, this extraordinary group of young men and women, um, their dedication to what they do is is absolutely amazing. Um, our preseason starts when the school year starts in September, which builds up to uh January where the game each year is announced. Uh, we have no idea what the parameters of the game are going to be. Uh, what kind of robot is going to need to be built. Uh, they have a reveal and then these young men and women get to work to design, prototype, program, fabricate a robot in roughly six to seven weeks. And they do everything from the ground up. I think we had one store-bought pot this year that actually was the only thing that was continuing to break on the robot. So, we're actually proud that nothing that we really
014manufactured or that these guys manufactured actually broke. Um, we have a lot of first time uh where where are our rookies? If you're a rookie for your first year, hold them up high, guys, so they can see where you are. Um, led by also an incredible uh array of returning students. We have two seniors. Uh uh Jack is are both of our seniors here or just one. Is Jack Jones here? Jack? No. And then the other uh he's going to hate that I point him out as my son Jonah is our other senior. Um led by a very big array of juniors um including um I'm going to embarrass him. Our team captain uh Nolan Martin. If you could raise your hand there Nolan. Uh Nolan did a tremendous job leading this team this year.
015Um along with all the other team leads that we had. Uh we did a lot of things new and for the first time this year we had a lot of first-time mentors. Uh but what was really amazing was is how this group came together. Um they kind of came into the season in a little bit as a fractured team. Uh but through a lot of hard work um collaboration, communication, um a lot of long in meetings as he called them uh by their coach doing a lot of talking. Uh but you know what they they they bought into what we were doing and as Mrs. Berdick used like to say is they they trusted in the process. Um and in the end we emerged a single cohesive team. Um and the win that we had
016in uh Ohio was kind of just the icing on the cake. Um the dedication again build season in January consists of three to four nights a week and all day on Saturday and then as we get closer to competition uh we had days where we were some of these students were working literally seven days a week. They're working on projects at home. They're doing design cing at home. They're collaborating with each other at home across our our communication platform. Um, I've just never seen dedication in a group. Um, and I've had the distinct honor of coaching some sports teams, being involved with scouting, but I have never ever seen a level of dedication and hard work like I saw out of these young men and women this year. And guys, it was my absolute honor
017and privilege to be your coach this year. And you you guys deserve it. So congratulations. Am I supposed to hand a Where is front and center? I do want to say our mentors work just as hard and just as dedicated as our students were. So round of applause for our mentor [Applause] We need a practice facility. I hear that. Okay, before we move on to our retiree recognition, uh let's take one more opportunity to um Thank uh these talented students, coaches, advisors, parents that support all these kids. You make us proud. Thank you. Okay, so now to um recognize our retirees, I'll ask Dr. Teranova to come up, please. Yeah, I'm good. Okay. Thanks everybody. My uh retiree is not here, but she's been at her four to five retirement parties, so it's natural she
018might not come to the last presentation, but this is for Maren Goodlet. For almost two decades, Marine has been welcoming a welcoming face and the wealth of knowledge that so many of us relied on. When we think of her, words like kind, patient, and compassionate immediately come to mind. She approached every task, big or small, with remarkable attention to detail, ensuring things ran smoothly, often behind the scenes. Her unwavering kindness made the district office a warmer place and ease the way for countless staff, students, and parents over many years. Her dedication, meticulous care, and genuine warmth have left a mark on anyone who has met her. We will always be so grateful to Moren's exceptional service in this district and I want to thank her for an amazing uh professional life and a person who's
019been a great influence on me. So, thank you. [Applause] Good evening everyone. I'm Karen Ryan and I would like you to join me in recognizing Chris Overfield's remarkable career in the Victor Victor Central School District. A true testament to her unwavering dedication, steady leadership, and lasting impact on our students, staff, and our entire school community. At as the PPS secretary, Chris played a pivotal role in supporting our youngest learners, particularly those receiving special education services through preschool and in our K1 school programs. She was not only a cornerstone of consistency, but a source of strength, warmth, and kindness to our families and the colleagues who came through the doors of PPS. I am deeply grateful for the wealth of knowledge, her thoughtful communication, and her general care she has shown all of us um as
020we've worked with her through the years. We wish her all the best as she prepares to welcome her second grandchild into the world and celebrate this joyful chapter with her family. Chris, please come [Applause] down. A heartfelt congratulations to Rosemary Vigiano. So I I don't believe Rosemary's with us tonight, but she was an integral part of the Victor Central School District for over 19 years. Known for her sharp wit, her attention to detail, and unwavering support of teachers and administrators, she's left a lasting mark on the Office of Instruction here at VCS, Rosemary was a go-to for knowing who to call and who to get just what you needed. She cared deeply for the people that she worked with and their families. I hope that in her retirement she finds even more time to do
021the things that she loves. Being outdoors, gardening, puppy training, and time spent with her family, and time devoted to her gift of song. Congratulations to Rosemary and best wishes for whatever adventures may lie ahead. [Applause] Hello, I'm Christine Griffin, assistant superintendent for business. I'm here to recognize um some transportation employees who are uh retiring this year. Um, I have the honor of c uh celebrating Joe Lamar. Uh, Joe has been a dedicated bus driver since October of 2013. Um, known for his reliability and commitment to safety, he always ensured the American flag was proudly displayed on his bus. His calm presence and volunteer work made a real difference. Joe, um, Joe, your quiet strength will be missed. Thank you for your service and we wish you a wonderful retirement. [Applause] Next, we have the pleasure
022of celebrating uh Linda Balda. Linda joined us in January of 2008. After years of driving, she excelled as a uh driver trainer, mentoring many with unmatched worth work ethic and positive attitude. Her safety record and warmth are exemplary. Linda, thank you for your dedication and leadership. We wish you a happy and relaxing retirement. Moving on, we recognize another cherished member of the transportation team, Janice Warner. Janice has been a beloved monitor since January of 2017. Affectionately known as Grandma for her thoughtful gestures and holiday bus decorations, Janice made students feel valued and safe. Her kindness and reliability were constants. Janice, thank you for your care and we wish you joy in your retirement. Um, we also honor Karen Keller tonight. Karen has been the cornerstone of our transportation department for an incredible 38 years uh
023since September of 1986. Her steady hand, impeccable safety record, and warm spirit made the department feel like home. Her presence at the Uker table will be missed. Karen, thank you for your remarkable service. Enjoy a well-deserved retirement. 38 years. And finally, let's recognize um Steve Limbbeck. Steve joined us as a dependable driver in January of 2014. Known for his excellent safety record, he was the lucky charm for many Victor sports teams. His calm demeanor and passion for classic cars were well known. Steve, your professionalism will be missed. Thank you, and we wish you the best in your next chapter. [Applause] Good evening. I'm Rob D. Rose, the principal at the ECS. I'd like to recognize three retirees from our school. First, Leanne Shadic retired this past August. After an excellent career in education, she began
024in Gananda, taught fifth and sixth grade and then stopped teaching for a bit to raise her family. And then when she did return to teaching, she came to Victor where she spent the last 10 years at the ECS. And she was known for her warmth and her positivity and her dedication not just to her students, their families, but especially also their colleagues. We uh wish Leanne an excellent and enjoyable and restful retirement as she enjoys traveling and time with her family. Next up is uh Janet Apprentice who is here with us tonight. Janet has been shaping young minds for quite a long time. Even as a middle schooler, she was in her neighborhood offering the opportunity for her all of her friends and her friends siblings to join her summer camp that she called fun
025school. And uh after passing out flyers and pamphlets to the neighborhood mailboxes uh charging just 50 cents an hour, her house was filled with the neighborhood dance contests, coloring sheets, Olympic showdowns. So we I think her family knew right from the start she was going to be a career teacher. Uh she began in Webster in 1989, later on helping open up Schlaggel Road Elementary School there in Webster and then returned as an AIS reading teacher after spending some time with her family. and then she came to Victor um and over a 36y year career uh she's been lovingly referred to as a reading fairy someone who sparkles humor and joy and love throughout the school day and I've been able to work closely with her as a principal her as the AAS teacher and just
026appreciating her sense of positivity and her belief in all kids and her her willingness to go above and beyond to make sure all kids reach success has been a joy and a pleasure to work alongside of Janet She's got passion, wisdom, and joy, and it'll be deeply missed. We thank you, Janet, as you enjoy your camper coming up this summer. We hope you enjoy every mile of the retirement road ahead. Come on down, [Applause] Janet. Congratulations. All right. And lastly, just like to say thank you and congratulations to Heidi Searing Post who after a 25 and a half year remarkable journey as an educator has decided to retire. She also began her career in Webster and uh teaching at Plank North School and Clem South School where she helped even launch a school within a
027school when she started a multi-age program in Webster. It's just one of her many examples of an innovative spirit, dedication, and commitment to education. Throughout her career, Heidi has poured her heart, her soul, and every piece of energy that she's got into teaching kindergarten and first grade. always championing the youngest learners, taking time to connect with each and every family in a special and unique way, sending pictures, videos, going to sporting events, birthday parties, you name it, Heidi Searing Post was always there for her students. After taking time to support her daughters uh through high school, she returned to the classroom and then spent the last 10 years making a profound impact here at the ECS. One especially meaningful memory comes from her time here when a student joined her class speaking no English living
028in Farmington as a refugee. With patience, care, and steady encouragement, Heidi helped this child feel safe, seen, and successful. That student still visits and sends messages, a testament to the deep and lasting bonds that Heidi builds within her students and families. And another example actually happened this evening in our our boardroom during the uh the opportunity to connect and have a reception. A student, a former student came to say thank you and give Heidi some flowers, which was very heartwarming. Through her work on the school community team, creating banners, bringing positivity to every hallway, Heidi gives her all each day, she reminds us to stay flexible, to reflect, and to always remember that every day is a fresh start. And as she heads into retirement, excited for Aby's wedding, visits with Carly and Abby, and
029trips to Florida, we know her legacy will live on in every hug, smile, and every student she's helped along the way. Thank you, Heidi. You've made the ECS a better place and you will certainly be [Applause] missed. My name is Heidi Rob. I'm the principal at the primary school and I am honored tonight to first um honor Holly Knox. After starting her career in Leavonia, Holly has spent the last 24 years at Victor, leaving a lasting impact on countless students and colleagues, including myself. She taught first, second, and third grade, then moved to math intervention and teacher leadership, and ultimately became our math coach, always being driven by her passion for supporting high quality instruction. Holly also made a mark through VTA leadership. As Mike Malleski shared, her organization, fearless advocacy, and relationship building made
030Victor stronger in ways we'll feel long after she's gone. Holly, you are leaving behind much more than a career. You're leaving a legacy here in Victor. We wish you all the best as you enjoy this next chapter and live your best life. Congratulations. [Applause] Next, I'd like to honor Michelle Lindsay. Not I'd like to honor her not just her time as a librarian, but for the incredible impact that she's had on Victor Primary School. Since joining us in 2002, Michelle has brought energy, creativity, and a deep love for learning. Through her work in blended learning, enrichment, and professional development, she's inspired students and staff alike. What we'll miss most is the joy she brings each day. Michelle loves her work, and it shows, especially in the way she lights up around our students. We'd like
031to thank Michelle for her passion, her wisdom, and heart. She's made a lasting difference, and we wish her all the nest in her next chapter. [Applause] Lastly, I'd like to honor Tanya Zazzleac Angelini. I'd like to celebrate her incredible career. Since joining Victor in 1995, Tanya has been a constant source of support, kindness, and care, especially at the primary school where she spent the heart of her career. Whether it was a student needing encouragement or a colleague needing a hand, Tanya was always there. Her dedication, warmth, and infectious spirit have le left a lasting mark on all of us. Kids light up when they see her. And let's be honest, so did we. Tanya, we are excited for her to join this next chapter with her family. And we hope she knows that she's always
032has a home here in Victor. We will miss her deeply and wish her the absolute best in her well-earned [Applause] retirement. Good evening everyone. I'm Jim Marorrow, principal of the intermediate school. And first I have the honor of um recognizing Maggie Elliott whose incredible impact at Victor Intermediate School spans years of dedication, creativity, and heart. Starting as a social studies teacher and later becoming our beloved librarian, Maggie brought passion to every corner of her work from leading our community read program to turning the library into a welcoming hub for students and staff. Whether through book clubs, author visits, or numerous baby showers and wedding showers, Maggie built a space full of warmth and laughter. Her colleagues describe her as the heart of VIS. Deeply kind, endlessly supportive and always collaborative. As she heads into retirement
033with a trip to Italy ahead, we thank Maggie for everything she has done for VIS. Come on up, Maggie. Congratulations. [Applause] Next, I'd like to recognize Maria Gushevitz. Maria Gashevitz was a constant compassionate present presence at VIS supporting students across all grade levels and programs including our 1213 1211 and extended school year programs. She had a rare gift for making each child feel valued and her creativity and dedication made her a trusted resource for both students and staff. Beyond the classroom, Maria's warmth, humor, and infectious laughter brought light to even the toughest days. Her impact on our school community is lasting, and we miss her deeply. Maria, thank you for your years of love, care, and inspiration, and enjoy your well-earned retirement. Next, I'd like to recognize Sandy Kramer. Sandy Kramer has worn many hats
034in her time here. always focused on one thing, supporting students. She had a remarkable ability to connect with students of all backgrounds and needs, helping each one find their path to success. Sandy never limited her care to just the students she was assigned to. She made connections with every student in the classroom, creating a truly inclusive and supportive environment. Her positivity, collaborative spirit, and genuine care for both students and colleagues have left a lasting mark on our school. Sandy embodied teamwork and built strong relationships wherever she went. Even in retirement, she continues to make an impact, returning as a substitute, diving right into classroom life and even leaving kind thank you notes behind for all. Sandy, thank you for your years of dedication. You've truly made a difference for VIS students and staff alike. [Applause]
035Next, I'd like to recognize Pam Pickering. Pam brought a calm, steady presence that made a world of difference, not only for our students, but for every teacher and colleague lucky enough to work alongside her. Her ability to solve problems quietly and intuitively, knowing exactly what was needed before it was even asked set her apart. One teacher described her as one of the most professional teacher aids I've ever worked with, and we all agree. Pam always put kids first, offering kindness, gentleness, and a safe place for some of our most challenging students. As a colleague, she was supportive, genuinely interested in others, and an exceptional listener. Pam, your legacy is one of compassion, professionalism, and heart, and you will be deeply missed. [Applause] Next, I'd like to recognize Karen Vericio. I'm happy to celebrate Karen Vericio,
036who is retiring after 32 years in education, 24 of them right here in Victor. Karen has worn many hats, but it was as math AAS teacher where she truly found her passion, helping students build confidence and understanding at their own pace. Her care extended beyond academics. She created a safe, loving space for countless students and was a kind, thoughtful colleague to all. Karen's advice to new teachers was don't give up and keep your sense of humor and live a balanced life. In retirement, she looks forward to time with family, volunteering, her part-time work at Target, and her love of art and music. Karen, thank you for everything and congratulations. [Applause] And last but not least, I'd like to honor Dawn Zuber. I'm honored to share some words today regarding Don Zuber's retirement after 34 years
037of dedicated service in education, all at Victor Intermediate School. Hired on her 21st birthday in 1991, Dawn was sh has shaped the lives of countless students throughout her work in multi-age classrooms, fifth and sixth grade classrooms, and math AIS. Her greatest pride lies in the lasting relationships she built with students and colleagues, connections that define her legacy. As one colleague shared, "The one thing I'll always cherish is her friendship." Dawn's advice to new teachers has always been, "Stick with it because the reward the rewards at the end are worth it." Dawn, thank you for your compassion, commitment, and care, and enjoy this next chapter. Next, I'd like to introduce the principal of the junior high, Brian G. Good evening, everyone. Brian G, the principal of the junior high school. uh three retirees uh for our
038building this year. The first one I'm going to speak about is Marcy Pemrook. She's not here tonight. Uh Marcy was a valued member of both our junior and senior high school uh science departments. And she'll be known u primarily in our building for building great relationships with kids. Um offering really good expanded opportunities in both our enrichment programs but also within our 1213 offerings for some of our special education students as well in being a great colleague. We're wishing her well. We know she's spending time with her family and splitting time between here and Florida. Now, we do have two others that are both here and they are absolute legends, some of the all-time best by far. Uh, Kelly O'Neal, I'm going to talk about Kelly first. Kelly is a member of our special education
039department. And every morning uh for years began with Kelly dancing around the halls listening to a boom box, getting everybody ready for the day. Um, and as I talked about, uh, Kelly with other folks, they talked about her as being a mood booster for anyone that's around her. She has an unstoppable energy. She's lifted students and staff alike. Uh, whether it's waving the Notre Dame flag, dressed in headtotoe green on St. Patrick's Day or taking the time to make a relationship with every student, even those not on her case load. Kelly's been known to be able to lift the spirits of everyone around her and is known as a true mom to everyone that uh she interacts with and we thank you for that. Uh in retirement, she's going to be heading off to Siesta
040Key. She's going to be spending time in the Aderondex hiking. Uh she's probably going to be doing a little bit of free labor in her daughter's store up in the Aderondex as well. Um, but while you're doing all those things, Kelly, just know that your magic is left behind and that you'll be deeply missed. Thank you. All right. And for me, these two come handinand, Kelly and Paula Smith. Um Paula is a member of our science department, has been a member of the Victor School community for a number of years. Um and has had just a great great career as a teacher. So we kind of refer to this as her big experiment, right? As a science teacher, she's had a career-long experiment in which she's always been one of the most unique people and
041elements that we're going to have in our sort of junior high periodic table. Uh whether it's listening to 38 special and singing as she cleans out her labs or like Kelly making relationships with those people around her, particularly the students that need her the most. Um Paula has really shined uh for us at the junior high. She has a gift for remembering students from decades ago, remembering names and faces of everyone that she's worked with. She has a a fondness for depression era green glass. Apparently I learned this about her this year. Um, and she has a deep love of animals, which is great as a science teacher, not so much good with plants, we've heard. Um, but we can kind of overlook that. Uh, she builds connections, she creates, uh, lasting relationships, and also
042like Kelly, she's a a co-teer's dream. She's great to work with, she's great to partner with, and she's leaving an indelible mark on the junior high school community and the Victor community. Her next chapter in her experiment in her postretirement life is going to be spent paddle boarding, convertible rides, thrift store treasure hunting, and of course making her legendary homemade salsa, which is something I also only learned about recently. I've been missing out for 11 years there, Paula. Um, but we're also going to miss you deeply, and the things that you've done for for this community and our kids will last a lifetime. Thank you. I'd like to introduce uh Brian Siestto, the principal at the high school. Okay, everyone. Brian Siestto, uh Victor Senior High School principal. believe two rec re reces uh re
043retires retirees who we're going to recognize tonight. Thank you. I will uh Mike Meyers who couldn't be here tonight u spent 19 years uh with us here in Victor uh who retired last June started his career in Victor a very calm student- centered teacher one of the first teachers I've ever seen who truly embraced project-based learning really wanted to make sure that he delivered great instruction for all students. Um he was a wonderful advocate for students. Um he was a member of our social studies department. He was our international bal bal laora coordinator and also started an annual um ninth grade trip to Washington DC uh which his students absolutely loved. He was one of the first coaches that we had for our girls lacrosse uh team um and really started the foundation for the
044success that we have today. Uh and Mike is enjoying retirement now. So just want to make sure we say thank you to Mike for a great career. our second retiree, an absolute legend, Anne Steckel, who is here tonight, who has spent 26 years in education, served at Wheatland Chilai before coming here to Victor uh where she taught French um levels two through five and even uh taught Spanish. She was she was department chair for about a decade. She started the sister exchange program with our um school over in Ren's France in 2012. She's been on a number of committees. She's a person whose sense of humor is so legendary um that this is what has endeared her to so many of us uh both staff and students. She was very forthcoming when I was talking
045with her and admitting that she's going to miss seeing her students, her friends and colleagues, but she will not miss seeing she will not miss grading the French compositions. Her advice to us just try to have fun. Find the fun wherever you can find it. She is a fierce supporter of students, always advocating for their interests. Um although she might not always talk during a meeting, when she did, she immediately commanded the full attention of the room because whatever she said was important, accurate, truthful, and she had the respect of her colleagues. She is deeply passionate about what is right and an fierce advocate for her department. And I told the staff at the conference day, if there is ever a hall of fame for incredible teachers who put way more hours into their job
046than what they're actually paid for because they truly love kids, she is a first ballot hall of famer. Ann, thank you very much. Congratulations. [Applause] Okay, I guess it's my turn again. Um, so congratulations and thank you to all the retirees for all your efforts uh to support the Victor community. Um, very appreciated. You may talking from some experience, you may be surprised on how busy you'll be in retirement. So, thank you. Uh, we will now um pause and reconvene in the boardroom. Um, next on the agenda will be the superintendent's update. You may not want to miss that. It's always enjoyable. So, we'll see you in the boardroom or not. Thank you. Okay, thank you. Uh we are back after that uh brief walkabout. Item four on our agenda is the superintendent's update. Dr.
047Terteranova, if you please. Thank you, Mr. Deluchia. And I'll uh be quick because really the superintendent's update. I couldn't do better than what just happened in the last 45 minutes between all the kids and their honors and certainly most importantly our retirees and the amazing uh work that they've done with our kids and will be sorely missed. Now a few of them are actually coming back which is amazing but uh uh so they're going to still come back and help us out. Just one piece I want to mention the budget vote. Uh again, a thank you to our board of education for their leadership around our 2526 proposed budget. Uh on May March, ma'am, I'm sorry, May 13th. Uh from 3:00 to 7:00 p.m. is our uh registration at district office from 3:00 to 7:00
048p.m. Uh and that is that is for individuals who have not yet registered to vote at any time. If you've already registered to vote, you should be fine. But you can always call our board clerk, uh, Kate Celich if you have any questions. And a special thanks to Kate. This is her first year. Uh, she's collaborating with Moren, but has done a great job getting the vote ready and and it's a lot of work. So, thank you to Kate. Uh, and I just want to make sure that people understand it's a busy day. Excuse me. On Tuesday the 20th, that's our vote. May 20th, we have the randoms random acts of art from 5:00 to 7:00 p.m. and that's in the senior high art wing. We have our cares carnival which is an amazing event
049from 3:30 to 6:30 p.m. at the North Fields by the high school. That's uh sponsored by the Victor Senior High Cares Club and the money goes to families in the area that of need and it's a great event uh and it's a great event for especially our younger kids. They love it. And we have orchestra concert at 700 p.m. on May 20th and many, many different athletic events going on. So, it's going to be a busy day on campus. Um, and we're excited about that. So, that's my superintendent's update. Okay. Thank you, Dr. Teranova. Do we have any speakers signed up? No speakers. So, we're going to skip item five on our agenda. How's that for an executive decision? Huh? Done. Item six is uh the acceptance of consent items 6A through H. I'll need
050a motion, please, to accept these. Elizabeth. Elizabeth. Second. Carol. Carol. Any comments or questions on any of these items? Board members, just uh one comment about the personnel agenda, Mr. Deluchia. First of all, we have on this agenda 24 professionals who uh we are re I am recommending for tenure to the board of education and they are going to make a huge influence on or have a huge influence on our kids for many many years to come and I'm very excited for their tenure piece. We're going to recognize them next month at the board meeting. And a big shout out to our leadership staff for their work with our staff who is earning tenure. And because this is just happened, I think a week and a half ago, I have to put a shout out
051to Heidi Sarin Post who is on the agenda as a retirement. You saw Heidi a few minutes ago. Uh I've I've spent a lot of time in her classroom at the ECS. She's phenomenal. And um she is going to be sorely sorely missed. She's got that balance of really building incredible relationships with her kids and her parents, also being the consmate professional and uh an awesome teacher, especially with early literacy. So, Heidi will be missed and I just wanted to thank her. Thank you, Dr. Teranova. Any other comments? Seeing none, all in favor say I. I. Any opposed? Extensions. Motion carried. Thank you. Item seven, campus news. Good evening. I'm Rob D. Rose, the principal of the Early Childhood School. As we enter the final stretch of the school year, our halls continue to reflect
052the heart of our school community, most visibly through our kindness chain that I mentioned last month, which is now proudly displayed in our main hallway. And it's nice to know that each link represents a student's act of kindness or joy. And together they form a powerful reminder for our school community of the positive culture that we have here that's made up of our teachers, staff, students, and families that we work so hard to build each and every day. This month, our schoolwide focus is on providing positive, proactive support to our entire school community. In the month of May, each week we have a different area that we try to prioritize to focus our students as well as our teachers and staff. the first month of May, we've been revisiting our common breathing strategies that have
053been taught by our excellent school counselors, Ashley Zhan and Emily Shozik. These are tools that the students used to manage their emotions and stay grounded in learning. With the help of some newly created videos, students were able to rewatch, practice, and relearn each technique. And a special thank you goes to our school community team, especially Emily Shozek, Erin Issacs, who is here tonight. He helped uh create these videos in a very short time frame and our kindergarten students who were the stars of the show. The month will close on a high note with a friendship funday assembly for students and our third annual staff block party which is a joyful gathering for teachers and staff in the bus loop after dismissal toward the end of the month. These moments of connection are just as meaningful
054as the ones we create in the classroom. Our teachers and staff continue to work tirelessly in support of high levels of academic growth and achievement for each child. Through the collaboration in PLC's and creative problem solving, we've developed strong student- centered strategies to help all learners thrive. This week was also teacher and staff appreciation week. And it bears repeating that I believe we have the best team here at the ECS, but as well as the other schools. I'll make sure to mention them as well. uh their commitment and belief in every student and partnership with families are what make our school such a special place to learn and grow. Finally, as Dr. Terteranova said, a heartfelt thank you and congratulations to all of our retirees, Heidi Saring Post, Jan Apprentice, and um Mrs. Shadic. Their
055years of service have left a lasting legacy thanks to their hard work. ECS is a stronger, more joyful learning community. They'll be deeply missed and finally remembered. And thank you to the board for your continued support. and we're excited for the final stretch of the school year. Hi, I'm Heidi Rob, the principal at the primary school. Um, as you know, this week is teacher appreciation week. And while we absolutely celebrate our classroom teachers, we also recognize that every single adult in the primary school plays a role in teaching our students. Whether it's in the classroom, the cafeteria, the office, or on the playground, our children are learning from each interaction, and I'm incredibly proud of how every staff member models care, respect, and curiosity each and every day. This week is a wonderful reminder of
056how we all share in that responsibility and privilege. We also want to take a moment to acknowledge National School Nurses Day. Um a heartfelt thank you to Lorie Pell and Kathy Coons, our incredible school nurses for the compassion and professionalism they bring to their roles. They support not only the physical health of our students, but also their emotional well-being, and we're grateful for their study presence. Finally, I'd like to thank our multi-age teachers for hosting a successful parent information night. We had upwards of 40 plus families at that information night. Um that team provided valuable insight into the unique structure and benefits of the program and families left feeling informed, engaged, and excited about what's ahead. Thank you for your continued support for our students, staff, and our school community. Thanks. Good evening everyone. My
057name is Jim Marorrow and I am the principal of Victor Intermediate School. As we head into the final stretch of the school year, we have a number of engaging events and activities that showcase the spirit and dedication of both our students and staff. This week we took some time to recognize and celebrate our incredible teaching staff at VIS during teacher appreciation week. And actually today we held um our lunchon sponsored by our PTSA which was incredible. It was a huge buffet of all these different uh Italian dishes. So it was really really a great um opportunity for all of our staff to kind of connect and and be celebrated. So we really appreciate that. their commitment their teachers commitment, passion and and tireless efforts shape the lives of students every day. In addition, um we
058also celebrated school nurses day on Wednesday and we're so grateful for the expertise and care our nurses provide to support the health and well-being of our school community. Our students are eagerly looking forward to some upcoming field trips. Our fifth graders have begun and will continue to visit the Rochester Museum and Science Center where they'll dive into hands-on science and discovery. The sixth grade will explore creativity and culture at the art museum. And our fourth graders will be enjoying educational adventure aboard the Colonial Bell, learning about local history while cruising on the Eerie Canal. We've also seen our students step up as leaders and contributors. A special thank you to Mrs. Oldfield and Miss Roar for organizing a beautiful partnership where our sixth grade students are joining music class with our 1213 special education students.
059It's really just a shining example of inclusion and the power of music to connect everybody in the building. In another act of service, our fourth and fifth grade student council members worked with Miss Wolf, one of our special education teachers, to help clean clean up and refresh the VIS courtyard, showing pride in our school environment at VIS. Finally, this month's character trait is something that we've been working on um which is flexibility. An essential skill for our students, especially as we navigate the busy and sometimes unpredictable final two months of school and finishing up state tests. So, flexibility becomes a key trait during this time for our students. Thank you to the board of education again for your ongoing support and your help in making these enriching experiences possible for our students and staff. Thank
060you so much. Good evening. Brian G, the principal of the junior high school. Uh it's been a pretty busy few weeks for us. So, a couple of updates. Um our students recently enjoyed a powerful musical experience uh with the guest musician Herb Smith um who sparked some great conversations and great opportunities for our young musicians. want to thank our music department for bringing that opportunity to our schools and for your support of our music department. Our student council successfully ran its first mix it up activity day uh where students were able to promote uh inclusivity and a connect connectedness between grade levels and teams that we don't typically see at the junior high. Uh we also welcomed our JCC survivors performance last week u which is a moving event that directly supports uh both our
061ELA and our social studies curriculum while highlighting the need to make sure that we emphasize kindness and we were careful that hate doesn't kind of get ingrained into our society. Our amazing PTSA rolled out the Jolly Trolley today as part of teacher appreciation week. Uh that's a huge hit for all of the staff. Laura and I get the joy of getting able to push the thing around and hand out snacks and drinks. want to thank them very much for that. Uh we're also looking ahead to uh preparing for our uh immersive uh Civil War days reenactment camp um event tomorrow. Seventh graders are all headed to Canandua for an opportunity to sort of live life as though they were a Civil War reenactor living in a camp uh for about three hours. Really interested in
062that. Uh be great for them. Uh, and then lastly, I'd also want to, you know, recognize all of our teachers and Kristen Ranker, our school nurse, in in appreciation for teacher appreciation week and also uh, school nurses day. Thank you very much. Thank you. Hello again, Brian Cesso, principal of Victor Senior High School. want to um recognize Vivian Hughes who is uh one of our seniors. Um we found out late last week that she was awarded a National Merit Scholarship for the University of Chicago. So that makes two this year, her and Arian Moore. I just want to make sure I publicly recognize her. It's a phenomenal feat and couldn't be prouder of her. Um, also want to recognize six individual students, Ariana Edwards, Tessa Peion, Olivia Peony, Griffin Pipes, Alexander Repass, and Addie Kzano
063for placing first in the Ontario County Environ April 29th. Winning that competition earned them the opportunity to participate in the state competition in May later this month in Sunni Courtland. The Avirathon is a national competition that tests students in the field of environmental science. topics include aquatic ecology, forestry, wildlife, soil and land use, and um alternative energy. The competition includes several hands-on tests and prepares uh and prepared presentations judged by colleague college professors. Um and the students are true stewards of the earth and have really embraced being involved in something that they are passionate about. So congratulations and good luck to them. Um, also want to acknowledge that last Friday was our fourth annual student council talent show where we were able to sell about 300 tickets and made about $1,400. Um, the money is
064ra that is raised goes to helps with senior events for students who may not be able to afford those things such as the senior trip, senior ball, and caps and gowns. Uh, Tippet Rinson and Jillian Doyle are two students who MCed the show. And I want to thank Danielle Westbrook, John Aldrich, and Aaron Issacs for um facilitating a great evening. And also want to echo the thanks to our school nurses and our teachers um for teacher appreciation week. Uh tomorrow, our staff is able to buy a coffee from our Victor Brew Devils on the administration as a sign of thanks. And I believe we might have some field trip photos. Okay. So, I just wanted to uh thank the board and Dr. Teranova for the support for the trips uh and the various uh activities
065our students have done in the last month. Up upper left uh our students um were able to go to Dumbravik, Croatia and to Italy uh last April. Um there's a picture of Laura Brewer and Ethan Smith um in the uh event, the music event in Hartford, Connecticut. Our boys lacrosse team went to Laam, New York um over spring break to participate in some spring non-league games against some very high-end New York state schools. Um our boys baseball team um went to Myrtle Beach to participate in spring training. And then uh DECA uh about a week and a half ago they were in Orlando uh for the international career development conference where we had an outstanding performance and we sent I think I mentioned this last month 22 students uh which is the most that we've
066ever sent um to that conference. So want to thank the board uh for all of your support. Thank you. Great. All right. Thank you. There you have it. The May Flowers edition of campus news. 7B food service update. Good evening. I am Alex T. Paul Dit, director of food service. So, um before the school year started, there we go. We had a senior high makeover. Um, this was done in collaboration with our senior high administrators and an amazing student committee at the end of the last last school year. Um, and we have a quick video to show you kind of like the before and after photos. [Music] So, [Music] Heat. Heat. [Music] Okay, so just a little fun video for everybody. Sorry, Brian. Okay, so operations to date down to business. So we are currently
067operating under the community eligibility provision which is also C which has significantly increased our average daily participation across the district. Um since school last school year we have increased breakfast by 544 meals, lunch by 580 meals and this is on a daily basis. So that's quite a bit. Um I do believe that um the increase in participation is more than likely due to our Alice families who are now able to have their children participate in the school meal program. And if any of you do not know, Alice refers to a group of households earning the above um the federal poverty level but still struggle to afford basic necessities like food. Um so I think that we're doing an amazing job and that we're fortunate to have the C. Um and we are currently maintaining a
068positive fund balance which is always good news. Okay. Challenges this school year. Um product availability still does remain inconsistent. Um which therefore means that I have to find substitutions which equates to higher cost and purchasing products that are not on our bid. Um employee shortage. I know everybody short employees. Um you know our current staff have to work uh extra hours. Sometimes we're down to running one serving line instead of two. Um, this causes longer serving times for our students, which nobody likes. Uh, closing snack lines sometimes and as we know, the snack line does financially help to support our program as well. Um, but I do have to give kudos to our staff. You know, they are the glue that holds the program together and ensures that Victor students receive healthy meals each and
069every day. No matter how difficult the day may be, they never stop giving a thousand%. Um, I also want to give a thank you to the staff and to the students um who made National School Lunch Hero Day a lot of fun and something special for my food service employees. They got cards from students, um, little gifts, candy, all sorts of stuff. Um, my staff were just, you know, ear to ear. Okay. Concerns for next school year. So, um, we are waiting from the government to decide what they're going to do as far as the qualifying threshold for C, which they're talking about raising it to 60%. Um, currently the qualification is 25%, which is where we are, just over that 25% threshold. Um so um so if we no longer qualify for C and
070we have to start collecting free and reduced applications and charging f families for meals, we will see an increase in administrative burden. But even more so there will be an increase in school lunch debt which the department may or may not be able to reconcile at the end of the school year which then in turn puts additional financial burden on the district which we hope to try to avoid. So that's why it's so important that we just stay C. I can only pray that we do. So, and uh the families obviously that we're helping out, it's so important. Um and I know that 2027 looks like it's a long ways away, but when you're in food services and the nutrient limits are constantly changing, um you know, it takes time to develop and for students
071to adapt. Um so therefore, during the upcoming school year, we will start making changes that will align us with the nutrient limits that will be mandated by the 2728 school year. Um manufacturers are currently in the process of developing products that will meet the new standards. So my plan is to introduce more scratch cooking into the mix uh which will help us provide fresh and more nutritious foods while meeting the new regulations. And for example, what does that mean? We can use fruit as a sweetener instead of processed sugar, herbs and spices instead of salt as well as hopefully making freshly baked homemade whole grain items. So, all right. All right. And the mission of Victor Central School Food Service Department is right there for you. Thank you. And I also would like to thank
072you for your support. Any questions? Yeah. Anyone have a question? I I have one. The C. When do you think you might know an answer to that? I do not know. I wish I could give you a timeline, but I do not know. And whose cage do we rattle? U right now. Governor Hoko, as I had had on that slide, um she wants to present us with universal meals, but we haven't seen the language as far as what that means either and how much they're going to actually be able to reimburse us for our meals. Okay. So, let's keep our fingers crossed. Something to talk about, Alex. So, those changes, it could come like partway through a school year. It wouldn't necessarily happen over the summer. Is that correct? Um these mandates could just go
073in well if um for the nutrient levels or for No, not the nutrient levels, but like if the C Yes. that threshold does shift, I mean that could really happen at any time. So like if it's currently at 25%. Is that where we're currently at? So if we start the year at 25% and if it shifts partway through next year, what is that implication like midyear? What would that um a nightmare? Yeah. Uh so what that's going to mean is that all of a sudden we're going to have to send out food I mean applications. We're going to have to start um verifying all these applications. Um you know it's just going to turn into administrative burden. It's also going to confuse families. I mean which is the worst part right there. So families who
074are feeling comfortable with being able to send their children to school and knowing that they're getting two nutritious meals a day are now going to wind up struggling again because they're going to say, "We don't qualify. So now what?" Um, yeah. So it's not a pleasant thought. Thank you, Alex. I just have to say thank you so much. The increased volume at breakfast and lunch and you guys handled it so well. So thank you so much. and the um senior high makeover. It it like the first time I walked in, it was amazing what like a coat of paint in the little places, you know, made such a difference. And I loved that the signage as to like where to go. Um I know we talked about it in building council years ago. It like
075so it was wonderful to see it you to fruition. So thank you so much. You're welcome. Thank you. I just want to thank you, Alex, for your leadership. uh you're serving more and more kids every year. You're remaining solvent somehow and you're somehow remaining I know it's a very big concern but you're remaining as staffed as possible because people want to work here and they want to work under your leadership and anybody who's been able to walk through any of our buildings whether it's breakfast or lunchtime and seeing the thousands of kids getting nutritious meals some of which may not have been able to do that uh without your work. Uh I know I know it's greatly appreciated by everyone. So thank you. Thank you Tim and Dr. Terteranova. Thank you. Think I need to
076do here. Okay. Next up is the uh music and fine arts update. Presenters come and make your introductions please. Okay, good evening. Kira Kreny, director of humanities. It's a pleasure to welcome you and to celebrate the incredible work happening in our visual arts and music departments. Our programs give students opportunities to express themselves, build confidence, and connect with others, directly supporting Victor's mission to create engaging learning environments that promote empathy, inclusivity, and opportunity by uniting community and classrooms. Our dedicated teachers work to inspire and prepare every student to reach their full potential and thrive in an everchanging world. Tonight, we are proud to show how the arts help students find their voice and strengthen our school community. To begin, I'd like to introduce Joe Festa from our visual art department who will share more about
077the exciting works happening in our art rooms. Hi everyone, I'm Joe Fest. I am uh one of the teachers of the U Victor art team. I work at the the primary. I'm going to be bringing you through the preK through grade six portion of this. And if I have this. Okay. So, we have some slides up here and there's going to be some recurring themes on these. Um, so starting with with preK as far as vertical alignment of our curriculum. Um, the preK students are really having a lot of experiential learning. Um, a lot of it is with materials control, just learning how to hold a brush, manipulate materials, stay within the lines. Um, some of the some of the materials they get are pre-drawn or or pre-made. And um, uh, so this one up
078here with the flowers, they're learning how to care for materials, experiment, um, just kind of see what happens as they use materials. Um, the next one, kindergarten. Um, again there's going to be a lot of uh experiential learning and there's also a lot of brush and water control here. They're working with experimenting with using markers instead of watercolors and and seeing what happens when they add water to those to that material. So again, taking off from what the uh prek kids learned, now they're they're adding some water. water becomes a a big part of the the whole program with with watercolors obviously, but controlling that so it doesn't turn into a flood is is um a big thing. Um first first grade um they're getting into more color theory. So and we do touch on
079color theory in kindergarten. So here in the first grade they have warm cool color schemes. Um they're experimenting with some wax resist crayon mark making. So, as the water washes over that, it leaves um some empty spaces. Um and uh second grade, we're getting into a little bit more of the technical side of art. So, my second graders are learning about the landscape, the different parts, foreground, middleground, background, and how to apply scale to their compositions. Also, um we're learning from observation. So, we stand up and look outside at the grass and notice that it's not just green. And so, they're starting to blend in some colors. and we have a very limited color palette that they're they're using for these. My third graders, there's a lot more refinement of skills. Um they're getting a
080lot more selection of brush control. So, they have they get to choose larger, smaller brushes. Um there's a lot more um refinement in how they're doing their color blending. And we're still working with that same um limited color palette, though they have a lot more choice in the colors that they get to choose. So with the earlier grades, a lot of times we'll we'll set out exactly the colors that they need to use or they'll be segregated. So they'll be warm colors on one side, cool on the other, so they don't get it mixed up as they get older. They have more of that autonomy of choice. Um so there's more opportunity to make mistakes, but also to explore. um our fourth graders. Um this one is a bit more with with um paint rather
081than watercolor, but here they're becoming a bit more expressive and again water control because now they're doing some dry brushing techniques and that becomes a much more expressive form of painting. They're moving into abstraction. So the flowers become shapes that we can recognize rather than um just being simply you know as as uh representative of flowers. uh fifth grade they're doing uh neurographic work and you can see that there's a lot of value within those shapes. Um again that is you know a lot of tight control with how much water they're applying. So we're doing a lot of um uh using water but also knowing when not to use water so we're not always flooding the uh the paper. um with sixth grade they're moving into um some value ranges and and value is something
082that we do throughout all the grade levels as well, but they're really um working on it here by um layering up those colors u to create those volumetric forms. Um so there's yeah there's a lot that happens. There's a lot of repetition through all the grades and that carries through all the way up into high school, but each level we're adding more and more. So when we look at the fifth grade and the sixth grade, they're using a 16 color um palette, whereas our younger kids in second and third are using eight colors and down at the um prek, they might be given two or three colors. So choice is always there. There's always more room for exploration. Um and also, you know, opportunities, you know, for learning from those mistakes. Um I'm going to
083turn it over now to Dave Denner, who is our high school, and he's going to cover middle school through high school. Thank you. All right, I'm Dave Denner, art teacher at the high school. Um, one of my favorite things about this presentation is we're showing you a K12 continuum with one medium. So, we do this with a lot of the different media that we um work with in the art department. And the main thing is we're giving our students a cumulative experience where we have a vertically aligned curriculum that allows us to do things that build upon prior success. So, by the time they get to eighth grade art, students are focusing more on concept. They're working with ideas. They are um a lot more imaginative in terms of like the storytelling that's happening because
084their skill level has gotten to a point where they're confident and comfortable doing a lot of different things with their artwork. Um this is where we get a little bit more accurate with colors. It's a lot more representational and um you're going to see a lot of whimsy in the storytelling. Studio art is something we offer in eighth grade and in um the senior high and it's our last of the art courses that are of our required courses. So the key takeaway from this is that students have now had a lot of experience with paint. Now they're manipulating it and controlling it and focusing on elements of things like color expression and um also working in series with multiples and things like that. I There we go. All right. So, one of the things that
085happens after our studio art program, it's kind of a shift in the experience of the educator themselves. In drawing and painting one, the teacher still holds an instructional role and the emphasis is on teaching foundational skills, fundamental skills, really pushing them to the top level of their understanding and comfort with these different media. By the time they get to drawing and painting too, the teacher takes on a hybrid role of facilitator and teacher. So really the role shifts to someone who's not only teaching them the skills that they need and affirming that but also giving them suggestions on ways that they can expand upon and start to develop their own unique portfolio of work. Then finally AP which APs are due tomorrow so AP has been on my mind a lot lately. Um our AP
086program students are 100% independently building portfolios. The teacher takes the role of facilitator. We point them in different directions to help them build an authentic portfolio of work that showcases their strengths. Uh we want to have an environment where students are going to work without the fear of making mistakes and willing to take the risks that they need to have a a successful portfolio that comes about from their work. So as an overview our curriculum, it's really important that we tied it together on a K12 level and really looked at that vertical alignment. That's a really important thing to our program. Um, and what we've learned through this too is that our students are able to produce a lot more high quality work when they go on to study art after high school. They're extremely
087wellprepared to succeed at the college level. They're confident. They're learning about different careers early and um they're really thankful for the education that they received from our programming. This is just a quick little overview of some of the art shows we participate in. Just another really important thing, as with music, it's really important that the arts tie together with the community. So we make it a point to be out and um show it a lot of different opportunities locally and regionally. And so now I'm going to introduce Naomi for music. Thank you. Good evening everybody. Thank you so much for inviting us to come and share in um some of the many celebrations of our music department. I am Naomi Foley. I share the teacher leader position with Kristen and I teach at ECS and
088I've never used this before, shouldn't it? There we go. Okay, I got it. Um, I teach at uh the early childhood school. So, I'm just going to take you through uh the K6 program and some of our wonderful celebrations at the early childhood school. We're working on building those foundational music skills like singing, expressive movement, cooperative play, beat and rhythm. um experiencing the classical music and um a variety of music through movement and play. As you can see here, um we have so many wonderful school celebrations that um we collaborate with the school community team. Um and through music uh with our ECS song or go for the gold song, our kindness song that went with that beautiful um kindness paper um chain out in the hallway and flag day so that the entire school,
089all the children have full participation, collaboration, and that music is what brings us together and celebrate um all of our wonderful achievements. at the primary building. Uh we take those experiential um music experiences and we build upon it with rhythm reading, melodic reading, more experience on the classroom instruments. that's just going to build for that music readiness um to take off in the intermediate building where our music program just explodes with hundreds of kids participating in chorus, orchestra, band, and our select groups and then also everybody still um very involved in all of our general music classes hands-on with drums and xylophones and keyboards and singing for all of our students so that when they have a choice um in the junior high, they're going to choose music and they're going to be super successful.
090So, Kristen, take it away. Thank you. Hi, I'm Kristen Melma. I teach choir at the senior high. Um I'm very excited to be here tonight to celebrate some of our accomplishments as well as the wonderful things that our kids do uh out in the community. So, you can see a ton of students involved in our junior high, senior high uh all county festival, an area allstate festival. um any students who went to area all state conference all state or all eastern like we when we recognized Ethan Smith Ethan Smith earlier it's all because of their high NISMA scores and we actually host that solo fest every year here too. So on top of all these wonderful things that our students are doing, um they also get to go to Darian Lake every year, which like
091the kids start talking about. I visit, you know, our junior high is right above the senior high, so I visit them and they start talking about Jun Darian Lake like in September. Um coming up, we have some really wonderful collaborative concerts. There's a night where it's all the seventh grade groups, a night where it's all the um all of the eighth grade groups perform and uh all of our students also perform at Eastview Mall every year around the holidays at the senior high. Again, um a ton of accomplishments um as well as connections to the community. What I really love about my job and working with these students is seeing the level of enthusiasm that they bring to a Solo Fest. It's the same that they bring to the community events. And I think that's
092something that our department as a whole is really proud of. And through our PLC work, that's been a goal is how do we maintain these high standards, make this a place that's really welcoming for all students, and also connect with our community. Um Ethan performed at a Veterans Day performance right here in Victor uh alongside other instrumentalists and uh my seniors in choir. Uh we did a lunchon. Well, we didn't. We just sang at the luncheon. Um the but there was a luncheon at uh the town hall for veterans and I I don't know that's just like those are really cool moments. I know Dr. Teranova was able to pop in and it's cool to see that that they bring that much enthusiasm to the concerts whatever the performance is. Um so I'm really proud
093of our work. I'm really proud of our PLC work and really proud of our kids. So thank you for giving us a moment to celebrate them today. I know you can read the slide so I'll just move on. Um, it's funny. People, I'm sure they say to you, too, like, "Oh, the school year is winding down, huh?" And I never know how to respond to that because I'm like, "No, the school year is not winding down." Uh, you can see we still have quite a few performances coming up. Um, I put the QR code up there for a concert channel. I'm assuming everyone knows it's out there, but just in case not, if you'd like to come to a concert, but you can't be in there, be there in person, uh, Mr. Erin Isaacs and
094Jonathan Maldonado uh live stream every single concert. Even if you can't watch it live, it stays on the site so you can watch it later the next day. I really appreciate that. I like to be at a lot of my colleagues concerts, but that's a lot. Um so it's a great opportunity to still support our students, support our colleagues. Um and I hope to see you at one of our upcoming concerts. Thank you so much. Okay. Any questions for this group or members? Just have to say thank you. You know, you're amazing. It's your passion and skills and talents that you know excite the kids and and then they put the effort in it too. And I love the um you know stress of building those foundations and like it's you know a lot of
095times you kind of you know kids will have different home room teachers but really there's only a few music teachers, there's only a few art teachers at each grade level. So like you're hitting that whole whole cohort and you're making a difference in so many kids' lives and they remember it. You know, it's like my kids will, you know, talk about their um art and music teachers. Uh, so it's amazing what you do and we appreciate it every day. Thank you so much. Anyone else? Yeah, I just want to add a com. So, I have a Suzuki strings person in my household and it's um it's quite a treat, but I really do love her dedication and her commitment. She has fallen in love with it um because of the program. Uh it was Herb
096Smith, Herb Smith, Herb Smith. That's all we heard leading up to it. So, we went to go see it and I was very impressed with how all that unfolded and you know I I for for her in particular and I know I'm giving a personal anecdote but I have to um I I think it's allowed different to tap into different types of skills um dealing with frustration or or really staying committed to something and in ways that uh is a little bit different from how she had done that with athletics too. So I I see the natural connection there and I just think the the program has really enabled that for her. So anecdotally I'll tell you I I love everything that's going on and thank you so much for sharing that with us. I
097just wanted to quickly say I loved seeing the continuum for both departments and the and the building blocks um you know being a mom of elementary school students to see the trajectory of what's possible for them um is so outstanding. And um I recently attended in the building where I teach um our fifth grade orchestra concert and they played the same sequence that my second grade Suzuki strings child at home is playing and it was just incredible to see how early some of these things start in our district and it is truly such a gift that you guys give all of our kids every day. So I'm just very grateful. Thank you Dr. T. Uh I just want to thank the four teachers here who represent the multiple multitude of art music teachers in our
098district. Uh I think you're one just one thing I would say is you're phenomenal at two separate but intersecting crafts so to speak. Your craft is obviously your love of art and music. You're phenomenal at it yourselves. uh and you're able to teach it, but you also have the other craft that you're exceptional at, which is figuring out ways to build relationships with kids. And I see the children that anywhere from 4 to 18 that gravitate to your rooms and in some cases, you're the one niche that they have that really makes this place home for them. And uh I just greatly appreciate it as superintendent. So, thank you very much. Yes. Thank you. Um I have two children that are artists. Um you know, certainly they would be impressed with what you presented here
099tonight. Uh they're professional artists. I'm proud of them. Um and they're successful at it and uh I can see how what you're doing will help others um do that as well. So, thank you. Anyone else? All right. Thanks, folks. Thank you. Okay, we are at 7D, which is to approve the following trip. AP environmental science students to Courtland, New York from 528 to 529 of 2025 for the New York State Environ Competition. A motion to approve this, please. Carol. Carol. Second. Lisa. Lisa. Any comments or questions on this one? Congratulations. We just heard about it tonight. Outstanding opportunity. Good luck. Very excited for them. That's great. Okay. Um, all in favor say I. I. I. Any opposed? Extensions. Motion carried. Thank you. Item eight, meeting reports. Uh, Monro County School Boards Association Committee reports. Anyone
100have anything? I haven't been able to. I had I had been registered for um district operational because it talked um the one two weeks ago and I missed it because I had to support one of my students during my lunch block. But it I really want to go back and watch the video because it was about capital improvement projects during like uncertain financial times and I thought that was very applicable to us as we begin um to embark on the next phase of our current capital improvement project. So, I'm planning on watching the the video from the men um the meeting and I would encourage um other colleagues to do the same because it just seems very relevant and it pertains directly to um you know, we're right in the midst of a capital improvement
101project. So, that's my little plug. Share that with us. Uh the only other thing I saw is that NISPA did announce their dates for their annual conference this year. Just yesterday, I think they announced that October 23rd to the 25th again um at Hilton in New York City. Yes, I saw that. Um how about standing committee updates? Anyone? Seeing none? Oh, none. Okay. Uh item nine, upcoming events, annual annual vote and board of election board of education election is Tuesday, May 20th, uh from 6:00 a.m. to 900 p.m. in the early childhood school boardroom right here. I definitely will not be here at 6:00 a.m. Oh, come on. I I can't do it. Maybe voter one voter one and then the next regular board meeting would be June 12th uh 7:15 and that's here as
102well. Okay. Um we are not going to adjourn at this point because we want to uh go back to executive session. So I need a motion uh to enter executive session to discuss the employment history of specific individuals. Lisa Lisa second I Brian. Um all those in favor say I. I. I. Any opposed? Are we staying here for that? Uh we're going to we'll need to go behind a closed door somewhere. Either if this room isn't available, we'll go back to where we were. Okay. Um Thank you. I need a time. Thank you. Teacher appreciation week. Oh, and a reminder of our board workshop on the 22nd. Okay. Uh six. Did we decide six o'clock for that? Okay. 6 to 8. Yeah. statewide.