001I said you're fine. All right. Welcome everybody. Uh so just wanted to let everybody know um that we did call the meeting to order at 6:03. We did the pledge of allegiance um and then at 6:05 we adjourned into executive session. We adjourned from executive session at 6:38 and no action was taken. Um that leads us to the approval of the agenda. Are there any questions on the agenda? Not seeing none, may I have a motion and a second to approve the agenda? >> So moved. >> Second. All in favor? >> I. >> Sorry. Um thank you. Um minutes from the previous meetings. Um any questions or comments about the um the previous minutes. Seeing none, may I have a motion and a second to approve the minutes? >> So, moved. >> Second. >> All
002in favor? >> I. >> Okay, thank you. Um and then communications. Does anyone have any communications to share? I know we got a lot of invites I think over the past week for leadership days to the middle school, Willow Ridge, Glendale, and the challenge to change, right? Does anybody else have anybody any other ones? >> We received a thank you note. Did everybody get to see that? The white whiskers one? >> Yep. >> Okay. Just want to make sure she emailed to make sure that we got it. >> Heritage Heights PTA meeting was postponed a week, so that'll be next Monday. So, you know, it is on the calendar incorrectly. >> Okay, I think that's all the com- the communications we have. Um we have no unfinished business, so that leads us to the superintendent's
003report, Dr. Janesky. >> Thank you, Mr. Belanti. Just a couple quick updates. Um first uh we are excited to uh showcase one of our athletes um who unfortunately couldn't make it last time due to a varsity lacrosse uh conference game, but we would like to call up Alexandria Reed um who was part of our C A S H um girls hockey program that went to the final four uh and uh represented Sweet Home so well, and we are just excited to have her and make sure we she gets her due uh um up here tonight. So, um you got to you you got to start >> Congratulations. >> We love the sweatshirt, too. >> Congratulations. >> Thank you. >> Great job. >> Congratulations. >> Turn this way for a picture and then you're back to
004your head. >> Congratulations. >> There you go. You can take that with you. >> Congratulations. >> Thank you. >> Sure. Yeah. >> Congratulations. >> And a couple other unfortunately they couldn't make it tonight, but we do we uh continue to have an incredible faculty that is recognized throughout the state for some of their awards and their influence that they're having on other teachers. First we wanted to recognize Mark Isadore check. He was not able to make it tonight, but he's been selected as a master teacher in the prestigious New York State Master Teacher program. He officially accepted and will join the Western New York cohort based at SUNY Buffalo State. And if you're not familiar with the Master Teacher program, it really is a a honor. It it takes a lot of class work, um
005a lot of work to become a master teacher, and you not only influence curriculum around the state, but you mentor young teachers um as well. So, it's a highly influential program, highly prestigious program, and we want to congratulate our high school math teacher Mark Isadore Chek um on receiving this great honor. Um and it's certainly a point of pride for Sweet Home. >> Dr. Janystra, I know we have quite a few. Do you know how many people we have in the district that are >> We have four. >> Five now, I think we're up to. >> We Yeah, we >> Yeah. >> continue to have people inducted. So, I can get that number for you and get that to >> Yeah, I'm curious. >> Yeah. And that's quite It is not easy to change achieve
006this this uh it's years worth of work, and um so to have four or five in the in the district, that's pretty pretty awesome. >> to submit um a number of documents that show that they are in the at that level. So, there's it's a it's a pretty strenuous process to get through. >> Dr. Sarah English, uh we all know Dr. English. Um she continues to rack up the the prestigious awards. Um but uh she was not able to make it tonight, but we certainly want to recognize her. She's the recipient of the 2026 MARM Chemical Education Region Award for Excellence in High School Teaching. Um she's will be honored at the award ceremony on May 17th at Hershey Lodge Convention Center in Hershey, Pennsylvania. Uh she also will receive a $1,500 award, which uh
007she will be donating to the Sweet Home Chemistry Club. Um so, we're really excited um about this, and um we know the influence Dr. English has had in the chemistry program here at Sweet Home. Um but she she goes she reaches far beyond Sweet Home as she influences curriculum, state testing, uh you know, she consults uh on all matters of chemistry uh throughout the state, and just another recognition of her a work, and uh just want to say congratulations to Dr. English um on this on this prestigious honor. And then it is music in May a season here at Sweet Home and we wanted to give our music department a big shout out because they are very busy. I believe there's a concert going on right now. The blue band at Heritage blue band at
008Maple Mirror Glendale and Willow Ridge are at the high school as we speak and then there's concerts all this week as well throughout May. We highly encourage our community to attend one of our great music shows that'll be uh be taking place in May and wanted to make sure you get the calendar up there and see it and put it in the record. And then as we approach the end of the school year we ask our community to save the dates. Our three big receptions and recognition nights are coming up shortly next month on June 8th we will have the retirement reception at the Virgil's Community Center right here at 5:00 p.m. On Tuesday June 9th the volunteer recognition reception will be here at 5:30. We also partnered with Chef once again that night and
009that'll be in the high school auditorium. And then on Tuesday June 16th the tenure reception will be taking place in the high school auditorium which is also a great night of celebration as we mark the tenure status for teachers that have been here for either three or four years and have been exemplary in their probationary time. So please mark your calendars for those nights as we will recognize a lot of people that make Sweet Home so great. Finally we are at our last meeting in May so next week we are one week away from the the budget vote May 19th 2026 from 7:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m. right here um, this room at Virgil's Community Center, Sweet Home Road, 1901 Sweet Home Road. Voters are asked to enter doors through door six. Um, you will
010have to be a US citizen, 18 years of age or older, and a district resident for at least 30 days prior to the vote. So, um, we hope our entire community comes out on May 19th. We will have an art show, um, once again, here. Uh, the track meet is in the morning, um, as well. Um, and, you know, it's just a and and of course, the world-famous, uh, chicken barbecue. Um, Mr. Fellman has passed that off to, uh, the Sweet Home Education Foundation. Um, I know that tears of joy, uh, Don, I will say, and, uh, for that, but it the the chicken barbecue will go on, um, and we hope to see our entire community out here on May 19th. That's what I have for tonight. Great. Thank you. Oh, I should say,
011we want to welcome Summer Mack, uh, who is our vice president of student government, and also, uh, first alternate, I would say, right? For for Javon, uh, who could not be here tonight. Um, this is your first meeting sitting at the table, and so, um, you know, and just talking with Mr. Johnson, we know districts are we we could talk about this more, but districts are doing multiple members, uh, for your student ex officio, um, board members. Um, and so, maybe that's something that we want to talk about, um, in the future, but, you know, um, to say Summer has had a a great run here at Sweet Home, but also is a true influential mentor student, um, involved in everything under the sun. Um, you know, it's just an honor to have her up
012here tonight, uh, to to step in for Javon, and, uh, we're really proud of your work, and uh, of what you've done here, um, throughout your four years. So, can't wait for your report tonight. >> Yeah. >> All right. >> Just a couple weekends ago, I was at the legislative breakfast, and at the end, I met the two student representatives from Akron. And Akron happens to be a smaller school district than us, and they explained how they were doing things in the different roles, and I said, "I got a perfect person in mind that would fit right in there." And you're it. >> Yes. >> Great. >> And that's okay. >> All right. Thank you, Dr. Genestri. Um so, moving on with our agenda, uh we have upcoming events. Um Dr. Genestri laid out all
013of our our music um concerts coming up. Uh the district vote next week um with the art show, the uh chicken barbecue. Uh there's also a concert that evening. And the elementary um track and field event. Um we also have some leadership days coming up at their elementary schools, a fun run at Maple Mirror. Um author visits. Um and with the our final PTA PTO meetings, which are usually voting meetings in the beginning of June. Um so, that leads us to open session number one. Uh per board policy 1510, this open session is for topics related to tonight's agenda. Is there anyone interested in speaking? Seeing none, we will move on. Um so, that is new business. Um just to go over real quick. We have A, special education. Um our class placements and preschool
014placements. Um Mary Ann is excused this evening, but I did my best to catch up on on some of the reading, but um >> I did manage to get through them. >> Oh, you did get through them, Scott. Okay. I I couldn't get through all of them, but yeah, there was a lot this month, so. Um two is the monthly financial report, or B is the monthly financial report, sorry. C is bids for the health medical supplies, athletic and physical education, and arts. Um and general classroom supplies. Uh D is a municipal uh cooperation agreement with Rick One. Um I believe that is our uh vendor management cooperative uh for Ed Law uh uh two compliance uh that are already vetted. Um we have an acceptance of a donation for supply teachers for Burger King.
015Um F is uh school district calendars um that have been up on the web a website. Uh G is a resolution for approving our MOA uh with the um uh service union, right? Yeah, service union. >> Uh yes, yes, yes. >> And um so that any questions on A through G? Seeing none, may I have a motion on the consent agenda A through G? >> So moved. >> Second. >> All in favor? >> I. >> Great. Um that leads us to um our informational items. So, Ms. Mack, you are first. >> Um Good evening, everyone. There isn't much as the school year comes to an end, but this Thursday, the sixth grade students who are part of the pure mentoring program will be coming to the high school for a shadowing day. They will see
016what it's like being a high school student and then we'll all have lunch together. This is unfortunately the last time we will see them. Next week Friday, the members of student government will be headed over to Maple Mirror for their leadership day, filling in as role models and mentors. It's a very exciting time for seniors as graduation is near. Um May 1st was decision day for seniors pursuing college and they wore their got their gear um showing off what college they'll be going to. Friday, Mr. Lou had an assembly to talk to the seniors about graduation requirements, tickets, and more. Um the prom tickets are now up for sale for people who are attending and seniors are able to pick up their cap and gowns as well. Next week we also have a spirit week
017dedicated to the seniors which will be our last one for high school. >> Thank you. Mr. Johnson. Just a handful of things. Um I think the biggest one here was the legislative breakfast that I attended along with Dr. Cash Tree and Mr. Feldman a couple weekends ago. We had Senator Gallivan and Assemblyman Conrad come and speak to us. I don't want to get into all the details cuz there's a the report that I wrote up to be shared across Erie County and they sent it to me too so that was nice. It just has everything but just overall I thought it was a good conversation. Both of them were very frustrated with the budget process and how it's going or not going. Um I know when we left there the anticipation from them was slightly
018different but one of them thought it would be finished last week. The other thought it would be finished this week. Um I got an email this afternoon from New York State School Boards that said neither of those was going to happen. Looks like next week right now. You probably already heard this stuff. >> I hadn't. We hadn't gotten anything. >> Yeah, so it looks like next week and the piece that went along with it was they passed their 11th budget extender which is good through this Thursday and this is the now the latest budget since 2010 going along with what you mentioned before. Going backwards. Um I also had the Sweet Home School Board meeting I attended. We just talked about our business. A lot of the stuff is pretty much wrapping up the school
019year here again close to it. Um I represented the Board of Education at the Sweet Home Distinguished Alumni Wall of Fame ceremony. Um it was great ceremony. Um It was well attended I thought and we had three great gentlemen who were inducted into the hall. Michael Reed from the class of 2014, Nicholas Down Bravo from the class of 2003 and Dr. Paul Bookbinder from the class of 1978. I've got the pamphlet if everybody wants to read more about it and I think it's available some online but I'm not sure. Oh wait, it went out in the NYSBA. >> Yes, it did. >> In the NYSBA. Um a legislative team meeting earlier earlier that was the wrap-up for the year. And let's see. The last one is also pushed out by NYSBA. There is two There
020is a bill out there to push back the zero emission emission bus requirements by 5 years. Um Senate Bill 9667 and Assembly 10896 if anyone hears. And the bill is to push it to the purchase these requiring starting in 2032 and you got to operate only zero emission buses by 2040. It's passed the Senate Education Committee by 14-nothing vote and it's on the floor and it's also waiting to be cleared out of Assembly Education. So, whether it'll happen this session or not, I don't know, but they're trying. That's all. >> I'm holding my breath. >> Uh Amy. >> Nothing for me. >> Okay. Dirk. >> I'll piggyback a little bit on uh the legislative meeting. >> Mr. Ravitch was also with me. I apologize. >> Well, I I just want to if you haven't read
021it, Scott does a terrific job with the reporting back on these meetings and and spend a lot of time staying on top of the Assembly and the Senate and what's going on in Albany with all these various moving parts in education. So, I really just want to thank him for doing that. And uh do you think they will hold to this week or two from that meeting they thought it would complete? Probably not, right? >> know. >> Do we Do we know what's holding it up, Dan? Is it still this >> I think the clean energy bill is one. I think auto insurance reform is another. Um I really don't think it has anything to do with education. >> Yeah. Yeah, that was kind of the impression I got and I know despite the fact
022the governor coming out saying they'd reached an agreement, Speaker Hasty came out shortly after that saying they haven't. So, that's >> totally crazy. I again here I I had the I called the Heritage Heights. I talked to the principal, a friend of mine there, Antonio. Said, "What's going on with our PTA meeting?" It was postponed. I don't know that the reason was anything serious, but it was postponed a week. But, I spent some time talking to Antonio just about relationships between staff and administration and we had quite an interesting conversation. It changed my view on some things that I think I'm going to bring forward with, especially when we go into negotiations. Oh, that's all I have. Thank you. >> Uh, not a whole lot. Um, enjoyed celebrating teacher appreciation week with all of our
023teachers uh, this month. Um, that's my Super Bowl every year. I get very excited about that week and being able to just really thank them for everything that they do. Um, our gratitude is is bottomless in that regard. Um, a lot of meetings, ceremonies, end of year stuff coming up. We have our last cell phone meeting on the 26th of this month to kind of round out that initiative and see how the year went for everyone. Um, if you're able to attend any of the leadership days across the district, I'd encourage anybody listening to do that because those are an absolute blast. Um, Glendale has got their fun run coming up on the 21st. So, if you know anyone at Glendale, throw them a couple bucks um, so they can meet their fundraising goal and
024the kids will have a great time that day. >> Right. >> Uh, yeah, the um, thing I I wanted to mention I attended the Willow Ridge uh They had the chorus concert last week. They did a great job. There was and the other school it's um that they partner with now. She's very lively band and chorus instructor, but uh >> Heritage, yes. >> Yeah, >> It's amazing. >> And they did a great job. You know, I like those concerts cuz you know, there's songs I know. Um which is a lot different than when I grew up. You know, it was Jackson 5 was one of them. Um Um and uh you know, and they're um just about the right amount of time, about 20 minutes or so, so it works out works out well. But
025um the kids did a great job. Um the other thing I wanted to mention and I know Peter you're on with Willow Ridge um is that they I my and and Don they officially my understanding is cuz my wife has been involved in this quite a bit for and the PTO over there with the sports court is gotten a Is am I correct that it's now >> It's been officially approved by the the assembly. It is now in the hands of the dormitory authority to fund it. Uh so we had to do uh another um bit of a grant application uh with some um narratives from both our architect team and our attorney uh that we feel as though that will put us in a good place. Uh and then they review that. They said
026about uh 30 to 90 days. So we will get full thumbs up or here hopefully shortly. Uh and then they will fund us, give us the money anywhere from 6 months to a year out. So I would think by this time next year that we will either be started or have completed a sport court at Willow Ridge Elementary School. >> And I mean it's a it's a meaningful amount of money, right? It's >> $85,000. >> Yeah, so it's it's you know, this is and it was spearheaded with the PTO. >> Mhm. >> You know, so you know, just kudos to them and hopefully you know, almost they're almost over the finish line. >> Yeah, it's been a process and it's been learning as we've gone through because we've never done something like this before. Um
027but our architect team, the Willridge PTO, they've been great. And uh you know, I think it'll be a fantastic addition to the you know, the building. >> Into the school. >> And I have to say it basically all started and Brian knows this, but with a phone call, right? To to Karen McMahon's office. And it just rolled from there. Someone we know who took the initiative to make that phone call and um >> I know who it was because I know >> Mrs. Lybolt did it. Yeah. >> I talk to this every day about >> I may or may not eat dinner with you on a regular basis. >> But >> I was told I had to bring this up But but I had no report now. But no, I mean it that's that's >>
028She just took a chance and and and it it evolved into an $85,000 grant for this for this. So kudos to her and the PTA for >> Yeah. >> And it's nice to see that Karen McMahon, that they were able to help. That they you know, cuz you do wonder sometimes, you know, you call your local representatives and you know, you know, you hope that they can help you and but especially the more local ones, the more local they are, the more impactful in many ways they can be. >> Karen now it comes through for grants for us, but but uh um >> Bullet Aid as well. Um she's been a a good friend of the district for for since my time here and I'm sure long before me. So. >> So. >> Okay. Um
029so I attended the Willridge PTO meeting and I was going to mention the grant, but Brian, that's fine. Um I know uh that Mr. Polino and the PE teachers are working on the design and what they actually want on it. Uh I basketball nets, four square pickleball were were mentioned. Um, Sweet Home logo. >> We'll work on that. Um, they're they're having their elections at their next meeting on June 4th. Um, and they are currently in the planning stages of their fifth grade moving up events. Which is a ceremony, a field trip to get air. I believe a water balloon fight and a foam party and then they have gifts and goody bags for the fifth graders. So, that and I've I've either lived in a meeting or on a softball field for the last
030month or so. So, you know, a good luck to all of our spring teams. I believe this is like the last week of regular season and playoffs start next week. So, good luck to all of our spring season teams. Um, that's all I got. So, that leads us to open session number two. Would anyone like to address the board? You would have three minutes. Please state your name, address and your relationship to Sweet Home. Okay, seeing none, we will move on to personnel. We have teaching and administrative and service. Um, so any questions or comments on personnel items one and two? >> Um, if if you don't mind, Mr. Belanger, I just want to point out two things. Number one, um, we're very excited to recommend Shondra Gigello as the assistant director of special programs
031here at Sweet Home. Shondra has served as the administrator with Karen Delaplane at Glendale for climate and culture. Over there, she's made a huge impact at Glendale and I know they will miss her. We're working on her replacement um but um the meantime, I just want to say uh we highly recommend Shandra Jagello uh for the position of a assistant director. She's worked in special ed her entire career. Um she's very well well prepared and um was uh went through a panel interview and interview at the superintendent level um and and shined at both levels. So, um we're excited about that and then um I'd be remiss um I got to meet um young Mr. Harrigan um last week uh and during our finals, he we we recommend him. He's in the attendance tonight. Um
032just to goes to show you about his character. Um and we recommend him for our new PE position at Maple Mirror Elementary School. So, uh he did a great job in the interview process and I got to meet him last week in the final round and uh unanimous choice amongst the panelists. So, um want to recommend Griffin and recognize that he's here tonight. >> Thank you. >> Dr. Joshua, I just can add to that to you're talking about the people as we're moving up. I'd like to to note that I mean we've had four grow your own candidates that have just moved up into newer positions recently. I think that's great that we're able to make those moves internally like that. People are already well versed in the system and well qualified for the new
033positions. >> I think what I'd like to do is invite them all maybe to one of the meetings in June and we can recognize them and also grab a group picture um because I think it it it's not it's not every day where you get to um promote a lot of administrators into positions and um our team here is is special. Our administrators are hard working, dedicated, hearts are in the right place um and they're just all about our students and um to be able to be in a position where we can fill from within in these leadership roles um is super exciting. Um we're losing some talent, no question about it. Um but to be able to fill these positions with um people that have been at Sweet Home, I think it makes a
034huge difference. Consistency in leadership is um is is what drives great schools. So, um we're we're we're we're in a great place. >> Okay, so may I have a motion in a second on personnel items one and two? >> So moved. >> Second. >> All in favor? >> I. >> Great. Um just last thing, Jonathan, thank you for coming tonight and from the board we are sorry. And our thoughts your thoughts are our thoughts are with you. Thank you. So, may I have a motion in a second to adjourn? >> So moved. >> Second. >> All in favor? >> I.