001Go ahead. >> Uh, good evening everyone. We're going to get started today. Uh, we are here on Tuesday, uh, December 9th, 2025 for the Rever Board of Education regular meeting. Uh, Mr. Berdine, please call the role. Mrs. Brackett >> here. >> Mr. Haidu >> here. >> Mr. Malik >> here. >> Mrs. Rainey >> here. >> Mrs. Stein >> here. >> Okay. I know we have uh our Richfield students who are going to lead us in our pledge of allegiance. So, I will turn it over. >> Good evening, members of the board of education. It's our pleasure tonight to introduce our wonderful student leaders for the month of December who will be lead who will be leading us in the pledge of allegiance. These students consistently demonstrate outstanding character in our core values of rever ready
002behavior. First up, Everett Carpin, one of our second graders. Everett, come on up. Everett was nominated by Mrs. Bird and is an exceptionally kind and thoughtful student. He brightens our school day by always saying good morning and wishing everyone a great day. Everett loves helping others and making them smile. He is hardworking, puts 100% effort into his assignments, is a great listener, and follows directions the first time. Everett truly loves school and takes great pride in being a rever man. Next up is Kennedy Anthony. She's in kindergarten, nominated by Mrs. Herig. She is a respectful and responsible student and consistently works hard to follow directions in the classroom and models the expected behaviors for her peers. Kennedy is a kind friend on the playground and makes sure to invite others to play. Unfortunately, Kennedy was
003homesick today and is so sad because she was looking forward to being here. Next up is Scarlet Harrison. She's also in kindergarten and was nominated by Mrs. and she is a fantastic role model consistently showing River's behaviors. She is a great help in the classroom and a friend to all. We are incredibly lucky to have her positive presence in the classroom this year. And we have Theo Bar, first grader. Theo was nominated by Mrs. Rston. He is a wonderful student who has been respectful, kind, and is always ready to learn. Theo has a positive attitude and is always willing to help a friend when they need it. All right, come on up here. To the flag of the United States of America and to the republic for which it stands, one nation under God, indivisible,
004with liberty and justice for all. >> Good job. There we go. >> [applause] >> All right, Mr. Fry. >> Good evening. I I love it when our B means take up the whole front of the of the uh audience here. Excellent job. Thank you so much for coming. Um our amazing teachers at Bath are always looking to provide real world learning experiences for our students. Our third grade teachers in particular focus on making college and career connections for their students. They bring in professors, scientists, and professionals in their fields to talk about their careers and make those connections to the learning that's happening in the classroom. Last month, Mr. Lauder invited a guest from the Summit Soil and Water Conservation District to not only talk to her class, but to also lead a service project
005on our B school grounds. Mr. Lauder is going to come up and talk about this project and introduce some of our students who help with the activity. Mrs. Lauder, thank you. Hello everyone. Good evening. My name is Becky Delau. I am a third grade math, science, and social studies teacher. And I get to represent six very special students that I am proud to recognize tonight. These students not only represented our whole entire class, which you can see in that lovely photo that we have up the steps, but they went above and beyond um and truly supported our school and our community. Earlier this year, our third graders learned about soil from Abby Hugh, who is an outreach coordinator from the Summit and Soil Water Conservation District. That is soil, not dirt. Thank you. Sorry, my
006kids know. It's made of pieces of rock, organic material, water, and air. And that has characteristics that we can observe and measure. She came in, she brought in soil samples for us to look at. We got soil samples from our own land lab. Um, and we will revisit it again whenever we go into the springtime. Um she later returned to talk to just my class specifically about runoff and storm drains and why they matter. From there, our class volunteered in a countywide environmental project um from the grant that Miss Abby and her department wrote and were awarded. We spent several hours outside on Ba'ath Elementary's property learning how water runoff affects our drainage system and nearby waterways. And everyone had the chance to help label the drains. So no dumping drains to river and only
007rain down the storm drain. While all students participated in my class, these six students am I good to introduce them and bring them up? Oh, yeah. All right. Miss Ryan Sebastian, Beexley Samarano, Janelle Oladi, Abby Abby Agaral or Abby, William Miller, last but not least, Louis Mitiga. and a little bit about the project and what we did that day. So, they were especially eager to jump in and help. Um, I'll admit they really didn't want this opportunity to go down the [clears throat] drain. Um, they worked closely with Miss Abby by scrubbing each drain. >> That [snorts] was funny. That was a good one. They're used to my jokes. Yeah, they don't always land. Um, with a metal brush, clearing the debris, and that was after a long month of rain. Um, so we had
008a lot of leaves out there on the property. And then um we had the thickest glue I think we've ever seen. Yeah, it was thick black. And then we had to do a swirl design. So we were wearing gloves. We were very serious about this part. And then we got to have the final countdown. And from 10 seconds down and then we pressed it onto our sewer drains. And our final countdown came after the ninth drain was labeled. So this excitement was truly draining in the best possible way. All right, last one. I promise. [laughter] Through this experience, students learn an important lesson about storm water pollution and that storm drains don't lead to a treatment plant necessarily. They drain directly into our rivers, streams, and lakes. That means whatever goes in the drain goes
009straight into our environment. The goal was for our students to better understand water pollution and our local ecosystem. And I think we've accomplished that. And they also showed kindness, responsibility, and genuine desire to help others and protect our environment. And I am very proud of you. Because of this, our school now has a better understanding of why storm drains matter and not just for our building, but our community and our planet. So, thank you for allowing me to recognize these amazing learners tonight and the privilege of being their teacher and sharing such a meaningful experience with you guys. Thank you. And that's our photos up there. [applause] Yeah, we did it. You guys [applause] >> [applause] [applause] >> Oh, wow. >> What's It's okay. I'm used to this when I'm getting ready to speak. [laughter]
010>> Okay. Good evening. Um it's my privilege to present our three students from the middle school tonight. So, unfortunately, one was sick. You know, that's kind of going around right now, but we'll still um tell you a little bit about her. So, our three students, we're going to come up one at a time. First, I'm going to talk about Gabby Bertilotti. She's a sixth grader at RMS. So, I'm going to read what some of her teachers wrote about her today. So, Gabby is a student who constantly gives her best and then some. She not only strives for excellence herself, but she also works to lift others up and help them shine. Honestly, the classroom would be a lot less magical without her. Another teacher, Gabby is a joy to have in class. She comes to
011class daily with a positive attitude, ready to learn. She is very personable and respectful with both adults and peers. She always has a story to share or a helpful comment. I appreciate her very much. Another teacher, she truly is one of the sweetest students I've ever had. Every day without fail, she says hello in the hallway, offers a high five or hug to her teachers, and just brings a smile to everyone around her. She has a way of making school feel lighter and happier simply by being herself. in class. She is always the first to jump in and help, whether it's with a student or it's with me. I love our little conversations and hearing her stories and yes, comparing notes on whatever show we're both watching at the moment or whatever book we are
012reading. Another teacher, Gabby, is a leader in the classroom. She comes to class eager to sing at 7:30 in the morning with music in hand and a positive attitude. She is she is such a joy to have first thing in the morning and is a very well-rounded student. And I can tell you she is one of my friends at the football game. So I stand in the end zone every football game and she is there rain or shine, friends or no friend, she's coming out to support the Minute Man. So we're very happy to have Gabby at RMS. So our next student, we're going to have her come up, Harper Rainey. >> So Harper, you're going to see another theme here. Definitely very helpful. just helped us hang signs today at the middle school during
013our rise period. [clears throat] And I can tell you, I brought her with me. I didn't let her go with Mr. Py because her insight on where to put the signs was very valuable. Every time we put a sign up, I said, "Harp, do you think this is good?" "No, I think it should go here, Dr." [laughter] I said, "Thank you." So, here's what some of her teachers have to say. Harper comes in class every day with a positive attitude and is ready to work hard. She asks great questions in class and is a leader in lab settings. Her work is exemplary and she never fails to find success in what she does. Harper has joined the RMS academic challenge team this year and her team has already won a tournament at Norton. She is
014performing at a high level on the A team with a group of eighth graders and they all know that they can trust her performance level and Harper is a seventh grader. Another teacher, Harper is an outstanding example of kindness and friendliness, always making everyone feel welcome and valued. >> [clears throat] >> She excels with top grades and demonstrates a genuine love of learning. She consistently participates in class discussions and confidently leads group projects, showing responsibility, dedication, and leadership. Harper is an absolute joy to have in class. Harper is an exceptionally kind and dedicated individual. She approaches every day with a genuine eagerness to learn and demonstrates a strong commitment to her work. She is always willing to lend a helping hand to her peers whenever they need it. Her positive attitude and dependable nature make
015her such a joy to have in class. And I can tell you firsthand, we have kids help us in the cafeteria clean up. Harper is always one of the first to volunteer to help. So, we appreciate everything you do at RMS Harper. Our next student, eighth grader, Levi Sheno. Now, I'm gonna I'm gonna bust his chops a little bit on his way up here. [applause] So, his teachers, there's a theme here. He's also very helpful. But it it was funny when I was reading their comments. He has that mischievous twinkle in his [laughter] eyes sometimes at class and and they [clears throat] talk about how, you know, Levi is very he's got some humor in the classroom, but he knows the right time when to say things and it's always it advances the class. It
016doesn't distract from it. And I can tell you, I've got to know Levi the last few years as an eighth grader now. He's been in the building for three years. He is a student athlete and like Harper, he participates in things outside of school. And that's one of the things that's always very important to me. If you participate in something, you're wearing that name, you know, revere across your chest or on your back when you're out in the community and it's very important how you represent yourself. So, I'm going to give a little bit of background here about Levi from his teachers. So, one teacher says, "He's a very talented student. He's a [clears throat] great friend to his classmates. His sense of humor brings a lightness to the class that both students and teachers
017appreciate. I think I can always count on him to provide thoughtful insight into the class discussion and work. Levi is quite mature for his age. He has a mischievous twinkle in his eye, but he has an excellent sense of boundaries and always behaves as a gentleman. I have oft seen him use good judgment in social situations. He is a serious student wearing an engaging and entertaining persona. Levi excels as an athlete on the football team. So, this is from his football coach. He was the leader of the squad both by example and holding teammates accountable. There was no end to his commitment to the team. He would be my number one draft pick as a person to build the team around. And and then one more story from his wrestling coach. So I talked to
018him, you know, last week. I said, "Hey, I'm going to be presenting. I got three great students. You have anything you can tell me about Levi?" And I did not know this. So last year, Levi as a seventh grader on the wrestling team, we had someone else who was new to the team. And for that student, in order for that student to have some success on the wrestling team, Levi went up away class. So, he was wrestling and I went to a lot of their matches and he had to wrestle some tough opponents last year. But he sacrificed his personal gain for another team member to have success by going up a weight class. And that's the kind of guy he is. And then his coach said last year when he had them dress up
019in [clears throat] ties and sweater vest and things like that, one student, he didn't have that. He didn't have a tie. Levi brought stuff for him to school and then helped him dress like the team so he wouldn't feel left out. So, you know, these are the kind of kids that we're raising in our community and I'm always proud to come up here and present what they're doing. So, Harper and Levi, we really appreciate what you do for RMS. [applause] Thank you. All right, Mr. Ferris. Thank you. >> Hey, good evening everyone. And Mr. White, I already have some high school kids asking. They're telling me there's snow on the way at 3:00 am again. But I'm here to [laughter] advocate for no snow days because we're busy preparing for exams. >> There you go.
020>> It is my honor and pleasure each December to highlight our partnership school, Kyoga Valley Career Center, CBCC. Uh we at River have record numbers of students attending CBCC. Each month they put out a student of the month. And so for first semester we have September, October. There was no student of the month uh at CBCC for November and December's won't be released until next week. So I can't let the cat out of the bag yet. But I have tonight to present to you two young ladies who are at CBCC. In keeping with the theme, one of them couldn't be here tonight. Uh so I will talk about Allison quickly. Allison West was our September CBCC student of the month. She is involved in the hospitality and food preparation program at CBCC. Inspired by her
021mother who bakes and sells sweet treats and homemade goods, Allison discovered her own passion for the kitchen. And now she has aspirations one day of owning her own bakery and selling her delicious creations. Our student of the month to my left is the incredible, amazing, and talented Isabella Vand Vondriska. I've known her for uh two and a half years as Izzy. So, if it's okay, can I just go with Izzy? I think she prefers that. Anyway, Izzy was our October CBC student of the month. And um just having her up here with me is just such a testament to the fact that CBCC the power and what they're able to do for students. Um of course, I'm a career ed dad. My daughter graduated uh from a career ed program and Izzy is taking full
022advantage of it. And this is so impressive. She's currently a junior, like I mentioned. She's involved in the cosmetology program at CVCC, led by her instructor, Melissa Fox. Uh she's got a history and a connection to CVCC. Her dad, who's here with her tonight, uh participated in the machine technology program and her older sister also was involved in the media arts program. So Izzy knew about CVCC and um just really felt that that was a positive environment for her. And in fact, she says here, um, it's such a happy place. Everyone's so friendly and always says hi. And she really enjoys being there and part of that program. Uh, when asked, her teacher responded that Izzy, well, she says Isabella, so she's not on she's not in the VIP circle apparently. Uh, Izzy is a
023great student who pays attention and is detail oriented. She is kind and respectful, and I really look forward to watching her grow. um just talking about because she's obviously halfway through her junior year almost. She's already considering her post-secary plans and they are to start working in a salon and dreams of owning our own booth someday and being her own boss, which I love that for her. So, ladies and gentlemen, it is my pleasure to introduce to our community Isabella Izzy Vondrrisco. [applause] Players out. Okay, sure. All right, we're going to continue on with our uh meeting. Uh we do not have any presentations tonight. Uh at this time we do allow for the public to step forward with anything as it relates to the agenda. There'll be another opportunity at the end. So if
024there's anybody wants to speak to agenda items, now is your time. Okay. Uh the board of education has one item on its agenda uh and that's the election of the president prom. Uh so it's recommended that the board of education elect a president prom for the January 13, 2026 organizational meeting. So we'll take nominations for that. >> I nominate Courtney Stein. [clears throat] >> I'll second it. Any other nominations? >> [snorts] >> Okay. >> So, with that, we can I can call the role um to cast a unanimous ballot for the sole nominee and we can be done with that item. >> Sounds good. >> All right. Um so, Mr. Haidu, >> yes. >> Mr. Malik, >> yes. >> Mrs. Brackett, >> yes. >> Mrs. Rainey, >> yes. >> Mrs. Stein, >> yes. So, this
025person basically runs the meeting until we elect uh the new officers. Uh we have uh CBCC. I don't think Mrs. Burke has anything to add. Correct. Okay. Um Mr. Berdine, treasur agenda. >> If five items, I would propose taking those as one action item, please. Uh >> so moved. Second. First item of the minutes from the two November meetings, the financial report for November, which is not a whole lot to [clears throat] report. We're 300,000 to the good. It was one month of variance with the new forecast that you approved at the last meeting that was provided to you in advance. It's also available on our website. Uh there were three purchase orders out of sequence that were presented to you when they exceed $3,000. three donations. We had $450 from the River Football Golf
026Outing to the Ben Chrisman Memorial Scholarship Fund, $400 from the Kathleen Butler family to River High School for Veterans Day student participation, and then from Heart of Revier, we had $413.19 for some Revier high school students with particular financial needs that were addressed by Heart of Revier. >> Yes. and the asset deletions. I'm sorry, not used to that one. The middle school, um, we're looking at reutilizing that space and moving some furniture pieces in there and, uh, bookshelves and things like that. So, they have been combing through their u library stacks and removing the old materials that are not um, generally circulated. I'm being kind by saying that because some of them have not been circulated in years. So that's what they've been working to purge so that we can try to proceed to um
027make that more of an open floor learning space um similar to this but on a much smaller scale obviously. So it um it'll involve some mobile tables I believe would be the only purchase that we end up making in there. >> Thank you. Uh and as always we truly appreciate the donations made by our uh River supporters. Uh it's always uh amazing at the uh amount of contributions that we receive from folks. Uh go ahead and call the role. Mr. >> Mr. Malik, >> yes. >> Mrs. Brackett, >> yes. >> Mr. Haidu, >> yes. >> Mrs. Rainey, >> yes. >> Mrs. Stein, >> yes. >> Thank you all very much. >> Thank you. Thanks. >> Okay. Mr. White, superintendent's agenda. >> Yes. Uh recommend Romano numeral 91 1A through 1D as a consent agenda. [clears
028throat] >> So moved. Second. >> All right. First one, letter A, we have a teacher u requesting maternity leave there. B is the long-term substitute teacher for one of our staff members that's out on medical leave. C is supplemental contract. The um Okay. So, we have Mr. Uh Shane stepping in to serve as their assistant coach for academic challenge there. And D, we have a compensation for one of our staff members to score some essays for students for one of our staff members that's out on medical leave. Just want to make sure the students are getting good feedback for the essays they wrote. Any questions on any of those? >> Okay. Mr. >> Mr. Malik, >> yes. >> Mr. Haidu, >> yes. >> Mrs. Brackett, >> yes. >> Mrs. Rainey, >> yes. >> Mrs. Stein,
029>> yes. Okay. Recommend Roman numeral 9 2A through 2E is one consent >> motion. Second. >> Okay. There a we have uh resignations. So folks switching some positions for us and B is a change of position and transfers for some our midday run going to CBCC. And then one of our um you'll see one of our playgrounds aids is taking over then the midday run to help just fill in those gaps for us for those changes. Letter C we have four new hires and at D about [clears throat] five new hires come in help us out with serving as substitutes for some of our aid positions. written in letter E. We have the supplemental contract for our new head coach for girls lacrosse, Quint Downey. >> Any questions on any of those? >> No, but
030I just want to say I love that we have a former rever coming back to head coach, >> the girls lacrosse team. I think that's great. >> Yeah, be a great thing for our program for sure. Yeah, I love it. >> Are there any other questions? Okay, Mr. Perdine. >> Mrs. Stein, >> yes. >> Mrs. Rainey, >> yes. >> Mrs. Bracket. >> Yes. >> Mr. Haidu. >> Yes. >> Mr. Malik. >> Yes. >> Okay. Recommend 3 A through 3C. That's also the consent. >> So moved. >> Second. >> All right. We just have three contracts there for three students uh to serve their needs and special learning needs. >> Any questions? >> Mr. Malik. >> Yes. >> Mrs. Brackett. >> Yes. >> Mr. Haidu. >> Yes. >> Mrs. Rainey. Yes, >> Mrs. Stein. >> Yes.
031>> All right. Other business. 4 A through 4G. I recommended consent. [clears throat] >> I'm sorry. What did you say? 4 A through what? >> 4G. >> Motion. >> Second. >> Thank you. Okay. There at letter A, we have the four policies that we've been reviewing the past couple of months. Then B, we have the updated gifted and acceleration plan. Uh C is our curriculum adoptions. the second and final reading and we've had board presentations with the AP Seminar, AP Research and Zoologology and there letter D, we have the career connections at the middle school. E is a contract with our strength and conditioning coach active physical therapy LLC. F is our girls basketball team overnight trip this December. And then G, we have the baseball team out of state trip um that coming this
032spring. Any questions on any of those? No questions. It's an easy night for you. >> It's been an easy night. Thanks, >> Mr. Berdine. >> Mrs. Stein. >> Yes. >> Mr. Haidu. >> Yes. >> Mrs. Brackett. >> Yes. >> Mr. Balik. >> Yes. >> Mrs. Rainey. >> Yes. [clears throat] >> All right. That takes us to Roman numeral 10 information discussion items. >> All right. Our next uh uh board meeting will be the January organizational meeting. Uh that'll be held on Tuesday, January 13th uh next year beginning at 5:30 p.m. in the rear rear admin building. There'll be a special meeting held on Thursday, January 15th, beginning at 10 a.m. at the Fairland Country Club. Uh this meeting will be held in executive session with no action be taken at the conclusion of the meeting.
033And then there will be the regular board meeting will be held on Tuesday, January 20th, 2026, uh beginning at 5:30 in the high school media center. Um, and then all these dates will be approved obviously in January at the organizational meeting. Uh, now we uh allow for the public to speak to any concerns or community announcements. So, if there's anybody that'd like to step up to the podium, now is your time. >> Okay. Well, before since no one's gonna say anything, I would like to say something before we move on. Uh, tonight is Keith and Hayden's last board meeting. I just want to make a few comments um and thank them which thank you doesn't seem big enough words to say what we want to say for people who dedicate so much time to us
034but Hayden I was going to tell you that you are one of the first Rever friends that I made way back in 2008 before my kids even started school when you moved in across the street from me. Um after meeting you I quickly realized that River is much more than just a good education. It is truly a wonderful place to raise your kids. Your love for River was evident from the very beginning. Your pride in having gone here and now raising your kids here was clear to all of us in our neighborhood. Having worked with you on the board, I can say that your love for Rever and pride in this district is at the forefront of all of your decisions. You truly want what is best for this community and especially the kids who
035walk through our doors every day. I will also say that our meetings, especially our work sessions, may not be as fun without your humor, breaking up tense moments or just keeping us laughing. You will be missed, but I'm so glad I can still call you friend and of course neighbor. >> Of course, >> Keith, it has been such a pleasure to work alongside of you. You've been such a strong and steady leader as president of our board, calm and level-headed even when things are difficult, and we've had our moments. Um, before I joined this board, I watched you guide our district through the difficulties of COVID. That was certainly something that no one saw coming nor could be prepared for. However, you and the rest of the board through with your leadership made important decisions
036that were not always popular but were obviously what was best for Revier. And in hindsight, it is a huge part of why Revier continues to excel the way that it does. I admire your dedication of this community to the administrators, the staff and students who are we are charged to lead. You have always put what is best for River as the guide for your decisions and we are better for it. Your leadership will be missed, but I appreciate all that I've learned from you. To both of you, I say thank you. Thank you for all that you have done and that you no doubt will continue to do. Rever is better because you have served here and you both will be great in this. >> Thank you. >> I'd like to say thank you as
037well. I really appreciate um the unique perspective that both of you have brought to the board and your willingness to share that perspective and um provide some institutional knowledge along the way that I wouldn't have had as a new board member. Um, I know it's takes a lot to put yourself out there and um, take a role serving in this way and it's not always a thank [clears throat] it's a pretty thankless job sometimes. So, it's very appreciated to all the years that you guys have given and I know that you're involved in many other ways than the board and I look forward to your continuing support of the district in this space. >> Thank you. >> Thanks. like both of you, I just want to thank you both for doing this, especially for as
038long as you did. Um, I think your time on the board has definitely contributed to the strength of our district. Um, like Kasha said, doing this is not easy, and I really appreciate your willingness to step up and serve, especially in uh these times and some of the things you guys have gone through, including the pandemic. So, thank you. >> Thanks. Um yeah, I just want to say to the river community, thank you for uh letting me serve this community for the last six years. Um the community is really important to me and um being a River Grat is something that I'm really proud of. Um but most of all just the kids. Um I I just really love um seeing our kids go from kindergarten and grow up and become really fine adults. And
039then when you see people move back in the district or like you said with Quinn Downing coming back to coach here, it's just I think it becomes full circle and it's just an honor to serve this community. Um it's an honor to serve the people in our community. But most of all for me it's really just about the kids um the students that go to River and I'll continue to do that through coaching, through uh some other booster club activities and things like that. I'll continue to serve and and I'll probably continue to serum they asked me to not serve anymore. So, I just love this community and to Jennifer and Jeff, good luck. Uh, you know, I I I have faith that you'll continue to, you know, put the community first and put the
040kids first. And if you do that, the district always seems to find a way to stay on top. So, it's been an honor to serve all of you. Thank you. >> All right. Uh, I might take a few more minutes here, so just bear with me. Uh it's hard to believe that eight years has gone by this quickly uh being on the board of education here at River. And as I reflected on this experience, I'm actually filled with gratitude uh for the work we've done together uh for the trust that the community placed in me, uh I wanted to begin by acknowledging uh something that's important. While the board sets policy and provides oversight, uh we are not the ones leading the district day-to-day. our superintendent Dan White, Treasurer Rick Berdine, our central office and
041building administrators, teachers, counselors, coaches, directors, and support staff, including transportation and food service, are the people greeting our children every morning and supporting them long after the day ends. [clears throat] Their dedication is what keeps River strong. And I want to thank them for the incredible work they do for our students. And of course, our students remain at the center of everything. Their drive, curiosity, talent, and kindness remind us every day why public education matters. Rever students push us to be better. Uh they truly represent the best of this community. River is special because of our people. The involvement, care, and commitment from families and residents is extraordinary. People here show up. They advocate and support one another. And that engagement is the major reason this district thrives. But we also saw over the past
042two years how quickly division can grow. Those moments reminded us that our actions and words matter. They can bring us together or they can push us apart. If we allow division to take root, we risk harming the very foundation that has made Rever exceptional. My hope is that we continue choosing collaboration, respect, and a shared commitment to our students because when we do, this community is truly unstoppable. I'm incredibly proud of the accomplishments we've done together. We've maintained a top 5% academic performance in the state. Graduation rates consistently remain in the high 90s, including 100% this past year, the only district in the state to achieve that. We've expanded AP, dual credit, and career technical opportunities, and we brought graduation back to the campus. Our athletics and performing arts are thriving. We've strengthened school safety
043with a second SRO, secured vestibules, and expanded safety training. We've invested in facilities across the district from the new Bath Elementary and the new River High School to districtwide technology, lighting, and HVAC upgrades. And we built a new transportation facility. During all of this, we remained fiscally responsible. No new operating levy since 20 2011. strong financial forecasts and responsible contract negotiations. We've guided this district through CO 19, keeping students engaged and connected, and we responded swiftly and effectively when Bath Elementary faced a bomb threat. Yes, these successes occurred during my tenure, but these belong to all of us, our staff, students, administrators, board members, and families. >> [clears throat] >> As my service ends, I want to wish the two new board members, Jennifer Burke and Jeffrey Bowler, well, these roles come with responsibility, and
044their decisions will shape the district's future. I also want to recognize Mr. Haidu uh for his five years of service. It's been a privilege to work alongside of him. With Aid and me leaving, the new board will have a combined seven years of experience. My hope is that they continue to value partnership, listen to the community, respect the law, and lead with students at the center. One part of this experience I will carry with me forever is the relationships formed along the way. I've been fortunate to work with board members, administrators, teachers, parents, and community members who care deeply about Rever. Some of those relationships have grown into lifelong friendships. People who supported me, challenged me, and worked with me toward the same goal, doing what is best for kids. I value those friendships more
045than any vote or any policy. Finally, to my family, thank you. To my wife Ashley, your patience, support, and strength made this service possible. To my sons, Rogan and Luke, you remind you remind me why this work matters. To my parents, Gary and Maryanne, and my extended family. Thank you for the values that guided me through these eight years. Tonight, I step away knowing River is strong because of our staff, our families, our students, and the relationships built along the way. Serving on this board has been the great honor of my life. I'm grateful, humbled, and proud of the work we've done together. Thank you. [applause] It's hard to follow that up. Keith, [laughter] I also want to thank your families for the sacrifices you've made, both the Malaks and the Highos. The amount of
046time they all gave so that you two could be here. Really, all five of you, your families give a lot of time so all five of you can be here and give your all for our district. Thank you, Keith and Hayden. Thank you for your commitment, dedication, and loyalty. We would not be where we are today without both of you. Thank you. On behalf of the district, administrators, and everybody here, we'd like to uh offer you some cake and ask all of you that are here tonight to join us for a little reception in the back where we have two gifts for you and some cake for everybody to enjoy once we adjourn. Thank you. >> All right. Thank you. >> Thank you. >> I think we still to have a motion and a second
047to adjurnn. >> Motion. Second. >> All right. Mr. Berdine. >> Mrs. Stein. >> Yes. >> Mrs. Rainey. >> Yes. >> Mrs. Brackett. >> Yes. >> Mr. Haidu. >> Yes. >> Mr. Malik. >> Yes. >> We're adjourned. Thank you everybody. Have a good holiday and New Year. >> Merry Christmas. >> Sorry.