Joe Agro

The session featured a presentation on literacy and screening measures, specifically discussing the use of DIBELS for English reading assessment and Lectura for Spanish reading assessment. The discussion covered the components of skilled reading, the science of reading, and the implementation of brief, repeatable screening probes. Board members inquired about the handling of student absences during testing windows, the impact of testing on students, and the rationale for the specific languages selected for assessment.

The board discussed budget presentations, including staffing numbers and the decision to manage school closure planning internally instead of utilizing a consultant or a dedicated committee. Other topics included the process for private high-cost special education reimbursements, charter school funding, and revenue maximization regarding Medicaid. The board also reviewed math assessment data and strategies for tracking student growth using the I-Ready assessment tool.

The board meeting included a land acknowledgement, a review of board guardrails regarding student outcomes and behavior, and an executive session to discuss pending litigation and real property acquisition. Public speakers addressed the board on several issues, including the use of the School Administrator Manager process for instructional support, the need for district-wide funding for instrumental music programs to ensure student access and retention, and concerns regarding potential budget cuts to arts education and student support teams.

The meeting included a land acknowledgement, a review of board guardrail statements, and an executive session to discuss litigation, personnel matters, student disciplinary appeals, and real property acquisition. Recognitions were presented to security officers for their decisive response in an emergency. The public comment period featured discussions on the impact of proposed budget cuts to violin and theater programs, student achievements in adult education programs, the need for increased school support staff to effectively implement the code of conduct, and an overview of the Queen City Forward project aimed at re-envisioning the Kensington Expressway.

The work session focused on three main orders of business. A primary discussion involved the formal proposal to rename Community School 53 to the Nan M. Wood Community School of Excellence to honor the legacy of a dedicated educator. The board reviewed community support, including petition signatures and previous public meetings regarding this renaming initiative. Additionally, the Buffalo School Choice Project presented qualitative and quantitative research findings regarding the current student placement system, highlighting parent experiences, challenges with the lottery process, and disparities in school access based on various demographic factors.