Marc Friends

The meeting focused on accepting the results of the budget vote and the election of two new board members. Additionally, the board approved a revised calendar to reflect a half-day for pre-kindergarten through seventh grade students. The board also reviewed the upcoming schedule for various committee and regular meetings.

The meeting included a report on the Alagini Kataragi School Board Association meeting, highlighting the transition in leadership as the executive director prepares to step down after over thirty years of service. Discussions also covered updates on the state budget, the importance of regionalization and sharing of services among rural districts, and upcoming plans to honor board members for their service. The meeting concluded with a reminder regarding the importance of civic participation in upcoming elections.

The board discussed athletic training protocols and student safety, specifically addressing the role of athletic trainers and coach interactions, as well as district liability and parent override policies. Other topics included the approval of an affiliation agreement with SUNY Brockport and PennWest University, a natural gas bid co-op resolution, an RFP for auditing services, and a contract for playground structures at Washington West Elementary School. Additionally, the board approved a contract for technology services with the Western New York Regional Information Center and reviewed upcoming committee and board meeting schedules.

The board meeting covered several operational and educational updates, including a review of the school district's budget proposal and the current delays in the state budget process. Updates were provided on the code of conduct revision process, emphasizing consistency and increased communication with parents. The director of curriculum and instruction reported on the progress of the ELA reading program, implementation of the new math curriculum, and a science needs assessment. Additionally, the meeting featured student reports regarding career exploration and a unified basketball event.

The board discussed several topics, including a transportation strategy to bring routes in-house, policy reviews regarding life-threatening health conditions, medication/personal care items, annual organizational meeting timelines, and absentee ballot procedures. Other business included an update on advertising in schools policy, a review of the 2026-2027 school calendar, consideration of new club applications including a 3D printing club, and the development of an extracurricular handbook. Buildings and grounds updates featured a sneak peek at school facility designs and policy revisions for facility naming, while the audit and finance committee reported on budget increases in utilities, maintenance, athletics, and special education, along with state-level funding updates and the potential for full-day universal pre-kindergarten.