Victoria Amore

The meeting commenced with the presentation of Golden Apple Awards to recipients Anna Mansour and Allison Link, recognizing their positive contributions and dedication within the district. A significant portion of the agenda was dedicated to a presentation on the 'WEB (Where Everybody Belongs)' mentorship program at the middle schools. This initiative pairs trained eighth-grade student leaders with incoming sixth graders to ease the transition to middle school, aiming to increase school safety, reduce bullying, and enhance student achievement. The presenters detailed the extensive training process for the student leaders, including a summer training period and a spring 'day of play,' and outlined various follow-up activities designed to maintain connection and support throughout the year, such as group activities, positive hallway decorations, and assistance at parent-teacher conferences.

The meeting featured the celebration and recognition of the district's Teacher of the Year award recipients across Early Childhood Center, Elementary, Middle, and High School levels. The process for selecting these honorees, involving multiple rounds of nomination, review, essays, and interviews, was detailed. Specific recognition was given to educators such as Heather Travis, Mona Brousard, Laura Brooks, Elizabeth Kgo, Melanie McBadden, Denise Zeiss, Melissa Hill, Kelly Goulay, Carrie Estbrook, Sherry Halbrook, Angela Smith, Matthew Reed, Jennifer Satway, Stephanie Myers, Kristoff Ingler, and Amy Clark for their exemplary contributions to student success, fostering inclusive environments, and demonstrating dedication in their respective educational roles.

The meeting included recognition of the 2026 Teachers of the Year across the District, concluding with the announcement of Ms. Stephanie Meyers as the District Teacher of the Year. A proclamation was read declaring January 2026 as School Board Member Recognition Month. The Board approved the Consent Agenda, which included personnel recommendations (new hires, retirements, resignations) and financial reports for November 2025. A significant bid award for the 2024 Bond Program, specifically for Western High School Phase 3 and OEC Caretakers House Remodeling, totaling $27,181,916.25, was approved. Additionally, the Board approved an increase of 0.5 credit to graduation requirements to incorporate new personal finance standards, and the adoption of a new course proposal entitled "Outdoor Pursuits."

The Special Meeting of the Board of Education focused on organizational matters and future planning. Key discussions included the election of 2026 Board of Education officers, resulting in Mrs. Kaplan as President, Mrs. Crafton as Vice President, Mr. Lippitt as Secretary, and Dr. Zellner as Treasurer. Board delegates were appointed to various committees and liaisons for the term of January to December 2026, and the standing Board subcommittees for 2026 were confirmed. The Board approved the dates, time, and location for Regular Board meetings for the 2026-2027 school year, confirming one regular meeting per month with one additional meeting in reserve. Finally, the Board approved the process, including registration and associated expenses, for Board members wishing to attend various professional training sessions, meetings, and conferences in 2026. The meeting concluded with a review of the existing Board Policy Code of Conduct.

The meeting began with the Golden Apple Awards presentation, recognizing Elizabeth Chopi, a building substitute at Sarah Banks Middle School, and Gail Paul, a volunteer reader at Pleasant Lake Elementary School, for their dedication to students and the learning environment. Public commentary focused heavily on the need for increased teacher compensation, citing low starting salaries compared to surrounding districts and teacher burnout. Administrative commentary covered updates on middle school unified sports camps, the significance of the upcoming February 11th second count day for district funding, the successful rollout of electronic time sheets, and ongoing benefits education sessions. Other highlights included the Foundation of Excellence's 50-50 tuition expedition raffle, updates on student athlete discussions regarding sportsmanship and resiliency, and congratulations to a board member for receiving Master Board Member and Master Diamond awards.