WEBSTER CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT Webster, New York BOARD OF EDUCATION MEETING MINUTES REGULAR BUSINESS MEETING November 8, 2022 Members Present: Members Absent: Administrators Present: Others Present:
J. Richardson, L. Dioguardi, M. Alt, C. Barnabas, J. Birdsong-Ng, S. LaDelfa, C. Roods B. Neenan, B. Freeman, D. Swinson, A. Halaris, J. Hendrickson, W. Ottman, F. Leggett L. White, A. China, S. China, J. Bardanis, E. Berns, K. Fenton, S. Julian, D. Smith, D. Elliott, E. Laidlaw
The November 8, 2022 Regular Business meeting of the Webster Board of Education was called to order by President J. Richardson at 6:02 p.m. at District Office, Spry Middle School, 119 South Avenue, Webster, NY in the second floor Professional Development Center. There was a quorum. The meeting opened with the Pledge of Allegiance. C. Roods motioned, L. Dioguardi seconded to call the meeting to order. Vote: Yes: 7; No: 0; Absent: 0. M. Alt motioned, C. Barnabas seconded to approve the agenda. Vote: Yes: 7; No: 0; Absent: 0. Student Liaison Reports Sidney C. gave an update on Schroeder activities including participating in the Empire state games, extended thanks to Schutt’s for donating pumpkins to Link crew for pumpkin decorating, mathlete success, and the marching band placed fourth at the New York State field band conference. Audrey C. shared Schroeder’s sectional results and success thus far. Coach Brown received the coach of the year award. Model UN competed at Hilton last weekend, Physics students competed in their annual pumpkin launch. Lauryn W. gave an update on Thomas activities including red ribbon week where the CARE club decorated halls with messages of remaining drug free, the marching band came in first place at a competition at Greece Olympia, a Key Club food drive, college meetings with senior students, and several sports updates. WTA Liaison Report Joan Bardanis reported on WTA’s ongoing collaboration with all staff members. The first Dance-a-Thon was hosted at Plank North and money raised will fund activities, field trips and field days. Our kinderfriends, wrote letters to veterans around the world for the fourth year--thanks to all WTA members who have served. Author and Illustrator Raúl The Third was invited to Schlegel’s newly renovated library and all students participated. Teachers at DeWitt are working to create a formative assessment aligned with ELA standards and are also working to celebrate World kindness day. Reading buddies has returned. Standards based grading has a Google classroom for teachers to collaborate. Craig Johnville/WTA CARES received a letter of thanks for the food drive. Thanks were extended for the “CCC”, chocolate, caffeine and company visits. Superintendent’s Report Campus News Superintendent Neenan thanked One Webster community’s veterans and active duty service women and men as we prepare to celebrate Veterans Day. Spry will welcome Webster CSD’s veterans and active duty service members and their families for a free dinner on November 10. Thanks were extended to event sponsors: Spry Middle School Builders Club, Webster-Fairport B.P.O. Elks #2396, Spry Middle School Student Council, Wegmans, Walmart, and Hegedorn’s. All schools will be closed on Friday in observance of the holiday. On Friday, there will be numerous law enforcement vehicles parked outside Willink as police will conduct training. Mr. Neenan introduced Jennifer Hendrickson, principal of Plank South, and Ari Halaris, Director of One Webster Learning Center/OWL High School. Principal Jennifer Hendrickson represented elementary buildings and expressed gratitude for community members, stellar staff, supportive families, selfless PTSA/parent volunteers, and superb students. LETRS training is taking place through the end of the year, a strategy to support phonological awareness and improve reading fluency. Thanks were extended to our TOSA’s who are the bridge to keep PLCs moving forward when administrators are pulled in different directions. DEI training is taking place as well as responsive classroom refreshers. Our building aides do everything possible to help students succeed. Bus drivers work with full buses due to the shortage of drivers. Cook managers and kitchen staff have implemented changes allowing for additional instructional time. School nurses are very busy managing illnesses, are patient and we are grateful for their work.
The custodians keep our buildings clean, safe, and healthy. Secretaries work hard, answering questions and managing the new entry ways, etc. Director of OWL High School, Ari Halaris thanked the BOE for visiting OWL, it was a great experience for the kids. Thomas’ Skylight café, run by one of the Thomas special classes and Food Service, is open and provides life and vocational skills. Students and staff celebrated international pronouns day. Titans delivered a great deal of food and paper products to the community food cupboard of Rochester. OWL high school took a trip to the fish hatchery to view development, feed the fish, and hike down the Ridge trail. Mrs. Bardanis has a weekly tradition in journalism class where students have coffee cake and read the Sunday paper. OWL students expressed interest in selecting their classes as their peers do. Forensics, journalism, and career and financial management class were selected this year. The pep rally showed how easily OWL students integrate and are connected to their peers. Varsity Unified bowling kicked off their season in October. The GOALmine store is also open. Spry students celebrated red ribbon week and Willink held their 8th grade trip to Washington DC. Mr. Neenan welcomed our WonderCare Directors Erin Berns and Kristin Fenton. WonderCare is entering its fourth year. Erin represents the Schroeder catchment and Kristin represents the Thomas catchment. Staff includes an assistant, 8 full time coordinators, 2 program directors, 126 part time staff, and 38 are teachers or school employees. They reviewed their Core 7 areas, literacy, growth with CARE, wellness, service learning, arts and humanities, STEM, academics and homework support. Electives are also offered and students have the ability to choose. Enrollment numbers were shared and there has been a great deal of growth. WonderDays are days off of school and currently runs out of Klem South. Another location was opened up on Superintendent Conference day due to demand. Field trip locations, outside visitors and themes were shared. Thanks to staff for a fantastic program. Superintendent Neenan expressed his gratitude to students, staff, and board members and for all to enjoy the Thanksgiving holiday with family and friends. Science Grades 6-12 Instruction Report Presenters: W. Ottman, S. Julian, D. Smith The goal of the department is to teach students the skills on how to look at data through a critical lens to make claims and support it with evidence. There are forty-five grade 6-12 teachers, twenty-one science classes and 416 students in college level classes earning dual credit this year. The science department celebrates its diversity of experience and collaboration. The new science standards were described and are 3 dimensional: practice, content, and crosscutting. Standards are used to design instruction, assessment, curriculum and learning. The assessment timeline was reviewed and NYSED changes. POGIL Process Oriented Guided Inquiry Learning is a student-centered instructional strategy where students work in teams through designed activities. It is meant to be a replacement for lecture. Students develop their own understanding about the science, etc. Student choice based units have also been in place since the hybrid year. It is a student centered way of learning concepts. Units is broken down into chunks and students choose how they show what they’ve learned. There are a variety of activities they can show as understanding is demonstrated in different ways. J. Birdsong-Ng motioned, S. LaDelfa seconded to approve the Science Grates 6-12 Instruction Report as presented. Vote: Yes: 7; No: 0; Absent: 0. BOARD BUSINESS: August 2022 Treasurer’s Report Assistant Superintendent Freeman highlighted key items on the August 2022 Treasurer’s Report. C. Roods motioned, C. Barnabas seconded to approve the August 2022 Treasurer’s Report. Vote: Yes: 7; No: 0; Absent: 0. First Reading of Non Instructional Business Operations Policies (Section 5000) President Richardson briefly explained the process for our policy manual review. To ensure that we are up to date with SED/NYS changes, we enlisted Erie 1 BOCES’ aidable service and they issued the first draft of the policy manual. The entire manual will be reviewed section by section. Assistant Superintendent Freeman commented that this part of the process is where we “Websterize”, edit, review, and send it back to Erie 1 BOCES to update. Once final, there will be one uniform adoption date for the policies. Mr. Freeman explained the process of comparing both manuals and the reasoning behind the proposed edits in section 5000. Questions were entertained regarding the process and updates. C. Roods motioned, J. Birdsong-Ng seconded to accept the first read and move it forward for a second reading before sending to Erie 1 BOCES. Vote: Yes: 7; No: 0; Absent: 0.
Summer Capital Project Construction Update Assistant Superintendent Freeman reviewed the progress on the summer capital project construction. Some delays were due to manpower issues. All elementary work has been completed and the bus garage will be completed by December. Since graduation ceremonies are held at both high school stadiums, and after much discussion, permanent screens will be installed, and we no longer need to rent them. It will provide for a better graduation experience and they will be utilized in many other ways besides graduation. A question has arisen numerous times about the upcoming capital project and why there are allocations for the front entrance of Spry. The changes will improve accessibility, especially for those in wheel chairs. The stone maintenance will be minimized, however the historical feel of the entrance will remain. 2023-24 Budget Calendar Assistant Superintendent Freeman reviewed the respective budget calendar timeline and key dates. Approval of Extra Class Fundraising Accounts for Webster Thomas and Webster Schroeder High Schools. Mr. Freeman reviewed the extra class accounts. Webster Thomas is requesting to establish an account in the extracurricular fund titled the Titan Service Scholar Account and Webster Schroeder is requesting to establish an account in the extracurricular fund titled the National Art Honor Society. M. Alt motioned, L. Dioguardi seconded to establish the extracurricular fundraising accounts for Webster Thomas and Webster Schroeder High School as outlined in Mr. Benz and Mr. Widor’s approval forms. Vote: Yes: 7; No: 0; Absent: 0. School Liaison Reports Janice reported: Central PTSA is looking for volunteers for the Winter Wonderland event on 12/3. Jennifer reported: Fundraiser pies are arriving at elementary buildings, State Road will hold a meet and greet with their new Assistant Principal and coordinate with their pie pickup. Shanna reported: Klem North meets on 11/30 in person and Thomas meets on 11/15 virtually. Spry meets tonight. Linda reported: Schroeder meets on 11/15 and Plank South meets on 11/30. Carole reported: Schlegel meets tonight, Willink meets on Thursday, and Klem South meets next week. Mike reported: DeWitt and Plank North meetings take place in the next few weeks. Monroe County School Boards Association Reports Legislative Committee: They are looking at position papers, held conversations about electric buses and emissions, SEL and mental health, how to help students, staff, etc., and employee retention. Labor Relations: All districts are addressing labor shortages. Staff is their best advertisers. Mr. Swinson commented that we need teacher aides, teacher assistants, bus drivers, etc. Info Exchange: The topic was ACT for Education, a coalition with a unified voice, positive messaging for local districts, and they encourage community support for public education, etc. Executive Committee: They meet on 11/30. Standing District Committees: Policy: As discussed tonight. Budget Advisory: Member will rotate. School Community Committees: WHEN: They meet tomorrow. Naloxone training is on November 14 pending the availability of naloxone. NYSSBA Convention Update Jennifer Birdsong-Ng attended the NYSSBA convention in Syracuse on October 27-29, 2022. Topics included: How do we keep our schools strong, recruitment, the incorporation of all staff member and including them in decision making. Other sessions included topics on mental health, electric buses, construction, recruiting people, and retaining employees that you have. Consent Agenda S. LaDelfa motioned, L. Dioguardi seconded to accept the Consent agenda as recommended by the Superintendent including Minutes: October 11, 2022 Regular Business Meeting, Personnel Actions: Certified Probationary as amended, Certified Regular Substitute, Classified Appointments, Adjustments, Additional Assignments, Leaves of Absence, Resignations, Resignations Appointed to New Position, Recommendations of the Committee on Special Education Meetings 2022-2023 meetings, Recommendations of the Committee on PreSchool Special Education meetings, International Travel Approval Request. Vote: Yes: 7; No: 0; Absent: 0.
Visitor Speaking Time Danielle Elliott shared her frustration over masking and social distancing during the pandemic and the divisiveness it caused. Should a vaccine mandate be pursued, she recommended that parents speak up now and asked the board to proactively trumpet their message. Elizabeth Laidlaw invited the board to become aware of the antiracism curriculum projects. There is an accessible curriculum through PathStone as a basis for comparison with Webster’s curriculum. President Richardson acknowledged receiving Ms. Laidlaw’s email today. President Richardson reminded board members of the next regular business meeting on 12/6 at 6:00 p.m., the Capital Project vote on12/13, Veteran’s day, Thanksgiving and wished everyone a wonderful holiday. ADJOURNMENT L. Dioguardi motioned, C. Roods seconded to adjourn the meeting. The meeting adjourned at 8:10 p.m. Vote: Yes: 7; No: 0; Absent: 0.
Respectfully submitted,
Cynthia Cushman Cynthia Cushman District Clerk All documents that are duly made a part of these minutes are kept in a supplemental file that corresponds to the date of this meeting.