Board of Education Meeting Report for February 21, 2008

ADMINISTRATIVE REPORTS:

PK-6 principal Harold Leve and 7-12 acting principal Jill Slavny gave their monthly presentations about recent and upcoming activities.

Mr. Leve

* showed several photos from

-- Jennifer Kanapickas' fifth-graders reading to the kindergartners as part of a monthly program;

-- the Fourth-grade Art Group's Egg Drop project;

-- a crew from WROC-TV 8 doing a profile of elementary aide Mark Garno for the station's "Fit Kids" series;

-- Chinese New Year celebrations by K-4 art teacher Ed Mandara, and Patricia Richardson's and Hillary Conderman's second-graders;

-- Mary Kokinda's fifth-graders presenting their social studies projects about explorers;

-- the fifth-graders' Drug Abuse Resistance Education graduation ceremony;

-- elementary teacher Joanne Crowley learning she was selected as the WARM 101.3/McDonald's McTeacher of the Week; and

-- board member Lafayette Eaton teaching basic science lessons to the kindergartners.

Mrs. Slavny

* showed photos from

-- freshmen Jeff E. and Ryan J. competing in a "Culinary Smackdown," in which they lost by only three points to a much more experienced team;

-- the National Junior Honor Society induction ceremony, at which seventh-graders Virginia B., Mary B., Stradder C., Brittney D., Brianna F., Emily F., Katie G., Emily R., and Alyssa T. and eighth-grader Amy K. were inducted; and

-- an electrostatics experiment in Robert Brewington's physics class;
* thanked the district's art teachers -- Ed Mandara, Rosemary Pleninger, and Beth Vercolen -- for coordinating the winter art show;

* said she plans to gather opinions and suggestions about the midterm schedule from teachers, staff, and parents;

* encouraged everyone to attend the spring musical, "Grease"; and

* congratulated the December/January Students of the Month: seventh-graders Samantha A. and Stephanie G., eighth-graders Sharon R. and Jared R., freshman Amanda B., sophomore Julie B., junior Crystal W., and seniors Stephanie D. and Sean F.

Assistant superintendent for instruction Catherine Terrell showed several photos of the Feb. 1 Superintendent's Conference Day workshops and activities.

District superintendent Dr. Howard Maffucci

* said the members of the Monroe County School Boards Association's legislative committee generally expect the outlook for schools to worsen as adoption of the proposed New York state budget nears;

* encouraged residents to pay close attention to the ongoing reauthorization of the federal No Child Left Behind act, noting, however, that no action will probably be taken any time soon; and

* said he participated in a panel discussion on stipends sponsored by the MCSBA's labor-relations committee.

BOARD MEMBERS' REPORTS and COMMENTS:

Student representative Courtney B.

* congratulated all the winter sports teams, especially varsity cheerleading on their Section V title and varsity boys' basketball on their record;

* wished luck to the indoor track team on their upcoming Sectional meet;

* congratulated freshman Joey Q. and junior Rachel G. on their performance at the Science Olympiad; and

* reminded everyone the National Honor Society collects General Mills Box Tops as an ongoing district-wide fundraiser.

Board president Kim Jackson

* said unfunded mandates was a dominant concern at an MCSBA event with NYS Legislators she, Dr. Maffucci, and Mr. Eaton attended the previous Saturday; and

* said she and her fellow board members plan to attend an MCSBA-sponsored lobbying trip to Albany next month.

Tim Henry said he was impressed by the DARE graduation, noting many other schools don't offer the program.

COMMENTS from DISTRICT RESIDENTS:

Bob Stratton

* said despite parking problems and other issues, the school should continue to serve as a site for political elections, to encourage and demonstrate participation in government; and
* said a new mandate requiring less distance beween fire extinguishers doesn't make any sense.

NEW BUSINESS:

The board

* approved the addition of two new courses: Design and Innovation (technology) and Food for Fitness (culinary arts); and

* OK'd the publication of the time and place of the 2008-09 budget public hearing, annual district meeting, budget and propositions, and election of board members.

UPCOMING MEETINGS: 7 p.m. Tuesday, March 18 and April 22

Meeting length: 50 minutes