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I hope this letter finds you well. Below, please find a brief recap of the presentation and announcements from the Board of Education Meeting that took place on April 1, 2025. You can watch the meeting video here.
2025-2026 Athletics & Non-Instructional Budget Presentation
Athletics Director Dan Iorio, Director of Facilities Steve Chamberlain, Assistant Superintendent for Business John Chow, and I presented the proposed Athletic & Non-Instructional Budgets for the 2025-26 school year, which you can review here, along with the previous budget presentations. As we approach the annual school budget vote on May 20, please see the important dates below.
4/22/25: Adoption of Budget
5/6/25: Public Budget Hearing
5/20/25: Annual Budget Vote and School Board Election
SUPERINTENDENT’S REPORT
Pleasantville Pride Highlights:
- Science Olympiads: The High School Science Olympiad team was in Syracuse last weekend, representing Pleasantville in the state tournament. I also wanted to wish the Middle School team good luck at the upcoming state tournament this weekend.
- Middle School Play: Congratulations to the talented 7th and 8th graders for their fantastic performance of Something Rotten, Jr. Their hard work, dedication, and creativity truly shone on stage. Bravo to the entire cast and crew for a job well done.
- BRS School Play: The BRS production of Willy Wonka Jr. kicked off this weekend with a sweet start. If you missed it, you still have a chance to catch this delightful show on April 4, 5, and 6. Don’t miss the opportunity to support our young performers and enjoy this magical musical adventure.
- Sèt’Expo Science Expo: Wishing the best of luck to PHS juniors Camilla Broward, Lexi Busch, and TungLam Nguyen, who are traveling to Sète, France, to present their impressive Science Research projects at the Sèt’Expo Science. We are proud to have them representing Pleasantville Schools and showcasing their innovative work on an international stage. Safe travels and best of luck.
- Pleasantville Festival of Strings: Get ready for an evening of outstanding musical performances at the Pleasantville Festival of Strings this Thursday night. Our talented orchestra musicians from across the district will take the stage, sharing their skills and passion for music.
- Spring Athletics: Spring season for athletics is in full swing with the modified team tryouts beginning Monday.
Community Facilities Committee: The committee met last week to discuss a process and structure to study and make recommendations on capital projects. We also discussed financial planning and resources to meet our facilities' needs.
State Assessments: Students in grades 3-8 will take NYS assessments in ELA next week.
Board of Education Discussion Topic: Ex Officio Student Board Member Selection
Effective July 1, 2025, New York State will require all school districts with a high school to include at least one ex-officio student member on their school board. While ex-officio student members do not have voting rights, they are entitled to sit with board members at all public board meetings and hearings. They may also participate in other board activities and responsibilities at the board’s discretion. Typically, the student members are selected at the end of the school year for the following year.
During the discussion, the Board explored potential methods for selecting ex-officio student members for the 2025–26 school year. Trustees expressed the importance of having multiple student representatives to ensure continuity and accommodate students' various commitments. To gather student input, the Board has asked me to present this opportunity at our next Student Government meeting and solicit feedback on the selection process.
Thank you for your continued support and dedication to our students and school community. Please feel free to reach out with any questions or feedback.
For the youth,
Dr. DeSa
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