May 25, 2025

Dear Pleasantville Families,

I would like to begin by once again thanking the community for coming out to vote on Tuesday and congratulating Erin Ballard on her second term on the Board of Education. The approval of the 2025–2026 school budget is an investment in the future of Pleasantville students — ensuring every student has the tools and opportunities needed to learn, lead, and thrive in school and beyond. 

Please see below for a recap of Tuesday night’s Board of Education meeting, as well as a special spotlight on Upstanders Week (May 19-22). You can watch the meeting video here. 

During the Superintendent’s Update portion of the meeting, I shared the following points of Pville Pride and thanks: 

• Thank you, PTAs! During vote day, our PTAs hosted the Middle & High School BBQ and Bake Sale at BRS. Students had the chance to vote for their choice for Movie Night at BRS this fall! 
• BRS Rev Day and Field Day Fun - Last week was the infamous Rev Day for our fourth graders, and last Friday, BRS students enjoyed an action-packed Field Day—complete with team songs, field events, and a human board game. A few raindrops didn’t dampen the spirit or excitement. Thank you to Mr. Micucci and Mr. Gardener for organizing a fantastic day.  
• Middle School NYSSMA Success - Congratulations to 20 Pleasantville Middle School vocalists in Grades 5–8 who performed NYSSMA solos this month. All earned either Outstanding or Excellent ratings, with many receiving perfect scores! We are proud of their preparation and performance.  
• Metro Award Nominations for The Music Man - Congratulations to the cast and crew of The Music Man for receiving 10 Metro Award nominations, including Overall Production of a Musical! We wish them the best of luck at the awards ceremony on June 2 at SUNY Purchase.  

This week, we proudly celebrated Upstanders Week. Across all schools, students promoted kindness, empathy, and inclusion while learning how to take positive action when they witness unkind or harmful behavior.  

Programming was off to an incredible start with 8th-grade student council representatives leading an assembly for the entire 3rd grade in the BRS Little Theater on the theme of Being an Upstander. Through skits, hands-on activities, and role plays, our middle school leaders brought realistic social situations to life, helping our younger students explore how to speak up, offer peers support, and when to enlist the help trusted adult— even when it’s tough!  

We’re proud of these student leaders for modeling empathy, bravery, and the power of positive peer influence across grade levels. This was an inspiring way to launch a week dedicated to kindness and inclusion!  

Throughout the week, Student Government at PHS, and Student Council at BRS and the middle school shared daily morning messages and simple kindness challenges such as talking to someone you haven’t spoken to yet this school year or going out of your way to show kindness to a classmate or friend. 

At the high school today, student and community organizations hosted activity tables in the library during lunch periods, showcasing activities that align with their missions, including Student Government, Break the Hold, GSA, the Chit Chat Club, and more.  

I would also like to include an end-of-year tradition from today, the senior class yearbook dedication. “The class of 2025 is overjoyed to dedicate the yearbook to Mr. John Vercesi,” read senior Colin Rubsamen. Mr. Vercesi joined the seniors onstage while the jazz band played the theme song from the “Johnny Carson” show. Students in the audience cheered for a speech, and Mr. Vercesi emotionally delivered a touching message, “As many times as I’ve been on this stage and many other stages, my heart is pounding like never before...you kids make it special for me, and that’s why I’m here, and you can’t imagine how much this means to me.” Mr. Vercesi’s journey as an educator here in Pleasantville has followed the senior class from BRS, to the middle school, and now in the High School. He is truly deserving of this honor, and I hope you all will join me in congratulating Mr. Vercesi! 

Finally, as a reminder, there will be no school tomorrow, Friday, May 23, as a “give back” day for unused emergency closures. We hope everyone enjoys the extended Memorial Day weekend and takes time to reflect on the service and sacrifice of those who have served our country. 

As always, thank you for your continued support of our schools and students. 

For the youth, 

Dr. DeSa 

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