Students thank Board of Education for their support
Akron Central Student representatives from the Elementary, Middle, and High Schools appeared at the Board of Education meeting Wednesday, October 19 to say “thank you” for their support. They brought cards signed by students, performed a musical selection, and were featured in a video recognizing the Board for their efforts on behalf of the entire district.
School Board Appreciation Week was observed October 17 to 21, 2022, in New York. This week helps build awareness and understanding of the vital functions locally elected boards of education play in our community. The Akron Central School District joined public school districts from across the state to celebrate School Board Appreciation Week and honored local board members for their commitment to Akron and its children.
“Each board member volunteers their time and talents, often spending many hours each week studying education issues and regulations in order to provide the kind of programming our citizens expect,” remarked Superintendent Patrick D. McCabe. “It takes strong schools to build a strong community, and these individuals recognize the connection between school and community each time they deliberate on issues.”
NYS Report Card Data
Director of Educational Services Andrea Kersten shared New York State Report Card data with the Board of Education at the October 19 meeting. Kersten reviewed the ACS 3-8 Assessments in Math and ELA for 2022. She shared that state assessments allow the district to develop a professional development focus, alignment to standards, identification of vertical strengths and areas in need of additional support. She noted that state assessments are one of multiple measures used to monitor student growth and to identify students in need of additional support.
Participation rates in all six grade levels were higher than in previous years giving the district more data and better information for determining needs.
Overall English Language Arts proficiency in grades 3 to 8 is trending up, however the assessments by grade level indicates where proficiency dips.
Overall Math 6-8 Proficiency Trends dropped from 2019 to 2021, and began to increase in 2022, although not back to pre-covid levels. Math proficiency rates did trend higher than BOCES and Region rates.
Elementary School program
Elementary Principal Todd Esposito and Elementary Assistant Principal Mrs. Caroline Kos, also reviewed assessment numbers, sharing with the Board how it impacts program development.
They shared that the Elementary School’s focus is positively impacting each student’s pathway through Akron Elementary and beyond. That their “Why?” is Relationships, Persistence when faced with challenges, and creating an environment where kids love coming to school every day. Their “How?” is Empowering teachers and staff, Community involvement, and Culture and environment; and their “What?” is Educate students, Student achievement, and Social emotional development.
While proud of the Elementary School assessments results, Esposito and Kos said they do not use this data as the “be all and end all,” but use it to look for weaknesses and strength.
They shared that they use the RtI Process which includes: review of each individual student’s data in both Reading and Math three times per year; a Complex review with Esposito and Koss, reading or math service providers, classroom teachers at each grade level, and decision on program, and they focus on growth.
Instruction based in the data falls into three tiers: Tier I – Whole class research-based core instruction; Tier II – Targeted small group interventions for at-risk students; and Tier III – Individualized intensive interventions.
Reading Data sources include: Fall, Winter, Spring – STAR Reading and math and AMSWEB – utilized to measure a student’s Oral Reding Fluency, also used as a weekly progress monitoring tool for Tier 2 and 3 students; Standards based common assessments; State Assessment Scores (Grades 3-5); Reading Level Assessments (Fountas and Pinnell): Phonics based assessments.
Math sources include: STAR Math given in Fall Winter, Spring; Standards based common assessments; State Assessment Scores (Gr. 3-5); Regular meetings with Math Interventionists to determine tiers and services and to adjust interventions based on student need.
“Our goal is to get students the help they need, where they need it, when they need it,” Esposito and Kos said. To that end they have monthly grade level meetings to review student data, progress, concerning students as well as bi-weekly meetings with student support team to discuss social-emotional programming and needs.
Budget Calendar
Superintendent of Schools Patrick McCabe presented a proposed 2023-2024 Budget Calendar with the board of education. The process begins in October with Administrators and Department head and identifying and documenting needs and projected costs with a report to the Board at their regular business meeting on December 21 regarding the political landscape and school budget financing, budget goals and guidelines.
Budget requests with final dollar amounts and justification for each area of responsibility are due to the Superintendent/Business Administrator in January with individual meetings set to review those submissions.
Business Administrator Cynthia Tretter will have a first run of the budget available to the Administrative Team in January with the Superintendent to issue recommendations and guidelines necessary for the budget to be presented for the Board of Education.
A review of Board of Education accounts, administration and debt service and budget update is planned for the January 25, 2023 Board of Education meeting. Information on budget development will be presented for the next several Board of Education meetings with a full budget draft ready for the Board on March 29.
A Budget Hearing is planned on May 9, 2023 with a vote on May 16, 2023.
Administrative Appointment
Board of Education members appointed Kevin Wartinger – Director of Interscholastic Athletics, Physical Education and Health/Wellness with probationary service beginning on October 20, 2022 and ending on October 19, 20-26.
Prior to making the appointment, the Board accepted Mr. Wartinger’s resignation from the position of Health Teacher, and from his extra-curricular positions of Sophomore Class Advisor, Cross Country Varsity Boys Coach.
Substitutes approved
Ryan Caisse and Karen Martino were approved as “Preferred Substitutes” for the 2022-2023 school year with Alyn Colby III and Sidney Samolis approved as instructional substitutes for the 2022-2023 school year.
Non-instructional actions
Board members approved a new collective bargaining agreement between the District and the Akron Employees’ Association for the period of July 1, 2022 to June 30, 2024 and authorized the Superintendent of Schools to execute the agreement on behalf of the district.
Heather Milone was approved for the provisional, full-time, twelve-month appointment as an Account Clerk Typist; Lynn Owen was approved to a part-time, ten-month, twenty-six week Civil Service probationary monitor position, replacing Nikki Thompson. A Leave of absence for Sharon Catalano was approved.
Board members approved the withdrawal of the retirement resignation fromm Account Clerk Typist, Donna Ciurzynski.
Kimberly Bruning and Jaime Chase were approved as Food Service Helper substitutes.
Extra-curricular appointments
Robert Kowalik was appointed as Cross-Country Varsity Boys Coach for 30 percent of the season) October 20 to November 15, 2022.
Antoinette Abrams was appointed Basketball Varsity Girls Coach, Andrew Clouse Strength Coach-Winter, Danielle Dembrow Swimming Varsity Girls coach, Mark Fragale Swimming Varsity Boys Coach, Eric Gerstung Basketball JV Boys Coach, Justin Gerstung Basketball Varsity Boys Coach, Suzanne Guyton Basketball JV Girls Coach, Bonnie James Cheerleading Varsity Coach-Basketball, Robert Meek Bowling Unified Coach and Anthony Richiazzi as Wrestling Varsity Coach from November 14, 2022 to March 11, 2023; Brittany Schukraft Basketball Modified Girls A Coach and Robert Westmiller Basketball Modified Girls B Coach from November 1, 2022 to December 23, 2022; and Mary Borden Swimming Modified Boys and Girls Coach and Robert Westmiller Basketball Modified Boys A Coach from December 23, 2022-March 11, 2023.
Rachel Mackowiak was removed from the chaperone list for the 2022-2023 school year.
Jeffrey Diebel and Christopher Romesser were approved as Basketball athletic volunteers for the 22-23 school year.
District Items
Lippes Mathias LLP was appointed to serve the ACS District during the 2022-2023 school year at a Partner rate of $289/hour, Associates rate $269/hour and Paralegal rate $145/hour.
Ken Stoldt was approved for athletic consultation services for the 22-23 school year.
An overnight trip to Fredonia to practice and perform as part of the NYSSMMA All State Festival for Chorus was approved November 18 and November 19, 2022. Chaperone will be Mrs. Meghen Pitts and all funding is being provided by the Akron Music Parents.