Shenandoah High School East and West have been officially recognized as Tree Campus K–12 for the 2024–25 school year by the National Arbor Day Foundation, a board member announced during the meeting. Board member Naomi said staff and volunteers who planned a tree-planting ceremony across from the high school tennis courts helped earn the designation.

The designation is awarded annually and applies to individual schools, Naomi said, adding that the district must demonstrate continued compliance with the foundation’s criteria to keep the recognition. She credited “Mr. Pitts” and other local volunteers and noted collaboration with Amy Mack Mackenzie, “the urban forest forester at the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation Division of Forest Management.”

District officials said the recognition reflects the district’s work on environmental stewardship and community engagement. Naomi said materials to officially recognize the two buildings would arrive in September and said the effort may lead to state grant funding in the future: “It is his goal for this to eventually result in New York State grant monies for the school,” she said, referring to Mr. Pitts’ work on pursuing grant opportunities.

Board members and staff framed the recognition as the result of a multi‑party effort of staff, volunteers and outside forestry expertise. No formal board action was recorded on the item during the meeting; the remarks were presented as an informational update.

District staff and the board said the schools will need to demonstrate compliance with the Tree Campus criteria in subsequent years to maintain the designation. The district plans a public recognition in September.