Superintendent outlines gains, unfinished goals and safety upgrades in state-of-district report

Superintendent James Frenchini delivered the April Park Central School District—s year-end state-of-the-district presentation, reviewing academic outcomes, safety changes and operational work completed during the 2024'025 school year.

Frenchini told the board the district met several academic targets: the high school—s course-passing rate rose to about 92 percent, Algonquin—s building-level pass rate reached about 89 percent, and elementary reading fluency met a 65 percent target. "Everything that we do is built on those [goals]... meeting the needs of and creating opportunities for every student every day," Frenchini said.

The superintendent and staff framed the year as one of both progress and follow-up. Districtwide initiatives discussed included curriculum renewal work across content areas; a pilot of digital student portfolios that engaged more than 350 high-school students in its first year; expanded professional development on artificial intelligence; and ongoing MTSS (multi-tiered system of supports) work supported by a state grant and university partners.

Frenchini spent substantial time on safety and emergency response changes after two vehicle incidents. The district deployed a new anonymous reporting app, updated emergency contact lists and routine protocols, added "amber" exterior alert lights and rekeyed buildings to reduce response time for first responders. He said the district has scheduled planning meetings with the New York State Office of Emergency Services and New York State Police to run a large-scale bus-accident tabletop exercise.

Board members and administrators described follow-up actions prompted by earlier incidents: adding iPads with hotspots for response teams, clearer parking-lot signage and window numbering so first responders can locate school areas quickly, and new check-in/check-out supports at the elementary level to connect students with staff.

Frenchini also described organizational work: updating job titles to reflect responsibilities in technology, facilities and transportation; continuing an employee-assistance program (EAP) that began during COVID and which the district reports is seeing greater use; and using CAP Region BOCES for food-service operations. The board was told capital-project work from prior voter-proved propositions remains on schedule and under budget in some elements, enabling expanded scope; the combined 2021 and 2024 projects total roughly $70 million, the superintendent said.

Board members acknowledged accomplishments and noted gaps. Several praised improved discipline metrics at the high school (disciplinary incidents were described as the lowest in over a decade) even as Frenchini said the district fell short of a target to raise students— sense of belonging at the high school from 61 percent to 66 percent. During discussion, staff said the student survey uses a 1-to-5 scale and does not include open-ended comments.

The presentation also covered technology and staffing: steps to strengthen cybersecurity, completion of a network-wide wireless upgrade, creative use of part-time student workers to increase technical support capacity, and the district—s reported success recruiting teachers and support staff for the fall. The district reported a 100 percent pass rate on the annual vehicle inspection referenced as the DOD inspection.

The superintendent closed by listing priorities for the coming year: continued PLC (professional learning community) work, the MTSS grant in year three, curriculum renewal cycles, implementation of a revised teacher-evaluation system pending state acceptance, and review of a consultant—s fleet-electrification study. He asked the board for questions; none were raised that altered the presentation.

The board received the item as informational; no formal vote was required for the state-of-the-district presentation.