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Superintendent highlights arts fair, inclusion events, student achievements and a backpack accommodation policy change
Summary
Dr. Croft and district staff reviewed upcoming events — including the ninth annual arts and crafts fair and the Unified Basketball game — student awards and inclusion programming. The board was also told that, starting April 28, clear backpacks will be issued only to students with a documented medical need and an approved accommodation form.
Superintendent Dr. Croft and district administrators used their report to highlight student activities, awards and inclusion programming across the district and to announce a change to the high school backpack accommodation process.
District events and student accomplishments presented to the board included the ninth annual arts and crafts fair (scheduled for Saturday, May 3, 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. in the high school gym), elementary and high school student achievements in art competitions (including a best-in-show award at the Kenan Center for Emily Leilowitz and an honorable mention at Buffalo State for Natalie Lawrence), the high school youth activation committee—s inclusion programming and Unified Basketball (scheduled Friday, May 2 at 1 p.m.), and student-service activities such as a collection of personal-hygiene items for local shelters (more than seven boxes delivered to the Vibe shelter and the Jericho Road Community Center).
The district also described classroom-level progress in K—F5 technology: third graders used Ozobots for introductory coding, fourth graders used Lego WeDo 2 and iPad coding blocks, and fifth graders used Edison robots and Python — the presentation highlighted a curriculum progression from block-based to text-based coding across elementary grades.
A notable operational change announced in the report: beginning Monday, April 28, all current high-school backpack passes will be voided. The new procedure requires that a student with a documented medical need obtain a "student backpack accommodation request form" from the nurse—s office, have Section 2 of that form completed by the student—s health-care provider, then return the form to the school nurse for review. The school physician will approve or deny the request. If approved, the student will receive a clear and transparent customized backpack to carry between classes. Students who do not have an approved medical accommodation are expected to keep personal backpacks in lockers during the school day and may retrieve them at the end of the day or when leaving early. The district described this change as part of safety and security updates; administrators said family notification and a video were sent to families before the change took effect.
Student representatives and board members praised the arts and inclusion work. Student ex-officio Meadow Broomy described classroom practices in Senora Yates—s Spanish class and lauded teacher engagement. The board and administrators repeatedly highlighted the community value of Unified Sports and the youth activation committee—s efforts to foster inclusion.
Ending: Administrators asked board members to help communicate the backpack process change and to promote upcoming student events; they said they would continue to post updates on district activities and the capital project website.
