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Public commenters debate Pride week and inclusion; teachers’ union and community volunteer praise staff
Summary
At public participation, a recent graduate criticized Pride week and DEI initiatives; the Victor Teachers Association president and a local volunteer speaker responded, defending inclusion and thanking educators.
Public comment at the Victor Central School District meeting included sharply contrasting views about district events and a pair of speakers who praised staff.
Ben Genshevsky, identified as a Victor graduate, told the board he was "concerned about the direction the school is going," criticizing what he called "Pride week" programming and saying students were "given bridal weeks filled with DEI." He accused some programming of reducing students to labels and questioned administrators’ choices. "Victor does not have to try to fit in with everyone else," Genshevsky said, urging the board to return to what he described as an emphasis on "academic excellence and hard work." (Transcript excerpts recorded his remarks; the board did not take action on the comments.)
In response, Mike Moduleski, president of the Victor Teachers Association, acknowledged Genshevsky as a former student and then defended the district’s approach to supporting LGBTQ students. "LGBTQ students are significantly more likely to face anxiety, depression... and suicide," Moduleski said, citing CDC research as the basis for his remarks and arguing the safest way to combat those risks is a welcoming school environment. He praised district leaders and staff and thanked the board for recognizing tenured teachers.
A third public commenter, Debbie Linden, introduced herself as New York State volunteer director for a nonprofit called Defense of Democracy and delivered remarks thanking teachers. "Express our deepest gratitude to the heart of our schools, our teachers," Linden said, calling educators mentors, role models and "steady sources of strength and guidance."
Why it matters: the exchange reflected differing community viewpoints about school culture and inclusion programming. Trustees did not take policy action during public comment; several board members later emphasized the district’s support for both student safety and academic programs.
This article attributes direct quotations only to speakers who appear in the meeting transcript during public comment.
