Wood Road Principal Kelly Cataldo told the Board of Education on June 4 that the school saw a decline in chronic absenteeism among kindergarten and first-grade students this year and described several initiatives to support reading, attendance and school climate.

Cataldo said the building’s overall attendance rate has remained near 93 percent so far this school year and that chronic absenteeism has fallen in recent reporting periods. She compared kindergarten and first-grade counts year to date: at one earlier snapshot 23.8 percent of kindergartners and 25 percent of first graders had missed 10 percent of the school year; her mid‑year headcount found 15 kindergartners of 80 and 17 first graders of 83 in the chronically absent grouping, indicating a percentage decline though final year totals were not yet available.

On literacy, Cataldo recognized Wood Road reading teacher Mrs. Dierna, who was nominated by student Gavin Furman for TCT Educator of the Week. Cataldo described Dierna’s virtual book club that paired elementary students with high school National Honor Society members twice weekly on Google Meet, providing read‑aloud partners and service‑hour opportunities for older students. Cataldo also said Dierna coordinates student summer-camp placements sponsored by the New York State Sheriffs’ Association.

Cataldo outlined curriculum and instruction measures: interim I-Ready diagnostics show growth for students receiving AIS (Academic Intervention Services), with roughly 86 percent of those students showing some growth between the beginning and middle of the year benchmark (Cataldo clarified that ‘‘growth’’ does not necessarily mean attaining grade level by that point).

Her largest emphasis was on culture and climate. Cataldo described restoring PBIS (Positive Behavioral Interventions and Supports), a character-trait–of‑the‑month program, monthly assemblies, and visible building improvements (new rug, chairs, a backdrop and working hallway TVs) intended to help students and staff feel valued and included. She credited a strong, active PTA and partnerships (including UAlbany soccer players visiting to read) for community engagement and noted a ‘‘support, don’t report’’ approach from school counselors toward families facing challenges.

Board members and attendees praised Cataldo’s focus on relationships and community events; parents and board members who spoke during the meeting underscored the long-term value of character education even when younger children do not immediately grasp vocabulary from the program.

Cataldo asked for continued collaboration with staff and community partners as final end‑of‑year diagnostics and attendance totals are completed.