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Shenendehowa board hears midyear goals review; approves construction bids just over $39 million
Summary
District leaders presented integrated midyear goals and KPIs across curriculum, equity and operations; the board approved two capital change orders and recommended acceptance of five construction prime-contract bids totalling slightly more than $39 million, with additional equipment purchases estimated separately.
The Shenendehowa Central School District Board of Education reviewed a midyear goals presentation from district leaders and approved two capital change orders and a package of prime-contractor bids for a major construction project.
Board action: Trustees voted unanimously to approve the two capital change orders and to accept five prime-contractor bids related to the Maxwell construction project. The board recorded seven votes in favor for each action and the motions passed.
Bids and project details: District staff said the Maxwell project drew 37 bidders and recommended accepting the base bid plus several site add alternates. The add alternates include upgraded rubberized playground surfacing, a rear exterior stair to improve access between the building and the playground and back field, an additional small parking lot on the building’s northeast side, and milling and topping of asphalt rather than a seal coat. The total of the recommended prime-contractor bids is just over $39,000,000, district staff said. That total excludes furniture, computers and other equipment, which staff estimated could add roughly $2.5 million to $3 million, to be procured via state contract.
Capital change orders: District staff described the two capital change orders as credits to the project budget ("money back") and asked the board to approve them. A motion to approve the capital change orders was made, seconded and passed by a 7–0 tally.
Midyear goals and KPIs: District administrators presented an integrated midyear goals report that embeds key performance indicators (KPIs) into objectives across five goal areas: organizational culture and environment; school and classroom practices; personnel and professionalism; fiscal responsibility; and safety/operations.
Selected data highlights presented by building- and district-level leaders include: - Aranda Elementary principal Todd Giagni said equity, diversity and inclusion (EDI) efforts across eight elementary schools had produced 43 EDI activities this year and that universal CogAT screening of third graders increased identification for acceleration/enrichment: among the population moving to a second stage of the acceleration process, the figure rose from 14% last year to 35% this year; for students eligible for free and reduced-price meals the comparable figure rose from 6% to 16% after universal screening. - Middle school presenters reported a 3.4% decline in behavioral referrals across three middle schools between Semester 1 of 2023–24 and Semester 1 of 2024–25 following implementation of community circles and restorative practices. - District-level staff said average daily attendance has been steady in the mid-90s (about 94%–95%), parent portal enrollment is roughly 95%, and free-and-reduced student meal participation rose by about 8 percentage points compared with last year.
Other operational notes: Presenters described ongoing work to integrate AI tools in classrooms, expand MTSS and Intervention Compass usage, digitize hiring and support processes, pursue energy-management grants (NYSERDA was mentioned as a target), leverage BOCES purchasing and E-rate program savings for technology, and implement districtwide safety tools such as InformaCast and Visitor Aware.
What the board approved: After discussion, the board approved the capital change orders and the recommended package of bids for the Maxwell project. Board members asked clarifying questions about alternates and the remaining state-contract purchases for furniture and technology. Trustees said they were pleased bids came in below initial projections and thanked project staff for early bidding that reportedly attracted more bidders.
Votes at a glance: - Capital change orders: Motion to approve (mover: Naomi; second: Thomas). Vote: 7 in favor; outcome: approved. Notes: described in meeting as credits to the project budget. - Maxwell construction prime-contractor bids: Motion to approve recommended bids and add alternates (mover: Naomi; second: Mary Colleen). Vote: 7 in favor; outcome: approved. Notes: 37 bidders; total recommended bids just over $39,000,000; furniture and equipment on top estimated at $2.5M–$3M, to be purchased under state contract.
Board members and administrators closed the presentation by thanking staff and presenters for consolidating data into KPIs and for the breadth of work across buildings.
