Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Education Programs And Infrastructure topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Harrison Central highlights debate team wins, IB progress and summer capital projects at Oct. 8 meeting
Summary
At its Oct. 8 meeting the Harrison Central School District Board of Education heard a district update reporting debate team and athletic achievements, upcoming IB and mentor-school visits, and multiple completed and ongoing capital projects including elementary security vestibules, a high-school turf field and a new classroom wing.
HARRISON, N.Y. — At its Oct. 8 meeting the Harrison Central School District Board of Education heard a district update that highlighted recent student achievements, the district’s ongoing International Baccalaureate (IB) work and several summer and fall facilities projects.
Dr. Will, who delivered the update, opened by saying the district was “a month into school” and that “kids are engaged,” and then summarized competitive and extracurricular results. He told the board that at a national debate event at Valley High School in Iowa, Andrew Gaffin placed third, Flynn Williams placed fourth, Alicia Zaheini placed 12th and Adena Naim placed in the top 30; all four earned qualifying bids for a national tournament of champions. Dr. Will also noted individual recognition for students including Paige Bancini, Jordan Blake, Janita Ismajlukaj and Kevin Iwanske.
The district reported athletic highlights: Angelina Langesi qualified for the New York State tournament in the 100-meter breaststroke, marking the girls swim team’s sixth consecutive year with an individual qualifier. The varsity football team beat Nyack 48-22; a player identified as Sal Lejudez scored his first varsity touchdown. The girls soccer team beat Pelham 2-1 with goalkeeper Alexa Lacatina recording a career-high 14 saves, and the girls field hockey team posted multiple recent wins with Alex Gerberga scoring her first varsity goal.
The update also covered instructional initiatives. Dr. Will said the middle and high schools serve as mentor schools in the state, helping other districts develop performance assessments, and that Harrison is completing its PYP (Primary Years Programme) application process with visits to all four elementary schools scheduled over the next two to three weeks. He said the district was finishing a five-year review of the MYP (Middle Years Programme).
District staff described several upcoming and recent visits by other districts and delegations: a New Jersey team scheduled to observe MYP/PYP, a visiting team from Byram Hills to view elementary world language instruction, a University of Tokyo delegation interested in the district’s use of digital resources, and planned visits from pilot mentor-school teams.
Facilities updates outlined summer work that is complete and projects underway. District staff said Parsons Elementary’s third floor was opened and reconfigured over the summer, and that security vestibules and office reconfigurations were added at Parsons and Harrison Avenue schools; the district plans to add vestibules at all four elementary schools. At the high school, resurfacing and turf work on the baseball, soccer and field-hockey field is nearly complete, with staff estimating completion in three to four weeks. The district said it is adding four classrooms adjacent to the high school’s main entry (referred to as the “Rose Garden”) with expected occupancy in January. The district reported that the larger Purchase project’s foundation is in place and estimated an occupancy date of September 2026; speakers said that project was on schedule and “under budget so far.”
Staff also described smaller, noninstructional improvements: district photographer Michael Howard produced grayscale photographs of each elementary school’s cupola that were installed in school lobbies to reinforce each building’s identity, and maintenance staff received public thanks for completing finishing work.
Board members and staff reminded the public of upcoming calendar items: schools will be closed for Columbus Day on Oct. 13 and for Diwali on Oct. 20, and a Parent-Teacher (PT) council meeting with State Senator Shelley Mayer, chair of the state Senate Education Committee, was scheduled for the following day to discuss education and funding issues. Dr. Will told the board the district had begun budget planning for next year and noted that final state aid figures are typically not known until after the district would need to adopt a budget in May.
The update combined programmatic, curricular and facilities information the board said would affect staffing, classroom space and community use in the coming year.
