Victor CSD opens school year, highlights workforce partnerships and new programs
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Summary
Superintendent Dr. Terranova and school principals reported a strong start to the year, described partnerships with LSI Solutions and Finger Lakes Community College for work-based learning and a new welding pathway, and the board approved routine consent items and travel requests.
Victor Central School District Superintendent Dr. Terranova told the school board on Thursday that the 2025–26 school year opened with high participation, new student board representatives and expanding partnerships with local businesses and Finger Lakes Community College.
The update, given during the board's regular meeting, outlined how the district is expanding work-based learning opportunities and career pathways. "LSI Solutions designs, manufactures, and markets surgical equipment," Dr. Terranova said, describing a recent meeting in which the district, LSI and FLCC discussed training, internship and apprenticeship pathways. "We're starting to set up these relationships with our community businesses where they end up with a greater pool of skilled workers and skilled people who can support their business and organization."
The superintendent said the district is using a two-year-old work-based learning program and a new FLCC welding program at FLCC's Victor campus to create apprenticeship and internship opportunities for students. He also thanked the Victor CSD PTSA and the VCS Foundation, a separate educational foundation established in 2014 that funds teacher grants and supports projects beyond the general fund budget.
Principals across the district reported on openings and early-year priorities. Rob DeRose, principal of the Early Childhood School, said teachers are completing fall benchmark testing and AIS checks for first graders to set baseline instructional data. Amanda Byrne, the new principal at Victor Primary School, introduced new assistant principal Caitlin Buck and said staff are refining schoolwide expectations and focusing on psychological safety and professional learning. Jim Morrow, principal of the Intermediate School, and Brian Gee, junior high principal, described community-building assemblies and an emphasis on student voice and "I will" culture commitments. Kate Pyle, assistant principal at Victor High School, said the high school opened to about 1,284 students and 160 staff, and highlighted senior-year events, freshman orientation and fall extracurricular activity participation.
The board also approved routine business. A motion to approve the meeting agenda carried. The board approved consent items A through H and accepted donations from the Victor Cheerleaders Boosters Association and the Victor Swim Club. The board approved travel requests for varsity softball to Myrtle Beach, South Carolina (March 29–April 1) and senior high All-State Festival musicians to Rochester, New York (Dec. 4–7). The votes on those motions were recorded as "All in favor; motion carried" in the minutes.
Public participation included remarks from Mike Modleski of the MPTA, who praised district leadership and said the board's focus is improving schools rather than partisan politics. "I think the most remarkable thing about our school board is that in a world outside of here that seems to get crazier and crazier, that this board continues to work and showcase what democracy should look like," he said.
Board scheduling and committee notes: the board will hold a workshop Sept. 25, a regular meeting Oct. 16 (a week later than usual), and a board retreat Oct. 30. Board members also reported outreach planning with state legislators, with several meetings scheduled in the coming weeks.
Votes at a glance
- Motion to approve the meeting agenda: carried (second: "Bridal"; recorded as "All in favor; motion carried"). - Motion to approve consent items A–H (including acceptance of donations from Victor Cheerleaders Boosters Association and Victor Swim Club): carried (mover: Elizabeth; second: Carol; recorded as "All in favor; motion carried"). - Motion to approve trips: varsity softball to Myrtle Beach, March 29–April 1 — carried (motion and second recorded; recorded as "All in favor; motion carried"); senior high All-State Festival musicians to Rochester, Dec. 4–7 — carried (same vote sequence). - Motion to adjourn: carried (recorded as "All in favor; motion carried").
The meeting closed with routine adjournment; no policy or ordinance changes were debated or adopted at the session.
