Residents urge middle‑school sports, full‑time elementary library media during public comment

Several members of the public used the meeting’s public‑comment period to press the Board on extracurricular and library staffing priorities.

Michael Verderin urged the Board to begin planning now for school‑sponsored middle‑school athletics, calling middle school a critical time for student engagement and urging the Board to analyze options for a 2027–28 rollout. He argued school programs increase equitable access for families who cannot afford private leagues and help retain students in the district.

Sarah Daigle, an elementary media technical associate at Hanmer School, asked the Board to consider hiring full‑time elementary library media specialists. Daigle described the current associate classification and schedule as limiting for early‑literacy work and said comparable districts staff full‑time media specialists at the elementary level. She told the Board that adding full specialists would improve literacy outcomes and make better use of teacher planning time.

Students and parents also spoke: third‑grader Megan Denito asked the Board to complete Webb Elementary’s auditorium construction by June 2029 so sixth‑grade step‑up ceremonies can be held in their home school; sixth‑grade kid‑chair Daniel read a proposal for a district program teaching life skills—cooking, gardening and basic home repair—from third through ninth grade.

Board members acknowledged the public input and said they will factor these priorities into budget and planning discussions, including construction timelines for Highcrest and Webb, and continued implementation of early‑literacy curricula.