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Baldwin trustees hear student achievements, new courses and partnerships as budget road show begins
Summary
Trustees heard reports of expanded AP and dual‑enrollment opportunities, robotics and DECA national qualifiers, a Lockheed Martin partnership for pre‑engineering pathways, and a pilot credentialing program; student board member David summarized several student successes.
Administrators used the budget presentation to spotlight programmatic work and student success across Baldwin Union Free School District. Superintendent Mr. Mella highlighted expanded dual‑enrollment (more than 30 courses), 29 AP offerings including AP Capstone, and an increase in AP exams taken (1,221) as indicators of academic breadth.
Mr. Mella described career and technical education partnerships (including Nassau Community College and a Lockheed Martin pre‑engineering opportunity), new certification pilots that allow students to obtain credentials such as Google and Adobe certifications, and new electives — including investigative journalism, film studies and AP cybersecurity — to be added under the district’s STEAM and career academies.
Student board member David outlined competitive successes: Baldwin students placed first in a Science Olympiad division, DECA members qualified for the international conference in Atlanta, and virtual enterprise teams advanced to national finals. "It's been a great hands‑on experience and that's the sort of knowledge that we can pass down for students for the next coming years," David said.
Administrators also highlighted extracurricular growth in robotics, theater and athletics and said the district will expand middle school athletics and add assistant coaching positions at the varsity level based on participation.
The board thanked staff and students for the achievements and discussed outreach plans for parents ahead of the budget referendum, including road show presentations and a one‑page summary showing how funds are used at each school.
Community relevance and next steps The program highlights were presented as part of the budget conversation to show how district resources support curricular expansion and student opportunities. Trustees requested clear parent‑facing materials for the upcoming road shows to explain school‑level benefits if the budget and reserve authorizations are approved.
