Good afternoon,

I hope you had a great first week back after recess. Let's continue strong. It's less than a month until Spring Recess and then we are in the home stretch of the school year.

Thank you to the Office of Teaching and Learning and the Office of Student Support Services for two comprehensive presentations at the Board of Education work session that was held Wednesday. You can download the presentations by clicking on the links:

• Second Quarter Academic Report (Office of Teaching and Learning)

• Update on Special Education (Office of Student Support Services/Special Education)

We are making progress in many areas and have identified areas of focus. I'm confident that with continued effort and focus, we will to get to where we need to be to ensure that all students are successful. Thank you for all that you continue to do.

Board President Bernice Rivera and Vice President Nohelani Etienne provided an update on the Superintendent Search at the Work Session. They shared an overview of the results of the survey and other input received and said that the Board of Education will be moving toward hiring an internal candidate. She expects to make an announcement next week.

Our Human Resources team is going above and beyond to recruit. Thank you to Shannon Tahoe, Assistant Superintendent of Human Resources and Professional Learning, Alex Torres, and the members of the HR team who recently attended five strategic recruitment events in Puerto Rico. In addition to two events that took place at hotels on the island, the team attended events at three large universities in Puerto Rico. A line of communication has been opened and we have established partnership with the colleges and universities for potential student placement. Our HR team is having ongoing discussion with more than 25 candidates who expressed interest in teaching in our district.

REMINDERS

March 8
Half Day of School
Grades Pre-K through 5
Parent-Teacher Conferences

March 13
No School for Students
Superintendent's Conference Day

March 14
Interim Reports Mailed Home
Grades 6-12

March 25
No School
Holiday: Phagwa/Holi

March 29
No School
Holiday: Good Friday/Spring Recess April 1 - 5

BUS SAFETY
I'm pleased to share that our district is working with the city of Schenectady to protect our students on their journey to and from school. School buses are now equipped with automated enforcement technology, which will issue violations to motorists who unlawfully pass a stopped school bus. The 30-day warning period is underway. Fines for violators will begin to be issued March 6. The fine for a first time violation is $250. Please always stop for school buses with their lights and signs on.

DEI ASSESSMENT
Our district has made great strides with our diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) initiatives. That is why we have partnered with Tangible Development, a DEI organization with experience in transforming school districts to be more inclusive and equitable for all. As I mentioned before, we are conducting a DEI assessment that will help us better understand the DEI culture within our schools, the experiences of students and caregivers, and the perceptions of the experiences of others. Faculty and staff completed an assessment last year. This information will provide us with data-driven next steps for how to create an inclusive climate for everyone we serve.

Students in grades 7-12 will have the opportunity to participate in the online DEI survey March 18-21 during their physical education class. Participation in the survey is optional and participants will remain anonymous. Students who do not have a PE class or miss those days will have the opportunity to sign up for a makeup day to complete the survey on March 26, 27, or 28. Students will also have an opportunity to participate in focus groups which will be held in April.

Parents, guardians and caregivers will have an opportunity to participate in the DEI survey and focus groups which will be held both in-person and virtually after the April recess. The survey link will be emailed so please make sure we have an updated email address on file. We will have more information regarding the survey and focus groups for parents, guardians and caregivers soon.

SEL WEEK
Next week is "Social and Emotional Learning" (SEL) week. SEL is the process through which all young people and adults acquire and apply the knowledge, skills, and attitudes to develop healthy identities, manage emotions and achieve goals, feel and show empathy for others, establish and maintain supportive relationships, and make responsible and caring decisions.

International SEL Day is March 8. This is an opportunity to bring awareness to SEL and collectively spread the word about the importance and impact of SEL. Studies show that SEL improves well-being and academic outcomes, builds positive school climate, and provides children with the necessary skills to excel.

NATIONAL SCHOOL BREAKFAST WEEK
Next week is also National School Breakfast Week. This is a celebration of the importance of a nutritious school breakfast and the many ways it gives kids a great start every day. We are pleased to be a participant in the Community Eligibility Provision (CEP) which allows us to provide free breakfast and lunch to all students in our district.

CONTINUING EDUCATION CLASSES
Registration for Continuing Education classes for Spring 2024 is open. View the course catalog and register for classes in-person at one of our two registration nights.

Course Registration : In Person on March 6 or March 11, 2024 at Schenectady High School.

Among the many classes are the following:

• Defensive Driving

• Dance

• ESL Classes

• Construction

• Investing

• Fashion

• GED

• Yoga

Please contact (518) 370-8220 with questions.