Superintendent Blog Post - January 11, 2019

After winter break, we always focus on budget development and adoption.  While budgeting is truly a year-round process, we put a very clear focus on developing next year’s budget during the next few weeks and months.  Below is our budget calendar with the Board of Education. At each of those meetings, department heads, principals, or other administrators will present their budget initiatives to the board for discussion.  Missing from the calendar below are community and PTO forums that I will host in February-May to discuss our strategic planning process and budget development. I will have those dates worked out by next month.  If you have any questions about this process, please let me know. I am very excited to help develop a budget that supports all of our children.

Board of Education Budget Calendar for 2019-2020 Budget Adoption

January 14, 2019	General Overview
January 28, 2019	Athletics
February 11, 2019	Technology
February 25, 2019	Transportation
March 11, 2019	Facilities & Operations
March 25, 2019	Special Education, Instructional, and Professional Development
April 8, 2019	Presentation of the Budget
April 23, 2019	Budget Adoption
May 13, 2019	Budget Hearing
May 21, 2019	Budget Vote

ThoughtExchange for Strategic Planning

There are still four days left to participate in the ThoughtExchange.  Here is the link to participate:

https://my.thoughtexchange.com/#258626618/ .  You can jump in and rate some ideas or put an idea of your own.  The Strategic Planning Committee will be reviewing all of the information at our retreat on January 18th.  Thank you for your help and participation.

 

Star Student - JVF -  James Reyes

James is being recognized for his actions that reflect compassion, kindness, and inclusivity. James is consistently including others and making them feel comfortable. On a regular basis, James will include students who integrate into 3rd grade class specials.  James will lend a helping hand during P.E., he will compliment children when they do something well. He will encourage those who need some extra support.  He will go out of his way to invite others to play with him and his friends at recess. James is a shining example of a kind and compassionate student!

Employee Recognition

Tracy Gida is Sargent's Math Teacher Assistant for 13 years.  She started 18 years ago as a Teacher Assistant at JVF working in several various classrooms.  In addition to her Teacher Assistant work, she also leads Sargent's Student Council. Our students do a great deal of community service for Sargent and our community.  These activities include Cards for Veterans at Christmas and Valentine's Day, a winter and spring food drive and coat drive, a give back to a Sargent classroom (this year it is our music room), an Earth Day clean up, Fill the Back Pack and Fill the Stocking as well as running our school store.  Ms. Gida described what she enjoys most about her work with Sargent students, "I enjoy watching kids grow and excel and seeing them get excited about learning and giving back to their community and Sargent. It is very rewarding."

 

Superintendent Blog Post - December 20, 2018

Happy Holidays Everyone!  I hope everyone has a fantastic break and can enjoy time with family and friends.  I have just a couple of quick updates for everyone and of course, our star students and star employee.

• The BOCES Capital Project Vote from last week passed on December 11 with 3,746 yes votes and 698 no votes.  This project will help students throughout this county experience cutting edge educational facilities at Dutchess BOCES and will positively impact many students from Beacon.

 

• Our own Beacon Capital Project is moving along very nicely.  Every aspect of the project has been approved by the New York State Department of Education, building permits have been issued,  and we will put it out to bid in February. When the work begins this summer, we will update the community regularly with pictures on social media and the district website.

 

• Our Strategic Planning Process is moving along nicely as well.  Right after break, we will be unveiling our skills and attributes we want all graduates to have and we will also have another Thought Exchange for the community.  This Thought Exchange will ask you to think about programs and practices in the district you want the district to keep doing, start doing, or stop doing to produce graduates in line with our skills and attributes.  Look out for that communication right after we return from break.

 

Student Recognition  - Ennie Akinwummi and Daisy Okoye

  

Ennie Akinwummi and Daisy Okoye are both in their Senior Year at Beacon High School and are our December Beacon High School Students that certainly deserve a bit of recognition.  Ennie and Daisy founded the “Women of the World” Club and are also leaders at Beacon High School. The Women of the World Club encourages young woman to share, discuss and address issues that are important to them.  Ennie and Daisy certainly demonstrate exemplary character traits through their leadership and have the charisma and personalities that will promote positive change. The Women of the World Club was started in 2018 and will only be a small piece of Ennie and Daisy’s very bright future.

 

Employee Recognition  - Linda Lane

Linda Lane is a head bus driver for the district.

This past September marked Linda’s 30th anniversary with Beacon City Schools.  In her role as head bus driver, she works closely with the athletic department scheduling buses for the when Bulldog athletes are on the road. In addition, she helps ensure coverage is in place for the 48 schools that the district transports students to each day.  While the work is a challenge, she still enjoys keeping our students safe and on the move. Her knowledge of the district, combined with her friendly demeanor makes her a favorite of students, parents and staff alike.

 

Superintendent Blog Post - December 7, 2018

BOCES Capital Project Update

Reminder – The 2018 Dutchess BOCES Capital Project Vote is Tuesday, December 11, 2018 from 12:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m.  The Central Administration Offices for the Beacon City School District is hosting a voting location. We are located at 10 Education Drive, Beacon, NY  12508.
Qualified Dutchess County residents may vote at any of the 14 locations in the county.  To see if you are a qualified voter and for a list of voting places, please visit:  https://dcboces.org/capitalproject

By visiting the link above, you can also read more about the Capital Project, view a PowerPoint Presentation and browse Frequently Asked Questions.

Wellness Committee Update:

The district has much gratitude to all the members of the Wellness Committee  that have worked tirelessly over the past four years to advocate for the importance and necessity of a wellness-minded approach for all members of the school community through by creating policy revision and promoting planned activities.  Focus of the work of the Wellness Committee in 2018-19 includes the planning and organization of district activities for its students, families, staff and community; the creation of communication platforms to celebrate the work that is happening in our schools; and to provide accessible education and resources on emerging topics to support the greater school community’s health and wellness.  The committee is a representative group of district stakeholders of teachers, administrators, family members, board of education members, and community based organizations and agencies committed to these priorities that meet on the first Wednesday of the month from 4:00 - 5:00 pm in the Community Room at Beacon High School. We want your input, insight and energy to accomplish our work and encourage you to volunteer as a committee member to help lead this work.   Please contact Cecilia Dansereau-Rumley, Assistant Superintendent for HR & Accountability Systems with an email of interest at rumley.c@beaconk12.org.  Next Wellness Committee meeting is scheduled for Wednesday, January 3rd at 4:00 pm.   

 

RMS Star Student

Avneet Kaur is a 6th grade student at Rombout Middle School. Avneet is very friendly, kind and conscientious. She is a Principal's honor roll student and she maintained a 95.92 average for the first marking period. Avneet is a natural born leader with a contagious smile who has spearheaded an incentive geared towards improving our school community. In September, she set up a meeting with administration to pitch a fundraising idea that would benefit the Farm to School Committee and Ms. Coto's ADL class. This idea has enhanced the current recycling program by adding a fundraising component and a plan for more community participation. When she is not pitching school improvement ideas to the principals, she can be seen helping staff in the cafeteria with the sign out table, taking pictures for the yearbook or volunteering to work in the school store. Avneet's investment in the RMS community and her commendable attitude is truly inspiring; she is a young lady with a bright future ahead of her!

Employee Recognition

Darlene Mazzacone has been a Food Service Associate in Beacon City Schools for 36 years, our longest standing associate. She has worked all of those years at Rombout Middle School. Darlene has a true devotion to her work and runs a fabulous program at RMS.  She leads her staff with a strong team approach and works hard to assure her staff feel part of the larger community of RMS. She has seen generations of students go through the school and many of the students she served years ago are now staff members in our district. She is a true leader and loves what she does . Her spotless kitchen, large service numbers  and committed staff members are a testament to her devotion.