(Photo Source: McGraw Central School District).
The McGraw Central School Board of Education (BOE) held a meeting on Wednesday.
The BOE recognized the passing of the school budget, which was passed by voters the previous night. They also went over changes to McGraw’s Code of Conduct and end of the year business.
Less Phones and More Fun
The main change to McGraw’s Code of Conduct involves cracking down on the use of cellphones in school. Students will no longer be allowed to use or play on their phones except for lunch periods and breaks between classes. This includes no cellphones during study hall so that students can focus on school work or other enrichment activities during school hours. Currently, over half of discipline cases at McGraw involve improper or excessive cell phone use.
Proposed alternatives to cell phone use during study halls include the introduction of new STEM extracurricular activities (science, technology, engineering, and math) as well as a new maker-space. The school is also expanding class options for multiple grade levels, from additional art classes to AP psychology and more.
McGraw is quickly moving to match other local districts in preparing students to graduate with their associates degree at the same time they receive their high school diploma. The hope is to encourage students to take full advantage of their education hours and the opportunities the school provides through its expanding programs.
Other changes to the Code of Conduct include revisions to the IT policy to be more condensed and straightforward, but does not constitute any major changes to the policy itself.
End of the School Year
The board also decided that the last date of classes for pre-K to sixth grade would be Friday, June 17. This decision was made to accommodate for the observation of Juneteenth on Monday, June 20, which the district has designated as a holiday.
Classes for grades 7-12 will end on Tuesday, June 14, and regents exams will begin the following day. While the younger students will not be returning to school after the holiday, regents exams will resume on Tuesday, June 21 and conclude on Thursday, June 23.
Summer Opportunities
The board recognized several students who will be interning at the school over the summer as cleaners. Students had to put together a resume, cover letter, and references in order to be accepted into the internship program, giving them vital experience prior to the real work beginning. All 12 applicants made the cut this year and will now gain professional experience while taking pride in their school and earning money through the summer.
