(Photo Source: McGraw Central School Disrict Website).
The McGraw Board of Education (BOE) met on July 14 for their Annual Organizational meeting.
Looking Forward
The meeting began with the swearing in of new BOE members Kristina Maricle and Rebekah Stull, who recited their oaths of office together. The board then nominated one candidate for each position of president and vice president, with unanimous results for both elections. President Tony Opera and Vice President Cheryl Kenyon will each resume their roles from last year, and were sworn in together.
The BOE approved several measures in preparation for the 2022-2023 school year, including rates for mileage reimbursement and substitutes, as well as the list of substitute teachers themselves. The district will continue its participation in both the New York School & Municipal Energy Consortium (NYSMEC) and the Rural Schools Association (RSA).
Out with the Old, In with the New
The BOE also addressed the disposal of surplus items from school buildings, including books that students will be able to select from until they are gone. The board approved the purchase of a new Steinway Piano, as well as the purchase of textbooks that will be used in an Anatomy & Physiology class that will be offered for the first time in the upcoming year.
The board accepted several donations on behalf of the district, which included a ping pong table, 24 Stryder bicycles, gift cards, $500 towards STEM equipment, and $5,000 towards marching band equipment and uniforms. Donations came from individuals, local businesses, and the Town of Cortlandville.
Preparing Parents and Students
Also approved during the meeting were Student and Parent Handbooks for the Elementary and High Schools. Handbooks include Codes of Conduct, policies, and contact information for individual schools within the district. The handbooks are available on the McGraw website through BoardDocs.
A Bite Out of Tooth Decay
The BOE also received information about the School Based Health Center Dental program (SBHC-D) for the 2021-2022 school year. Through this program, underserved students from the area received low or no-cost dental care from Family Health Network’s (FHN) team of professionals. Several local schools participate in the program, with McGraw students receiving nearly $8,000 in dental care last year. Services provided include screenings, cleanings, fluoride, education, dental sealants, and others.
The Year Ahead
The board approved its schedule for the 2022-2023 school year, electing to meet on roughly the first Thursday of the month, with several additional meetings as needed. BOE’s next meeting will be held on Aug. 11.
BOE meetings are open to the public unless otherwise noted, and are typically held in the High School Library at 6:30 p.m. Policies for addressing the board may be found on the district website through BoardDocs.
