During the meeting, the Superintendent discussed significant staffing challenges, particularly in the areas of special education and physical education at Lanning. The district continues to face difficulties hiring qualified candidates, often due to high salary expectations. The search for a tenure track school psychologist is ongoing, with interviews still in progress. The Superintendent emphasized the importance of promoting Verona as a desirable place for teachers to work, urging the community to spread the word to attract potential candidates.

In addition to staffing concerns, the board addressed the future of the district’s marching band. With the current band director, Mr. Lynch, not reapplying for his position, the district has posted the vacancy and is seeking applicants. Despite the challenges, the commitment to maintaining the marching band remains strong, as it is seen as a vital component in fostering the arts in Verona. There is a noted trend of declining enrollment in the high school band, with a 42% reduction over the past decade. However, elementary and middle school music programs continue to see robust participation.

To explore potential solutions, the board is considering an adjustment to the policy that currently requires students in the concert band to also participate in the marching band. The aim is to gather survey data to assess whether this requirement is deterring participation. Any decisions regarding changes to the marching band policy will be made with transparency and communicated to both the board and the public. No definitive decisions have been made at this point.

Additionally, the meeting covered the announcement of the official results of the annual school elections. Mrs. Pamela Prisco and Mr. Christopher Waka were reelected to the board, receiving 5,330 and 4,163 votes, respectively. Mayor Taro officiated their swearing-in ceremony, acknowledging their commitment to serving Verona’s educational community. Subsequently, a motion was passed unanimously to elect Denise Fala as the board president for 2025, with Mrs. Prisco being elected as vice president. The board expressed gratitude for Mrs. Prisco’s leadership in her previous term as president.

The board also discussed the possibility of changing the frequency of meetings from bi-monthly to monthly. Concerns about maintaining transparency with the public, especially regarding budgetary responsibilities, were highlighted. Some members acknowledged the burden of multiple meetings but emphasized the importance of accessibility and transparency. A proposed format with one meeting per month, supplemented by a work session to preview agenda items, was suggested. However, no consensus was reached, and the importance of a regular meeting schedule for public expectation was noted.

In the Superintendent’s update, a change in the school calendar was announced, moving the election day from June 3rd to June 10th. The Superintendent also mentioned plans to invite Diane Grossman, founder of Mallory’s Army, to address bullying, with events aimed at high school and middle school students, as well as a parent evening.

Furthermore, upcoming winter concerts at HBW were announced for December 14th and 15th. Progress on the Civil Rights Data Collection report was noted, with an emphasis on the extensive data required from the high school and middle school. A meeting with Chief Kieran was planned to discuss the signing of the Universal Memorandum of Agreement with law enforcement, highlighting ongoing collaboration between the school and local law enforcement.