Pleasantville BOE March 17 Meeting Recap

Posted Date: 03/19/26 (05:39 PM)

March 19, 2025

Dear Pleasantville Families,

Thank you to everyone who joined us for the March 17 Board of Education meeting, whether in person or virtually. The Board continues to focus on maintaining transparency, celebrating student achievement, and engaging the community in meaningful discussions about district priorities.

If you were unable to attend, a full recording of the meeting is available on the district’s YouTube channel, and the meeting agenda can be found here.

Below is a brief summary of key items from the meeting:

2026-27 Instructional Budget Presentation (CLICK HERE TO VIEW PRESENTATION)

District and building leaders shared highlights from the proposed 2026–27 instructional budgets, emphasizing continued investment in student learning, wellness, and program expansion across all schools.

At Bedford Road School, Principal Rachel Hunger provided an update on Universal Pre-Kindergarten, which will enter its fourth year in 2026–27. BRS will see a slight increase in enrollment and a potential additional section based on final numbers for the incoming Kindergarten class. The budget continues to prioritize implementation of the new ELA curriculum and classroom library resources.

At Pleasantville Middle School, Principal Dr. Adam Chagares highlighted investments in student wellness and engagement, including SEL programs such as Sources of Strength and the JCK Foundation. The budget also supports expanded access to National Geographic curriculum resources for all students in grades 5–8 and the growth of Project Lead the Way, now extending computer science opportunities into sixth grade.

At Pleasantville High School, Principal Joe Palumbo noted stable programming alongside a slight shift in enrollment. Budget priorities include expanded course offerings, including a new SUPA personal finance course, continued investment in professional learning, and enhanced wellness supports for students and families.

Special Education, presented by Dr. Rukmini Bhalla, reflects a projected 344 classified students and emphasizes expansion of the continuum of services, ensuring the district can meet a wide range of student needs while continuing to support professional learning for staff.

Technology, led by Michael Sammartano, focuses on infrastructure improvements, device upgrades, and system efficiencies. The middle school device transition is progressing successfully, with plans to expand to high school students next year. The district is also advancing software consolidation and preparing to launch a new website integrated with the ParentSquare communications platform.

Finally, Dr. Joshua Deitch shared updates on Curriculum, Instruction, and Assessment, highlighting ongoing professional learning across buildings, strengthened regional partnerships, and efforts to build internal capacity through more structured collaboration and instructional alignment.

Additional budget presentations will continue over the coming weeks according to the following schedule:

April 7: Instructional – Athletics; Non-Instructional – Operations & Maintenance, Revenue, Tax Cap, and Contingency Budget

April 21: Budget Adoption

May 5: Budget Public Hearing

May 19: Annual Budget Vote & School Board Election

SUPERINTENDENT’S REPORT

The District continues to build strong momentum heading into spring, highlighted by a successful Superintendent’s Conference Day on March 13, which served as a model for future professional learning and collaboration across schools.

Bedford Road School: BRS students and staff were celebrated for their production of Matilda Jr., with seven performances showcasing strong student talent and community support. First graders also visited the Hudson River Museum, where they experienced a planetarium program connected to their study of the solar system. Ongoing professional learning continues with support from the District’s reading consultant.

Pleasantville Middle School: The Middle School Science Olympiad team earned second place at regionals, bringing home 52 medals and advancing to the state competition. Students are preparing for the upcoming production of Legally Blonde Jr. (March 19–21; Grab your tickets: https://cur8.com/40069/project/137821). Eighth graders also began the transition to high school through course selection presentations led by counseling staff.

Pleasantville High School: PHS celebrated the announcement of Valedictorian Sarah Agabob (Tufts University) and Salutatorian Clara Shingler (Wesleyan University). The school was also recognized for its successful production of Guys & Dolls, as well as student achievements at the Regeneron Westchester Science and Engineering Fair: Nate Searle, Tung Lam Nguyen, and Julian Jacinto. Spring sports are now underway, with a full slate of athletic programs beginning their seasons.

SUPERINTENDENT’S UPDATE ON THE CAPITAL PROJECT

Tuesday evening, the board took action on the following items related to the Capital Project:

Type II SEQRA Review for potential environmental impact
Final propositions for the ballot in May (see below for proposition breakout)

Proposition I: Critical Safety & End-of-Life Infrastructure Replacements

Expedited Infrastructure Improvements

BRS HVAC upgrades
PHS hot water pump replacement
PHS auditorium lighting upgrades
Districtwide public address and security system upgrades

Track & Turf Replacement

Replace main and small turf fields
Install acrylic-coated sand infill (no rubber) with shock pad
Resurface track and specialty areas
Add perimeter safety fencing

BRS External Security Enhancements

Secure daytime entrance with gate, camera, and intercom
ADA-accessible lift
New perimeter fencing while maintaining community access outside school hours

Proposition II: High-Priority Investments in Learning & Community Spaces

BRS Outdoor Space Reimagined

Replace turf surface with natural grass
Create distinct zones for flexible student use
Expand footprint and add new playground equipment

Instructional & STEAM Space Upgrades

Districtwide interactive classroom displays
New STEAM/MakerSpaces at BRS and PMS
Science classroom upgrades at PMS and PHS
Art, music, theater, auditorium, and multipurpose room upgrades

Main Field Area & Lights

Public restrooms and concession stand
Transition Upper Field to turf
Resurface basketball court and update hoops
Four 80-foot LED Dark-Sky Certified light poles, the only light poles that meet safety standards for use at school fields, with sound and sightline mitigation

Upcoming Project-Specific Community Forums

Monday night, we hosted the first project-specific community forum for STEAM at the middle school, which included a tour of classrooms and learning spaces at both the middle and high school.

Community members are encouraged to join us at an upcoming forum:

BRS Outdoor Space: Tuesday, April 14 at 6 PM, Bedford Road School
Fields & Lights: Monday, April 27 at 7 PM, Pleasantville High School

A separate trip to view fields with lights in neighboring districts has been planned for next Wednesday, March 25.

Dr. Lutinski reiterated that full project details, FAQs, financial information, and timelines are available at pleasantvilleschools.org/capitalproject.

As a reminder, the proposed capital project includes a maximum estimated cost of approximately $17.5 million, with $4 million available in reserves and savings and $13.5 million in borrowing. The project is designed to be tax-levy neutral and is separate from the annual operating budget, with approximately 53 cents of every borrowed dollar reimbursed through state aid.

DISTRICT CLERKS REPORT: May 19 - Annual Budget Vote & BOE Election

The Pleasantville UFSD Annual Budget Vote and Board of Education Election will be held on May 19, 2026. Residents will vote on the proposed 2026–27 school budget, capital project items, and two Board of Education seats.

To vote, you must be:

A U.S. citizen
At least 18 years old by May 19, 2026
A Pleasantville UFSD resident for at least 30 days prior to the vote
Registered with the Westchester County Board of Elections or with the District

The last day to register with the District is May 14, 2026.

Board candidate petitions are due by 5 p.m. on April 20, 2026. Absentee and early mail ballot applications are available beginning April 20.

Visit our website for voter information and Board candidate materials.

Discussion Item: Ex Officio Student Board Members

The Board held a discussion on the role and selection process for Ex Officio Student Board Members, led by student representative Julian. Julian shared insights from a recent WestPut event, as well as follow-up conversations with Ms. Vedovino, Mr. Palumbo, and Dr. Lutinski.

He presented potential selection models, including a Student Government vote or appointing class officers from the junior and senior classes. The discussion also emphasized the importance of clearly outlining expectations and responsibilities, as well as providing training for student representatives. An interest meeting for students is being considered for April 7.

Board members shared feedback and perspectives on the proposed approach.

RECOGNITION OF THE AUDIENCE/PUBLIC COMMENT: Two (2) members of the public addressed the board.

NEW BUSINESS

CONSENT AGENDA: Approved (5–0)

The next Board of Education meeting is scheduled for Tuesday, April 7, 2026, at 7:30 PM in the PHS library. The agenda will be posted to BoardDocs when available.

Warm regards,

The Pleasantville Schools Board of Education
Michael Busch, Erin Ballard, Lucas Cascardo, Loredana Coughlan, and John Vamossy