In honor of School Board Recognition Week, the Elwood School District Board of Education was lauded at the Oct. 17 board meeting. One student representative from each school – Elwood-John H. Glenn High School, Elwood Middle School, James H. Boyd Intermediate School and Harley Avenue Primary School – came to the podium to express their appreciation for the Board, and each Board member received an Elwood jersey emblazoned with their name and a number reflecting the year they joined the Board.

“I look forward to every meeting and event that we have,” Board President James Tomeo said. “And it's because of our students, because of our great teachers and administration. I just want to thank our community, our parents, our neighbors and our friends for supporting us and allowing us the opportunity to serve as your Board of Education.”

“Although we appreciate the time and dedication that the members of our Board of Education put in year-round, we are using this time specifically to highlight our understanding of the important work performed by our school board,” Superintendent Dr. Gayle Steele said. “Our public school system is the heartbeat of our communities, and our local school boards play an integral part in what we do to promote student success. These members volunteer countless hours in making sure our schools are helping every child be successful and have meaningful educational experiences. This involves making tough decisions when it comes to providing the accountability that our community stakeholders expect. Their work is grounded in – but certainly not limited to – developing shared visions and goals for the district, ensuring our policies, resources and strategies are aligned with district goals, making sound fiscal decisions on behalf of the community, supporting a healthy school environment and evaluating district leadership to ensure continuous improvement and much more. The collaborative mindset and willingness to be present in the hard work it takes to promote success across the district is valued and appreciated. You are a lifeline into what the community expects from us. We always say it takes a village to raise a child, and in a community such as Elwood, the support of that village is a positive influence on our work. Our mantra this year and moving forward is ‘All In,’ and our Board of Education certainly leads this charge by example.”

In student recognitions, high school students Ellie Crowley, Nicola Palisciano, Nolan Reinhardt and Caroline Weiss were first recognized for their selection to the American Legion Boys and Girls State summer leadership and citizenship program.

“This year was a phenomenal year for our high school students, where two boys and two girls received the opportunity to participate,” Principal Corey McNamara said. “Leadership is an important quality to possess in order to be chosen for this honor, and these four students are among our very best. The future is definitely bright with all of you in it.”

Next, three student musicians were recognized for their exceptional achievements: senior Melina Neofitos (soprano) was named an All-State musician by the New York State School Music Association, and junior Louise Hartough (double bass) and senior Nolan Reinhardt (bass) were named as All-State alternates.

“You keep making our district and your family very proud of you,” Tomeo said. “So keep working really hard, keep setting the bar and surpassing it.”

Date Added: 10/30/2024