GASD recognizes Board of Education during School Board Recognition Week
The Greater Amsterdam School District joins school districts across New York State in celebrating School Board Recognition Week, observed Oct. 13–17. The New York State School Boards Association designates this week to promote awareness and understanding of the important work performed by local school boards.
Public schools are the foundation of strong communities, and local boards of education play a vital role in ensuring that every student has access to a quality education.
“It takes strong schools to build a strong community, and these men and women devote countless hours to making sure our schools are helping every child learn at a higher level,” Superintendent Richard Ruberti said. “They make tough decisions each month and spend many hours studying education issues and regulations to provide the accountability our community expects.”
The key work of school boards is to raise student achievement by:
Developing a shared vision and goals for the district
Ensuring strategies, resources, policies, and programs align with district goals
Assessing and providing accountability for student achievement
Supporting a healthy district culture for students and staff
Evaluating the superintendent to ensure continuous improvement
“School board members give our community a voice in education decision-making,” Ruberti said. “While we make a special effort to show appreciation during this week, their contributions are recognized and valued year-round.”
The members serving the Greater Amsterdam School District Board of Education are:
Rev. Kent A. McHeard, President
Wendy Swezey, Vice President
Dr. Nellie A. Bush, Member
JoMarie DiTata, Member
John Brodie, Member
Dennis P. Boice Jr., Member
Juan Montalvo, Member
Kristi McGaffin, Clerk of the Board
GASD extends its gratitude to each board member for their commitment, leadership, and service to the students, families, and staff of the district.