Pleasantville BOE May 19 Meeting Recap

Dear Pleasantville Families,

Thank you to everyone who joined us for the May 19 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: 

Superintendent’s Report  

Safety: Dr. Lutinski highlighted student and staff safety as a central focus of the proposed capital project and noted that the District Safety Team will meet on May 27 for its annual review of district and building safety plans. Topics will include professional greeters, AED/cardiac arrest regulation compliance, crowd management, and potential capital project safety enhancements such as BRS playground security, athletic field fencing and netting, and PA/automatic lockdown system upgrades. Updated plans will be posted for public comment and finalized before the start of the 2026-27 school year. 

Bedford Road School: BRS is celebrating Upstanders Week to promote positive school culture and encourage students to be “upstanders.” Fourth-grade students participated in the annual Rev Day living history experience, while third-grade students enjoyed a cultural arts performance, The Art of Chinese Dance. 

Middle School: The Middle School recently welcomed incoming fifth-grade families for orientation, which included tours and an overview of the fifth-grade program. Seventh-grade students are also preparing for a trip to the Institute for American Indian Studies in Washington, Connecticut. 

High School: Pleasantville High School’s production of Guys and Dolls received 13 Metro Award nominations, including Overall Production, Scenic Design, Lighting, Costume Design, Student Technical Achievement, and multiple performance categories. This year’s nominations were announced by Pleasantville alumna and Broadway performer Allison Ewoldt, Class of 1999. The cast will attend the Metro Awards ceremony on June 15. 

Capital Project: Dr. Lutinski also expressed gratitude to the many individuals who contributed to the Pleasantville Forward, Together capital project process, including District Clerk Donna Vitucci for managing the voting, district families and community members, administrators, faculty and staff, the Board of Education, and most importantly, the students of Pleasantville Schools. 

RECOGNITION OF THE AUDIENCE/PUBLIC COMMENT  

n/a 

CONSENT AGENDA: APPROVED (5–0)
The Board thanked administrators for their work concluding aide contract negotiations and recognized staff members who will support the district’s Extended School Year (ESY) program this summer. 

CLOSING REMARKS 

• Dr. Lutinski shared a Board of Education student ex officio update, noting that three students are on the ballot and that high school students will vote soon. 
• The Board recognized Trustee Lucas Cascardo with a NYSSBA Board Excellence Award for his participation in training, workshops, and leadership activities. 
• John Vamossy wished good luck to all student-athletes heading into the postseason competition and shared that he joined Dr. Lutinski for lunch with the Rotary Club last week. 
• Loredana Coughlan congratulated SEPTA on its end-of-year dinner and praised the BRS Art Show. 

• Lucas Cascardo congratulated students featured in the High School Art Show at Arc Stages and the Guys and Dolls Metro Award nominees.
• Erin Ballard thanked the BRS PTA for its bake sale and the student council for organizing Upstanders Week activities. 
• Mike Busch thanked poll workers supporting the district election, noted the moment of silence in memory of Julie Schwartz before polls opened, and thanked the Middle School PTA and High School PCO for organizing the BBQ.

The next Board of Education meeting is scheduled for Tuesday, June 2, 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