Weekly Update from the Office of the Superintendent
Volume 1, Issue 42 (May 14, 2021)
The Future is Here

It is our intention to emerge from the COVID-19 pandemic stronger than ever and positioned to grow as a school district and community. Our ongoing capital project is designed with this goal in mind. As you may recall, the Ken-Ton community approved this project in February 2020 only a few weeks before COVID-19 first impacted our schools. The $75 million project will be primarily funded through New York State Building Aid. Thanks to the support of our community, there will soon be major enhancements and upgrades for our schools including:
  • Critical maintenance/repair projects such as roof work, resurfacing of parking lots/sidewalks, window replacement, and renovation work
  • Water pipe replacement to improve water quality at each school
  • Changes to parking and drop-off/pick-up patterns at Edison, Hoover, Kenmore East, and Kenmore West to enhance student safety and alleviate traffic congestion during arrival and dismissal
  • Renovations to each school’s single point of entry to maximize safety/security during the school day
  • Additions at Hoover, Lindbergh, and Edison Elementary to meet the need for additional classroom space at these three locations
  • Artificial turf athletic fields at Kenmore East
  • A new adaptive playground for the whole community at Hoover that is inclusive of students of all abilities
  • Gymnasium renovations and new safer pool drains

We will soon be breaking ground on this work. The project will be carried out in overlapping phases and is expected to be fully completed by the end of summer 2025. The work that will begin this summer includes Kenmore East turf fields, secured entrances at Kenmore East and Hoover, the adaptive playground, and a variety of projects at Holmes and Franklin. These initial phases are expected to be completed by the end of the summer 2022.

This is a very exciting time for the Ken-Ton School District and community! Our future is beginning to take shape. This project reflects our commitment to our students as well as all of the residents in Ken-Ton.

2021-22 Budget Update

Another important measure that affects the future of the District is the 2021-22 budget, which will be presented to voters this Tuesday, May 18. The 2021-22 spending plan addresses several district priorities and puts us on a path towards closing the gap in learning created by the pandemic. As a reminder, in-person voting will resume this year with the ability to request absentee ballots for qualified reasons. Voting will take place from 7 a.m. to 9 p.m. on Tuesday, May 18, 2021 at Hoover Middle School (use the Sheridan Drive entrance). You can find comprehensive information on our website at www.ktufsd.org/budget. Please learn about the budget and vote!

Vaccine Clinic

The Ken-Ton School District has been exploring opportunities to assist students and families who wish to receive the COVID-19 vaccine. We are excited to announce that a partnership has developed with Rite Aid to provide Pfizer vaccinations (first and second dose) for our students. Now that Pfizer’s authorization has been extended to those age 12 to 15, any students age 12 and above can participate.

The first vaccination clinic will take place at Kenmore East High School on Wednesday, May 19 with the second dose to be administered Wednesday, June 9. One is considered to be fully vaccinated two weeks after receiving their second dose, so those who take advantage of this opportunity will be fully vaccinated in time for summer events.

A link to sign up has been sent to families. Students must be signed up in order to participate. If you did not receive the link or need any help registering, please email web_help@ktufsd.org. For anyone who is unable to secure an appointment slot, information will soon be shared on additional clinics that will be scheduled.
RECOGNITIONS
Music Programs:

This week we are excited to recognize our outstanding music teachers who have made Ken-Ton one of the best school districts for music education. For the 11th year in a row, Ken-Ton has been designated as a Best Community for Music Education by the NAMM (National Association of Music Merchants) Foundation. Of the nation’s nearly 17,000 public school districts, only 686 (4%) received this distinction this year.

Our music teachers work tirelessly throughout the year inspiring a love for music in our students and facilitating opportunities that enrich our community through the performing arts. Our band, orchestra and chorus ensembles routinely perform exceptionally in regional and state competitions. Countless individual students earn a place in highly selective local, regional, national, and even international ensembles and many have gone on to the nation’s elite music colleges and are now professional musicians. Our music teachers, in fact, are considered to be among some of the most talented in Western New York.

We can all share pride in once again receiving the Best Community for Music Education distinction. This achievement would not have been possible without the efforts of teachers, administrators, families, students, Board of Education members, and community leaders who have helped make music education an integral part of the core curriculum in Ken-Ton Schools.
Kenmore Girls Swimming:

Congratulations to the Kenmore Girls Swimming Team, comprised of students from Kenmore East and Kenmore West. They capped off an amazing undefeated season with a first-place finish in the Niagara Frontier League Championship!

As a relay team, Kenmore West senior Bailey Wigand, Kenmore East senior Payton Taylor, Kenmore West ninth-grader Rachael Coupal and Hoover Middle seventh-grader Cadence Pisa won first place in the 200 medley. Payton and Bailey along with Kenmore West 11th-grader Kennedy Dickinson and Kenmore West ninth-grader Emma Jones won first place in the 400 free relay. Individually, Bailey won first place in the 100 butterfly and Emma won first place in the 500 free.

The team, coached by Kenmore East teacher Nathan Bourke, has been dominant throughout the "Fall 2" season. They defeated Niagara Falls on April 30 with a score of 78-22, Grand Island on May 4 with a score of 115-60, and Lockport on May 6 with a score of 111-68 to end their perfect 9-0 season. Ten teams competed in the championship in five different locations (the Kenmore team at Niagara Wheatfield). Ken-Ton won the championship with a score of 267, nearly 70 points ahead of the second-place team.
NYSSBA Recognitions

Two Board of Education members, Board President Matthew Chimera and Trustee Dr. Thomas Reigstad, received the Board Achievement Award from the New York State School Boards Association (NYSSBA). This program “is designed to acknowledge those school board members who strive to continuously expand their governance knowledge and skills.” This initiative reflects NYSSBA’s motto that “better school boards lead to better student performance.” President Chimera and Dr. Reigstad received the Board Achievement Award for their participation in training activities such as state-mandated workshops, officer academies, legal workshops, convention-related events, and custom board retreats. Congratulations to President Chimera and Dr. Reigstad for their achievement and to our entire Board of Education for their desire to continuously learn and grow to better support the work in Ken-Ton!
Thank you for reviewing this information. As always, we remain Ken-Ton Proud, Ken-Ton Strong, and Ken-Ton Moving Forward!

For previous editions of the Ken-Ton Weekly Connection, visit www.ktufsd.org/connection