Update: Our First Community Connection Committee Meeting

Dear Phoenix Families and Community Members,

Last night, our new Community Connection Committee met for the first time. It was an inspiring sight to see parents, teachers, counselors, administrators, community members, our Board of Education President, our Mayor, and our Police Chief all in one room, driven by a shared commitment to our students.

Thank you to everyone who gave us their evening. What you shared truly matters.

In just ninety minutes, we heard genuine pride in our teachers, our close-knit district, and our culture where every student is known by name rather than by a number. We also received honest, actionable feedback on areas where we can grow, including:

• Timelier Communication: Ensuring families hear about events well before they happen.
• Expanded Opportunities: Creating more clubs and activities for students outside of athletics and music.
• Community Partnerships: Developing job-shadowing programs with local employers.
• Digital Accessibility: Enhancing our current website to make it easier for families to navigate.

These are not complaints; they are the hallmarks of a community that cares enough to tell us the truth.

This is exactly what shared decision-making looks like at Phoenix. The committee learns about district initiatives, reviews our data, and brings community perspectives to the table before decisions are finalized. Your voice arrives early, when it can directly shape the outcome and connect to our Blueprint for Excellence.

The minutes from last night's meeting are attached to this message and will be posted on our district website. I encourage you to read them to see exactly what our community is thinking.

If it matters to our community, there should be a place to talk about it. Last night, we built that place—and we want you to be part of it.
Our next meeting will focus on the Firebird Framework, our approach to connecting what students learn in the classroom to real careers and futures.

• Date: Monday, October 26
• Time: 5:30 PM
• Location: District Office Board Room

Everyone is welcome. You do not need to be an official committee member, nor did you need to attend in September. Come with a question, a concern, or something worth celebrating.

With Firebird pride,

Ryan Lanigan
Superintendent of Schools
 Phoenix Central School District