Dear Batavia Families and Community,

Finally, spring seems to be in the air! Let’s start off with some congratulations and kudos across BCSD:

• Congratulations to our Girls 4X200 Relay Team for winning the New York State Championship this past weekend in Staten Island States. Team members Ady O'Donnell, Ella Shamp, Nevaeh Thomas, and Karizma Wescott won the NYSPHSAA state title with a time of 1:44.26! We look forward to celebrating their success in the coming weeks, including special recognition at our March 23 Board of Education Meeting. 

Congratulations to all of our Track and Field team members who also proudly represented BHS this past weekend!

Finally, congratulations to our entire Boys and Girls Track and Field Team for their respective Section V Championships!

• We had an amazing weekend at BHS last week with the Production Club’s presentation of Anastasia! Bravo to Mrs. Caryn Wood, her staff, cast, crew, and musicians who made this show so magical and heartfelt. We can’t wait to hear about their success at the upcoming Broadway Stars of Tomorrow event later this spring!

• Our John Kennedy STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Art, Math) students recently had some impressive events, showcasing their skills in coding, critical thinking, and technology. I especially enjoy the Paul Bunyan breakfast! Mrs. Calandra and her aide, Mrs. Chrzanowski, provide such awesome experiences to our JK students!

• Our BHS and BMS students have completed the peer mediation training, which we earned via a competitive grant. I have observed a number of these trainings, and have no doubt this project will serve our students well. Recently, BMS was recognized by the Genesee Valley School Boards Association with a local honor for this program.

• Special kudos to our Robert Morris faculty and staff for coming together for a series of big moves this fall and winter. Our BCSD Reimagined Project is coming along nicely at Robert Morris, where we have successfully renovated half of the school, including new classrooms, flooring, safety features, and office spaces. We were so excited to welcome back our youngest learners from mid-winter break on February 25 to their new spaces, and we are grateful to Principal Jessica Korzelius and her team for leading us through this part of the project. Stay tuned for a special ribbon-cutting ceremony to officially open our Robert Morris Playground this spring.

• Community connections are always celebrated at Jackson Primary, as evidenced by their annual March Madness Reading program, which attracts many members of our community. Thank you to Mrs. Notaro and Mrs. Bigsby for leading this program.

• Make sure you check out the student art show this month at the Richmond Library and prepare to be amazed and impressed, as I always am!

Finally, the Board of Education and I are immersed in deep budget conversations as we prepare for the 2026-2027 school year, with the goal of adopting a balanced budget on April 20 and presenting it to our community for a vote in May. 

Leading BCSD is both a professional challenge and honor, and our team and I look forward to continuing to serve our families and staff with honor, transparency, and pride!

Thank you for your continued support, and happy spring!


Jason Smith
BCSD Superintendent of Schools