The Pleasant Valley School Board’s last meeting in November was also the last meeting for three of its directors and the Acting Superintendent Charlene Brennan. James Konrad, the new superintendent, will begin Dec. 1 and the new school board members will begin soon after.

On behalf of the school board, President Donna Yozwiak presented a plaque to Brennan to thank her for her service to the school district.

Brennan had stepped in as acting superintendent in December 2019 between outgoing Superintendent David Piperato and incoming Superintendent Lee Lesisko, and then again after Lesisko retired in June 2021.

“We will miss you Dr. Brennan,” Yozwiak said.

“I came back because I fell in love with this school district and I did make a connection with Pleasant Valley the last time I was here,” Brennan said.

She went on to say that she didn’t know if she accomplished a great deal the second time around, but she tried to answer people’s questions even if her answers were not always what they wanted to hear.

“I always tried to give you an answer. I always tried to respond to people,” she said. “The one thing I do know is that every person in this district loves kids. I know people say they don’t care. This board is fully committed. Our teachers are fully committed. Our administrators are fully committed. You should be very, very proud of that. That doesn’t mean there are things that can’t be changed or looked at, but Pleasant Valley is a wonderful community and a wonderful school district.”

Brennan thanked the board and others for their support.

Soon it was Brennan’s turn to recognize the school board directors who would be leaving.

She said to those watching the meeting, “You see a piece of what the board does here at meetings, but they do so much more behind the scenes.”

She listed a litany of activities school board directors do as volunteers for the school district.

“Do not ever believe that these people up here are not dedicated to this school district,” she said.

Brennan presented a plaque and a bear blanket to Director Len Peeters, who served for 16 years, and Yozwiak, who served for four years. Director Dan Wunder, who served for eight years, announced at the Nov. 4 meeting that he would not be able to make this last meeting.

“Even though he’s not here, Mr. Wunder, I know spent so many years in the Pleasant Valley School District,” Brennan said.

In a statement, Peeters encouraged other parents in the school district to get involved in activities and clubs at their children’s schools. This was something he did throughout his child’s school years.

“I have so many wonderful memories,” Peeters said. “My time with Pleasant Valley has given me rewarding and enlightening experiences. This district has so much to offer our students and has many dedicated individuals.”

Yozwiak also read a statement. She said she has been active in education in the school district for 40 years, and plans on continuing to be involved. She plans to volunteer as a committee member at the Monroe Career and Technical Institute.

“Career and technical education has always held a special place in my heart,” Yozwiak said. “With this is mind, my husband and I are in the process of establishing an Integrity Scholarship for an outstanding PV/MCTI student. We are currently developing the scholarship criteria with MCTI Director Dennis Virga and his team to facilitate this award this year.”