PANAMA — Response to a medical incident during a recent girls basketball game is drawing positive feedback in both the Panama and Sherman communities.

In the Superintendent’s report of Monday’s Panama Central School board meeting, Aaron Wolfe, district superintendent, discussed the positive community feedback he had received following a medical incident that occurred in the middle of the girls’ basketball game last week.

“I just wanted to publicly acknowledge the quick actions of our faculty and staff and community last week when we had that medical emergency that took place at the girls’ basketball game,” Wolfe said. “I want to thank board members who held doors, there’s just a tremendous number of people who stepped up.”

Wolfe shared that the next day he was overwhelmed with communications from the Sherman community, which was Panama’s opponent that night. Wolfe said the community was “deeply impressed” with the faculty, staff and students.

“I thought it was really a good moment for us to focus on the things that matter,” Wolfe said.

Sherman Superintendent Carrie Yohe also reached out to Wolfe following the game. Wolfe said the person involved in the medical emergency is doing well now.

The rest of Wolfe’s report consisted of approving the draft of the 2023-2024 Instructional Calendar, approving a memorandum of agreement to begin working on a girls varsity flag football team — which is set to be a merged team between Panama, Clymer and Sherman — and an update on capital projects. Wolfe then talked about his plan for strategic planning, calling it “The Panama Way Forward”.

“I want to start talking about strategic planning in a strategic way,” Wolfe said. “Sometimes planning is tackled by districts by hiring a consultant, and spending a fair amount of money, to do consulting work and build conversations around strategic planning. I’ve actually done some strategic planning, so what I would like to do is chunk this out and start some conversations in the board, and in my section of the board meeting.”

“The Panama Way Forward” is Wolfe’s own teaching unit focused on strategic planning. He is set to talk more about that at the March meeting.

In other business, board members heard a presentation on next year’s Class of 2024 Senior Trip. The class is planning on traveling to Washington, D.C., and the Outer Banks. Following the presentation, the trip was approved by the board.

Board President Gregory Hudson talked briefly about an upcoming legislative dinner and nominations for the BOCES board. Lauren Harper, elementary principal, discussed the annual literacy night for universal pre-kindergarten through fourth grade students.

“Our annual literacy night is going to be March 9 this year,” Harper said. “It has a theme of Dr Seuss. Students in UPK through four will rotate through four different stations, between 6 and 7:30 p.m. It’s usually a really fun night for our kiddos, and it’s also the opening night of the book fair.”

Harper continued her section by discussing the positive feedback received for expanding the UPK program. High School Principal Scott Costantini had to step out to do a presentation for the boy’s basketball senior night which was happening at the same time as the meeting, so his business was presented by Wolfe.

“I just quickly wanted to note that Scott has led up the charge on our safety committee,” Wolfe said. “He has begun a series of four meetings for the remainder of the year, just to get conversations going on safety concepts in the district.”

One of the safety topics being discussed in these meetings is student safety on School Street due to the amount of cars and traffic.