The GC Loop - Opening Day 2026-27

As I shared on Opening Day, our goal is to give all staff a more streamlined, predictable way to stay informed and connected. On the second and fourth Friday of each month, The GC Loop will bring together important news, updates, resources and opportunities from across the district in one convenient place.

We hope The GC Loop means less searching, fewer emails and an easier way to keep up with what matters across Gates Chili. Most importantly, we hope it helps all of us stay connected to the people, work and opportunities that make GC such a special community.

With GC Pride,

Dr. Mitch Ball

Superintendent of Schools

Items in this section require action or immediate attention

The GC Loop is designed for scanning, so you can quickly find what deserves your attention.

Each issue is organized into three sections:

• ACT — Start here. These items require action or immediate attention.
• KNOW — Important updates and information to keep on your radar.
• EXPLORE — News, resources, opportunities and stories from across GC.

Use the table of contents on the left side of the newsletter to jump directly to ACT, KNOW, EXPLORE or Growing Our GC Family Tree to meet our newest Spartans.

Your action: Make The GC Loop part of your twice-monthly routine — and always check ACT first.

Keeping our schools safe is everyone’s responsibility. Please remember these important expectations:

• Never prop open an exterior door. If you need to re-enter the building, use a designated secure entrance and your district-issued badge — even if another entrance would be more convenient.
• Wear your GC badge while at work. Staff badges should be visible throughout the workday.
• Visitors must check in at the main office and wear the visitor sticker issued through our visitor management system.
• See something? Say something. If you encounter someone in a district building who is not wearing a GC-issued badge or visitor sticker, follow district safety protocols to address or report it.

These small, everyday actions are an important part of keeping our students, staff and schools safe. Site safety and security are everyone’s responsibility, so if you see something, please say something. If you notice someone in your building that does not have a GC issued badge or a sticker, please take it upon yourself to stop them and inquire about it.

If you’ve been away from your district account for much of the summer, now is a great time to change your password.

1. Press Ctrl + Alt + Delete at the same time on your keyboard.
2. Select Change a password from the menu options.

Updating it now can help prevent your password from expiring during those busy first few weeks of school. And depending on when you last logged in or changed your password, it may have already expired. Take a minute to reset your password now and start the school year with one less login headache later!

It’s that time of year! All employees are required to complete their annual mandatory trainings in Global Compliance Network (GCN) by Friday, May 21, 2027.

Depending on your position, you’ll have 10, 11 or 12 tutorials assigned to you. Keep an eye on your inbox for an email from support@gcntraining.com with your login information. Unscheduled time is built into conference days throughout the year to give you time to complete your trainings, but there’s no need to wait until May!

New to GC? Your Sexual Harassment Prevention training must be completed within 30 days of your start date. If you completed this training with another employer after June 30, 2026, send your certificate of completion to Glenda Gonzalez in Human Resources at glgonzalez@gateschili.org.

Please prioritize your tutorials. Future you (and HR) will thank you.Questions or having trouble accessing your trainings? Glenda can help.

As we kick off a new school year, take a few minutes to make sure you’re representing Gates Chili accurately and consistently.

Employees who receive an Annual Professional Performance Review (APPR) rating should log in to Frontline and acknowledge their rating from the previous school year by Wednesday, Sept. 9.

To acknowledge your rating:

1. Log in to Frontline – Professional Growth through ClassLink.
2. Go to My Info > Evaluations.
3. Select the evaluation for the previous school year and click the plus (+) icon under Component Name.
4. Scroll to 3012-d Required APPR Rating Document and click the document icon on the right. (If you don’t see the icon, try zooming out.)
5. Review your rating and click Acknowledge at the bottom of the form.

Please note: If you do not acknowledge your rating by the deadline, the district will finalize the form on your behalf. Questions or technical issues? Contact Maranda Byer or Lindsay DiMartino.

Staff responsible for implementing a student’s IEP or 504 Plan must complete the annual Chapter 408 acknowledgement electronically through SchoolTool.

By signing, you are confirming that you have been informed, prior to implementation of the IEP or 504 Plan, of your responsibility to carry out the recommendations for the student. This includes providing required accommodations, program modifications, supports and/or services.

A few important reminders:

• You must have electronic access to or receive a copy of the IEP or 504 Plan for each student for whom you are responsible.
• IEPs and 504 Plans are confidential. These documents and the information they contain may not be disclosed to unauthorized individuals.
• Any paper copies of IEPs or 504 Plans must be maintained in a secure, locked location.
• Relevant portions of a student’s IEP should be reviewed with classroom and IEP-mandated paraprofessionals who provide services to that student.
• This is not just a beginning-of-year activity. Relevant information should be revisited with paraprofessionals when student needs, programming, accommodations or staff assignments change.
• When appropriate, relevant information may also need to be reviewed with transportation, cafeteria or other staff who regularly interact with a student. Only information necessary for that individual to fulfill their responsibilities should be shared.

After several years of research, discussion and collaboration, the Equitable Grading Task Force developed a framework for more consistent grading practices at the middle and high school levels. Those expectations will take effect beginning with the 2026-27 school year.

The goal is to ensure grades more accurately and consistently reflect what students know and are able to do, while reducing practices that can unintentionally distort grades or mix academic achievement with student behaviors.

The new framework provides shared expectations around areas including gradebook categories and consistency, reassessment, late work and extra credit, while still allowing departments and courses to make some decisions collaboratively. This work will continue throughout the year, with additional professional learning and support available as we put the new practices into action.

Important updates and information to keep on your radar

Gates Chili employees and members of their households now have access to a free, confidential Employee Assistance Program through ESI Employee Assistance Group. The EAP offers counseling, referrals and resources for stress, relationships, grief, financial and legal concerns, childcare and elder care and more. Save this resource now so you know where to turn when you need it.

Need support now? Click the button below or call 1-800-252-4555 anytime to connect with a counselor.

Summer break was anything but quiet around GC! Crews have been hard at work on Phase 1 of our Future Ready capital project, with improvements taking shape across several buildings.

Staff returning this fall will notice some of the biggest changes at:

• Neil Armstrong: Interior renovations including new flooring and freshly painted spaces
• Walt Disney: Interior renovations including new flooring and freshly painted spaces, along with a new outdoor basketball court
• Middle School: Mechanical upgrades, including new air handling equipment, along with structural reinforcement in the small gym
• Operations Center: Significant interior renovations and building system upgrades
• Spartan Stadium: New perimeter fencing, visitor bleachers and work on the stadium entryway

Some finishing touches will continue into September. Staff at Neil Armstrong and Walt Disney may see crews completing punch-list items, while work at the Operations Center will continue on exterior doors and windows, sidewalks and the exterior pergola. At Spartan Stadium, remaining work includes gates, grass planting and site maintenance.

Thank you to everyone who helped make so much progress possible over the summer, and for your patience as we put the finishing touches on these spaces.

Following last year’s pilot traffic pattern for High School parking lots D and E, we’ve returned to the previous entrance and exit configuration for the 2026-27 school year.

Vehicles will enter Lots D and E using the driveway closest to the bus loop. When leaving, vehicles may exit using either the center driveway or the driveway closest to the Operations Center.

Check out the map below for a visual of the updated traffic flow. Please use extra care as everyone gets reacquainted with the traffic pattern during the first few days of school.

The 2026-27 Purchasing Manual has been updated and is available on the Staff Intranet.

The manual is your go-to resource for district purchasing procedures, and it covers more than just purchase orders. While most purchasing procedures remain unchanged, there are two important updates for 2026-27:

• Conference & Professional Learning Attendance: If the District pays registration or other costs for an employee to attend a conference or professional learning opportunity and the employee does not attend, the employee will be required to reimburse the District for the expense.
• Receiving Documentation: If an order is received without a packing list, please add a note to the purchase order indicating the date the goods were received. This will provide documentation that the order was received and help support timely and accurate payment processing.

Taking a few minutes to check the process before making a purchase or commitment can help avoid delays later. You can find the Purchasing Manual on the Staff Intranet or by clicking the button below.

The TAP App provides real-time emergency notifications and allows staff to communicate quickly from a smartphone, laptop or desktop during an emergency.

Whether you’re new to TAP or could use a refresher, resources are available on the Safety and Security section of the Staff Intranet, including instructions for downloading and installing the app and using its emergency communication features.

At the end of last school year, Dr. Danielle Ouillette from Peaceful Schools gathered feedback from stakeholders across Gates Chili and reviewed district data and documents as part of a comprehensive review of our restorative practices.

While the final report is still being developed, one emerging theme is clear: Strong relationships are a district strength, but restorative practices are not yet experienced consistently across schools, classrooms and staff.

Once the report is finalized, district leadership will review the findings and identify a focused, manageable set of priorities for moving forward. Potential next steps may include strengthening shared expectations and language, providing targeted professional learning and coaching, developing common tools and implementation supports and better aligning restorative practices with our MTSS structures and Code of Conduct and Support.

Stay tuned: Additional information will be shared once the final report is received and priorities for next steps have been identified.

Did you know you can instantly lock your Windows computer by pressing Windows key + L?

Even a quick trip down the hall can leave student, staff or other sensitive information visible or accessible to someone who shouldn’t see it. Locking your screen helps protect privacy, district data and your account, without closing anything you’re working on.

News, resources, opportunities and stories from across GC

Celebrating the people who make GC a great place to learn and work.

Michaela has been named the 2026 HR Executive of the Year by the Rochester affiliate of the National Human Resources Association. The annual award recognizes outstanding HR professionals who demonstrate innovation, leadership and operational excellence while making a meaningful impact on their organizations and the HR profession.

Michaela was selected from among four finalists from across all industries in the Rochester region — a well-deserved recognition of the thoughtful, people-centered leadership she brings to Gates Chili every day. Congratulations, Michaela!

As a Gates Chili employee, you may be eligible for special discounts from local businesses and organizations. Check out these offers from local universities:

• Roberts Wesleyan University offers 25% discount on tuition for Gates Chili CSD employees, spouses and legal dependents in the School of Business, School of Arts & Humanities, School of Education & Social Work, School of Nursing and School of Natural & Social Sciences.
• Nazareth University offers a 20% discount on tuition for Gates Chili CSD employees enrolled in graduate classes or programs in Nazareth's Graduate School of Education or School of Business and Leadership as well as Higher Education Student Affairs Administration program.
• St. John Fisher University offers a 20% discount on tuition when three or more GCCSD employees enroll in the same term of any combination of master's and/or doctoral programs offered, excluding programs within the Wegmans Schools of Nursing and Pharmacy.

As you reconnect with families for a new school year, here’s the most important ParentSquare reminder: If you’re communicating with your entire class, grade level, team or group, use a Post.

📣 Posts = communicate with groups

Posts are the primary way to share announcements, reminders, classroom updates and other information that applies to your whole class or a larger group. They also give families the ParentSquare experience they expect, including their preferred notification and delivery settings.

💬 Direct Messages = communicate with individuals

Use Direct Messages when you need to communicate with an individual parent/guardian or a small number of people. Direct Messages should not be used in place of a Post to communicate with your entire class.

📋 Get ready for back-to-school communication

Check out the Back-to-School Communications Checklist for more quick reminders and best practices for connecting with families this year.

And yes, you may notice ParentSquare has a fresh new logo this year — new look, same great ParentSquare!

Student Support Services department meetings will be held three times at each building throughout the 2026-27 school year.

These meetings provide dedicated time to share department updates, address building-specific questions and needs, problem-solve together and maintain consistent communication across Student Support Services.

Our professional learning webpage also has helpful information and resources, including a new FAQ section with answers to common questions. Bookmark both resources so you know where to go when you need information or support throughout the year!

New Spartans who were hired, started working since our last issue or will start soon

If you don't see yourself or your colleague listed below, their photo and bio may still be in process with Human Resources. Keep an eye out for the next issue!

🔧 Kept our buses rolling

👨‍🍳 Loves to cook and bake

✊ Longtime president of the Automotive Mechanics Association

Bonus clue: He wrapped up an incredible 44-year career at Gates Chili this summer.