Victory - Community Voices Lead to Changes in Pittsford ShinShinim Program
A grassroots coalition of Pittsford parents and community members is celebrating a significant step forward following the Pittsford Central School District’s announcement that activities associated with the ShinShinim Program will move outside of regular instructional time and operate on an opt-in basis for families.
The change, announced by Superintendent Shana Cutaia during Tuesday’s Board of Education meeting, reflects months of thoughtful engagement by parents, students, educators, and community members who sought to ensure that all students feel respected, included, and supported in their educational experience.
“This outcome demonstrates what is possible when families engage constructively with their schools,” said community members involved in the effort. “Throughout this process, our goal was never division. Our goal was to ensure that every student, including Palestinian, Arab, Christian, Muslim, and Jewish, and all other students, feels seen, respected, and able to participate fully in school without feeling excluded or singled out.”
Advocates emphasized that this progress was made possible by many individuals who attended meetings, researched policies, shared their experiences, wrote letters, met with district leaders, and engaged in respectful dialogue over many months.
“We are grateful to Superintendent Cutaia, members of the Board of Education, district staff, and community members who took the time to listen and engage in good faith,” the group said. “Strong public schools depend on trust, transparency, and meaningful collaboration between families and educators.”
While celebrating this progress, community members noted that important questions remain regarding implementation, including how “outside regular instructional time” will function in practice, how the opt-in process will be communicated to families, and how broader concerns about representation, inclusion, and symbolism within school settings will be addressed moving forward.
The coalition plans to remain engaged and continue working collaboratively with district leadership to ensure that the spirit of the announced changes is fully realized.
“This is not the end of a conversation—it is the beginning of a new chapter. The progress we have achieved together shows that when families participate thoughtfully, respectfully, and persistently, positive change is possible. We remain committed to building schools where every child feels that they belong.”