The BYOG (Build Your Own Grade) Controversy

What Happened?

The “Build Your Own Grade” (BYOG) controversy centers on the Mineola School District’s 2025 rollout of an unconventional, computer-based learning and grading program. Parents and teachers criticized the approach as overly video-dependent, confusing, and stressful for students. The program was tied to Superintendent Dr. Michael Nagler and his son through a private company Quave, raising serious concerns about conflicts of interest, contracting, and student data privacy.

Community members characterized the district’s early response to concerns as dismissive, noting that initial opposition was met with resistance from school board members and administrators rather than meaningful engagement or transparency.

Key concerns included:

• Instructional model concerns: BYOG was introduced as Mandatory for all eighth graders and relied heavily on iPad-based videos rather than direct instruction, leading to claims that teachers were being sidelined and students were not receiving adequate support.
• “Starting at zero” grading model: Students began each term with a grade of zero, a system many students described as demoralizing and difficult to understand.
• Conflict of interest and procurement issues: The software was developed by Quave, owned by Dr. Nagler and his 19-year-old son, and the district was using the product without a formal contract or clear security protections. These allegations prompted the district to pause the program and launch a formal investigation.
• Student data privacy concerns: Families expressed extreme concern that student data may have been stored on a server owned or controlled by the superintendent and his son, prompting complaints and reports to state officials.

Public opposition grew rapidly, including a petition with more than 600 signatures and sustained criticism at board meetings and across social media. While BYOG was presented as an experimental approach to learning and grading, it quickly became a flashpoint for broader concerns about governance, transparency, classroom impact, and student safety in the Mineola Union Free School District.