Sent via SchoolMessenger email on April 7, 2023
The Board of Education proudly congratulates our New York State Champions:
- Gymnastics (Floor Exercise): Athlete Carly Sardo and Coach Audrey Donohue
- Boys Varsity Basketball (Class A): Athletes Sean Berrigan, Tommy Linehan, Jack Maloney, Isaiah Leveille, TJ Tarpey, Billy Alexiou, Nick Lange, Xavier Leveille, Pat Linehan, Jack Piccione, Patrick Staker, Drew Dillon and Nolan Cook; Head Coach George Gaine; and, Assistant Coaches Chris Rastelli, Brian McLaughlin, Ryan McWilliams and Dan McGann.
March Board of Education highlights included a celebration of the 13 staffmembers who received tenure in 2022 and testimonials from TZHS senior and Rockland BOCES Certified Nursing Assistant student Samantha Talone and SOCSD alumna Jackie Sliva, who attended the Rockland BOCES District-Based program at Suffern High School and is preparing to graduate college and begin law school this fall. Samantha and Jackie (along with Jackie’s mother, Renee) spoke about the powerful, positive impact of their participation in Rockland BOCES programs.
“The Board congratulates our 13 tenure recipients on reaching this career milestone in SOCSD!” said Board President Dana Stilley, Ph.D. “We are incredibly proud of our partnership with Rockland BOCES and the successes Samantha and Jackie achieved in their respective programs. We wish them both the very best!”
Board Work in Progress
Superintendent Search: Finalist interviews have been completed. The Board anticipates announcing a new superintendent of schools later this month. Information regarding the search is posted on the Superintendent Search webpage.
Budget Development: Over the course of two budget workshops in March, District administrators outlined revenues, enrollment projections, staffing/program needs and key cost drivers for the 2023-24 school year. A final workshop is scheduled for April 11; Board adoption of the proposed budget is scheduled for April 18. Dates and presentation links are posted on the Budget webpage.
Security Staffing: The safety of our students and staff remains our top priority and the District and Board have been engaged in an extensive process to assess its security staffing needs. Thank you to all the students, parents, staff and community members who submitted questions and attended the March 16 public feedback forum. The District is finalizing its recommendation, in consultation with the Town of Orangetown, vendors and legal counsel, which will be presented to the Board for consensus to move forward. An infographic outlining the decision-making process is posted on the Security Staffing webpage and can be viewed at the bottom of this message. Please note that, due to the nature of both the District’s security program and contract negotiations, the Board has access to certain confidential information that cannot be shared publicly.
Facilities Update: At its March 28 meeting, the Board approved a bid for the SOMS pool repair work. A construction kick off meeting was held on April 5. Additional information will be shared by the District this month.
Athletics Information: Director of Physical Education, Health and Athletics Bill Pilla delivered a presentation on the Athletic Placement Process (APP) to the Board on March 28. The APP is the process for evaluating the eligibility of students who wish to participate in sports at higher or lower levels, as approved by the New York State Board of Regents, with the goal of appropriately placing student athletes to compete in team and individual sports.
Mark Your Calendars: The Annual Budget and Board of Education Election is Tuesday, May 16. Information is posted on the Budget, Information for Prospective Candidates and Voting Information webpages.
Upcoming Meetings/Workshops
Board of Education Budget Workshop
April 11 at 7:30PM
South Orangetown Middle School Library
Board of Education Meeting/Budget Adoption
April 18 at 7:30PM
South Orangetown Middle School Library
Meeting dates, times and locations are subject to change. Be sure to check the District’s e-Backpack webpage for the most up-to-date information.
Additional Resources
Board meeting agendas, minutes and audio are posted online at BoardDocs.
Board policies are posted online at BoardPolicyOnline.
Questions or comments? Send an email to the entire Board of Education at feedback@socsd.org.
The “Board Brief” is a monthly communication from the South Orangetown Central School District Board of Education.
