December Board Briefs

On Tuesday, December 16 the Board had the pleasure of certifying the Capital Project vote results. We want to once again express our gratitude to the community for their approval of both propositions. A final tally of all votes cast in person and by affidavit, Early Mail, or Absentee ballots is:

Proposition 1 = 719 YES to 400 NO

Proposition 2 = 765 YES to 348 NO

With the vote complete, our focus now turns to careful planning and design for the work to support our move to a central campus in 2028 with Grade 5 a part of the Elementary School. In the months ahead, we will work closely with our architectural partners and engage the educators and students who know our buildings best to help shape the next steps of the design phase. This work will move forward thoughtfully, with required State Education Department review, a commitment to transparency, and a clear goal of minimizing disruption to learning when work begins. We look forward to sharing updates as this important work unfolds.

Thank you to all of the community members who participated in our Book Club discussion series focused on The Anxious Generation: How the Great Rewiring of Childhood Is Causing an Epidemic of Mental Illness by Jonathan Haidt. Across several meetings, parents and educators engaged in timely, meaningful conversations grounded in Haidt’s research on youth mental health and practical steps to address rising anxiety and depression.

The discussions brought together families and educators from across K-12, strengthening partnerships between home and school. Participants explored the impact of smartphones, social media, and screen time on today’s youth, reflected on changes following Governor Kathy Hochul’s cell phone ban, and discussed actions families can take to reassess age-appropriate technology use.

Feedback from attendees was overwhelmingly positive. Parent and community member Esther Cunliffe shared, “These lively discussions promoted awareness of Haidt’s research and the pivotal moment we’re in. How our children engage with technology now will shape their future.”

Board member Rick Knudsen added, “I don’t know any parent who’s read this book who didn’t come away with a new understanding of the serious impacts of social media on children’s mental health and academic performance.”

These conversations mark an important first step toward building awareness and working together on solutions. To support continued dialogue, the District is offering to lend copies of the book to families. To borrow a copy, please call 845-657-8851 to schedule a pickup at the Central Office in Boiceville.

This fall, Onteora High School student-athletes proved that success in competition goes hand-in-hand with success in the classroom. We are so proud of the following teams for earning NYSPHSAA Section 9 Fall Scholar-Athlete Team Awards: Boys Cross Country, Boys Golf, Boys Soccer, Field Hockey, Girls Cross Country, Girls Soccer, Girls Swimming & Diving, Girls Tennis, and Girls Volleyball.

To qualify for this recognition, at least 75% of each team’s roster must maintain an average GPA of 90% or higher for the season. This accomplishment reflects the commitment, discipline, and balance demonstrated by our student-athletes.

Thanks also go to our parents, coaches, teachers, and administrators whose support helps make this level of academic and athletic excellence possible.

Bravo! We would like to extend our sincere appreciation to all of the student performers and their instructors for their dedication, talent, and the pride they bring to our schools. The Middle School and High School winter concerts were simply phenomenal. Impressively talented student musicians filled our auditoriums with such beautiful music.

The winter concert season continues in January with our elementary musicians taking the stage. The Bennett Elementary Winter Concert will be held on January 12, followed by the Woodstock Elementary Winter Concert on January 15. We look forward to celebrating our youngest musicians as they share what they’ve been working on.

The Board of Education was so proud to attend the annual Ulster County School Board Association Distinguished Friend of Education dinner on November 20 where retired Music teacher Mary Leonard was honored. For 33 years, Ms. Leonard helped to build Onteora’s award-winning elementary band and jazz programs—ensembles that consistently earn top NYSSMA honors. A respected educator, adjudicator, and leader in county and state music associations, she has inspired hundreds of young musicians and even led her ensemble to Vienna for an international performance. Though retired, Mary continues volunteering her time to prepare students for NYSSMA and All-County festivals—most recently helping Onteora’s newly formed Middle School Jazz Ensemble earn Gold with Distinction! Her lifelong dedication to music continues to inspire young musicians throughout Onteora. We are so fortunate to have her dedication and talents in our District.

Recognizing that artificial intelligence is already shaping our students’ futures, the District has embarked on a thoughtful, district-wide effort to understand how this technology can best support teaching and learning. We are grateful to our educators and partners in education who are leading this important work and helping ensure that AI is used responsibly, creatively, and with purpose in our schools.

Current initiatives include:

• The District is participating in a national pilot program—led by Dr. Julianne Ross-Kleinmann at Ulster BOCES—that helps districts assess their readiness for generative AI across seven key areas: leadership, operations, data, technology, security, legal/risk, and academic AI literacy and ethics.

• Our educators have been exploring AI tools through a county-wide AI Circles professional development program with Ulster BOCES, where participants are exploring AI tools, designing engaging learning experiences, and bringing AI-enhanced lessons in their classrooms.

• At this time, the District is planning to pilot the SchoolAi platform as a staff resource only. While there is a student component available, this is not yet part of the plans.

Together, these efforts reflect our deep commitment to preparing students for a rapidly changing world—one where curiosity, creativity, and responsible innovation will be essential for success.

Our next Board of Education Meeting will be on January 13 from 6 - 9 PM at Bennett Elementary School. Please join us or follow along on our YouTube channel. Meetings are livestreamed or can be viewed at your convenience.

There are many ways to connect with us and hear what has been happening in Onteora Central School District:

• Watch live or recorded Board of Education meetings on our YouTube channel.
  

• Email your questions or comments to us at OnteoraBOE@onteora.k12.ny.us

• Sign up for our monthly Board Briefs, which are shared with faculty, staff, families, and those community members who have signed up. If you know community members who want to stay informed, please forward this email to them. They can sign up for Board Briefs at www.onteora.k12.ny.us/mailinglist.

You can also follow the District on social media!

• Facebook at @OnteoraCSD

• Instagram at @OnteoraCSD

• YouTube at @OnteoraCSD