August 25, 2026 - Board Brief

Tuesday evening’s Board of Education meeting marked the first meeting of the new school year. Before the meeting, the Board participated in its Annual Facilities Walk-Through with Director of Facilities Joe Martorana. 🏫 The annual walk-through provides an opportunity for the Board to tour the District’s buildings, review completed summer projects and improvements, and identify ongoing maintenance and facility needs. This annual review is also part of the District’s responsibility to monitor school facilities and comply with New York State requirements for safe and properly maintained school buildings.

Dr. McKersie provided several important updates, including an overview of the District’s draft Multi-Year Goals & Priorities for 2026–27 and beyond. The goals focus on academic excellence, student well-being, leadership capacity, communication and collaboration, and strong fiscal and operational oversight, all aligned with the District’s Portrait of a Hastings Learner. These goals are featured in his Welcome Back Letter (8.27.26).🎓 He also shared an update on the Distraction-Free School initiative, which will continue this year with pouches provided to incoming fifth-grade students. Due to the significant increase in pouch costs, the District will not provide replacements for lost or damaged pouches, and families will be responsible for replacement costs (which is stated in the public procedures for the program). Finally, Dr. McKersie reviewed the new traffic and school entry pilot program at the Farragut Complex, developed in partnership with the Village and Hastings Police Department. The pilot includes revised drop-off and pick-up traffic patterns, increased support from crossing guards and HPD, and a single point of entry to enhance safety and security. Details on the traffic plan will be sent to all residents by Chief Dosin on Friday, August 28, with the district resending the notice later in the day to families and staff.🚸

Business Official Maureen Caraballo provided an update on the District’s Capital Bond projects and summer facilities work. The first phase of the Farragut exterior restoration was completed below the projected cost, with additional areas of concern addressed through available funding. The Farragut additions remain under State Education Department review, with groundbreaking anticipated for late spring or early summer. At the same time, the design professionals continue to value-engineer to keep the project aligned with the budget. Burke Estate work has focused on the retaining wall between the upper and lower fields, installation of drainage systems and baseball field improvements. Work will begin shortly on new turf multipurpose fields and related construction, with the fields expected to be ready for spring use. Summer facilities work included new classroom flooring, bathroom renovations, lighting upgrades, playground repairs, gym floor refinishing, and preparation of buildings for the return of students and staff. The District is also exploring an Energy Performance Contract for potential lighting and ceiling improvements at Farragut, while tree maintenance and storm-related work continue. 🚧

Dr. Melissa Szymanski provided updates on the District’s technology practices and instructional use of devices, including Chromebook distribution, homework expectations, exposure to advertisements, screen time, and the use of movies in the classroom. 💻 The District is emphasizing purposeful technology use, healthy boundaries, and clear expectations for students, staff, and families, including a planned parent workshop at the middle school. The leadership team is also implementing a Data Review Cycle to use academic data to inform goals for 2026–27. In addition, teachers have completed 324.5 hours of summer curriculum work across all three schools, developing and refining courses, programs, and instructional materials. 📚 Leadership is continuing to align building goals with the District’s strategic priorities, with a focus on mathematics, ELA, technology and AI, data inquiry, special education integration, and academic integrity.

Assistant Superintendent of Pupil Personnel Services Genieve Holder presented a review of the Special Education Department, identifying opportunities to strengthen consistent districtwide structures, procedures, expectations, and communication. Areas of focus include establishing clear protocols for referrals, CSE processes, evaluations, annual reviews, IEP implementation, documentation, progress monitoring, and compliance with mandated timelines. The District will also work to strengthen the continuum of special education programs and services, ensuring that placement decisions are based on individual student needs and the Least Restrictive Environment, rather than a one-size-fits-all approach to inclusion. Additional efforts will focus on clearly defining program expectations, identifying programming gaps, strengthening staff training and collaboration, and developing appropriate supports that allow students to remain connected to their school community whenever possible. Ms. Holder will be a full participant in all BOE meetings and will provide updates at each session. 🎯🤝

🗓️ The next Board of Education Meeting will be held on Wednesday, September 9, 2026, at 6:00 p.m. in the Hillside Multi-Purpose Room.

We are excited to share that the District has also adopted Diligent Community as its new Board management platform, enhancing transparency, accessibility, and community engagement. The new public site provides convenient access to Board meeting agendas, minutes, policies, and announcements, with automatic updates to help keep the community informed. 📱 This transition represents another step toward improving communication and accessibility for our school community.

🎥 Missed the meeting? Watch the full recording, including all presentations and discussions HERE.