February 2026 Board Briefs
At the February Board of Education meeting, District Food Service Director Christine Downs wowed us when she highlighted the fresh, nutritious, locally sourced ingredients our school meal program offers to students through strong partnerships with Hudson Valley producers — something that truly sets our District apart and is a point of pride for our community.
Students can regularly choose from locally-sourced items such as Hudson Valley Fresh milk, Milestone Mills multigrains, Issa’s granola bars, a colorful fresh salad bar, and locally sourced meats and plant-based options. Plans are underway to add trout from Steelhead Hudson Valley, continuing the program’s growth.
As a reminder, all students, regardless of income, are eligible to receive free school meals when school is in session.
Community members who would like to support the locally sourced food effort can contact the Food Services Department at (845) 657-2373 x. 2181. Volunteer drivers are always welcome to assist with local pickups.
We want to extend our appreciation to the staff, volunteers, and community partners who made the recent Onteora Middle School’s Community Connections Day such a vibrant and meaningful experience.
The event brought together students, staff, and volunteers from across the Onteora community for a day filled with hands-on learning and enrichment led by community volunteers and designed to appeal to diverse interests and learning styles, including cooking, arts and crafts, video production, movement, and performance.
It was fun for us to see our own Board member Rick Knutsen and his wife, Frances, leading an improvisational acting session, and Board member Jenny Jared offering a yoga experience for students.
Community Connections Day exemplifies the strength of our partnerships and the District’s commitment to honoring student voice, individual interests, and the positive impact of community involvement on student learning.
This winter has brought a wide range of weather conditions across our large and geographically diverse district. While we always want students in school for instruction, meals, and essential services, our top priority is — and will always be — student safety.
Because conditions can vary significantly from one part of the district to another, decisions about delays, early dismissals, or closures are made with careful consideration. For more insight into how snow day and delay decisions are determined, families are encouraged to visit our website to review the Superintendent’s message on winter weather procedures.
We have learned that the snow day used on Monday, February 23 has been waived by New York State, therefore as of Friday, February 27, we have one snow day remaining. You can find the current tally, along with the calendar changes that will happen if we need to use more days than are allotted here.
