June Board Briefs

We are so proud of our graduates, who officially graduated Onteora High School at their Commencement Ceremony, held on June 26. Way to go! We can’t wait to see what you will do next!

From nurturing the arts and athletics to championing academic dreams and extracurricular passions, the Onteora community has long exemplified what it means to stand behind its students. This year, that support reached record heights—setting a new benchmark for generosity and community spirit.

At the Senior Scholarship Awards Ceremony on June 11, an astounding $650,000 in scholarships was awarded to our graduating seniors. This included seven remarkable tuition scholarships of $84,000 each (covering four years of college education)—life-changing gifts that speak volumes about the commitment our community has to investing in the next generation.

Students were honored across a wide spectrum of achievements, from music, art, and business to sportsmanship, leadership, community service, character, and academic excellence. The depth and diversity of recognition reflect not only the talents of our students, but also the deeply held values of our community.

These scholarships are just one part of the Onteora community’s immense contributions. Throughout the year, local individuals and businesses rallied around students through generous support of fundraisers including the annual 5K Run, Craft Fair, Amazon Registry, the beloved “Meet, Greet, and Eat” culinary event, and the Belleayre Bash—a joyful, drug- and alcohol-free celebration held on graduation night.

This extraordinary outpouring of support is more than financial—it is a powerful reflection of a community that believes in its youth, celebrates achievement, and embraces the responsibility of lifting one another up. Words cannot express the deep appreciation we have to all those who make this possible.

At Onteora, our music students continue to set the bar high—and then soar right over it! We are beaming with pride for the Onteora Middle School Symphonic Band and Jazz Ensemble, both comprised of students in Grades 6–8 and led by extraordinary Music Teacher Harvey Boyer, who recently earned “Gold with Distinction” ratings at this year’s New York State School Music Association (NYSSMA) Majors Festival.

This elite recognition is reserved for ensembles that deliver exceptional, near-perfect performances while exhibiting advanced technical and musical skill—an honor that speaks volumes about the talent, dedication, and passion of both our students and their director.

Even more exciting? This marks the first time our District has received a “Gold with Distinction” rating—making this achievement not just impressive, but historic.

To our phenomenal student musicians: Bravo! Your artistry fills us with pride, and your success reminds us why the arts are such a vital part of the Onteora experience.

We look forward to continuing the capital work for the Middle/High School that voters approved as part of the 2023-2024 school budget. Planned upgrades for the summer include a new security vestibule at the Middle/High School; 13 classroom renovations; upgrades to the Middle School gymnasium; electrical panel upgrades in the Math and Science wing; a new wheelchair lift in the library; drainage work and paving of the tennis court parking lot and lighting upgrades; and the addition of an outdoor student lunch pavilion to replace the tents next to the Middle/High School cafeteria. In addition, a brand-new student drop-off lane on the west end of the Middle/High School (by the tennis court parking area) will be constructed. These improvements will enhance student safety and create an improved learning environment.

The Board of Education is committed to intentional and transparent next steps regarding the District’s capital project planning process. We have been engaged in a comprehensive exploration of viable alternatives and cost-saving adjustments, while remaining dedicated to educational excellence, safety, and fiscal responsibility—core values at the heart of our Optimizing Onteora initiative.

We met with our architectural and construction team to begin reviewing potential modifications to the proposed project and to better understand the implications of those changes. (You can follow this discussion in the Board meeting recording, starting at the 1:03:50 timestamp.)

Ensuring the safety of our students and staff is our highest priority. We carefully reviewed how changes to traffic flow, security entrances, and shared-use spaces would impact safety and the smooth operation of our schools each day.

Impact of Removing or Scaling Components:

We asked how reducing some of the project scope—such as removing new classrooms, gym space, auditorium upgrades, or other areas such as the nurse’s office or counseling center—would impact both total cost and state building aid.

How NYS Aid Works:

Timeline Considerations:

We discussed the timeline needed to determine when and how a revised proposition could be reintroduced to the community. We also considered whether splitting the project into multiple propositions might offer greater flexibility and options for voters, along with the associated financial and logistical implications.

Smart Cost-Saving Choices:

We asked our architects to look for ways to adjust material choices or design details to lower costs, while still meeting our most important goals. This helped us focus on what was truly necessary—like critical upgrades—while identifying features that were more about appearance or were less essential.

The schedule for the 2025-2026 school year’s Board of Education meetings is now available! All meeting dates, times and locations can be found here. The next meeting is on July 1, 2025 at the Middle-High School at 6 PM. Board meetings are also live streamed and recorded. You can access the Board meeting recordings on the District’s YouTube channel.

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