District Update

Fourth-grade students in Ms. Calabrese’s class at Elmwood Elementary celebrated Groundhog Day by putting the finishing touches on hands-on research projects that served as the culmination of their animal unit. Blending ELA and science, students researched groundhogs and produced informational essays before debating whether the famous forecast meant six more weeks of winter, backing up their opinions with facts they learned.

In this edition of ERCSD In Focus, Interim Superintendent Ana Reluzco and Assistant Superintendent for Technology & Information Management Bhavin Gandhi discuss how our technology systems support teaching, learning and business operations.

Also available in Spanish.

Eighth-grade scholars at Kakiat S.T.E.A.M. Academy brought months of career exploration to life at the school’s first-ever career fair, transforming the gym into an interactive showcase of 16 student-designed career cluster booths. The event welcomed elementary students and community guests for hands-on learning, and even led to a real-world opportunity when one scholar earned an internship after presenting to the Village of Spring Valley mayor.

As part of an ongoing effort to improve transportation services, the district has introduced a new affidavit system for collecting nonpublic transportation applications. Nonpublic schools were given the option to participate.

Schools that choose to use the affidavit system will collect transportation applications directly from parents and submit a student roster to the district. A list of schools that have opted to use the affidavit system is available at ERCSD.org/Transportation.

If a school does not appear on the list, the school has opted out of the affidavit system. In these cases, parents are required to complete the standard transportation application or eForm, both of which are also available at ERCSD.org/Transportation.

ERCSD families who need assistance with other transportation-related issues should first contact their child’s principal. If the matter remains unresolved, they may then contact the Transportation Department at 845-577-6490.

The safety of our students and staff is always a top priority at ERCSD. Security personnel are stationed in every school, with school resource officers assigned to both high schools, and school officials are trained to respond quickly and appropriately in the event of an emergency.

With the support of Smart Schools Bond Act funding from the New York State Education Department, the district implemented a comprehensive security initiative this school year focused on technical enhancements including the installation of security cameras, card-swipe door access, lockdown buttons and police integration in every school building. To further strengthen our practices, the district also hired a consultant to conduct a districtwide audit of security policies and procedures, including all district- and building-level safety plans. Fieldwork for the audit is nearly complete, and once finalized, the consultant will prepare a detailed report with recommendations to enhance safety practices across the district.

We are also partnering with Putnam | Northern Westchester BOCES to provide updated training for building-level security personnel and principals on emergency and lockdown drills. Families and staff are encouraged to review New York state’s S.H.E.L.L. emergency response terms; more information is available on our Safety & Security page on the district website.

The East Ramapo Central School District has established protocols for deciding whether to close or delay school or cancel programs due to inclement weather or other emergencies. For information about notifications regarding emergency closings, visit the Emergency Closings page of the district website.

2025-26 DISTRICT CALENDAR

FAMILY UNIVERSITY

Family Welcome Center and Adult Education with BOCES

February 11, 6-7 p.m.

WINTER BREAK

February 16-20

BOARD OF EDUCATION MEETINGS

The next meeting of the East Ramapo Central School District Board of Education will take place on February 10 at 7:30 p.m. View the schedule for all upcoming meetings on the ERCSD website.

The East Ramapo Central School District Website ERCSD.org is the place to go for all school related information, including how to access your student's report cards, check on the school bell schedule, learn about new policies and more. There you can also access the district’s online Staff Directory which provides staff contact information and can be easily be searched by individual name, department or school.