September Board Briefs

Welcome back! We look forward to a brand-new school year filled with promise and opportunity, and are pleased to see our classrooms and hallways once again buzzing with learning and activity. We are especially excited to welcome our new faculty members, who bring fresh ideas and enthusiasm to our schools.

We also celebrate several new administrative appointments—many of whom have grown within our District and are now stepping into new leadership roles. It’s inspiring to see familiar faces continuing their journey here, and we look forward to all the wonderful things this team will accomplish together with our students, staff, and families.

The Board is excited that the District has a new way to keep everyone connected! ParentSquare–a one-stop communication platform for families, caregivers, staff, and students–was launched in September and will make it easier than ever to get information, stay updated, and be part of the conversation.

ParentSquare delivers messages directly to users via email, text, or the mobile app. It is used for sharing important information, teacher communications, news about school events, and more. (Please note, at this time, emergency alerts will also continue to be sent as a phone call through ShoutPoint.)

The District is adding content to the app and training staff on how to use it to share information. Check back often as new features become available. Families have received a “Welcome” message from their student’s principal with instructions to set up their account and start exploring. If you do not recall receiving an email with instructions for accessing ParentSquare, please reach out to your child’s principal.

The Board of Education continues to explore options for a revised capital project proposal following the unsuccessful vote in May. Although that proposition did not pass, the District’s outdated facilities remain in need of updates, and its current and projected enrollment levels continue to be a challenge.

Using the community feedback—including extensive conversations with stakeholders and an exit poll with over 450 participants—the Board is working to shape a new plan that will both address the most essential needs of our students and protect our programs from looming fiscal challenges. Our goal is to develop a consensus proposition, in alignment with the community’s priorities, in time for a possible public vote in December.

Upcoming Capital Project Discussions

• Regular Board Meeting: September 30 at 6 PM at Woodstock Elementary School.

• Special Meeting on the Capital Project: October 7 at 6 PM at the Middle/High School.

• Special Meeting on the Capital Project: October 14 at 6 PM at the Middle/High School.

• Regular Board Meeting: October 21 at 6 PM at Bennett Elementary School.

Community members are encouraged to attend in person or join via the District’s Board Meeting Livestream, which can be found by visiting our youtube channel.

Help Spread the Word

Please help us keep the community informed and engaged in this important conversation about the future of our schools! Share this update with colleagues, neighbors, friends, and family so everyone has the opportunity to follow the discussion.

Continuing to advance academic excellence at OCSD is a priority of the Board of Education. An Ad Hoc Academic Committee has been formed to support the Board's commitment, and trustees Clark Goodrich, Emily Mitchell-Marell , and Jenny Jared have volunteered to serve. The committee will examine opportunities and challenges that impact academic achievement, such as how the district can sustain robust academic offerings in the face of declining enrollment. Committee meetings are open to the public, and anyone interested in this work can come listen in on what’s happening.

Join us in welcoming Dr. Don Solimene, who joined the Onteora team this summer as Interim Middle School Principal. An interim principal serves on a temporary basis while the District conducts a thorough search for a permanent leader. Dr. Solimene is a lifelong learner with an impressive academic background and more than 30 years of experience in education. We are fortunate to have such a dedicated and talented educator guiding our Middle School community during this transition.

Come show your Onteora spirit this weekend at Homecoming, a much-loved community event! There will be food booths, give-aways, merchandise sales, and raffles!

Friday, September 26

4 PM: Student Tailgate & Concessions

4:15 PM: Field Hockey, Field Hockey Field

4:15 PM: Girls Tennis

4:15 PM: Boys Golf (Woodstock Golf Course)

4:15 PM: Girls Soccer

4:15 PM: Junior Varsity Volleyball

4:30 PM: Girls Swim (Kingston HS)

5:45 PM: Varsity Volleyball

Saturday, September 27

9 AM: Boys Soccer

10:45 AM: Cross Country

12 PM: Parade, Youth Sports and Senior Recognition

2 PM: Football Game and Halftime Homecoming Court

Stop by our Board of Education booth on Saturday as you peruse concessions and say hello, or chat about all things Onteora. Happy Fall!

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