Message from Board President Steven Finn
Welcome back from Spring Recess 1! We hope you all had a chance to safely view the solar eclipse. It was wonderful to see so much excitement across all of our schools for this special event.
The Board is continuing its oversight of the budget development process and gathering the necessary information to ensure that all SOCSD students receive the quality education they deserve. Work also continues on the Capital Improvements Project, staff are involved with preparing for a busy summer of construction, primarily at our elementary schools.
Our April 11 Board meeting will include a presentation from SO BOTZ, Tappan Zee High School’s FIRST Robotics Competition team. Please take the opportunity to come and see them in action–they truly are an inspiration. We look forward to wishing them well and following their performance at the World Championship next week!
Board Work in Progress
Budget: Two budget workshops were held in March, with a third workshop scheduled for April 11. Consistent with past years, health insurance, transportation, salary and benefits remain key cost drivers in the projected budget. However, the District anticipates an increase in State Aid due to changes in factors pertaining to need and wealth and is considering limited use of its fund balance to reduce the budgetary impact on taxpayers. Links to budget presentations are posted on the Budget webpage.
Policy: Revised Policies 4321 (Programs for Students with Disabilities Under the IDEA and New York’s Education Law Article 89), 4321.12 (Timeout and Physical Restraint – All Students) and 9320 (Drug-Free Workplace) were readopted at the March 7 meeting. First readings of the following were conducted at the March 21 meeting: Policies 4321.5 (Confidentiality and Access to Individualized Education Programs, Individualized Education Services Programs); 5710 (School Safety and Educational Climate Reporting); 8131 (Pandemic Planning); and 8636 (Social Media). To view all policies currently under review by the Board of Education, visit the Policies Under Review webpage.
Board Election: Nominating petitions for the May 21, 2024 Board of Education Election are available from the District Clerk’s office at 160 Van Wyck Road in Blauvelt. Candidates must submit petitions with a minimum of 61 signatures to the District Clerk’s office by Monday, April 22, 2024 at 5:00PM. View the Information for Prospective Candidates webpage for more information.
Upcoming Meetings/Workshops
Board of Education Regular Meeting/Budget Workshop
April 11 at 7:30PM
South Orangetown Middle School Library
Board of Education Special Meeting
April 16 at 10:00AM
Board Meeting Room, District Offices
Board of Education Regular Meeting/2024-25 Budget Adoption
April 18 at 7:30PM
South Orangetown Middle School Library
Meeting dates, times and locations are subject to change. Be sure to check the District’s e-Backpack webpage for the most up-to-date information. Board meeting agendas, minutes and audio are posted online at BoardDocs. Board policies are posted at BoardPolicyOnline.
Questions? Send an email to the Board of Education at feedback@socsd.org.
The Board Brief is a monthly communication from the South Orangetown Central School District Board of Education.