Message from Board President Steven Finn
Welcome back to a new school year! I hope you all had a refreshing and enjoyable summer break. The Board was thrilled to see so many smiling faces and so much excitement on the first day of school.
I’m pleased to announce that this summer’s Capital Improvements Project construction is substantially complete. Thank you to all the staff and teachers who helped get our schools back in order to welcome students last Tuesday.
The purpose of this important infrastructure project is to make much-needed upgrades to our facilities which will better support the learning and teaching experiences that make SOCSD among the best. We appreciate our community’s support and understanding as we move forward with this work.
Here’s to a successful year filled with new opportunities, growth and achievements. Let’s make this school year a great one!
Board Work in Progress
First Day of School: At the September 3 Board meeting, building administrators reported out about first day activities, as well as upcoming events to kick off the school year.
Collective Bargaining: The Board ratified a Memorandum of Agreement for 2024-26 with the South Orangetown Substitute Teachers Association at its September 3 meeting.
Budget: On September 3, the Board approved the allocation of $2.55M of fund balance remaining from the 2024-25 school year to the Capital Reserve Fund 2024 approved by voters in May.
Capital Improvements Project: On August 28, the Board toured schools to review completed Phase 1, Year 1 Capital Improvements Project construction with Superintendent of Schools Brian Culot, Ed.D., Assistant Superintendent for Business & Operations Natalie Espinal, Director of Facilities Jack Rallo and Director of Safety, Security and Compliance John Gulino, in accordance with SOCSD Board Policy 7365.
Safety and Security: In addition to the completion of District-wide safety system upgrades this summer, the 2024-25 District-Wide Safety Plan and Building-Level Emergency Response Plans were adopted at the August 12 Board meeting. View the District-Wide Safety Plan here.
Tax-Rate Setting: Also at its August 12 meeting, the Board also passed a resolution for the issuance of the tax warrant, which directs the Town of Orangetown Tax Collector to collect the voter-approved school tax levy. Questions? View the School Property Tax FAQ.
Board Committees: Committee assignments were determined at the August 12 meeting and are posted on the Meet the Board webpage.
Administration Update: On August 12, the Board approved the appointment of Stephanie Grace as South Orangetown Middle School Assistant Principal.
Upcoming Meetings/Workshops
Board of Education Regular Meeting
September 17 at 7:30PM
South Orangetown Middle School Library
Board of Education Regular Meeting
October 1 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 meetings are live streamed (view-only) on the SOCSD BOE YouTube channel; workshops are not live streamed. Board meeting agendas, minutes and audio are posted online at BoardDocs. Board policies are posted online 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.