South Orangetown Central School District

Board Work in Progress

Superintendent Search: Applications close February 5 for the Superintendent of Schools position. The District’s search firm has been screening candidates on a rolling basis and will present semifinalists to the Board in Executive Session on February 16. Additional information is posted on the Superintendent Search webpage.

“We have a great leadership team and dedicated staff who continue to move our District forward as we navigate this period of transition,” says Board of Education President Dana Stilley, Ph.D.

Senior Citizens Property Tax Exemption: The Board of Education is considering a resolution to grant a reduction on the amount of property taxes paid by qualified senior citizens. The Board will hold a public hearing on this topic during its February 16 meeting. Information regarding the senior citizens exemption is posted on the New York State Department of Taxation and Finance website here.

Internal Audit Report: At the January 12 meeting, the District’s internal auditors reported that all areas of District operations were determined to be “low-risk” in a recent risk assessment audit. In-depth review of grants and student services will be conducted starting this month.

New York State requires school districts to maintain an internal audit function to “assist the Board in ensuring that…risks are identified and that appropriate internal controls are in place to address those risks.” Internal auditors evaluate and, when needed, recommend improvements to strengthen the effectiveness of risk management, control and governance processes to help school districts operate efficiently and meet their strategic goals.

Budget workshop - January 26, 2023

Budget Development: An overview of the 2023-24 budget development process was presented at the January 26 Board workshop. The community is encouraged to attend upcoming budget presentations. Dates are posted on the Budget webpage.

Security Staffing: At the request of the Board of Education, recommendations for enhancing school security staffing were presented on behalf of the District-Wide Safety Team and Cabinet at the January 12 Board meeting. The Board anticipates hosting a public feedback session to gather community input in March. Detailed information will be shared in late February.

Upcoming Meetings/Workshops
Board of Education Meeting
February 16 at 7:30PM
South Orangetown Middle School Library

Please note that 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.

Additional Resources
Board meeting agendas, minutes and audio are posted online at BoardDocs.
Board policies are posted online at BoardPolicyOnline.

Questions or comments? Send an email to the entire Board of Education at feedback@socsd.org.

The “Board Brief” is a monthly communication from the South Orangetown Central School District Board of Education.