Sent via SchoolMessenger on July 6, 2023
Dear South Orangetown Families and Community Members,
I hope that you are enjoying a wonderful summer!
We have been busy in the District preparing for the new year. Summer construction projects are underway at Cottage Lane Elementary School and Tappan Zee High School. The main playground is being renovated at William O. Schaefer Elementary School and repairs to the South Orangetown Middle School pool are progressing on schedule.
Speaking of SOMS, the school has been buzzing for the past two weeks with more than 350 campers and 20 TZHS student volunteers from for our 8th annual Summer STEAM Camp! Academic enrichment programs for students in grades 1-8 will kick off on Monday and our Family Engagement Center will host its first summer playgroup for children ages 1-5 at the WOS Pirate Playground on July 12.
Here in Central Office, Rudy Arietta has come onboard as our new Assistant Superintendent for Curriculum and Instruction. Curriculum projects and professional development districtwide have begun. The search for a new TZHS principal is in progress; we expect to have a school leader in place before September.
Our Transportation Office has begun drafting 2023-24 bus routes (please make sure to submit those Alternative Site Request Forms by the July 15 deadline) and our Technology Office is transitioning to ParentSquare, a new mass messaging system.
At this morning’s Board of Education reorganization meeting, the Board welcomed new members Katie Gravino and Diana Korabel and elected Steven Finn as President and David Sansone as Vice President for the 2023-24 school year. District Clerk Kathy Muscari and I also took our respective oaths of office. I am honored and grateful for the opportunity to serve as your Superintendent of Schools. Congratulations to all!
Finally, I’ve been meeting with administrators, staff members, parents and community members to inform the development of my entry plan, which will be finalized and shared with our community for the start of the new school year. I look forward to continuing our work together to make our District an exceptional place to learn, work and live!