Board of Education

Attending a Board Meeting

• Notices of Board of Education meetings are posted on the e-Backpack page under “District Notices.” Meeting dates are also are posted on the District Calendar.
• Meeting information and materials are posted exclusively on BoardDocs.
• Meetings are held on Tuesdays at 7:30PM in the South Orangetown Middle School Library at 160 Van Wyck Road in Blauvelt, unless indicated otherwise.
• Board meetings are also livestreamed on the SOCSD BOE YouTube channel. The livestream is view-only; members of the public must attend meetings in person to participate in public commentary. Community members may also email questions or comments to the Board of Education at any time at feedback@socsd.org.

Meeting Types

A Regular Meeting is a business meeting for which a specific agenda is developed in advance by the Board and Superintendent. The agenda includes resolutions that must be voted on and personnel actions that must be taken to sustain the District’s general operations. Regular Meetings may also include presentations on various topics and updates on important ongoing initiatives. Public Commentary is a component of Regular Meetings; view Board Policy 1230 – Public Participation at Board Meetings.

A Board Workshop is a commentary on a particular topic chosen by the Board. These meetings are considered a Board work session, or roundtable, for the purpose of sharing ideas or for a particular presentation of information. Although the public is welcome to attend, workshops do not have a Public Commentary component.

Policies Under Review

Following are South Orangetown Central School District policies currently under review by the Board of Education. Edits being considered are noted in red.

• Policy 2245: Ex-Officio Student Member of the Board
• Policy 8113: Extreme Weather Condition Days

The Board of Education welcomes community feedback; please email comments to District Clerk Kathy Muscari at kmuscari@socsd.org.

Responsibilities

As a legal arm of the government of the State of New York, our Board of Education is responsible for:

• Affirming a shared vision for the school district
• Establishing district goals and setting priorities
• Overseeing the general operation of the district (including educational programs, public relations, facilities and contracts)
• Setting educational policy
• Adopting and maintaining current policies in written format
• Approving and adopting the annual budget
• Hiring and evaluating the Superintendent
• Approving the appointment of all personnel and related collective bargaining agreements/contracts
• Deciding on the best utilization of resources
• Setting high standards of governance
• Meeting all requirements of New York State law

Eligibility Requirements

Board of Education candidates must be:

• a U.S. citizen,
• at least 18 years old,
• qualified voters in the South Orangetown Central School District,
• able to read and write, and
• residents of the school district continuously for at least one year prior to the election.

At the time when the board member takes office, they cannot be employed by the board on which they serve or live in the same household with a family member who is also a member of the same school board.

Process for Prospective Candidates

On June 30, 2025, the term of office expires for Board of Education members Steven Finn and David Sansone. Nominating petitions for the May 20, 2025 Board of Education Election will be available starting Monday, March 3, 2025 from the District Clerk’s office at 160 Van Wyck Road, Blauvelt, New York. Candidates must submit petitions with a minimum of 45 signatures to the District Clerk’s office no later than 5:00PM on Monday, April 21.

Board of Education Responsibilities

The communities of the South Orangetown Central School District are served by a five-member Board of Education. Each Board member is elected by a public vote and serves a three-year term without pay. There are no term limits for Board members.

As a legal arm of the government of the State of New York, our Board of Education is responsible for:

• Affirming a shared vision for the school district
• Establishing district goals and setting priorities
• Overseeing the general operation of the district (including educational programs, public relations, facilities and contracts)
• Setting educational policy
• Adopting and maintaining current policies in written format
• Approving and adopting the annual budget
• Hiring and evaluating the Superintendent
• Approving the appointment of all personnel and related collective bargaining agreements/contracts
• Deciding on the best utilization of resources
• Setting high standards of governance
• Meeting all requirements of New York State law

What Prospective Candidates Should Expect

New Board of Education members are required to participate in mandatory training courses through the New York State School Boards Association and attend Board of Education meetings and workshops, which are typically held on Thursday evenings twice monthly. Additional meetings may be added to the schedule, as needed, to carry out time-sensitive Board duties. Board members also serve on committees which may meet during the day or evening.

Running for the School Board: What All Prospective School Board Candidates Should Know (New York State School Boards Association)