Board Brief: August 2026

Message from Board of Education President Tracy Holihan

Summer is beginning to wind down, and I want to take a moment to recognize and celebrate the success of our 2026 Summer STEAM Camp, Math Prep class for seventh and eighth graders and our Summer Literacy Program. Our students and teachers worked diligently throughout the summer to strengthen academic skills, build confidence, and prepare our students for a successful start to the upcoming school year. We are grateful to everyone who helped make these programs such a meaningful and productive experience.

In addition, work on our capital projects is nearing completion. A great deal of effort has gone into completing the final stages of these projects, and we look forward to having our schools ready to welcome students and staff back for the new school year.

As we prepare for the transition back to school, I wish all of our students, families, faculty, and staff a smooth, successful, and enjoyable start to the new school year. I hope everyone has had a wonderful summer and is returning refreshed and ready for all that the year ahead has to offer. 

Board Work in Progress

Safety: The Board held a public hearing for and adopted the 2026-27 District-Wide Safety Plan during its August 18 meeting. The plan is posted on the Annual Notifications webpage.

Tax-Rate Setting: At its August 18 meeting, the Board 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.

Capital Improvements Project: Summer 2026 construction is progressing according to schedule at South Orangetown Middle School and Tappan Zee High School.

Upcoming Meetings/Workshops

Board of Education Regular Meeting
September 8 at 7:30 p.m.
South Orangetown Middle School Library

Board of Education Regular Meeting
September 22 at 7:30 p.m.
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 but the public may attend in person. 
• 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.