Carol Grima

The Onteora Central School District's Physical Education Plan outlines a comprehensive K-12 program designed to empower students for lifelong physical activity and promote physical literacy, encompassing cognitive, affective, and psychomotor domains. The plan adheres to New York State and National Physical Education Learning Standards, detailing curriculum maps for all grade levels (K-12). It further addresses program goals, instructional requirements, adaptive physical education, attendance, grading policies, facilities, administrative procedures, and athletic programs, all aimed at fostering healthy, productive, and fulfilling lifestyles.

The district goals for 2024-2025 prioritize creating a supportive and engaging environment for all students, focusing on their well-being and providing academic and extracurricular opportunities. The plan includes developing a Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Belonging policy, reducing chronic absenteeism, enhancing data monitoring for student achievement, and creating a fiscally responsible budget. Additionally, it aims to improve communication with community partners and advance the creation of a unified K-12 central campus.

The meeting included discussion on personnel matters, acceptance of minutes from a previous meeting, a welcome address, district news, a student representative report, public comment, and the format for a community forum. Other topics included the Onteora survey, interviews for trustee candidates, committee reports (Audit, Facilities, Green, Arts Task Force, Policy, and District Committee: Health and Wellness), board goals, new business (including social media use), requests for information (including union contracts, ESL teacher data, and exit interview results), and the approval of consent agenda items such as personnel appointments, donations, and financial reports. Specific discussion points included the Business Department of the Year award, an incident involving helicopters on school fields, the discontinuation of an SRO officer, the Shandaken water situation, and the need for clarification on the Code of Conduct.

The board meeting included a public hearing on a proposed increase to the tax exemption income limit for senior citizens and those with qualified disabilities. The current cap is $29,000, and the state allows an increase to $50,000. The board considered options to adopt the $50,000 limit, not adopt it, or phase it in. A new exemption was also discussed, offering up to a 10% assessment reduction for volunteer firefighters and ambulance workers. The board decided to focus on the senior/disability exemption at this meeting, leaving the volunteer exemption for future consideration. A presentation was given on the progress of the plastic film collection project at Bennett Elementary.

The meeting involved discussions on the hiring of a new superintendent, a personnel matter (in executive session), kindergarten class composition, and the superintendent's attendance at a conference. Other topics included the approval of a confidential managerial raise, consent agenda items such as special education recommendations, donations, personnel appointments, and a sanitary sewer connection bid. Committee reports covered the audit committee's activities, facilities, green initiatives, arts task force, policy review (including cyberbullying), and health and wellness. Old business included board goals, athletic director's report, and the district's footprint, specifically a middle school community forum. New business and requests for information addressed teacher concerns about website filtering, a speaker series, and various data requests regarding test scores, facility audits, and enrollment numbers. Public comment followed.