Cornwall Central School District

The Cornwall Central School District's Board Goals for 2025-2026 aim to provide a secure and nurturing environment with diverse learning opportunities to prepare students for future success. The plan is organized around key areas: Governance, focusing on strategic planning, fiscal responsibility, and robust policy oversight; Culture/Outreach, dedicated to enhancing community engagement and external partnerships for student enrichment; Facilities, ensuring transparency and fiscal responsibility in capital planning; Finance, aligning budget decisions with student achievement priorities and long-term initiatives; and Instruction, committed to advancing student achievement, equity, and data-driven improvements in educational programs.

The meeting included recognition of teaching assistants, a public comment section, and a superintendent update. Student representatives provided good news from various schools, including Willow Avenue, Cornwall and Hudson, Le Lero, the middle school, and the high school. The consent agenda was addressed, followed by a discussion and denial of a request from the village board of the village of Cornwall and Hudson to grant an exemption from school district taxes for certain real property used for water supply purposes.

The Board of Education Work Session Meeting included a guidance update on the Comprehensive School Counseling Plan, focusing on academics, college and career readiness, and social and emotional programs. The board addressed several consent agenda items, including personnel actions and donations. Budget adjustments were made to the General Fund for the 2025-26 school year to accommodate new revenue from Project Lead The Way (PLTW) for supplies and training. Resolutions were passed to authorize tax refunds in accordance with Consent Orders and Judgments for multiple properties.

The board discussed committee updates, including the policy committee's upcoming meeting in December and the Oxa meeting regarding New York State's initiative to create a portrait of a graduate. There was also discussion regarding construction manager interviews, approval of Triton Construction, and a facilities committee meeting to discuss a list of projects for a spring bond. Additionally, visitation reports were shared, and the communications committee discussed supporting the capital project with a public forum in December and a survey to gather community input. The board also explored ways to better interact with the public, such as holding recurring office hours before meetings. An update on the superintendent search was provided, with a survey available for community input until November 30th.

The meeting involved recognition of tenure recipients and reports from student representatives. The Superintendent provided updates, and the President discussed the search for a new Superintendent. The board addressed consent agenda items, including awarding RFP SP-1 to Hazard, Young and Attea and Associates (HYA) for strategic planning services, and took action on personnel matters and special education cases. Additionally, the board considered donations to Willow Avenue Elementary School and Cornwall-on-Hudson Elementary School. The board also denied a request from the Village of Cornwall-on-Hudson for a tax exemption on village-owned property used for water supply purposes.