The Onteora Schools Board of Education
consists of seven ELECTED OR APPOINTED TRUSTEES

Cindy Bishop (president)  Meghann reimondo (Vice President)
    sarah hemingway lynch  Clark Goodrich  Emily Mitchell-Marell Caroline Jerome  rick knutsen
Please Select any board members name for their biography

---

Board of Education Responsibilities

THE BOARD MAIN OBJECTIVE IS TO SET POLICIES THAT GOVERN THE EDUCATION OF ALL CHILDREN ATTENDING THE DISTRICT'S four SCHOOLS, AS WELL AS THE DAY-TO-DAY OPERATIONS OF THE DISTRICT.

---

THESE RESPONSIBLE INCLUDE: ESTABLISHING POLICY; DEFINING DISTRICT PRIORITIES AND GOALS; MONITORING AND EVALUATING PROGRESS; APPROVING CONTRACTS, BONDS AND THE ANNUAL BUDGET; AND SELECTING AND EVALUATING THE SUPERINTENDENT OF SCHOOLS.

DEFINING PRIORITIES AND GOALS

In collaboration with the Administration, the Board defines annual District priorities and establishes specific goals, rationale and expected outcomes. It delegates to the Superintendent of Schools (the District's chief executive officer and educational leader) the authority to develop, operate and manage the educational programs to meet these goals.

MONITORING AND EVALUATING PROGRESS

The Superintendent and Central Administration regularly update the Board on progress towards goals, and Board meetings and study sessions are often devoted to presentations highlighting work in specific areas.

APPROVING CONTRACTS, BONDS AND THE ANNUAL BUDGET

The Board guides negotiations with the District’s four bargaining units and approves all final collective bargaining agreements and employment contracts, as well as vendor contracts.

The Superintendent, with some guidance from the Board and in concert with his/her staff, prepares and presents a recommended budget to the Board. After discussion and input from the community, the Board is responsible for approving a final budget to be presented for a community vote. The Board strives to approve a budget that effectively balances costs with maintaining Onteora's high instructional standards for students and staff.

SELECTING AND EVALUATING THE SUPERINTENDENT

Perhaps the most critical responsibility of a Board of Education is to select and evaluate the Superintendent. The Board provides regular feedback and a formal annual review.

SERVING ON COMMITTEES AND AS LIAISONS

Each board member serves on a number of committees, as well as a liaison to District schools and community groups. Click here for a list of committee assignments and liaison positions. 

---

2024 - 2025 DISTRICT Goals

Culture and Climate

The Board is committed to creating and nurturing an environment in which every student is supported, engaged, and progressing on their individual path. The Board will prioritize whole-student well-being by supporting programs that meet our students where they are, and offer them the academic, extracurricular, and life-skill-building opportunities that will put them in the best position to succeed and become lifelong learners.

The Board will support the District's development of a Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Belonging policy and a District-wide DEI & B team that includes students, parents, teachers, administrators, and community partners. 

Chronic Absenteeism

The board recognizes that consistent attendance and punctuality are foundational for academic success for all learners, regardless of grade level. Being present for educational instruction, including arriving on time at the start of each school day, is crucial for fostering a productive and equitable learning environment.

• Goal: Achieve a reduction in chronic absenteeism rates across the district by the end of the 2024-2025 school year.
• Measurement: Monitor attendance records and implement participation initiatives to encourage regular school attendance. Board will receive monthly updates from the Superintendent or her designee. 

 Academic

The Board will partner with the Superintendent to deepen its understanding of the district’s performance metrics, with an eye towards developing better systems for Board data monitoring across grade levels and subject areas. The Board will seek to identify and enact policies to advance student achievement, consistent with Federal and State guidelines.

Fiscal Planning and Oversight

The Board will support the creation of a 2025-2026 budget that prioritizes student needs and a long-term fiscal plan that prioritizes the continued financial health and sustainability of the district.

The Board will continue to advance the next steps in the process it has already begun of creating a unified K-12 central campus that is strategically planned, future-focused, financially and environmentally sustainable, and an optimal learning environment for all the students in our district. The board will strive on an ongoing basis to provide clear, understandable information to the public on the educational and financial reasoning behind the K-12 long-term plan. The Administration will make the long-term plan available to the public and provide progress updates as they become available.

Communication 

The Board recognizes the paramount importance of engaging and communicating clearly with our community partners. To that end, we will continue to partner with our BOCES consultant and district administration to implement improvements in our communications strategies. The Board and administration will communicate its priorities, report its progress on initiatives, and address community concerns in detail through presentations at our public board meetings, monthly Board Briefs, and quarterly District newsletters.