May 2024
We are pleased to share the latest issue of Onteora Central School District's "Board Briefs," a monthly update from the Board of Education. There are many wonderful things happening in our district that wouldn't be possible without engagement from our community. Thank you for your interest in our schools. We hope you find this information useful.
Upcoming Opportunities to Co-Create Our Central Campus Vision
Thank you to everyone who came out for the community “Sharing Sessions” on co-creating the central campus earlier this week. A skilled facilitator led these important discussions, providing participants with the opportunity to share their voices. If you missed these events, please be sure to mark your calendars for the upcoming Community Forums that will be held on June 11 and June 13, from 6-8 PM, at the High School Cafeteria. Please RSVP by June 6 at www.onteora.k12.ny.us/centralcampus, so that we can plan our room setup appropriately. You can read more about the vision to Optimize Onteora with a Central Campus in Boiceville by clicking here.
May 21: Budget & School Board VOTE!
Come out to vote on the school budget and elect members to the Board of Education on Tuesday, May 21 from 2-9 PM. The $62,325,500 budget reflects a budget increase of 1.64 percent and a 3 percent levy increase, which is $305,534 less than the New York State tax levy limit calculation for a simple majority voter approval. This is the 13th year in a row that Onteora has proposed a budget at or below the allowable tax levy limit calculation. All residents should have received a budget newsletter in the mail last week. Information can also be found on our website by clicking here. Polls are open at Bennett, Phoenicia, or Woodstock. Qualified voters may also vote by absentee or early mail ballots. Information about applying for and receiving absentee or early mail ballots is available on the District’s website by clicking here.
Traditions Honored, Community Building Continues
The Board of Education would like to thank everyone who participated in the special “Community Garden Build” at Bennett Elementary School. Families from Phoenicia, Bennett, and the larger Onteora community all came together in a gesture of unity, and worked together to create a new community garden. The garden holds special significance to the Phoenicia community who, for many years, have tended a garden at the school. The new garden is another way our faculty, staff, and volunteers are working together to build a welcoming, unified community at Bennett. During Earth Day, the students of Phoenicia also painted rocks to be incorporated into the garden at Bennett.
Program Spotlight: Building Resiliency & Community Through Dance
Phoenicia Elementary students built both their confidence and resiliency through a fun and energetic dance workshop facilitated by the Center for Creative Education (CCE). This event is a reflection of the thoughtful approach of the Phoenicia PTA and investment the District is making to support students as we transition to a central campus, and to nourish our strong sense of community. For a span of one week, the students— who will be changing schools next year— worked with CCE leaders on ways to meet challenges without fear. The students learned that even when you aren’t feeling up to a challenge, you can still take a few “steps” to try—that a simple dance move can get you going. By the end of the week, the students had risen to the challenge of learning some very advanced dance moves and could not wait to show them off at the “Express Yourself” schoolwide dance performance, attended by huge numbers of students, staff, and community members. Thank you to everyone involved in this incredible event.
A Successful “Meet, Greet, and Eat” Event
After being on a hiatus since the pandemic, the Onteora community and local businesses brought an incredible “Meet, Greet, and Eat” fundraising event back to the table! Local talent abounded, with chefs serving delicious, top-quality hors d’oeuvres and small plates, Our talented students created a joyful experience filling the rooms with music and artwork. The evening was a true treat for guests to enjoy. The proceeds from the event are earmarked to support the Onteora Booster Club, “Phoenicia Farewell,” and Onteora High School’s “Belleayre Bash.” (The Belleayre Bash is a drug-free and alcohol-free all night graduation celebration that keeps Onteora’s graduates safe and happy on graduation night).
Thank you again to our event sponsors—Peekamoose Restaurant, Dagele Brothers Produce, Foxfire Mountain House, Mark Lerner of the Rag & Bone Shop, and Morgan Linens—and all the community volunteers, school staff, student artists and musicians, and local restaurants who made the “Meet, Greet, and Eat” event an unbelievable success, including:
Peekamoose Restaurant
Phoenicia Diner
Pika’s Farm Table
Yum Yum Noodle Bar
Good Night
Phoenicia Pizza 28
Hickory Bbq & Smokehouse
The Clubhouse At Shandaken Inn
Thank you also to the following for their support of Meet, Eat & Greet. We are so fortunate for the generosity of so many:
Lysa Ingalsbe
Onteora Food Services
Booster Club
Woodstock PTA
Bennett PTA
Phoenicia PTA
Woodland Playhouse
First Steps Preschool
Astor
LaSalle School
Ulster County Department of Probation
Ulster County Mental Health
Tobacco Free Action Committee of Ulster County
Onteora CSD Health and Wellness Committee
SAVE THE DATE: June 8 is the Phoenicia Farewell Fair
The Phoenicia PTA has been working with the teachers, staff, and administration to plan a very special celebration to give our students, community, and beloved Phoenicia Elementary School the send-off everyone deserves. The Phoenicia Farewell Fair will be held on June 8, and will be open to everyone across the district and all that have been a part of Phoenicia Elementary, past and present. We hope to see you there
Staff Spotlight: Gale Borden
Please join the Board in congratulating Gale Borden, a veteran bus driver who has worked for the District for 42 years, for being selected as Ulster County School Bus Driver of the Year. We are so appreciative of Mrs. Borden’s hard work and dedication to the children in our District!
