Dear Syosset Community,

As State assessments and AP testing has come to a close, the end of the school year is suddenly on the horizon. This time of year always seems like a sprint, even more so when there is so much going on outside of the classrooms. I hope to give you something of an update below.

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• Nassau IDA – Last evening I testified before the Nassau County IDA on a proposal to extend a tax abatement (known as a PILOT) for the Nestle Corporation, which has a warehouse distributorship in the District. The Syosset Board of Education on Monday adopted a resolution to oppose all such renewals, since the purpose of the initial tax relief is to help a business incubate before returning to the tax rolls. Renewing the abatement doesn’t result in additional economic development, it simply asks the residential property taxpaying community to subsidize the business (in this case a large multi-national corporation) for another decade. Disappointingly, the Nassau IDA was not persuaded by our concerns. Our letter to the IDA can be found here.

• Syosset Park – Last year, the Board of Education adopted a resolution in opposition to the Syosset Park development. The administration then prepared 190 pages of comments supporting that position based on the impact to enrollment, tax abatements, and the potential for disturbing any residual contaminants at the site. That opposition may have been successful. Earlier this week, Newsday reported that the developer of this project is looking to cancel their purchase of the subject property and seek a return of the money they paid to the Town. The article can be found here.

• Ballistic Doors FAQ – At Monday’s Board of Education meeting, I answered some of the questions we received from community members regarding “Proposition 2” the proposition to upgrade the specifications from “intruder-resistant” to “firearm-resistant” classroom doors. We have compiled them into a Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) document which can be found here. We have been advised by our security consultants that not every question should be answered publicly – the more details we release about any security measure or our procedures, the more we disclose about their ultimate limitations, thus weakening their effectiveness.

• BOE Briefs/Student Achievement Presentation – Board Briefs from Monday’s meeting can be found here. During the Superintendent’s report, we gave a presentation on some of the successes our faculty and students have achieved on State and AP assessments. Improved learning and understanding (not higher test scores) are the goals. The student achievement results are but one of the measures we use to get a broad picture of whether that learning is going in the right direction. The presentation is available here.

• School Lunch Provider – On Monday, the Board awarded the school lunch contract to Aramark, which was the only bidder. Aramark is committed to providing an online menu of lunch items with detailed ingredient lists for parents wishing to manage food allergies. Elementary students will have multiple choices each day, so it will be unnecessary for parents to pre-order individual lunches. Before the District was aware that a bidding process would be necessary, an opportunity for outreach between the food service provider and parents and students was being planned for the spring. During the bidding process we were advised to wait until the new contract term commences; once the bid is awarded the District will work on scheduling opportunities for outreach. 

• Elementary School Breakfast Program – Now that we will be participating in the Federal school lunch program, we are required to survey parents’ interest in having a school breakfast provided. Schools must provide a breakfast program in any elementary school where more than 20% of parents indicate a desire. We surveyed parents at the beginning of May and will be releasing the results of that survey shortly.

• Summer Construction – We will be engaged in extensive construction activities this summer, particularly at Syosset High School. Thus, summer school will take place at H.B. Thompson Middle School. Much of the work should be completed over the summer, but the larger projects (entrance/security vestibule, weight room replacement, and athletic field) will continue into the fall months. We will be installing roof-mounted air conditioning in 4 schools (driven by the availability of sufficient electrical capacity) and relocating the window units to classrooms in buildings that will be completed in Summer 2020 once additional electrical upgrades are completed. Progress can be tracked with this tool.

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Enjoy the weekend and good luck to all of the spring sports currently competing in the playoffs. We’re rooting for you all!

Sincerely,

Dr. Tom Rogers, Superintendent

Dear Syosset Community,

I hope you all are enjoying this beautiful day. I have a few quick updates and reminders I'd like to share with you. 

 

• Mercury Vapor Testing As you may have read in recent news reports, some local school buildings have tested positive for mercury vapor, which is a hazardous fume occasionally found in rubber-like synthetic flooring. Syosset schools only have one space with this type of flooring, which was proactively tested in April. The testing did not detect any mercury, so there is no cause for concern. 

• Upcoming District Closures As a reminder, the District will be closed this Thursday, May 23 and Friday, May 24, as these days were not required for “snow makeup days” as well the following Monday, May 27 in observance of Memorial Day. The District will also be closed on Tuesday, June 4 in observance of Eid Al-Fitr. 

• The annual District Election and Budget Vote will take place tomorrow, May 21, 2019. The polls will be open from 6:00 a.m. until 9:00 p.m. If you are unsure of where to vote, please use this Poll Place Finder.  

• Proposition 2 We have received some additional questions from the community regarding “Proposition 2”, which seeks voter approval to authorize the District to use a combination of reserves and grant funds to upgrade the specifications from “intruder-resistant” to “firearm-resistant” classroom doors. While there is a limit to how much information can be shared with the public without potentially compromising the security measure, we have included some additional information in this expanded Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) document. 

 

I hope you all enjoy the upcoming long weekend, and please remember to vote tomorrow in the District Election and Budget Vote. 

 

Sincerely,

Dr. Tom Rogers, Superintendent

Hi Everyone,

 

This will be a somewhat lengthy edition of Bits and Briefs, but there are a number of initiatives underway in Syosset and I hope to catch you up on the highlights. But first, I want to address one very important matter:

 

No Place for Hate in Syosset – At last Monday’s Board of Education meeting, President Frankel held a moment of silence for the victims of the attack in New Zealand, and I read a statement on behalf of the Board and myself condemning the hate-related vandalism discovered the week prior and deploring the rise of such incidents both locally and around the world. The statement references a meeting we held last Monday with an interfaith group of clergy and leaders in the anti-bias community who were in solidarity with our sentiments. The written statement may be found here: Statement regarding hate speech vandalism.
 

There are a number of other significant developments to share with you.

 

Winter Sports Success – I was nervous when I sent the last edition of Bits and Briefs, worried I would miss some important athletic achievement. Sure enough I did – I wasn’t yet aware that Boy’s Swimming had won the County Championship and sent 5 swimmers to states (and later, their Coach Chris Schleider was named Coach of the Year). Sorry boys! Since then we’ve accumulated other notable achievements which can be found here: Winter Athletic Accomplishments (congrats to all!).
 

Multi-Family Developments – Last Monday we presented to the Board of Education on several multi-family developments as part of our efforts to collect more information about the status of current and proposed developments in Syosset. 
 

• Syosset Park Development – As part of that conversation, we noted that the Long Island Business News reported that the developer is now considering reducing or eliminating the scale of the residential development proposed on the site. Although we have no confirmation of the developer’s intentions, at the Board meeting, I was directed to send the Town a letter indicating that the Board’s position is that the school district be provided an opportunity to make thorough comments on any new proposal.

 

• Independent Testing – Although the Town announced on February 4, 2019 that its Citizen Advisory Committee identified an entity to perform independent testing, that testing doesn’t appear to have commenced. As part of our letter to the Town, we will also indicate that the Board insists that independent testing be conducted irrespective of what type of development is proposed for the Cerro Wire/TOB-DPW site.

 

• Response from USEPA – We received a response to our letter to the US Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA) asking for any environmental testing results for the Cerro/DPW site. In response, they sent the recently completed Syosset Landfill 2018 Annual Post Closure Summary Report concerning the Groundwater Monitoring Program prepared by Lockwood, Kessler and Bartlett, Inc. for the Town of Oyster Bay.  We asked our environmental consultant to review the Report (which is available online at the USEPA website here). 

• The District’s environmental consultant did not find any significant differences from the Syosset Landfill 2016 Annual Post-Closure Summary Report. In addition, they stated: “It is important to note that there is no exposure to any of the compounds present in the groundwater samples collected at South Grove School and Syosset Landfill given the 100+ foot depth to water and the fact that drinking water is supplied from the far deeper Magothy aquifer (over 200 feet below grade) in this area.” 

 

• Response from NYS DEC – We have received an answer to my December letter asking for a status of their testing. In short, they state that: “Preliminary results do not show any cause for concern; however, the Department must wait for the results to be validated … prior to issuing any report…”.  Their letter to me can be found here: NYS DEC Response Regarding Independent Testing. 

 

Former Woodbury School – The District owns a vacant building on the corner of Jericho Turnpike and Woodbury road. The Woodbury School was built in 1926 but has been vacant for a decade. At the Board meeting, I followed up on an idea to renovate the building and relocate some administrative offices from South Woods Middle School in order to reduce visitor traffic. It would cost about $2.8 million to renovate the vacant building for office space, about $2.3 million more than it would cost to demolish it. The Board asked us to begin to collect public input on this idea.
 

School Start Times – I shared an update with the Board on additional options to consider as a means of moving the high school start time later in the morning. All of the options contain pros and cons. Our next steps are to get feedback on the advantages/disadvantages from internal stakeholders and the public.
 

New District Website – At the end of the month, we will be launching a new, mobile-friendly version of the District website. It’ll be easier to use and navigate, and will feature customizable calendars so you can follow all of the events at your own child’s schools without the clutter of every event in the District. In the future, we’ll follow up with a mobile app that you can install on your personal electronic device with even more features.
 

Air Quality Testing at Syosset High School – We received the results of the tests conducted at the high school. Our testing consultant concluded, “the inspection, sampling and monitoring performed did not reveal evidence of any significant indoor air quality conditions.” We asked our environmental consultant to review the results as well, and they concluded the “Air Quality Sampling from J.C. Broderick & Associates, Inc. does not present evidence of an environmental health issue in Syosset High School.” Both consultants suggested we replace some stained ceiling tiles and service the school’s ventilation system in some areas. The summary report can be found here: Air Quality Testing Results SHS March 2019.  
 

Firearm-resistant Doors – As you may recall, as part of our Phase 1 construction projects, the District embarked on a project to reinforce classroom doors District-wide. As we reexamined every aspect of our security procedures and infrastructure last spring, we began to review the door and lock specifications in this project. We prioritized upgrading to locks that could be remotely operated in an emergency, and explored enhancing our door specification to include resistance to firearms. While the locking hardware is readily available, we were waiting for a door that met our specifications to obtain approval for school settings. Such a door became available 2 weeks ago. At last Monday’s Board meeting, the Board approved putting a proposition on the May ballot that would provide for the additional funding (from reserves, fund balance, and grant funds) needed to move forward with these significant upgrades. Over the course of the next several weeks, we will be communicating with the public in more detail on this proposition.
 

Spring sports have already begun and I’m looking forward to spending some time on the sidelines and baselines enjoying better weather and watching our kids compete. Have a wonderful rest of the week.

 

Sincerely,

Dr. Tom Rogers, Superintendent

Dear Syosset Community,

Congratulations to our Varsity Gymnastics team who in just their second year of competition went undefeated for the season and last night secured the County championships, sending 2 gymnasts on to the State meet in March. Stunning.  Congratulations too to our winter track teams sending to States the boy’s 4x800 relay team, and individual girls in the 1500 meter and pole vault. I hope everyone has a restful break next week; just before we close, I have several notes of interest to share.

“Snow Days” – The Syosset school district began the year with a 182-day calendar. As we have now closed twice, we have reached the state minimum of 180 days. Thus, should it become necessary to close school again, we will need to restore days to the calendar. For each day closed going forward we would restore a day in this order: 5/23, then 5/24, then 4/26. Additional calendar information can be found here: School Calendar. 



Spanish Language Budget Materials – School districts in Nassau County have been notified that based on Section 203 of the Voting Rights Act, and the Census Bureau’s designation of Nassau County as a “covered jurisdiction for Spanish”, all school district election processes must be conducted in both English and Spanish, regardless of the top languages spoken in any given district. Accordingly, residents will see budget newsletters, printed ballots and other election information from the Syosset School District in both languages as we work to come into compliance with this determination. The first in-person voter registration opportunity is scheduled for March 5 at HBT Middle School from 3:00 p.m. until 7:00 p.m.

Mercy First “Community Advisory Group” – Mercy First has informed the District that it is assembling a “Community Advisory Group” and has asked the District to send a representative. At the Board of Education meeting Monday night, the Board discussed the request and asked us to work with Mercy First to get a sense of agenda topics in order to determine whether a representative with a security background or a mental wellness background would be most appropriate.

PTA Lunch Discussions – We also reported to the Board of Education on the feedback we received on expanding District food service to the elementary schools. Consistent feedback from every building included concern regarding food quality, maintaining parent volunteer opportunities in the schools, and the need to ensure consistency of programming previously supported by this fundraising activity. More discussion is needed about the options available to parents, including whether food vendors may drop off single portion pre-ordered lunches. We will be meeting with individual PTA units to create opportunities to meet with the District food service vendor on food quality, to discuss programming budgets, and to further explore parent options.

Tax Cap Calculation – The State has created a “chicken and egg” problem in the publication of information regarding school budgets.  The State Comptroller requires school districts to file preliminary estimates of the tax levy change by a March 1st deadline. However, this figure is greatly dependent on both the State budget (which is not due until April 1st) and debt service calculations (which in turn depend on the speed with which the State approves our Phase 2 projects). Since news media has recently become reliant on publishing these preliminary figures, they have tended to cause confusion. The most up-to-date information on the Syosset school budget process will always come from the District in the form of newsletters and presentations to the Board of Education, which can be found here: Budet Information Webpage.

Air Quality Testing – As we noted earlier this week, the District is in the process of conducting air quality tests at the high school and we will communicate again with the community sometime after the break once those results are complete.

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You have my hopes for safe travels, time with loved ones, and the opportunity to rest and recharge.

Sincerely,
Dr. Tom Rogers

Dear Syosset Community,

I had hoped to follow up Monday’s Board meeting with a “Bits and Briefs” with some information of interest to the community. It’s my understanding that one of the topics that was to be included has been circulating in the community along with some misinformation. I’m hoping that by releasing this early, we can clarify what is going on. Below is the excerpt; the full Bits and Briefs will go out later this week.

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Indoor Air Quality Testing –  Providing a safe environment for our students and staff is always our first priority. In order to maintain this approach, we have made the decision to put all of our buildings on an air quality testing cycle. Last year, air quality testing was performed at South Grove and Robbins Lane (and the results did not indicate any concerns); we began testing Syosset High School this week.

 

The air quality testing is being conducted by J.C. Broderick, the District’s independent environmental consultants. The testing involves the placement of devices throughout the building for a 24-hour period to monitor the air for particulates, VOCs, relative humidity percent, temperature, carbon monoxide and carbon dioxide. In addition, the testing includes mold sampling, moisture meter testing and infrared camera pictures. 

 
We are aware of speculation attempting to identify patterns among dissimilar health conditions at Syosset High School. Over the last several weeks, we researched these concerns with an environmental epidemiologist at a local hospital, and teacher union officials joined us at meetings with both the County schools’ health and safety coordinator and with JC Broderick. All of these experts consistently indicated that such speculation is unsupported by both the science and statistics. Nevertheless, we always act out of an abundance of caution where safety is concerned, and believe it would be reassuring to support this advice with data and facts. The most recent air quality testing will do so, and we anticipate results within the next two weeks. We hope that these results and a routine testing cycle of all buildings will prove reassuring to families and staff. 

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I know the High School Administration has gladly answered questions from parents and staff. Residents with concerns should always feel free to reach out to Dr. Durante. 

 

Dr. Tom Rogers
Superintendent

Dear Syosset Community,

 

I want to offer my congratulations to the Chinese-American Association of Syosset (CAAS) and the Chinese Culture Society student club at Syosset High School for their amazing Lunar New Year celebration in the high school auditorium last Saturday. Students from every building in the Syosset district showcased traditional performance arts, and a number of elected officials made appearances to offer the groups citations and congratulations. 

 

Some additional community updates of interest follow:

 

Independent Testing (Syosset Park) – Last Friday, we received notification from the Town of Oyster Bay that the Citizens Advisory Committee has recommended a firm (Impact Environmental of Bohemia) to conduct independent testing on the former Cerro Wire and Syosset Landfill properties. The Town has indicated that it will extend its January 31, 2019 deadline for comments on the results of that testing, but did not give an indication of what the new date would be. Once the Town informs us of the new date, we will re-issue our letters to the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) and the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) – we would like to not only comment on the independent testing conducted by the Town, but also any testing that DEC and EPA are conducting as part of their on-going management of the former Syosset Landfill and Cerro Wire properties.

The Town’s announcement can be found here: Firm Selected for Independent Testing .

Its letter to the District can be found here: TOB Letter.

Our previous letters to the EPA and DEC can be found here: Syosset Park Webpage.

 

Letter to Nassau IDA – At its January meeting, the Board of Education asked me to prepare a letter to the Nassau County Industrial Development Agency (IDA) to express the Board’s concerns about the IDA’s process for considering tax abatements for commercial development. In December, the IDA approved a project over the objection of the Syosset Board of Education. The letter asks the IDA to amend its process to allow for more public consideration of the impact these projects would have on school districts and school taxpayers. The letter can be found here: Letter to IDA.

 

South Grove Gymnasium – Repairs were completed over the weekend on the HVAC unit at the South Grove gymnasium. Tests were performed over the weekend, and again on Tuesday. All tests were negative for carbon monoxide, so the gym reopened on Wednesday. We have completed the first phase of our work to ensure our schools are safe, and we are now focused on our review of the incident. The clearance letter can be found here: H2M Carbon Monoxide Detection Letter.

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My best wishes for a wonderful weekend.

Sincerely,
Dr. Tom Rogers

Dear Syosset School Community,

I hope everyone had a restful mid-year break and has started the new year full of energy and excitement. We’re off to a quick start to the new year with lots to share with you.

-------EDUCATIONAL UPDATES--------

Congrats to our Regeneron Scholars – Syosset is proud of all our research students who submitted applications to the Regeneron Science Talent search, with special congratulations to seniors Thomas Lam, Serena Lee, Spencer Pugach and Michael Wang who were among only 300 named Regeneron Scholars nationwide. Earlier this week, we learned that Thomas Lam was named a Finalist – one of only 40 in the country.

 

Local and National Educational Leadership – Syosset is proud to hold a leadership role in education. We recently hosted District teams from several local school districts seeking to observe our implementation of the Sanford Harmony, a community-building mindfulness curriculum, and kidOYO, our k-12 computer coding platform. In addition, we were selected by the leadership of the Teachers College Reading and Writing Project to host administrators from across the Tri-State area to observe our implementation of the program. 

 

Math Presentation – At the January monthly Board meeting, teachers from the elementary, middle and high schools presented to the Board of Education on the shifts in our Math program to make the curriculum more engaging, infuse technology into learning, develop deeper conceptual understanding and use coding to teach algorithmic thinking. Their presentation can be found here: Syosset Mathematics.

------ADMINISTRATION and LOGISTICS--------

Air Quality Testing (South Grove/Baylis) – We recently performed the 2018-19 round of Radon testing at both Baylis and South Grove elementary schools and at the South Grove Annex. In addition, the District followed up last year’s air quality testing at South Grove and South Grove Annex with an additional round of Volatile Vapor Intrusion (VVI) testing, I’m pleased to report that all results again came back below the action level – indicating the schools are safe. The results can be found here: South Grove Testing Results.

 

School Security – The final meeting of the Security Advisory Committee took place last week where we reviewed District crisis communications. Working with the PTA’s School and Community Committee, we developed a parent guide to help explain District communication protocols which will be distributed to the community and posted on the District website, and scripts for email and text messages to parents. In addition, we announced a partnership with Sandy Hook Promise to launch the “Say Something” program – an anonymous reporting system that allows students and community members to submit safety concerns 24/7. More information on the program and related student training will be forthcoming. 

 

Elementary Lunch – Last week, we emailed elementary parents to explain that the District will discontinue “PTA Lunch”, beginning this September. District administrators will attend February PTA meetings to explain the laws and circumstances that necessitated this change and to seek feedback on how to make this transition as smooth as possible for students and families. 

------COMMUNITY ISSUES------

Syosset Park Update – We sent an inquiry to the Town regarding the timing of independent testing results for the proposed project site in order for the District to have ample time to prepare comments prior to the January 31 deadline the Town originally announced. The Town replied with the following response: “please be advised that the status of independent environmental testing and analysis, remains unchanged at this time.  We are aware of the January 31, 2019 comment period deadline and fully expect to extend that deadline to allow ample time for the public to review and comment on the testing.” 

 

And lastly, it’s that time of year again…

 

Inclement Weather Guide – The District has put together a guide to assist you as we navigate through inclement winter weather. Because Long Island’s location at the boundary between sea and land makes weather forecasting unpredictable, it is typically impossible to make a final decision until the early morning hours once actual conditions are evaluated. The guide provides information on our weather-related protocols and can be found here: Delays and School Closings.

I hope everyone stays warm and enjoys the weekend. 

Sincerely,
Dr. Tom Rogers

Dear Syosset School Community,

I hope that as this year draws to a close, you’re making preparations for a happy time with friends and family over the break, and for holiday celebrations if your traditions coincide. It is a season of celebrations in the school as well as we share so many culminating activities with our students. I’ve been privileged to be serenaded by many of South Woods’ performing ensembles throughout the day today – a reminder of how extraordinary our arts programs are and an opportunity to connect with students on a somewhat informal basis. 

Against the backdrop of the wonder of children making music, my updates below seem a little prosaic, but bear with me so I can share the news. 

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Syosset Leads in New Learning Spaces – On Monday, I was proud to watch a team of teachers lead a presentation to the Board of Education on the work that has been done to amplify learning through technology and to begin the process of redesigning classroom spaces to support some of the new instructional models that are being developed. The presentation can be found here: Transformative Virtual and Physical Environments.

Helping Parents Navigate the Transition to High School – On December 11th, several hundred parents turned out for a new program designed to introduce them to the Syosset High School experience, and to help them make the most of their child’s 9th grade experience. This is the first in a series of new opportunities and on-line resources we’ve developed to help improve the 9th grade transition and support students’ success in high school. The presentation can be found here: 9th Grade Transition.

PILOT Application Opposed – The District sent a letter to the Nassau County Industrial Development Agency opposing the extension of a tax abatement for a business located on Underhill Blvd. in Syosset. The application before the IDA sought to prevent the property from returning to full market value for tax purposes and to enlarge the tax abatement through the purchase of an additional parcel. Tax abatements granted in this manner transfer the tax burden to other properties in the District. Unfortunately, the IDA approved the application unanimously despite our objections. Our letter can be found here: Letter to IDA.

EPA/DEC Letters – In an earlier edition of Bits and Briefs I mentioned that we had written to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation to ascertain the timeline for any public releases of data through their ongoing monitoring programs. It is our hope to ensure that when the District comments on any testing of the former Syosset Landfill or Cerro Wire properties, we will be able to incorporate all data sources into our review simultaneously. When we receive responses from these agencies, we will post them on our website here: Syosset Park Webpage.

Security Advisory Committee – The last meeting of the District’s Security Advisory Committee was originally scheduled for December, but given the number of concerts and other events at this time of year, it will be postponed until January to reduce the number of conflicts. The topic will be crisis communications. District administration recently met with the PTA School and Community committee to review and update the procedures that we developed jointly with that committee 2 years ago. We will share that update with attendees.

Blue Strobes – On the subject of security, all schools will have blue strobe lights installed over the break to identify when a building implements a security precaution such as a “lock-out”. This will help visitors avoid attempting to enter the school until the all-clear has been given. 

2019-20 Calendar – On Monday, the Board of Education adopted the calendar for the upcoming school year. It can be found online here: 2019-2020 School Calendar.

Residency Re-verification – In December, we asked all parents of students in 5th or 8th grade with last names beginning with A, B, C or D to re-verify their residency with updated proofs of address. After some initial bumps, the process is moving smoothly. After the new year, we will begin working our way through the remainder of the alphabet. If you are a parent of a child in 5th or 8th grade, please watch for an email from the District with instruction for how to re-verify your residency. 

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It is my hope for everyone to have a relaxing break, shared with family and friends, with time to pursue whatever activities make your heart glad. Have a happy, healthy, wonderful New Year. We’ll see you in January. 

Dr. Tom Rogers
Superintendent

Syosset Central School District

Dear Syosset Community,

 

I’m hoping that everyone had an enjoyable Thanksgiving holiday shared with family and friends. In addition to the many serious things I’m grateful for, I was also startlingly pleased that the traffic wasn’t as bad as I anticipated returning from my relatives’ out-of-state. 

 

Although our focus during the end of the year often turns to family and holiday plans, we hope to keep you abreast of some developments occurring in the District:

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School Start Times – The District has been studying the possibility of a later high school start time, based on some research suggesting that older adolescents’ health may benefit from more sleep. Last April, we proposed an aggressive timeline for progressing through a series of exploratory steps, which included hiring a busing consultant to develop recommendations for how to implement a shift without dramatically increasing busing costs. Thus far, we have not yet developed a satisfactory set of options. Therefore, given the extensive ramifications of such a change, we are planning to elongate our timeline so that there is ample time to conduct additional research on this important topic. 

 

New Report Cards – With the upcoming end of the first trimester, elementary students will receive their first newly-designed, standards-based report card. We’re excited about how this tool will better communicate students’ academic progress toward grade level standards. As a reminder, the District has developed parent guides in multiple languages which can be found here: Parent Guidance Documents. 

 

Residency Re-verification Program – Shortly, parents of students in 5th or 8th grade will be asked to provide updated proof of residency as their child transitions to the middle or high school per a new Board policy. Most of the process can be completed on-line, but parents will have to appear in person to provide original documents for District inspection. Parents will receive an email that will detail both the on-line process and how to schedule an appointment at a time that is convenient. 

 

High School Transition – In order to ensure parents fully understand the transition process from beginning to end and are provided with the support they need to help their students build a schedule that maximizes their individual strengths, we have made some enhancements to the transition program. Parents of 8th graders will have a newly-created opportunity to hear from the middle and high school principals regarding the entire transition process and preview the new online course catalog in advance of the 9th grade course selection process. We want students to take advantage of the many opportunities at Syosset High School, and we also want to make sure the schedule achieves a balance that best supports each individual student. This evening event on December 11 is intended just for parents, and is designed to help parents make the most of upcoming individual appointments with guidance counselors in January and February – another new opportunity we’re adding this year.

 

Syosset Park Environmental Testing – At the end of October, we asked the Town for a status update on its planned independent testing of the former Syosset Landfill and Cerro Wire sites. Last August, the District announced its intention to comment on those results, and we wish to ensure that we will have ample time to do so. The Town’s response indicated that they will ensure that there is an ample comment period after the independent testing, even if an extension of the comment period becomes necessary. The letter may be found here: Letter from TOB.

 

DEC/EPA Environmental Testing – In light of this response, the District will be sending letters to the NYS Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) and the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) asking about timelines as well. There are several activities underway that will likely result in additional data:

• As part of a landfill monitoring program, the DEC is conducting testing at a number of landfills on Long Island, including the Syosset landfill.
• The former Cerro Wire property has been accepted into the State's Brownfields program administered by DEC for development of a remedial action plan which involves testing to determine the extent of any residual contamination. And,
• The results from the most recent groundwater testing conducted at the former landfill will be part of the 2018 Annual Summary Report. (https://semspub.epa.gov/work/02/544159.pdf see p.3).
   

We hope to review and incorporate any data these efforts produce into our comments to the Town in order to ensure that our analysis is as comprehensive as possible.

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I can’t believe we had our first weather-related cancellation before Thanksgiving!! I’m hoping it’s a fluke and not a sign of things to come. The Farmer’s Almanac promised a mild winter!

 

Sincerely,

Dr. Tom Rogers

Superintendent

Syosset Central School District

Dear Syosset Community,
 
I’m writing to update you on some recent events of significance to members of the Syosset School District community. 

Special Board Meeting – As you may know, the Board of Education held a special meeting on Monday evening occasioned by the resignation of School Board President Dr. Michael Cohen. 

Board President Tracy Frankel opened the meeting with a moment of silence for the victims at Tree of Life Synagogue in Pittsburgh stating, “May they rest in peace and may there be an end to acts of hate everywhere.” 

She then thanked Dr. Cohen for his long service and in particular, leadership through a period of dramatic change. The Board addressed two matters occasioned by his resignation:

• Trustee Robert Gershon was elected as Vice President to fill the vacancy created by Ms. Frankel’s elevation to President; and
• The Board discussed the matter of the vacant office of Trustee, and ultimately did not exercise either of the options for filling it. Thus, the position will remain vacant until the regularly scheduled Board election on May 21, 2019. 

The Board meeting is summarized in greater detail in our Board Briefs, which can be found here: October 29, 2018 Board Briefs.

Syosset Park – Yesterday, the District sent a letter to the Town of Oyster Bay, asking for an update on the status of the independent testing they previously announced for the properties that would comprise the future Syosset Park development. In comments released in August, the District reserved the right to comment on the independent testing and wishes to ensure that it will have adequate time to do so thoroughly, as it did with the Draft Environmental Impact Statement. A copy of the letter may be found here: Letter to TOB.

Mercy First – The District had offered to host a forum with officials from Mercy First to discuss concerns that have arisen due to recent disturbances caused by residents of the facility. They have agreed, so interested residents should save the date of November 13 for a forum at South Woods Middle School. An exact time will follow at a future date. 

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I wish Mr. Gershon congratulations on his new role and hope that every little Trick-or-Treater has a safe and fun Halloween.
 
Dr. Tom Rogers, Superintendent
Syosset Central School District

Dear Syosset Community,

Fall is my favorite time of the year. The start of school is exciting, and with the cooler weather, I’ve been able to enjoy some of my favorite activities – apple picking, walks in the woods, football games and the first turning of the leaves. 

I hope your family has had a good start to school and that you too have had a chance to enjoy some of what makes fall a special season. I wanted to interrupt just long enough to update you on some activities that have been top-of-mind for the school district of late.  

 

New Elementary Report Card – At the Board of Education meeting last Monday night, we presented the culmination of 10 months of work redesigning the elementary report card through the efforts of teacher leaders and with the support of administration. The new format is standards-based, so it focuses on students’ progress toward important grade level standards that become the foundation for future years’ learning, and it’s more closely aligned to the work being done in the classroom. To help with the shift, we’ve developed parent guides in multiple languages that will be sent to parents very soon. The Board presentation is here. I’m proud of the enthusiastic reaction our team received when they presented this work at an education conference earlier this fall.

 

Residency Re-Verification – As part of our stewardship of District resources, we have instituted 2 new processes to maintain continuous assurance of residency: 

1. Families who establish residency in part through a lease must provide a new form of proof once the lease term has ended.
2. Children in 5th or 8th grade must have their residency re-verified as they progress to middle or high school.

The District has created an online re-verification application to streamline the process, though families will have to make an appointment with the Registrar in order for the District to verify original documents. Affected families will be contacted by email with further instructions.

 

South Grove Water Testing – Last Monday, we informed the Board and the public of the results of additional tests on the aquifer below South Grove elementary. Those new results continue to show that the building and grounds are safe. As part of our air, soil, and water testing at South Grove, we have installed monitoring wells to sample the groundwater in the aquifer more than 100 feet beneath the campus. In August, we reported results from a “Screening Sample” which was taken immediately after drilling the well. Although not the ideal protocol for well screening, this initial sample was evaluated in order to provide the Board with preliminary information prior to the deadline for comments on the Syosset Park project. Our environmental engineers subsequently performed the standard (and more time-consuming) protocol for developing a monitoring well and took proper samples in September. Some results:

1. Neither the screening sample, nor the properly developed well samples showed any VOCs – the group of compounds that could pose a health hazard on the surface – that exceeded government standards.
2. Although the screening sample showed some SVOCs – a class of contaminants that do not rise through the soil column and thus do not pose a risk at the surface – the properly developed well samples detected no SVOCs in excess of government standards.
3. We also tested the developed samples for additional contaminants and metals and found some levels that would make this water unfit for drinking without treatment. However, the District has been informed that this is not the source of our drinking water and there is no other means for this water to reach the surface. Thus, these contaminants do not pose a hazard.

Although our findings didn’t warrant it, we nevertheless made all of our testing results available to the appropriate authorities. They are also posted online here.

 

Mercy First – Last Monday night, the Board discussed concerns related to Mercy First – a residential program for troubled youth on Convent Road in Syosset. The discussion concluded with the recommendation that the District offer to host a forum with officials from Mercy First where questions and concerns could be raised, and where rumors or inaccuracies could be clarified. The Board arranged a similar forum 2 years ago in conjunction with the Village school PTA. The next morning (last Tuesday), we received confirmation from Mercy First that they would welcome this forum and we are now working on a date and location.  

 

School Start Times – Lastly, I wanted to update you on the progress of our exploration of a later start time for high school students. There is research that suggests that older students should start school later to maximize their sleep. However, rearranging school start times can lead to some significant disruptions to families of students at other grade levels and to activities that occur both before and after school. 

The Board hired a consultant to help us develop different logistics (busing) options to explore. The first series of options can be found here. Each of the options achieves a later high school start time, but also presents some significant compromises that may be unpalatable. We have asked the consultant to develop additional options which we will ultimately share with the public to seek feedback.  

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Good luck to our playoff-bound athletics teams!!

Sincerely,

Tom Rogers, Superintendent

Syosset Central School District

Dear Syosset Community,

 

With just a few short days before we welcome our students back to school, there is a flurry of activity throughout the District. Classrooms are prepared, lesson plans are drawn up and pencils are sharpened. It is such an exciting time as we anticipate all the opportunities a new school year brings. But before we bid farewell to pool parties in favor of pumpkin picking, I’d like to update you on some very important topics for the District.  

• At a special Board of Education meeting on Tuesday evening, the results of the South Grove environmental testing were reviewed. Soil, air and groundwater testing conducted by our environmental engineers confirmed the school building is safe, but some contaminants were found in the aquifer about 100 feet below the surface. These contaminants do not pose a threat to students or staff; however, as a precaution, the District will perform additional testing. For more information on the test results, please click here for a fact sheet and here for the presentation given by JC Broderick, the company that performed the tests. 
   
• Also at the Board of Education meeting, Walden Environmental Engineering presented their findings on the environmental impact of the proposed Syosset Park Project to the Board of Education. They raised a number of significant concerns regarding the project’s impact on the District, including but not limited to, key contaminant migration, landfill cap integrity, dust, storm water runoff, excavation and soil handling, construction, noise & vibration, traffic, air quality, soil vapor intrusion, and security. Please click here to view their presentation.
   
• District officials finalized the preliminary presentation given to the Board at the May 2018 meeting on the impact the additional enrollment generated by the proposed Project would have on the District’s finances and facilities. You can find the presentation here.
   
• After discussing the information presented, the Board of Education formally affirmed its unanimous opposition to the project and directed the administration to send comments to the Town of Oyster Bay expressing the Board’s rationale in opposition. Those comments are posted to the District website and can be found here.
   
• Lastly, it was announced that the Board of Elections will make some changes to voting locations to improve school security on Primary Day. The election sites at both Village and South Grove Elementary schools have been moved to areas that have exterior entrances to better control public access to the building. Please be sure to check your polling location for this year’s election, as the shifts have resulted in a some re-zoning.  As a reminder, elementary schools will be closed for instruction on Election Day for parent teacher conferences. 
   

I hope you enjoy the long weekend, and I look forward to seeing all the students on Tuesday. 

 

Sincerely,

Tom Rogers

Superintendent

Syosset Central School District

Dear Syosset Community,

It’s been a treat to have Summer School here at South Woods; the building has been alive with singing, dancing, cooking and of course, learning. It’s been a busy summer for the grownups too - we’ve been working on the security and facilities upgrades approved last year, and finalizing plans for the construction work that will begin next year. I wanted to update you on several topics that have been “top of mind” in the community. 

Special Board Meeting August 28 -- The Board of Education will be holding a special meeting on August 28th at 8 p.m. in the South Woods Middle School auditorium. At this meeting, the District will:

Review the results of the environmental testing done at South Grove. I am happy to report the results of the soil and air quality testing both came back negative, indicating no cause for concern. At Monday’s meeting, I informed the Board of Education that we’ve had difficulty drilling deep enough to reach ground water, so essentially we’re going to get a bigger drill. We’re hoping to have the water test results in time for this meeting.

Review the comments prepared in response to the Syosset Park Draft Environmental Impact Statement (DEIS). The District hired a consultant, Walden Environmental Engineering, to assist in evaluating the portions of the DEIS referencing the construction and environmental impacts of the proposed development. The District’s comments will then be filed by August 31st to meet the deadline set by the Town of Oyster Bay. 

Facilities and Security Projects -- The District has performed substantial facilities work this summer. From new roofs and flooring at Robbins Lane and HBT to security vestibules, corridor wall glazing, perimeter fencing, surveillance camera installation and visitor management system implementation, District-wide, it’s been brisk. 

Phase 2 Facilities Update -- Alongside the actual construction, we’ve been planning next summer’s facilities work (2019) as part of “Phase 2.” To be ready to build next June, we will have to submit plans to Albany for approval very soon. Several of these projects have evolved somewhat since our initial presentation a year ago, so we’ll be scheduling some meetings to update the public. 

We’re sending you a new “Back to School” edition of the Syosset Pride newsletter with more information about summer facilities work and new security procedures. In addition, you can follow each of the facilities projects underway with our milestone tracking chart posted on the District website here. 

I hope that you are savoring the remaining days of the summer, and while Summer School has kept the building lively, I am looking forward to welcoming back all our students in September. 

Sincerely,
Tom Rogers
Superintendent
Syosset Central School District

Dear Syosset Community,

As an added way to keep you informed on the work being done in the District, I will periodically be providing a brief update on a few pertinent areas of focus for the Board of Education and the District. I hope that you find this update informative and helpful.

Last night at the July Board of Education meeting, the discussion at the organizational meeting of the Security Advisory Committee was summarized. At the meeting, the charge of the Committee was reviewed, and members provided feedback on District security initiatives already implemented as well as those they would like to see considered. The notes from the meeting can be found here. We will inform the public of the date of the next meeting as soon it is selected. 

The Board reviewed several draft policies, which are scheduled to be adopted at the August 13th meeting. 

The 2018-2019 Draft District-Wide School Safety Plan was presented to the Board. The plan will be posted online for the next 30 days to provide an opportunity for the public to comment. The purpose of the Plan is to prevent or minimize the effects of violent incidents and other emergencies, and to facilitate the coordination of schools with local & county resources in the event of such incidents or emergencies.

[Update: The final Plan can be found here: District-Wide School Safety Plan].

Lastly, the Board awarded the contract for the review of the Syosset Park Development DEIS to Walden Environmental Engineering, who will be aiding the District in preparing comments to the Town of Oyster Bay in response to the DEIS issued in March. The District has not received any indication from the Town as to whether they will grant our request to extend the deadline for the public comment period. Accordingly, we will work to have the District’s comments on the DEIS finalized by the July 31 deadline.

I hope that you are enjoying the summer and I look forward to providing additional updates in the near future.

Sincerely,

Tom Rogers

 

Superintendent
Syosset Central School District