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    April 11, 2025

     

     

    Dear Parents, Students, Faculty, Staff, and Community Members,

     

    I just wanted to give you a quick report on last week’s school board meeting. The two main topics of conversation were the 2025-2026 budget that the school board recently adopted and that will go to the voters on May 20th, and a presentation on the district’s new gender support plan.  Here is an update on these and other issues.

     

    Budget Update

     

    The school board approved the budget on March 19.  Included in that budget is a full time athletic trainer and a full time unarmed security guard to serve mostly in the high school.  The budget also includes a reduction in spending in many areas including staffing, where a high school ELA position, a middle school social studies position, a district technology education position, and two vacant elementary special education positions.were eliminated.

     

    The proposed budget for 2025-2026 is $76,095,330, which represents a 3.5% increase in spending over the current school year.  The tax levy will increase by 4.35%.  Despite this significant tax increase and the staffing reductions, our revenue will not be sufficient to cover our anticipated expenses.  Therefore, in order to balance the budget, we plan to use $2,354,000 in restricted and unrestricted fund balance (savings).

     

    On May 20th you will have the opportunity to vote for or against our plan to spend $76,095,330.  We will give you lots more information moving forward including a budget newsletter mailed home to all families in early May and a budget hearing/presentation to be held in the Middle School auditorium on the evening of May 7th.  In the meantime, if you have any questions about the proposed budget please let me know.  If you represent a community organization that would be interested in having a budget presentation made to your members, please reach out to me and we will schedule a time.

     

    DEI and Support for All Students

     

    In recent weeks there has been an increased focus on DEI at the federal and state levels and also at the New Paltz Central School District.  Many people are concerned about our ability to continue to support diversity in all students as we have always tried to do in the past.

     

    I want you to know that we will continue to follow the mandates of the New York State Education Department to uphold the values of our school and our community.  Our District webpage clearly states:

     

    Notice of Non-Discrimination: The District condemns and prohibits all forms of discrimination and harassment in educational programs, activities and services based on actual or perceived race (including traits historically associated with race such as hair texture and protective hairstyles) color, weight, national origin, ethnic group, religion, religious practice, disability, sexual orientation, gender (including identity and expression) or sex

     

    I am proud of the way our district has consistently supported ALL of our students, no matter who they are.  I am proud of how the district has consistently supported teachers and other employees as they have gone out of their way to educate our students on how to be kind, caring and accepting people who are tolerant of all perspectives, not just those they agree with.  I am proud of our school board who has created thoughtful policies and who has supported the creation of a district wide gender support plan.

     

    The new gender support plan was presented at our last school board meeting.  There was also an article about this presentation in the Hudson Valley 1 this week that you might find interesting.

     

    If you want to learn more about our plans and policies related to our commitment to support all students, please check out this recent document written by Dr. Linda Oehler-Marx, our Deputy Superintendent for Curriculum and Instruction.

     

    Seeking Candidates to Run for the School Board

     

    At the budget vote on May 20th, voters will also be asked to select candidates to fill three vacant board seats.  We encourage all community members who are at least 18 years of age, who are US citizens, and who have lived in the district continuously for at least one year, to consider running for these important and rewarding positions.  If you would like to learn more about being a school board member, please contact me.  If you would like access to a ballot to run for the school board, please click on this link.  The deadline for submitting applications to the district office to run for a school board member seat is April 21, 2025 at 5 pm.

     

    Congratulations to our Valedictorian and Salutatorian

     

    It is the time of year again when we recognize our top seniors.  

     

     

    Congratulations to the New Paltz High School Class of 2025 Valedictorian Charlie DePoala and Salutatorian Brian Koji Oyama Tierney!  Click here to learn more about these two outstanding individuals.

     

    That concludes my uncharacteristically brief update.  Thank you for reading and please let me know if you have any questions.  I wish you and your families a wonderful spring break.  School will resume on April 22nd.  See you then.

     

    Regards,

     

    Stephen Gratto - Superintendent