Welcome Back!

August 21, 2019
 
Dear Students and Families,
 
Soon the buses will roll and our school doors will open to the excitement of returning student voices. There is an ebb and flow to our lives, and the start of the school year is one marker that most of us have known since grade school. Welcome back!
 
Anyone driving near our four schools may be concerned that work is still ongoing. That is not a surprise for us. We knew from the start that construction would continue through the final week of August. However, I can reassure you that school will open on time for students on September 5, as all major work will be completed. Change is this year’s district theme for the following reasons:

• School facilities have been updated after years of wear and tear. This summer has seen the largest facilities reconstruction project in the history of the district. Please bear with us as we continue second-shift work this fall to complete roofing, HVAC, sidewalk reconstruction, ADA-compliant entrances,  strobe-activated fire alarms, renovated restrooms at Nassau and Hagan, and major wall reconstruction at Todd and Hagan. Our high school field project and Nassau playground update will commence this fall as well.
• The superintendent search process has remained on schedule. We will discuss the process as the year unfolds. We expect an appointment during the late fall to begin July 1, 2020. This timing will allow for leadership transition.
• We are grateful for our new interim principal, Debbie Weisel, to serve as the Nassau Elementary Principal while we plan for a permanent principal. 

This is my 40th year in public education. One thing that has not changed is the great excitement that comes with the start of a new school year. I am just as optimistic about the importance of education and our need to continue to inspire and support this current generation’s hopes and dreams. I feel blessed that I can be part of Spackenkill, working with such a dedicated staff, involved families, and hard-working students. The times we live in demand that we give our very best and I can’t wait!
 
Sincerely,
 
Mark Villanti
Mark Villanti, Ed.D.
Superintendent of Schools