May 13: Public Hearing on proposed 2008-09 School Budget at 7:30 p.m. at South Orangetown Middle School at 160 Van Wyck Road, Blauvelt. Come learn all the facts.
May 5: Meet the Candidates at 8:00 p.m. at South Orangetown Middle School. Come learn about the candidates running for school board.
May 20: VOTE! 7:00 a.m.-9:00 p.m. Palisades residents vote at Tappan Zee Elementary School on RT 9W.

Voter Registration:

May 13 and 14 at any SOCSD school 9 a.m.-1p.m. and 6-8 p.m.
If you have NOT voted in a school election in the past 4 years, or if you are not registered to vote in general elections, you must register to vote for the school election on voter registration day. To be eligible to register, you must be at least 18 years-old, a resident of the district for at least 30 days and a U.S. citizen. For further information, contact Terry Campanella, District Clerk at 680-1012.

Absentee ballots: You must file for an application in order to receive an absentee ballot.
• May 13 – Application deadline if ballot is to be mailed to voter.
• May 19 – Application deadline if ballot picked up by voter. • May 20 – 5 p.m. Absentee ballot must be received by District Clerk.
For further information, contact Terry Campanella, District Clerk at 680-1012.

What is on the Ballot?

• Board of Education Trustee Election:
The voters are asked to vote for two Trustees. The three-year terms of Richard DiLoretto and Leon Jacobs have expired. Alice-New candidates actually aren’t announced until April 21 at 5:00pm.
• 2008-09 School Budget:
• $75,385,436 Budget
• 5.79%budget-to-budget increase
• Estimated Tax Rate Increase 5.39%
For detailed Budget information, visit the school district website at: www.socsd.org. Click on 2008-2009 Superintendent Preliminary Budget

• Two Propositions:

3- Shall the SOCSD establish a capital reserve fund to be known as the “District-wide Improvements, Construction and Reconstruction Reserve Fund”, which shall be for the purpose of paying the costs of the improvements, construction and reconstruction of the District buildings, including planning costs, site work and improvement, construction and reconstruction costs; the ultimate amount of such fund shall be $20,000,000, to be funded from the proceeds of the lease of School District’s buildings and/or transfers from unexpended appropriations in the general fund to the “District-wide Improvements, Construction and Reconstruction Reserve Fund” over a period 10 years?

4- Shall the SOCSD Board be authorized to undertake the renovation of the roof scope for the South Orangetown Middle School pool, at the estimated total cost not to exceed $384,000, with the amount of $384,000 to be transferred from the District-wide Renovation, Construction and Reconstruction Capital Reserve Fund to pay the cost of such project, at no additional cost to the taxpayer.

SOCSD welcomes new Superintendent

Effective July 14, 2008, Dr. Kenneth Mitchell will assume the position of Superintendent of the SOCSD. Dr. Mitchell comes to South Orangetown from the Bedford Central School District where he presently serves as Assistant Superintendent for Curriculum & Instruction. Between now and August he will become acquainted with the District by working closely with the current Superintendent, administration and Board to review the district’s mission and the Board’s vision and priorities for the future and will schedule meetings with community leaders and parents.

Best wishes go to Dr. Joseph Zambito who will be retiring after serving as the Superintendent for seven years. Cumulatively, he worked for the district for fourteen years and held positions as Principal at William O. Schaefer Elementary, Director of Human Resources and Pupil Services, Assistant Superintendent for Curriculum, Instruction and Human Resource and Assistant Superintendent.