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Somers board reviews districtwide success plan and readies $63.9 million capital project submission to NYSED
Summary
Superintendent Adam Braunstein and district administrators presented the 2025–26 district success plan — six interlocking priorities from 21st‑century skills to family engagement — and described next steps on a voter‑approved $63.9 million capital project that the district plans to submit to the New York State Education Department for approval.
Superintendent Adam Braunstein on Tuesday outlined a districtwide “success plan” for 2025–26 that lays out six priorities — 21st‑century knowledge and skills, social‑emotional and physical wellness, global citizenship and digital literacy, family and community engagement, professional learning, and fiscal stewardship — and identified specific actions and timelines for each. The board heard how those priorities will be implemented at both district and building levels and how they connect from kindergarten through grade 12.
Braunstein said the plan grew from an administrative retreat and a structured prioritization process, and that some efforts will be multi‑year. “This plan is really an articulation of the way in which we execute the vision and mission of the school district,” he said.
Why it matters: the plan is intended to align curriculum, assessments and supports across buildings so student supports and expectations are consistent. District staff described new or expanded uses of assessment and data platforms (LinkIt and IXL), an emphasis on MTSS (multi‑tiered system of supports) for academic and wellness needs, expansion of executive‑functioning instruction, and increased professional learning that brings K–12 staff together on topics such as differentiation, grading practices and use of AI tools in classrooms.
At the elementary level, administrators highlighted a daily “WIN” (What I Need) period for small‑group instruction and noted adoption of Bridges for targeted Tier‑2 math instruction alongside existing reading supports. Secondary administrators said the district is working to align grading and assessment through criterion‑based practices and the MYP framework, and that a new 5‑percent self‑management grade for late or missing work will be part of secondary grading this year.
District leaders also described work on digital citizenship and artificial intelligence. The district has made a platform called School AI available to teachers and students and convened a teacher committee to develop guidance for appropriate classroom uses. “Students are able to interview authors or historical figures through AI,” one principal said, and staff reported using AI to make texts more accessible and to generate classroom materials quickly.
Fiscal stewardship and capital project: the presentation included fiscal plans tied to a voter‑approved $63,900,000 capital project. The district said it intends to submit the first application to the New York State Education Department before the end of December with the hope of beginning some construction next summer, depending on SED review timelines. Braunstein said the project will likely be phased across buildings and that committees will be formed to solicit stakeholder feedback on components such as playground design. “We are hopeful that we’ll be able to get our first submission up to the state before the end of December,” Braunstein said.
Discussion versus decisions: the board received the plan as an informational presentation; no policy changes were adopted at the meeting. Administrators said more in‑depth presentations on each of the six elements will be scheduled this fall.
Next steps and public involvement: the district will publish follow‑up materials and timelines on its website and provide further opportunities for public input as each element is developed or when capital‑project committees convene.
