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Superintendent reports: regionalization opt‑out filed, hate‑crimes presentations, UPK lottery and STEAM fair announced
Summary
Superintendent Steele told the board the district submitted an opt‑out letter to NYSED on regionalization, confirmed recent hate‑crime presentations at the high school, announced the UPK lottery and STEAM fair dates, and noted the governor's proposed universal free meals plan is being monitored.
Superintendent Dr. Steele reported several district items to the Elwood Union Free School District Board of Education on Jan. 13, including a formal opt‑out from a state regionalization initiative, recent classroom presentations on hate crimes, and upcoming family events.
Steele said the district submitted a regionalization opt‑out letter to the New York State Education Department (NYSED) by email and regular mail and has received confirmation of receipt; a copy is posted on the district website. “Although we are not participating in this particular initiative, we are always open to collaboration,” he said.
Steele also summarized two high‑school presentations on hate crimes delivered before winter break by an attorney from the Suffolk County District Attorney’s Office, Miss Overland. The sessions — one for ninth and tenth graders, another for eleventh and twelfth graders — covered recognition of bias crimes, local data on types of bias incidents, and legal consequences.
On district events and timelines, Steele reminded the community that the annual STEAM fair is scheduled for Thursday, Jan. 23, from 4:30 to 6:30 p.m. at Elwood Middle School, and that the UPK lottery opens Jan. 22 and closes Feb. 28 (postcards sent home; additional information is on the district website). He also noted vending machines have been installed at the middle and high schools and are drawing heavy use.
Steele reported that Gov. Kathy Hochul’s budget proposal includes a universal free‑meals initiative for breakfast and lunch, but he said details remain unclear: “We do not know the details of what this will look like, but we are certainly excited about this possibility.” The board discussed possible operational and staffing implications if universal meals are enacted and how state funding might affect the district’s school‑lunch fund.
Ending: Steele asked families to check the district website and ParentSquare for event updates and further information about the opt‑out letter and other items. No board action was taken on these items.
