Hampton Bays officials report start-of-year curriculum, service and facilities updates; board grants tenure to athletics director

Hampton Bays Union Free School District leaders used the Sept. 9 Board of Education meeting to outline start-of-year academic priorities, expanded student supports and community service projects, and to confirm a tenure appointment for a long-serving athletics leader.

Superintendent presentation and program updates

District presenter Lars Clemonson described a series of start-of-year initiatives covering curriculum, student supports and community partnerships. He said the district partnered with Lesley University to develop an integrated K–5 writing curriculum and has expanded literacy supports using the SPIRE program, which staff trained more district personnel to deliver in small groups or one-on-one. “Hampton Bay is a special place,” Clemonson said, summarizing the community focus he described.

Clemonson said the middle school adopted new social studies resources and tech books for grades 6–8, summer programs included academic recovery and enrichment, and the district continued assemblies and social-emotional supports in partnership with HUGS International. He reported a 20% increase in student participation in the district’s meal program after the district implemented Community Eligibility Provision (CEP) food service eligibility this year.

Start-of-career supports and career pipeline

The district described expansion of its mentor program for early-career teachers and highlighted a recent graduate, Kaylee Velicella Via, who completed the district’s early childhood pathway and earned New York State certification as a teacher assistant. Clemonson said the district will continue work on a multi-year application for New York State’s Schools to Watch process at the middle school.

Community service and partnerships

Clemonson recounted staff and students supporting community events, including a district presence at a Surfers Healing event for individuals with autism and work with the local nonprofit Love Michael. He described a conference-day community service project in which high school students packed 125 emergency amenity kits for The Retreat (a domestic violence advocacy center in East Hampton), middle school students made cards for the West Hampton Beach Care Center and elementary groups prepared day packs for Mornings Haven clients.

Student performance, enrollment and supports

Clemonson said the district saw strong Advanced Placement exam results, matching a 25-year high with 78% of AP test takers scoring 3 or higher. He reported current enrollment at 1,935 students and noted that the official October “bed” (register) day yields a more stable count. The district closed a pilot of the “Handle With Care” notification system in August after 17 notifications between February and the summer and said the program is expanding to Southampton Town and being piloted elsewhere in Northwest Suffolk with the sheriff’s office.

Facilities and finance update

District staff reported progress on capital projects: elementary school bathroom renovations are largely complete (one sink remains on order), a replacement skylight for the middle school is on order (likely a spring installation), and HVAC units for the elementary and high school are expected to arrive by the end of the month with commissioning to follow. The district said an energy performance contract audit is underway and auditors are meeting with district leadership; a formal audit report is expected in October.

Board actions and motions: votes at a glance

- Approval of meeting agenda: approved by voice vote. (agenda item: approval of order of agenda) - Acceptance of minutes for business meeting held Aug. 12, 2025: approved. (agenda item: minutes acceptance) - Consent motions 4a–4c and subsequent consent blocks (including 6b–6k): approved by voice vote. (agenda items: multiple consent items; details not specified in transcript) - Student services item 5a: approved by voice vote. - Personnel item 6a — tenure for John Foster: the board approved a resolution granting tenure to John Foster in the administrative tenure area effective 06/30/2025. The superintendent recommended a positive tenure vote; the motion was seconded and recorded as approved. The transcript records the result as unanimous; individual vote counts were not specified.

Why it matters

The curriculum partnerships and targeted literacy investments reflect district efforts to accelerate recovery from pandemic-era learning disruptions and to expand services for students with diverse needs. Expanding the Handle With Care notifications and CEP meal eligibility signals a continuing emphasis on nonacademic supports that staff say reduce barriers to learning. The tenure decision formalizes permanent administrative status for a district leader who will continue to oversee health, physical education and athletics programming.

What’s next

District staff said they will present more detail on the energy performance contract and auditor findings at an upcoming October meeting. The district also said it will continue to roll out new curriculum materials and community partnerships through the school year.