Monroe-Woodbury board adopts district goals; leaders outline cybersecurity, safety tech and capital plans

The Monroe-Woodbury Central School District Board of Education approved district goals for 2025–26 during its Aug. 27 meeting, and cabinet members presented action steps meant to translate those goals into operations across curriculum, staffing, technology, safety and facilities.

The goals and why they matter: Superintendent Dr. Tracy Norman said the eight district goals provide an accountability framework and called the goals “intentionally written globally” so cabinet members can build technical action plans. The goals, which the board voted to adopt, emphasize student learning, recruitment and retention, cybersecurity and safety, district finance and ongoing strategic planning.

Academic and student-support actions: Administrators said the district will form a K–12 curriculum council in September to review pacing guides and curricular alignment with state and national standards; finalize a K–12 Multi-Tiered System of Supports (MTSS) and update the district special education plan to ensure compliance with federal and state regulations.

Staffing and retention: Cabinet described a recruitment-and-retention task force to analyze applicant trends and turnover, continue partnerships with local colleges to expand pipelines for teachers and support staff, update hiring and interviewing protocols, expand mentoring and implement ongoing professional learning for substitutes and aides.

Technology and cybersecurity: Dr. Diaz said the district will continue a multi-year cybersecurity review based on the Center for Internet Security controls. The district completed controls 1–6 last year and plans an external audit of controls 7–12 this year, with findings translated into an implementation plan that could affect budget and staffing needs. The district is also updating its three-year instructional technology plan and auditing digital resources and infrastructure.

Safety and emergency response technology: Business office staff described two safety initiatives: a district-wide remote panic alarm system for staff badges and a pilot procurement of classroom “go bags.” Director of Safety Joe Tripoto was named as having led vetting of the panic-alarm solution; administrators said the system is wearable, geolocated to school buildings and will be tested before wide rollout. Officials said the system is initially for staff and will be connected to emergency responders through an industry-standard rapid-connection service. “This wearable technology allows the immediate response from the appropriate stakeholders,” an administrator said.

Facilities and capital projects: The business office reported that approximately 167 window air-conditioning units were procured and installed this summer, which administrators said helps the district comply with the state’s heat-index law. The board also heard that the district will finalize financing and debt plans for phase 2 of a multi-year capital program (an initial $98 million proposition and a subsequent $16.6 million authorization), execute work on the Education Center (roof and windows) and complete a feasibility study for the state-mandated transition to zero-emission buses (electric buses). Administrators warned the bus transition has major utility, infrastructure and financing implications; officials noted that an electric bus can cost roughly $450,000 versus about $150,000 for a conventional bus, making grants and federal aid an important financing source.

Timeline and next steps: Cabinet members said the cybersecurity risk assessment findings will inform budget requests during next year’s budget process, the remote panic alarm kickoff meeting is scheduled for Oct. 15 with further vendor presentations planned, and the zero-emission bus feasibility study is expected to be completed in 2026.

Ending: Board members and administrators closed the meeting by thanking staff for summer preparations and wishing the community a safe start to the school year.