The Rhinebeck school district superintendent (name not specified in the transcript) told the audience the district has stabilized enrollment, added a state‑subsidized pre‑K classroom and is pursuing program and facility changes to support students and community use of school facilities.

The superintendent said the district’s enrollment has been stable in the mid‑900s after prior declines: “We remain, in the mid 900s,” the superintendent said, and added the district registers an intake of roughly 30 to 40 new students each year. The district launched its first publicly offered pre‑K this year at no cost to families, operating one classroom of 18 four‑year‑olds and contracting with the local Rhinebeck Community Nursery School to run the program. The superintendent said state reimbursement for pre‑K does not cover full per‑student cost and the district fills the funding gap from its general fund.

At the high school, the district adopted a new schedule that reduces the number of meeting periods each day while lengthening class times, and it created a community lunch block that allows juniors and seniors an open campus period. “It’s already led to reduced discipline and increased attendance,” the superintendent said, and staff are collecting community and student feedback as the schedule settles in.

The superintendent highlighted expanded arts programming—a first middle school drama club and the district’s first K‑12 choral event—and credit was given to volunteers and the PTSO for supporting performing arts. He also said every classroom at the elementary school (Chancellor) received updated classroom libraries and the district hired a part‑time public information officer to increase communication with the community.

On safety and technology, the district contracted a safety consultant for an audit, said it works closely with village police through SROs, is rolling out pedestrian and bike safety instruction in physical education, and named cybersecurity and data protection as priorities because “every single student is given a device.”

Ending: The superintendent closed by inviting community use of school facilities and encouraging residents to consider school board service; board president Steve Jenkins and trustees were present at the event.