Suffern Central reports gains and remaining gaps one year after elementary restructuring

Suffern Central School District Superintendent Dr. Gunderson told the Board of Education on Oct. 28 that the district's one-year post-restructuring review shows clear gains in consistency of programming but also persistent gaps in extracurriculars, universal pre-kindergarten and transportation.

At the regular meeting in the district boardroom, Gunderson said aligned curricula such as CKLA are now implemented uniformly across elementary buildings and that special-education services no longer require students to travel to a single school. "Every school has the same type of program across the district," Gunderson said, noting that students now generally remain in their neighborhood schools with peers and familiar teachers.

The superintendent cited several quantifiable outcomes: elementary class sizes now most commonly range from 19 to 23 students (previously some classrooms fell as low as 12 or rose as high as 25'6), the district received $500,000 annually from a rental agreement with Rockland BOCES for use of Viola Public School, and attrition and retirements led to a net reduction of nine staff positions in the elementary unit without layoffs.

Pat Breen, who led the transportation portion of the presentation, said average bus-route times improved compared with last year but remain sensitive to variables such as traffic, weather and boarding times. "When you're dealing with kindergartners, it takes 8 to 10 minutes to get kindergartners on a bus," Breen said, and the district has begun synchronizing student information in Synergy with its transportation software, adding staffing in the transportation office and using GPS data to refine routes.

Principals and teachers described uneven experiences during the transition but increasing collaboration as a hallmark of the new structure. Kelly Bonatti, principal of R.P. Connor, shared students' and staff reflections captured in the rollout, and quoted a student: "I feel safe. I feel cared for. I feel like my voice matters." Bonatti said teachers have worked through emotional and logistical challenges and are now planning age-appropriate programming more consistently.

Not all outcomes are complete. Gunderson identified three primary challenges the district will continue to address: expanding extracurricular programming at grades 3 through 5, creating a consistent universal pre-K model across the district (noting that R.P. Connor currently hosts the district's UPK while Sloatsburg uses a YMCA provider), and continuing to refine transportation logistics.

A parent and PTA member, Rose Schmidt, told the board she supported the restructuring and praised its positive effects for her child at Montebello but said PTAs were "overtaxed" and urged the district to follow through on supports promised in the strategic blueprint.

The board approved routine agenda items and adjourned after the presentation; the next meeting is scheduled for Nov. 18, 2025.