Interim superintendent reviews district priorities as athletic director spotlights program achievements
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Summary
Interim Superintendent delivered a mid‑year 'state of the district' emphasizing teamwork, board goals and a tentative December 2026 capital project vote; Athletic Director George St. Lawrence presented K–12 physical education standards, program participation and initiatives including a student food drive and Hall of Fame project.
Interim Superintendent (referred to in the transcript as Mr. Bonjovi) opened the board meeting’s reports on Jan. 26 by framing the district’s work as a collective effort, listing board goals and previewing capital‑project planning.
He said the board’s five goals include recruiting a full‑time superintendent, developing a district‑wide facilities plan and capital‑project timeline, reviewing pupil‑personnel services (PPS) initiatives, expanding internal and external communications, and producing a fiscally responsible budget for 2026–27. He told the board the facilities committee aims to present a capital‑project proposal for a public vote in December 2026 and described the program list as a mix of visible and behind‑the‑scenes work—roofing, boilers, asbestos abatement, safety improvements and athletic field upgrades among them.
George St. Lawrence, the district’s newly appointed athletics and physical‑education director, presented an eight‑slide mid‑year report describing how the K–12 program aligns to New York State learning standards. He outlined grade‑band goals—foundational movement and play at the elementary level; team concepts and strategy in middle school; and lifetime fitness, CPR and first‑aid offerings at the high school.
St. Lawrence highlighted recent student achievements and participation figures: 142 student athletes were recognized in the New York State Public High School Athletic Association scholar‑athlete program; multiple athletes and teams qualified for state competition in tennis doubles, diving, swimming and cross country; and current winter participation across varsity, junior varsity and modified teams stands at about 354 students, making the district one of the top three in the county for participation proportional to high‑school enrollment.
He described two current department initiatives: a 100‑day student food drive run in partnership with the Goshen Varsity Club (motto: '1 team, be a fan, bring a can') with collection at home contests, and an Athletics Hall of Fame project seeking archives and community submissions to document roughly 130 years of athletics dating to 1896. St. Lawrence also asked the board to recognize John Merritt, an athletics staff member, and the board presented a token of appreciation for his service.
Why it matters: the presentation combined curricular alignment, student achievement and community engagement, tying athletic participation and extracurricular success to broader district goals. The superintendent’s capital‑project timeline and staffing priorities frame the budget choices the board will address this winter.
The district plans further public updates as budget and capital‑project details are refined.