Connetquot board says vendor Syntax will no longer take district photos; trustees urge clarity and suggest student-produced media

The Connetquot Central School District Board informed the public that Syntax, the vendor that provides website support and media services, will no longer be taking district photographs after a reduction in contracted services during the budget process.

The chair said the board had just learned that Syntax is no longer providing photography services for district events, a change described as a budget cut. A trustee asked the administration to provide a clear list of what services were reduced so the public would not discover cuts incrementally. The trustee noted that while reductions to monthly videos had been discussed previously, the loss of photography services had not been expected.

One trustee suggested the district explore student-run photography and video clubs as an alternative, saying that involving students could showcase activities and give them hands-on experience. An administrator agreed to look into tapping students to help produce photos and videos for the district.

Board members said they want timely notice of contracted-service reductions so they and the community can plan. The transcript includes the brief statement, “They are no longer taking our pictures,” attributed in the public text to the board’s announcement, and the administration acknowledged the contract’s scope would be greatly reduced for the coming year. No contract language, dollar amounts for the cut, or vendor response appear in the public transcript; the administration said only that certain services (videos and e-news) will not be provided by Syntax for 2026–27.