The Onteora school district is starting the school year with many staffing changes as it prepares for the first day on Sept. 4.
Sarah Turck is the new assistant principal at the high school. She has been a school counselor in the district since 2008.
“She is a wonderful addition to our administrative team at the high school,” Superintendent Victoria McLaren said.
Also joining the administrative team is Dr. Don Solimene, interim middle school principal, who started work over the summer. McLaren said he “comes to us with a wealth of experience.”
The central administration also saw some moves and changes. Former Director of Special Education Carol Grima stepped into the role of director of pupil personnel services. Ariel McGrath, who has been at Onteora since 2015 as a speech-language pathologist, has become interim assistant director of pupil personnel services.
“It is particularly exciting when we can fill leadership roles with internal candidates who are already part of our school community,” McLaren said.
Students arriving at the middle/high school will see several facility improvements completed during the summer construction season.
Thirteen classrooms have been renovated; a new office and staff space were built; a new drop-off lane was added at the west end of the building; the tennis court parking lot was renovated and repaved; a student lunch pavilion replaced the tent outside the cafeteria; the middle school gymnasium was renovated; and a new security vestibule was constructed.
It was also a busy summer for the school board, which continues to tackle consolidation and a central campus after the bond failed in May.
“The board of education has had several conversations this summer regarding the path forward toward the creation of the central campus, and these discussions will continue in the coming months,” McLaren said.
“They are planning to bring another proposition to the voters, but have not made any final decisions regarding the scope of the potential proposition.”
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