Superintendent's Message

Good afternoon Families and Friends of Blind Brook,

I hope this message finds you well and everyone is enjoying the remaining days of summer. We are all very excited to welcome back our students, and reengage with families as the center of learning in our community. I am writing with several back to school updates of interest to students, parents, and community members.

Like us, many districts in our region have been engaged with bond projects and facilities updates this summer. Some have struggled with delays and supply shortages necessitating contingency plans for the opening of school. We are fortunate to have fared well this summer relative to many of our neighbors - with the exception of some classroom cabinetry and bathroom stall dividers subject to manufacturing delays. The good news is that neither of these items will impact the opening of school, and our scheduled projects are nearly complete. 

We have modern furniture for each of the renovated MS/HS classrooms. Students and faculty will comfortably enjoy the new spaces and cabinets/dividers will be installed on a weekend or evening once they arrive. The new restrooms will temporarily serve as individual-occupancy facilities until the stall dividers are installed next week, but we are making additional nearby bathrooms available to students particularly during high traffic times such as lunch. MS/HS Principals will share more information with students on the first day of school.

Our refurbished classrooms and bathrooms in the MS/HS are of a modern sleek design, inviting and inspiring to students. Please see our Bond Progress Tracker for pictures, more information, and an insider’s view.

As you may know, at the end of the last school year the District moved forward with participation in the National School Lunch Program and NY Universal Free Meals. One essential part of the lengthy application process and a function of participation was rebidding our Food Service Vendor, and hiring a new Food Service Director. We are pleased to report that Whitson’s was awarded the bid, and a familiar face and name - Chef Milton Silva-DelPozo - will be the director. He previously served the District the last time Whitson’s had the contract. NYSED has been inundated by submissions under the new universal program and while state administrative reviews are wrapping up, our program is fully on track to launch on Day 1. Stay tuned for details from Ms. Baum, Whitson’s, and HMB, our food service consultants.

One of our other summer projects with the administrative team was to develop what we are calling a “traffic reboot.” We examined drop-off and pick-up procedures on both campuses to maximize safety, improve efficiency, and minimize traffic congestion. While we have sharpened many of our existing procedures, you will notice two prominent improvements: during Ridge Street afternoon pickup only there will be no left turns entering or leaving campus, and during MS/HS morning drop-off, cars will be expected to advance through the “Green Zone” drop-off area when signaled, all the way to the track area. Please reference the RSS directions here and the MS/HS directions here.

I also would like to provide an update to an earlier correspondence I sent this summer regarding communications with the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC). Last week we were able to fully cooperate and assist with the DEC’s precautionary testing here on campus. I want to reiterate that we are significantly up-grade, topographically, from the original site of concern. The community can expect further updates from the DEC and the Village as they continue with testing our area.

Our student-athletes have been hard at work all week in preparation for the fall season. We are very excited for another year of athletic and academic competitions and success. We will be kicking off the year with Blind Brook pride every Friday in September - wear your blue and white, break out your Bluebird or Trojan gear, and let’s kick off the year loud and proud!

Thank you for your continued support of our staff and students! We’ll see you around campus.