Announcements / News

For Immediate Release

Public Hearing and Comment Period for amendments to District-Wide Safety Plan to add Cardiac Emergency Response Plan Annex and revised Code of Conduct related to AI use.

NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that the Clarkstown Central School District Board of Education will conduct a Public Hearing to consider the proposed amendments to the Districtwide Safety Plan and the Code of Conduct.

The proposed amendments to the Districtwide Safety Plan will add a Cardiac Emergency Response Annex to the Districwide safety plan in accordance with Desha’s Law and amendments to Education Law §§ 917, 2801-a(2), and 2801-a(3)(a).

The proposed revisions to the Code of Conduct address the use of AI.

The hearings will be held on December 11, 2025 at the Board of Education Meeting, Chestnut Grove District Office at 7:30pm.

In accordance with state regulations, the revised District-Wide School Safety Plan and Code of Conduct amendments are available for public comment for a minimum of 30 days prior to its adoption. The proposed change are available on the district website or you can request copies by emailing the District Clerk.

• Cardiac Emergency Response Annex and is available for review on the District website: www.ccsd.edu/safety.
• Code of Conduct will be available for review Code of Conduct Revised Sections

Written comments may be submitted to the District Clerk at districtclerk@ccsd.edu no later than Wednesday December 10, 2025. Members of the public are also invited to present comments in person at the scheduled public hearing.

Sincerely,

Lucy Crosbie

Once a lion, always a lion — leading with pride! Congratulations to the Lakewood Elementary School Class of 2025! CCSD this morning celebrated the academic achievements of 89 fifth graders during a Moving-up Ceremony. "You’ve shown such true success, and it doesn’t just come from luck and talent — it comes from determination to keep going even when it’s hard. That kind of strength will carry you through everything," noted Principal Deborah Mariniello. Good luck in middle school!

CCSD elementary schools on June 9 welcomed back a special group of visitors — graduating seniors! Dressed in their caps and gowns, students from Clarkstown high schools North and South walked the halls (pictured: Lakewood and Laurel Plains elementary schools) they once knew so well, greeted by applause from their former teachers and the next generation of learners. For our younger students, it’s a glimpse into the future. For our seniors, it’s a reminder of where their journey began and how far they’ve come.

Thank you to the Clarkstown community for your continued support of our District! The following are the official results of the annual School Budget Vote and Board Election held on Tuesday, May 20.

The 2025-26 Proposed Budget passed with 2,798 "yes" votes or 76% of the vote; there were 879 "no" votes. The budget totals $265,386,114 - reflecting a 4.82% budget-to-budget increase and a 2.45% tax levy increase.

John Maltbie was reelected and Christopher Conti was elected to the Board of Education for three-year terms beginning on July 1, 2025 and concluding on June 30, 2028. We congratulate and thank them for serving our students and learning community.

Thank you once again for prioritizing this year's vote and election. Your continued involvement in, and support of, a CCSD education is greatly appreciated.

CCSD proudly celebrated April as the Month of the Military Child with a special event that brought one family’s story to life — right in the heart of our school community. Hosted by Clarkstown High School South’s Stars and Stripes Club at Lakewood Elementary School, the occasion featured a visit from Chief Warrant Officer Ryan Fuller — a member of the U.S. Coast Guard and parent in the District. He, along with one of his sons, shared their experiences of military life, the challenges and rewards of service and what it's like to grow up in a military family.

Students asked thoughtful questions, engaged with Stars and Stripes members and left with a deeper appreciation for the sacrifices made by service members. To show support for military children, Lakewood was encouraged to wear purple — a blend of each service branches’ color and, in a special way, a perfect fit for the Lions, as it’s their school color. Thank you to all who serve and support, especially the Fuller family. The District is proud to honor its military families and their children — this month and every month.

Across CCSD, students and staff celebrated Lunar New Year leading up to the holiday on January 29. From attending cultural arts assemblies, engaging with parent visitors and taking part in mentoring opportunities, there was no shortage of ways to learn about and honor the year of the snake! See what Strawtown and Lakewood elementary schools were up to below.

Dance China New York Visits ST

K/5 Buddies at LW Create Paper Lanterns

LW Parents Engage in Cultural Read-alouds and Conversations 

Good things come to those who wait...and wait she did!

Back in 2022, CCSD educator Kristin Hanley was named a New York State finalist for the Presidential Awards for Excellence in Mathematics and Science Teaching (PAEMST). PAEMST is the highest — and most prestigious — honor bestowed upon K-12 teachers of science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) by the United States government. After completing a rigorous application process, up to 110 individuals from across the country each year may be recognized for their outstanding passion, dedication and impact in the classroom. We are proud to announce that Kristin was among the 98 awardees recently selected for the 2022 cohort — representing the very best in STEM education!

Although this is Kristin's — an elementary math specialist at Lakewood and Department chair in CCSD — achievement, she is sharing it entirely with those who matter most. "This award is a recognition of educators and, more importantly, an investment in children who are our most valuable resource," she said. "As a public educator, I am dedicated to providing them with the best resources, practices and opportunities to succeed. My focus will remain on placing students at the center of everything I do, ultimately helping them see mathematics and STEM as crucial pathways to their futures."

While Kristin continues to invest in the District, PAEMST is reinvesting in her. Among the many benefits that honorees receive is a $10,000 award from the National Science Foundation. "Awardees typically use this money to further their professional development often by attending conferences," she said. "I am actively engaged in the mathematics community through regular attendance at local and state conferences as well as at the national level, the latter of which come with significant expenses. The financial support from this award would greatly assist in offsetting the costs associated with participating in these valuable sessions."

Not only will Kristin be honored during an upcoming Clarkstown Central School District Board of Education meeting, she will also travel to Washington, D.C. to join fellow winners for a special recognition event. "I had the privilege throughout this process of forming meaningful connections with many people, including other finalists," she said. "These relationships have renewed my commitment to the work and reaffirmed my belief that we are stronger together. We will leverage this recognition to continue to advocate for better STEM education within our schools and communities."

Congratulations, Kristin!

There wasn't a dry eye in the cafeteria during this morning's Hero Breakfast at Lakewood Elementary School. Hosted by the Grade 3 Team, the annual event celebrates the culmination of students' opinion writing unit on "Changing the World" and the inspiring people behind their words. Whether a parent, grandparent, sibling or other notable individual in our children's lives, one thing is for certain: there are no shortage of heroes that surround us each day in CCSD.

"Throughout the unit, which focused on special mentors, third graders explored qualities that define a hero from history and applied these traits to describe everyday ones through heartfelt letters," said teachers on the Team. "They also listened to and discussed songs about heroes as well as read poems and stories about them from around the world. We are deeply grateful to our honorees for their positive influence on our students’ lives and for being extraordinary role models!"

Meet Lakewood Elementary School’s newest principal, Kelly! In November, we introduced you to the K-2 winner for the Lakewood PTA’s “Principal For the Day” raffle, and yesterday, Kelly assumed the role on behalf of grades 3-5. As principal, Kelly wasted no time making important decisions for the school — for that day, at least.

One of her first official acts was to declare chocolate-covered pretzels the snack of the day. On the third grader’s busy agenda: surveying classes for feedback on the morning’s cultural arts assembly, meeting with Food Services staff to discuss the lunch menu and stumping her fellow CCSD schoolmates with rounds of “Who’s Smarter Than Miss Koluch?” during lunch. Principal Koluch’s toughest question of the day — how many bones are in the human hand? Great job, Kelly!

Did you know that December 9-15 is Computer Science Education Week? It inspires K-12 students to learn about, participate in and celebrate contributions to the field. CCSD this year joined millions of fellow educators and children (from more than 180 countries!) in recognizing the annual event during the Hour of Code.

Coding is just one of the many ways in which our learners work towards achieving their age-appropriate technology awareness goals. At Lakewood Elementary School, Library Media Specialist Elizabeth Hurley's Grade 5 classes were recently introduced to the Sprite Lab — a block-based programming environment. Fifth graders worked independently to create their own Sprite objects and characters that, by changing certain aspects like their size and location, came to life on the screen! As students familiarize themselves with these basic properties, they will graduate to coding their animations using text and prompts.

What do Snoopy, SpongeBob and Hello Kitty all have in common? They’re featured in CCSD's 2024 elementary STEAM parades! Giving Macy’s a run for their money, this year’s “floats” are not only a demonstration of our students’ creativity but also their growing skills in the areas of science, technology, engineering, art and mathematics.

After reading about the popular New York tradition in books like “Balloons Over Broadway: The True Story of the Puppeteer of Macy’s Parade” by Melissa Sweet, fourth and fifth graders at Woodglen, Lakewood (pictured) and Little Tor were inspired to recreate the spectacle ahead of the Thanksgiving break. “Students used the Engineering Design Process to create their own floats,” said enrichment teacher Lisa Imperial-DiNardo. “They also learned how to ‘drive’ several different robots down the parade routes by coding and controlling their speeds. These included Dash, Sphero indi, Bee-Bot and Botley.”

Just like in real life, our engineers in training had to make adjustments to their designs leading right up to the event. However, they faced any and all challenges that came their way head-on. After all, the parade must go on!

There's a new principal in CCSD...well, for the day anyway!

At the beginning of the year, the Lakewood Elementary School PTA held a raffle where two students would have the opportunity to lead alongside Principal Deborah Mariniello for an entire school day. Today, everyone did a double take as she handed over the reins to one of the winners. Congratulations to Kaley, representing grades K-2!

Kaley, a kindergartner who hopes to become a principal herself one day, had quite the busy schedule. "She helped with announcements and classroom visits throughout the morning," said Deborah. "We also had a 'working lunch' in the afternoon." Other items on Kaley's to-do list included making suggested changes to the menu and choosing a fun, 10-minute activity for her fellow Lions to take part in. Spoiler alert: more French toast sticks are in your child's future!

Great job, Kaley! The winner for grades 3-5 will have their chance to be principal for the day next month.

The New York State Education Department recognizes October as National Principals Month. In CCSD, we are fortunate to have an amazing team of 13 principals who work tirelessly to support our students and staff, while fostering a culture of excellence in our schools and throughout the District. Our building leaders are passionate about their work with learners so, this year, we asked each of them to share their favorite thing about the age group at their school. See below for what each one had to say!

Bardonia Elementary School | Birchwood School | Clarkstown High School North |
Clarkstown High School South | Felix Festa Elementary School | Lakewood Elementary School | Laurel Plains Elementary School | Link Elementary School | Little Tor Elementary School |
New City Elementary School | Strawtown Elementary School | West Nyack Elementary School | Woodglen Elementary School

Thank you, CCSD! The following are the official results of the Clarkstown Central School District’s 2024 Bond Referendum vote held on Tuesday, October 8.

The District's 2024 Bond Referendum was approved with 1,600 "yes" votes or 79.09% of the vote. The $110 million capital improvements project — addressing heating, ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC), window, flooring and electrical upgrades at all nine elementary schools and the Birchwood School — will take an estimated five years to complete and is TAX NEUTRAL. There is NO INCREASE to current taxes.

Your continued partnership and support of the bond will have a direct impact on student and staff learning, health and safety for years to come. Details regarding the upcoming project can be found here. More information will become available as the work progresses. We cannot wait to get started! 

Welcome back, CCSD! The 2024-25 school year officially kicked off this week. Good luck to all of our new and returning students and staff! See photos from across the District below.

Laurel Plains Elementary School | New City Elementary School

Birchwood School | Clarkstown High School South

Bardonia Elementary School | West Nyack Elementary School | Clarkstown High School North

Lakewood Elementary School | Woodglen Elementary School | Felix Festa Middle School

Link Elementary School | Little Tor Elementary School | Strawtown Elementary School

Once a lion, always a lion — leading with pride!

Congratulations to the Lakewood Elementary School Class of 2024! CCSD this morning celebrated the academic achievements of 85 fifth graders during a Moving-up Ceremony. "As you move forward, know that you have the power to create change wherever you go," noted Principal Deborah Mariniello. Good luck in middle school!

See more photos here.

Super Readers Unite! Lakewood Elementary School kindergarteners have officially reached super-reader status, and, to help kick off National Reading Month, some of our youngest Clarkstown CSD learners proudly paraded through the hallways last Friday to roaring applause and cheers from their school community. After months of building up their reading skills, students marched with cards depicting their newly-acquired “powers.”

Our Lions at Lakewood Elementary School are celebrating the year of the dragon early thanks to a visit from the New York Chinese Cultural Center! Expanding our students' awareness and understanding of different cultures around the world, otherwise known as cultural competence, is a key component of becoming a more Future Ready district here in Clarkstown. This morning, kindergarten through fifth graders learned about important Chinese traditions and observed several dance (lion, fan and ribbon) and martial arts demonstrations. "In Chinese culture, we believe that the lion is a very powerful and spiritual animal," said one performer. "It can scare bad, evil things away and bring us good luck."

This program recognizes those who have made significant contributions to CCSD and its students. A former social studies teacher at Clarkstown High School North, Paul is a shining example of a ram who has left their mark on society. “Paul was always a demanding teacher who held his students to a very high standard when it came to both school work and academic demeanor,” said Department Chair Jordan Turner. However, that did not deter our learners from performing at their best. “They respected and were motivated by this. Students recognized that Paul also held himself to these same standards as an educator and leader in our school community.”

Although he retired in 2014, Paul still maintains a presence in the halls of CHSN. A portrait can be seen hanging outside of his last classroom that is crafted from popular phrases — “Words matter,” “Every time you think it is over, it is not” and “Kiss your brain” — that Paul’s students associated with him. A prestigious honor for a prestigious individual…congratulations!

The Clarkstown Central School District is proud to announce that Kristin Hanley, Math Specialist at Lakewood Elementary School has been named a New York State Finalist for the 2022 Presidential Awards for Excellence in Mathematics and Science Teaching (PAEMST)!

"As a math specialist for Lakewood and for the district, Kristin is skillful at cultivating learning environments that acknowledge, honor, and affirm every student's mathematical experiences, engagement, and growth," commented Dr. Natasha Murray, Coordinator of Mathematics, Data, and Testing for CCSD. "She is highly committed to working collaboratively with teachers, administrators, parents, and students to support every child. She fully embodies the tenets of what the Presidential Award for Excellence in Math and Science Teaching represents."

For this prestigious award, two finalists for mathematics and science are chosen from each state for their leadership and innovation in STEM teaching. In Kristin's case, this has taken many forms, as she is always working up new ways to make math fun and understandable for all students. Example: her group’s work for the Mercy College Center for STEM Education Grant (see video below). Congratulations Kristin! Thank you for being a stellar example of teaching for your colleagues and our learning community. 

Read the full story on the award on the New York State Education Department 's website.

Click here to watch her work in action.