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, Clarkstown High School South 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

Bardonia Elementary School kindergarteners are exploring more than just the changing seasons this fall — they’re delving into an in-depth study of apples, a fruit deeply rooted in both learning and local history here in Rockland County. In the classroom, the Bobcats have been busy counting apples, discovering how they’re used in a wide range of foods and reading stories centered around this seasonal staple. But today, the learning moved beyond CCSD’s walls. Along with students from Clarkstown High School South’s Infants and Child Development class, the kindergarteners visited Dr. Davies Farm for a day of apple picking.This partnership is more than just a field trip — it’s a multi-week collaboration that connects our youngest learners with older student-mentors. Later this month, the Bobcats will visit CHSS to make applesauce with the Vikings, and soon after, the high schoolers will return the visit — helping the kindergartners write and illustrate their own apple-inspired stories.

We are the Bobcats, hear us roar! Congratulations to the Bardonia Elementary School Class of 2025! CCSD this evening celebrated the academic achievements of 67 fifth graders during a Moving-up Ceremony. Today’s theme is brave beginnings, because starting something new takes courage," said Principal Michelle Zernone. “But here’s the truth — you are more ready than you know.” Good luck in middle school!

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.

Two heads are better than one! CCSD educators Farrah Negrin and Susan Koppel are gearing up to present at an upcoming professional development session later this month in Harrison. They will facilitate an informative discussion on all things Seesaw — the leading learning experience platform for elementary-level students, staff and families.

Farrah and Susan — who both teach kindergarten at Bardonia Elementary School — were selected for this particular meetup based on their own extensive use of the platform in the classroom and membership in the Ambassador Program. In addition to taking online classes, staying active in social media groups for the latest features and uses, and collaborating annually to create new activities, they each have their own tips and tricks for having continued success. “I also take the refresher course every summer,” said Farrah — an ambassador and certified educator since 2017. “I use the resource library to learn from other educators as well,” said Susan — an ambassador and pioneer since 2020.

When introducing younger children to Seesaw, Farrah and Susan suggest easing them into it. “Being that we teach kindergarten, one of our best practices is to start slowly by showing students one aspect of it at a time,” they said. “Once they master each skill, they can start putting everything together to complete activities, classwork and homework.” And parents can share in the experience, too! “Our students demonstrate activities in class and report on them as a home-school connection,” they continued. “They post pictures of their work such as science experiments and record themselves reading observations from their journals. As posts are approved, parents can see all they have accomplished in real time and interact with the work by leaving comments.”

Not only will these Seesaw superstars inspire other educators throughout the region to provide and engage in more meaningful digital learning opportunities, they will also advance the District's future ready initiative. Thank you for your dedication to the craft! 

SNOW many good deeds are happening this Giving Season!

Kindness ambassadors and the Student Advisory Council at Bardonia Elementary School joined forces with STRIVE students at Clarkstown High School South to create Blizzard Boxes for Meals on Wheels. These festive boxes, filled with an assortment of non-perishable items collected during a food drive, will help ensure that recipients stay nourished if inclement weather disrupts normal deliveries.

Meanwhile at Link Elementary School, the Student Council held their annual Mitten Tree holiday drive — decked out in donations. Thanks to the collaborative efforts of our K-5 children and staff, they were once again successful in collecting new winter-weather attire for those in need.

These are just two of the many heartwarming examples of how our CCSD learners work together to spread holiday cheer, while making a difference in the greater Clarkstown community!

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

Bardonia Family Handbook 

We are the Bobcats, hear us roar!

Congratulations to the Bardonia Elementary School Class of 2024! CCSD this evening celebrated the academic achievements of 68 fifth graders during a Moving-up Ceremony. "This is a monumental and important milestone in the journey of our amazing young people," said Principal Michelle Zernone. Good luck in middle school!

See more photos here.

• Chromebook Loaner Agreement
• YMCA Sign up 2024-2025
• Student Arrival/Dismissal
• Supply List 2024-2025
• Festaville 2024-2025

May is Mental Health Awareness Month. To shed light on this important topic, CCSD recently partnered with Hudson Valley Paws for a Cause to bring therapy dogs in to engage and connect with our students at Bardonia and Strawtown elementary schools. Apart from being man's best friend, did you know that dogs — like Duke, Felix, Sophie and Harper — can help improve aspects of our health? According to one representative, these PAWsitive interactions have the ability to lower blood pressure. In addition, they can also support the growth of foundational literacy skills in school-aged children. At BD, one class read "Harry the Dirty Dog" by Gene Zion with their new four-legged friends!