Rockland News

ROCKLAND BOE to meet Monday, Sept. 8 | Sept. 5, 2025

The Rockland Central School Board of Education will have a special meeting at 6:30 p.m. Monday, Sept. 8, in the auditorium of the Rockland Middle/High School in Livingston Manor. 

The meeting will be livestreamed.

An agenda will be available at the Board of Education's Simbli link in advance of the meeting. 

The next regular meeting will be at 6:30 p.m. Oct. 7.

FITNESS CENTER TO OPEN SEPT. 8 | Sept. 5, 2025

The Rockland Central School District Community Fitness Center will be open starting Monday, Sept. 8, with hours of operation of 5-8 p.m. Monday-Thursday and 5-7 p.m. Friday.

Usage is free to students and staff of the district. A $5 yearly fee is charged to members of the community.

For more information, please contact Assistant Principal, Director of Technology and Athletics Christopher Hubert via email or call 845-439-1501, ext. 7701.

DISTRICT REVEALS NEW ROCKLAND WOLVES MASCOT LOGO | Aug. 29, 2025

“I would like to thank our students and school community for their valuable input in shaping the new visual identity of our district,” said Superintendent of Schools John Evans. “As we move forward, better together for better tomorrows, we are excited to embrace this new chapter and continue building a strong, unified and proud community as the Rockland Wolves.” 

A MESSAGE FROM THE SUPERINTENDENT: WELCOME TO ROCKLAND CSD | Sept. 2, 2025

Dear Rockland School Community,

Welcome to a new school year and an exciting new start as Rockland Central School District. We welcome you to our halls, classrooms, and school campus – ready for a great year of learning, growth, and memorable experiences.

As we embark on this new adventure, we want to extend a warm welcome to our students and staff, many of whom are familiar faces from our former districts, and a special welcome to all the new faces joining our school community. We are thrilled to have each and every one of you as a part of our vibrant learning community.

A reminder that the school day will begin at 7:45 a.m. at Rockland Elementary School in Roscoe and end at 2:45 p.m.. School begins at 8 a.m. at Rockland Middle/High School in Livingston Manor and ends at 3 p.m. Doors open for drop-off 30 minutes before the school day begins.

As we come together as a new district, we want to remind everyone of the importance of kindness, empathy, and understanding. Let's strive to create a positive and inclusive atmosphere where every student feels valued, respected, and safe. Our school community thrives when we support one another and embrace diversity.

As a new district, we know there will be bumps as the year begins. We are working hard to keep those at a minimum and will address any concerns as they arise. We also know there are concerns over transportation. Please be assured that we are listening to your feedback and will review and adjust routes and procedures, taking into account true ridership on the bus routes once determined.

We have an exciting year planned ahead with a variety of academic, extracurricular, and community-building opportunities. From engaging lessons in the classroom to dynamic clubs, sports teams, and community events, there should be something for every student's interests and passions. We encourage each of you to explore and get involved.

Communication

Open lines of communication between school and home are vital to your child's success. We invite parents and guardians to actively participate in school events, parent-teacher conferences, and stay connected with teachers and school administrators. We are using ParentSquare for school-to-home communications. We encourage all parents and guardians to download the ParentSquare app, a free download for iOS and Android users. Signup can also be done online using the email address on file with the school at www.parentsquare.com. We encourage you to check our website for information about the district. Together, we can ensure the best possible educational experience for our students.

Free Meals for Students

Students enrolled at Rockland CSD are eligible to receive one breakfast and one lunch at school daily at no charge to your household throughout the school year. No further action is required of you. Your child will be able to participate without having to pay a fee or submit an application.

A la carte items such as snacks and extra meals are available for purchase. Parents can add funds to their child’s LINQ Connect account online. 

Policies

Please remember that personal internet enabled-devices are not allowed to be used by students during the school day. For more information, please review:

• Rockland Central School District Internet-Enabled Device Policy

• Cellphone and Internet-Enabled Device Policy FAQs

Several items are being sent home with students. Please read them carefully, fill out and sign the appropriate ones that need to be returned to your child’s respective Principal’s office. There are policies that students should be aware of:

• Policy 3010 Code of Conduct

• Policy 3450 Privacy and Security for Students, Teacher and Principal Data

• Policy 3500 Protection of Pupil Rights

• Policy 7100 Comprehensive Attendance Policy

• Policy 7200 Network and Internet Policy

• Policy 7250 Acceptable Student Use of district Network, Intranet, Internet or Technology Devices in the Educational Setting

• Policy 7300 Sexual Harassment

• Policy 7350 Student Harassment and Bullying Prevention and Intervention

• Policy 7365 Student Cell Phones

These policies are available for review on Simbli.

Here's to another extraordinary school year filled with growth, achievement, and joyful memories. We are excited to embark on this journey with each and every one of you. Let's make this year the best one yet!

As always, if you have any questions or concerns, please do not hesitate to reach out to us. Our doors are always open, and we value your input and feedback.

Wishing you all a successful and fulfilling academic year. We look forward to seeing all of our students on Thursday, Sept. 4.

Educationally yours,

John Evans

Superintendent

MIDDLE/HIGH SCHOOL TO IMPLEMENT NEW TRAFFIC FLOW FOR MORNING STUDENT ARRIVALS | Aug. 29, 2025

ARRIVAL AND DISMISSAL PROCEDURES AT ROCKLAND ELEMENTARY | Aug. 29, 2025

Busing

Beacon Mobility (Rolling V) bus drivers have been reaching out to families with pick-up and drop-off times. This process began last week and will continue this week. Questions regarding pick-up and drop-off can be made to the bus garage at 845-439-3713. After the school year beings, please contact Mrs. Lambrigger in the office at 607-498-4126 ext. 6105 to make changes to your child’s arrival/dismissal plans. After the school year starts, we request that any unexpected busing changes for afternoon bus routes are provided to the school by noon on the day of the change. 

ROCKLAND BOE MEETS, HEARS UPDATES | Aug. 27, 2025

The Rockland Central School Board of Education met Aug. 26 covering a range of topics.

Superintendent John Evans offered updates on the capital projects and transportation, as well as setting up a building walkthrough committee.

Capital project updates

According to Mr. Evans, the capital projects are progressing “better than expected.” The back parking lot at the middle/high school building has been paved and lined and will be available for use as will the ADA-compliant bathrooms at the school. While the new single-point-of-entry in Livingston Manor will not be used at the start of the school year on Sept. 4, work on that project and others will continue after hours and on weekends. 

He thanked the buildings and grounds workers for all of their hard work in getting ready for the new school year, especially Nikki Rasnick in Roscoe and Dave Ward in Livingston Manor, for leading the teams in the absence of a full-time facilities director.

It was decided that the building walkthrough committee would meet before and after the next meeting to tour each school.

Transportation routes and and student dropoff/pickup

Transportation routes are being confirmed and families should all be contacted with their pickup and dropoff times before school begins, with routes being tested this week. Students who live within one mile of either of the school buildings may be eligible for pickup. Routes were also designed so that a student would not be on the bus for more than an hour total from home to their school building. Most routes are designed with centralized bus stops, rather than door-to-door pick ups that have been in the past.

The front loop and back parking lot will be used from bus pickup and drop off at the elementary school. Buses will continue to use the bus loop at the front of the middle/high school. Those who wish to drop off or pick up their children at the school may do so on Highland Avenue, with entry from Orchard Street and Church Street. Traffic will be directed to help smooth the flow of traffic during pickup and dropoff times.

Some families have voiced concerns over the planned routes, and Mr. Evans said that routes will be reviewed and may potentially be tweaked after determining true ridership. Routes are initially planned with all students who are eligible to ride being picked up.

For more information on transportation, visit the transportation page on the district’s temporary website.

District mission, vision and values

Following the superintendent report, the school board began the business portion of the meeting. In addition to approving several policies, agreements and appointments, the board approved the district mission, vision and core values as below:

• Mission: To empower all students to learn, succeed, and contribute to their communities. 

  • EMPOWERING MINDS; INSPIRING FUTURES

• Vision: A place where students, staff, and community thrive together.

  • BETTER TOGETHER, BETTER TOMORROWS

• Core values: In order to accomplish our mission and achieve our vision, we will:

  • Lead with Integrity: Act honestly, transparently, and ethically in all that we do.

  • Put Students First: Make decisions that prioritize the growth, wellbeing, and success of every learner.

  • Foster Respect and Kindness: Treat all individuals with dignity, empathy, and fairness.

  • Pursue Excellence: Strive for the highest standards in teaching, learning, and leadership.

  • Build Strong Partnerships: Collaborate with families, staff, and the community to support student achievement.

  • Act as One Team: Work together with trust, unity, and shared responsibility for outcomes.

  • Model a Growth Mindset: Promote curiosity, reflection, and continuous improvement across all roles.

  •  Inspire with Positivity: Create a culture of encouragement, pride, and enthusiasm that uplifts others.

  • Embrace Innovation: Encourage creative thinking, flexible problemsolving, and future-focused solutions.

  • Be Accountable: Own our actions, honor our commitments, and manage resources responsibly.

Surplus property auction

The board also approved the disposal of surplus property. These items include surplus desks, chairs and other furniture. The merger offered an opportunity for the district to review what was available and what was no longer needed. The district is working with Auctions International and the auction will be live from Aug. 28 to Sept. 5. Detailed instructions for registering and bidding are available on the Auctions International website. 

Student board representatives appointed

Two student Board of Education representatives, Adam Rivera and Halie Cheng, were also appointed to the board State law requires at least one student board member be appointed. The student members will serve in an advisory role and will be non-voting members and will not attend executive sessions.

A recording of the meeting is available. Minutes from the meeting will be available at the Rockland CSD Board of Education website.

The next board meeting is scheduled for 6:30 p.m. Tuesday, Sept. 2, at the middle/high school auditorium in Livingston Manor. 

ROCKLAND ELEMENTARY SCHOOL SHARES IMPORTANT BACK-TO-SCHOOL INFORMATION WITH FAMILIES | Aug. 25, 2025

Dear Parents/Guardians of Rockland Elementary Students,

On behalf of the entire staff, we are thrilled to welcome you to the very first school year of Rockland Elementary School! As we begin this exciting new chapter together, we recognize that merging into one school community brings both opportunities and challenges—but we are ready. Our dedicated team is eager to greet our students on Thursday, Sept. 4, and to create a safe, supportive, and inspiring environment where every child can grow and succeed. This is more than just the start of a school year; it's the beginning of something truly special. Together, let’s embrace this fresh start with optimism, unity, and a shared commitment to making 2025-26 a memorable and meaningful year for all.

Our enrollment for grades PreK-6 within our building is approximately 300 students. We will have 3 Pre-K classes, 1 kindergarten class, 2 first-grade classes, 2 second-grade classes, 2 third-grade classes, 2 fourth-grade classes, 2 fifth-grade classes, and 3 sixth-grade classes. We also have 4 special education 8:1:1 classes for grades PreK-1, 2 & 3, 4, and 5 & 6.

Whether your child is new to the building or returning, they’ll notice that several classrooms have been relocated or newly added. Please rest assured that, as is typical in an elementary setting, all students and classes will be escorted throughout the building from place to place to ensure they feel comfortable and confident as they acclimate to the changes. Additionally, your child’s teachers will be doing introductory activities with them throughout the first few weeks of school to help them get to know the adults, students, and building. Your child will be well supported in this transition into Rockland Elementary!

Student Day

The student day for the elementary school is 7:45 a.m. to 2:45 p.m. We will use a 6-day rotation in the elementary building - Day 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6.

Arriving at School

Staff members will be present at the drop-off locations to assist in this process. At the elementary building, buses begin to drop off students at the school starting as early as 7:15 a.m. The car drop-off line/walker entrance door will also be open at this time. Students who arrive early to school will be sent to designated areas by grade levels and supervised during this time. Parents who are driving their child(ren) are asked to drop off students by driving up Academy Street to the cafeteria hallway door. Walkers should also enter the building through this door in the morning. Please plan for this process to take a little extra time at first; patience on all our parts will be needed to help the arrival procedure run smoothly. For the safety of all children, please remember not to pass a vehicle that is unloading students. Parents will not be permitted to enter the building during this time. We have several staff members available to assist the children in reaching their appropriate destination. Please understand that we restrict building access for the safety of all children. We know that you share in our concern for student safety, and we thank you in advance for your cooperation.

Dismissal/Parent Pick-Up

The school day ends at 2:45 p.m. and students who are being picked-up will be dismissed through the corner door of the Coach Ahart Gymnasium, located on Highland Avenue. Students in grades PreK-6 who are walking home will also be dismissed from this door. Parents are asked to remain in their cars during pick-up and students will be dismissed in the order of vehicles. For the safety of all children, please remember not to pass a vehicle that is loading students. As with our arrival procedure, please plan for this process to take a little extra time at first; patience on all our parts will be needed to make the dismissal procedure run smoothly.

Busing

Beacon Mobility (Rolling V) bus drivers have been reaching out to families with pick-up and drop-off times. This process began last week and will continue this week. Questions regarding pick-up and drop-off can be made to the bus garage at 845-439-3713. After the school year beings, please contact Mrs. Lambrigger in the office at patti.lambrigger@rcsd.us or 607-498-4126 ext. 6105 to make changes to your child’s arrival/dismissal plans. After the school year starts, we request that any unexpected busing changes for afternoon bus routes are provided to the school by noon on the day of the change.

School Safety

Safety is a priority at the elementary school. The elementary building will have both a school resource officer and a security guard. There will also be a school monitor at the lobby desk who will check visitors in and out of the building.

Breakfast & Lunch

All elementary students will be provided one free breakfast and one free lunch daily. Depending upon grade level, students will eat breakfast in their classrooms or in the cafeteria. All students will eat lunch in the cafeteria in grade-level groups.

Special Education

For questions related to special education, please reach out to Mrs. Lauren Nielsen, Director of Special Services (Special Education) at lauren.nielsen@rcsd.us or 845-439-4400 ext. 7300.

Health Information

Please contact Abby DeFreitas, in the elementary health office 607-498-4126 ext. 6107 with any questions you may have.

Parent Teacher Meetings & Communication

Teachers are always willing to meet with parents to ensure that each child has a successful learning experience. If you wish to speak with your child’s teacher, please call the school to set up a conference, which can occur virtually or in-person. Teachers are also available through email. All emails utilize this structure: firstname.lastname@rcsd.us

Report Cards

Report cards will be completed four times during the school year. PreK-4 report cards are skill-based and in line with the New York State learning standards developed specifically for each grade level. Grades 5-6 have traditional grades for the core content areas. Please contact your child’s teacher for further information.

Communication

Important notifications will be shared via our messaging system ParentSquare and on our website. Be sure to keep your contact information up-to-date with the school in order to receive email, text, and phone call notifications through our messaging system. Beginning-of-the-school-year forms will be sent home soon, and be sure to update your contact information if needed. Throughout the year, updates to contact information should be provided to Mrs. Lambrigger in the office at patti.lambrigger@rcsd.us or 607-498-4126 ext. 6105. The Rockland Central School District website will help you stay up-to-date on the latest news and happenings in the district. Please check the website regularly for breaking news, exciting academic updates, calendar changes and other important messages.

Also, as the school year begins, please check your child’s agenda and folder on a regular basis as a source of information from the school and your child’s teachers.

Rockland CSD also has a Facebook page on which you can see great pictures and descriptions of student events.

Annual Notifications

Federal and state laws require school districts to provide many notifications to students and their parents/guardians each year. Annual notifications are provided in the printed district calendar and will be available on the district website in the fall. If you would like a paper copy or have any questions related to the notifications, please contact the Main Office.

Cell Phones/Smart Watches/Personal Internet Enabled Devices

New York State law prohibits the unsanctioned use of internet-enabled devices during the entire school day in all K-12 public schools and BOCES, effective for the 2025-26 school year. We do not recommend elementary students bring devices to school, as these devices are not permitted to be utilized in school during the day and the school is not responsible for the loss or damage of such items. If a device is brought to school, students in grades PreK-4 will need to turn off and store devices in their cubby/backpack/locker for the entire school day. Students in grades 5 & 6 will be utilizing Yondr pouches (to help them transition to the system used in MS/HS building). Students will place their internet enabled devices in the pouch, which will be locked throughout the school day and then unlocked at dismissal. Students will be able to contact parents through the offices. Parents can also contact your child’s teacher or an office in order to relay important messages to their child.

We are looking forward to an incredible first year at Rockland Elementary. We can’t wait to see our young wolf pups learn, lead, and thrive in 2025-26 at Rockland Elementary!

Yours in Education,

Robin Francisco

Principal, Rockland Elementary

robin.francisco@rcsd.us

Rebecca Ackerly

Assistant Principal, Rockland Elementary
rebecca.ackerly@rcsd.us 

ROCKLAND MIDDLE/HIGH SCHOOL SHARES PLANS FOR FIRST DAYS OF SCHOOL | Aug. 22, 2025

The following information will be mailed to Rockland Middle/High School families:

Greetings and Welcome Wolf Pack Families,

I am pleased to share with you what our beginning of the year schedules will look like for the first two days of school this year. I understand that there are apprehensions related to the opening of the new district and numerous questions that this new beginning has brought forth for many of us. This of course, is part of the process in starting anew. As we go through this transition, please know how extremely important each and every one of you are in making this the best experience for our students. While there may be bumps in the road, it will take all of us together to aid in smoothing them out. As always, your partnership and communication are very helpful, as well as appreciated.

Below you’ll find a break-down of what your child should expect when entering the Rockland Middle/High School on Sept. 4 and 5. While they will receive a much more detailed schedule on those days, please know that our goal is to ease our students into entering a building that is either partially or completely unfamiliar to them. Whether they are new to the building or not, students will find that many class locations have changed and been added. We have separated (for the most part) our middle and high school class locations and departmentalized them by subject area. In addition to the many activities we have planned, meant to promote collaboration, students will engage in a “dry-run” of their schedule on each of the first two days in hopes to familiarize themselves with the new layout. This is meant to create a stress-free approach to what will be the first full day of classes on Monday, Sept. 8.

As we progress through the first days of our newly formed district, it is important to note that we will still be utilizing similar forms of communications (hard copy letters home, email, text alerts, the school website and social media). Please be sure to complete the forms that are sent home on the first day of school so we can ensure we have your up-to-date contact information in addition to those who are preferred in your contact list. Your time and effort in this are greatly appreciated. I am looking forward to sharing with you the great things our district has to offer!

Respectfully,

Adam Larson
Middle/High School Principal
Rockland Central School District

Rockland Elementary launches survey on afterschool programming | Aug. 21, 2025

Rockland Elementary School anticipates having an afterschool program starting in mid-fall (October or November) and running through most of the school year (May) from about 2:45-4:45 on Mondays-Thursdays. 

Parents and guardians who anticipate sending their children to the afterschool program are asked to answer a survey at https://forms.gle/J26DvA7zMkzBVQ6Z8 to help administrators plan.

 A separate survey should be completed for each child. 

POLICIES AVAILABLE FOR REVIEW, COMMENT | July 30, 2025 

The Rockland Central School District's Code of Conduct and Student Cellphone Policy are available for review and public comment.

The cellphone policy can be found here: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1r6LZGLeldj7dABTNu7I2cJYYkMTBpC4U-1SfIOzhYmY/edit?usp=sharing

The code of conduct is available here: 

https://docs.google.com/document/d/1Y_eEYqXWezCmx3qAxY5lADBuCgY-fe0efrVWSmpwE3E/edit?usp=sharing.

Both policies are available for comment for 30 days by contacting District Clerk Marlyn Peters at 845-439-4400, ext. 7201, or email marlyn.peters@rcsd.us.

There will be a cell phone policy discussion and community discussion of Education Law §2803 at 6:30 p.m. Tuesday, Aug. 5, in the Rockland MS/HS Auditorium in Livingston Manor. For information 845-439-4400. 

REMINDERS ISSUED ON DAY CAMP PROGRAM | July 28, 2025

A reminder to parents of students registered for the Frost Valley/Rockland Central School summer session: Session B of the day camp program runs from Monday, July 28, through Friday, Aug. 22. 

Students need to bring their own bagged lunch each day. 

A Frost Valley staff member rides the bus with the students and will assist with bus loading and drop off. The morning bus load times are at 8 a.m. at both the Roscoe and Manor buildings. The afternoon pick up time is at 4:45 p.m. at both buildings. Timeliness is important. 

Parent/guardian ID required at bus pick up. 

Specific questions regarding day camp can be emailed to a camp director at daycamp@frostvalley.org or made via phone to 845-985-2291, ext. 410. 

Please also reach out to daycamp@frostvalley.org if your child will be absent from camp for any reason.

REGISTRATION OPENS FOR FALL SPORTS | July 28, 2025

Arbiter Sports fall registration is open for varsity, junior varsity and modified student-athletes at https://hello.students.arbitersports.com/. Please note: a current physical is required for all student-athletes before the start of the season.

Sports physicals will be offered 9-11 a.m. Friday, Aug. 15, from 9-11 a.m. in the nurse's office at the MS/HS building in Livingston Manor. 

Varsity and junior varsity spring practices will begin Monday, Aug. 18. Modified fall sports practices for all teams will start Thursday, Sept. 4.

RCSD OFFERS UPDATES ON UPCOMING SCHOOL YEAR | July 24, 2025

Rockland Central School District is busily preparing for the school year. This is the first of regular updates on the progress of building the district to be better together for better tomorrows.

Branding and culture

• On July 8, the Rockland Advisory Committee met for a work session. During this meeting, the group collaborated and brainstormed ideas on ways to create positive school experiences for the Rockland students, staff, parents and community. As the new school district is created, the group wants to be purposeful in developing traditions, celebrations and events that recognize and celebrate students, staff and the greater school community. 

• Work is progressing on our branding efforts as the Purple and Black Rockland Wolves. The Branding Committee has settled on colors, and is working on finalizing the illustrations and logos. The committee met with the graphic artist on July 8 to share feedback and requested changes. Additional meetings were held Tuesday, July 15, and Monday, July 21, with modifications and updates made based on feedback from the students and community members on the committee. Final adjustments are still being made with a target date of August 5th for final board approval. 

Building and Grounds Projects

• The work on the MS/HS is in full swing with significant progress being made on the new secure single point of entry by the faculty room entrance. The main parking lot replacement is underway. Anyone visiting the building should park in the front bus loop and enter the building through the bus loop doors. 

• The Sullivan 180 grant project is progressing. The old basketball and tennis courts have been removed and the base coat of blacktop for the new basketball/pickleball courts has been installed. The new blacktop needs to cure for 30 days before the final coating and the surface court designs can be painted. 

• On the elementary building projects, the board held a special meeting earlier this month where the contracts were approved by the board, signed and work in the elementary building beginning in the cafeteria area. The hallway tile replacement portion of the project is in full swing with most of the old tiles removed and awaiting installation of the new flooring. 

• Several of the internal and external classroom moves and room cleaning/preparations have been completed. The impacted teachers have been contacted and some have started the process of setting up their new rooms. As rooms and moves are completed building principals will be contacting staff so they can schedule times to access their classrooms. 

Middle/High School

• Middle/High School administrators and guidance recently met to discuss the bell schedule. The biggest change is the addition of a home room period to start the day of about 20 minutes. This will help to alleviate student traffic in and out of the classrooms during the first three periods of the day as breakfast will be served at that time. 

Elementary School

• Grade and department level meetings have been held and staff will be informed as to materials/programs will be used for grade level content areas as well as what special events will be continued for the 2025-2026 school year.

• Summer curriculum and moving/setting up classrooms and hours information was sent out to elementary teachers in an email from Principal Robin Francisco.

Athletics

• Varsity and junior varsity athletic practices start on Aug 18. The district worked with Arbiter Sports to merge the Livingston Manor and Roscoe accounts into the Rockland Central School District account. Students will be able to register for the upcoming fall athletic season starting next week. The district is also working with coaches, athletes and a vendor to secure uniforms for fall sports teams. 

• Sports physicals will be offered from 9 to 11 a.m. Friday, Aug. 15. For more information, please contact Mary Davis at mary.davis@rcsd.us

Technology 

• ParentSquare will be the new communications tool for the district, including teacher-to-family communications, mass communications and the website. Work is underway migrating contacts and content to ParentSquare to be up and running before school begins. 

• The district has transitioned to using the rcsd.us domain for all emails, with user names being firstname.lastname@rcsd.us.

• Internal systems have transitioned to Rockland Central School District, with staff being informed of any changes needed and in progress.

• The district is working on changing the phone system to have consistent numbers and extensions across buildings. The district and building numbers will be announced when finalized.

For more information or questions, please reach out to Superintendent John Evans at John.Evans@rcsd.us.

AFTER INTERVIEWS, TOM WARD APPOINTED TO VACANT SEAT | July 23, 2025

On Tuesday, July 22, the Rockland Central School District Board of Education passed a resolution to appoint Tom Ward to fill the board member position left vacant following the resignation of James Buck on July 3.

The board invited the top four unelected vote getters in the February Board of Education election to interview for the position. Justin Murphy declined. Tom Ward and Dan Johnston were interviewed Monday and Jill Smith was interviewed Tuesday.

The three candidates were asked the same series of questions during the open sessions of the special board meetings. Because each candidate brought a lot to the table, and the board agreed all three candidates were worthy of the position, the board decided the appointment would go to the next highest vote-getter from the February election. 

Tom Ward will be sworn in during the Aug. 5 board meeting, and will serve through June 30, 2026. The seat will be up for election during the next Board of Education election.

BOE TO INTERVIEW FORMER CANDIDATES FOR VACANT SEAT | July 9, 2025

The Rockland Central School District Board of Education is moving forward to fill the position left vacant by the resignation of member James Buck on July 3.

The board has decided to appoint the position, rather than have an election that would have delayed filling the position until the end of August or the start of September. 

The board will invite the top four unelected vote getters in the February Board of Education election—Tom Ward, Jill Smith, Justin Murphy and Dan Johnston—to interview for the position and will fill the position based on those interviews. If none of those interviewed are interested or are unable to serve, the board will continue down the list of former candidates.

Whoever is appointed will serve until June 30, and if the person wishes to remain on the board, he or she will need to run for election in May. 

The board’s goal is to have the position filled in time for the next meeting on Aug. 5.

BOE ELECTS OFFICERS, APPROVES ITEMS FOR NEW DISTRICT | July 8, 2025

The Rockland Central School District met Thursday, July 3, in the Livingston Manor auditorium/old gym for its rescheduled reorganizational meeting. The meeting on July 1 was postponed as the board was unable to elect a president.

At the July 3 meeting, Ed Gorr was elected president of the board and Gary Dahlman was elected vice president. 

Board member James Buck resigned from the board, effective July 3. An appointment will be made at a future meeting.

Also at that meeting, the board approved several roles, positions, rates, policies and procedures, as well as the board meeting schedule. The board will generally meet the first Tuesday of each month at 6:30 p.m. in the Old Gym at the Rockland Middle/High School in Livingston Manor, except for a few exceptions or unless a change is made. The full board meeting schedule is available on the Board of Education page of the Rockland CSD Merger Updates site. 

The full list of actions will be found at the Rockland CSD Simbli July 3 reorganizational meeting link.

Immediately following the reorganizational meeting, the board met for a regular meeting.

The board approved a transportation bid to longtime transportation partner Rolling V Bus Corp. At a meeting last month, the board agreed to a transportation option of buses arriving in each building at about the same time as they do now, with a 15-minute staggered start time and one bus appearing at a household. 

Members also approved several other items to help establish the district, which officially began operations on July 1, including approving contracts and appointing faculty and staff.

The full list of actions will be found at the Rockland CSD Simbli July 3 regular meeting link.

The next meeting is scheduled for Aug. 5.

ROCKLAND BOE MEETINGS RESCHEDULED FOR JULY 3 | July 1, 2025

The Rockland Central School District Board of Education reorganizational and regular meetings, scheduled for July 1, have been rescheduled for 6:30 p.m. Thursday, July 3, in the Rockland Middle/High School auditorium in Livingston Manor.

With six members present at the meeting July 1, the board was unable to elect a president. Gary Dahlman and Ed Gorr each received three votes. Without a president elected the meeting was not able to continue.

ROCKLAND NAMES BUILDING ADMINISTRATORS | June 24, 2025

Rockland Central School District has named its administrative team.

Current Livingston Manor Middle/High School Principal Adam Larson will serve in the same role at Rockland as Middle/High School principal, with Chris Hubert, who is the Director of Educational Programs, Services and Athletics, serving as Middle/High School assistant principal/athletic director.

Roscoe K-12 Principal Robin Francisco will serve as Rockland Elementary School principal, with Roscoe Assistant Principal Rebecca Ackerly as assistant principal.

Additionally, Lauren Marrero-Nielsen will continue as Director of Special Services for Rockland.

Current Livingston Manor Elementary Principal Julie Buck has taken a position at a neighboring district. Working with the Rockland Board of Education it was decided that the administrative vacancy will not be filled at this time. 

“While I realize this is a change from what we have been working around these last few months, the entire administrative team has been working collaboratively developing the schedules, staffing and building restructuring plans,” Superintendent John Evans said. “So while different people may be leading the efforts, the plans developed will continue to move forward.”

Conversations will continue about next steps, and specific details about which administrators are responsible for certain educational and administrative functions will be announced as those decisions are finalized.

“As evident by the strides we have made together thus far, I am confident the Rockland faculty and staff will continue to work together to make the first year of the Rockland Central School District one that our entire school community can be proud of,” Evans said.

ROCKLAND CHOOSES SCHOOL MASCOT, COLORS | June 10, 2025

We are excited to share a major milestone in the brand development process for the Rockland Central School District: the selection of our school mascot and colors.

From the beginning, this process has been rooted in community voice and student leadership. We began by inviting input from families, staff, students and community members on the attributes they would most like to see the new mascot represent. Responses included characteristics like “strength,” “pride,” and “resilience.”

Next, we collected ideas for mascot concepts and color combinations. Our Rockland Branding Work Group, made up of staff, student, family and community representatives, reviewed hundreds of suggestions and narrowed them down to two final options for each category. On Tuesday, June 10, students were presented with the final mascot and color options and cast their votes for the combinations they felt best represented our new, unified school district.

Based on the student vote, and with the full support of the Board of Education, we are proud to announce that the Rockland Central School District mascot will be the Wolves, and the official school colors will be purple and black.

As we move forward as the Rockland Wolves, we stand united as one school district, proud of the many voices and perspectives that came together to create this shared identity. 

Thank you to everyone who contributed your ideas, votes, and time throughout this process. We can’t wait to see our new identity come to life across our school, teams, and community.

Go, Wolves!

ROCKLAND BRANDING WORK GROUP MEMBERS ANNOUNCED | May 28, 2025

The Rockland Central School District has announced the members of the Rockland Branding Work Group. This group will help guide the selection of the district's mascot, school colors, and logo. 

Members of the committee were sought and selected from within both the Livingston Manor and Roscoe Central School communities. To ensure fairness and inclusivity, members were randomly selected from defined stakeholder groups with the goal of ensuring equal representation throughout the community with balanced representation among staff, students, parents, families, community members and both Livingston Manor and Roscoe alumni. 

The following individuals were selected to serve as members of the work group:

• Students – Aidan Roycroftt, Andrea Bush, Andrew Potosek, Allison Froehlich, Ben Johnston, Clara LeRoy, David Huezo-Pineda, Emma Gaebel, Gavin Thomas, Grace Ward, Leah Ladenhauf, Logan Schmeiser, Patrick Gorr, Vincent Hicks   

• Community/Alumni Representatives – Cheri Niforatos, Gwen Schantz, Melissa Hess

The Rockland Branding Work Group will meet for the first time on Wednesday, May 28 in the Livingston Manor auditorium at 6 p.m. Members will collaborate with the merger transition team and branding specialists to gather input, review ideas, and shape the visual identity of the Rockland Central School District. 

ROCKLAND VOTERS APPROVE DISTRICT'S FIRST BUDGET | May 20, 2025

On May 20, residents of the newly formed Rockland Central School District approved, 339-206, the district’s first budget with 62% of the voters supporting the budget.

The new district was formed following the voters’ approval of the merger of the Livingston Manor and Roscoe central school districts in December.

The $32,134,980 budget builds on current programs and offers expanded programming for all grade levels utilizing existing staff. The budget includes more than 40 additional electives for middle and high school students, many with the potential for college credit, two transitional classrooms, more targeted PK-6 academic intervention services (AIS) in math and English Language Arts (ELA) and more robust daily specials rotation at the elementary level, as well as expanded extracurricular clubs and activities for all students PK-12. 

“We thank the voters for their support of this plan that will provide our students with expanded educational opportunities while providing fiscal responsibility,” Superintendent John Evans said.

Voters also approved, 360-181, a proposal to establish a $30 million buildings and facilities capital reserve fund over 15 years. The fund will be/would have been used to help defray all or part of the cost of future improvements, additions, construction or reconstruction of school buildings.

ADVISORY COMMITTEE MEETS, STARTS MERGER WORK | May 19, 2025

The Rockland Central School District Advisory Committee had its initial meeting Wednesday, May 14.

The district was formed following the approval of the merger by voters of the Livingston Manor and Roscoe school districts in December.

The committee, which was formed to help with the merger transition, includes students, faculty, staff, family members and community members with equal representation from Livingston Manor and Roscoe.

Serving on the committee are faculty members Rene Carlson and Fiona Streimer from Livingston Manor and Cindy Hyzer and Katie Ahart from Roscoe; staff members Rosa Finkle and Rob Gould from Manor and Abby DeFreitas and Nicole Rasnick from Roscoe; parent representatives Ashley Hoag-Irwin and Tegan Edwards from Manor and Christina Antizzo and Kendra Harris Constant from Roscoe; community representatives Diana Fredenburg and Dan Smith from Manor and Ed Park and Elwin Wood from Roscoe and student representatives Clara LeRoy from Manor and Brooke Coman from Roscoe. Also on the committee will be members of the district administration: Adam Larson, Julie Buck, Lauren Marrero, Christopher Hubert, Robin Francisco, Rebecca Ackerly and John Evans.

The group, with guidance from education consulting firm Leadership Solutions Advisers, reviewed its purpose and processes with a goal to make the transition to the new district a smooth one. 

The consultants visited Livingston Manor and Roscoe earlier this month, speaking to administration, faculty, staff, students and community members, over three days to gain understanding of perspectives, concerns and hopes regarding the new district. They brought that information to the committee to start their work.

The consultants will work with the committee to form work groups that will focus on specific aspects of the merger transition, such as policies, programming, safety, branding and more. The work groups will meet throughout May and June with a report, including recommendations, prepared for the Rockland Board of Education meeting on June 17. More information about the work groups will be communicated in the coming week. 

Leadership Solutions Advisers is collaborating with district administrators and staff to build plans in many areas to support positive change. They are also working with district leadership to initiate a regular weekly communication update for the merger transition to Rockland Central School District. 

There will be a Community Planning Day focusing on continuing the strategic plan process and defining a common mission, vision and core values, from 5:30 to 8:30 p.m. Monday, May 19, in the Livingston Manor auditorium. Those who wish to attend are asked to RSVP at https://tinyurl.com/RocklandplanningRSVP.

The next advisory committee meeting will be in Roscoe from 6 to 7:30 p.m. Monday, June 9, a change in date from initially announced. An optional building tour will take place at 5:15 p.m. Meetings are open to the public.

LIVINGSTON MANOR-ROSCOE CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT VOTERS ELECT FIRST BOARD | February 20, 2025

The first Board of Election of the newly formed Livingston Manor-Roscoe Central School District was elected on Thursday, Feb. 20.

The election was postponed from Feb. 13 because of inclement weather.

When the residents of the Livingston Manor and Roscoe central school districts approved the centralization merger of the two districts on Dec. 19, they also determined that the new board would consist of seven members who will serve three-year terms. 

The following people will be sworn in during the Feb. 25 organizational meeting of the board, to be held at 6 p.m. in Livingston Manor:

• James Buck, Ed Gorr and Tasse Niforatos will serve through June 30, 2028

• Roy Rogers and Gary Dahlman will serve through June 30, 2027

• Nicole Park and Chris Tuleweit will serve through June 30, 2026 

The initial terms for those elected were determined by the vote totals, which were as follows: James Buck: 405; Ed Gorr: 345; Tasse Niforatos: 339; Roy Rogers: 332; Gary Dahlman: 325; Nicole Park: 320; Chris Tuleweit: 320; Tom Ward: 316; Jill Smith: 305; Justin Murphy: 298; Dan Johnston: 264; Amy Leroy: 215; Amanda Krause: 203; Rick Martin: 192; Shawn Dutcher: 185; Dan Smith: 174; Elizabeth Williams: 157; Joe Langan:130; and Kourtni Guzzo: 117.  Receiving write-in votes were Ed Park with two and one each for Robert Francis Trotti, Michael McCue and Peter Perez. There were 759 ballots cast.

After the initial three years, board members will serve full three-year terms starting July 1 following their election.

There will also be a public hearing on local tax exemptions before the organizational meeting, starting at 5:45 p.m. All existing local tax exemptions will sunset with the dissolution of the Livingston Manor and Roscoe central school districts. The local tax exemptions must be approved by the new LM-R board and residents must reapply for them by the March 1 deadline. Residents should contact their local assessor for more information on reapplying or to apply for the exemptions once approved.

The new board will determine critical aspects of operations and policies of the new district.  Some of the work to be done before July 1 includes deciding on an official school district name, school colors, mascot, building use and grade configuration, officially appointing attorneys, architects, banks, newspaper, auditors, insurance providers, school officers and approving transportation contracts.

VOTERS APPROVE MERGER OF LIVINGSTON MANOR, ROSCOE SCHOOL DISTRICTS | December 19, 2024

On Thursday, Dec. 19, voters in the Livingston Manor and Roscoe central school districts approved a proposal to merge the districts via centralization.

Voters approved the merger by a vote of 351-227 in Livingston Manor and 283-106 in Roscoe.

“I appreciate our residents’ support of the measure, which will benefit our students and the communities,” said John Evans, who is shared superintendent of both districts. “I want to thank all of the people who contributed to making this happen.”

Also on the ballot were two questions on the composition and terms of the new district’s board of education. Voters determined the board would be seven members with terms of three years. Terms will be staggered.

Those interested in serving on the new board must gather enough signatures on a nominating petition to be placed on the ballot for the new Board of Education, with the election of board members expected to take place in February. More details on the petition process will be available at a later date, as will the finalized date for the board election.

Once in place, the new board will craft the district’s 2025-26 operating budget, which will go before voters on May 20.

The new district will begin operation July 1, 2025. Although building reconfiguration will not happen immediately, the extra funding through incentive aid will begin at that time.

A restructuring committee of board members, administrators, faculty, staff, parents and students will be formed to recommend the best grade configurations and building makeup for the new district, with implementation taking place gradually over the 2025-26 school year and beyond.