Below is a message from Dr. Laura Seinfeld, Superintendent of Schools.
As our time apart continues, I want to express how much I truly miss our students and assure you that we are hard at work planning end-of-year events to honor and celebrate them in ways that will be memorable and meaningful for all. We look forward to sharing those plans with you as soon as they are finalized. With remote learning taking place until the end of the school year, we are keeping a close eye on student engagement and progress, and setting our sights on September to visualize what a return to school might look like. Safety protocols, including social distancing, space planning and schedules, are some of the components being considered as parts of this plan. As I continue to work closely with colleagues within the District and across Nassau County, we are examining guidance, research, and best practices in order to provide meaningful learning experiences for all students while keeping our students, families and staff safe. With that in mind, please carefully review the following information that will greatly impact our schools moving forward as your participation is crucial to the future of our students.
Budget Vote by Absentee Ballot Only
Due to the pandemic, voting will NOT take place in person within our school buildings this year. Voting will take place by absentee ballot only. All registered voters of the District will receive an absentee ballot with a postage-paid return envelope. Completed ballots must be received by the District Clerk by 5 p.m. on Tuesday, June 9. Residents will receive an informational budget brochure in the mail in the coming weeks and should review this information before voting. Please know that the proposed budget maintains and enhances instructional programs and remains below our allowable tax levy limit. Some key enhancements include an orchestra program at Vernon School and a Mandarin elective at the high school. A separate transportation proposition aims to reduce the mileage eligibility limits for all K-12 students at an additional cost of $160,063. If approved, the budget will still remain under the allowable tax levy limit.
In case you haven’t already seen on the District website, one seat is open on the Board of Education. Residents who are interested in running for the Board must obtain a nomination petition by emailing the District Clerk at mnolan@obenschools.org and file it with the District Clerk no later than 5 p.m. on Monday, May 11. To be a candidate for Board of Education Trustee, you must be a resident of the school district for at least one year prior to the election, be able to read and write, and be a qualified voter of the school district. More information is available on our District website at https://www.obenschools.org/Page/2140.
Register to Vote
Please register to vote as soon as possible so you can participate in the school budget vote and trustee election. To register, simply complete a short form at https://dmv.ny.gov/more-info/electronic-voter-registration-application.
Community Book Club is May 14
Please consider joining us for my virtual Spring Community Book Club on Thursday, May 14 at 7 pm. The book selection is The Miraculous Journey of Edward Tulane by Kate DiCamillo, which came highly recommended by OBHS Senior Class President Erica Duke who will co-host this event with me. Click here for a free online copy.To connect via Google Meet or by phone, please go to Quick Links on the District website at www.obenschools.org.
Staff Appreciation Week
I want to take this opportunity to express my deepest gratitude to our faculty and staff for their extraordinary efforts during this unprecedented time. Each and every one of you is an integral part of our OBEN family and we greatly appreciate your ability to pivot, transition, grow and flourish in this new virtual learning environment while keeping our students engaged and supported. Please accept my sincerest thanks for all that you do for the students of our beloved Oyster Bay-East Norwich community.
Please Stay Safe
As the weather gets warmer and the beautiful colors of spring bloom all around our community, please continue to practice social distancing and safety protocols when venturing outside. It is incumbent upon all of us to do our part to help flatten the curve so, one day, we can all be together again.
