Opening day is Sept. 6

Monroe-Woodbury and Tuxedo school officials are prepared for a new year and new beginnings With just days to go until the opening day of school, many parents are double checking their school supplies list while students are grabbing those last hours of sleeping in late. Some students are anxiously awaiting opening day, while others are whining about the notion of a yellow school bus pulling up to their homes. No matter what students may think, area school officials say their schools are prepared for Tuesday’s opening day and they’re ready for a productive and successful year. Monroe-Woodbury: 'Ready to go’ “We’re clean, primed and ready to go,” said Monroe-Woodbury School District Superintendent Edward Mehrhof. During yesterday’s address to faculty during Superintendent’s Conference Day, the first official day for teachers, Mehrhof spoke of the challenges facing the district for this year. “Our challenges are many,” he said in his prepared remarks. “An economic crisis that continues to destroy lives and devastate our society. A dysfunctional state government. A governor that cut $3.5 million in state aid to Monroe-Woodbury in the 2010-2011 school year. A state education department that cut the January Regents exams with very little thought given to how this would impact the graduation and future of our students. A state education department that cannot give us clear guidance on the new APPR regulations.” In his remarks, Mehrhof cited two goals of importance to the district. “First, we want our administrators, teachers, teaching assistants, clerical staff, custodial staff, food service workers, bus drivers, monitors and all the members of the Monroe-Woodbury to nurture our children in the emotional, social, physical and intellectual growth so they will be productive members of our society long after they have graduated from our school district,” he said. Enhancement of student achievement on state assessment exams is another goal. “We will work hard to become more familiar with the common core standards and more fully incorporate them into our curriculum,” Mehrhof said in his remarks. “We will work hard to understand how the knowledge and skills reflected in the common core standards are projected to be measured in the state assessments. In doing this, we must be focused on our students as individual people and work hard to ensure that their needs are met, because all our students - from the most needy child to the most gifted youngster - deserve and are entitled to a fair and appropriate public education.” Mehrhof reminded teachers he asked only three things of them last year, and is again asking the same. “Love them, protect them and teach them,” he said. Tuxedo: 'Brand new start for everyone’ Tuxedo Interim Superintendent Carol Lomascolo knows Tuxedo’s last-minute challenges include assisting those students who were displaced from Hurricane Irene. “We hope to be able to support our community in any way possible,” she said Wednesday afternoon. “We’re there if they need us. I know the East Village has been hit particularly hard.” The much smaller Tuxedo School District will see administrative changes at its high school, with John Flanagan recently named as assistant principal at George F. Baker High School. He was previously a social studies teacher at Washingtonville High School. Flanagan replaces Dr. Patricia Tripken, who has been named director of student services/human resources. She will be handling major district initiatives, response to state mandates and continuous improvement programs, according to Lomascolo. “I believe there is a challenge from the state mandates coming down,” said Lomascolo. “I look forward to working collaboratively with our administrators and staff so we can successfully address change. The state mandates will cause culture change. The only way to roll out initiatives of that size is to work together.” Lomascolo added one of her initials plans for this coming school year is to meet with members of various constituency groups in the school communities, including parents, community members, faculty, students and staff, to gather their feedback on Tuxedo’s educational programs and the role the district plays in the community. Despite those challenges, Lomascolo - as is Mehrhof - is looking forward to the new year. “We all can’t wait to have the students back,” she added. “It’s a brand new start for everyone. I anticipate a really great opening day and a great school year.”