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Rockland BOCES Capital Project Referendum on March 6th

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3 years ago

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WEST NYACK, NY – On March 6, 2024, voters in Rockland County will be asked to approve the construction of a new, 52,000 square foot, two-story building to support current and future growth of Rockland BOCES Career and Technical Education and STEM programs in West Nyack. The new construction will also allow for additional classroom space in our renowned Jesse J. Kaplan School for students with exceptional needs.

On November 15, 2023, the Rockland BOCES Board of Education unanimously approved the proposal of a bond program for the March 6 ballot. The proposition will authorize capital work to construct additional space for student programs and operations, including:

The addition of four, large classrooms in the Jesse J. Kaplan School following relocation of the existing Culinary Arts facility
One commercial and one standard kitchen for the Career and Technical Education Center (CTEC) Culinary Arts program
Two specialized Culinary Arts classrooms
15 STEM classrooms (11,300 square feet) for continued growth of Hudson Valley P-TECH (Early College High School)
Cafeteria: approximately 5,000 square feet with storage area for tables and chairs
A regulation-size gymnasium/basketball court and fitness area

“Simply put, Rockland BOCES is running out of space,” said Rockland BOCES District Superintendent Christopher D’Ambrese. “Enrollment in our Special Education, Career and Technical Education (CTE) and Early College High School (P-TECH) programs continues to soar. There are student waiting lists today and enrollment in our programs is expected to increase nearly 20% in the next decade. In order to meet the increasing needs of our local school districts, we must expand,” said D’Ambrese.

The $47.9 million project cost, which will be paid over a 25-year period, will be shared by the eight component districts that make up the Rockland BOCES Supervisory District. Each school district’s share of the cost is determined by the number of students that reside in that particular district compared to the other component school districts. This is referred to as Resident Weighted Average Daily Attendance (RWADA). The average cost to a Rockland County residential property per month will be $2.36. (Average based on a property assessment of $500,000)

The construction will be financed by the Dormitory Authority of the State of New York (DASNY) and will be offset by a portion of Rockland BOCES current capital budget. A significant portion of the project – between 50% and 70% – will qualify for State Aid at the local school district’s aid ratio.

Rockland BOCES currently spends more than $1.5 million annually on leases for rented classroom space in four locations: the former Tappan Zee Elementary School in Piermont, the former Gerald F. Neary Elementary School in Haverstraw and the former Hilltop School and the former Nyack High School in Nyack. Adding learning space to our West Nyack campus will eliminate leasing costs, help to consolidate programming and staff, reduce transportation costs and build equity and long-term wealth for the agency.

Work would start in Spring 2026 (pending NYSED approval) and would be completed in phases with an expected opening in the Fall of 2027. KSQ Design has been contracted by Rockland BOCES to oversee design and construction of the capital project.

Because the “Building For Excellence” project involves a new structure on the agency’s main campus in West Nyack, it is required that the community approve the project via a referendum.

Voters cast their ballot on March 6, 2024 between 12 p.m. and 8 p.m. at the Rockland BOCES Jesse J. Kaplan School, 65 Parrott Road, West Nyack, New York 10994. Anyone 18 or older who is a United States citizen living in Rockland County for at least 30 days preceding the vote date is eligible to vote.

Voters who wish to vote by absentee ballot because of disability, illness or travel must first request a ballot application. To request an absentee ballot application, contact the Rockland BOCES District Clerk at (845) 627-4702 or via email at esussman@rboces.org by February 28, 2024. Once your application is received, an absentee ballot will be mailed to you. Completed absentee ballots must be returned to Rockland BOCES District Clerk by March 6 at 5 p.m.

Photo by Rockland Boces

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Back-to-School Photos: Why Parents Should Think Before Posting

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1 day ago

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August 12, 2026

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As a new school year gets underway, social media feeds will soon be filled with the familiar first-day-of-school photos: children standing on the front porch with their backpacks, holding signs announcing their grade, and smiling for the camera before heading off to class.

While these photos are a fun way for families to celebrate a milestone, parents should take a moment before posting to consider how much personal information the picture may reveal.

The National Center for Missing & Exploited Children (NCMEC) is reminding families to make online safety part of their back-to-school routine. The organization specifically cautions parents about information that can appear in seemingly innocent school photos, including a child’s full name, school name or logo, teacher’s name, street signs, house numbers and other identifying details.

A photo can also reveal a child’s daily routine or where they spend much of their time.

The Problem Isn’t the Photo — It’s the Information Around It

Parents do not necessarily need to stop sharing their children’s accomplishments and special moments online. The bigger concern is how much identifying information accompanies the photo.

A typical first-day picture could potentially show a child’s name on a backpack or sign, the name or logo of the school, a bus number, a street address or even a recognizable neighborhood location.

Adding a caption such as a child’s full name, age, school, teacher and grade can provide even more information.

NCMEC recommends taking a few moments to examine photos before posting them and removing or obscuring identifying details when appropriate.

Once It’s Online, It’s Difficult to Control

Parents should also remember that social media privacy settings do not guarantee that a photograph will remain private.

The Federal Trade Commission advises people to think carefully before posting because photos and other content can be copied, screenshotted, recorded and shared beyond the audience originally intended. Even deleting a post later does not necessarily mean the image has disappeared from the internet.

That is particularly important when the person in the photograph is a child who may not fully understand the long-term implications of having personal information available online.

A Quick Check Before You Hit Post

Before sharing a back-to-school picture, parents may want to ask:

  • Does the photo show the child’s full name?
  • Is the school name or logo visible?
  • Is a teacher’s name visible?
  • Can someone identify our home or street?
  • Does the photo reveal where or when the child will be?
  • Have I included unnecessary personal information in the caption?
  • Would I be comfortable with this image being copied and shared outside my intended audience?

Cropping a photo, covering identifying information or choosing a less specific caption can reduce the amount of information being shared.

Back-to-school photos are a way for families to celebrate an exciting milestone. A few extra seconds before posting can help ensure that the celebration doesn’t reveal more about a child than a parent intended.

The goal isn’t to take the fun out of sharing these moments. It’s simply to remember that a cute picture can contain more information than it appears to at first glance.

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Truck Overturns on NYS Thruway Near Tappan Zee Bridge, Causing Delays

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3 days ago

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August 10, 2026

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A traffic incident is causing significant delays on the southbound New York State Thruway near mile marker 16.4, just before the Tappan Zee Bridge.

According to an initial traffic alert, a large truck struck an overpass and overturned across several lanes of the highway. Only the two left lanes are currently getting by.

The incident occurred at approximately 12:15 p.m. and remains ongoing.

Motorists traveling southbound toward Westchester should expect significant delays and consider seeking an alternate route if possible.

Drivers in the area are urged to slow down, use caution and follow directions from emergency personnel.

Photo courtesy: Rockland Fires

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