WVCSD EdTalk & Photo of the Week: May 27, 2026

Thank you, Warwick Valley voters, for your incredible support in the May 19 election. Our proposed 2026–27 school budget passed decisively with a 1,261 to 386 vote, securing a 76.6% approval rate, which marks the highest approval rating in the county. Along with the budget, voters successfully approved the school bus and repair reserve referendums, and reelected all three incumbent Board of Education candidates to new terms. Thank you again, Warwick, for partnering with us to invest in the future of our children.

This strong approval rating mirrors a broader trend across New York State, where voters approved 96% of proposed school district budgets. Most districts succeeded in securing voter approval this year despite facing significant, universal financial pressures, including rising costs for transportation, health insurance, retiree benefits, special education, mental health services, utilities, and contractual obligations. Statewide, 38 districts sought to override their property tax caps during the May 2026 votes, which required a strict 60% supermajority vote for passage. Of those, 25 budgets were approved and 13 were not, resulting in a 65.8% success rate. Since the tax cap was enacted in 2012, roughly two-thirds of override attempts have historically passed on the first vote. Among the districts that proposed budgets within their tax caps, voters overwhelmingly approved 98% of the proposals. Notably, this marks the 14th consecutive year that Warwick Valley has successfully maintained its annual tax levy increase at or below the state’s allowable cap.

Voters also greenlit Ballot Proposition 2, authorizing the district to purchase five new buses for the Transportation Department. The maximum cost will be $936,200, with the district applying $364,000 from its bus reserve fund to help offset the cost. Approximately $572,954, or 61.2% of the total, is expected to be reimbursed through state transportation aid. As a result of this careful financial planning, no additional taxes will be required from the community, and the net cost to the district will be approximately $572,200.

Proposition 3, the funding of a Repair Reserve, also passed by a vote of 1304 to 337. The Repair Reserve will be built using year-end fund balance up to $2 million over 15 years and will help cover facility and building system repairs without sudden budget or tax increases.

Finally, three incumbents were reelected to the Board of Education, Dory Masefield, Robert Howe, and John W. Garcia. As stewards of the public school system in Warwick Valley, these dedicated volunteers collaborate tirelessly to ensure that our schools remain adaptable, safe, and responsive to the evolving needs of our students and community. They will officially begin their new terms this July.

Here are some highlights from our schools this week: 

Park Avenue Elementary School
Fourth graders traveled to the Sharpe Reservation for their annual end-of-year field trip, where they enjoyed countless hands-on, interactive experiences learning about the environment and exploring the natural world. Sharpe's planetarium provided beautiful views of the night sky as students learned about constellations and which stars are visible during this time of year. They even exercised their collaborative and survival skills by building a lean-to shelter in the woods!

Another presentation focused on animal adaptations, and students marveled as the lecturer discussed and displayed various artifacts such as deer antlers, skulls, and a turtle shell. Ms. Kowalczyk shared, “Students gained an appreciation for how much we can learn about these animals and the way they live by studying these artifacts. What a great, interactive learning experience!”

Ms. Kowalczyk’s class also hosted a few high school students to work on an exciting appreciation project for our community’s firefighters. Students discussed the importance of firefighters in our community and brainstormed various ways to thank them for their service and for protecting our families, friends, pets, and homes. Each student made a firetruck, colored and cut it out, and placed it onto a large poster containing special messages of appreciation. Ms. Kowalczyk said, “We absolutely loved working with the high school students to show our gratitude toward our firefighters.”

Each year, our third graders get to “dabble” with reading and writing poetry. These reading and writing experiences typically align with Poetry Month, the world’s largest literary celebration. Students engaged with different poem types, such as haikus and acrostic poems, while learning to articulate what they notice about poetry. As a culminating activity, third graders held a Poetry Slam in our outdoor classroom. Fortunately, the structure kept the raindrops at bay! Everyone, including parent visitors, agreed that the students’ expressive abilities were impressive. Thank you to our third-grade teachers for organizing this event.

Sanfordville Elementary School
Last Monday, our fourth-grade students also enjoyed a wonderful field trip to Sharpe Reservation! The students engaged in a "Predator and Prey" game, where they searched for hidden chips representing food, water, and shelter throughout the camp. During their visit, they also participated in various team-building activities, and students and staff returned to Sanfordville with smiles and lots of laughter. It was a memorable experience for everyone involved!

Sanfordville recently greeted incoming kindergarteners, the future Warwick Valley High School Class of 2039! Ms. Maraia, Mr. Ferraro, and many enthusiastic staff members greeted both students and parents in the lobby to introduce them to the school. After some quick introductions, the students began their exploration of the building. They walked the hallways to familiarize themselves with their learning environment for next year and even got to hit the cafeteria to grab a snack. They also enjoyed a short trip on one of our school buses. Orientation wrapped up back in the lobby, where parents could ask questions and learn more about the school. We are thrilled to welcome our incoming kindergarten students for the 2026–27 school year!

Sanfordville students, staff, and families were very excited to participate in this year's District STEAM Fair and Art Show. Sanfordville students contributed artwork in various media, STEM Fair projects, the Lego League Jr. Team's build, and the school-wide Sanfordville Zootopia Habitat models. Each school offered something special, creating wonderful experiences for all students and highlighting creativity and innovation across science, technology, engineering, the arts, and math. It was a memorable evening celebrating our community’s dedication to STEAM education.

Warwick Valley Middle School
We proudly celebrated our final group of Students of the Month during a ceremony this week, welcoming well over 200 students, parents, and family members for a special morning of recognition and celebration. The Student of the Month Breakfast is an important tradition at WVMS that recognizes students for the positive impact they make within our school community. This month, we honored students for March, April, May, and June.

The Student of the Month recognition celebrates students who embody the values and characteristics of our district’s Portrait of a Graduate. Students are nominated not necessarily for earning the highest grades, but for consistently demonstrating qualities such as being strong collaborators, communicators, creators, innovators, ethical and global citizens, resilient individuals, problem solvers, and lifelong learners. These characteristics help define the type of learners and community members we strive to develop at WVMS, and they provide students with meaningful opportunities to be recognized for their character and contributions to our school culture.

The celebration also included the acknowledgment of two students who received the 2026 Sojourner Truth Awards, presented by SUNY Orange. Congratulations to Ulysses Michelson and Luca Pang! This award recognizes students who exemplify leadership, character, and a commitment to making a positive difference in the lives of others.

The Student of the Month Breakfast continues to be one of the many ways Warwick Valley Middle School celebrates the whole child and reinforces that success comes in many forms. The energy and excitement in the room on Tuesday morning reflected the pride felt by students, families, and staff alike. Congratulations to all of our Student of the Month recipients and award winners. We thank our families for joining us and helping celebrate these students whose actions and character continue to strengthen our school community each and every day.

Warwick Valley High School
We proudly celebrated the accomplishments of our student-athletes at the annual Scholar-Athlete Breakfast, recognizing the hard work, dedication, and academic excellence of students in the Wildcats athletic program. The morning brought together students, coaches, and administrators to honor those who have excelled both in their respective sports and in the classroom, maintaining the high standards expected of our student-athletes.

This year’s event featured Warwick alumnus Damon Amendolara (1997) as the keynote speaker. Mr. Amendolara, a nationally recognized sports broadcaster and host on SiriusXM’s Mad Dog Sports Radio, spoke to students about perseverance, opportunity, and the importance of pursuing excellence with passion and purpose. A graduate of Warwick Valley and Syracuse University’s Newhouse School of Public Communications, Amendolara’s journey served as an inspiring example of where dedication, hard work, and a strong foundation can lead. He shared insights from his career in the sports media industry, emphasizing that the discipline learned on the field is a vital component of professional success.
A highlight of the morning was the recognition of Warwick’s OCIAA Scholar-Athletes of the Year, Reagan Smith and Henry Wendell, who were honored for their outstanding achievements as students, athletes, and leaders. The breakfast also celebrated Warwick’s U.S. Army All-Americans, along with the many scholar-athletes who have demonstrated the ability to balance rigorous academics with the demands of athletic competition. These individuals represent the pinnacle of student leadership within the district.

Additionally, 30 Wildcat teams qualified for 2025–26 NYSPHSAA Scholar-Athlete Team status. At the top of that list is the Wildcats girls varsity tennis team, which earned a collective 100 average during the season. The impressive accomplishments of our individual players and teams reflect discipline, teamwork, and a dedication to academic excellence. Congratulations to all of Warwick’s scholar-athletes on their outstanding achievements and for representing Warwick Valley with excellence, character, and pride.

From the hands-on outdoor discoveries of our youngest learners to the remarkable academic and athletic heights achieved by our high school seniors, this week's highlights are a powerful testament to what makes Warwick Valley so special. These diverse achievements reflect a school community that is deeply committed to nurturing the whole child and cultivating the qualities of our Portrait of a Graduate. None of this would be possible without the enduring partnership and trust of our residents. By supporting our budget, voting for our referendums, and celebrating our students' milestones, you provide the essential foundation that allows our schools to innovate, adapt, and thrive. Thank you once again for your extraordinary support, your shared pride, and your dedication to the bright future of all Warwick Valley students.

---

Photo of the Week

Students walk across the auditorium stage during the Warwick Valley High School Newspaper Fashion Show on May 20, 2026. This year's theme was "The Mad Hatter."