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District Notifications

State and federal laws require school districts to notify residents, parents/guardians, employees and others about policies and actions related to nearly all aspects of operating a school district. Some notifications are disseminated via the district website, displayed in buildings, and/or printed in publications such as student handbooks or the district calendar. Information about the 2023-24 required annual notifications are listed below.

Annual Fire Inspection Report

Notice is hereby given that the annual inspection of Goshen Central School District for fire hazards that might endanger the lives of students, teachers, employees therein has been completed and the report is available at the office of the superintendent for inspection by all interested persons.

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Advanced Notification of Pesticides

Goshen Central School District must notify the public that pesticide products may be used in school buildings during the year. Parents, guardians, and staff may request 48-hour advance, written notification that includes the date and place where pesticides will be used, the EPA registration number, and whom to contact for more information. To make a request, please call the district office.

Annual Professional Performance Review (APPR) Plans

New York State Education Law requires school districts to post their APPR plans to their district website.

Find the APPR plan here.

Annual Professional Performance Review (APPR) Scores

All parents/guardians have the right to obtain the APPR quality ratings and composite effectiveness scores for their child’s current teacher(s) and principal(s) once the scores are officially available in accordance with state law. Learn more about the APPR Score Request Procedure.

ARP-ESSER Fund Reporting

Coming soon.

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Asbestos Management Plan

As required by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, the district maintains asbestos management plans for district buildings. The plans are on file in each principal’s office and collectively at the Buildings & Grounds Department and are available for review during normal business hours. As required, periodic surveillances are conducted every six months. Currently, there are no projects scheduled that will disturb asbestos-containing building material. For more information, contact the director of Buildings & Grounds.

Attendance Policy

The attendance policy can be found in the annual student handbook. Student handbooks are distributed at the start of each school year.

Body Mass Index

The state requires schools to track each student’s Body Mass Index (BMI) and weight status category as part of school health examinations. Every year, the New York State Department of Health will survey some schools for the number of pupils in each of six possible weight status categories. If the state surveys Goshen, the district will share summary group data only, and will not share individual names or information. Parents who wish to exclude their child’s data from such group calculations must contact the nurse in their child’s school building.

Child Abuse Hotline Notification

If you suspect a child is being abused or maltreated (neglected), report it by calling 1-800-342-3720, a toll-free 24-hour hotline operated by the New York State Office of Children and Family Services. If you believe a child is in immediate danger, call 911 or your local police department. Information about reporting child abuse and maltreatment (neglect) is available online at the Office of Children and Family Services website.

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Code of Conduct

The Goshen Central School District Code of Conduct applies to all students, school personnel, parents, and visitors when on school property, including buses and other school-owned vehicles, or when attending a school-sponsored function. Information on it is shared with students at the beginning of every school year and in student handbooks.

View the Code of Conduct.

Concussion

New York state requires tackle football programs to provide information about concussions and sub-concussive blows, and the injuries that might occur as a result of such blows, to the parents or guardians of all children participating in tackle football programs. The Goshen Central School District provides you with the following materials so that you are aware of the risks of concussion and other brain injuries.

Continuity of Operations

Coming soon.

Dignity for All Students Act (DASA)

The Dignity for All Students Act (DASA) seeks to provide New York students with a safe and supportive environment free from discrimination, intimidation, taunting, harassment, and bullying on school property, a school bus and/or at a school function.

Goshen Central School District is committed to providing a positive school environment where all students feel safe and can focus on learning. If you or someone you know has experienced harassment or bullying, please contact a school building’s Dignity Act Coordinator.

Learn more about DASA.

Dominic Murray Sudden Cardiac Arrest Prevention Act

The goal of the Dominic Murray Sudden Cardiac Arrest Prevention Act is to promote safe interscholastic athletics participation and to prevent incidents of Sudden Cardiac Arrest (SCA) in student athletes. The law requires districts to provide information to parents/guardians of student athletes prior to the student’s participation in any interscholastic athletics. The law also requires teachers who coach extra-class athletic activity and coaches to hold a valid certificate of completion of a first aid knowledge and skills course offered by a nationally recognized organization.

View information about Sudden Cardiac Arrest (SCA) and the Dominic Murray Sudden Cardiac Arrest Prevention Act.

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Ed Law 2D

New York State Education Law gives you the right to information about how Goshen Central School District is safeguarding student and staff data.

Read the Parents’ Bill of Rights.

Review our Data Security and Privacy Policy.

If at any time the district learns that student and/or teacher/principal data has been compromised, parents and guardians will be notified, and the data breach will be reported to the state Education Department. Parents who have concerns or complaints about data privacy or security may file a complaint by contacting the Personnel Director/Data Protection Officer at 845-615-6760.

Family Educational Rights and Privacy

The federal Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA) provides parents/guardians and students who are 18 years of age or older (known as “eligible students“) with certain rights with respect to the student’s education records. Parents/guardians and eligible students have the right to:

  • Inspect and review the student’s education records within 45 days after the day a request for access is received by the school. These requests should be submitted to the individual school principal;
  • Request the amendment of the student’s education records that the parent/guardian or eligible student believes are inaccurate, misleading or otherwise in violation of the student’s privacy rights;
  • Provide written consent before the school discloses personally identifiable information from the student’s education records, except to the extent that FERPA authorizes disclosure without consent as outlined below;
  • File a complaint with the USDOE concerning alleged failures by the district to comply with the requirements of FERPA. The name and address of the office that administers FERPA are: Family Policy Compliance Office, U.S. Department of Education, 400 Maryland Avenue SW, Washington, DC  20202.

FERPA Consent to Release Student Records Form 

Release of Information to Other Schools

Upon request, the school discloses education records without consent to officials of another school or school district in which a student seeks or intends to enroll, or is already enrolled if the disclosure is for purposes of the student’s enrollment or transfer.

Disclosure to School Officials with Legitimate Educational Interests

One example of disclosure that can take place without consent is to school officials with legitimate educational interests. Such officials typically include a person employed by the school or school district as an administrator, supervisor, instructor or support staff member, but it can also include health or medical staff, law enforcement personnel, school board members, as well as contractors, consultants, volunteers or other parties who meet certain conditions. A school official typically has a legitimate educational interest if the official needs to review a student record to fulfill his or her professional responsibility.

Disclosure of personally identifiable information from a student’s education records is permitted without the consent of the parent or eligible student if it meets certain conditions, such as if the disclosure is:

  • To officials of another school, school system or institution of postsecondary education where the student seeks or intends to enroll, or where the student is already enrolled;
  • To authorized representatives of the U.S. comptroller general, the U.S. attorney general, the U.S. secretary of education or state and local educational authorities;
  • In connection with applications or determinations for financial aid;
    To state and local officials or authorities to whom information is specifically allowed to be reported or disclosed by a state statute that concerns the juvenile justice system;
  • To organizations conducting studies for, or on behalf of, the school that meet certain requirements;
  • To accrediting organizations to carry out their accrediting functions;
  • To parents/guardians of an eligible student if the student is a dependent for IRS tax purposes;
  • To comply with a judicial order or lawfully issued subpoena;
  • To appropriate officials in connection with a health or safety emergency;
  • Designated as “directory information” by the district;
  • To an agency caseworker or other representative of a state or local child welfare agency or tribal organization that is authorized to access a student’s case plan;
  • To the secretary of agriculture or authorized representatives of the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Food and Nutrition Service for national school lunch and nutrition programs.

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Fiscal Transparency Documents

Visit the Fiscal Transparency page to view transparency documents.

Foundation Aid Plan

Coming soon.

Free and Reduced-Price Meals

The New York State Education Department’s Childhood Nutrition Knowledge Center released the Letter to Parents for School Meal Programs and Carta para los padres para los programas de alimentos escolares parent/guardian letters, application and instructions. For questions, contact the Director of Food Services at 845-615-6491.

Freedom of Information Law (FOIL)

For access to the Goshen Central School District’s records under the NYS Freedom of Information Law, please contact the district clerk at 845-615-6720. Reach us by mail at 227 Main Street, Goshen, NY 10924 email maureen.farrell@gcsny.org or in person by visiting the Main Street Administration Building during operating hours.

Requests should state that information is being sought under the Freedom of Information Law and provide a brief description of the public records requested. Please be as specific as possible (i.e. relevant dates, names, descriptions, etc.).

The district will acknowledge receipt of any FOIL requests within five business days. The nature of the request will determine how quickly the information can be provided.

For more information regarding Goshen’s records requests, contact the district clerk.

For more information about the Freedom of Information Law, visit the Committee on Open Government website.

Grade Promotion and Placement Policy

Decisions about student promotion and placement are at the discretion of the building principal. These decisions are guided by recommendations of teachers and staff members, past academic performance and parent/guardian input. Past academic performance refers to a variety of indicators of student achievement and growth. The district’s promotion and placement policy was adopted by the board of education following a review by the district administration. Promotion and placement decisions are not based solely, or primarily, on student performance on New York state assessments in grades 3-8 English language arts or mathematics.

View the Board of Education Policy about Grade Promotion and Placement.

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Hand Sanitizer Use

The Goshen Central School District will be making alcohol-based hand sanitizers available in its school buildings during the school year. If parents wish to opt their child out of using it, they should send a written notice to their child’s individual school.

Scotchtown Avenue Elementary School
Attn: Principal Kristin Driscoll
120 Scotchtown Ave.
Goshen, NY 10924

Goshen Intermediate School
Attn: Principal Matthew Wentworth
13 McNally Street
Goshen, NY 10924

C.J. Hooker Middle School
Attn: Principal Heather Carman
41 Lincoln Ave.
Goshen, NY 10924

Goshen High School
Attn: Principal Nick Pantaleone
222 Scotchtown Ave.
Goshen, NY 10924

Homeless Students

The New York State Technical and Education Assistance Center for Homeless Students (NYS-TEACHS) provides materials on its website that schools can use to provide information about educational services for homeless students.

View the NYS-TEACHS website.

Parents of homeless students and unaccompanied youths (youths not in the physical custody of a parent) have the right to attend the school they previously attended or to attend school in the district of current location; the right to be enrolled even though the admission requirements have not been completed and prior student records are not available; and the right to transportation to and from school.

For more information about eligibility and the McKinney-Vento Act, contact the Pupil Personnel Department.

Idling School Buses on School Grounds

State law requires school districts to take steps to minimize the idling of the engines of school buses and other school vehicles on school grounds. While students are boarding and departing school buses, the engine should be turned off. Students should be instructed about the importance of getting on and off buses in an orderly and efficient fashion to minimize loading and offloading time. Bus engines should also be off while parked at sporting events and other school activities. Exceptions to this “no idling” policy can be made in cases of emergency, mechanical issues or for necessary heating.

View the idling school bus policy.

Influenza Materials

Influenza (the flu) is an infection of the nose, throat and lungs caused by influenza viruses. There are many different strains of the flu virus, and they are constantly changing. These viruses cause illness, hospital stays and deaths in the United States each year. The flu can be very dangerous for children. Each year about 20,000 children younger than 5 years old are hospitalized due to flu complications, including pneumonia. For more information, visit your school’s nurse office or the influenza section of our website.

Integrated Pest Management

New York State Education Law requires schools to provide written notification to all parents/guardians and staff members regarding the potential use of pesticides periodically throughout the school year. The district maintains a list of all individuals who wish to receive 48-hour prior written notification of certain pesticide applications. If you would like to receive 48-hour notifications of pesticide applications that are scheduled to occur, please contact the director of Buildings and Grounds at 845-615-6770.

In the event of an emergency application necessary to protect against an imminent threat to human health, a good faith effort will be made to supply written notification to those on the 48-hour prior notification list. Some pesticide applications are not subject to notification requirements, including anti-microbial products, EPA-designated biopesticides and exempt materials, and when a school remains unoccupied for a continuous 72-hours following an application. For more information on requirements, please contact Buildings and Grounds Director.

View the Board Policy on Integrated Pest Management.

Instructional Technology Plan

As required by Commissioner’s Regulation 100.12, the Goshen Central School District maintains a Instructional Technology Plan to help support achievement and engagement through the seamless integration of technology into teaching and learning, improve learning experiences for students and increase equitable access to technology-rich learning experiences for students and staff.

View the Instructional Technology Plan here.

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Lead Testing

In September 2016, a state law went into effect that requires all public school districts to test water for lead. The law requires school districts to sample all water outlets currently or potentially used for drinking or cooking purposes in buildings that may be occupied by students and to submit those samples to a state-approved lab for analysis. Regulations call for testing to take place again in 2020 and every five years thereafter, unless the state Commissioner of Health requires testing sooner.

The state established an action level of 15 micrograms of lead per liter, typically referred to as “parts per billion (ppb).” If a sample from a water outlet exceeds this level, schools must take steps to prevent the use of the outlet for drinking or cooking purposes until it is remediated and follow-up testing confirms it is no longer above the action level.

School districts are required to report the results of all water testing to the state Department of Health, the state Education Department and the local health department, and to post the results—along with remediation plans, if required—on the official district website.

View the district lead water testing results.

Military Recruiters Access to High School Student Information

Pursuant to federal law, Goshen Central School District must provide to military recruiters and institutions of higher education, upon request, the names, addresses and telephone numbers of high school students. Parents/guardians or students age 18 or older who do not want this information released to military recruiters and/or institutes of higher education should contact Goshen High School Guidance Department Chairperson at 845-615-6100.

View the Board Policy on Military Recruiters Access to High School Student Information.

New York State Election Law: Employee Rights to Leave to Vote

New York State Election Law Paid Time Office Notice / Pursuant to New York State Election Law, all employees who do not have four consecutive hours off to vote in an upcoming election. Eligible employees who plan to take time off for this purpose should  fill out a request form. If you have any questions, please contact your supervisor.

New York State Report Cards

New York State Education Law requires school districts to make report card and accountability report information available on district websites.

Click to view the report card.

Non-Discrimination Policy

The Goshen Central School District does not discriminate on the basis of sex, color, religion, creed, disability or race in the educational programs or activities that it conducts, in accordance with Title IX of the Educational Amendments. This policy includes the following areas: recruitment and appointment of employees, employment pay and benefits, and student access to educational programs, course offerings, and student activities.

View the Board’s Non-Discrimination Policy.

Parents’ Bill of Rights for Data Privacy and Security

The Goshen Central School District is committed to ensuring student privacy in accordance with local, state and federal regulations and district policies. To this end and pursuant to U.S. Department of Education regulations, the district is providing a Parents’ Bill of Rights for Data Privacy and Security. For more information, contact the district’s Technology Department.

Participation in Graduation Ceremonies by All Eligible Students

New York State Education Law requires the Goshen Central School District to inform students and parents/guardians of the district’s policy that all eligible students are allowed to participate in a high school graduation ceremony and associated graduation activities with their graduating class (i.e., the 12th-grade class with which such student entered into ninth grade). This includes students who have been awarded a Skills and Achievement Commencement Credential or Career Development and Occupational Studies Commencement Credential.

View the Board Policy for Participation in Graduation Ceremonies.

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Release of Student Directory Information/Student Publicity Form

Consistent with the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA), the district has designated certain categories of personally identifiable student information that it may release without prior written consent. This is known as “directory information.” The purpose of doing this is to enable student activities and accomplishments to be publicized and for the creation of such publications as the annual yearbook, programs for graduations, concerts and other special events, sports activity sheets and honor roll or recognition lists.

Achievements are typically publicized on the school website and through school district social media, press releases to the local media and official district publications. Directory information can also be disclosed to outside organizations without a parent’s prior written consent. Outside organizations include, but are not limited to, companies that manufacture class rings or publish yearbooks.

The district has designated the following types of information as directory information: name, grade, age, classroom teacher, photo.

If you do not want any or all of these types of information released pertaining to your child without your prior written consent, please fill out the district student publicity form for 2023-24. This form must be submitted each year.

While the district will honor the request of any parent who has submitted written notification opting their child out of the release of directory information, the district is not responsible for media that cover news happenings, sporting events or other school events that are open to the public, such as plays and musical performances.

School Budget Documents

New York State Education Law requires the Goshen Central School District to provide a detailed statement of the amount of money which will be required for the ensuing year for school purposes, specifying the several purposes and the amount for each.

You can find budget information here.

School Counseling/Guidance Programs

New York State Education Law requires the district to develop district-wide and building-level comprehensive developmental school counseling guidance plans and to post these plans on the district website.

View the district’s Comprehensive Guidance Plan.

Guidance Plan for Grades K-5
Guidance Plan for Grades 6-12

School-level Spending Reports

All New York school districts that receive Foundation Aid are required to annually submit a detailed statement of the total expenditures projected to be allocated to each school in the district for the current budget year. Because the Goshen Central School District receives Foundation Aid, we have submitted this information to the state and are also required to provide the statement on our website. It is important to note that this is based on budgeted allocations and not actual expenses.

Coming soon.

View additional fiscal transparency documents.

School Meals: Breakfast After the Bell

The Goshen Central School District provides a “Breakfast After the Bell” program. It enables students to purchase and eat breakfast when and where it is most convenient for them.

The district’s goals are to improve students’ access to a healthy breakfast every day, and to give them more time to get their food and eat it. The Goshen Central School District would like its students to take advantage of this service. Studies show that children who eat breakfast have better memory recall, improved attentiveness and cognition, and perform better academically than their peers who don’t eat breakfast.

Breakfast costs $1.60. Students who receive free and reduced price meals are not identified at the point of purchase. Parents can apply for free or reduced-price meals anytime during the school year. 

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School Meals: Charging Policy

Although payment for school meals is typically due at the time of the sale (through a prepaid balance, cash or some other means), the Goshen Central School District recognizes that at times, students are unable to make this payment for a variety of reasons. The district has established a school meal charge policy to provide clear information about how these situations will be handled, including steps designed to avoid any embarrassment of children. The policy is as follows:

Meal Charge/Prohibition Against Meal Shaming Policy

The Board of Education recognizes the importance of good nutrition and the impact on student learning. The Board recognizes that, on occasion, students may not have enough funds to pay for a meal. To ensure that students do not go hungry, but also to promote responsible student behavior and minimize the fiscal burden to the district, the Board will allow students who do not have enough funds to “charge” the cost of meals to be paid back at a later date subject to the terms in this policy.

View Goshen’s full Meal Charge/Prohibition Against Meal Shaming policy. 

School Safety Plans

As required by state education law, the Goshen Central School District  maintains a district-wide safety plan and must post this plan on its website. This plan is designed to prevent or minimize the effects of violent incidents and emergencies and to facilitate the coordination of schools and school districts with local and county resources in the event of such incidents or emergencies.
Goshen’s School Safety Plan is available here.

Smart Schools Investment Plan

As required by the Smart Schools Bond Act (SSBA) Implementation Guidance, the district must post a final Smart Schools Investment Plan on its website. This plan is designed for the district to participate in the Smart Schools Bond Act of 2014, which was passed in the 2014-15 Enacted Budget and approved by the voters in a statewide referendum held on Tuesday, Nov. 4, 2014. The act authorized the state to finance $2 billion for educational technology and infrastructure to improve learning and opportunity for New York students.

View the district’s Smart Schools Investment Plan.

Standard Work Day and Reporting Resolution: Elected and Appointed Officials

Coming soon.

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Student Privacy (Protection of Pupil Rights Amendment)

The Protection of Pupil Rights Amendment provides parents/guardians with certain rights regarding the conduct of surveys, collection and use of information for marketing purposes and certain physical exams. In particular, if a survey is funded in whole or part by the U.S. Department of Education, parents/guardians have the right to consent before students are required to complete a survey that asks about any of the following protected areas:

  • Political affiliations or beliefs of the student or student’s parents/guardians;
  • Mental or psychological problems of the student or student’s family;
  • Sexual behavior or attitudes;
  • Illegal, anti-social, self-incriminating or demeaning behavior;
  • Critical appraisals of others with whom respondents have close family relationships;
  • Legally recognized privileged relationships, such as with lawyers, doctors or ministers;
  • Religious practices, affiliations or beliefs of the student or student’s parent; or
  • Income, other than as required by law to determine program eligibility.

Parents/guardians will also receive a notice and an opportunity to opt students out of the following:

  • Any other survey that asks about the above protected areas;
  • Any non-emergency, invasive physical exam or screening required as a condition of attending school or school functions, with the exception of physical exams or screenings required or permitted by state law (e.g. hearing, vision or scoliosis); and
  • Activities involving collection, disclosure or use of personal information collected from students for marketing or to sell or otherwise distribute the information to others.

Parents/guardians have the right to inspect any surveys that ask about the above protected areas, as well as surveys created by third parties that are used to collect personal information from students for marketing purposes and instructional materials used as part of the curriculum.

The school district will directly notify parents/guardians of its student privacy policy at the start of each school year and after any substantive changes. Parents/guardians will also be provided with reasonable notification of specific activities or surveys covered by this policy and the ability to opt their child out of such activities.

These rights transfer from the parents/guardians to their child who is at least 18 years old or an emancipated minor.

Anyone who believes their rights have been violated may file a complaint with: Family Policy Compliance Office, U.S. Department of Education, 400 Maryland Avenue, SW, Washington, D.C. 20202.

Title IX

It is the policy of the Goshen Central School District to provide a learning and working environment that is safe, welcoming, and free from discrimination on the basis of sex. Title IX requires the school district not to discriminate.

View the district’s full harassment and non-discrimination policy.

Sexual Harassment Prevention

District employees should be aware of the following policies pertaining to sexual harassment:

Reports of sexual harassment can be made at any time, including during non-business hours using the telephone number or e-mail address, or by mailing to the office address listed for the for the Title IX Coordinator:

Director of Pupil Personnel Services
C.J. Hooker Annex
41 Lincoln Avenue
Goshen, NY 10924
(845) 615-6450

Teacher Qualifications

Under the Every Student Succeeds Act, parents/guardians have the right to know the professional qualifications of their child’s classroom teachers, including:

  • Whether a teacher has state certification for the grade levels and subjects they are teaching;
  • The teacher’s baccalaureate degree major and any other certifications or degrees; and
  • Whether their child receives services from paraprofessionals and, if so, their qualifications. Parents/guardians may request their child’s classroom teacher’s professional qualifications by contacting the district office.

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