Pine Plains Central School District

12/07/2023

This page is inactive. Please visit the new page for the district here: https://www.facebook.com/PinePlainsCSD

The PPCSD services approximately 900 students in grades Pre-K through 12.

06/14/2022

In about two weeks, Dr. Martin Handler will step aside as Superintendent of School of the Pine Plains Central School District; a post he has held for the past nine years.

As I begin my 23rd year as a Trustee of the District, I’ve had a long look at the Superintendents that have served our District. Dr. Handler is the FIFTH I have worked beside. I want to take this opportunity of his departure to say he has been the finest of that group. I am proud to have partnered with him for those nine years.

During Dr. Handler’s tenure here, he has accomplished major steps forward for our District. When he arrived, the District’s academic standing (as measured by State Testing and Regents results) was not particularly impressive. As he departs, those same standings have risen to the top quartile of the County. Graduation rates have risen. Dr. Handler introduced the first “one to one” computer program in the County. Our District was also the first to offer full day Pre-Kindergarten program with no cost or limits. He has been a masterful steward of our facilities and leaves the District with no debt burden. He has fostered relations with the District’s three collective bargaining unit that has crafted fair and equitable settlements before the prior agreement expired. Such programs as Mr. Murray’s Living History courses and the District’s United Basketball Program have engaged students who might otherwise fall thru the cracks; all introduced during Dr. Handler’s tenure. He pushed hard for the County to supply cameras for our bus fleet to insure the safety of our students.

He exits in the noise of controversy around COVID that has permeated the Nation and, as our recent election proved, is a small minority in our community. It’s worth pointing out that the District has navigated thru the pandemic without a loss of life among students and staff.

When you run into Dr. Handler in the next few weeks, be sure to thank him and wish him well on the next chapter of his life. We are significantly richer for his time here.

-Fred "Chip" Couse, Board of Education Member

06/10/2022

Please join the District in wishing Tessa Blackburn, Sophomore Student-Athlete, luck while she competes in the NYS State Track and Field Championship. She will be representing Section IX in High Jump for Track and Field. Good Luck Tessa!!!!

06/06/2022

Elizabeth Hieter and Brianna Blackburn represented our district by participating in a HOBY’s Leadership Seminar in our area. These students had the opportunity to develop their leadership skills and learn how to apply them to become effective, ethical leaders in their home, school, workplace, and community! Well-done ladies! https://hoby.org/

06/02/2022

05/26/2022

Don't forget! Schools are closed tomorrow, Friday, May 27, due to unused snow/emergency days from this past winter. There will also be no out of district transportation but offices will be open. Thank you and have a nice weekend!

05/19/2022

Congratulations to our phenomenal educators who were awarded tenure by the Board of Education this evening. Your years of hard work and dedication have not gone unnoticed. The tenure process involves rigorous evaluation by the administrative team. You are recognized in each of your disciplines and we know you are committed to promoting a vibrant learning and discovery environment for all of our students. It is a tremendous privilege to present our colleagues’ successes in teaching, creative learning activities, their professional service, their accomplishments to date, and their plans for the future. You are most deserving of this honor and we look forward to your continued success.

05/19/2022

The granting of tenure represents a major milestone in an Educator’s career. At our regularly scheduled meeting on May 18, 2022, the Board of Education granted tenure to the following teachers:
- Jennifer Blackburn, Family and Consumer Science
- Maureen Carney, Elementary
- Alisa Hinsch, Reading and Special Education
- Gerard Lisella, Secondary Mathematics
- Michelle Palmieri, Elementary
- Amanda Pollizatto, Music
- Megan Proper, Special Education
- Tonya Sauca, Special Education

Please join us in congratulating these teachers on this employment milestone!

05/19/2022

The granting of tenure represents a major milestone in an Educator’s career. At our regularly scheduled meeting on May 18, 2022, the Board of Education granted tenure to the following teachers:
- Jennifer Blackburn, Family and Consumer Science
- Maureen Carney, Elementary
- Alisa Hinsch, Reading and Special Education
- Gerard Lisella, Secondary Mathematics
- Michelle Palmieri, Elementary
- Amanda Pollizatto, Music
- Megan Proper, Special Education
- Tonya Sauca, Special Education

Please join us in congratulating these teachers on this employment milestone!