BOARD OF EDUCATION
- BOE Meeting Schedule
- Prospective Board Members
- Voter Information: 2025 Budget Vote & Election
- Board Members
- BOE Student Representative
- FOIL Requests
BOE Meeting Schedule
All meetings take place at the James I. O'Neill Library at 6:00 pm unless otherwise noted.
| Date | Meeting Type |
| 07/01/2024 |
Annual Organization Meeting / Business Meeting (6:00 PM - 8:00 PM) |
| 08/20/2024 |
Board Retreat - Board & Central Administration Only (6:00 PM - 9:00 PM) |
| 08/22/2024 |
Business Meeting / Strategic Plan Implementation/Proposed Executive Session |
| 08/29/2024 |
Business Meeting/Proposed Executive Session |
| 09/05/2024 | Business Meeting Tour JIO (6:00-6:30) |
| 09/19/2024 |
Presentation Meeting Tour HFIS (6:00 - 6:30) Meeting at HFIS |
| 10/10/2024 | Business Meeting / Proposed Executive Session |
| 10/16/2024 |
Presentation: Joint Meeting at Garrison UFSD - JIO Academic and Athletic Programs Review |
| 11/07/2024 |
Business Meeting/Proposed Executive Session |
| 11/12/2024 (Tues) | Presentation: 2023-2024 District Data Review & Board Goals Meeting |
| 12/05/2024 | Business Meeting / Proposed Executive Session |
| 12/12/2024 |
BOE TOUR HFIS (6:00 pm) Presentation: Special Education Program Updates (at JIO 7:00 pm |
| 01/09/2025 |
Business Meeting: Superintendent's Budget Development Overview, Executive Session-Mid-Year Review of Superintendent |
| 01/23/2025 |
Presentation: Pre-K through 8th grade Program Updates |
| 02/06/2025 | Business Meeting / Proposed Executive Session |
| 03/06/2025 | Business Meeting: 1st Budget Presentation |
| 03/13/2025 | Proposed Executive Session/Tenure Review (BOE & Admin ONLY) |
| 03/20/2025 | Presentation: 2nd Budget Presentation |
| 04/10/2025 | Business Meeting/Possible 3rd Budget Presentation |
| 04/24/2025 | Presentations: Budget, Curriculum and Technology - Adopt Budget, Orange-Ulster BOCES Budget Vote |
| 05/08/2025 | Business Meeting / Public Hearing on Budget / Presentation Top 10 Seniors & Top 5 Eight Graders |
| 05/15/2025 | Proposed Executive Session Superintendent End of year Evaluation - Board Only |
| 05/20/2025 (Tues) | Annual Meeting: Budget Vote & Election of Board Members (Seats Expiring: Gus Koutsourades & Anne Lawless) 6:00 AM - 9:00 PM at HFIS |
| 05/22/2025 | Business Meeting / Proposed Executive Session |
| 06/05/2025 | Business Meeting and Presentation: Arts Recognition |
| 06/12/2025 | Business Meeting: Tenure & Retirement Celebration |
Prospective Board Members
Petitions
Board of Education Candidate Petition Packets can be obtained from Dawn Storms, District Clerk, 21 Morgan Road, Highland Falls, NY 10928 beginning March 11, 2025.
Please be informed that the District Office hours on April 14th through April 17th, (Spring Recess) will be from 8:30 am - 3:00 pm and the office will be closed on Friday, April 18th in observance of Good Friday.
- Must be a U.S. citizen
- At least 18 years old
- Be a qualified voter in the school district
- Able to read and write
- Must be a resident of the district
- Cannot be employed by the board on which they serve
- Cannot live in the same household with a family member who is also a member of the same school board
Nominating Petitions
Candidates must submit a nominating petition to the school district clerk. The petition must be signed by at least 25 qualified voters. Petitions must be returned no later than 5:00 PM, April 21, 2025.
Running for School Board? Get important information from NYSSBA:New York State School Boards Association and OCSBA: Orange County School Boards Association below.
NYSSBA: https://www.nyssba.org/member-services/running-for-the-school-board/
OCSBA: OCSBA Workshop for Prospective Board Members:
Voter Information: 2025 Budget Vote & Election
REGISTER TO VOTE
In order to qualify to vote, you must be at least 18 years of age, a U.S. citizen, resident of the district for 30 days immediately preceding the election and a registered voter. If you are not registered, prospective voters can still register to vote with the Orange County Board of Elections by completing an online application or with the New York State Department of Motor Vehicles. Voter Registration will also be held at the Highland Falls Library on Saturday, May 10, 2025, from 10:00 am - 2:00 pm. The library is located at 298 Main Street, Highland Falls, NY 10928.
ABSENTEE BALLOTS
Absentee Ballot Applications
- Download and print the Absentee Ballot Application or;
- By request via email to the District Clerk dawn.storms@hffmcsd.org or;
- At the District Office Monday through Friday
Important Application Information
- Applications are required to receive an absentee ballot.
- Absentee Ballot Applications may not be submitted more than 30 days prior to the vote/election.) NOT BEFORE APRIL 21, 2025
Completed Applications must be received by the District Clerk by or prior to 4:00 P.M. on May 15, 2025, if the ballot is to be mailed to the voter; or by or prior to 4:00 P.M. on May 19, 2025, if the ballot is to be picked up personally by the voter. - Absentee ballots must be received by the School District Clerk no later than 5:00 P.M. on May 20, 2025.
EARLY VOTING MAIL BALLOTS
In 2024, New York State instituted early mail voting for any residents wishing to vote in this manner. Similar to absentee voting, registered voters must request a mail-in ballot in writing within 30 days of the election (that is after April 21).
- An Early Voter Application can be obtained at the District Office Monday through Friday; or
- By request via email to the District Clerk dawn.storms@hffmcsd.org ; or
- Download and print the EarlyVoter Ballot Application
- Applications are required to receive an early voter ballot
- After verifying the status of the voter, the district will either mail the early mail ballot or the voter may pick it up at the district office. If a ballot is to be mailed, the request must be received at least seven days before the election.
- All completed ballots must be received back to the District Clerk by 5PM on the Budget Vote and Board of Education Election day, May 20, 2025.
Military voters must submit a separate military ballot application for each election at which they wish to cast a vote, except any necessary budget revote. Please click here for the Military Voter Registration Application . If you wish to register as a Military Voter with your County or State Board of Elections, please contact them directly. This application must be received by the Office of the School District Clerk, not later than 5:00 PM the day before the School District’s Board of Registration will meet to prepare the School District register (May 9, 2025).
NOMINATING PETITIONS
Petitions: Board of Education Candidate Petition Packets can be obtained from Dawn Storms, District Clerk, 21 Morgan Road, Highland Falls, NY 10928 beginning March 11, 2025 during normal business hours.
Please be informed that the District Office hours on April 14th through April 17th, (Spring Recess) will be from 8:30 am - 3:00 pm and the office will be closed on Friday, April 18th in observance of Good Friday.
- Must be a U.S. citizen
- At least 18 years old
- Be a qualified voter in the school district
- Able to read and write
- Must be a resident of the district
- Cannot be employed by the board on which they serve
- Cannot live in the same household with a family member who is also a member of the same school board
Nominating Petitions
Candidates must submit a nominating petition to the school district clerk. The petition must be signed by at least 25 qualified voters. Petitions must be returned no later than 5:00 PM, April 21, 2025.
Running for School Board? Get important information from NYSSBA:New York State School Boards a Association and OCSBA: Orange County School Boards Association below.
NYSSBA: https://www.nyssba.org/member-services/running-for-the-school-board/
OCSBA: OCSBA Workshop for Prospective Board Members:
Board Members
Anne Lawless Board President Term ends: June 30, 2025 anne.lawless@hffmcsd.org
Faith Aprilante Board Vice President Term ends: June 30, 2026 faith.aprilante@hffmcsd.org
Aaron Falk Board Member Term ends: June 30, 2027 aaron.falk@hffmcsd.org
Trish Kinney Board Member Term ends: June 30, 2026 trish.kinney@hffmcsd.org
Gus Koutsourades Board Member Term ends: June 30, 2025 gus.koutsourades@hffmcsd.org
Gabe O'Connell Board Member Term ends: June 30, 2026 gabe.oconnell@hffmcsd.org
Kristen O'Dell Board Member Term ends: June 30, 2027 kristen.odell@hffmcsd.org
Erik Mitchell West Point Liaison erik.mitchell@hffmcsd.org
Sarah Tormey Garrison Liaison stormey@gufs.org
BOE Student Representative
FOIL Requests
PUBLIC ACCESS TO RECORDS
Access to records of the District shall be consistent with the rules and regulations established by the State Committee on Open Government and shall comply with all the requirements of the New York State Public Officers Law Sections 87 and 89.
The District shall provide copies of records in the format and on the medium requested by the person filing the Freedom Of Information Law (FOIL) request if the District can reasonably do so considering burden, volume or cost of the request.
REQUESTS FOR RECORDS VIA EMAIL
The District shall accept FOIL requests submitted in the form of electronic mail and will respond to such requests by electronic mail.
The District shall respond to the receipt of a request within five (5) business days. Should all or part of the request need to be denied, the District shall respond in the manner set forth by the rules and regulations stipulated by the State Committee on Open Government.
Written or emailed FOIL requests may be submitted to:
Dawn Storms
PO Box 287
Highland Falls, NY 10928
Vision Statement:
The HFFMCSD is a school community focused on developing students as lifelong learners equipped with critical thinking and problem solving skills necessary to navigate and shape the future.
We believe it is important to:
- Focus on the needs of each student and create opportunities to ensure equity
- Foster engagement, collaboration and a sense of belonging for all school community members
- Take collective responsibility and make thoughtful decisions based on best practices
- Diversity, equity, and inclusion are fundamental to creating a welcoming and nurturing environment
- Promote safety, health and wellness for the developmental growth of our community
- Consistently prioritize efficiency and affordability, while also striving for excellence
- Embrace curiosity, connection and critical thinking
DAWN STORMS
District Clerk
dawn.storms@hffmcsd.org
845-446-9575 Ext. 1300