Our District
Adam VanDerStuyf, EdD
Superintendent of Schools
avanderstuyf@northsalemschools.org
(914) 669-5414 ext. 1011
Welcome
Welcome to the 2026–2027 school year!
As we prepare to welcome our students back into our classrooms, I am filled with excitement and optimism for the year ahead. Each new school year offers an opportunity to celebrate our accomplishments while looking forward with purpose as we continue to build upon the strong foundation established through our shared commitment to continuous improvement. Together, we remain focused on providing every student with an educational experience that prepares them to thrive academically, socially, and emotionally.
This year, we will continue advancing the important work outlined in our district goals. Our focus on strengthening literacy and numeracy across all grade levels remains central to ensuring every student develops the essential skills needed for lifelong success. Through high-quality instruction, meaningful learning experiences, and a commitment to continuous growth, we will continue to support every learner in reaching their fullest potential.
We also remain committed to strengthening our Multi-Tiered System of Supports (MTSS), ensuring that every student receives the academic, behavioral, and social-emotional support they need to succeed. By using data to inform instruction and intervention, collaborating across disciplines, and responding proactively to student needs, we are creating learning environments where every child feels known, supported, and empowered.
Equally important is our continued emphasis on fostering student independence and leadership. We believe students grow when they are encouraged to take ownership of their learning, think critically, solve problems, and contribute meaningfully to their school community. By providing opportunities for students to lead, collaborate, and make informed decisions, we are preparing them not only for future academic success but also for active and engaged citizenship.
Behind every successful educational experience is a strong and well-managed organization. We will continue our work to strengthen district operations by ensuring responsible stewardship of resources, maintaining safe and welcoming learning environments, supporting our outstanding faculty and staff, and continuously improving the systems that allow our schools to operate effectively and efficiently.
Our success depends on the strength of the partnerships we share with our families and the broader North Salem community. Education is most powerful when schools, families, and community members work together toward common goals. We deeply value your trust, your involvement, and your ongoing collaboration. Whether through classroom activities, school events, volunteer opportunities, athletic competitions, performances, or community conversations, your partnership enriches the educational experience for every student.
Thank you for your continued partnership and your commitment to the North Salem Central School District. I look forward to a wonderful year of learning, growth, and shared success.
With appreciation,
Adam VanDerStuyf, EdD
Superintendent of Schools
Announcements
October 2, 2026
Dear North Salem Central School District Community,
As we close the month of September, I would like to reflect on the beginning of our school year and express my gratitude for your continued support and engagement.
After a well-deserved summer break, it has been refreshing to see our school buildings come alive with learning, conversation, and engagement as we continue to create and maintain a culture responsive to the needs of all students. This culture is grounded in our continued commitment to our district goals in the areas of Literacy and Mathematics, Multi-Tiered Systems of Support (MTSS), Student Independence and Leadership Experiences, and District Operations and Oversight. These goals ensure that our students are equipped with the essential skills and mindsets to thrive academically, socially, and emotionally. Specific details about the goals are available here (District Goals: 2026-2027).
As we prepare our students for the ultimate goal of graduation and beyond, you may have heard about recent changes to New York State’s graduation requirements, particularly as they relate to Regents examinations. While the specific details of these changes have not yet been finalized, we do know the role Regents examinations play in earning a high school diploma will change. Current seniors, the graduating class of 2027, must still pass the required number of Regents examinations to earn a Regents diploma. Beginning with students graduating in 2028, passing a prescribed set of Regents Exams will no longer serve as a separate graduation requirement.
The New York State Education Department (NYSED) continues to finalize the pathways to graduation for the class of 2028 and beyond. As NYSED releases additional information, we will share it with you, along with how the North Salem Central School District will implement the changes. As of now, we understand that Regents examinations and/or other standardized assessments will be used as measures of student achievement, for state and federal accountability purposes, and as part of future diploma seals signifying advanced levels of achievement, decoupled from the requirements to earn a high school diploma. For those of you interested in reading more about NYSED’s graduation framework, information can be found by visiting NYSED’s NY Inspires webpage here: NY Inspires.
As we enter October and beyond, I welcome each of you to join us in this essential work. Together, we can foster an environment where students feel supported and empowered as they grow. Your continued partnership and dedication is invaluable to our students’ success.
With appreciation,
Dr. Adam VanDerStuyf, Superintendent of Schools
Sept 24, 2026 - District Goals 2026-2027
Sept 4, 2026 - First Week Update
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Dear North Salem Central School District Community: As we wrap up our second day of school, I want to take a moment to celebrate what I have observed to be a successful opening to the 2026-2027 school year. Opening up a new school year is a tremendous undertaking, often what I refer to as the collision of details, and these first two days have highlighted the detailed planning, preparation, and commitment of the entire North Salem Central School District community necessary to make these first two days so successful. Students have arrived ready to learn, have reconnected with friends and faculty and staff, and have engaged in the important work that a new school year brings. Our faculty and staff have worked to thoughtfully create a welcoming and supportive learning environment designed to meet the needs of all students. I am especially grateful to our families for helping make these first days so positive. Your partnership, patience, and support have contributed greatly to our smooth start. While the first days of school always bring a few adjustments and opportunities to refine our routines, we can be proud of the strong foundation that has been established. I look forward to all that we will accomplish together throughout the year. Thank you to all for making this opening such a success. Continuing on the topic of success, I am also writing to share that the PQ water improvement project has been completed, and the water system has been cleared by the Westchester County Department of Health for use. As a result, PQ is no longer operating under a Bottled Water Notice, and public water has been restored for normal use and consumption within the building. As outlined in our previous communication, the District conducted secondary lead testing of all bottle-fill stations that required testing prior to being returned to service. The District also completed remediation of the water outlet intended for cooking purposes, PQES 059, and included this outlet in the follow-up testing. We are pleased to report that 13 of the 14 outlets have tested below the lead action level. One outlet, PQES 008, an older-style water fountain located near the 5th-grade wing, returned a result of 0.0176 mg/L (17.6 ppb), which exceeds the New York State lead action level of 5 parts per billion (ppb). This fountain had already been shut off and out of service for many years, which is most likely the reason it exceeded the allowable limit. We have eliminated and removed the older fountain and replaced it with a new filtered bottle-fill station. This new bottle-fill station will be tested and cleared before being returned to service.
The health and safety of our students, faculty and staff, and community remains our top priority. If you have any questions or would like additional information, please do not hesitate to contact me. Thank you for your ongoing engagement and support. Enjoy your weekend! |
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With Appreciation, Dr. Adam VanDerStuyf |