At a Pine Plains Central District School Board meeting highlighted by the annual presentation on student affairs at Stissing Mountain High School, Superintendent Brian Timm reviewed plans for a public forum addressing the possible consolidation of three district schools into two — forced by a 44% drop in student enrollment since 2004 and possible budget cuts.
“I’ve presented [the situation] to all the Town Boards in the district, now it’s time to start with an employee forum, then one for the community and parents,” he said at the Tuesday, Oct. 21, board meeting. “One of the chief determining factors is the potential loss of Foundation Aid [half of the district’s annual $8 million state funding]. How will we manage a $4 million gap?”
Timm said the forums are intended to allow people to voice their concerns and ask questions.
“I also envision an FAQ form to provide information,” he said.
The district is currently assessing the condition of each school building to aid in the decision: The facilities operational analysis results are expected in November. “There are many moving parts to this problem,” Timm said. “The final decision [about consolidation] should rest at the board level.”
An employee forum is tentatively planned for early November, with a public forum to follow before Thanksgiving. Timm said the Town Boards will help publicize the events.
Stissing Mountain Principal Christopher Boyd and Assistant Principal Sara Von Burg presented their yearly report to the board, which followed a tour of the school. “Our two main areas of focus are building community and seizing opportunity,” Boyd said. As an example, he cited the state’s new rule banning cell phone use during school hours: “It’s an opportunity for kids to be more present in school. It challenges them to look at school as a community to build — made up of students, staff, and teachers.”
Boyd’s update centered on the three aspects of the district’s Blueprint for Excellence: academic achievement, the student experience, and community connection. “My goal is to continue to have every kid have a post-secondary experience in high school,” he said. “We have five DCC [Dutchess Community College] classes, four AP classes, and three Marist classes.” Boyd said that nearly 80 students took AP exams at the end of the 2025 academic year, compared to 36 students in 2021.
The high school now offers multiple pathways to earn a diploma. “The state is finally recognizing that there are different kinds of learners,” he said. “[Graduation] used to be based on hours of credit and five Regents Exams, but now students can take fewer exams and do several approved projects instead.” Boyd cited student involvement in the Pine Plains Future Farmers of America chapter. “It was recently CTE-accredited by the state,” he said. (Career and Technical Education programs are designed to teach hands-on, career-specific skills.) “This may be another pathway to graduate.” According to Boyd, 93% of seniors earned a diploma in 2025.
Von Burg discussed the school’s anti-bullying campaign as part of the student experience. “We have partnered with the Sweethearts and Heroes [a veteran-run organization] that teaches empathy,” she said. “Their presentation at an assembly for grades six through 12 had such good feedback that we’re continuing that partnership.” A six-week program is planned, with a focus on leadership: Older high schoolers will mentor younger students.
As for community connection activities, Von Burg mentioned food drives, the annual Senior to Senior Breakfast (a morning meal for older Pine Plains residents hosted by 12th graders), and local volunteering.
Timm reviewed a new state law requiring the district to provide staff trained to use AEDs (automated external defibrillators) at after-school activities, effective Jan. 20. “We’re set for regular hours — we even have fire department and ambulance crew members that work here and know how to use AEDs,” Timm said. “Desha’s Law extends this to any after-hours school-sanctioned activity or outside group using our facilities. It’s a great idea, but like many great ideas, there are unintended consequences: It’s another unfunded mandate.” The board will review options at its next meeting, such as requiring outside groups to provide their own certified AED staff.
Finally, the school board ratified the $12.9 million capital project referendum, which passed 200 to 58 on Oct. 15. The Stissing Mountain roof renovation is the first project, set to begin in 2026.
The next school board meeting will be held at 6:30 p.m. on Nov. 4 at the Stissing Mountain High School library.