July 10, 2024

Dear GNPS Community,

I hope your summer is off to a great start. We are certainly enjoying seeing those students and staff members involved with our various, extensive summer programs taking place throughout the District. We are also excited to see the progress being made to capital projects (including the renovation of science labs at both North Middle and North High School amongst other identified priorities).

Last night, the Board of Education met for their annual Reorganizational Meeting as well as for a scheduled monthly Business Meeting. Several items of note were acted upon by the Board that I believe the community would like to be made aware of, therefore, I ask that you please forgive the length of this correspondence.

First, Mr. Grant Toch was elected to serve as President of the Board for the 2024-25 school year. Mrs. Donna Peirez was elected to serve as Vice-President for the 2024-25 school year. We thank Mrs. Rebecca Sassouni for her three years of service as President. She will continue to serve as a Trustee, along with Mrs. Joanne Chan and Mr. Steve Chen (who was officially sworn in to begin his three-year term). We congratulate and thank all members of the Board of Education for their volunteerism and continued support of our students and community.

From a personnel standpoint, the Board accepted the resignation of Dr. Christopher Gitz as Principal of South High School. As a result of this action, the Board immediately and unanimously appointed Mr. Adam Hopkins as Interim Principal of South High School. As you are aware, Mr. Hopkins served as the Acting Principal of Great Neck South High School during the 2023-2024 school year. Mr. Hopkins was highly successful serving in such capacity and received positive feedback from all stakeholders. The District has already begun the process of forming a selection committee to review the (many) candidates for the vacant position of Assistant Principal of South High School (vacated by Ms. Rory Parnell who began July 1 as the
Principal of Mineola High School). The administrative team of South High School will be firmly established in the coming weeks before the start of the 2024-25 school year.

In addition, the Board of Education appointed Mrs. Jennifer Booth as the new Assistant Principal of North Middle School to fill the vacant position formerly held by Mr. Brendan Nelson (who will begin serving as Principal effective August 1, replacing Dr. Jerry Cozine, who has retired). Mrs. Booth has served as both special educator (beginning in 2009) and Dean of Students at North Middle School (2017). We are confident that Mrs. Booth’s student-centered leadership will compliment the North Middle team extremely well.

Further, the Board also unanimously voted to change the title of the Assistant Superintendent for Business, Mr. John O’Keefe, to Deputy Superintendent. This change is a reflection of both the confidence of the Board (and Superintendent) as well as the depth and breadth of Mr. O’Keefe’s responsibilities within GNPS, including careful oversight of the business office, facilities, capital projects, security, transportation and certain functions of human resources. 

Finally, the Board of Education also accepted the resignation of Dr. Stephen Lando, Assistant Superintendent for Secondary Education, effective on January 31, 2025, for the purpose of retirement. The search for a successor to this important role will commence immediately to maximize the benefit of transitional time with Dr. Lando. While we will have ample opportunity in the coming months to recognize Dr. Lando’s contributions to GNPS, we certainly thank him for his seventeen years of service to our students and the community.

Please join me in congratulating all of the individuals indicated above as well as all of the new faculty and staff members appointed by the Board last night. The outstanding qualifications of the “class of 2024” will assist GNPS in maintaining the standard of excellence our community expects and that our students deserve.

Also included on last night’s agenda, the Board took action to amend the District’s schedule of Board Business meetings for the coming school year. It is attached for your reference. You will note that aside from summer meetings, it is the intention of the Board to hold all public meetings of the Board for the 2024-25 school year in the E.M. Baker Auditorium. It is felt that one, central (as possible) consistent location will alleviate any confusion, maximize comfort and consistency for our residents, while allowing for the continued rotation of student/staff recognition and PTA/PTO leadership meetings (at Baker). 

The summer of 2024 is off to a busy start and promises to remain that way until students and all staff return after Labor Day. Please “be on the lookout” for additional communication as we progress towards the 2024-25 school year. A future communication will announce the virtual “ribbon cutting” of a newly developed, streamlined website as well as the use of Parent Square to both improve and enhance all aspects of communication with parents and community members.

Please stay healthy and safe as we enjoy the summer season.

Warm Regards
Kenneth R. Bossert, Ed.D
Superintendent of Schools

April 5, 2024

Dear GNPS Community,

As has now been widely reported, the tri-state area has experienced an earthquake right around 10:30 a.m. this morning.  The 4.8 magnitude earthquake reportedly had an epicenter located just outside of Tewksbury, New Jersey.  The tremors could be felt across Long Island and the region (including by my daughter in Albany, NY).

We have been in contact with the Department of Homeland Security of the Nassau County Police Department who have not recommended any changes to our typical daily activities.  As reported widely, it is unlikely that any aftershocks of note would be felt this far from the epicenter of the quake.

I am pleased to report that there was no damage of any kind throughout GNPS (except perhaps some shaken nerves).  I am thankful that our teachers, administrators and staff were on hand to assure our students that “all is well” and everyone is safe.  As I write this correspondence – it is “business as usual” throughout GNPS – inclusive of some teachable moments about earthquakes.

Earthquake today … eclipse on Monday …. certainly no lack of “excitement” thanks to Mother Nature.  Please stay healthy and safe while enjoying your weekend.

Regards,
Kenneth R. Bossert, Ed.D.
Superintendent of Schools

April 3, 2024 

Dear Parents/Guardians, 

As you are likely well aware, our region will have the rare and unique opportunity to witness a partial (nearly full) solar eclipse on April 8, 2024. Though the timing of the eclipse will vary around our area of the globe, the eclipse on Long Island is expected to begin at around 2:15 p.m. and continue until approximately 4:30 p.m. 

All GNPS schools will follow their regular schedule on this day and do our very best to maximize this wonderful educational opportunity. Elementary students will receive eclipse glasses, participate in discussions regarding the eclipse and spend a brief amount of time outside to view the event. Many students at the secondary level will have the opportunity to participate in viewing events (along with members of our Science Department and Administration) using district-supplied protective eyewear. Modifications have been made to the athletic schedule for the day in the interest of eye safety.

All students issued these protective lenses (which resemble “3-D glasses” you may recall from movie theaters of old) can be brought home with students who receive them for continued safe viewing under your supervision. For guidance regarding safe viewing of a solar eclipse, please visit NASA at the following link: https://science.nasa.gov/eclipses/safety

We understand that some parents/guardians may either wish to have their child stay home to view this unique event together, or have concerns regarding eye safety in general (wishing to keep children indoors until the eclipse has concluded). If you plan to pick your child up early on this date, please indicate this information to your child’s teacher (or secondary attendance office) as soon as possible so that appropriate arrangements can be made to limit disruptions to the day. 

Thank you for your support and cooperation as we plan for an exciting day in history. As you may know, the next similar eclipse event is not projected before 2079 for our region. If you have any questions or concerns, please speak to your child’s teacher or the appropriate building administrator.

Regards,
Kenneth R. Bossert, Ed.D.
Superintendent 

January 26, 2024

Dear GNPS Community,

I hope this letter finds you in good health enjoying the unseasonably warm temperatures we are currently experiencing.  It was a pleasure to see many of you at the various events that took place throughout the district this week.  Your support for our students and faculty as well as the programs presented/celebrated is greatly appreciated.

Winston Churchill is credited with stating: “Those who do not learn from history are doomed to repeat it.”  With this in mind, the United Nations General Assembly designated January 27 as International Holocaust Remembrance Day (the anniversary of the liberation of Aushwitz-Birkenau). As you are likely aware, Great Neck Public Schools is truly a “lighthouse district” in making certain our students are well educated in age-appropriate lessons relating to the Holocaust and the importance of modern anti-hate/anti-bias initiatives.  We take great pride in focusing on the importance of acceptance and celebrating the diversities of our community.

To best illustrate our efforts in this critically important area, we have planned a special Superintendent’s Community Forum for February 29, 2024 titled: “By Leaps and Bounds: Great Neck’s Leadership in Educating Against Antisemitism and All Forms of Hate.”  The program will take place at North High School in the gymnasium, from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m.  Please see the attached “save the date” flier for additional information.

Have a wonderful weekend.  It is hard to believe that Monday will mark the half-way point of the 2023-24 school year!

Warm Regards,

Kenneth Bossert, Ed.D.
Superintendent of Schools

January 22, 2024

Dear GNPS Families:

I hope this communication finds you well and enjoying a healthy, happy start to 2024.  We have had much to celebrate in the early stages of the calendar year in GNPS and we know this serves as a sign of great things to come!

I wanted to take a moment to follow up to my message Friday afternoon regarding police activity in the neighborhood near Lakeville Elementary School, and in response to some inaccurate information that was shared via social media accounts with me (not affiliated with GNPS).

As Friday’s dismissal was drawing to a close at Lakeville, we were notified by the Nassau County Police Department (NCPD) of law enforcement activity in the vicinity of Somerset Drive South. We were told that while there was no imminent threat to the school or the students and staff that remained in the building, we should commence our “lock out” protocols out of an abundance of caution (for the few students and staff that remained in the building for aftercare programs).

To be clear, in a “lock out” activities in the building continue as they normally would, but security guards ensure all exterior doors are secure and locked, electronic entry access is disabled, and no one is to enter or exit the building unless deemed safe by school/law enforcement officials. This is very different from a “lock down” where there is potentially imminent danger, and all individuals remain sheltered in locked rooms until cleared by law enforcement.

NCPD and Lake Success Police (LSP) each dispatched a patrol car to the site. One was a visible presence in front of the building, while the other parked in the rear. Furthermore, four guards in district security vehicles were immediately sent to the building as an added supplement to the guard stationed inside. As you likely know, many of our security guards are retired law enforcement officers and highly trained to respond to all emergent situations. Those stationed in the front of Lakeville facilitated the pick up of students as parents began arriving throughout the late afternoon. All students left the building by approximately 6:30 pm. We were apprised by Nassau County Police that the localized incident had been resolved at around 11:00 pm.

At no time did we receive any reports from the police of an “active shooter,” but we understand that some residents received such reports from outlets not affiliated with GNPS or law enforcement. We also know of still photos and videos of an individual brandishing a weapon (having now been identified as a pellet gun) and attempting to break in the door of a home (as many of you likely saw reported on News12 over the weekend).  This morning, News12 reported that a second arrest of the same individual was made yesterday (Sunday).  NCPD has confirmed the accuracy of the report.

Please understand that the safety, health and welfare of our students, faculty and staff are of paramount importance at all times.  We will always “err on the side of caution” when responding to any issue of safety and security (including winter weather).  We remain steadfast and vigilant in our resolve to ensure the safety of all students and staff.  We greatly value our strong working relationship with all the law enforcement agencies serving and protecting our community and school district. We appreciate the Lake Success Police Department for providing support to our security team at Lakeville throughout the day (particularly focused on our arrival and dismissal).  All law enforcement agencies that serve GNPS have been welcomed as regular visitors to all of our school facilities and partner with us for many emergency drills and other school functions.

Further, as you have likely noted, there has been a tremendous recent uptick in “swatting” incidents in our region. Swatting is a dangerous criminal hoax where a false report is made to police with the express purpose of luring them to a location, where they are led to believe a horrific crime (such as a mass shooting or imminent bombing) is in progress.  Another Nassau County School District (as widely reported) had this horrific experience last week.  The goal of the “hoax” was accomplished – creating a tremendous amount of unnecessary fear for all those involved. We are hopeful that the perpetrators of this crime will be quickly identified and prosecuted to the full extent of the law.

Please remain alert and watchful, and continue to share any and all suspicious activity to the proper authorities.  The leadership of GNPS strongly subscribes to the theory of “see something, say something”.  We also ask that you seek to confirm social media reports with credible sources to be able to confirm accuracy and authenticity.  Please also take the time to have age appropriate conversations with your children about these topics and do not hesitate to reach out to the district’s pupil support teams or the administration for any suggestions/resources you may need.

Thank you for your continued partnership as we navigate the challenges of the current landscape.  Please “keep an eye out for” my next communication regarding an upcoming Superintendent’s Community Forum being planned for February 29.  I can assure you that the topics covered will be far more uplifting and focused on highlighting the excellence of our instructional program.  

Warm Regards,

Kenneth R. Bossert, Ed.D.
Superintendent, GNPS 

November 22, 2023

Dear GNPS Community,

Thanksgiving is a time that allows us to reflect upon what matters most to each of us.  I am hopeful that this holiday break gives you an opportunity to spend time with family, friends and cherished loved ones.  During these very trying times, I hope we can all take a moment to reflect upon how much we have to be thankful for. 

Among the things I am thankful for is the opportunity to serve as your instructional leader.  In the brief time I have been with you in Great Neck, I have quickly learned a great deal about this community.  Great Neck is home to talented educators and dedicated leaders committed to providing students with the best possible instructional and extra-curricular experiences.  I’m also thankful for the community’s support of our schools and programs. This district provides opportunities and resources that truly help students to reach their own full potential and engage in new discoveries each day.

The Board of Education has committed to leading by example.  At last night’s public meeting, the Board unanimously voted to support a resolution titled:  Urgent call for Unequivocal Condemnation of Antisemitism, Islamophobia and Hamas Terrorism. This is the result of a draft the Board has been working on for several weeks in response to the October 7 attacks. The full text of the resolution can be found on the homepage of the GNPS website linked here.  To my knowledge, the GNPS Board of Education is the first in New York State to pass such a resolution.  Great Neck will continue to strive to be a lighthouse district for others to follow.  We look forward to partnering with parents and community members to review and refine our curriculum and program offerings targeted at fighting all forms of bias and hate.  Please be attentive to forthcoming notices of public presentations that will be made on these important topics.

Once again, I am hopeful that the Thanksgiving holiday brings both joy and peace to your home.  For our students, please join me in “unplugging” and being fully present with those who mean the most.

Warm Regards,

Kenneth R. Bossert, Ed.D.
Superintendent, Great Neck Public Schools

November 19, 2023

Dear GNPS Community,

This letter is meant to serve as a follow up to the correspondence you received on Friday regarding an article printed in the NHS Guide Post Newspaper.

As part of the 100 day plan I published on the district website, I indicated that I would be reviewing all key policies and procedures that impact Great Neck Public Schools.  Admittedly, I had not yet had any conversation regarding how a student article progresses from draft to print.  Tomorrow morning (Monday), I will be meeting with building principals and Dr. Lando to acquire a firm understanding of this process.  I fully anticipate that moving forward, changes will be made to the oversight process to ensure accuracy in reporting, appropriate topic selection, editorial v. news item identification, etc.  It is our role as building and district administrators to identify solutions when problems arise and implement corrective action when warranted. 

Additionally, as I reported at the Board of Education meeting held last Wednesday, November 15, the primary focus of Superintendent’s Conference Day (held on Election Day) was an investment in News Media Literacy.  All members of the instructional staff, K-12, heard from our keynote speaker, Professor Howard Schneider, Dean of the School of News Media Literacy for Stony Brook University on the importance of this topic.  Professor Schneider helped to inspire our teachers to delve more deeply into this important topic.  We will continue to focus many aspects of our professional development on News Media Literacy throughout the year and into the Summer of 2024 to make sure this essential element of our curriculum brings benefit to both our students and our faculty.

I was saddened to learn that the students involved in the Guide Post publication received both unkind and threatening comments via text message and social media on Friday and throughout the weekend.  This is simply unacceptable.  Our schools are institutions for learning and this is a learning opportunity for all involved – inclusive of the faculty, administration and me personally.  In addition, negative commentary targeting the student editorial staff of the Guide Post on-line edition are also wrong and misplaced.  This student-led periodical is separate and apart from the printed edition. 

Thank you to each member of our community that reached out to a member of the administration (myself, Dr. Holtzman, or Dr. Lando) and/or the Board of Education.  We hope this correspondence, in addition to the one sent on Friday, helps to allay the concerns you articulated.  This matter will be fully investigated and corrective actions will be taken. While we cannot turn back time, we can commit to doing better moving forward. 

Regards,
Kenneth R. Bossert, Ed.D.
Superintendent, GNPS

November 17, 2023 

Dear GNPS Community,  

We sincerely value the many individuals who have taken the time to communicate with us about the unintended offense taken from the lead story featured in the November 17, 2023 issue of Great Neck North High School's student newspaper, Guidepost. We deeply regret that this has occurred.  

As a first step in addressing these concerns, we have collected and will destroy the undistributed copies of the paper. Once the Guidepost is published online, readers will observe modifications to the headline, lead, accompanying images, and content.  

We recognize the challenge of writing an article on the war is a daunting one, even for the most talented news reporters, even more so at the high school-level. We extend our most sincere apology for the response this article has elicited.  

We are confident that our continued focus on News Media Literacy moving forward will benefit both students and faculty alike. We understand that this article caused pain to many in our community who are already suffering. It is our hope that this communication is received in the manner in which it is intended. May you all have a peaceful weekend. 

Sincerely,
Kenneth R. Bossert, Ed.D.
Superintendent of Schools

Dan Holtzman, Ed.D.
Principal, Great Neck North High School 

October 12, 2023

Dear GNPS Community,

I am writing in furtherance of my letter to you on Monday.  I am pleased to report that it has been a productive week throughout the district.  I have been thankful to observe meaningful, engaging lessons with students while keeping a compassionate, thoughtful tone within our buildings.  Students (and staff) requiring additional support have received it.  Thank you to all parents and community members who have served as partners during this difficult time.

We continue to monitor images and videos on social media that are upsetting, unsettling and inhumane.  We ask you, once again, to please monitor your children’s access to social media where these videos have circulated.  While it is always best practice to have a keen awareness of what children are exposed to, it is even more essential right now.

The administration is aware of an extremely disturbing post that has been widely circulated.  For those who are not familiar, it calls for violent acts against Jewish people to take place tomorrow (Friday, 10/13).  We have been in communication with local law enforcement to make certain that they are aware of these hideous posts.  We have been assured that there have been no credible direct threats made to any specific target/area/region.  Out of an abundance of caution, you will see an increased police presence throughout the district as well as enhancements to our own security staffing/visibility.  We have also made a small number of modifications to various functions within some of our buildings (again, out of an abundance of caution) that will be appropriately communicated by the applicable building principal. 

Our main objective remains the safety and well-being of our entire school community.  Our counseling team is prepared to continue to support students, parents, and staff who continue to be directly impacted by the horrific events or are having difficulty processing what is taking place.  Again, please do not hesitate to contact the psychologists, social workers and counselors in our schools should you need to seek guidance and support.

In addition, please recall that tonight at 7:00pm at North High School is the premiere showing of “Names Not Numbers.”  This documentary helps to further our Holocaust curriculum and features several of our NHS students.  We hope your schedule permits you to attend.

This weekend features Homecoming events for both our North and South student-athletes and their families.  As the weather continues to challenge our plans, please keep a keen eye on additional correspondence noting any changes to our planned schedule of events.  A sense of community spirit and togetherness is extremely well-timed.

Sincerely,

Kenneth Bossert, Ed.D.
Superintendent of Schools
Great Neck Public Schools

October 9, 2023

Dear Members of the GNPS Community, 

During the three-day holiday weekend here in Great Neck, Israel experienced a series of coordinated violent attacks by air, land, and sea, sustaining the losses of hundreds of lives, inclusive of soldiers, civilians, children, elderly, and American citizens. As of this writing, an unknown number of hostages - including American citizens and US nationals - have been abducted, too. The horrors are playing out in real time, and Israel has declared war.

We are mindful that many in the Great Neck community feel connected to Israel, including many who consider it a second home. Please know that throughout the weekend, the Board and Administration have been working with local law enforcement agencies and our own security team to enhance and harden all security protocols in and around our school facilities. We are reassured that our elected officials understand the importance of partnering with us to make certain that our schools remain safe for all students, faculty, and staff.

In addition, all members of our administration and student support teams are prepared to address any and all students or staff members who have been impacted by these painful and worrisome events. Any student or staff member that needs additional support in working through traumatic emotional responses during this extremely difficult time will receive it.

In my short time serving as your Superintendent of Schools, it has become extremely clear to me that Great Neck is a community where people come together to support one another during times of need. The GNPS Board, administration, faculty and staff remain prepared to support our students and their families in any and all ways possible as we navigate together. Please do not hesitate to reach out to your child’s teacher, counselor, or building principal should there be specific questions or concerns you may have.

Until our schools open tomorrow, I share this link to a valued resource from NCTSM (The National Child Traumatic Stress Network) for those who seek guidance on ways to address war and conflict with children. The psychologists, social workers and counselors within our schools are prepared to assist in any way possible. Please do not hesitate to contact any one of them for further assistance or additional resources.

In unity,

Kenneth R. Bossert, Ed.D.

Superintendent, Great Neck Public Schools 

Dear GNPS Community, 

Welcome to the 2023-24 school year! I’m pleased to report that the new school year got off to a smooth start this week. I had the opportunity to visit all schools on “Opening Day” and it was invigorating to see so many smiles on the faces of our students and staff who are happy to be back together with their friends and colleagues. 

Over the past two weeks, I welcomed new teachers at New Faculty Orientation, spoke to all staff on Superintendent’s Conference Day, visited every school on Opening Day, and attended several of our schools’ Open House events. I look forward to seeing more of you at district activities in the weeks and months to come. With that in mind, I’d like to remind the community about two opportunities to connect and share your thoughts about the District. 

Superintendent Meet and Greet

As I mentioned in a previous letter, the Board of Education has graciously arranged a Meet & Greet event on my behalf for Wednesday, September 13 at 5:30 p.m. in the South High School library. I’m looking forward to this opportunity to engage with students, staff, and residents in an unstructured, casual setting. The entire GNPS community is invited and light refreshments will be provided, courtesy of the Board. I hope to see you there.

ThoughtExchange

As part of my 100 Day Plan, and to hear from as many constituents as possible, I’ve created a survey using a collaborative platform called ThoughtExchange. The survey has one open-ended question: “What priorities and/or insights would you like the new Superintendent of Schools to be aware of?” By using the ThoughtExchange platform, everyone has an opportunity to share their thoughts and understand what’s most important to the community. 

This Exchange is confidential. Your thoughts will be shared with other participants, but not your identity. After you share your own thoughts, you can see and rate ideas that other participants provided on a scale of 1 to 5 stars (strongly disagree to strongly agree). In the final step, participants can view how the thoughts in the Exchange have been rated by the group.

To participate, please click: https://tejoin.com/scroll/824418973. This Exchange will stay open through September 29, 2023. I encourage everyone to share your thoughts and visit the Exchange often to rate new ideas. 

September is off to a great start and I look forward to the exciting events, activities, and accomplishments that the 2023-24 school year has in store. 

Warm regards, 
Kenneth R. Bossert, Ed.D.
Superintendent of Schools

Dear Parents, Guardians, and Community Members,

Welcome to the 2023-24 school year.  Although the calendar indicates that this summer break was longer than in recent years, it certainly seemed to go by very quickly.  I hope that the months of July and August allowed you to spend time with family and friends engaging in all of the activities that make this time of year so special.  

As you are aware, my formal transition to Great Neck began on August 1.  That said, I have been working to prepare for the coming school year from the moment I was appointed by the Board of Education in June.  During the summer months, I was afforded the opportunity to meet with many stakeholders within both the district and the community.  I would like to offer my sincere appreciation for all those that took the time to meet with me, send an email, or simply approached me within the community to say hello.  The conversations and interactions I have had have helped to solidify how happy I am to be part of the Great Neck community.  I look forward to seeing many of you at the various events scheduled throughout the month of September and as the year progresses.

One of these events is a special “meet and greet” hosted by the Board of Education.  This is an opportunity for you to engage with me in an unstructured, casual setting, where we can simply put “faces to names” and get to know one another a bit.  Please join me on Wednesday, September 13, at 5:30 p.m. in the South High School library.  Light refreshments will be provided courtesy of the Board of Education (with my appreciation). 

While our students were not in attendance, the administration, faculty, clerical staff, custodial, and buildings/grounds crew steadily worked to ensure the smooth opening of our schools for the 2023-24 school year.  We are eager to meet the students who will be joining us for the first time, and welcome back all returning scholars.  Our instructional staff has been diligent in preparing lesson plans, revising curriculum, examining new programs, and technology integration initiatives.  You will also note the successful completion of several, wonderful capital projects across the District.  These completed projects, as well as ongoing construction projects at Baker and Lakeville schools, are focused on maximizing instructional opportunities as well as enhancing the overall safety, health, and welfare of all students, faculty, staff, and parents/community members.

I am pleased to report that, through our partnership with local law enforcement agencies, a thorough audit of all aspects of District security were reviewed.  The audit completed by the Nassau County Division of Homeland Security noted many strengths within both our facilities and procedures.  They also made recommendations for future improvements that will assist us in hardening our buildings as well as our systems.  We are thankful for this partnership and look forward to continued collaboration with each agency.  The safety of our students, faculty, and staff is our top priority.

As all faculty members prepare to return for the scheduled conference day activities on Thursday, August 31, they will be advised that our theme of the year is, “The Race for Excellence has No Finish Line.”  As evidenced by the 2023 Niche ratings (#1 in New York State, #3 in the nation), the Great Neck Public Schools is a special place filled with outstanding achievement.  We collectively agree that we also possess even greater potential.  There are always areas for focus and improvement.  

I am very proud to begin this school year serving as your superintendent.  While it is my first year as the instruction leader in Great Neck, it will represent my thirteenth “Opening Day” as a superintendent and, notably, my thirtieth as an educator. As we enter into the important home/school partnership, I look forward to effective collaboration and communication with all stakeholders.  Your input into identifying the priorities of the District will be welcomed.  In the coming weeks, please anticipate receiving a Thought Exchange (narrative survey) that will give all participants the opportunity to share thoughts and perspectives about the district.

Please refer to our website and district social media accounts (Facebook, Instagram) to stay updated regarding all school activities.  In addition, please consider following me on X (formerly Twitter) to gain some additional information and insight about what is happening in both our district and the educational community.  My account can be found at Dr.Bossert@GreatNeck_Super and our hashtag - #DiscoverGreatness

I look forward to working with you to make the 2023-24 school year a one to remember for all students.

Warm Regards, 

Kenneth R. Bossert, Ed.D.
Superintendent of Schools

Dear Members of the Great Neck Community,

I hope this communication finds you well and enjoying the second half of what has been a pleasant summer. As you are aware, my official transition to the position of Superintendent of Schools began on August 1. Since that time, I have had the opportunity to meet with a number of stakeholders, as well as tour several of our school buildings and the surrounding, beautiful community.

As you will note in my 100 Day entry plan (now posted to the district’s website), I have plans to thoroughly review all aspects of operations of Great Neck Public Schools. I look forward to working with each of you to gain additional information and perspectives that will assist me in meeting with success as the instructional leader of the district.

For those who subscribe to Newsday, you may have noticed that a follow-up article was published regarding a security incident that had taken place last year at South High School. Out of respect for our students’ rights and privacy (guided by FERPA), the district cannot, in any capacity, comment on matters of student discipline. It would also be premature on my part to comment on any of these events until I have had the opportunity to thoroughly review the investigation and meet with the individuals directly involved. Should additional security protocols or a change in our discipline procedures be warranted after this thorough review, I will share the information with our community.

Please know, however, that matters of safety, health and welfare are of the utmost of importance to me and the entirety of the district leadership team. Any and all security/procedural enhancements that are deemed appropriate have already been implemented or will be for the coming school year. I look forward to engaging all stakeholders on this journey of communication, understanding, growth and discovery.

Please anticipate further information in the near future which will include details regarding a “meet and greet” being planned on my behalf in September. I look forward to the opportunity to interact with many of you on that occasion and throughout the coming school year.

Please enjoy the remainder of your summer.

Warm Regards,
Kenneth R. Bossert, Ed.D.
Superintendent of Schools

Dear Great Neck Community Members,

As I begin my tenure as Superintendent of Schools for the district, I would first like to thank the many students, parents, staff members and residents who have taken the time to introduce themselves and warmly welcomed me to the school community.  The kind words that have been thoughtfully shared have been greatly appreciated.  Since the time I was announced as the district’s new leader, I have met with the Board of Education, administrators and other members of the district team. While August 1 is my “official” first day as Superintendent of Schools, my interactions with various stakeholders over the past several weeks have provided me with a solid foundation regarding the district and community on which to build.

I join all residents of Great Neck in mourning the loss of Dr. Prendergast.  My thoughts and prayers are with her family and all those who knew her.  I deeply regret that I was unable to partner with her during this transitional process, but am extremely thankful for the opportunity to continue the outstanding work she helped to foster within the district.  I am committed to continuing her legacy of making certain that all decisions are made in the best interest of our students and the Great Neck community.

The community’s approval of the 2023-24 operating budget will allow the district to continue to provide an extremely diverse learning environment for students at all levels. The variety of instructional designs, technology resources as well as extra-curricular, co-curricular, and athletic activities is nothing short of outstanding.  I was pleased to learn that so many students in this district take advantage of these opportunities, as I believe they contribute greatly to the educational experience offered in any district.  After only a surface review of district offerings, there is little mystery as to why Niche Magazine recently ranked Great Neck Public Schools as number one in New York State and number three in the nation.  I am overjoyed to be joining such a successful team.

While it is summer and the schools are quiet, please be assured that our work continues. We are refining certain areas of the curriculum, planning for professional development to be offered to staff, and finalizing course schedules and class assignments.  Our facilities and grounds crew are also already hard at work preparing our buildings for the start of school in early September, inclusive of some extensive capital improvements that we look forward to sharing.

In the coming days I will be posting my 100 Day Entry Plan to the district website.  You will note that part of this plan will be to become better acquainted with as many stakeholders as possible in order to gain perspectives on various aspects of the district and community. If you would like the opportunity to meet with me, please contact my assistant, Kuniko Langel, at (516) 441-4006 to arrange a mutually convenient time.

Again, thank you for your sincere welcome to this wonderful school community. I look forward to meeting many stakeholders throughout the summer and as school resumes in September.  

Best wishes for a safe and happy month of August, full of memories with family and friends.

Sincerely,

Kenneth R. Bossert, Ed.D.
Superintendent of Schools