September 4, 2025

Dear GNPS Community,

Happy New Year to all! I write today to share with you some very positive observations of the first week of the 2025-26 school year. I was pleased to visit each of our school buildings throughout the first days of school. During my travels, I was overjoyed to see our students re-establishing routines, being met by our enthusiastic teachers, staff and administrators. Engaging lessons and activities were taking place as well as many “getting to know you” exercises. The smiles and “good vibes” were palatable as students had the opportunity to reunite with friends and begin to establish new, positive relationships.

Please allow me to provide you with a few reminders to be kept in mind:

1. All public schools across New York State have adopted a free breakfast and lunch program - available to all students. We encourage all students and families to maximize this opportunity as best meets their needs. Our food service staff works hard to provide many options to our students each day.
    
2. The cell phone ban directed by Governor Hochul has been adopted as policy throughout Great Neck Public Schools. We recognize that this is a substantive change and thank our students for the understanding and compliance they have demonstrated throughout the week. We are confident that this will remain the case. We appreciate the support our parents and community members have demonstrated as well.
    
3. We appreciate the patience and understanding our students and parents/community have demonstrated as our transportation services experience the typical start of school delays/challenges we see each year. We understand that some concerns have risen due to changes in bus stop locations and services provided. We regret any inconvenience and/or disruptions caused during this transitional time and offer our apologies to our students and their families/caregivers. Please know that our Transportation Department is working diligently (with extended hours) to address any and all concerns brought to their attention. Stops will be reviewed, routes may be modified, and times may be adjusted as the first few weeks of school take place in order to assist us in addressing concerns brought forward in an effort to maximize efficiencies. Please contact our Transportation Department at transportation@greatneck.k12.ny.us directly if concerns arise (if you have not done so already).
    
4. At the meeting of the Board of Education that took place on Thursday, August 28, the Board President made a statement on behalf of the Board. He indicated that the Board has engaged with legal counsel to investigate the appropriate process to follow to bring a transportation referendum (vote) to the community. It was explained, at this time we must follow all laws associated with transportation services and limits set forth by Great Neck residents, via a prior transportation referendum (vote) when it was last conducted in 1998. In the coming weeks, the community should anticipate a Transportation Informational Forum to be held and a ThoughtExchange (electronic survey) to be shared with all residents. Prior to any referendum to be conducted, the Board must first assess the various options available for modifying our current practices and the costs associated with doing so. The Board and Administration look forward to engaging with all stakeholders on this important topic. The safe and efficient transportation of all students, public and private, is of paramount importance to all.

Thank you again for your partnership in making this opening week such a special one throughout the Great Neck community. Please look forward to a short video highlighting some “sights and sounds” as week one draws to a close. It will be shared soon. Happy New Year!

Warm Regards,

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