July 07, 2026

Dear Morristown Central School Students, Staff, Parents, and Community Members:

Welcome to the 2026–2027 school year! I hope everyone had a safe, relaxing, and enjoyable summer. As we prepare to welcome students back into our classrooms, I want to thank our faculty, staff, Board of Education, families, and community members for your continued partnership and unwavering support of Morristown Central School District. Together, we continue to build a school community where every student is known, valued, challenged, and inspired to succeed.

This summer has been another season of tremendous progress across our district. Our custodial, maintenance, transportation, food service, technology, and office staff have worked diligently to prepare our school for another successful year, while teachers and administrators have been planning engaging learning experiences that will help every student reach their full potential.

One of the most exciting developments continues to be the progress of Phase II of our Capital Project. This summer, work began on a complete renovation of our kitchen along with significant upgrades to our cafetorium, creating a modern and welcoming space for students and staff. Improvements are also underway in our gymnasium, including new bleachers, air conditioning, and enhanced sound systems that will benefit our students, athletes, performers, and community events for years to come.

Construction also continues on our beautiful new addition, which will feature a state-of-the-art band and choral classroom as well as a new fitness facility. We are especially excited about the opportunities this space will provide—not only for our students but for our entire community. Once completed, the fitness center will be available for community use, further strengthening Morristown Central School's role as a hub for lifelong learning, wellness, and community engagement.

As we begin this school year, we remain focused on continuous improvement and ensuring that every decision we make is centered on student success.

Our first priority is student academic growth, achievement, and support. We are committed to providing highly engaging and rigorous learning experiences that foster the attributes of the New York State Portrait of a Graduate. Through meaningful instruction, students will continue developing critical thinking, effective communication, collaboration, creativity, global citizenship, adaptability, and problem-solving skills that prepare them for success in college, careers, and life. Our administrative team will continue supporting teachers in aligning instruction to rigorous standards while maintaining a consistent, student-centered focus on high-quality teaching and learning.

Equally important is our commitment to communication and engagement. This year, we will continue strengthening partnerships among staff, the Board of Education, students, families, and community members by clearly communicating district priorities and celebrating our successes together. We will continue monthly Student Advisory Meetings, administer climate and ParentSquare feedback surveys to gather student voice following events and field trips, and launch our first Post-High School Graduate Survey to gather valuable feedback from our alumni as we continue refining our educational programs. 

Our work together is already producing meaningful results.

During the 2025–2026 school year, our students achieved an overall Regents Mastery Level rate of 33%, representing a 9% increase over the previous year's 24% mastery rate. This remarkable growth reflects the dedication of our students, teachers, support staff, and families, and moves us closer to our goal of increasing overall Regents mastery by at least 2% annually.

We also continue making important strides in student attendance. Last year, we reduced chronic absenteeism by 5%, bringing us closer to our district goal of having fewer than 10% of our students identified as chronically absent. We know that students learn best when they are present, engaged, and connected, and we appreciate the continued partnership of our families in making attendance a priority.

Communication with our families has also reached an all-time high. Through ParentSquare, we shared 616 school posts, an 89.5% increase from the previous year, while sending more than 18,600 direct messages to families—a remarkable 273.5% increase. These improvements reflect our commitment to keeping families informed, connected, and actively engaged in their child's education.

Another important change this year is the implementation of our new school bus seat belt requirement. All district buses are equipped with three-point lap and shoulder seat belts that provide the highest level of protection available on school buses. After careful review by our District Safety Committee, Shared Decision-Making Team, a public hearing, and approval by the Board of Education, seat belt use will now be required for all students riding district buses. This initiative reflects our ongoing commitment to providing the safest possible transportation for every child.

Thank you for your continued trust and support of Morristown Central School District. I look forward to another incredible year of learning, growth, and success. Let's make the 2026–2027 school year our best yet!

Sincerely,

Staci A. Vaughn
Superintendent