The North Shore School District Board of Education discussed district goals and meeting topics for the 2026-27 school year at its first meeting on Sept. 17. Trustees and interim Superintendent Tom Dolan also addressed a change in New York State graduation requirements. Trustee James Svendson has resigned from the board, and the superintendent search is ongoing. Here are three things to know.
1. Graduation requirements changing
New York State will no longer require students to pass Regents exams to earn a high school diploma. The class of 2028 will be the first students affected by the change. Regents exams will still be administered but not required for graduation.
“What that means is this very important credential will be made more achievable,” Dolan said, “in a variety of ways using multiple pathways.”
Dolan added that he has been advised by Dan Doherty, director of counseling, that there are North Shore students in the class of 2028 who may benefit from the change.
The current three-diploma system in which students can earn a local diploma, a Regents diploma or an Advanced Regents diploma will be replaced by a single high school diploma. Advanced academic diplomas will be optional. School districts will have to create their own methods of testing and grading.
2. James Svendson resigns
Trustee James Svendson has resigned from the board after one year. There are three options regarding the open seat; leave it vacant, appoint a trustee or hold a special election. In past similar situations, the board appointed a trustee.
Board of Education President Andrea Macari explained requirements for holding a special election, which would run the same way a regular election would. The cost to the district would be roughly $20,000, according to Macari.
An appointed trustee would hold the seat until the regular election in May and could run again. If a trustee were to be elected through special election, they would hold the seat for the remaining two years of Svendson’s term.
After some discussion, trustees agreed to appoint a trustee. Macari said the hope is to have someone appointed by the board’s Oct. 8 meeting.
3. Superintendent search continues
Vice President Lisa Colacioppo provided an update on the district’s search for a new superintendent, discussing stakeholder input. An online survey was sent out and a community meeting was held on Sept. 28 to collect stakeholder input that will be used to look for superintendent candidates.
The district is working with the search firm School Leadership.
“As Dr. Dolan keeps saying, we can’t start the search until we know who we are looking for,” Colacioppo said. “And so, we really need the community to weigh in on those characteristics and traits that we need to look for in our next superintendent.”
School Leadership is set to present to the board on Oct. 22 so trustees can approve specifications and the firm can begin advertising and recruiting. Colacioppo added that the board hopes to hire a superintendent by July.
