RCS gets ready for the new year

New classes, new venting system

By Kara Didrich| Manor Ink

Town of Rockland, NY – Is there anything new happening for Rockland Central Middle School/High School’s upcoming school year? Well, Manor Ink has done some digging to let you know!

Chris Towsley, one of the guidance counselors at the MS/HS said that, for the 2026-27 school year, there will be many electives offered. Most of those offered last year are still available, including Ag Science classes, while only two electives have been cut – the outdoor geography course and the history of baseball. However, students will now have the opportunity to take American sign language, college algebra, AI digital literacy and a business marketing class.

Many taxpayers wonder what happened to the money for replacing the Manor campus’s bridge over the Willowemoc and the adjacent rock wall on Main Street. Contrary to what some residents believe, the money has not been used for another project, nor has it been lost. It is in a designated account until the district is able to find a way to continue with the project.

“It’s not going anywhere,” said School Business Manager Janet Dymond, referring to the funds. “We just have to figure out what our next steps are.”

Because it would be simpler for crews to work on the street side of the bridge and wall, the school attempted to get permission from homeowners and businesses on the other side of Main Street to move electrical poles. Since permission was not attained from all of the property owners, the work will need to be done from the river side of the wall. There are many factors to consider with a job of this magnitude. It will take some time but the work will be done.

Have you seen the construction happening in the front of the Manor school? According to Paul Antizzo, RCS facilities director, workers are nearly finished with the ventilation system throughout the school. A large oil tank was also recently replaced near the School Street entrance as part of the new heating system.

Another project that is almost completed is the new secure entrance at the back of the building. That is expected to be finished before or just after school starts. The bushes and fences adjacent to the School Street entrance have been removed.

During the last few weeks of August, there were quite a few buses parked in the bus loop. The reason for this is that after the recent flooding, the Rolling V Bus Corp. decided to switch from a gravel-and-dirt parking lot to a paved one at their building at the end of School St. The buses had to be relocated temporarily.

Rest assured, school will be ready to open for the new year. When asked for a message to the students, Towsley said, ”I’m looking forward to seeing everyone come back. I hope they’ll be well rested, because we’ve got a lot of fun stuff this year, and also I hope that they come in ready to work.”