A welcome back letter from Megan Argenio, Superintendent of Schools.
Welcome Back to the 2026–2027 School Year, Cornwall!
As we prepare this special Back-to-School edition of our town newsletter, I’m pleased to connect with our entire community: students, families, educators, and residents alike. The beginning of a new school year is always an exciting milestone in Cornwall, offering a fresh opportunity to reflect on our progress, share our vision, and celebrate the strong bond between our schools and the town we call home.
A New Foundation Built on Vision and Strategic Planning:
This school year marks an extraordinary milestone for our district. On July 16, 2026, the Board of Education officially adopted our new Cornwall Central School District Strategic Plan (2026–2031). Developed in partnership with HYA Associates and guided by extensive feedback from students, staff, parents, and community members throughout the winter and spring, this plan serves as our roadmap for the next five years.
Our strategic framework is anchored around five key priority areas:
- Holistic Student Success: Elevating academic achievement, expanding socialemotional growth, and establishing a consistent district-wide Multi-Tiered System of Supports (MTSS), which provides targeted support for every
student. - Student Support Services: Strengthening special education partnerships and supporting post-secondary transitions.
- School Engagement & Community Partnerships: Building stronger two-way communication and real-world learning partnerships with local businessesand organizations.
- Resource Management: Fostering fiscal responsibility, executing our capital project improvements, and supporting staff recruitment and retention.
- Digital Citizenship & Instruction: Balancing critical thinking with purposeful instructional technology, including guidance on AI integration.
Through this plan, our mission is clear: to prepare students to become intellectually curious, socially responsible stewards who contribute meaningfully to our community.
A Busy Summer of Upgrades and Preparation:
While our hallways were quiet over the summer, our staff worked at full speed to bring this vision to life and ensure an exceptional environment for our students:
– Facility Improvements & Refresh: Thanks to our phenomenal Buildings & Grounds team, capital project work moved forward smoothly. Every classroom, hallway, and learning space across the district was deep cleaned, sanitized, and reset.
– Curriculum Refinement & Staff Development: Over 90 faculty members dedicated more than 840 hours this summer to updating and refining our K–12 curriculum. In addition, our Administration Teams and Board of Education held dedicated workshops in July and August to align District and Board goals
directly with our new strategic priorities.
– Operational Readiness: From finalizing bus routes and schedules to preparing instructional technology and enrolling new families, our administrative and clerical teams handled every detail to ensure a seamless opening week.
Leadership Updates and New Talent
I am deeply honored to have officially stepped into the role of Superintendent of Schools as of July 1. Serving our students, staff, and community is a true privilege, and I am humbled to lead the CCSD into this exciting next chapter.
We are also thrilled to introduce key updates to our leadership team and staff:
–Mrs. Kate Polumbo has transitioned from Cornwall Central Middle School Principal to our Assistant Superintendent for Instruction, bringing her energy and dedication to our Central Office Team while supporting all staff.
–Mr. John Xanthis returns to CCSD to serve as Interim Principal of Cornwall Central Middle School. Mr. Xanthis is a seasoned, well-respected administrator who will seamlessly guide our MS Team over the coming months.
–Mr. Andrew LaVallie (new Assistant Principal at CCMS) and Mrs. Christina Greenbaum (new Assistant Principal at CES) join our Administration Teams with rich experience and enthusiasm.
-We also proudly welcomed a talented group of new faculty and staff during our New Staff Orientation—please join us in giving our “New Class” a warm Cornwall welcome!
Our first two Superintendent Conference Days, held on August 31 and September 1, set the tone for a positive and exciting year ahead. Our Faculty and Staff were energized, prepared, and ready to welcome our students on Wednesday, September 2. Even the anticipation of rain didn’t dampen our spirits!
We will share further details about our 2026–2027 strategic initiatives with the community by the end of September. Please also watch for updates from each school about the many start-of-year events and activities in store. You can also check out our website for more information: https://www.cornwallschools.com/
When school staff, families, and community members unite with shared values – Connection, Growth, Empowerment, and Excellence, there is no limit to what our students can achieve.
Thank you for your ongoing trust, partnership, and support. Let’s make the 2026–2027 school year our best one yet!
Warmest Regards,
Megan Argenio
Superintendent of Schools