At each meeting, the Superintendent of Schools, Dr. Shine, provides a report to the Board and community. At this meeting, Dr. Shine shared the news that Rye High School has been recognized by US News & World Report in multiple capacities. RHS was named one of the country's Best High Schools, and more importantly, was distinguished as #54 of only 100 Gold Medal Schools -- the highest level of recognition bestowed. RHS was also included among the country's Top Open Enrollment Schools. Additionally, Rye High school ranked #34 on the publication's list of the 208 top high schools that performed best in math and science. US News & World Report also featured an article exclusively about Rye. Dr. Shine commended the High School administrators and teachers, as well as staff members throughout the District whose dedication to their work helps make achievements like this possible.

Dr. Shine congratulated many Rye High School students for their recent accomplishments. Tori Virtue was named the Con Ed Scholar Athlete of the Week for her success in academics and varsity field hockey, and Molly Jordan, Alexander Mun, Leo Neuringer, Celia Palmer, Claire Pfister, and Gwendolyn Wiegold were named Semifinalists in the 2012 National Merit Program. Dr. Shine also announced that 18 students were recognized as National Merit Commended Students, and congratulated  Peter Adams, Casey Berger, Kirsten Colwell, Lauren Creadore, Joseph DeBartolo, Devon DiPalma, Catherine Hedge, Axel Hufford, Madeleine Junkins, Benjamin Lee, Grace Leishman, Taylor Love, James MacKenzie, Benjamin Meyers, Nicholas Philip, Benjamin Schaffler, Victoria Virtue, and Charlie Volow. Dr. Shine additionally noted that the elementary schools have been focusing a great deal on reading the past few weeks, with book fairs organized by each building and a Family Reading Night scheduled at Osborn on October 6.

The Board approved two gift from the Osborn School PTO; one for up to $2,000 for the purchase of a laminating machine, the other in the amount of $6,900 to go toward the creation of an outdoor garden.

The Board approved a resolution of appreciation and thanks to Rye Country Day School for offering use of its fields for the period in which Nugent Stadium field was not usable due to flooding damage.

The Board and Dr. Shine continued their discussion of the enrollment and space issues at the Middle and High School campus. KSQ Architects presented a District Capital Planning Update, and Assistant Superintendent for Business Kathleen Ryan provided a Preliminary Debt Cost Impact presentation. The Board asked the architects for more information on the following:

• Itemization of the number of science rooms to be renovated and how many additional rooms will be created; 
• Parking spaces for faculty and staff;
• Parking in the front of the high school;
• Space for performing arts and a cost estimate;
• Locker rooms;
• Field house and upper field renovations;
• Middle School nurse's office;
• Separate out Art, TV, Tech Ed;
• Fire department requests;
• Full building "refreshing;
• Whether reductions can be made in cost estimates to reduce the scope of some of the projects to fit more "things" in;
• The number and condition of toilet rooms in the Middle School and High School.

In addition to the presentations, a statement was read by Dr. Shine describing the importance of and need for the classroom addition. There is Board consensus to support the science classroom addition, and discussions on the aforementioned topics as well as other issues will be continued at the October 4 meeting. All reports and information presented to date can be viewed by visiting the "Capital Project Central" section of the District website, www.ryeschools.org.