Dear NYSSFA Members,
As I begin my term as President of the New York State School Facilities Association, I am both humbled and inspired. Thank you to our members, our Board, and our past presidents for the trust you have placed in me. I don’t take it lightly.
I also want to thank Dave Ciurczak for a year truly built on tradition, education, and community. Dave led us with integrity, steady hands, and a deep commitment to our members and our profession, and he leaves this Association stronger than he found it.
For decades, this Association has been a powerful and respected voice for school facilities professionals across New York State. That voice is strongest when it is one voice. That is why I chose “United We Stand” as my theme for this year.
Every one of us works in a different setting. Some of us manage a single building, and others oversee dozens. Some serve large city districts, and others serve small rural communities. Our budgets, our buildings, and our challenges vary widely. What we share is a commitment to giving every student in New York a safe, healthy place to learn, and the knowledge that the work gets done better when we do it together.
That shared purpose is our greatest strength. When school facilities professionals speak with one voice, people in Albany listen. When we share what we know, every district benefits. And when we look out for one another, especially through our regional chapters, no member has to face a hard problem alone.
This year, the Board and I will put that strength to work. We’ll stand up for our schools and our profession in the legislature. We’ll make professional learning easier to reach and raise the standards and recognition of the work we do. And we’ll make sure our chapters have the support they need to thrive.
None of this can be done by a few people alone. It will take all of us.
So I’m asking you to be part of it. Join a committee. Come to a chapter meeting. Share your expertise with a colleague who is just starting out. Lend your voice when we advocate for New York’s schools. Every member who steps forward makes this Association stronger.
Together, let us continue to shape the environments where children learn, where teachers inspire, and where communities gather with pride. Thank you for all you do. I look forward to a great year together.
This year, and every year, United We Stand.
Jack Rallo
President
NYS School Facilities Association
Director of Facilities, Washingtonville Central School District
