Alyssa Murray has been appointed the district’s new Assistant Superintendent for Business, following the retirement of Patrick Witherow.

Mrs. Murray, who previously was the Assistant Superintendent for Finance and Operations for the Mahopac Central School District, has also worked for the Rondout School District as its business official and the Tuxedo School District as its interim school Business Manager and District Treasurer.

“Mrs. Murray’s background in school district finance and operations, along with her commitment to working collaboratively and understanding the needs of the people and programs she supports, will serve our district well,” said Superintendent Brian Monahan. “As she becomes familiar with our schools, departments and community, I’m confident she will be a strong addition to our leadership team and an important partner in planning for the district’s future while remaining mindful of our responsibility to taxpayers.”

Mrs. Murray is looking forward to supporting district operations, and working collaboratively with administrators and staff.

“Throughout my career, I’ve learned that being successful in this role means not only understanding the financial side of the district but also understanding the people, programs, and needs behind the numbers,” she said.

This also includes being a good steward of taxpayer dollars while also providing students and staff with the resources they need.

“I think it starts with really understanding the district and its needs,” said Mrs. Murray. “When developing the budget, we need to make sure we’re using our resources wisely and that the dollars we’re spending have a purpose and make an impact on our students. By working with administrators and department leaders, we can determine the best ways to meet those needs while also making sure we’re being fiscally responsible to our taxpayers and community.”

She views her role, and that of the entire Business Office function, as an important one which supports students, staff and the overall district.

“Being analytical, developing the budget, and understanding how the Business Office functions are all important,” said Mrs. Murray. “But I think one of the most important parts of this role is building relationships with staff and administrators and understanding how I can best support them. Even though the Business Office isn’t directly involved in instruction, the work we do has a real impact on the students and staff we serve.”

She stressed: “The Business Office is an integral part of the district as a whole. A lot of what we do happens behind the scenes, but it’s important to understand that our work impacts our students, staff, and community every day. Whether it’s managing the budget, supporting our departments, or making sure our schools have what they need to operate, everything we do is ultimately about supporting our students and the district as a whole.”

That also includes the Transportation, Buildings & Grounds and Food Services departments, which fall under her oversight.

“These departments play such an important role in a student’s experience,” she said. “Whether it’s providing nutritious meals, getting students to and from school safely, or making sure our facilities are clean and safe, all of these things impact student learning. I’m really looking forward to getting to know the staff in each department, understanding what they need from me, and figuring out how I can best support them in the work they do for our students, staff, and community.”

In addition to the annual operating budget, the district is in the beginning stages of work for its next capital project.

“This will be an important opportunity for the district and community to invest in and enhance our facilities,” said Mrs. Murray. “I’m also looking forward to getting to know the district, its departments, and their needs so I can better understand how to support both our day-to-day operations and our long-term priorities."

She’s looking forward to visiting the schools and seeing all the great things happening throughout the district.

“I want to get a better understanding of what’s happening in our buildings and on our campuses, and what our students and staff need,” she added. “I think seeing those things firsthand helps connect the budget development process to what’s actually happening in our schools.”

Mrs. Murray earned both her master’s and bachelor’s degrees in accounting from the University of Massachusetts at Lowell. She earned her School District Business Leader certificate from the College of Saint Rose.

She’s a lifelong Orange County resident with ties to Minisink Valley.

“My father worked at the Middle School for many years as a sheriff, and he never had a bad day at Minisink,” added Mrs. Murray. “Hearing about his experience there really influenced my decision to apply and made this opportunity even more special to me.”