Tuesday’s Ramapo Central School Board meeting marked the end of an era as Sloatsburg’s Thomas F. Bollatto, Jr. took his last turn as a Board of Education member.

Thank you Mr. Bollatto for your 27 years of service on the Ramapo Central School Board. You are #RCSDMountiePride pic.twitter.com/WtXffWbA88

— Lisa Weber ASI (@LisaWeberASI) June 17, 2015

Bollatto has represented Sloatsburg on the Ramapo Central board for 27 years, helping to fashion school district policy that has resulted in exceptionally high achievement by students from elementary through high school. His decided not to seek another term during the past board election, which saw Suffern Police Chief Clarke Osborn elected to the board in Bollatto’s place.

School Board member Thomas Bollatto from Sloatsburg has served on the board since 1988, and step down at the end of June. During his tenure the district has grown rapidly and has gained reputation for providing students an excellent public education. Bollatto also serves as Village of Sloatsburg Clerk and Treasurer.

The longtime dean of the board, Bollatto is a Suffern High School graduate and native of Sloatsburg, where he also serves as Village Clerk and Treasurer. The Bollatto family is a pillar the Sloatsburg community known for its service, with Bollatto Sr. serving as a Sloatsburg Fire Department Chief and Bollatto Jr. using his historical Sloat House & Inn as an important annual stop during the Sloatsburg Elementary School 4th grade village tour.

The RCSD Board of Education acknowledged Bollatto’s exceptional service to the students and parents of the district Tuesday, with Bollatto, often shy of public displays congratulating him on his service, taking a rare bow.

Thomas Bollatto has overseen Sloatsburg’s annual successful Needy Children Program that coordinates holiday gift giving from surrounding community and business donations.

A member of the Board of Education since 1988, Mr. Bollatto has served as vice president and six consecutive years as president, and most recently chaired the District Policy Committee. Mr. Bollatto is President of the Friends of Sloatsburg Elementary School and Treasurer of the Ramapo Valley Rotary Club, which just served up another sponsorship helping for Sloatsburg Elementary School’s Olympic Day.

As head of the Friends of Sloatsburg Elementary School non-profit, charitable organizatio, Bollatto has invested time and resources into the annual D.A.R.E. spaghetti dinner as well as contributes to educational initiatives that benefit Sloatsburg Elementary School and Sloatsburg students. 

Sloatsburg’s Tom Bollatto (left at podium) swears in NY Assemblyman Karl Brabenec at recent Sloatsburg Elementary School ceremony. Photo courtesy of Ramapo Central Schools.

Bollatto also quietly oversees Sloatsburg’s successful Needy Children Program that coordinates holiday gift giving from surrounding community and business donations.

The Sloatsburg Annual Golf Outing acts as the program’s major yearly fundraiser, which also purchases toys from the Suffern Police Department’s annual toy drive, spearheaded by Chief Clark Osborne.

Additionally, through Bollatto’s support of Sloatsburg Elementary School comes the annual Breakfast with Santa at the Sloatsburg Elementary School, which includes a parent-student breakfast and meeting with Santa.

Bollatto’s longtime local service is often done so quietly that his supporting hand is near invisible — but his efforts have proven instrumental in helping to create and continue a connected network of time-honored Sloatsburg traditions.