March 12, 2026
Dear Families and Community Members,
On behalf of the Southern Tioga School District, I want to extend my sincere gratitude to our students, parents, guardians, and community members for your remarkable patience and cooperation during Wednesday’s unexpected disruption to our normal dismissal procedures at WL Miller and NP-Mansfield.
On March 11th, a house fire occurred in Mansfield. Out of an abundance of caution and in close coordination with local emergency responders, our district took immediate steps to ensure the safety of all students and staff. As a result, the dismissal of walkers was impacted, and bus routes experienced a brief delay.
I am pleased to report that all students and staff remained safe throughout this situation. Our buildings were secure, and our staff responded with professionalism and calm to support our students during the delay. Emergency personnel handled the situation with great efficiency, and law enforcement was present at our schools. We are grateful for their swift response.
We recognize that an unexpected change in your child’s dismissal — particularly one with limited advance notice — can be stressful and disruptive to your family’s schedule. Your understanding during situations like these makes an enormous difference for our students and staff. The grace and patience our community consistently demonstrates are not things we take for granted.
We are committed to communicating with our families as quickly and clearly as possible during emergency situations. We will continue to evaluate and strengthen our notification processes to ensure you receive timely and accurate information whenever needed.
Thank you once again for your continued trust and partnership. It is our privilege to serve this community, and we remain steadfastly committed to the safety and well-being of every child in our care.
With appreciation and respect,
Sam A Rotella Jr
Superintendent, STSD
