SusanCampriello: My Works

Students fail class period
Change at C-A forces them to choose between athletics and clubs, which could hurt college admission, they say
The Daily Mail
Sept. 18, 2009

COXSACKIE — More than a dozen Coxsackie-Athens students spoke out at a meeting of the District Board of Education against a change in class period designation.

The new class period schedule implemented this year allots time at the end of the school day for struggling students to receive academic assistance from teachers. As a result, school clubs have to meet after school and at the same time as sports practices and games.

The students complained the change forces them to choose between playing a sport and joining a club, a choice, they said, could hurt their chances for admission at their choice colleges.

Senior Madison Economos, who, along with several other students came to the meeting straight from a volleyball game, said she understood the need for the “L” period but that it comes at the expense of other students’ needs.

“As administrators, you encourage us to to be involved in all these different things and it’s impossible to be involved if there’s one set time for four different things,” she said.

She and several other students argued that they have learned how to interact with each other and the community by holding club fundraisers or working on club service projects.

They explained that clubs have brought driving safety programs to the school, clubs have purchased school supplies for underprivileged schools in Mexico and through clubs, students can learn about other cultures, technology and business in ways that cannot be taught in a classroom setting.

All of these skills, they argued, will help club members gain admission to colleges.

“Colleges are looking at how you contribute to your school community and how, therefore, you can contribute to a college community,” Lily Dayter, a senior who participates in a number of school clubs, said.

Senior Erica Goldson, who takes classes at Hudson Valley Community Collete but participates in Coxsackie-Athens clubs, agreed.

Goldson hopes to attend a prestigious college. She said her college applications have been strengthened by the various club offices she has held during her high school career.

“I know that I wouldn’t even stand a change of getting into those schools without what I’ve done [in my clubs],” she said.

Students and parents also stated that the lack of transportation home from school after club meetings certain days of the week will hurt club participation, as well.

Many parents work and cannot come to Coxsackie to pick children up from school, they said.

Student Stephanie Puorro delivered to the Board a package of 100 letters signed by students who hoped for a solution to the scheduling problem.

Board President Joseph “Seph” Garland III explained that the new schedule would take time getting used to and the administration was still trying to make everything work.

He said the issue would be discussed further at next month’s Board meeting.

Many students indicated they would attend the Oct. 20 meeting with the hope that the Board had reached a decision favorable to their position.

“The school is here to serve the students, all the students, not just the kids who need extra help,” Lily Dayter said.

Parents cry foul over lack of athletes’ bus
Many Athens students denied participation in sports, they say
The Daily Mail
Sept. 16, 2009

COXSACKIE — Parents in the Coxsackie-Athens Central School District expressed their ire Tuesday to the Board of Education, saying they feel marginalized from the district by the absence of a bus to Athens after sports practices.

Athens resident Lee Palmateer said the lack of a bus denies a lot of Athens students from participating in athletic teams.

Palmateer said not having a bus was unfair to children and the entire Athens community, which, he said, makes up roughly 30 percent of the district’s population.

“Recognizing that the schools are here in Coxsackie, we would at least like to have a place where our kids can be transported to in Athens,” he said, “so there is some semblance of equity.”

A student athlete bus to the Village of Athens would cost roughly $10,000, according to C-A Superintendent Dr. Earle Gregory. The line item for the bus was discussed at several budget workshop meetings last spring before it was dropped from the final budget.

But parents said they did not know the bus had been discontinued until the first day of sports practice this summer.

Palmateer and other parents said they now have to face the hardship of leaving work early to pick up their children or discouraging their children from joining a team.

Denise Hartman worried that some parents would not be able to pick their children up from school. But Jennifer Petramale said car traffic into the school complex at the end of practice was beginning to be a problem.

Another Athens resident, Leo Palmateer, asked the Board how they made the decision to discontinue the bus while still running bus service to students who live outside Greene County.

Board President Joseph “Seph” Garland III said the decision had not been made “in the dark” but after ridership to Athens declined last year to only five or six children. Garland said the busing needs are reviewed every year during the budget process.

Lee Palmateer, who said his three football-playing children would be joined on a bus by a handful of other students in his neighborhood, suggested the district canvass teams to get an accurate count of student athletes who live in Athens and would ride a bus home.

Stephanie Puorro, a student who lives in Hannacroix, a 20-minute drive from the school, said she and her neighbors could benefit from a sports bus to their community.

Student Brittney Williams asked why the district could justify making bus runs to bring home students who had been punished with after-school detentions but not a sports bus to Athens.

Although Williams was not answered immediately, District Chief Financial Officer Leslie Copleston stated later in the meeting that buses that transport students to and from academic programs — including detention — are partially funded by aid money. Buses for field trips or athletic games and practices, she said, are not.

Book brought to life in musical, CD
The Daily Mail
Sept. 14, 2009

Author and artist Hudson Talbott called the transformation of his book, “River of Dreams,” to a musical and now a CD “a kind of a dream.”

The book, which features the Hudson River, and the musical, illustrate the history of what Talbott called “America’s first great super waterway” from its discovery by Europeans in 1609 to the more recent battles waged on pollution and polluters.

The musical version of the book was staged earlier this year. A CD of the original cast, comprised of students from the Cairo-Durham, Catskill and Coxsackie-Athens school districts was officially released Sunday at the Thomas Cole National Historic Site Cedar Grove, in Catskill.

“I’m so glad we all have the opportunity to bring these pieces together in this one wonderful place and share our heritage together,” Talbott said of the launch and accompanying concert of music from the CD’s setting.

The musical production, with music composed by Frank Cuthbert, was partially funded by money given to promote Hudson River history and culture during the Hudson-Champlain-Fulton Quadricentennial Celebration this year. Since the spring performance, the cast has traveled around the state to perform.

Casey Biggs, president of the Greene Arts Foundation and director and producer of the “River of Dreams” musical and CD, said the success of the show has given birth to a new collaboration with himself, Cuthbert, Talbott and the three schools on Talbott’s book, “O’Sullivan Stew.”

Biggs said he was happy with the CD.

“It captures the organic nature of what the show was,” he said.

Biggs said the production was also filmed and is being made into a documentary. The CD was recorded in the Catskill High School auditorium with professional equipment.

Talbott said performing the musical and launching the CD in a public venue brought the community together.

He said working on the musical and CD was also a lot of fun for the student performers.

Talbott said he, Biggs and Cuthbert collaborated well.

“The three of us — we don’t ever want to stop working together,” he said.

Lesson 1 for schools:
How to stop swine flu
District officials encourage students, teachers to use common-sense hygiene practices to curb spread of H1N1
The Daily Mail
Sept. 8, 2009
The Windham Journal
Sept. 10, 2009

CATSKILL — As schools reopen, area educators and administrators are readying their buildings for learning, playing and perhaps spreading germs like those that could spread the H1N1 flu virus.

School administrations in Greene County are encouraging students and teachers to use common sense hygienic practices and are stepping up cleaning regimens to keep their buildings and grounds clean.

Hand sanitizing products will be available to students in every district, and staff will meet with health care professionals to learn the best way to keep classroom areas clean and students healthy.

School administrators said they will also follow guidelines set forth by the State Education Department and State Department of Health and keep in touch with the County Department of Health.

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Overall, administrators said they would increase cleanings and reassess practices if students

“We are going to hope for the best and prepare for all the contingencies that we can,” Anne Rode, principal of the Windham-Ashland-Jewett Central School.

Each district has its own procedures in place.

Cairo-Durham Central School District

Ron Agostinoni, assistant principal of Cairo-Durham High School, said nurses will remind students the proper way to wash their hands and prevent the spread of germs.

Hand sanitizer dispensers, like the ones in elementary classrooms, have been installed in classrooms in the Middle School and High School building. Sanitizers will be available to students before lunch period, he said.

He said students and staff will be encouraged to stay home if they exhibit flu-like symptoms.

As with procedure set last spring, bus drivers sanitize buses before, after and between runs, he said.

Catskill

District Superintendent Dr. Kathleen Farrell said the daily cleaning routine will be enhanced with extra cleanings of commonly touched surfaces such as water fountains, keyboards and doorknobs. Cafeteria areas will also receive extra attention, she said.

Hand sanitizer dispensers will be installed in every classroom, school office and common area, she said.

Farrell said staff will use hand-washing solution that shows dirty spots missed to demonstrate how to properly wash hands.

Farrell said as per request of Greene County Public Health, parents would not be notified of every student who presented severe flu-like symptoms. That could change, Farrell said, if the number of students with those symptoms increases.

Coxsackie-Athens

Coxsackie-Athens Central School District Superintendent Dr. Earle Gregory said at a recent Board of Education meeting that school nurses would be vigilant and aware of any illnesses.

Students will be encouraged to encouraged to thoroughly sanitize their hands.

He said staff will follow protocols set forth by Greene County Public Health and the State Department of Health,including increased cleaning schedules, encouraging students and staff with flu-like symptoms to remain at home for 24 hours after the symptoms disappear, and encourage students not to cough or sneeze into their hands.

District schools would not be closed, he said, unless a large absentee rate was seen.

Greenville

Greenville Central School District Director of Curriculum and Communications Colleen Hall said teachers in her district had already completed a training course on showing students how to keep themselves healthy. Classrooms have been stocked with hand sanitizers, she said. Buildings and grounds crews will continue to keep the buildings clean.

Hall said parents would receive a letter that included information on when a child should be kept at home and information would be posted to the district’s Web site.

She said student health would be monitored so that the schools would know when students were kept home for flu-like symptoms or for other reasons so she schools have a sense of why a student might be absent. Additional building and bus cleanings could be added if needed, she said.

Hunter-Tannersville

Hunter-Tannersville Central School District Superintendent Patrick Darfler-Sweeney said his building is constantly being cleaned due to several varied construction projects at the school.

High School students will meet with nurses during gym period to review universal precautions. Elementary class teachers will underscore the same precautions, he said.

Darfler-Sweeney said parents would be sent guidelines on when to keep students out of school.

The district’s Web site will be updated with information as the year continues, he said.

Darfler-Sweeney said students will be provided with alcohol-free hand sanitizing products and parents will be encouraged to give their children alcohol-free products if they feel the need to give their children anything.

Windham-Ashland-Jewett

Anne Rode said teachers and staff will meet with staff from Greene County Public Health to discuss how to prevent germs from spreading in the school building and on buses. Bus drivers would have an additional training to revisit safety checks and additional cleanliness protocols.

The school has ordered bottles of hand sanitizers for distribution as well as dispensers for all classrooms, common areas and offices in the school building.

She said the school reminds students to wash their hands and be mindful that they will be around many other children every year.

Information regarding the district’s procedures and the virus will be posted on the district’s Web site, she said, adding that information will also be included in a parent newsletter.

School administrators said physical contact — hallway greetings or during athletic events and gym class — will not be prevented or banned.

As Hunter-Tannersville’s Superintendent Patrick Darfler-Sweeney said, common sense hygiene practices will prevail, echoing what other administrators said.

“If we do a really good job with that, we will take care of 99.9 percent of the other stuff,” he said.

Schools to get stimulus funds
Money will be used to support improvements to teaching methods, learning environment
The Daily Mail
Sept. 3, 2009

CATSKILL — New programs and program features could be coming to the Catskill Central School District through more than $260,000 from the American Reinvestment and Recovery Act of 2009 as well as from other grant sources, according to District Superintendent Dr. Kathleen Farrell.

The district will receive a preliminary estimate of $263,324 available over a 27-month period through the stimulus measure, according to the New York State Education Department and the Office of Gov. David A. Paterson. The money can be used to support teaching and learning improvement efforts. Final allotments will be announced later in the year.

“Any penny we get goes a long way,” Farrell said of the coming money.

She said the money, and additional funds through the Dyson Foundation in conjunction with Greene County Mental Health, will help implement an extended-day elementary school program that could be used for tutoring sessions or homework assistance.

She said the district will begin a search for additional staff to provide more opportunities for secondary students to prepare for Regents examinations or attend tutoring sessions, to receive counseling and to possibly pass failed courses through Online instructional services.

Farrell said further funds would come to the District through the Individuals with Disabilities Act.

According to the department, approximately 700 New York schools, mostly in lower-income areas, will receive more than $900 million through the Recovery Act.

Greene County schools will receive $788,464 in the following amounts:

- $138,042 for the Cairo-Durham Central School District;

- $263,324 for the Catskill Central School District;

- $133,728 for the Coxsackie-Athens Central School District;

- $122,019 for the Greenville Central School District;

- $85,132 for the Hunter-Tannersville Central School District;

- $46,219 for the Windham-Ashland-Jewett Central School District.

But, as Cairo-Durham Central School’s Business Manager Lissa Jilek pointed out Wednesday, the funding is not guaranteed. Schools must still apply for the funds, she said.

Allocations were determined based on a “No Child Left Behind” program count of qualifying children including those in families living below the poverty line, living in foster care or in institutions for the neglected and who are receiving Temporary Assistance for Needy Families.

According to program data gathered, 6.86 percent of qualifying children in New York reside in Greene County with the following break-down:

- 1.15 percent in the Cairo-Durham Central School District;

- 2.40 percent in the Catskill Central School District;

- 1.14 percent in the Coxsackie-Athens Central School District;

- 0.96 percent in the Greenville Central School District;

- 0.80 percent in the Hunter-Tannersville Central School District;

- 0.41 percent in the Windham-Ashland-Jewett Central School District.

Sen. Kirsten E. Gillibrand, D-NY, said in a statement that education is one of the most important investments that can be made for the future of New York.

“These federal dollars will help give New York students the education they need to succeed in the 21st century by providing more early education, extended learning opportunities, better training for teachers and a stronger role for parents,” she said.

Asphalt holding tank gets green light
ZBA, planning board approve Peckham’s variance, site plan
The Daily Mail
Aug. 28, 2009

ATHENS — Peckham Asphalt Resale Corp. will erect a towering 1.265 million gallon liquid asphalt holding tank at its facility on Schoharie Turnpike beginning in the next six months to decrease product transportation costs, according to Peckham Industries Vice President Joseph Wildermuth.

The Athens Town Zoning Board of Appeals and Planning Board approved a height variance and Site Plan for the 48-foot tower, respectively, at a join meeting Thursday held at the Athens Municipal Building. The tower could be completed by March.

“We have been able to secure the rail supply and it has kept us viable and competitive within the asphalt market,” Wildermuth said. “This facility has actually worked out very, very well for us. It has actually met or exceeded what we expected from it.”

Wildermuth and Jim Wilcox, who runs the company’s construction division, explained that the tank will reduce the need for the asphalt, which gets unloaded at the Schoharie Turnpike facility, to be trucked for storage to a facility on Union Street in the Village of Athens. Trucks then bring the asphalt back to the Schoharie Turnpike facility when needed. Transportation costs $6 per ton, with 20,000 tons, or about 700 trips annually between the two facilities.

Asphalt deliveries to the facility by rail began in May. Before then, supplies arrived to the waterfront facility by barge. Only three barges have made deliveries via barge in the last nine months, Wildermuth said.

The facility has two existing 30-foot by 32-foot holding tanks. The new tank will have a 67-foot footprint on same 5-acre containment area. Wildermuth said a shorter tank with a larger footprint would be possible but would leave less usable space should another facility expansion be needed. He told the boards that another expansion would probably not be needed for five years.

“This tank is not going to increase our business, it is to prevent having to bring product back into the Village,” he said.

Wildermuth agreed to investigate removing a tower at Peckham’s Amos Post facility as per the Planning Board’s suggestion.

Collaboration, technology key in C-A action plans
Objective: All students must surpass state, federal standards
The Daily Mail
Aug. 27, 2009

COXSACKIE — Coxsackie-Athens School District Superintendent Dr. Earle S. Gregory presented this year’s strategic plan at a sparsely attended Board of Education meeting.

The plan, Gregory told the Board and members of the district’s administration and faculty who attended the BOE meeting at the Coxsackie-Athens Middle School, that they would be moving ahead with various action plans in each of the district’s four schools toward completing the district’s overall strategic plan for ensuring that students exceed state and federal standards.

Gregory said faculty will begin to implement programs developed last year and monitor how students respond.

Middle school math lessons will continue to be integrated with core subjects so students can link information between subjects, he said.

“That is what we have to do. Kids need to see connections,” Gregory said.

Gregory responded to a question posed by board member Joseph Cardinale that Web seminars for teacher development are becoming increasingly accessible and already substitute teachers are required to go through an online presentation before they are allowed to teach.

“There are all sorts of opportunities for us in public education for us to capitalize on online learning,” Gregory said.

He said the state Education Department is in the process of developing a technology plan that could enable more Web sessions.

Other aspects of the action plan include looking into new options for long-distance learning classrooms and continuing reading study group exercises for elementary students and those in special education programs.

Gregory said district Chief of Curriculum Maureen Long might investigate this year how teachers could receive national board certification through a process he called rigorous, cumbersome and long-winded but is awarded to the highest quality of teachers.

“It is a very high level of certification,” he said.

He said the Board will hear in the coming months presentations regarding possible facility upgrades and the creation of an educational foundation. The action plan calls for the adoption of a BOE resolution for a proposed building project early next year.

Gregory thanked the members of the implementation team for their work since the strategic plan was approved in 2007.

“Ultimately all these things come out of the action plan,” he said, “that will lead us to realize our mission in always keeping in mind that Coxsackie-Athens Schools will provide a comprehensive education program for all students to compete successfully and to contribute to a global society,” he said.

“All of our administration has done a great job sticking to the strategic plan and going forward and developing these [ideas],” BOE President Joseph T. “Seph” Garland III said.

C-A tax levy up 1.8 pct.
Garland says figure on target with rate projected during budget period
The Daily Mail
Aug. 26, 2009

COXSACKIE — The Coxsackie-Athens Board of Education on Tuesday approved a nearly $15 million tax warrant for the upcoming school year.

District Chief Financial Officer Leslie Copleston announced to the Board that the $14.8 million levy was only 1.77 percent higher than last year’s levy.

Coxsackie-Athens School Board President Joseph “Seph” Garland III said the levy was on target with the rate projected during the budget period.

Copleston said equalization rates had remained constant in Coxsackie and New Baltimore, increased in Cairo and decreased in Athens. As a result, the tax rate of Cairo decreased and Athens’ rate increased while the rates in Coxsackie and New Baltimore stayed the same.

Copleston said the New York State Tax Relief (STAR) Program exemption had been responsible for some of the levy increase seen in the district.

“When we generate a tax bill, this is the part of the bill we have no control over,” she said.

The tax collection period will begin Sept. 1 and end Oct. 31.

According to a budget presentation made earlier this year, the levy will support 56 percent of the district’s $25.3 million budget. State aid will cover 37 percent of the budget. The remaining seven percent of the budget funds will come from an appropriated fund balance and other revenues, according to the presentation.

An estimated 1,560 students are enrolled in the district’s four schools.

Residents invited to see new fire trucks
The Daily Mail
Aug. 10, 2009

Members of the West Athens-Limestreet Fire District and Fire Company have invited residents to see two new, recently-purchased fire trucks at the district’s building Saturday, August 15.

The trucks, a 1,250-gallon engine-pumper and a utility truck, were purchased by the district earlier this year. They replaced trucks that were bought in the early 1990s.

The event will bring together residents of the district and those who protect them, the company’s Michael Ragaini said.

“People will get to meet the firemen and see the newest equipment in the county,” he said.

Ragaini said the trucks have responded to a number of emergencies already and that the new pumper’s tank can carry enough water for a critical initial attack on a fire until other companies can respond.

The celebration and inspection will take place at the district building at 921 Schoharie Tpk. between 1 and 4 p.m., with an official ceremony starting at 1:30 p.m.

Speakers at the ceremony will include members of the company, legislators including County legislator Ray Brooks, R-Athens, and state Assemblyman Pete Lopez, R,C,I-Schoharie.

Guests of the district and company can enjoy a luncheon and refreshments.

Pfister making run at county office
Former Athens village trustee announces candidacy for legislature
The Daily Mail
July 2, 2009

ATHENS — Longtime Athens Village trustee Chris Pfister has announced his intention to take a seat as a county legislator representing Athens.

Pfister decided not to run for re-election to the Village Board this spring, citing his need to take care of some personal projects.

But now, he said, he said he wants to offer a choice of candidates to Athens voters, especially given the economic problems facing residents and the county government.

“[County legislator] is such an important position” he said.

Pfister, a Democrat, is running for the seat currently held by Ray Brooks, R-Athens. Every legislative seat is up for election in November.

Pfister said a political mix in the legislature can enhance discussions in the chamber and committee meetings.

“Added scrutiny from Democrats has made for better solutions over the past few years,” he said.

The Athens native noted that while he was part of the Village Board, the Village saw many improvements to its infrastructure and services.

A new firehouse, new water intake, dam and filtration system and a new 750,000 gallon holding tank, were built, he said. The water transmission line was expanded, Village buildings received new roofs and the Brick Row Transmission Line was relocated. Restoration work on the Community Center and gym was completed and upgrades to the wastewater plant were made, he said.

Pfister served for two years as Deputy Mayor and has sat on the Finance, Streets, Buildings/Grounds, Fire Department, Firehouse Construction and Water System Improvement Project committees.

He also worked on the development of the Fourth Street kayak launch and has been involved with the Athens Flower Program, the Athens Paddock Club and the Athens Street Festival.

“While I was fortunate to be able to work on some high profile issues, I found the most satisfaction in helping to solve the day to day problems of our residents,” he said.

Pfister serves on the Athens Community Foundation Advisory Board, the Greene County Aging Services Foundation and participates in the county Meals on Wheels program. He has also worked on restoration projects at the Athens Cultural Center and the Jan Van Loon House. Pfister and his wife Carol were honored with the Coxsackie Area Chamber of Commerce Community Service Prism Award.

Pfister said volunteers with the Fire Department and community organizations have been invaluable to Athens. He said that as legislator, he would continue to support volunteer endeavors.

“Without the efforts of such people, our community would suffer immeasurably,” he said. “I find their commitment very inspirational and humbling.”

He said he hopes to help every resident of Athens understand issues facing the legislature and help the legislature understand the concerns of residents by opening communication between the two groups of people.

“I want to make sure that county government is responsive to the needs of our towns and villages,” he said.

Pfister said he also wants to see the county offer more support to small businesses and small farms in the area than it currently does.

He said the Greene County Industrial Development Agency has done a good job attracting and retaining manufacturers but small businesses have lacked similar support.

“I would like to see that same kind of effort into revitalizing some of our main streets,” he said.

The county, he said, can do more to help local governments by sharing with municipalities services now, and, in the future, sales tax revenues. He said that although the current economic climate would prevent such revenue sharing the county could do more to help with municipal operations.

The county could help run or supply the Athens Recycling Center to ensure that the center can remain open at convenient hours, he said. He said a county street-cleaner already makes its rounds in Athens.

Pfister said that although he has not finalized a platform, he is looking forward to representing the residents of Athens.

“I will put forth every effort to keep our citizens well-informed, to serve all of our residents equally, to bring smart and sustainable growth to our county and to make sure that our taxpayers money is spent wisely,” he said.