by David Flint
The Berlin School Board devoted an hour prior to their meeting Tuesday evening to celebrate the service of five teachers and two school bus drivers who are retiring at of the end of this school year.
Al Goodrich, a graduate of Eastern Kentucky University and North Adams State College, was appointed Technology teacher in 1986 after having taught for 16 years at Hoosac Valley High School in Cheshire, MA. Middle School Principal Cathie Allain noted that Goodrich’s field has evolved at a much faster pace than most fields of education, but Al, she said, had fully embraced the work and inspired many students to move forward with the creative work demonstrated in his CAD classes, the interdisciplinary approaches of Alternative Energy or the hands-on approach of his Rough Construction class. “We have all been inspired by his desire to know more and his willingness to look for a solution to every problem,” she said.
Math teacher Robert A. Miller came to Berlin in 1979, having taught previously at schools in Troy, Schalmont and Guilderland. During his career at Berlin, Allain said, he had always searched for best practices and connected with content as he challenged his students in algebra, AIS or Math 8. Allain did some basic math calculations – If a math teacher starts his career in 1979 and teaches 6 classes per day to an average class size of 25 per class, how many students has he taught? She computed the number to be 4,500 students – just at Berlin!
Kathryn Susan Holcomb graduated from Michigan State and earned her Master’s in Reading Education from SUNY, Albany. “Sue came to our District in September of 1989,” Allain said. “During this time she has graced our Middle School students by teaching sixth grade Social Studies. To that avocation she brings a breadth of knowledge and an even greater enthusiasm… She truly brings to the profession solid teaching, the use of best practices and enthusiasm. As the sixth grade team leader I know that I could always rely on her to be honest, fair, reflective and to have my back on a bad day.”
Robert C. Miller has taught English at Berlin for 40 years. “It was chalk, not white boards back then,” Allain said, “It was The Ox Bow Incident not Harry Potter, and it was bare walls not hundreds of autographed photos. During that time he has coached countless teams, served on many committees, served through more [School] Superintendents than anyone else can remember and has been featured in Who’s Who Among America’s Teachers. But most importantly, he has created a love of reading and writing in countless numbers of students.” Miller was always the first one there in the mornings, Allain continued, “always prepared with a wonderful lesson, a true passion for teaching, a kind and gentle manner, the score for whatever sport was on the night before and a determination to do his best with whomever he worked with on that day…He has inspired all of us to be more.”
Janet Malecki-Wanck, a teacher for 25 years, was devoted to the most needy school population in Special Education. Director of Pupil Services Jennifer Morris said of her that she had always reached out to her colleagues. Morris expressed her gratitude for Janet’s years of patience, compassion and dedication.
John Parkinson has completed ten years as a school bus driver, “many of those without a day off,” reported Director of Transportation Sandra Owens. Owens spoke of his many years of unselfish commitment to service, not only to the school children and their parents but also earlier to his country in the U.S. Marine Corps, and to his community in his work with church groups. “He is a caring and compassionate man,” Owens said, “A truly great person.”
Donna Walker started with the BCS Transportation Department as a Bus Monitor in 1987, later becoming a substitute messenger, a chauffeur and a bus driver. Owens spoke of her as a team person with a pleasant and jolly personality and “wonderful with the students on her bus.” According to Owens, she always went above and beyond her everyday duties and always placed the needs of the students above everything else. “She will be missed,” Owens said.
School Board President Frank Zwack expressed the gratitude of the District also to the two Board Members who are leaving the Board, Julie Darling and Donald French.
Alternative Energy
Mr. Goodrich introduced two of his students, Deanna Nash and Emma Brown, who joined him in making a presentation in the technology room on Goodrich’s Alternative Energy course. The class had thoroughly surveyed the Middle School/High School building to determine its efficiency in terms of heating, ventilation, electrical, insulation, drainage and other properties. They found a number of cost efficient and sometimes very inexpensive means of improving the drainage around the building, providing hot water to taps more efficiently, preventing heat loss at the doors and adjusting the lighting, temperature and humidity in the classrooms. They also examined all types of alternative energy sources and their applications including wind, solar and hydro.
Cowee Course On International Commerce
Teacher Robert Gould reported on the 20-week business and technology course that is developed and conducted in partnership with W.J. Cowee LLC. The report was well received by the Board. Board Member Liz Miller, who had attended the culmination of the course on Monday at which the students in two teams made their business plan presentations, remarked that she had been especially impressed with how well the students stood up to the rigorous questioning of a panel of judges evaluating the presentations.
Making Use Of The Stephentown School
Interim Schools Superintendent Charlotte Gregory reported that a group that has been looking into ways to make use of the Stephentown school building as a community center is not yet ready to present any plans. She said she had met with Town Board members and they were feeling dismayed about the substantial decrease in revenues from the County and State that the Town is expecting this year.
She said there have been many good ideas presented on how to keep the school from becoming a “dark building” and provide services to the community without any additional tax burden on either the School District or the Town. The Town is hoping to rent the building from the School District for $1 per year. The focus, she said, is on youth, senior citizens and economic development. The senior citizens would especially like to see some sort of medical clinic staffed once or more a week. Parents are particularly interested in an after-school program for children. The Stephentown Food Pantry has also expressed interest in relocating there. The Youth Commission would like to continue having their programs there. Other ideas include an incubator facility for starting businesses – some support could be forthcoming from RPI on this – and a center for music, art, crafts and drama programs and shows.
Gregory said there appears to be a real desire to make it work. The challenge is how to fund it and have it be self-sustaining. Gregory said that with the Stephentown summer youth program already planned, the building will not be vacated before the beginning of September. The issue still to be settled is what happens after that.
Andrew Zlotnick of Petersburgh commented later that the District had pledged to shut down the Stephentown school to save money but now it appears the District will hold on to the building for the benefit of one town. The benefit, he said, should return to all in the District. Board Member Tom Morelli responded that closing the school was a difficult decision and was “unplowed ground.” Deciding what use to make of the building, he said, is also “unplowed ground.” He noted that nothing has been decided yet but whatever decisions are made he expected the same values and concepts would go into any similar decisions that might have to be made in any other community. Gregory expanded on that saying that the work going on is to create a model. If the Grafton school should be closed, there would be a model that could be expanded or changed. Board President Zwack noted that with the District retaining ownership, more State aid could be had for using the building. He noted, too, that when the Petersburgh school was closed, the Town took over the building for one dollar.
Retirement Reserve
At the request of the Business Office the Board established a Retirement Contribution Reserve Fund. The purpose is to allow for a more stable approach to future increases in the District’s portion of Employee Retirement System contributions. The Business Office pointed out that the State Retirement System lost 26% of its value this year which is expected to create a drastic increase in the contributions school districts must make next year. The reserve will be funded in the amount of $110,000 from the unappropriated fund balance. Board Member Morelli viewed this as the State taking back some of the money they had provided this year in stimulus aid.
The Board set their Organizational Meeting for Wednesday, July 1, at 7 pm in the High School library.