HFCS Organizational Meeting

by Alex Brooks
The Hoosick Falls School Board held its organizational meeting on July 15. David Sutton was elected President of the School Board for another year, and John Helft was elected Vice President.
The Board welcomed newly elected School Board Member Rick Ferrannini, who took his place at the table for the first time.
Business Manager Pamela Hatfield presented the Board with a proposal to refinance some of the District’s debt from an earlier Capital project at a better rate of interest. The District is paying an average of 5.05% on its current bond. There is about $4.7 million outstanding and eight years left on the bond. After refinancing, the District would be paying 3.86% which brings an annual savings of about $36,000.  Hatfield said the overall savings from the refinance would be $306,000. The Board readily agreed to this proposal.
The Board approved staffing for a Summer School Special Education Program to run from July 6 through August 13 from 8 am to 10:30 am, and approved the proposed staffing for an Elementary Summer Reading Program which meets 2½ hours a day, 4 days a week for 6 weeks, and for the Jr./Sr. High Summer School 2½ hours per day, 4 days a week July 1 through August 19,
The Board approved hiring Bill Brown to teach the summer music program 2 hours a day, 3 days a week for 6 weeks, and approved the appointment of Amy Netti as Director of the Summer School and Alicia Backus as Assistant Director.
The Board accepted the resignation for retirement purposes of Account Clerk Annette Nealon, who has worked for the District since 1985.
The Board approved the hiring of Harold Hoffman as chief bus mechanic. Don Skott said Mr. Hoffman, who was working in the New Lebanon School District, has “tons of experience,” multiple certifications and an excellent record of having his buses pass inspection while he was at New Lebanon. They also approved the appointment of Megan Conner as Art Teacher. Superintendent  Ken Facin spoke very highly of her.
The Board awarded the contract for the new LED sign to be installed near Route 22 in front of the school, to the low bidder, Daktronics, for $21,196, and they awarded the contract for parking lot maintenance to the lowest bidder, Adirondack Pavement Coatings, for $9,950.  David Sutton explained that this is to seal the parking lot and re-stripe it, to protect the taxpayers’ investment in the new parking lot and make it look great.
The Board plans a Board Retreat in early August to set goals and plan for the upcoming year. The next regular meeting of the Board will be on August 19. Superintendent Ken Facin promises a 90 minute “State of the Schools” presentation for this meeting.