HFCS Board Meeting – Asst. Principal Lamy Resigns

by Alex Brooks
The resignation of Brett Lamy, Assistant Principal of the High School and Athletic Director, was accepted by the Hoosick Falls School Board at its meeting on June 13. At the same meeting both of the half time positions that he held this year were abolished. A decision to eliminate the Assistant Principal position was made as a budget cutting measure last winter when the budget was being constructed.
[private]At the June 13 meeting the Board created a new full time, 12 month position called “Coordinator of Interscholastic Athletics” with an annual salary of $35,000.
The Board also eliminated, as described at budget time, two special education positions held this year by Kuan Chan and Christina Stebbins as well as a high school English teacher and a Teaching Assistant in the Elementary School, positions held this year by retiring teachers Nora Senecal and Mary Jane Baker.
The Board created another new position, a 12 month Executive Secretary, at a salary of $33,300. This position was created to handle the large volume of data and the numerous reports that must be filed with the State Education Department. The Secretary will work for Business Manager Pam Hatfield on financial reports and for Director of Curriculum, Instruction and Assessment Pat Dailey on academic reports.
Release The Tests!
School Superintendent Ken Facin told the Board he had just sent out a letter to the Times Union protesting school districts’ lack of access to the new high-stakes exams called Common Core State Assessments. While Facin is supportive of testing and using student results data to measure the effectiveness of teaching, he calls the decision to have a private, for-profit company creating the tests “problematic,” and he especially objects to these tests not being returned to the teachers and students so that they can see in detail what they got right or wrong. He said the key part of running a school that is “driven by data” is analyzing student results and using those results to improve your teaching methods and curriculum. This can’t be done if students and teachers are not allowed to review their booklets and test results. He said his teachers are “incredulous” to hear that they have no access to the test results.
In addition to this, the Common Core is being hastily implemented, with not enough guidance for local school districts to prepare for it. For example, curriculum modules prepared by a private contractor required 60 minute instructional periods when most school districts are using 40 to 45 minute periods.
But most “unconscionable,” said Facin, is not allowing teachers to see tests which determine 40% of their professional performance evaluation. He urged the State to make arrangements with their contractor, Pearson Education, Inc., so that the tests can be released and the students and teachers can evaluate the tests and their students’ performance on them.
Thanks To Dwain Wilwol
Superintendent Ken Facin presented a plaque to Dwain Wilwol, retiring School Board Member, to thank him for his eight years of service on the Board. School Board President Greg Laurin praised Wilwol’s penchant for studying the agenda in advance of meetings and asking questions so as to be prepared with a thoughtful response when he arrives at the meeting.
Facin also thanked Wilwol for his extraordinary commitment to the Drama program at HFCS and all the time he has put in helping with student productions. Everyone in the room stood up to applaud Wilwol.
Facin and Business Manager Pam Hatfield also saluted Bus Mechanic Harold Hoffman and Transportation Supervisor Joe Steller, congratulating them on a 100% passing rate on bus inspections. Facin said a 100% passing rate is extraordinary and said the performance of the Transportation Department under the leadership of these two guys has been “above and beyond our expectations.” Hatfield said Hoffman’s expertise and ability has saved the District a lot of money, as he has done many repairs “in-house” that used to be sent out to outside contractors.
Universal Pre-K
The Board approved the contract with the Commission on Economic Opportunity (CEO) of the Capital Region to run the Universal Pre-Kindergarten Program at their facility on River Road at a cost of $60,896. Elementary School Principal Amy Netti said “CEO has done a great job,” and she noted that their bid for this contract was the same as last year.
Netti said the District had to hold a lottery again this year, as they have more applicants than they have spaces in the program. There are 38 slots, 20 of them at CEO, and they had 42 applicants this year. The program’s ambition, announced in its name, “Universal,” reaches higher than its ability. Superintendent Facin said, “We would love to see it fully funded,” so the District wouldn’t have to turn away applicants each year.
The Board approved renewal of the agreement with the Hoosick Falls Soccer Club to have the school use their fields off South Street in Hoosick. The District will pay $5,500 for use of the fields. The fee is the same as last year but this year includes use of the fields for summer soccer leagues.
The Board accepted a donation of $250 from Tops Friendly Markets given as part of their Grand Opening Ceremony. The donation will be used to purchase high school art supplies.
The Physician Services contract was awarded to Dr. Marcus Martinez for another year. He has been the school doctor for many years.
A New Year Begins
The District’s Re-Organizational meeting will be held on Tuesday, July 9, at 7 pm in the High School Cafeteria.[/private]