Board Implements New Administrative Structure
by Alex Brooks
At the Hoosick Falls School Board’s re-organizational meeting on July 6, the first order of business was to elect a President and Vice-President of the Board for the upcoming year.[Private] Greg Laurin was re-elected as President of the School Board. Laurin nominated Rachel Boisvert as Vice-President of the Board, seconded by John Helft, and Boisvert was unanimously elected Vice-President.
Newly-elected Board member Jackolyn Houghton and newly re-elected Board member John Helft were sworn in, and then the rest of the School Board was sworn in.
The Board set up its committees for the year. The facilities committee will be chaired by John Helft, and Andy Beaty and Greg Laurin are also on the committee. The Policy committee will be chaired by Joe Patire, and Rachel Boisvert and Jackie Houghton are also members of the committee. The Audit committee will be chaired by Laurie Gormley, and Joe Patire and Andy Beaty are the other members of that committee.
Board President Greg Laurin remarked that John Helft is going to have a very busy year as Chairman of the Facilities committee, because he will be leading the effort to get the proposed Capital Project passed and implemented. A vote on the $18 million Capital Project is scheduled in October.
The Board scheduled a work session for Thursday July 27 at 6 pm to discuss planning for the Capital Project, and they scheduled a Board Workshop for Thursday August 17 at 6 pm to work on goal-setting for the upcoming school year. The regular August School Board meeting will be on Thursday August 24 at 7 pm.
The Board made the usual beginning of the year appointments and resolutions, the only major change being an administrative reorganization. The Board abolished the positions of Director of Curriculum, Instruction And Assessment formerly held by Patrick Dailey, and Dean of Students, formerly held by Mario Torres, who has left the District. Dailey was appointed as Secondary Principal for grades 7-12.
The Board also abolished the Assistant Principal positions for UPK- 6th grade, and for Grades 7-12, and replaced them with two Assistant Principal positions, both UPK – 12th Grade. They appointed Stacy Vadney and Sarah Fleming to these two positions. Vadney resigned her former position as Secondary Principal 7-12 to accept the new position, and Fleming resigned her former position as Teacher of Elementary Education to accept the new position.
Superintendent’s Report
Superintendent Ken Facin said water got into the school building during the recent heavy rainstorm. Water coming down off the hill behind the school did some damage to the floors of the elementary gym and several classrooms. Portions of the floors will need to be replaced, but he said that the School District’s insurance will cover the cost of the repairs.
Facin also said he has been talking with John Liporace of the JLS Foundation about setting an Alumni Hall of Fame to celebrate the achievements of HFCS alumni who have gone on to do great things after graduating from the Hoosick Falls Central School.
The Board held an Executive Session at the close of the regular meeting to discuss litigation. [/Private]