New Leadership Sworn In At Organizational Meeting
by Alex Brooks
At the Hoosick Falls School board’s organizational meeting on July 9, Emily Marpe apparently didn’t get the memo on John Helft’s desire to step down as President of the Board, and she nominated him as Board President. Helft thanked her for the vote of confidence, but declined the nomination, saying he feels it is time to “pass the baton.” Rachel Boisvert was then unanimously elected President of the Board, and Joe Patire elected Vice-President of the Board.
Boisvert thanked the Board for entrusting her with its leadership. She said it is her 23rd year working in education and her seventh year on the HFCS Board, and she feels ready to take on the challenge.
Pat Dailey was sworn in as the Superintendent of Schools, completing the sweeping changes in leadership of the District occurring this year. The year is beginning with a new Superintendent, a new Board President, a new High School Principal and Assistant Principal, and a business manager beginning her second year in the position. Yet there is also a great deal of continuity, as both the Board President and the Superintendent have been at HFCS for many years, and have worked closely with the previous leadership team.
Superintendent Pat Dailey thanked John Helft for his long service on the board and his leadership as President. Helft will continue as a member of the Board – he is only stepping down from the Presidency.
Dailey also gave a quick update on what’s happening with the District’s Capital Project. He said the architects are currently in the process of measuring every room in the building so as to assemble comprehensive drawings of the building for use in their design work. He said next summer the work will be only replacement of the boilers, and some associated asbestos removal work. The two summers after that, in 2021 and 2022, the school will be a “major work zone,” while the main part of the renovation work is in progress.
Business Manager Emily Sanders said she expects spending in the fiscal year just completed to be “close to budget.” She said a recent inspection of the District’s bus fleet resulted in a 100% pass rate, which is unusual. “Harold Hoffman has done an amazing job maintaining the buses!” said Sanders.
Sanders said the Comptroller has finished on-site research for the comprehensive audit of the District that they are working on, and are now back at their own offices writing a report on their findings. Sanders is guessing the report may be ready for public release by sometime in November.
The Board passed the usual appointments and designations that are done at the organizational meeting, as well as summer school appointments and authorizations for summer curriculum work.
School Board committees will retain the same leadership as last year, with John Helft chairing the Facilities Committee, Andy Beaty chairing the Audit Committee, and Joe Patire chairing the Policy Committee.
The Board will hold a 24-hour overnight Board Retreat at the end of this month to formulate its plans and goals for the upcoming year. The next regular meeting of the School Board will be on August 15 at 6:30 pm in the high school auditorium, and a Board work session will be held on August 27 at 6:30 pm inthe High School Auditorium. All of the Board’s meetings will start at 6:30 pm this year, instead of 7 pm as they have in the past.