Hoosick Falls School Board
by Alex Brooks
At the Hoosick Falls School Board meeting on Thursday, December 16, there was discussion of a possible need to go to remote learning on short notice because of a high number of COVID-19 cases in the Hoosick Falls community, some of which had shown up among teachers and students. But in the latter part of that week the number of cases dropped and on Friday the District announced that it will not need to switch to remote learning this week.
The Board approved the District’s contract with managerial/confidential employees dated December 13, 2021, which is effective from July 1, 2014 through June 30, 2024. It also approved a contract with the District’s support staff dated December 14, 2021, which is effective July 1, 2020 through June 30, 2025. Superintendent Pat Dailey said the District now has contracts in place with all four bargaining units of its employees.
The District also approved a contract with School Business Administrator Emily Sanders effective July 1, 2021 through June 30, 2026.
Superintendent’s Report
Superintendent Pat Dailey said he was pleased with the success of the Toy Drive this year, an example of “our students and our families helping our kids.” He said 215 students received toys from the program this year, and he thanked Lori Burdo for her leadership on it.
Dailey also said he agreed to be co-chair of the The Hoosick Area Community Participation Work Group (CPWG) starting in January. This group serves as a community liaison with government agencies working on PFOA remediation activities. It meets on a monthly basis to review and discuss the progress of remediation activities and water supply options, making sure that information about those activities is shared with the community and any comments or questions arising in the community are brought to the attention of the people directing the government cleanup. Brian Bushner and Loreen Hackett have been leading the group until now. In the new year Dailey will be co-chair with Michael Hickey.
Non-Resident Tuition Set
Non-resident tuition rates for this year, calculated by the NY State Education Department, were approved. For grades K–6 it is $4,419, and for grades 7–12 it is $8,818. School Business Administrator Emily Sanders said these are lower than usual because they are based on actual costs last year, which were lower because of COVID-19 and remote learning.
Honors for Girls Soccer Program
The National Federation of State High School Associations (NFHS) has chosen Tom Husser as New York State Coach of the Year for Girls Soccer. He will be invited to submit information about himself and his program to the organization to be considered for Coach of the Year designation for the entire Northeast (New York, New Jersey, and the New England states). If he were to win that honor, he would then be in the running for National Coach of the Year. But whether or not he goes on to higher honors, Husser is already in elite company, as only about 700 Coach of the Year awards were given nationally by NFHS last year.
Senior Panther defender Megan Perry was named to the Times Union’s first team for Girls Soccer in the Wasaren League, and was also honored as a Section II Class C all-star. The writeup about her said she “anchored things on defense for the Panthers and aided the offense as she contributed eight goals — all coming on corner kicks.”