by Phillip Zema and Kieron Kramer
Three seats on the Berlin Central School District Board of Education will be contested in the election on May 18 at which time the Annual Budget for 2010/2011 will also be voted on. Petitions to be on the BOE ballot were filed on April 19. The results are that John Nash, of Grafton, will vie with Richard Beckwith, a past BOE member, for the seat being vacated by incumbent Tom Morelli, Alan Webster Jr. of Petersburgh will contest the seat held by incumbent Jeffrey Paine of Grafton and newcomer Sara Feathers will face off against incumbent Beverly Stewart. Since the vote to close the Grafton Elementary School passed 4-3, the result of this election may determine whether that decision will be reversed. [Read more…] about Slate Set For BCS Election
Berlin School Dist.
Berlin Baseball Loses To New Lebanon
by Erin Hogan
The Berlin Central School varsity baseball team took on New Lebanon at home on Wednesday, April 14, and got off to a quick lead with triples from Tyler Bacon and Aaron Gundlack and a double from Scotty Bamba in the first inning. But New Lebanon didn’t let Berlin keep them down. In the top of the third with the bases loaded, Jessie Conklin hit a great RBI that would tie the game up 6-6. New Lebanon got three outs easily in the bottom of the third to keep the score stagnant. [Read more…] about Berlin Baseball Loses To New Lebanon
BCS Board Approves Budget
submitted by Charlotte Gregory, Interim Superintendent
The Berlin Board of Education approved an $18,757,983 budget for the 2010-11 school year which reflects a 1.74% increase in the tax levy. The spending level, raised from the 2009-10 budget of $18,281,718 by $476,265, is driven by increases in salaries and benefits for 202 staff members. The major factor for planning the future budget was a $1.4 million dollar cut in State aid to the Berlin District in the Governor’s Proposal.
[Read more…] about BCS Board Approves Budget
BCS Ziti Fund Raiser
Berlin Middle School Student Council will be hosting its 3rd Annual Ziti Dinner on Friday, April 30, at the Berlin Middle/High School cafeteria. All proceeds will go towards The Children’s Hospital at Albany Medical Center. We will be serving homemade ziti dinners, vegetarian and meat, along with drinks, desserts and more from 5 to 7 pm. At 5:15 pm, for your enjoyment, we will be showing the DVD “Alvin and the Chipmunks: The Squeakquel” while dinner is being served. Dinner ticket prices are $7 for adults and $5 for children. Tickets can be purchased at the door.
All-County Concert Held At BCS
by Phillip Zema
On Saturday March 27, Rensselaer County’s finest student musicians performed at the Berlin High School. The annual Rensselaer All-County Concert, which had representatives from thirteen area schools, featured an elementary band, junior chorus, jazz chorus and senior band. For hundreds of yards, both sides of Route 22 were lined with vehicles. Those in attendance were treated to a series of well performed classical and contemporary musical works.
[Read more…] about All-County Concert Held At BCS
Cinderella Performed At BCS
submitted by Dianne Mosher
Berlin High School students mesmerized the audience March 19 and 20 with Rodgers and Hammerstein’s Cinderella. From the time the Fairy Godmother (Emily Olson) opened the show until Cinderella (Caitlyn Hungerford) and the Prince (Rocco Farano) were joined in marriage, the audience members were attentive to the many songs, dances and the dashes of humor.
The costuming was amazing and, under the guidance of stylist Amy Reger, the hair styles were “from another time and place.” [Read more…] about Cinderella Performed At BCS
BCS Battle Of The Belts
Berlin Junior/Senior High School’s Third Annual Battle of the Belts Preliminary Championship was held on March 26 at Berlin High School. Middle and high school students participated in this event.
The Middle School Team winners, Christian Corrado, Nicholas Despart, Travis Riccardi and Timothy Shupe, came in first place with 39.9 seconds.
The High School Team winners, Tonya Brock, Brenna Meyers, Justin Ryan and Brittany Sass, came in first place with 40.75 seconds.
[Read more…] about BCS Battle Of The Belts
Letter To The Editor – From The Superintendent
Letter to Editor:
I read the letter to the Editor in the February 12 issue from Heinz Noeding of Petersburgh regarding his concerns with the finances of the Berlin Central School District. I want to thank Mr. Noeding for spending some time reviewing the last 10 year audits of the school district in an effort to understand the funding and expenditures of school districts. His concern with the expense of the school district and the economic climate has also been an issue of many hours of board of education discussion about reducing expenditures to contain costs for the last several years. However, some important information was left out of his statistics. [Read more…] about Letter To The Editor – From The Superintendent
Letter To The Editor – The Misguided Board Of The Berlin School District
To the Editor:
Reality television has come to the Berlin Central School District. After witnessing the last “Budget Workshop” meeting of the BCSD, I’m trying to determine whether the Board members were auditioning for “Survivor” or “The Gong Show.” Here’s a sampling of some of the comments made by Board members to their fellow Board members: “Shut up, I’m talking!” and, “You don’t tell me what to do!” and, my favorite inter-board communication “Go to hell!” So much for civil discourse.
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Letter To The Editor – Between A Rock And A Hard Place
To the editor,
Yes, this district is between a rock and a hard place. The opening sentence in the Eastwick’s March 5 edition regarding the situation of the Berlin Central School District is true! Due to the district administration and most board of education members’ determination to consolidate it would appear there are no other options to deal with the current economic crisis. Unfortunately they have decided to close their minds and take the easy way out by making the children, taxpayers and communities suffer.
[Read more…] about Letter To The Editor – Between A Rock And A Hard Place