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A Look Into Geothermals Helps to Push Back Haldane's Referendum Vote Date
Junjulas resigns from Board of Education
by Allison Dunne
The Haldane Central School District Board of Education, as of December 2006, had planned on adopting a resolution during its January 9, 2007 meeting regarding the capital projects referendum. The resolution was to have provided details on the timing and contents of the referendum. However, since a request from Cold Spring resident Rudolph van Dommele during the Board's January 2 workshop that the Board consider geothermal technology, Board members now find themselves scrambling to get up to speed on the viability of using the technology in upgrading Haldane's heating system. This effectively put off the planned referendum vote to, at the earliest, sometime in May, probably in conjunction with the budget vote.
At the BOE January 9 meeting, both Board President David Merandy and Vice President Joseph Curto said they supported putting in front of voters the bond referendum along with the school budget vote in May.
After BOE members had honed the project details and essentially reached agreement on scope and cost during the January 2 referendum workshop, with a resolution looking likely to be adopted at the subsequent meeting for a sum just shy of $6 million dollars, it was then that van Dommele asked whether geothermal technology had been considered, and if not, why not? John D'Angelo, with architects and planners Fuller & D'Angelo, replied that his firm did not look at the alternative technology because the benefits, such as energy savings, are largely realized with air conditioning, not heating.
Van Dommele asked that the architects and Board members at least look into geothermal technology, and if they find the project cost prohibitive, to show definitive numbers showing that to be the case. D'Angelo pointed out that supplying Haldane with geothermal energy would entail much work and cost, and consist of putting in about 80 wells, with each well 300-400 feet. Van Dommele, who said he is installing geothermal technology for his home, said Putnam Valley middle and high schools have gone the geothermal route, and he asked that the architects and BOE members pay a visit to Putnam Valley.
At the January 9 meeting all Board members said they have been feverishly trying to learn about geothermal energy as it relates to schools in northeastern climates. Those who had not yet visited Putnam Valley schools said they were planning to do so. One audience member expressed thanks that Board members appeared to be taking van Dommele's suggestion seriously, and said he was pleased that BOE members were moving so quickly to educate themselves on the issue.
School Business Official Meryl Rubinstein noted that if the Board were to choose to move forward with geothermal technology, Board members might have to budget for additional costs, and would likely need more time because a state environmental review process would have to take place before the referendum.
In other Board business, Michael Junjulas resigned from his trustee position on the BOE, effective January 9, 2007. He was on hand, though, in the audience, to say thanks to Board members and administrators. Junjulas, in a letter as well as in person, said he had to resign because of ongoing health concerns. His resignation follows his stepping down from the Board presidency in the fall of 2006, when he also cited health problems. He took on a BOE trustee role at that time.
BOE President Merandy said Junjulas helped to move the Board in a positive direction, and hoped he would reconsider a run for the Board in the future. Junjulas said he would leave open that possibility.
Given Junjulas' immediate resignation, Merandy said the Board was left with three options. The Board could leave the post open until May, when the budget and some Board seats come before the voters, the Board could appoint someone or the Board could hold a special election. Merandy said the Board unanimously decided against the third option.
Instead, the Board has decided to advertise for two weeks for the opening, in this paper, (see page 6) setting forth a January 31 deadline for letters of interest, bios, etc., which are to be sent to the district clerk. Board members will then interview prospective candidates and, by February 6, appoint someone, assuming there is agreement among BOE members on a candidate. Merandy said it is possible that after the interviewing process, the Board may decide to leave the post open until May. If someone is appointed, that person would serve until May 15, and would have to run again in May, at which time there will be to two other Board seats open. Curto's seat is up in May, as is Trustee Kathy Marino's. Their terms expire June 30, 2007.
One item that was expected on the January 9 agenda was a presentation by Julia Fraino, CPA, of Nugent & Haeussler, PC, on highlights of the district audit for the 2005-2006 school year. Fraino started by saying that despite such a tight budget year, Haldane did end up with a positive fund balance. It was the first audit performed under new regulations that required an audit committee sit with the accounting firm to review the audit. The BOE voted in favor of accepting the report.
Superintendent Dr. John Di Natale presented a report of another kind. About his "Annual Report for the 2005-2006 School Year", Di Natale noted it comes at the culmination of a five-year strategic plan, so it is time to draft a new set of goals and objectives. He calls the report a "snapshot into every facet of school life." After pointing to various milestones, Di Natale highlighted that fall enrollment for grades 9 and 11 for 2005-2006 was higher than usual. He added that there were no dropouts throughout the district.
Administrators spoke about their respective schools, with Junior/Senior High School Principal Andy Irvin commenting that staffing and space can sometimes hinder well-intentioned goals, citing the goal to offer more courses with advanced art concepts and techniques. He said this goal will have to be examined more in depth, as art requirements take up lots of staffing. He said the same was true for the goals for the music programs.
Discussion about long-term goals in foreign language emerged as teachers and administrators consider adding another language to the curriculum. Part of the discussion emanated from the fact that the Garrison Union Free District does not offer French, so Garrison students who want to take French attend French classes at Haldane. However, Garrison is pulling out the French program, and, as Di Natale said, the Garrison students fill much of the French classes. So, he said, the questions are, does Haldane keep French and add another language, or does Haldane drop French and add another language. In addition, another consideration, he said, is to offer foreign languages in the elementary school.
As for adding other languages, Di Natale urged administrators and the Board to consider technology rather than hiring staff. He referred to language-learning software "Rosetta Stone" as a possibility, with minimal budget implications. He said it is time to start thinking about teaching foreign language in the 21st century. He said many schools are at a crossroads on the topic, as hiring teachers in certain sought-after languages can be enormously difficult.
In general, Di Natale said technology is not a luxury for the school district anymore, it's a necessity. He said the Board needs to keep on top of it, like building maintenance, and keep the budget intact by staying up-to-date and not being bombarded with a one-time exorbitant expense of having to update technology.
Elsewhere in Board business, after 35 years of service in the district, social studies teacher Leo Saposnick will retire effective June 30. The Board voted to accept his letter of intent to retire.
Board members also all voted in favor of accepting the donation of a 1970 Kohler & Campbell upright piano and bench from the Haldane School Foundation and Donna Cotennec.
The BOE unanimously accepted the donations for professional development programs at BOCES from School Business Official Rubinstein, in the amount of $500; Director of Instructional Services Dr. Diane Lordi in the amount of $500; and Principal Irvin in the amount of $3,200. Board members praised the three for paying out-of-pocket for the programs.
BOE members also approved a proposal from HMB Consultants to provide training to all food service staff members. The training is for $550 per day not to exceed eight days. This follows a presentation by James Bigley of HMB Consultants to the Board December 5, which contained several recommendations for increasing revenues for the lunch program, including training food service staff in new ways of food preparation.
The Board also approved the payment of $8,000 to the Village of Cold Spring for the blacktopping of the Elementary playground. The next Haldane BOE meeting is scheduled for Tuesday, February 6, 2007, at 7pm.
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