|
Garrison School Facilities "Tight" According to Demographic Report
Haldane highlights new initiatives and increased science and elective offerings in High School pitch
by Margaret Sternberg
The findings of the demographic study commissioned by the Garrison Board of Education and conducted by Stanton Leggett & Associates, came to three conclusions regarding the facility itself: "the school facilities are tight for the existing school population and compromises have been made…; the district should be actively examining its facilities now and planning expansion [and] any facilities program should assume growth of the student body and/or larger class size, and accepting students from St. Basil on the terms it has proposed (tightly limiting the numbers per grade to no more than four) will accelerate the district's growth but not to the point that, by itself, it would overwhelm the existing program and facilities. Accepting any more students than that would be overwhelming to the present program, to the school and to the district."
Paul Abramson, President of Stanton Leggett, presented an overview of the district, focusing on growth in the district from 1984 through 2006, which averaged 213 students in the school in the years 1984-6, and grew successively, in the next four multi-year averages to 218, 260, 284 and, finally, to 289 students for the years 2002-6.
The report examined the existing facilities, citing a number of space and/or size issues, among which were the width of the school's corridors, classrooms smaller in "usable" square feet than is recommended or that is now the state-mandated minimum for new classrooms, and that there exists only one empty classroom in the event of need.
Abramson also cited the cafeteria, art and music facilities and all of the office spaces as being small for modern programs, as well as the library being small, lacking general storage space and that its computer room is not large enough to "hold sufficient computers for whole-class work." Lack of office space, the report stated is a "major" problem in the school. Toilet facilities in the elementary school met code, but were described as being "barely adequate."
Vice President Fran DiSarro asked whether Abramson thought the Board should look at improving the current facilities or whether a long-range plan, including construction, should be the focus. Abramson said it was not an "either/or" situation, suggesting that the Board should look at what could be done now to improve the facilities, yet with an eye toward the need for expansion in the future.
The report had indicated an expectation of population growth in Garrison, stating that "even slow growth is likely to have an effect…," and the Board turned to trying to gauge the effect of an unknown number of students - at this point, up to 30 - from St. Basil who could enroll. Also arising from the report were more general questions about the quality of the education in an environment where facilities are limited and/or shared as well as students from Garrison, excluding those who move from the district, who do not attend high school at either of the two receiving schools.
There were no definitive conclusions reached on actions to be taken in light of the report.
In a related action, Superintendent Gloria Colucci said the Board would later pass a resolution, which was done, authorizing their attorneys to initiate a lawsuit seeking a declaratory judgment determining the rights and responsibilities as to the education and payment for said education for the children at St. Basil Academy.
Colucci also said that the Board had received that evening a response, dated seven days before, from the Office of Children and Family Services ("OCFS") denying Garrison's attorney's requests to amend the operating certificate issued to St. Basil to ensure that St. Basil "does not 'deviate from its stated education plan' to enroll the children in specified schools 'on a tuition paying basis,' " and to make certain St. Basil will not receive any additional children unless they are placed in conformance with Social Services and Education Law."
OCFS denied both requests: the first on the basis that "as long as the children in residence at St. Basil are attending school in conformance with the compulsory education requirements of the Education Law, St. Basil will be in compliance…"; the second, on the basis that the way in which the "children come to St. Basil is irrelevant to their continued licensure so long as the children come to St. Basil through a legitimate means" which, the letter had earlier stated, included private placement.
In the other presentation of the January 10, 2007 meeting, Haldane High School Principal Andy Irvin gave the annual presentation on Haldane's offerings to parents whose children are on the cusp of the decision on whether to attend high school at Haldane or O'Neill.
New initiatives included the introduction, this year, of a student portfolio for grades 9-12. For 9th grade students in 2006-7 who fall under the portfolio program, the completion of the portfolio is a graduation requirement. Also discussed were Student Leadership and School Pride Initiatives, which fosters participation in Student Council, class governments and the Athletic Captain's Council.
Irvin reviewed the offerings in the various subjects, detailing the scores over a three-year period of the Garrison students in ELA, Social Studies, Math and Science.
Irvin also spoke about and answered questions on the new Math curriculum sequence, which would begin with accelerated students in the 7th grade in 2007- 8.
About 30 percent of Garrison students are placed in honors or Advanced Placement courses, and Haldane, Irvin said, will offer students up to eight Advanced Placement courses, two in each core subject area. Students can now graduate with up to 24 AP credits approved for SUNY Albany or Duchess Community College credit.
The Board accepted a donation of kitchen equipment plus installation and a piano for the music program from the Garrison Children's Education Fund and the PTA. Belle Newton from the Fund was on hand to accept the Board's thanks with a gracious response.
The next meeting of the Garrison Board of Education will be Wednesday, January 24, at 7pm.
Providing local news, information and opinions from
Philipstown and Putnam Valley, NY
Encompassing the Villages of Cold Spring and Nelsonville,
and the hamlet of Garrison, Putnam County, NY.
This site is a publication of The Putnam County News and Recorder, the source for news and information of the Philipstown
and Putnam Valley area. The PCN&R is 139
years old, published in hard copy every Wednesday, and circulated throughout Putnam
County, NY.
The PCN&R prints LEGAL NOTICES
for: Putnam County, The Town of Philipstown, The Town of Putnam Valley, Village of Cold Spring, Village of
Nelsonville, the Haldane Union Free School District and the Garrison Union Free School
District.
Deadline for printed press releases, advertisements and classifieds is Monday at noon for
Wednesday publication. This site is updated on an as-needed basis with a minimum update
weekly on Thursdays. For further information or to request a subscription to the paper, please
contact us with your name and mailing address at:
(845) 265-2468 PO Box 185, Cold Spring, NY 10516, or e-mail us at editor@pcnr.com
If you see an advertiser on line, tell them! | Click ads below
for larger version
|
