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Haldane Lacrosse Association Looks to Start a JV Club
The BOE appoints Makaria Gallagher as interim trustee
By Allison Dunne
Support for the formation of a Junior Varsity Lacrosse Club prompted the standingroom only crowd at the Haldane Central School District Board of Education February 6 meeting. President of the Haldane Lacrosse Association Judy Colamarino addressed Board members, saying an increasing number of boys have become interested in the sport over the past few years, and association members would like to see the Haldane Lacrosse program grow. Her request also came in the form of a letter addressed to Board President Dave Merandy.
Colamarino said the goal is to get the club off the ground this school year, specifically in the spring, until a JV team could hopefully be put in place and budgeted for the next school year. She said the Association is prepared to supply uniforms, coaches and referees for three home games and three away games. Board President Merandy, who limited discussion time on the topic to 10 minutes, told Colamarino to work out the logistics with Director of Athletics and Physical Education/ Dean of Students Susan Reid, and come back to the BOE with a formal proposal. Reid said she has been working with the Lacrosse Association on the matter and supports their goals. In the proposal, Merandy said he wants details on such issues such as field usage and any attendant fees, along with which teams the club would play. Reid said she hoped the club could be formalized by the next Board meeting. She said spring sports begin March 12.
"The concept sounds great," said BOE Vice President Joseph Curto of the club. Like Merandy, he instructed Colamarino and Reid to put the specifics on paper. Reid said she had one concern, and that is busing, namely to away games. The process of forming the club is an iteration of the recent reinstatement of the ski club, whereby the club is responsible for all associated funds and logistics, though the club falls under the school district's insurance.
Well after the students and other Lacrosse enthusiasts had left the meeting, Merandy asked Reid if there were any sort of conditioning requirements for a sport considered to be so physically demanding. Merandy said given the club, if approved, would fall under school insurance, it is important to consider the fitness of the club's members.
In related Board business, all BOE members voted to appoint Stephen Byrnes to the position of varsity lacrosse coach for the 2006-2007 school year. Byrnes has played lacrosse at the University of Massachusetts, and has coached at several children's camps.
Listening to all of this from the BOE side of the table was Makaria Gallagher, Haldane's newly-appointed trustee from a pool of six candidates. She fills the vacancy left when former Trustee Michael Junjulas resigned, effective January 9, because of health concerns. Gallagher will serve until May 15. Should she want to continue with the Board, she would have to run again in May, at which time there will be two other Board seats open. Curto's seat is up in May, as is Trustee Kathy Marino's. Their terms
In another matter, Board members continued discussion of the moving timeline for the capital projects referendum. President Merandy and Trustee Marino voiced their concern about putting the referendum vote with the budget vote in May. Superintendent Di Natale advised against putting the two out for a vote the same day, and Board members seemed to be in agreement that postponing the referendum until September would be prudent.
Initially, after hiring architects and planners Fuller & D'Angelo, it seemed the Board was moving in the direction of adopting a referendum of just less than $6 million dollars to put before voters as early as the end of this month, to include the upgrade of mechanical systems, roof replacements, and several other items. However, early last month, Cold Spring resident Rudolph van Dommele asked Board members to consider geothermal technology for an overhaul of the heating system. Board members have since been visiting sites that use this technology, and have been reading up on various aspects of the technology and its viability for use at Haldane.
Vice President Curto said it is important to be honest with the taxpayers, and show that the Board did its research with regard to geothermal technology. He proposed forming a heating sub-committee charged with coming up with some data on which to base a recommendation, all within 30 days. He asked area resident and engineer Damian McDonald to chair the group. Curto said he just wants to ensure that any referendum gets out in time to enable a summer of 2008 construction start for the capital projects.
Curto said there are two costs that are essential in deciding whether Haldane could afford geothermal technology. First, he said, are the initial construction costs. Second, he said, are the operating savings realized by using geothermal technology. Both costs, said Curto, are ones Board members have not been able to pinpoint. Curto called these two cost factors "huge" in determining whether geothermal technology is right for Haldane.
Merandy said the Board needs figures beyond preliminary ones to make an informed decision, and said he does not see how to avoid paying someone to design the project to accurately compare geothermal technology with the other options (either upgrading the mechanical systems with what is currently used, steam, or converting the system to hot water). "I think we really have to crunch the numbers to go this route," said Merandy.
Curto, who said he does not yet have an opinion about whether to use geothermal heat pumps, said the Board was awaiting some quotes from Fuller & D'Angelo, Altren Renewable Energy, and a firm in Albany.
As for the upcoming budget proposal for the 2007-2008 school year, School Business Official Meryl Rubinstein asked Board members for direction on potential tax rates, and she did not receive all that much direction. The Board starts hearing budget proposals from various departments in the coming weeks. Curto, of the budget in general, said, "Everything needs to be justified. Everything." Everything has to be on the table, he added.
Di Natale noted that unfunded mandates continue to pile up for Haldane, while Marino commented that skyrocketing health-care costs are out of the Board's control.
As for another topic, Di Natale pointed out that the state comptroller's office would be conducting an internal audit of Haldane beginning some time in the next several weeks. He noted the audit is very intensive, and part of a state plan to audit every district in New York. He said the audits last about three-to-four months, and that state officials invariably find fault with something. Overall, Di Natale said he felt positive about the impending audit, given the recent positive audit for the 2005-2006 school year from Nugent & Haeussler, PC.
It was all positive when it came to the Haldane Faculty Association's impression of Director of Facilities Wayne Robinson, who came on board over the summer. HFA President Christine Comerford wrote a letter to the BOE, expressing appreciation for the "exceptional job" done by Robinson. The letter states that "Due to Mr. Robinson's and the rest of the maintenance staff's efforts we have all been able to enjoy a smooth and comfortable working environment."
Also during the February 6 meeting, all Board members voted in favor of the resignation of District Treasurer MaryLynn Etta, effective June 30, 2007, or upon appointment of a new district treasurer. Rubinstein said Etta will stay on as the payroll clerk; she is just relinquishing her roll as treasurer.
The BOE voted in favor of establishing "The Liz Bono Memorial Scholarship" at the request of Mr. and Mrs. Alexander Hernandez. The scholarship award, $250 annually, will be presented to a graduating senior who demonstrates leadership, community involvement, and participation in extra-curricular or community activities, as well as to one who is embarking on a career in business management or starting his or her own business. Bono had worked for 11 years as a cashier in the Haldane cafeteria. She passed away in May of 2006. The first award will be presented in June.
All Board members also voted to approve changing the name of "The Fred Faust Spirit Award" to "The Kristen and Fred Faust Spirit Award". Kristen Faust was a Haldane graduate who passed away suddenly in October 2006.
The next Haldane BOE meeting is a workshop scheduled for Tuesday, February 27, 2007, at 7pm.
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