Follow Up on the News

Onteora's Sick Building continued

In a voice quavering close to tears, Scanlan said at Monday's Onteora Board of Ed meeting, "She can’t complete her biology course because she can't attend labs. We have to hire tutors to come to our home. She’s distraught that she’s missing out on her social life. I don't know what to do. Something is wrong in the school, you've got to check it out. I don't know where to go. I'd appreciate it if someone would get back to me."

She also said she had heard of two new cases, in the past week, of students suffering from school-related health problems. Rowe replied that a new round of test results have just been received but have not yet been deciphered. He is in close contact with school nurse Colleen McDaniel, while business administrator Chuck Snyder has been designated the contact person for complaints and information. Snyder can be reached at the district office at 657-8499.

Scanlan was invited to attend Friday's Facilities Committee meeting for further discussion of the issue. Frank Gorleski, Interim Director of Secondary Education, outlined the proposed 2003-2004 technology budget, which entails $211,567 for maintenance of current technology levels with minimal equipment upgrades. This figure is down 0.9 percent from last year, based on a slight decrease in enrollment. Gorleski also presented a supplemental request of $30,000 for computer lab upgrades, bringing the total to $251,567, an increase of 11.6 percent.

He said that there are presently at least one or two computers in each classroom, and all rooms are wired for computer use. However, students are using many machines that are over seven years old and are "barely more than word processors," and upgrades are needed. However, he cautioned, "More and more powerful machines are not always the answer." Other options being explored are palm pilots connected to keyboards, connection of PC’s to existing televisions instead of purchase of projectors for whole-class instruction, and laptop labs. Also needed is training to help staff use hardware and software more effectively, but money for this purpose is included in the instructional budget.

Gorleski mentioned the importance of quickly replacing network technician Jeff Bell, who recently resigned. Of the supplemental proposal, $15,000 is earmarked for the middle school, where principal Gayle Kavanaugh hopes to create a wireless laptop lab on wheels, enabling teachers to bring computers into their classrooms on shorter notice than is required for reserving the two heavily used and rarely available high school labs. She is exploring possibilities for grants to help with the expenditure. The other $15,000 would go to upgrades in the high school labs.

Trustee Neil Eisenberg asked Gorleski about the Internet filtering system at the high school, the subject of complaints by students at the last meeting, who said they could not access their home email accounts or websites containing keywords such as "AIDS", "breast", or references to other diseases or body parts, although such sites contained information needed for reports and schoolwork. Gorleski said the filter had been temporarily loosened to enable teachers to set up access to home email, which would allow them to give individual students monitored Internet access for specific purposes. However, the filter, which was set up with the help of BOCES, is designed to meet federal requirements for Internet security systems at public schools. D’Orazio asked Rowe to provide a copy of the Federal regulation regarding Internet security, and Rowe offered to invite someone from BOCES to explain the filtering procedure.

With plans afoot to combine classes at Woodstock and West Hurley Elementary Schools, grades K-3 at one school and 4-6 at the other, a group of parents attended Monday night's school board meeting to demand that they be consulted before changes are made.

Superintendent Hal Rowe justified the contemplated reorganization as a money-saving measure to prevent program cuts in a tight budget year. West Hurley parents Bill Cobey and Dave Gutierrez addressed the board, requesting that parents be given input into the decision. Rowe said that no plan had been formulated yet and that the process was in the early stages. Principals have been talking with faculty and PTA’s to inform them of the proposed changes, which are meant to address diminishing class sizes at the elementary level. "We are looking for ways to compress them into sizes that are functional but won't require as many teachers," he said. Board president Marino D’Orazio added, "The board hasn't been presented with plans. Once that happens, there will be a lot of discussion."

About twenty people in the audience promptly rose and left, although he invited them to stay for budget presentations. Later in the meeting, Rowe linked the reorganization to the challenge of devising a workable budget for next year, in view of the expected decrease in state aid and lowering of the contingency budget cap, which would require the cutting of programs and services if the voters fail to pass the board’s budget in May. Business administrator Chuck Snyder explained that the current decline in the economy has lowered the cap to an increase of only 1.92 percent over this year’s budget. Taking into account unavoidable increases in health care costs and contractual obligations, the result would be a $1.7 million shortfall in funds if the district has to go to a contingency budget. In crafting a budget that will be acceptable to voters, the board has to cope with an anticipated $350,000 reduction in state aid, which alone would cause a five-and-a-half percent rise in the tax levy. "Last year taxes went up nine percent," said Rowe. "Nine percent this year will be far more difficult for the board to get approved and for taxpayers to bear in a downturned economy. How do we protect the integrity of programs in the school district and at the same time keep an eye out for the taxpayers? We're presently receiving, in sections and pieces, a budget that represents planning to maintain ourselves. My recommended budget will not include everything you've been hearing from people. [Parents] here have heard plans we’re thinking about to consolidate classes. We have elementary school classes of twelve to fifteen kids. We want to have classes of about twenty, to be more effective in staffing."

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Odd Fellows continued

One of only two Odd Fellow halls remaining in Ulster County, the building, located on Route 213 in Olivebridge, was built in 1912 on property purchased from the Davis family. As the only public building in Olive at the time, it was used not only for lodge meetings, but for Saturday night square dances, church suppers, traveling minstrel shows, and town and fire department meetings. "We are basically seeking to preserve the building and rejuvenate interest in it as a center for community events," said Gilles Malkine, the lodge's Noble Grand, speaking Saturday at the Olive Historical Society's annual meeting.

"We have applied for grants and are busy planning and brainstorming about things that can happen there." Reviving the square dances and organizing a film series are some of the ideas being discussed, however, lodge members, Malkine said, are open to whatever the public wants to suggest. "As the fastest growing Odd Fellow lodge in North America," added lodge member Henry Sapoznik, "we are on the cusp of something wonderful. It is up to members of the community to boost this."

The hall, which Sapoznik describes as a "community jewel" reflecting the neoclassic era of architecture, is slated for landmark status but requires restoration and repair. "It's not falling apart yet," Malkine said, "but it needs the help. We can't wait any longer because deterioration has set in." This spring the hall will receive a fresh coat of paint - it was last done sixty years ago with government surplus paint from World War II - and light carpentry repairs.

Next in the queue is a plan to retrieve the original lighting fixtures from the building's attic and re-install them, removing the strips of fluorescent lighting that were added in the sixties. This initial phase of renovation is being made possible by a $5,000 state grant that was awarded to the Actors and Writers of Ulster County and matching funds donated by the their audience and benefactors. The performance group has rented the Odd Fellows hall for the past twelve years, staging readings of plays and prose that are performed for the public free of charge (voluntary donations accepted) in the spring and fall.

"They have been maintaining an important part of our community and providing cultural continuity," said Sapoznik. "We are so lucky to have proactive members of our community who are critical in maintaining our mission." Malkine agreed. "The Actors and Writers, people working with one another because they want to, have been a catalyst to this all," he said, referring to the renewed interest in preserving the hall. Sapoznik said he hopes to help finance the next tier of renovation with preservation grants.

This work includes projects such as replacing the building's roof, creating a four-season space and all the jobs necessary to restore the building to its original condition. "Since we lie well within 1000 feet of Catskill Park, we should be eligible for watershed and other grants," he said. The Odd Fellows organization, whose motto is "friendship, love and truth", was founded in seventeenth century England for the purpose of giving aid to those in need and participating in activities that benefited the community as a whole.

The Independent Order of Odd Fellows was established in North America in 1819 with Washington Lodge No.1 receiving its charter from the Manchester Unity of Odd Fellows in England. Shokan Lodge No. 491, which was founded in 1881, operates under the jurisdiction of the Grand Lodge of New York State.

Anyone interested in becoming an Odd Fellows member, can obtain an application by calling Gilles Malkine at 657-2210 on weekdays during the hours of 9am to 5pm.

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