Watkins, Odessa pursue joint bus service

WATKINS GLEN—The Watkins Glen school board will pursue a joint transportation department with the Odessa-Montour Central School District. Superintendent Tom Phillips explained the proposal at the Monday, June 17, school board meeting.
The Odessa board gave a verbal agreement at their Thursday, June 13, meeting to come up with a definite proposal. Phillips said this will at least be a pilot study. He explained Odessa-Montour would contract and pay Watkins Glen for transportation services. Odessa’s existing transportation staff would become Watkins employees. Phillips said the two districts already send BOCES students and athletes to many of the same events that could not be done through one system.
For a related story from Odessa-Montour’s meeting, see below.
In other business:
• Erika Murray, director of the Watkins 21st Century afterschool program, presented a report of the last five years. She said 416 students have participated in that time, with 110 fifth through eighth graders during the current school year. Students are able to attend field trips, get homework help, and experience job opportunities. However, Murray said the program was not selected to receive continued grant funding for the next five years. She submitted a proposal where the district provided between $55,000 and $60,000 to pay for staff, teachers’ time, and supplies. Murray’s proposal was for 55 students only, but was asked what the cost would be to allow all interested students. She added charging 55 students $25 a week would cover just about $50,000. Three parents spoke in favor of the program. Board President Brian O’Donnell said it “provides an immense opportunity” for the students, but added the board was not prepared to give answer at the meeting.
• The board approved creation of an administrative position. Phillips explained this is a 10 month appointment while staff make the transition to a single campus. However, he said the appointments themselves will not be announced until Wednesday afternoon, June 19.
• The board recognized golfers Sarah Wickham, Halle Phillips, and Keith Rekczis for advancing to the state level championships this spring sports season.
• Greg Grodem, middle school technology teacher, gave a presentation on the solar and wind turbine equipment that was installed on both the middle and high school buildings. He explained the grant for the middle school equipment was applied for and approved in 2009. He showed how students can access the data on energy that is produced.
• The board approved the resignation of Nancy Loughlin as guidance counselor. Phillips said she has served the district for over 40 years, ranging from French, English, and guidance. He added she was one of the district’s first female coaches in the 1970s.
The next school board meeting is scheduled for Monday, July 1, at 5:45 p.m. It will be held in the elementary cafeteria number two.

Watkins Glen transportation agreement could save $100K

ODESSA—The Odessa-Montur school board gave a verbal agreement to pursue a joint transportation department with the Watkins Glen Central School District, Thursday, June 13.
Superintendent Jim Frame explained the two school districts came up with a preliminary plan that could save Odessa-Montour $100,000.  He said the idea is to have Odessa pay Watkins for transportation while O-M maintains its fleet.
However, Frame added nothing is decided yet and they were waiting for the Watkins board to indicate an interest at their school board meeting, scheduled Monday, June 17.  Frame said Odessa’s transportation agreement with First Student, a company out of Rochester, is set to expire at the end of June.  He explained if an agreement with Watkins is approved, the new set-up could be in place by the fall semester or even as soon as the summer session.  For a related story from the Watkins meeting, see page 1.
In other business:
• Frame announced the district will be receiving approximately $100,000 in additional aid next school year.  He explained $75,000 is aid that Sen. Tom O’Mara (R-C, Big Flats) can distribute at his discretion.  He said the funds came after a series of long conversations with O’Mara and the senate finance committee.  He added $75,000 was the largest amount O’Mara gave out in his district.  The other $25,000 is an increase in Title 1 funding.  Frame explained this money is used primarily towards support salaries.
• The board approved extending Frame’s contract as superintendent through June 30, 2018, to a four-to-three vote.  Board members Robert Halpin, Scott Westervelt, and Bill Schwenk voted against it, but all said it was because they had wanted more time to review the proposal.  Halpin said Frame is doing an incredible job, but he was not given “enough time to consider this.”  Before approval, the board voted down tabling the decision to a later meeting.
• A groundskeeper position was eliminated.  Schwenk asked if the loss would affect the maintenance staff’s abilities to complete regular work.  Frame said the staff has split the responsibilities and will be able to handle it.  Schwenk and Westervelt voted no.
• The board heard from the B.C. Cate, H.A. Hanlon, and junior/senior high principals about testing.  All three staff members said assessment testing is complete and students are in the middle of taking Regents exams.
• Students Emma Furner and Noah Brewster gave presentations about a field trip taken through the 21st Century after school program.  Students went to Albany, May 3.  Furner and Brewster spoke about the history and architecture that they learned about on the trip.