by Rachel Hunter
The Gouverneur Central School District recently informed the community that, for the 2023 - 2024 school year, the Gouverneur Central School District will once again provide all students with free school supplies. Historically, teachers have provided families with school supply lists prior to the start of the school year. This year, families will not have to assume any of the costs related to purchasing school supplies. The District will be using a portion of federal funding to purchase school supplies for all students. The supplies have been ordered and will be distributed to students during the first week of school.
In other news: The Gouverneur Central School District Board of Education held a meeting on Monday, July 31 in the Gouverneur High School auditorium. Board President David Fenlong called the meeting to order, and all then stood and recited the Pledge of Allegiance.
GCS Superintendent of Schools Jackie Kelly then told of a “couple great things happening in the District” that she wanted to share with all those present at the July 31 board meeting.
Supt. Kelly first recognized GHS Science Teacher Lisa Dunkelberg on a recent achievement.
“Jan DeWaters, assistant professor in the Institute for STEM Education in the School of Engineering at Clarkson University, and three New York State high school teachers recently returned from Taiwan where they gave a workshop on project-based energy education. Lisa Dunkelberg, a science teacher at Gouverneur High School, along with DeWaters and two other educators led the two-day workshop. The workshop was a follow-up to a weeklong workshop previously delivered in Taiwan by DeWaters’ team. This is one component of a multi-year initiative to promote energy literacy, energy education, and green energy technology development. The workshops were attended by approximately 50 middle and high school teachers from all over Taiwan. I’d like to congratulate Mrs. Dunkelberg on this great achievement. We are lucky to have her on our team, and we are proud when someone of Lisa’s caliber is in a foreign country, because she is not only representing Gouverneur, but she is showing off the strong commitment we have to high quality teaching here at the District. Congratulations, Lisa.” Great applause sounded throughout the auditorium as the announcement was made.
Supt. Kelly also shared the following: “Last week, a team of administrators, teachers, counselors, and support staff from the Gouverneur Central School District attended the Positivity Project Summer Leadership Conference in Savannah, Ga. The Positivity Project (also known as P2) was first implemented at the Gouverneur Elementary School in the 2022-23 School Year. This year, it will be implemented through Grade 8. This program is designed to empower students to build more positive relationships with one another, and with their teachers. P2 is a character education curriculum that enables students to understand, appreciate, and exemplify the importance of character in themselves and others. The program focuses on character strengths, such as creativity, perseverance, open-mindedness, and love, providing the foundation for genuine self-confidence grounded in self-awareness. Character strengths aren’t about ignoring the negative. Instead, they help students overcome life’s inevitable adversities. Through the use of federal funding, the District was able to send and train 10 employees in preparation for the implementation of P2 this school year.”
Supt. Kelly then shared a letter written to the Board of Education from Gouverneur Middle School Principal Robert Kotz. “Dear Board of Education Members and Mrs. Kelly, I would like to thank you for the opportunity to attend the Positivity Project Summer Leadership Conference. It was a great experience for all members of the team, which included four members from the Gouverneur Elementary School and six members from the Gouverneur Middle School. Throughout the conference our team had the opportunity to explore various topics related to fostering positivity, resilience, and empathy in our educational environment. Our team is confident that the positive impact of this conference will extend beyond the classroom, benefiting the faculty, staff, and community. Our team felt that the sessions provided us with practical tools and strategies that we can implement during the upcoming school year. The financial support provided by the American Rescue Plan federal funding made it possible for our team to collaborate with the extended Positivity Project community. We believe that the connections we have made at the conference will continue to provide many diverse ideas and strategies throughout the years to come. Sincerely, Bob Kotz and the P2 Leadership Team.” Updates from the P2 team will be provided to the school board throughout the year. After a question from Board Member Laurie Roberts, Supt. Kelly said: “There is a curriculum that is part of the Positivity Project. That will occur in morning meetings, advisory at the Middle School. The curriculum is very easy to use. It is a quick one- to two-minute video, and then it results in discussions amongst the kids and the staff. We are excited to see where it goes.”
Board President David Fenlong, in unfinished business, reported that a public hearing was held on July 10, 2023 with Rob Klimowicz, District Chief Safety Officer, in attendance. No additional comments have been received and the draft 2023-2024 School Safety Plan has not been changed since it was posted. The 2023-2024 School Safety Plan will be adopted at the next meeting on August 21, 2023.
Upon presentation and recommendation of Supt. Jackie Kelly, the Board approved the following items as a Consent Agenda: Minutes of the Organizational Meeting of July 10, 2023 (now posted online at gcsk12.org), CSE Business, and CPSE Business.
Upon presentation and recommendation of Supt. Jackie Kelly, the Board approved the following personnel items: The school board accepted the resignations from Hannah Jock, Physical Education Teacher, effective July 11, 2023, Katrina L. Moore, agriculture teacher, effective August 29, 2023, Nichole Johnson, special education teacher, effective August 30, 2023, and Cortney Evans-Eppolito, high school physical education teacher, effective July 26, 2023.
The school board also approved the following appointments: Adrienne Lake (CSE, CPSE Chairperson), Korrine Patterson (Physical Education Teacher), Michelle Benda (Physical Education Teacher), Marietta Kitto (Family and Consumer Science Teacher), Katrina Cook (Keyboard Specialist), and Stacie Hale (School Nurse).
The school board also appointed Brittany Fairbanks, LPN, for the 2023 Begindergarten Program from August 21-24, 9 to 11 a.m.
The school board approved up to three days between August 1-31 for new curriculum planning for the following teachers Mike Bryant (Business), Alexis Ritter (Art), Heather Parker (12:1:1) and Lisa Dunkelberg (Biology).
The board approved up to 10 days between August 1-31 for Jamie DeRusso for summer guidance support.
The board approved the appointment of returning substitutes for 2023-24 as presented, including: Maureen Baer, Amber Barr, Valerie Bogardus, Jeffrey Burt, Antoinette Cogan, Adrienne Cox, Nicole Cudhea, Pamela Doty, Nazzarena Easton, Julia Fahrig, Michelle Fiacco, John Free, Shawna Gilbo, Kim Harmer, Jennifer Hay, Kylie Helvie, Sabrina Jones, Brandy Kelley, Julieanne Koerick, Anita Mantia, Tracy McCarthy, Ethan Mitchell, Peyton Mussaw, Amanda Newvine, Kaylee Ordway, Donna Parks, Chelsi Peck, Sullivan Rumble, Maureen Schesser, Cathy Schiszler, Nikolaus Schiszler, Deana Shepard, Roxanne Todd, Ciera Vanderbogart, Joseph Wahl, Patricia Williams, and Ling Wu.
The school board approved the following Fall 2023-24 Coach recommendation for Modified Girls Soccer Coach Chelsie Griffith, pending completion of any outstanding certification requirements.
The school board approved the appointment of students as lifeguards for the 2023-24 school year, pending completion of all requirements. This includes Raegan Devlin, William Riutta, and Riley Shepherd.
The school board acknowledged the unpaid leave of absence for childrearing purposes for a tenured employee in accordance with Article 12.3.1 of the contract with the Gouverneur Teachers association.
The board also appointed Polly Sergel to a non-tenure track appointment as an English teacher.
The board approved a series of temporary appointments. Grace Mashaw was appointed to the one-year position of teaching assistant-counselor for the 2023-24 school year, funded by the American Rescue Plan. Jade Walker was appointed to the one-year position of teaching assistant-counselor for the 2023-24 school year, funded by the American Rescue Plan. Paul Buell was appointed to the temporary position of Music Teacher for the 2023-24 school year in a non-probationary capacity without eligible for an appointment on tenure, funded by the American Rescue Plan. Michelle Brenno was appointed to the temporary position of Special Education teacher for the 2023-24 school year in a non-probationary capacity without eligibility for an appointment on tenure.
Upon presentation and recommendation of Supt. Kelly, the Board rescinded the appointment of Michelle LaVigne as School Tax Collector and appointed Rachel Wainwright, Village of Gouverneur, as School Tax Collector for 2023-24. Supt. Kelly said: “Prior to COVID, the Village did collect our taxes for us. as we’ve done in the past, the Village is going to once again collect our school taxes this year. Rachel Wainwright will be collecting taxes in person daily at the village offices located at 33 Clinton St., Gouverneur. Taxes can be paid Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 4 p.m., and taxpayers can still mail in tax payments and the address will be listed on the bill. But taxes will no longer be collected here at the high school. This option actually provides better hours to the taxpayers to pay their taxes in person…”
The board also had its first policy review reading of four policies. Policy 3420 (Non-Discrimination and anti-harassment in the School District) was updated. The Civil Rights Compliance Officer was changed from Carol LaSala to Jessica Sullivan. Policy 3421 (Title IX and Sex Discrimination) was updated. The Title IX Coordinator changed from Carol LaSala to Jessica Sullivan. Policy 5676 (Privacy and Security for Student Data and Teacher and Principal Data) was updated. The Data Protection Officer changed from Shannon Mattice to Jacquelyn L. Kelly. Policy 6122 (Sexual Harassment in the Workplace) was updated in response to the release of an updated model sexual harassment prevention policy for employers in NYS. This is a required policy. The board will take action on these policy changes at the next board meeting on August 21.
The school board approved the AIA Document C132-2019 Standard Form of Agreement Between Owner and Construction Manager as Advisor for the Middle School Renovations & Site Work Project.
The school board declared the following equipment as surplus and authorized the Business Manager to sell or dispose of the following items: one small kettle, two steamers, one double kettle, one 4-burner vulcan gas stove, five double convection ovens.
The school board formally accepted the gift of the donation from the family and friends of Jenny Reddick (GHS ’64), in the amount of $830, and increase the 2023-24 budget by the same. Ms. Reddick passed away on June 12, 2023. In her memory the family asked in lieu of flowers a donation be made to the GHS Art Department. It is the wish of the family to provide these funds to assist our Art Department to encourage and develop the student artists. Board President Fenlong extended gratitude to all those who donated in memory of Mrs. Reddick. “We appreciate this,” he said.
The school board also adopted RS 2418 (Standard Work Day Resolution for Employees). It was resolved that the district established the standard work days for its employees and will report days worked to the New York State and Local employees’ Retirement System based on the time keeping system or the record of activities maintained and submitted by these members to the clerk of this body. The Print Aide will work 7.5 hours per day.
The next meeting of the Gouverneur Central School District Board of Education will be held on Monday, August 21, 5:30 p.m., in the GHS auditorium.