by Rachel Hunter
The Gouverneur Central School District Board of Education at its June 2 meeting awarded contracts for Phase One of the Athletic Facility capital improvement project at the Gouverneur Middle School.
The Gouverneur CSD received, accepted and opened bids for the project on May 20, 2025. The lowest responsible bidders on the contracts are as follows: General Construction (Con-Tech Building Systems, Gouverneur, NY), Mechanical Construction (ENI Mechanical, Gouverneur, NY), Plumbing Construction (Hyde-Stone Mechanical Contractors, Watertown, NY), Electrical Construction (ENI Mechanical Inc., Gouverneur, NY), Sitework Construction (J.E. Sheehan Contracting Corp., Potsdam, NY), Synthetic Turf Field Construction (Chenango Contracting Inc., Johnson City, NY), Resilient Track Surfacing Construction (Astro Turf Corporation, Dalton, GA), Bleachers and Press Box Construction (E&D Specialty Stands, Inc., North Collins, NY), and a Purchase Order for Building Automation Temp Controls Materials and Programming (Day Automation, Victor, NY). The recommendation for the aforementioned awards was made by the Construction Manager, BCA Architects & Engineers.
The Gouverneur CSD Board of Education on June 2 voted to award the contracts as listed. They also resolved that the school district administration, architect, and legal counsel are directed to draft and execute necessary documents to commence construction on the project.
“Very exciting stuff,” Gouverneur CSD Board of Education President David Fenlong said. “We’re looking forward to it. It’s great to see all those local contractors.”
“It is,” Gouverneur CSD Superintendent of Schools Jackie Kelly said. “We are excited,”
There was no further discussion on the agenda item.
In other news:
The Gouverneur Central School District Board of Education held a public hearing at its June 2 meeting to discuss revisions to the district's Code of Conduct. A draft copy containing all suggested revisions to the current Code of Conduct has been posted online for public review since May 13. The purpose of the public hearing is to afford the Board of Education the opportunity to hear opinions from the public regarding the Code of Conduct on school property. There was one comment entered regarding concerns about the interpretation and implementation of the Code of Conduct as written. The revised District Code of Conduct will be recommended to the Board for adoption at its June 16 meeting. Any comments received will be reviewed before that meeting.
The Board, upon presentation and recommendation of Gouverneur CSD Jackie Kelly, adopted the Gouverneur CSD Reserve Plan as presented.
The Board, upon presentation and recommendation of Gouverneur CSD Jackie Kelly, approved a series of personnel items. The Board ratified the Collective Bargaining Agreement between the District and the Gouverneur Administrators Association (July 1, 2025 to June 30, 2029), and authorized the funding of the monies necessary to implement the provisions of the 2025-2029 Collectively Negotiated Agreement.
The Board accepted the Separation Agreement between the District and a non-instructional employee as discussed in a previous executive session.
The Board accepted the request for retirement from Laura M. Streeter (Custodian), effective July 30, 2025.
The Board accepted the request for resignation from Stacie G. Hale (Elementary RN) effective June 27, 2025.
The Board accepted the request for resignation from Sarah E. Stedman (Music Teacher) effective August 31, 2025.
The Board appointed Evan Shampine to the position of Mathematics Teacher in the Math 7-12 academic tenure area for a four-year probationary term, commencing on September 2, 2025.
The Board appointed Bridget Capito to the position of Music Teacher for a three-year probationary period commencing on September 2, 2025. Ms. Capito was previously tenured in another district.
The Board appointed Ethan Bast to the position of Music Teacher for a four-year probationary period commending on September 2, 2025.
The Board appointed Autumn Baker to the position of Elementary Teacher in the Elementary PreK-6 tenure area, for a four-year probationary period commencing on September 2, 2025.
The Board appointed Ashley Morehouse to the position of Elementary Guidance Counselor for a four-year probationary period, commencing on September 2, 2025.
The Board appointed Ellen Lambert to the position of 2.75-hour Food Service Helper, commencing on June 3.
The Board appointed Lindsey Shattuck as a cafeteria substitute for the 2024-2025 school year, pending completion of requirements.
The Board appointed Elementary Summer School Staff as presented.
The Board appointed summer-related service appointments: ESY Speech and Language Therapy (Pam Ault, Megan Johnson) and ESY Occupational Therapy (Megan Morrow, Taylor Marcellus).
The Board appointed Leah Card as Library for the High School Summer School Program.
The Board appointed employees for the Summer Feeding Program: Cook Michelle Blair (Elementary), Cook Nola Scott (High School), Food Service Helpers Laurie Castor (Elementary), Darlene Palmer (Middle School), and Sherry Shattuck (Middle School). Julie Richards was appointed as a substitute for all buildings.
The Board appointed the following Summer Guidance Support: Grace Mashaw (Elementary School), Hunter Hitchman (Middle School), Monica Scott (Middle School), Marcy Tyler (High School), and Jamie DeRuso (High School).
The Board appointed the following Summer Clerical Support: Kelly Harmer (Elementary School), Nicole Cudhea (Elementary School), Cheryl Klimowicz (Elementary School), Katrina Cook (Elementary School), Alicia Porter (Middle School), Bonnie Bates (Middle School), Chelsi Griffith (Middle School), and Amy Barr (High School).
The Board appointed the following Summer Nursing Support: Christine Sitts (RN), Brittaney Fairbanks (LPN) and Natalie Wood (LPN).
The Board appointed Stephanie Plaisted as Summer Instructional Technology Coach Support.
The Board appointed Jessica Cappellino as Summer Instructional Math Coach Support.
The Board approved the appointment of students as substitutes in the Buildings and Grounds department for summer 2025, pending completion of all requirements. They are: Tucker Mussaw, Raine Rumble, Me Cummings, and Isabella Simmons.
Gouverneur CSD Board of Education President David Fenlong extended gratitude to Mrs. Streeter for her 27 years to the District, and noted the loss of Sarah Stedman to the Gouverneur CSD Music Department. He also congratulated all the appointees. “We are thrilled to have all these folks join the Wildcat Team,” President Fenlong said. “We want to thank all of them for choosing Gouverneur.” President Fenlong also recognized the summer program staff for the Gouverneur CSD. “Educators, service providers, librarian, food service, guidance, clerical, nursing, and building and grounds… we couldn’t do any of it without those folks,” he said. “We appreciate all of them and all that they are going to do for our students over the summer months. It is a wonderful opportunity, and we thank all of them for taking part in it.”
Gouverneur CSD Board of Education President David Fenlong then gave the floor to Supt. Kelly to talk about the Summer Feeding Program. “In addition to providing meals at our Summer School Program, the Gouverneur CSD will be providing free breakfast and lunch to all students who are 18 years and under. The meals do have to be eaten at school, and cannot be taken home. But I just want to say that we have very high numbers for our elementary and middle summer school this year. I am hopeful that we are going to see the same kind of numbers for our high school. If students want to come just for breakfast or lunch, it will be served at the elementary and middle school on Tuesdays through Thursdays, July 8 to 14. Breakfast will be from 9:15 to 9:45 a.m. Lunch will be from 11:15 to 11:45 a.m. At the High School, breakfast and lunch will be served on Mondays through Thursdays, July 8 through August 18. Breakfast will be served from 7:45 to 8:15 a.m. Lunch will be served from 11:15 to 12:15 p.m. We are doing a summer feeding program this year – not only for the kids who are attending, but for the entire community, any children who are 18 and under.”
The Board approved an athletic merger request for Clifton-Fine CSD students to participate on the Gouverneur Girls Track Team at all levels during the 2025-26 school year.
The Board approved an athletic merger request with Ogdensburg City School District to allow their students to participate on the Gouverneur Girls Wrestling team at the varsity level during the 2025-26 school year.
The Board declared a series of items as surplus. This includes a flail mower, air compressor, work table, gym equipment, and a walk-in cooler. It was noted that these are of no value to the District. The recommendation is to dispose by auction or sale.
The Board approved the disposal of a series of obsolete textbooks that were no longer useful or necessary for school district purposes.
The Board approved the recommendation to increase the cost of all a la carte ice cream products in the cafeterias to $1.25, effective immediately. The District said it would make District families aware of the change. Gouverneur CSD Board of Education Member Dr. William Cartwright asked the reason for the change. Gouverneur CSD Business Manager Dale Munn noted that the District is in the middle of a cafeteria audit. “This is the second consecutive time that they have slapped our hand related to this particular item, and not charging enough, such that the particular doesn’t comply,” he said. “Before the end of the fiscal year, we would like to be able to tell them that we accepted their recommendation.” After some discussion, Gouverneur CSD Board of Education President David Fenlong said: “We are not raising the price to make money. We’re doing it to break even. We are losing money on every sale right now.”
The Board had a Policy Review. The first reading included recommendations to revise Policy 1220 (Board Members: Nomination and Election), Policy 3210 (Visitors To The School), Policy 5661 (Wellness), and to delete Policy 1221 (Student Serving as an Ex-Officio Member of the Gouverneur Central School District Board of Education). New policies are: Policy 3311 (Notification of Disclosure of Employee Disciplinary Records), Policy 5688 (Maximum Temperature for School Buildings and Indoor Facilities), and Policy 5840 (Artificial Intelligence). The Board will have its second reading and look for its adoption at the June 16 meeting.
The Board will hold the Annual Organizational Meeting on Tuesday, July 1, 2025 at 5:30 p.m. in the Gouverneur High School Auditorium.
The Board approved the contracts for outside service providers: AMN Healthcare (Hayley Murray, Psychologist, July 1, 2025 to August 31, 2025), AMN Healthcare (Hayley Murray, Psychologist, September 2, 2025 to June 26, 2026), and AMN Healthcare (Amy Williams, Psychologist, September 2, 2025 to June 26, 2026). It was noted that the services would be provided virtually.
The next regular meeting of the Gouverneur CSD Board of Education will be held on June 16, 5:30 p.m., in the Gouverneur High School Auditorium. For more info about the Gouverneur CSD, visit www.gcsk12.org.