School Building Aid Rises with Drop in Local Incomes

The Newfield Central School District Board of Education had a short meeting on Thursday, November 7. The board appointed several new people to positions in the district and received a capital project update from Superintendent William Hurley.

Hurley reported that despite the state’s fiscal crisis, state building aid to the district has increased. The district’s relative poverty has increased, pushing building aid to almost 96 percent.

Because of the increase, the district will be unable to use its $40,000 state Excel aide on the capital project. Hurley said the district might be able to fund a side project with the money.

Schools to Share Software

Underlining text in Microsoft Word is simple, you just click the U button. But what if you want the line to be green and dotted? The Atomic Learning software now available through the Newfield Central School District teaches that skill and thousands of others through quick video demonstrations.

Last month the district subscribed to the online tutorial service that covers 110 popular computer programs with more than 35,000 video lessons. The company is designed specifically for students and teachers but “anybody who pays taxes in Newfield” can use the site. Paul Lutwak, director of informational and instructional technologies at the school, said community availability is an extra perk.

“[Atomic Learning] said when you buy it for the school they’d throw it in for the community also,” he said.

Student Drivers Learn Street Survival

A teenage driver speeds down the road, going 60 miles an hour. She suddenly switches from the left lane to the far right; overshooting the lane she takes out four or five bright orange cones, sending some flying and dragging others under the car. Luckily, this time instead of hitting cars or construction equipment, people laugh, put the cones back and she gets another chance. Thirty young drivers, ranging from the just-licensed to 21-year-olds, attended a Street Survival driving school on November 8 at Watkins Glen International.

Street Survival was founded by the BMW Car Club of America (BMW CCA) Foundation to teach kids how to handle their own cars in high-pressure situations, said Seth Berlfein, of the Genesee Valley Chapter.

“Basically it’s a car control clinic,” he said. “Whereas drivers ed teaches students how to drive a car, we teach them how to handle a car and avoid accidents.”

Village Approves Fire Truck Buy

The Village of Trumansburg Board of Trustees approved two major purchases for the fire department and emergency medical services (EMS) at its meeting on Monday, November 10. The board approved the use of $474,000 from the fire department’s reserve fund for a new truck. It also gave the department approval to purchase a brand new defibulator, monitor and charger.

The fire department will be replacing a 24-year old truck. The new truck, to be delivered in the fall, would cost $499,712 with all the optional features but Jason Fulton, fire chief, said $451,895 is a more likely figure. Because this truck is overdue for replacement, the department’s schedule is off and another truck is due to be replaced in 2010. Fulton asked bidding companies to also include price quotes for the second truck if both are replaced at the same time, but the board opted to purchase only the original truck at this time.

The village’s EMS is also in need of replacement equipment as its monitor, defibulator and charging unit will no longer be upgradeable after next year. The village opted to purchase a brand new unit, costing $19,598. The new batteries are lighter and will last for 20 hours compared to the two-hour life of the current batteries.

Stilwell Makes Skateboard History

Nick Stilwell saw the Guinness World Record for longest stationary manual on a skateboard set at only 49.09 seconds and knew he could do better. On Saturday, Stillwell broke the world record and his personal best by balancing on a skateboard on two wheels for 34 minutes and two seconds.

Stilwell, a senior at Charles O. Dickerson High School, said he didn’t grow up planning on setting a world record, but a series of events led him to the high school gym this past weekend.

“[My English teacher Neil Clifford] had us do a paper about goals we wanted to accomplish and one of my goals was to break a world record,” he said. “So that really got me going.”

South Seneca Seeks Substitute Teachers

In early October the South Seneca Central School Board of Education raised its daily wage for substitute teachers. The district, like many areas, has been having issues getting enough subs to fill openings.

South Seneca uses the substitute assignment system at Tompkins Seneca Tioga Board of Cooperative Educational Services (BOCES). The computerized system, called Sub Finder, is accessible to substitutes and teachers in the entire BOCES region, said Heather Sheridan-Thomas, BOCES assistant superintendent.

“The teachers all have a password to get into the system and if they have an absence they record it in the system, and if they need a sub and for how much of the day,” she said.

Janie Nusser, superintendent of South Seneca Central School District, said a large part of why the district has trouble attracting substitutes is because of its distance from BOCES. Ovid is 30 miles from Ithaca, the regional headquarters of BOCES.

“If [subs] can make the same or more money in a district that’s closer to home they’re going to do that,” Nusser said. “Maybe we’re going to see a lessening of this now that the gas is going down.”

Romulus Foundation Brings Students Opportunities

Without the Romulus Foundation for Educational Opportunities (RFEO) Romulus Central School wouldn’t have its new Wii system, students Josh Kime and Tyler Morgan wouldn’t have been able to attend Sci Tech Camp and elementary school students wouldn’t be exposed to silk panels of Van Gogh and Monet paintings. The Foundation held a Celebration for Donors on November 7 to commemorate its ninth year and the nearly $400,000 raised so far.

The foundation raises money to sponsor educational and cultural programs for the school. Programs include a marketing club that takes a yearly trip and a fine arts club that attends ballets, symphonies and operas.

“Our kids are going to the symphony on Thursday and without the foundation those opportunities wouldn’t be possible,” said Sue Schrader, grants coordinator.

Trumansburg’s Capital Project Needs Slimming

After preliminary estimates by Beardsley Design Associates, Trumansburg Central School District will have to remove $690,000 worth of alternate projects from the capital project plan. The district received approval of its architectural review last week and expects to hear about the mechanical review within the month. Once all reviews are approved the district can put contracts out to bid, likely in December.

No decisions will be made until contract bids are received. The only thing board of education members need to decide at the moment is which projects are necessary and which projects can be turned into “alternates.” Contractors put in bid prices on alternate projects but the district is under no obligation to proceed with them.

Associates from Beardsley broke down construction numbers for the board at its November 5 meeting. A public referendum dedicated $9,645,000 to the capital project, $7,400,000 of which is being budgeted for general construction. Another $740,000 has been set aside for inevitable change orders. At the moment the estimated cost of all alternative projects is $1,470,000.

Jamie Saine

Hello! My name is Jamie Saine.

I currently work at the Finger Lakes Community Newspapers writing for the Trumansburg Free Press, Newfield News, Interlaken Review and Ovid Gazette. My pieces occasionally appear in our parent paper, the Ithaca Times. I also do work solely for the Ithaca Times, mainly special sections.

I graduated cum laude from Ithaca College, class of 2008, earning my Bachelor of Arts degree in Journalism with a minor in Art History. During my time in college I worked on the award-winning weekly The Ithacan as a staff writer, News Editor and Accent (entertainment, arts, features) Editor. I also steadily contributed to the paper’s award-winning Web site both creating and editing content.

My published works can be found under “Articles” and my recent clips will be posted weekly on the main page.

Enjoy!

— Jamie

Steeple Chasers Run for Homemade Trophies

About six years ago the Interlaken Reformed Church was looking for fundraising ideas to replace its steeple. Laura Voorhees’ husband leaned over to her in the pew and jokingly said the church should hold a “Steeple Chase.” Voorhees took the idea to heart and has been running the annual event ever since. Saturday, November 8 marks the sixth running of the 5K.

The church’s steeple has long since been repaired, and the church received a new coat of paint to make it look similar to old photos but there is still plenty of work to do, Voorhees said.

“Projects still need to happen. The parsonage needs new siding,” she said. “Structures never improve with age.”