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FALLS VILLAGE — They’ve known each other since age 5, growing up together. Now they will sit on the stage at the June graduation ceremony for Housatonic Valley Regional High School as the top academic students.
Emily DeMazza has been named valedictorian and Ana Horowitz, salutatorian of the class of 2014.
When the news was heard at Town Hall Thursday, officials gave a resounding cheer and were quick to point out that the young women were products of Lee H. Kellogg School, the smallest in Region 1.
Poll: N.Y. voters split on Core
Many back moratorium on tougher education standards
By Jon Campbell
Journal Albany bureau
ALBANY — Half of New York voters believe the state should delay implementation of the Common Core, according to a new poll released.
Siena College found 50 percent those polled support a two-year moratorium on the more-stringent education standards, compared to 38 percent who said they should “continue to be implemented as quickly as possible.” Support for a moratorium was strongest upstate, where 63 percent backed a two-year pause, according to the survey.
(full story available on the Poughkeepsie Journal digital edition
Region 1 discusses hiring director for science center
The Region 1 Board of Education discussed the topic of hiring a director for the Mahoney-Hewat Science and Technology Center at a cost of $30,000 during its meeting this week. Retired science teacher David Lindsay is serving as a consultant for a $5,000 stipend. Business Manager Samuel Herrick said benefits have to be offered to the director’s position.
Salisbury member Jennifer Weigel said her concern is that the position appears to be focusing on building management, not on programs and students. Philip Hart of Cornwall said he’s heard sound criticism that a director has not been hired for the center, which was created through the efforts of the 21st Century Fund, a group of private citizens who worked to convert it from the old aged building. Their vision is to have the space used by students from throughout the region for a wide variety of projects.
“I see this as a place for promoting higher learning skills,” said Sharon’s Marilyn Yerks. “I see money going there rather than to [add staffing for] intervention.” After much discussion about qualifications and the cost to hire a certified teacher, Herrick suggested they talk to Lindsey and ask if he’d be willing to accept $30,000. “That seems logical to me. I certainly think it’s a place to start.”
BY RUTH EPSTEIN
REPUBLICAN-AMERICAN
FALLS VILLAGE — The Region 1 Board of Education on Wednesday reduced spending in next year’s budget proposal in the area of technology, eliminated two requested teaching positions and cut back on the replacement of carpeting in some areas of Houstonic Valley Regional High School.
Interim Principal Ian Strever began the meeting by giving a presentation about technology needs. He said among the priorities is the upgrading of infrastructure in the 75-year-old building that has thick concrete walls. Implementation of a computer replacement plan is also being devised. Many are antiquated and not being used. Strever said they are looking to add devices that will be required for testing by the Common Core standards. The bring-your-own-device system will also be promoted, which is a way of reducing costs, he said. Strever said a replacement schedule has been devised which calls for purchasing 139 new devices next year, 42 the following year, 49 the third year and 160 the year after that.
Chairman Andrea L. Downs of Falls Village said she didn’t think there would ever come a time when sharing of computers wasn’t necessary. “I don’t see us having the luxury of all students having a computer all day.” The board took the suggestion made by Marilyn Yerks of Sharon to come up with a figure to put into the budget for technology. That number is $75,000, which is $67,000 less than originally proposed.
Region 1 Board of Education 2013-14 approved:
$ 14,440,572
2014-15 proposed:
$ 15,285,832 Increase: $845,260 or
5.85 percent Next: Board of Education meeting on March 3
