Submitted Photo James Przepasniak is enjoying his final weeks as superintendent of Lake Shore Central School district before he retires at the end of this month.

ANGOLA — As 2018 comes to a close, so, too, does James E. Przepasniak’s time as superintendent of Lake Shore Central School district. Last spring, Przepasniak announced his plans to retire, and in his final month at the district, he shared with the OBSERVER some closing thoughts on the changes he has seen over the years, as well as the challenges he sees the district and new superintendent facing in the future.

Przepasniak has been at Lake Shore Central School since 2005, where he first served as Brant Elementary School principal and later assistant superintendent until 2010. Prior to Lake Shore, Przepasniak was a teacher and administrator at the Williamsville Central School district, where he began his teaching career in 1977. To say Przepasniak has seen some changes over the years is certainly an understatement, for rapid leaps in technology, the onset of social media and major school events such as the Columbine, Sandy Hook and Stoneman Douglas shootings have changed the ways educators like Przepasniak do their jobs.

Przepasniak reflected on how students approach learning differently today than they did 40 years ago. “A term that is used regularly today is engagement,” he said. “I think students today have a greater opportunity to learn in different ways and participate in different ways because of hands-on activities, group activities, computers and the use of iPads.” He went on to explain that even the traditional classroom has changed from rows of hard-seat desks to flexible seating that includes work stations, differently shaped tables and chairs, and even bouncy balls.

Advancements in technology have proven to be a double-edged sword, Przepasniak said. “Cyber-bullying is becoming a major issue in schools, especially at the middle school level,” Przepasniak stated. “Outside of school activities and events, texts, Snapchat, messages, videos and pictures create such a phenomenon for kids today that it carries over into the schools. I know that building administrators on Mondays are picking up the pieces of what happened over the weekend more so than ever before,” he said.

Despite the challenges that technology and social media have created, Przepasniak views them as learning opportunities for educators and students. “We educate our children about the dangers of social media and all that goes along with having a cell phone,” he explained. “It’s a responsibility, and you never know when you post or say something or put a picture or a video up, that it may create a problem…Kids are not experienced to handle adult tools. We don’t hand out saws and other heavy equipment, and yet we give young children a cell phone.”

Despite the risks, the educational opportunities that new technology affords are significant to Przepasniak. He said students are already coming to school with incredible technology skills, especially when it comes to computers, which have made initiatives such as computer-based testing, even in grades 3 to 8, very successful at Lake Shore. In fact, Przepasniak said that computer-based state testing has increased students’ test-taking confidence and added, “I think it’s turning the attitude around (regarding state testing) a little bit on the part of kids.”

What’s more, students’ experience with technology in the classroom is a key part of preparing them for the future. Przepasniak said, “It’s changing what we teach and how we teach…Our kindergarteners today will be in jobs some 12 years from now that we don’t even know about. That’s what education is: We have to be able to show the way, to create the vision and help children reach their potential and get those jobs of the future.”

Other changes that Przepasniak has seen over the years include budget challenges, not only at state and national levels, but also the local level due to low enrollment. “We closed two elementary schools, we condensed our bus routes and we have fewer staff employed,” he listed. “Those are really some of the big challenges that we have been dealing with over the past few years.” Przepasniak added that Lake Shore is not alone in this financial challenge, and that it will continue to be one the district must address under the leadership of its new superintendent, Charles A. Galluzzo, Ed.D.

Galluzzo, who begins his new position on Jan. 1, comes to Lake Shore from Williamsville Central School, where he has served as Maple West Elementary School principal for the past 14 years. Przepasniak pointed to three challenges that Galluzzo will likely face when he takes over the reigns.

First, Galluzzo will be involved in preparing the new budget for the 2019-20 school year. Second, “I think there’s the challenge of reassuring parents and students that state assessments are important to a school district, because it is one measurement that we use to evaluate our programs,” Przepasniak explained. The third challenge is related to the $58 million capital improvement project that was approved two years ago.

“Although we’re ready to go with phase 1 construction in January, phases 2, 3 and 4 have to be defined and submitted to the state education department for approval,” Przepasniak said.

He discussed one of the major changes of the capital project that many schools have implemented in recent years. “We will be redesigning our entrances to our schools, including how visitors check in to the building,” he said.

Security threats and school shootings elsewhere in the U.S. are “always on our mind here in the school district,” Przepasniak emphasized. “We are fortunate that we have a school resource officer assigned to the high school and available to the other buildings. The Evans Police Department is second to none when it comes to working with the district.” However, Przepasniak pointed out that “it’s a sad commentary that we have to do that, but it is an important responsibility that we take very seriously.”

Despite the challenges that the district and the new superintendent face, Przepasniak is hopeful for the future. “Lake Shore is a great school district with a great staff — both instructional and non-instructional,” he stated. “It is a great community, which includes Angola, Brant, Evans and Farnham. There are many, many great things that are in the future for our students, and I am very positive, optimistic and enthusiastic that there is much more great stuff coming for Lake Shore.”

Przepasniak is looking forward to joining his wife in retirement, as she retired last April. Next on the agenda is a trip to Jamaica in February and travel throughout the U.S. He said that the couple will remain in western New York as many of their children and grandchildren live in the area. “I’m just going to look forward to spending more time with them and actually completing my ‘honey-do-list’ that my wife has compiled,” he laughed.

Przepasniak would like to thank and recognize the students, parents, staff, board of education and community “for all that they have done to make my job one of the best of my career.” He is also grateful for all of the work the district and community has done for Lake Shore’s students. “There are not enough words to say how appreciative I am for what everybody has done as a school community. I have 41 years in education,” Przepasniak said, “and I’ve loved every minute of it.”