SINCLAIRVILLE - At a recent Cassadaga Valley Central School Board meeting, the board approved a public work session to discuss the use of district facilities. The session is scheduled for Dec. 17 at 7 p.m. in the middle/high school multipurpose room.
At the board meeting, Patricia (Trish) Pecuch, a second-grade teacher, addressed the board. She said she represented the staff at Cassadaga Elementary School. The building houses pre-kindergarten, kindergarten, first and second grades, and some special education classes.
At the last few board meetings, District Superintendent Scott Smith has pointed to the Cassadaga Elementary building as the facility that is seriously under-utilized.
Article Photos
OBSERVER Photo by Diane R. Chodan
From left: Board member William Carlson and Board President David Christy consult their notes while listening to the reports of school administrators. Carlson had questions about math instruction in the elementary grades.
Pecuch struck a positive note, saying the staff would like to work with the board. She said 17 rooms are utilized, including a recently created professional development room, which would be useful for the entire district.
"We understand that there are fiscal concerns... but we hope you realize that the elementary school is alive and thriving... the building is bright and busy."
Pecuch said, "Our doors are open."
She concluded by inviting the board and the public to the holiday program which will take place on Dec. 19 at 2 p.m.
The other person to address the board was Lily Dale resident Robert Reuther. He began by stating his support for the Cassadaga Elementary School.
"It has a fine staff and administration," he said. "We like the school."
Reuther then began speaking of his concern with athletics in the district.
"We have an athletic department but no programs. There are teams but not programs," he said.
He said that each coach runs a team but there doesn't seem to be a cohesiveness within a sport.
"The kids aren't realizing their full potential," he said.
He asked the board to email him or send him a letter outlining what the purpose of the athletic department is, what the goals are and where athletics should go.
He would also like to hear how the effectiveness is judged.
Reuther advocated putting together "a first-class program with first-class teams." He stated that this would boost enrollment which would lead to more taxes being paid and "it would certainly boost our spirits."
Comments on this article may be directed to dchodan@observertoday.com
