Superintendent praises staff, summarizes opening-day achievements and facilities work; field project delayed by rock removal
Summary
The superintendent opened the Sept. 3 meeting with a review of opening-day events, staff recognition, facility projects in progress across district schools and a note that the new high-school addition has a roof; the district said a baseball-field project is delayed by rock removal and the cell-phone/internet-device policy was being observed.
The superintendent of the Harrison Central School District provided a wide-ranging opening update at the Sept. 3 board meeting, praising staff, summarizing student achievements and outlining the status of several construction and facilities projects.
The superintendent said opening day and the superintendent’s conference day brought staff together around three themes—leadership, perspective and the “ripple effect” of small acts—and thanked maintenance and custodial crews for working over the Labor Day weekend to open schools on time.
The superintendent noted two students from the district were selected to the All-State Treble Chorus—Mary Grace Cozier and Sofia Campos—and described the marching-band leadership training and a stadium showcase. New staff named on the record included Allison Porcelli (recent appointment), Lauren Wendorff (assistant principal at Parsons School) and Shelby Traub (promoted to supervisor of secondary special education).
On facilities, the superintendent said Parsons School’s third floor reopened after roughly 70 years; Purchase School had its parking and sewer work underway; the high-school addition already has a roof and walls are rising. The district reported a delay to the athletic field project, saying removal of large rock is extending the schedule and the field “probably not [ready] until the end of the fall season.”
The superintendent also said the district’s ban on internet-enabled devices was not causing widespread disruption: “I didn't see 1 child on their cell phone, and I didn't see it being a major issue for us,” he said, and noted that the district kept devices “away, but within reach” for safety and communication.
No new facilities authorizations or additional capital spending decisions were voted on separately at the Sept. 3 meeting; several construction and services items were approved on the finance and facilities consent agenda (see “Votes at a glance”).
