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Community schools coordinator highlights partnerships, driver education and says he will return to classroom
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Summary
Brendan Gopin, the district's community schools coordinator, told the Lake Placid Central School District board he plans to return to classroom teaching and recapped partnerships and programs that he said have expanded learning, family engagement and health services. He also described reinstated driver education and enrollment trends.
Brendan Gopin, the district's community schools coordinator, presented an overview of the Lake Placid Central School District's community schools efforts and driver education program and told the Board of Education he plans to leave the coordinator role to return to classroom teaching.
Gopin said the community schools model aims to be "a hub of opportunity for all students, connecting school, families, and community, and removing barriers to participation." He told the board the district already operates many community-school functions — free lunch, a backpack program that began with a $5,000 grant, after-school enrichment, instrument scholarships and summer camps — and that the coordinator's role builds on those existing services.
"We already have a community schools program that's robust without the position," Gopin said, adding that the coordinator should strengthen partnerships with the town, local businesses, Adirondack Health, EdUp, North Country Community College and the Art Center Lake Placid.
Gopin listed recent offerings he said expanded student opportunities: kindergarten and STEM camps, adaptive skating visited by a state regent, summer staycations, community concerts, family engagement events such as "lunch with your child," and senior real-world projects tied to the JACC program. He credited partners including Bookstore Plus and LPEA for program support and said a number of adult-education classes and grant-funded trips have helped bring more residents into school buildings.
On health and service partnerships, Gopin said the district has worked with Adirondack Health on preschool and kindergarten swimming programs and is pursuing dental-sealant partnerships and expanded health partnerships with Hudson Headwater. He said North Country Community College is interested in offering bridge courses, lifeguard certification and other programs in the district.
Gopin also outlined the reinstated driver education course, which he described as state-regulated and time-intensive. He summarized program requirements as including classroom hours and in-car instruction with a required minimum of driving time, and said the course can allow some students to obtain their full license at 17 and potentially reduce insurance costs for students with high grades. Enrollment has been small so far: nine students in the first semester and five in the current semester, he said, and he suggested summer sessions and additional sections next year to expand capacity.
Explaining his departure from the coordinator position, Gopin said he is returning to teaching after 22 years in part because a colleague, Angie Curlyso, is leaving. "I'm not leaving because I don't love this program," he said. "I'm looking forward to getting back into the classroom."
Board members praised the coordinator's work; the Chair and other members singled out the swimming lessons and increased elementary engagement as particular highlights. Several board members also encouraged Gopin to pursue a proposed mock-crash reenactment to reinforce distracted-driving lessons, and Gopin said he would follow up with organizers and incorporate it into driver education or drama activities if feasible.
The board accepted the presentation and thanked Gopin for his work; his formal resignation was included on the personnel consent agenda and was approved by the board during the meeting.
