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In the homestretch of the school year

By Charlie Haeffner

Odessa, May 5 -- We're in the homestretch of the school year now, and of the spring sports season.

We've reached the end of the regular season in tennis, and the other sports will soon follow suit, with postseason action close behind. It's been busy, busy on this website, and will continue to be for a while.

Off the athletic fields, it's getting down to crunch time on school budgets and School Board races, too. Most districts in the area have put budgets out there with small tax increases, although warning signs are popping up that indicate next year's spending plans might be a little more difficult to build. Recession, you know.

Up at O-M Tuesday night, May 6th, the School Board will hold a budget hearing and Meet the Candidates Night at 7 p.m. Down at Watkins Glen, a budget hearing will be incorporated the same night into the School Board's scheduled meeting. That gets going at 6:30 p.m.

Two weeks later comes the voting -- on budgets and on candidates: five for four School Board seats in Watkins Glen (three 3-year seats and one 1-year seat), and four for two seats in Odessa (5-year terms).

That should all prove interesting, considering at least one candidate in each district race is not pleased with the way things are going administratively. I will refrain for now for commenting, but I might weigh in with a few thoughts about the O-M vote as ballot day nears. It is, after all, my district, and so I have a vested interest in how my tax dollars are being spent.

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In the meantime, I'm fascinated by the report from the Commission on Local Government Efficiency and Competitiveness, especially where the matter of school districts is concerned. Here are some of those recommendations:

-- Give the Commissioner of Education discretionary authority to order consolidation of school districts based on reviews triggered by objective standards, including but not limited to size in pupils and geography, declining enrollment, limited educational programs or poor academic performance, ability to achieve fiscal savings, and high tax burden. The Commissioner’s order in each case would require a thorough review, the approval of the Board of Regents, and a public hearing in the area affected by the consolidation.

-- In each BOCES region convene a committee representing parents, school administrators, school board members, teachers and other citizens to review current school district boundaries, enrollment, and financial circumstances and to evaluate potential restructuring opportunities, including consolidation and other options.

-- For school districts identified for potential reorganization, either by a BOCES school district restructuring committee or by the Commissioner of Education, school building aid for new projects should be temporarily suspended.

-- Provide for a regional collective bargaining contract negotiated by BOCES, to which school districts could opt in. These regional contracts would be phased in as current contracts expire and would initially apply only to new hires, with existing employees “grandfathered” for some term.

-- State school aid should include a significant incentive to encourage school districts to consolidate. This should include reevaluation of the current formula for reorganization incentive aid, as well as more dramatic changes.

Let's see ... what's a six-letter word for "consolidation"? Let's try "merger." I think that might fit.

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We've announced our annual high school Top Drawer 24 team (click here), and the wheels have been set in motion for the Top Drawer party at the State Park pavilion on May 21.

For those not up-to-speed on the Top Drawer 24, it's subtitled The Brian J. O'Donnell Schuyler County Scholar-Athlete-Citizen Team, named in honor of the former Watkins Glen High School principal who now serves on the Watkins district's School Board. Mr. O'Donnell was interim principal at Odessa-Montour High School when the Top Drawer team was first devised, and plays a key role in the festivities each year.

Selection of the honorees was made after consultation with various administrators, coaches and teachers, and was based on students' grades, sports performance, sportsmanship, participation in citizenship activities, and other factors. Outstanding athleticism alone does not qualify a person for membership on the Top Drawer team, nor does outstanding scholarship by itself. Membership requires a mix -- a blend, if you will, of attributes that translates to impact.

The largest number of students honored come from WGHS -- which has the highest Schuyler enrollment. All of the honorees this year -- from Watkins Glen, Odessa-Montour, Trumansburg and Bradford -- are juniors or seniors. Eleven have been honored with inclusion on the team before. Thirteen are new.

Those of us involved in the selection and preparation processes are encouraging parents, other relatives and friends to attend the party (it requires no ticket, and is free, with cheese, grapes, cake, and ice cream available), and urging teachers, coaches and administrators to show their support for the students by attending as well. And we're hoping to get some government and law enforcement dignitaries to join us this year -- the first year in which we will have promoted the party beforehand. That's May 21 at the State Park Pavilion, near the South Entrance. The celebration starts at 5:45 p.m., with speeches around 7 p.m. Rain site, if needed, would be the Watkins Glen Community Center.

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This website has now completed 1,954 days of operation. Want to help it continue? Donations -- sponsorships -- by readers are important; I appreciate every one of them. If you do want to donate, just check out the PayPal link located in the left column on this page and on other pages. Or send check or money order to:

Charlie Haeffner

P.O. Box 365

Odessa, NY 14869

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