SOUTH OTSELIC – New classes, new teachers and the possibility of a new building are all part of the plan for Otselic Valley’s upcoming school year.
With only weeks left until school is officially underway, administrators at Otselic Valley Central School said the biggest item of business for the coming year will be trying to finalize plans for a capital project. This year, voters in Otselic Valley will cast their votes on a proposed building project that would offer a combined kindergarten through twelfth grade campus in South Otselic. The school would most likely sell the elementary school building in Georgetown.
“This is a big piece for the whole year,” said Superintendent Lawrence Thomas. “If the public says yes, we’ll be going into the planning stage. If the public says no, the board has to decide where to go from there.” Thomas explained that no matter what is decided, there is maintenance and renovations that will have to be done.
Originally, the school looked at three possible options, merging with other districts, renovating both buildings and the combined campus plan. “Merging was off the table quickly,” Thomas said. However, the superintendent said if the project is voted down, the other options will be discussed again.
Enrollment at Otselic Valley has dwindled in the past, but Thomas said the numbers have actually gone up a little over the last two years. “We have about 430 kids in the school. Enrollment has held steady or even increased slightly. We’re holding our own,” Thomas said.
For the students, the new school year will bring some changes, including the addition of a new, full-time Home and Careers teacher. Last year, the school had a part time Home and Careers teacher through DCMO BOCES. The change to a full time position will allow the school to provide additional electives for older students. “We have more electives this year than we’ve had in several years,” Thomas said.
This year’s electives include classes like forensics, land resource management, astronomy, wellness, culinary arts, the history of rock and roll and several college level courses. “We have a lot of new things on the plate,” said High School Principal Scott Poreda.
At the high school level, the school is also administering new initiatives to help the students be more successful. Pride time, a short academic study hall, will be held in the middle of the day. During that time, teachers will help to ensure that students have completed their homework assignments for the week. The program provides incentives for students who hand in all of their assignments.
In addition, a new academic study hall will be held three nights a week for students who are academically ineligible for sports or other extra curricular activities. Students with a grade lower than 70 will be required to stay after school for two of the three nights per week for additional help with assignments.
At the elementary school level, many of the changes to this year’s program will come as a result of the cut in funding for the Reading First program. Due to the cuts in the program, the school had to cut one aide position and lost the funding for the supplies and materials associated with the program. “We’re trying to hold on big pieces of that program for the fourth, fifth and sixth grades,” Thomas said. Elementary Principal Nancy Gallaher explained that the hardest part of continuing the program will be maintaining the data compiled during the program. While Reading First was in place, a literacy coach was designated to work with the students and track the data. Those duties will now fall to the teachers and the principal.
In order to keep aspects of the program, the elementary schedule has been revamped. The scheduled will now merge English language arts with social studies in order to provide the recommended 90 minute block of time for English. “It’s crucial to get the children reading well and understanding what they are reading before they get to seventh grade,” Gallaher said.
Looking toward the coming year, Thomas said OV is facing the same obstacles that everyone is right now. “Food and fuel costs are going up. That will have an impact on every district around,” Thomas said. For the time being, the superintendent said the school will be keeping an eye on their fuel and energy costs, but no major changes are planned at the present time. The district will hold a public referendum on their building project on Nov. 18.