SHERBURNE – District administrators are taking it day-by-day when it comes to working around building renovations that are unfortunately still underway at the Sherburne-Earlville Middle/High School.
The building is not yet fully functional, as anticipated by this time.
The $25.2 million multi-year capital building project was begun in 2009. Students are currently enjoying use of the new pool, wrestling and fitness areas, two of the latest projects completed.
Assistant Superintendent Todd Griffin said general contractors Park City Builders and architect Bearsch Compeau Knudson of Binghamton are currently renovating the chorus room and the staging, lighting and sound control booth in the auditorium. In addition, the heating, ventilation, air conditioning and geothermal systems are still not finished in half of the building.
“There’s still a lot of work to do to, particularly when it comes to the HVAC. They have to balance classrooms. It’s (controls and fan systems) pretty complex,” he said. “We have been very pleased with their work. It’s just that it’s taking a lot longer. We are just taking it as it comes, day-by-day.”
The Board of Education is also preoccupied with administrative changes after President Doug Shattuck’s abrupt retirement announcement in October and High School Principal Keith Reed’s departure this month. At the board’s Nov. 14 meeting, members decided not to hold a special election to fill the vacancy, but instead to explore the following three options: Invite the next highest vote recipient in the last election, who would be Brian Lane of Earlville; approach a previous board member to serve again; or do nothing until the next regular elections.
The board appointed former teacher and Morrisville Eaton Schools principal Rick Thormahlen of Earlville to the high school principal position through the end of the year. Giffin said he would leave the post voluntarily, however, if a search committee taps a new principal before then. The position is not yet posted, however.
Meanwhile, two new programs designed to enhance schooling for both the youngest and oldest students have been implemented this year. Members of Colgate University athletic teams are connecting with children through regular visits where they read, help with math and play educational games with children. More than 250 Colgate athletes representing every sports team at the university handed out t-shirts and ice cream from Gilligan’s Island when introducing the new ‘Adopt a Classroom’ initiative in late September.
“Colgate athletes have come several times so far,” said Griffin. “It’s very exciting for them; the kids really like it.”
And Sherburne-Earlville High School Business Teacher Marie Hall introduced a seminar course for seniors to teach job application, resume writing, interviewing and job application skills. The quarter-credit seminar also covers financial topics such as credit cards, checking accounts, loan applications, budgets, insurance, housing, Internet security and government access.
Hall said feedback from a pilot course of the seminar offered last year was positive.
“We have had a lot of very good conversation. It’s been pretty much an eye-opening experience for them,” she said, adding that students are currently learning the difference between credit and debit cards, and about interest rates.