Cobleskill-Richmondville is firming up four new citizens’ committees to spike involvement and advise the school board.
The committees––finance, facilities, communications and instruction/program––will hold their first meetings this month and next, Superintendent Lynn Macan told the school board Monday night.
The idea for the committees grew out of this spring’s budget process. Several meetings drew hundreds of residents, many saying they wanted to be more involved.
“They’d like a greater understanding,” Ms. Macan said.
At their first meetings, committee members will discuss such topics as “what brought you to participate” and “what are your questions, your visions,” Ms. Macan said.
Each committee will get a charge at their first meeting, she added.
In later meetings, members will address topics as “what’s getting in the way of student learning” and “what’s needed to help students learn,” Ms. Macan said.
Committees will also work closely with and report to the school board. They’ll be expected to bring their priorities to the budget process, Ms. Macan said.
“This could lead to a strategic plan for this school district,” she said.
The Instruction/Program Committee will meet August 15; Finance, July 19; Facilities, August 3; and Communications, August 17.
All will meet at 6pm in the Golding Library.
Each committee has at least one school board member. Members are:
•Facilities, board members Bruce Tryon and Russ Smith; Jennifer Rightmyer, Valerie Lape-Handy and Betsy Bernocco.
•Communications, board members Maureen Nicholas and Steve Philbrick; and Kim Berman and Bill Combs.
•Instructional/Program, board member Howard Rickard; and Pat Smith, Tammy Koeberle, Jennie Balough, Jacqui Hauser, Susan Emerson, Joyce Waters, Mary Black and Rose Surman.
•Finance, board members Liz Montario and Jeff Foote; and Craig Erikson, Horst Fierek and three more to be confirmed.
Committee meetings are open to the public and are also accepting new members. Anyone interested can call the district office at 234-4032, email Ms. Macan at macanl@crcs.k12.ny.us or visit C-R’s website, www.crcs.k12.ny.us.