Proposed Budget Levy Contains No Increase

By Lisa Rice

The Warwick Valley Central School Board opened with Board President Sharon Davis reporting that, according to a letter received from Rosemary Cooper, Director of the Albert Wisner Public Library, the library would not be asking voters to approve an increase in the operating levy. She also requested that the election of two library trustees be included on the school budget ballot.

The board then voted unanimously to cast its vote to accept the Orange-Ulster BOCES administrative budget for 2021-2022 of $8,101,727.00. They then cast its vote for Eugenia “Jean” Pavek from Minisink Valley and Michael Bello from Port Jervis to the Orange Ulster BOCES board.

No Increase in Tax Levy for 2021-2022

Superintendent Dr. David Leach provided an overview of the proposed school budget. “Our goals always are to either preserve or enhance our student activities while staying within the tax cap or below the tax cap threshold. Fortunately, I believe this budget does that, while accomplishing those two goals,” said Leach. He further stated that learning about the increase in foundational state aid was good news for the district as well as the taxpayers. 

On Tues., May 18, the Warwick Valley Central School district will be asking voters to approve a $98.6 million budget that will have no increase in the tax levy. The average increase since 2016 has been 1.06%, well below the 2% tax cap imposed by the State of New York. State aid increased to 28% of revenue compared to last year which was 25%; and taxpayer contribution decreased to 65% compared to 68% last year.

School Buses, Service Vehicle on Ballot

In addition to the budget proposition, taxpayers will also be asked to vote on the addition of five school buses and one service vehicle at a maximum aggregate cost of $550,000, with $250,000 coming from the Capital Bus Reserve fund and 60% would come back in transportation aid. There will be no increase in taxes for the purchase. Buses being replaced are over 16 years old and becoming costly to maintain.

The budget proposal is available for review on the district website, www.warwickvalleyschools.com,  and there will be a budget hearing on Thurs., May 6. Voters will be able to vote on May 18 from 7 a.m. to 9 p.m. in one of three polling locations: Pine Island Firehouse, the Dorothy Wilson Education Center or Kings Elementary school. Anyone who is unsure where to vote, should contact the district office for more information.

School Opening: Step Forward, Step Back

Leach shifted gears to discuss the recent reopening of the schools and the new guidance that affected the plans already set in motion. K-6 is currently in-person five days per week and the plan was to have grade 7-12 students in-person full time as well. However, new guidelines made the plan problematic.

“Most recently, New York State Department of Health guidance in counties with high rates of transmission, such as Orange County, students here in Warwick, where we currently offer hybrid, every other day instruction, there can be three feet between students in classrooms only when you use cohorting,” explained Leach. “So, in districts like Warwick where we have a high percentage of students who have selected in-person instruction, the option that some districts are using to offer in-person in those grade levels is to remain at six feet; and some can do that. Some have low enrollment coming in every day and they can just keep it at six feet and open up their high schools and middle schools, or grade 7 – 12. We don’t have that flexibility at this time, given the large amount of students who, rightfully so, want in-person instruction. It’s not feasible yet.”

“And while the New York State Department of Health guidelines are unclear about what constitutes a cohort in those grade levels, it’s pretty obvious what it means at an elementary level,” he continued. “We continue to see clarification from health officials about our program, because we are different from most secondary schools. So we have fewer classes; we have four daily courses that are offered at longer durations of time; four 75-minute periods, which is a form of cohorting. So we continue to examine all options and before any change, according to these new guidelines, we must include opportunities for feedback from stakeholders before making a change in those grade levels.”

The ultimate responsibility for determining the appropriate distances to be maintained in the 7-12 grade levels is by the district and the local community’s risk tolerance based on its unique circumstances. Leach pledged to continue to strive toward returning to in-person learning. He said it was disappointing to have to take steps backward but the return to in-person for grades 7-12 is a priority.

The Show Must Go On

Drama Clubs are alive and well in the Warwick Valley, with each school principal providing an update to their school productions, all of which are being done with a touch of creativity and a lot of excitement.

Park Avenue Elementary will be showcasing their talented students with a production of Annie Jr. on May 22-23 and Sanfordville Elementary will be presenting Frozen Jr. Both elementary clubs will be videoing their productions for remote broadcast.

The Middle School Drama Club is individually recording songs for a production of Working, which they will blend together for  streamed broadcast on May 14 – 16.

Finally, the High School Drama Club is working with the Video Production Team for its spring musical, Songs For a New World, which will be streamed April 30 – May 2. 

School Principals Share Student Activities

Sanfordville Elementary School Principal, Johnna Maraia provided the report for Pine Island Kindergarten center, as well as Park Avenue and Sanfordville.

Kindergarteners in Pine Island are working on integrated research projects with non-fiction text to create their own habitat books which they will present to their classes. They are also very excited awaiting the arrival of baby chicks.

At Park and Sanfordville, first graders are writing realistic fiction stories, inventing their own characters and adventures, and will be creating their own series. Second graders are writing poetry and third graders are reading and writing poetry. Fourth graders are exploring the Revolutionary War, writing historical texts, and creating their own informational books. Teachers are beginning to utilize outdoor spaces for more fun during the school day.

Middle School Strives to Keep Tradition

Middle School Principal Georgianna Diopoulos reported that students launched into Spring Break with Spirit Week that was fun for all the students.

For the annual foreign language week, virtual speakers from different countries “visited” with seventh and eighth graders during their lunch periods and activities were put together for fifth and sixth graders to participate as well.

Seventh and eighth graders were still able to partake in the annual international food festival with the help of local community restaurants and individually packaged food portions that were distributed to students.

Fourth graders who will be moving up to the Middle School in September were able to come and tour the school in small groups and the Middle School began “10 Weeks of Moving Up” for its eighth graders that will be moving to High School next year. Over the course of the remaining ten weeks, the students will be celebrated in a different way each week. Last week was a picnic lunch on the field. In upcoming weeks they will make a rock garden, build a time capsule and have a photo booth.

High School Prepares to Graduate Class of 2021

High School Principal Marguerite Fusco started her report by stating how much everyone is enjoying getting out in the fresh air. All sports are outdoors, and lunch opened up to start using outdoor space as well as outdoor classroom space. “Everyone’s getting out and getting fresh air.”

The first week of the fourth quarter, which is the last quarter for seniors, has begun. To kick off their final High School experience before graduating, senior lawn signs were distributed on Sat., Apr. 24. The funds to create the signs were raised by PTA and the signs were designed by art students.

“We’re going to have the nicest signs in Orange County,” said Fusco.

Mon., May 3 is Decision Day and seniors will announce what school they will be committing to for college. Senior Prom will be held on Wed., June 9 on the football field. It was originally planned for Main Street, but per the new guidelines there will not be enough space. Fusco stated that the seniors have chosen a rustic theme with the colors lilac, white and gold. “Warwick colors softened,” she said.

AP tests will be held the first week of May and students have the option of online or in-person test taking. 

National Honor Society and National Technical Honor Society induction will be held on Wed., Apr. 28 on the football field.

The annual Art Chair auction, which raises money to fund scholarships, will be held virtually this year. Chairs will be displayed in the windows of local businesses and bidding will be held virtually.

Coalition Teams Raise Awareness

Board member Bob Howe joined the board meeting after attending a meeting of the Warwick Coalition. He reported that the teams are working with Annie Colonna and Francesca Bryson on the Pride survey, which is done every two years. They also have a fundraising cornhole tournament planned for May 24-26. The High School coalition team is developing an “Escape Vape” event where people can drop off vaping paraphernalia. He also wanted to bring attention to Bryson, who developed “Fun with Frankie” webinars for Middle School girls. “She’s developed a relationship that allows more trust and openness for kids to talk with her,” Howe said.

Student Liaison Report

Student Liaison Kelly Sullivan echoed some of what was reported by Principal Fusco but elaborated to say that Warwick Varsity teams all had winning records for the fall season sports and advanced to section tournaments. The spring sports season has just begun.

She elaborated on students utilizing the outdoor space and said that it’s a nice way to mix up the scenery and get some fresh air. She stated that some students are bringing picnic blankets to eat outside on the lawn.

Sullivan also named the ten Warwick Valley High School students who received the Sojourner Truth award from SUNY Orange: Amari Brown, Amelia Brown, Lena Jodry, Timothy Leonard, Michael Lopez, Kalen Luraschi, Noah Montgomery, Elizabeth Roberts, Nicholas Williams, and Dennis Wilson. Two Middle School students, Isabella Del Salto and Eden Marriott also received the honor.

Bench in Memory of Prial to Sit at Peace Wall

As expected, the school board voted unanimously to approve the 2021-2022 school year budget, which will be put to a public vote and approved the property tax report card.

A motion was accepted to approve the request of the Warwick Athletic Community that a granite memorial bench, valued at $3,000, be accepted in memory of Chief Warrant Officer 2 Daniel Prial, which will be placed near the Peace Wall memorial at Sanfordville Elementary school. CWO2 Prial, a Warwick resident and alumnus, was one of three National Guardsmen killed in a helicopter crash near Rochester on January 20.

Next Meeting

While the district is holding their meetings via Zoom, they are available for viewing in their entirety on the district’s YouTube channel. The next meeting will be held on Thurs., May 6 at 7 p.m. which will include a public hearing on the proposed 2021-2022 school year budget.