TRR photo by Sarah Goldman Sullivan West Board President Jeffery Nober looks to board member K.C. Garn as both are honored for their time spent on the school board. Last Thursday’s board meeting marks their last evening in their board positions. (Click for larger image)

Board farewells

By SARAH GOLDMAN

NARROWSBURG, NY — Jeffery Nober and K.C. Garn bid the Sullivan West School Board farewell on June 19. Audience members and board members alike thanked both men for their time and dedication to the school district.

Superintendent Michael Johndrow presented both men with a clock to commemorate their time spent on the Sullivan West School Board.

Nober, who distributed his board materials to new member Angela Daley and various current members, had this to say about his tenure:

“To whoever is the next board president, I started my board work about ten years ago right here. I think I was sitting about right there in this same room when I decided I wanted to run for the Narrowsburg board because I wasn’t happy with the way things were going in Narrowsburg. It’s ironic that it ends in the same room that it started. The nine or ten years has been well worth it and I appreciate all the support I have gotten from some board members and for those that felt I did a good job, I appreciate it.”

K.C. Garn said, “I would like to thank all the members of the board and the members of the administration, past and present, and the rest of the staff who made my tenure possibly the most interesting time I’ve had in my life. It was truly far more interesting than I had ever imagined it. I appreciate everything that’s been done. I think it’s a great school district. It was built by people who are dedicated and do a wonderful job, and I’m happy to have been in it.”

Arthur Norden said, “For Jeff, I would just like to say, having worked with you for a year, I appreciate your open mindedness and openness that you express as president and you’re willingness to accept a lot of additions to the agenda and recommendations for discussion. I’ve been very pleased with that.”

In other board business, the board voted by an eight-to-one vote, to eliminate one tenured teacher from the science, foreign language, special education and technology departments, in addition to a one-half of a position in the home and career skills department and six-tenths of the driver education position. Due to the merging of schools, and the move to the high school, the board said these positions were not needed. Additionally an elementary position, a physical education position and a math position were cut due to attrition.

The board also voted in an eight-to-one vote to create the following positions: one school nurse, one librarian, and one transportation clerk, all to be funded by the approved 2003-2004 budget.

The creation of a reading teacher and one-half a position for an elementary remedial math teacher will be funded by Title I. Board member Arthur Norden was opposed to both proposals.

Johndrow presented options to the transportation bill voted down by the public earlier this month. The board could bring the issue to a vote again, with a shorter duration for the contract or could choose to work with a busing company on a yearly basis with no guarantee of an extension. While choosing to work with the companies on a yearly basis would not require a public vote, from an economic standpoint, the district would be more likely to save money by issuing a multi-year contract.

The original contract with the First Student bus company issued a fixed rate of increase for each additional year. This guaranteed stability even if the interest rate market and local economy were to sharply increase or decrease.

First Student has agreed to maintain the same price they quoted if the board chooses to use them for a one-year basis, but has not guaranteed the following year’s prices.

First Student has not made any decisions on where the buses will be housed yet, but Nober dispelled a rumor that they would be housed at the Lake Huntington site. First Student has also agreed to have Sullivan West Central School District emblazoned on all buses. Robert Gents, a routing designer, will be consulted about new routes for the district buses.

The next board meeting is set for Tuesday, July 8 at 7:30 p.m. at Delaware Valley. It will be a reorganization meeting for the district.