Sullivan West tackles night games

Hires French teacher and looks into merger finances

By KIMBERLY M. WEYANDT

LAKE HUNTINGTON, NY — It is a football player’s dream: the world stops for them as they step out of the darkness and onto the spotlit field. Around them, night engulfs the world, but on the field, time stops and their game lights up the night. For a night, it is as if there is nothing else beyond a football game.

After the Sullivan West football players, staff and the community worked hard to make that dream a reality for the Homecoming game on October 8, they were disappointed to hear that it would not come true.

Dressed in their uniforms, the high school players gave up a Wednesday night of studying on October 5 to ask the school board “Why?”

“We were wondering why we’re not allowed to play a night game especially after the coaches, the community and the team have donated their time and their money to get the field ready,” said Sullivan West football full back and senior Stephen Daley, as he took his turn at the microphone to address the board. A more practiced blocker than public speaker, Daley was glad to have the support of his team behind him.

“Why are we allowed to play here during the day and practice here at night, but we can’t play at night?” he asked.

Offensive player Jim Moloney, a quarterback and senior, wanted to make sure the board knew how much playing under the lights would mean. For many seniors it could be their last chance.

“It’s the last Homecoming game for the seniors and it would mean a lot to be able to play under the lights,” Moloney said.

Although the football field is currently ready to play on, the district was concerned with the danger just beyond the glow of the lights.

“In the middle of our unfinished project is a football field that is ready to play on,” said Superintendent Alan Derry, addressing the players’ questions during his report.

“The problem isn’t you playing on the field at night. We know where you will be,” he said. “The problem is for those of us who won’t be playing.”

“When a game is played at night the field is lit up… but it isn’t lit up where the rest of us will be… in an unfinished building area. And that isn’t safe.”

When asked when the field might be ready for night games, Derry said, “Hopefully next year.”

Their question answered, the players left, and the board moved on to other unfinished business.

Board hires financial planner

Despite a motion by Arthur Norden to postpone a vote to retain the services of a financial consultant, the board voted to expend up to $25,000 of the $50,000 received from Assemblywoman Aileen Gunther to investigate the financial aspects of the district and hired Robert Pierce, Certified Financial Planner. Pierce has experience in financial analysis and projections for private corporations and acted as Interim Business Administrator in several districts. He was responsible for the financial aspects of the merger between Cobleskill and Richmondville Central Schools in the 1993-1994 school year. A contract for his employment will be drawn up and brought before the board at the November meeting.

Elementary French teacher hired

After much discussion, the board approved the hiring of Veturia Cranganu to a three-year teaching position. Certified in Oklahoma and hired at a yearly salary of $46,670, Cranganu will teach French to the elementary students.

In other news, Derry was happy to report, “transportation seems to be going swimmingly well.” Derry reported that of the 44 bus runs, only one continues to run late. Known as the “fish bus,” Derry reported that it was off by five minutes. Several concerned parents insisted it was more like 15 minutes.

“We tried to get those minutes off but were not successful so I think what we will be doing is adding another route,” Derry said.