AUBURN - The Auburn Enlarged City School District Board of Education has new leadership to pilot the district into the next academic year.
Sam Tenney / The Citizen
Auburn school board members Sam Giangreco, left, and Charlie Cator speak after the board's reorganization meeting Monday evening. The board voted to elect Cator as its new president and Giangreco vice president.
Auburn school board members Sam Giangreco, left, and Charlie Cator speak after the board's reorganization meeting Monday evening. The board voted to elect Cator as its new president and Giangreco vice president.
Charlie Cator and Sam Giangreco were both unanimously elected as board president and vice president, respectively, during the annual reorganizational meeting Monday.
“I think the board is heading in the right direction,” Giangreco said. “We have to continue to stay on that path.”
Cator, recently re-elected to the board for a second three-year term, ascended to the top position after spending the past year as vice president. Incumbent David Lansford opted not to run for re-election.
Improving communication between the board and the community is Cator's primary goal.
He intends to coordinate at least three brown bag sessions additional to the regular board meetings throughout the year, held perhaps on Saturday mornings, to create a free-flowing dialogue between the community and the district.
Such sessions could include discussion on school law, the No Child Left Behind Act and the property tax cap proposed by Gov. Paterson.
“We're looking for the discussion of real issues that are out there in the community,” he said.
Cator acknowledged that Superintendent J.D. Pabis and other district officials hold meetings with the community, but “I think what we need, as a board, is to get out there as well.”
Giangreco, first appointed to the district in 2005 and re-elected to a full term in 2006, said the community is often silent during the public comments portion of meetings and it is important to get feedback.
While it is important for the public to weigh in on the board's performance, Cator believes it is just as important for the body to self-evaluate.
Cator said the Union Springs Central School District board has a good self-evaluation method, and hopes to use that as a model for Auburn.
Both understand the 2008-09 school year will be more difficult to navigate as the district is operating under a contingency budget and the board will have to negotiate a new contract with the Auburn Teachers Association.
But they are still optimistic the board helps provides a good education while improving academic achievement.
“We've got great leadership in the district and on the board,” Giangreco said. “We're doing that, but as I said before, it takes time to get results.”
In other news:
* East Middle School has a new principal. David Oliver was appointed by the board, replacing Diane Dolcemascolo who retired.
“I'm just looking forward to working with a great faculty and a great bunch of kids,” he said.
A former science teacher who joined the district in 1998, Oliver spent the last year as the science curriculum coordinator, ensuring curriculum in all grade levels and district schools were properly aligned while being a resource for subject teachers.
* The next board meeting is slated for 7 p.m. July 22 at the Harriet Tubman Administration Building, 78 Thornton Ave., Auburn.
Staff writer Alyssa Sunkin can be reached at 253-5311 ext. 239 or alyssa.sunkin@lee.net
“I think the board is heading in the right direction,” Giangreco said. “We have to continue to stay on that path.”
Cator, recently re-elected to the board for a second three-year term, ascended to the top position after spending the past year as vice president. Incumbent David Lansford opted not to run for re-election.
Improving communication between the board and the community is Cator's primary goal.
He intends to coordinate at least three brown bag sessions additional to the regular board meetings throughout the year, held perhaps on Saturday mornings, to create a free-flowing dialogue between the community and the district.
Such sessions could include discussion on school law, the No Child Left Behind Act and the property tax cap proposed by Gov. Paterson.
“We're looking for the discussion of real issues that are out there in the community,” he said.
Cator acknowledged that Superintendent J.D. Pabis and other district officials hold meetings with the community, but “I think what we need, as a board, is to get out there as well.”
Giangreco, first appointed to the district in 2005 and re-elected to a full term in 2006, said the community is often silent during the public comments portion of meetings and it is important to get feedback.
While it is important for the public to weigh in on the board's performance, Cator believes it is just as important for the body to self-evaluate.
Cator said the Union Springs Central School District board has a good self-evaluation method, and hopes to use that as a model for Auburn.
Both understand the 2008-09 school year will be more difficult to navigate as the district is operating under a contingency budget and the board will have to negotiate a new contract with the Auburn Teachers Association.
But they are still optimistic the board helps provides a good education while improving academic achievement.
“We've got great leadership in the district and on the board,” Giangreco said. “We're doing that, but as I said before, it takes time to get results.”
In other news:
* East Middle School has a new principal. David Oliver was appointed by the board, replacing Diane Dolcemascolo who retired.
“I'm just looking forward to working with a great faculty and a great bunch of kids,” he said.
A former science teacher who joined the district in 1998, Oliver spent the last year as the science curriculum coordinator, ensuring curriculum in all grade levels and district schools were properly aligned while being a resource for subject teachers.
* The next board meeting is slated for 7 p.m. July 22 at the Harriet Tubman Administration Building, 78 Thornton Ave., Auburn.
Staff writer Alyssa Sunkin can be reached at 253-5311 ext. 239 or alyssa.sunkin@lee.net
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Post your comment - click hereThere are 4 comment(s)
dkmaestro wrote on Jul 9, 2008 9:13 AM:
GoodbyeCNY wrote on Jul 8, 2008 4:16 PM:
tome8689 wrote on Jul 8, 2008 2:53 PM:
jlmorgansr wrote on Jul 8, 2008 12:14 PM:
It's time for new leadership! A continuation of failed policies and failed leadership is not something we need to continue. Nor can we afford to continue! "