The Ellsworth family
has paid school taxes
on the property at
105 Pioneer Street in Cooperstown
for just shy of one
hundred years. And while
we rather doubt that is a record
for the longest run by
a single family, we feel it is
not an insubstantial record.
Fortunately, we have only
been responsible, at this
point, for the school taxes
for twenty-eight of those
one hundred years. However,
those twenty-eight years
have been, unfortunately, at
the more expensive end of
the tax run.
It is no wonder then that
we have tended over the
years to try and pay attention,
as a member of the public, to
what transpires at the school.
Except for the occasional big
school issue which will bring
people out of the woodwork,
we feel we have been joined
in watching the school by
a mere handful of people.
Granted, the handful can
be a very vocal as anyone
who has attended a school
board meeting well knows.
But nonetheless it remains a
handful. We, of course, always
hope there will be others
who will see the need to pay
attention to what is happening
at the school and join us.
And this year we have felt
the need to pay attention is
greater than ever.
Thus we had been sorely
disappointed that we were
still joined by a mere handful
until we realized there is a
new player on the scene that
has the ability to watch the
school in a way that no one
else can. We of course refer
to this very newspaper which
seems to have taken on the
cause of keeping the public
informed on school issues.
In September, they covered
the decision to keep the
sixth grade at the middle/
high school as well as the
superintendent’s resignation.
This was followed in
the October 29 issue with an
article detailing the hiring
of a consultant to help with
the superintendent search as
well as a piece entitled ``CCS
enrollment is steadily declining.’’
In that it was reported
that the enrollment at CCS
has declined from a high of
1,350 in the mid 90s to 988
for the current year, a drop of
almost 27 percent. Yet in the
90s, there were just under 100
full time teachers. This year
there are 91.
In the Nov. 19 issue,
there was an article which
explained that community
members could participate
in a survey ``...to assist in developing
a profile of desirable
attributes and qualities of
the next superintendent...’’ In
that same issue there was an
editorial encouraging people
to not only participate in the
survey but to also attend the
Public Budget Forum to be
held on December 2.
This was followed by an
article on Nov. 25 on the
budget process in which
CCS Board of Education Vice
President Mary Leonard was
quoted as saying, ``Albany is
taking a very long time and
we have to be ready for some
very dramatic cuts.’’ It would
not exactly be what one
would want to hear about the
school budget.
On Dec. 10, the paper
published three articles about
the school. One explained the
plans for the superintendent
search, while the other two
dealt with budget issues. One
of these was a very detailed
report on the public budget
forum held on December 2
and the other was a most
ominous piece entitled
``Lawmakers caution schools’
funding will be less next year.’’
On Dec. 17, there were
two articles and an editorial
all relating to school issues.
One article, entitled ``MCS
uncertain about future as it
plans 2010-11,’’ talked about
the difficulties being faced in
preparing a school budget.
The discussion included a
quote from Tom Brennan,
Milford Central School BOE
President who said: ``The
state is suffering and districts
will share that pain.’’ The other
article addressed the issue of
rural school mergers which
had been discussed not only
at the Public Budget Forum
on December 2 but also at
a BOCES meeting held on
December 1 to discuss issues
facing the 19 school districts
in the BOCES.
However, we thought the
editorial, entitled ``CCS needs
to reduce spending’’ absolutely
hit the nail on the head.
It pointed out that the school
board has an opportunity in
the current contract negotiations
with both the Faculty
Association and the Service
Unit ``...to stem the tide
of escalating costs.’’ It also
pointed out that ``Those
contract negotiations offer
another opportunity to
reduce, or at the very least,
hold the line on salaries and
benefits. School employees
should not mistakenly believe
they are immune to the
economic impacts that have
hit many district residents. T
he board of education has to
make it clear that these contract
negotiations will not be
business as usual.’’
We could not agree more.
And we certainly hope that
both sides in the negotiations
understand the financial
problems facing many
residents of the district.
And the paper has continued
its coverage of school
issues into 2010. The Jan. 7
edition contains a must read
article entitled ``Schools face
gap when funds run out’’ as
well as an excellent editorial
entitled ``Merging might be
the answer.’’
We must admit that until
we sat down and compiled
all the articles and editorials
which have appeared in the
paper this school year, we
really did not realize how
much, and how well, information
has been presented.
We salute the paper for a
job well done and trust that
they will continue to keep
the public informed as the
school goes forward with the
superintendent search, the
contract negotiations and
the 2010-11 budget.
There is little doubt that
the decisions that the Board
of Education makes regarding
all of these issues will
have a profound impact
on all the residents of the
district.
In closing, as one of those
handful of people who have
watched the school for years,
we are reminded of a quote
by Dale Carnegie in which
he said:
``Most of the important
things in the world have
been accomplished by
people who have kept on
trying when there seemed to
be no hope at all.’’
It would seem that the
time has come when there
needs to be more than just a
handful of school watchers.
PLEASE NOTE: Comments
regarding this column may
be made by mail at 105
Pioneer Street, Cooperstown,
NY 13326, by telephone at
607-547-8124 or by e-mail at
cellsworth1@stny.rr.com.
Columns
In These Otsego Hills: School watchers an important group
- Columns
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From Fly Creek: Passing fronts and settled weather
(I owe the first part of this column to an informal writers’ workshop sponsored by the Smithy Pioneer Gallery. The small group, led by Gallery Director Danielle Newell, meets Sunday afternoons and is open to anyone interested in the writing craft. As a warmup exercise on that very rainy afternoon, we each wrote a few paragraphs on the weather and emotions. Here’s what that keen group prompted me to scribble down) The dour old Scotsman, the one featured in jokes without number about buying lottery tickets, pinching pennies, scorning worldly ways, etc., once silenced a friend who was praising the beautiful weather.
Continued ... -
In These Otsego Hills: We're back from Michigan ...
Unfortunately, we once again find ourselves stuck in a time warp. When we look at the calendar, we realize that Labor Day is fast approaching. Yet, we seem to be operating under the misconception that it is still early July due in large part to the fact that we spent the almost five weeks from July 15 to August 17 in Grand Rapids, Michigan. We feel the summer has sailed by and we, unfortunately, have not kept pace.
Continued ... -
Otsego Herald: Censorship?
All those indebted to John Lawrence, Post-rider, and do not settle the same IMMEDIATELY may rely upon having to pay cost!! Otego, Aug. 24.
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In These Otsego Hills: 1984 comes to a close ... finally
As we continue traipsing through 1984, we realize that even though we were supposed to be covering the comings and goings of Cooperstown, we actually were able, even then, to touch on a number of pressing community, as well as personal, issues. Of course, much to the relief of the powers that were at CCS, the school was not among them. The he-we ran for the school board in 1984 and was elected. Thus the school was deemed off limits by the powers that were at the paper. But we discovered there was still a wide range of issues upon which we could write.
Continued ... -
Otsego Herald: New school book
From the Otsego Herald for Saturday, Aug. 18, 1810
Continued ... -
Book Notes: Books offer tennis insights
Professional tennis sometimes seems to be the ultimate life. Where else could you travel the world, earn gobs of money, get in great shape, and have groupies from the opposite sex chasing you all the time? And you get all your equipment free to boot (which may explain why players smash racquets without remorse). Quite a glamorous life, isn’t it?
Continued ... -
In These Otsego Hills: Continuing our 1984 musings
Now that we have undertaken the beginnings of this column, we fear we find ourselves unable to stop our review of the early writings. In fact, we seem to be completely addicted to the project. And thus, we will continue to explore the very foundations on which this column has been built.
Continued ... -
Book Notes: Burnett's book recalls 'Golden Age'
It’s a shame that today’s young generation missed the golden age of television from the 1960s and 70s. The fact that Hollywood studios with their ``original’’ ideas of constantly remaking hit TV shows from that era into new movies and reunion specials is quite telling. Even Fox with its ``That 70’s Show’’ is a reminder of that whimsical time.
Continued ... -
Home Notes: A place to cherish
As we enter into the middle of summer, let us pause and relish in the fact that we have been blessed with such lovely weather.
Continued ... -
From Fly Creek: Hurray for Mother Bassett!
Just back from my annual week at Lake George’s Silver Bay, in company with about 600 other Quakers. As always, it was a great time: Friends shared silence in the early morning by the lake and during the day in the big brown-shingled tabernacle. (Silver Bay is an old YMCA camp.)
Continued ...
Plenty of fine stringed music and singing in the evenings; lots of daytime rocking-chair stints on the deep veranda, facing across rolling lawns and lake to green mountains and skies of startling blue. -
In These Otsego Hills: In the beginning
Our remembering Jerry in last week’s column has now lead us to muse about our early days of writing a weekly newspaper column.
Continued ... -
Book Notes: Prohibition should not be ignored
I was an American history major in college and one topic that my professors never discussed was prohibition.
Continued ... -
Otsego Herald: Elopement
From the Otsego Herald for Saturday, July 21, 1810 Compiled, with comments BY HUGH C. MACDOUGALL
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Home Notes: Personal Care is a rewarding occupation
When I was a young girl in the early 50’s my family would often take rides through Cooperstown and the Cherry Valley area.
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In These Otsego Hills: Remembering Jerry ...
Difficult as it is to believe, we have been a widow for eleven years this week. And yet it seems as if our late husband Jerry just died yesterday. The memory of it remains most vivid in our mind. We suppose there is much that we don’t remember about July 20, 1999. But we do remember just how much that day changed our life forever. We lost not only our spouse of 28 years, but also our best friend.
Continued ... -
Otsego Herald: Celebrating the 4th
From the Otsego Herald for Saturday, July 14, 1810 Compiled, with comments by
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Our Opinion: What’s good for the goose...
The board of trustees has decided to hire an engineer to review the work of CLA Site, the firm hired to do the site assessment and design work for the Village Gateway Project _ now known as the Cooperstown Intermodal Transit Project. That review will cost up to $12,000.
Continued ... -
From Fly Creek: ‘Thump-thump, dum-lum’
Since I last wrote to you I’ve been several times embraced to Mother Bassett’s bosom.
Continued ...
(Oh dear, I hope that’s not a disrespectful metaphor. But if you’ve seen photos, you know she was a handsome, dignified woman with an ample superstructure.) This time, for variety, the hospital visits at first seemed to have little to do with Parkinsonism. But a new problem had turned up that had me tested in every part of the hospital except obstetrics. -
In These Otsego Hills: Travels with The Widge...
We have decided that the role of grandmother is quite to our liking. As we have been told any number of times, as a grandparent it is perfectly acceptable to hold, play with and fawn over the grandchild until such time as said grandchild becomes fussy. And then, and this is the best part, it is completely within the purview of the grandparent to return the fussy grandchild to the parents. We love it.
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Otsego Herald: Shocking accident, American arrested
On Wednesday last, as Joseph Faulkner, esq. of Middlefield, was returning home from Cherry-Valley, a gust of wind arose up suddenly, a large Elm was blown across the road, directly on Mr. Faulkner, who, together with his horse was instantly killed.
Continued ...
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From Fly Creek: Passing fronts and settled weather
