We’ve all been had

Last Thursday, a friend waved this paper in my face and smiled, ``You must be ecstatic,’’ pointing to the article, ``Consultant To Help Find Superintendent.’’

I replied, ``She’s been lost for twelve years. Why look now?’’

``No, no,’’ he explained. ``McPhail is leaving and they’re paying a consultant to find a new superintendent.’’ Realizing I was less than inspired, he continued, ``No more underhanded promoting of an unqualified administrator.’’

Not getting a rise, he went on, ``No more replacing vintage playgrounds with plastic backdrops normally used for Happy Meal sales.’’

Loading up the zinger, he chortled, ``No more half million dollar investments in smart boards that teachers use like blackboards.’’

Recognizing that a tingle was not running up my leg, he emphasized, ``Don’t you realize that a new Super will likely require the teaching of grammar in the high school? Maybe the replacement will realize that faculty can be reduced in line with enrollment saving us all some money! And surely, no new administrator will be so brazen as to ask those who disagree to leave the school district!’’

I locked eyes with my friend and asked, ``Don’t you realize that we’ve all been had? In 2006, Ms. McPhail claimed that under her leadership the district would achieve `Greatness by 2010.’ In her words (and printed in all local papers), the cornerstone of that plan was to assure that each student would be on grade level by this year.

Yet each year, this school has declined in every state and national assessment. Even in the Newsweek study that Mary Jo has faithfully clung to, Cooperstown has dropped from 200 to well below 1000.

During the same time, she has held out her hand for a raise and our Board of Education complied.’’

My dear friend responded, ``I had forgotten about `Greatness By 2010.’ Hey, maybe this is part of the plan!’’

``What is part of the plan?’’ I wondered.

``McPhail stepping down,’’ he laughed.

``That’s only half of the problem,’’ I explained, ``A Superintendent will get away with any and everything they are allowed to.’’

Eric Rheinhardt

Cooperstown

Thanks for the presentation

On Friday Oct. 23, the Otsego Area Occupational Center hosted a workshop provided by the New York State Police. Troopers Torres and Stalter provided information regarding the types of illegal narcotics used in our area. This information included specific types of drugs used, penalties for crimes committed, and recent trends in drug use by youths. Trooper Stalter brought her scent dog, Meyer, and provided staff with background information about the use of trained dogs in police investigations.

Meyer provided a demonstration to the OAOC staff.

After the NYSPD workshop, Amber Bennett and Jeanette Toulon, both from the Chemical Dependency Clinic, provided a workshop on the role that CDC plays in our area. They provided specific Otsego County data and offered insight into the treatment of individuals referred to the CDC for substance use and abuse.

On behalf of the faculty at the Otsego Area Occupational Center, I would like to extend a debt of gratitude to both the New York State Troopers and the Chemical Dependency Clinic for their outstanding presentations. The New York State Trooper Foundation is dedicated to helping our New York State Troopers better serve us and our community.

This non profit agency helps to advance training and public safety education. Please visit www.nystrooperfoundation. org if you are interested in learning more about NYSP or would like to make a donation.

Joseph D. Booan, Jr.

OAOC Principal

ONC BOCES

Health Center is solvent

Two weeks ago, a former Cherry Valley Health Center board member wrote a letter to this paper questioning the financial stability of the Cherry Valley Health Center. This is in response to that letter. While the major part of the former board members letter was misleading information, the one truth was the fact that we did retain an auditing firm to conduct state-required audits of the previous five years.

To provide the auditing firm with the revenue and expense information for those five years, I sent the firm a Health Center generated revenue report that I thought included the total revenue for that year. It did not. While the revenue report that was sent (a fivepage report) did provide the majority of the revenue, the complete revenue report (a 193-page report) was not sent with it.

I have since provided the auditing firm with the complete reports for those five years and they have been very understanding.

They are now in the process of revising the audit reports with the additional information.

The Cherry Valley Health Center is now as it always has been, financially solid, with revenues meeting expenses.

If you have any questions or concerns about the Cherry Valley Health Center or any other Town of Cherry Valley related topics, you can normally find the answer at the town website: cherryvalleyny.us.

Or just give me a call. I am in my office every night from about 7 to 9 and always look forward to hearing from you.

Tom Garretson

Town Supervisor

Cherry Valley

Health Center a godsend

This is in regard to your (Richard Mark) letter in the Crier regarding the Cherry Valley Health Center. Your solutions were very interesting, especially the one on the closing of the establishment.

I hope that you never have health issues that involve constant medical attention or problems that involve walking, etc.

This health center is a Godsend to a lot of people, especially the elderly, including myself, and parents with small children. I thank God every day for this health center and the people that work there. They are a very dedicated group and very helpful. If you want to stir up a bees nest, just try to close the health center.

Evelyn D. Utter

Cherry Valley

Thanks for the support

The Take a STAND Open Mic Night, held last Thursday, Oct. 22, was a tremendous success. As the first event to be hosted by the CCS fledgling chapter of STAND (the student-run division of the Genocide Intervention Network), the night was a great start to what we hope will be a successful year.

Thank you to all of the students, teachers, and community members who made the night possible. It was a fun and exciting evening, with a variety of musical and poetic acts.

Approximately one hundred people attended the event, from elementary school children to senior community members.

Money was raised by donations and will be sent to the Panzi Hospital in the Democratic Republic of Congo.

Your donations will help the local population cope with the violence that is prevalent in the area.

Thank you to the Hoffman Lane Bistro and all those who helped make the event a success.

Anna Kramer

CCS Chapter of STAND