Dear Gardner Road Families-

Now that we have made it through the coldest February/month on record, we can

start looking forward to spring at Gardner Road. Despite the cold, a lot of exciting

things happened at Gardner Road this past month. Our school was first nominated

and then chosen as one of 1000 schools across the country to win 1000 dollars

from Labels for Education (http://sweeps.labelsforeducation.com). We will

certainly be able to use that for our school. We also collected and donated almost

1000 pounds (969 to be exact) of food for the food bank with our 100 cans for the

100th day drive. Thank you to our wonderful community for showing caring and

kindness. We also had a number of classes make valentines cards for veterans. To

find out more read the article at the following link:

(http://www.redcross.org/news/article/ny/corning/Showing-Love-to-Veterans).

As you can see our main entry has been completed. If you are entering the

building, please be sure to enter into the main office and sign in. We look forward

to seeing you at the upcoming events at Gardner Road this month (see calendar). If

you have any questions or concerns, please do not hesitate to contact me at the

main office.

Your Partner in Education,

Patrick Patterson- Principal

Inside the Gazette:

Page 2:

Main Office Updates

Scripps Spelling Bee Highlights

Page 3:

Talent Show Highlights

Page 4:

Character Corner

School Mission, Vision & Beliefs

Included Online:

-March Calendar

-Reading Connection

-Home & School Connection

-PTO Newsletter, Agenda and Minutes

-Facility Study Minutes and Packets

-Consolidation Feasibility Study

Minutes and Packet

March 2015 Gardner Road Elementary School

541 Gardner Road, Horseheads, New York 14845 (607) 739 - 6347

“The wisest mind has something yet to learn." George Santayana

GENERAL INFORMATION:

Gardner Road Office Hours

Monday through Friday

7:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.

Office Phone Numbers

739-6347

Elementary Lunches (K-6) Lunch $ 1.95

Breakfast: $ 1.00

HAPPY 100TH DAY

Pictures Below: Savion S. celebrating Read Across America

Day in room 106 and pre-K celebrating the 100th day.

2

100 TH DAY

Class Placements for the 2014-2015 School Year:

In the near future we will begin to look at classroom placements for the year 2015 – 2016. We use a team approach for

class placements and it is a long process. As you might imagine, we must take many things into consideration when

making placements. Please do not write letters requesting a certain teacher. We will not honor requests for specific

teachers, but we do value parent concerns and thoughts about the needs of their children. If you have any

information/concerns about your child that we are unaware of, please put it in writing and drop it off to the main office

by Friday, April 24, 2015

NYS Assessment Dates: *3rd and 4th grade ELA: April 14 – 16 *3rd and 4th Grade Math: April 22-24 *4th Grade Science Performance Test: May 20-21 *4th Grade Science Written Test: June 1

Kindergarten Registration: Do you have a child that needs to register for kindergarten for next school year? Soon, if not already, you will receive a phone call from Mrs. Wright to set up a date for kindergarten registration between the dates of April 27- May 1. If you know of families that may have just moved in the areas, please have them contact us at Gardner Road.

Homework while on Vacation Policy at Gardner Road: Updated 2/1/2015

Before making vacation plans, please consult the school calendar if possible. If parents decide to take their child

out of school for vacations, please notify the classroom teacher and the main office. These absences are considered

unexcused; therefore, the work shall be requested and made up upon return. Students are encouraged to have

their child practice math facts, read and write in a journal during their absence from school.

Principal Chats:

Have your voice heard on what you would like to see happen at Gardner Road! Any suggestions, concerns or

compliments you would like to share are welcome. The principal chats are each month prior to the PTO meeting at 6:00

in the library. Look for dates on the monthly calendar.

Getting Ready for Fifth Grade at the Intermediate School: As we enter the second half of the school year, the Intermediate School staff will start welcoming and getting our fourth

graders ready for fifth grade at the Intermediate School. Families are welcome to attend the Intermediate School’s Open

House on April 20th. There will be a brief presentation for the 4th grade families and opportunities to walk around the

school. Families may also write placement requests to Mr. Bostwick, principal at the Intermediate School. These must

be submitted by Friday, March 27th. Please remember to not use a specific teacher’s name. The letter should include

details of how your child best learns and the traits of a teacher that your child best responds to. Please do not hesitate to

either call Gardner Road or the Intermediate School if you have any questions.

Main Office Updates:

Scripps Spelling Bee: Students at Gardner Road participated in the

Scripps Spelling Bee on 1/30/15. The top two

students, Kris Patel and Shoonfon Li, move on

to the regionals at Campbell Savona on March

5th for a chance to nationals with Joey Veres

as the alternate. Thank you to all of the

spellers on a great evening of spelling very

difficult words. Best wishes to Kris and

Shoonfon at regionals!

Noetic Math Contest: Congratulations to all students who participated in the Noetic Math

Contest in the fall of 2014! Also, congratulations to the national honor

roll winners & team leaders - David He, Yannick Leonhard, Ashwin

Senawiratne, Josh White, Nathan Zhou! For anyone interested, there

will be a spring contest this April. It will be held after school with

more details coming soon. For those who want to prepare, practice

math problems weekly. It takes between 10- 15 minutes per week and

you can visit http://www.noetic-learning.com/ for details.

3

Golden Stars Share their Talent: Our students shared their talents at the 2015 GR Talent Show on February 11th. Thank you to Mrs. Dauphinet

and Mr. Hamilton for coordinating the evening. We also had back stage support from Ms. Darmstadt and Ms.

Hall. Not only did students participate, but we had students volunteer as the stage crew. Students will be

performing an encore performance at school on March 3rd. To view more pictures and shout outs visit Mr.

Patterson’s Twitter feed on the GR website or visit twitter and search #grtalentshow @GARDNER_RD_PRIN.

PTO BINGO NIGHT – JANUARY EVENT

Students in 4th grade are learning about Native Americans this month in 4th grade. Here are photos of students

from Mrs. Bostwick’s class making corn husk Dolls with docents from the Rockwell Museum in Corning.

4

During February 283

students (67%) earned a

character awards for

displaying

trustworthiness.

March’s trait is:

Horseheads Central School District

Our Mission "Quality Education for All"

The Mission of the Horseheads Central School Community is to provide a

quality education for all within a nurturing environment, which promotes

excellence, growth, and a sense of civic responsibility.

Our Vision We, the Horseheads School Community, want a district that: is nurturing and responsive.

strives for balance in a supportive, safe, encouraging environment.

recognizes the need for continual improvement in an ever-changing world.

has a clearly defined focus on learning outcomes, collaboration,

and support systems.

creates an environment within which everyone can thrive and achieve

his/her highest potential.

Our Beliefs We believe:

• everyone can achieve his/her highest potential.

• trust is essential for growth.

• learning is cooperative.

• programs are inclusive.

• success will be nurtured and expected.

• learning is performance-based.

• decisions are data-based.

• responsibility, respect, and results guide our every effort.

Exit Outcomes The Horseheads Central School graduate will be ...

• a life-long learner

• a caring, productive citizen

• an effective communicator

• a creative problem-solver

• a quality decision-maker

• a healthy, well-rounded person

The Dignity Act Coordinator (DAC) for Gardner Road Elementary is Patrick Patterson. Complaints regarding discrimination, harassment, or bullying of any

student should be referred to Patrick Patterson at (607) 739 – 6347. The Dignity Act Coordinator for the Horseheads Central School District is Judith Christiansen. Mrs. Christiansen may be reached at One Raider Lane, Horseheads, NY 14845, 607-739-5601, x4211.

The Horseheads Central School District offers educational programs without regard to gender, race, color, national origin, or disability. Inquiries regarding this

policy may be made to Judy Christiansen, Title IX Coordinator, or Kim Williams, Section 504 Coordinator, Horseheads Central School District, One Raider

Lane, Horseheads, NY 14845, (607) 739-5601.

@GARDNER_RD_PRIN Gardner Road Elementary

Substitutes Needed:

The Horseheads Central School District is seeking applications for substitute teachers. NEW: Daily substitute teacher

pay has increased to $95.00/day for certified substitutes & $125.00 per day for retired Horseheads teachers. For information, please visit: http://www.horseheadsdistrict.com/subteach.html

Human Resources Office: 739-5601, x4211 e-mail: hcsdinfo@horseheadsdistrict.com

Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri

2 Day 3 3 Day 4 4 Day 5

Early Release Day

Dismissal @ 12:00

Principal Chat 6:00 Library

GR PTO Meeting 6:30 Library

5 Day 6

Poet visiting 4th grade

Special Olympics Practice 9-11

BOE Community Budget Work-

shop @ BF Community Center

6 Day 1

Poet visiting 4th grade

GR Family Fun Night

Bowling @ 6:30 PM

9 Day 2 10 Day 3 11 Day 4 12 Day 5 13 NO SCHOOL

Superintendent’s

Conference

Day

16 Day 6 17 Day 1 18 Day 2 19 Day 3 20 Day 4

23 Day 5

District Implementation Team

4:00 HS MMC

24 Day 6

Special Olympics Bowling @

Crystal Lanes—Corning

25 Day 1 26 Day 2

Board Of Education

GR 6:00 PM

27 Day 3

4th Grade Singing @ Jackals

Game

30 NO SCHOOL 31 NO SCHOOL

Gardner Road

Elementary School

Character Education Tips for Home: RESPECT

-say please and thank you

-show respect for the Earth

-be a respectful role model for your child

-point out and praise children for showing respect

-teach your child to use good manners

Upcoming Events:

Principal Chat March 4, 6:00 p.m.

PTO Meeting March 4, 6:30p.m.

Early Dismissal -

11:50

March 4th

Family Fun Night -

Bowling

March 6, 6:30 p.m.

No School -

Conference Day

March 13th

4th Grade Singing at

Jackals Game

March 27th

No School - Spring

Recess

March 30 - April 3

Box Tops Update

Thank you to everyone who sent in Box Tops and entered the online contest. Box Tops can still be sent in throughout the rest of the school year. Just be sure to include your child’s name and teach-er’s name. Gardner Road also won a bonus $1,000 in the Grand Stand for Schools Sweepstakes through the Soup Labels for Education program!

GR PTO News

A best friend is like a four leaf clover:

Hard to find and lucky to have.

- Saint Patrick

PTO Officers President: Heather Davis

Vice-President: Kelly Cook

Treasurer: Erica Mendelsohn

Secretary: Amy Crandall

Email: pto.gardnerroad@gmail.com

Bowling!!

Our Family Fun night in March will be

Bowling at Gardner Road at 6:30 p.m.

This is one of the student’s favorite Family

Fun Night events. There will be many

alleys set up in the halls and gymnasium

to bowl on. We hope you can join us!

Pancake Breakfast We had many people brave the cold tem-peratures to come eat pancakes and bacon on February 15th at Applebee’s restaurant. The PTO will definitely be doing it again next year. Thank you as well to all of our volunteers!

New Vice President: The PTO would like to welcome Kelly Cook to the PTO Board. She brings many good ideas to the team and we look forward to working with her!

1 of 2

Gardner Road Elementary PTO

Meeting Minutes

February 4, 2015

Number of Attendees: 6

President: Heather Davis, Treasurer: Erica Mendelsohn, Secretary: Amy Crandall,

Principal: Patrick Patterson

Opening wi th general discussions:

PTO Request: Anything involving money should include the treasurer

Erica Mendelsohn in the communications.

Kelly Cook will be our new vice president. She has also agreed to Co-

chair the Ice Cream Social as well.

Staff Requests:

4th grade teachers have requested $75 to cover cost of Rockwell

museum to make corn husk dolls – approved by board

Principal’s Report:

Front entry is in, but waiting for electronics to come in. It should

done by end of the week.

Gardner Road is one of the national winners in the Box Tops $1,000

Grand Stand for Schools Sweepstakes.

Gardner Road will be hosting the districts March Board of Education

meeting. Presentation will be a movie. PTO can do either a talk or

Power Point presentation. The meeting will be held on March 26th at

6:00pm in the school cafeteria.

2 of 2

Site Base Team:

Currently working on the presentation for Board of Education

meeting

Dagget presentation – Looking into the trends from what the 100

most improving schools are doing. Site Base Team is going to look at

the schools reports to see if their ideas will work for Gardner Road.

Parent Council:

Discussed whether students know what to do for lockdown drills

Treasurer’s Report:

January totals: deposits – $2,353.56, expenses - $2,390.24, balance

on hand $10,006.31, outstanding approved requests total - $1,551.47

Old Business:

January Family Fun Night: Bingo. The event went well with many

participants

February Family Fun Night: Swimming. Building request, payment,

and flyer are all done.

Dining Out update - February will be at Applebee’s. Flyer is out

and tickets are coming in.

Vice President- Kelly Cook is a candidate

New Business:

Ice Cream Social – Still looking for a Chairperson. Looking into

getting ice cream donated

Dining Out Update- March Pizza Hut is an option

After School Clubs- Need Parental Feedback

SCRIPP spelling bee went well –next year will do only grades 2-4.

Closing:

Follow Up for Action Items –Look into increasing the involvement of room

moms during the day. Changing Spelling Bee Family Fun Night to another

idea (Joycrest, outdoor gardening/clean up). Need September event ideas.

OVER FOR MORE 1 of 2

PTO: March Agenda 2015

Opening with general discussions: (5 min) Heather

Staff Requests: (5 min)

Principal’s Report: (5 min) Patrick Patterson

Site Base Team: (5 min) Teachers

Parent Council: (5 min) Phil Davis

• Meeting cancelled this month

Treasurer’s Report: (5 min) Erica

• See report

• 501(c) and Incorporation status

Old Business: (5 min) Heather

• Vote in Kelly Cook as Vice President

• Ice Cream Social

o Chairperson Ideas- Kelly Cook and Heather Davis

o Donation of Ice Cream

• After School Clubs

• Dining Out Update- March will be at Pizza Hut

2 of 2

New Business: (20 min) Heather

• Dining Out Update- April

• Ice Cream Social (April Family Fun Night)-

o Ice Cream Donation

o Baskets- Coordinated by Room Moms

o Start Getting Volunteers

o Decorations for Out Front

• Room Mom Get Together

o During Basket Set Up for Ice Cream Social?

o Other ideas for how and when

• Looking Ahead:

o Teacher Appreciation Week

o May Family Fun Night

Closing: (5 min) All

• Follow Up for Action Items

• Anything for Next Meeting

Hunt Engineers, Architects & Land Surveyors, P.C.

Horseheads CSD Facility Utilization and

Grade Configuration Study

February 12, 2015

© 2015

Yellow Option

Yellow OPTION Building

Changes Estimated

Capital Construction

Cost

Estimated District Share

after State Building Aid

Estimated Net Annual

Savings

Grade Configuration

Yellow Closes: Center Street, Gardner Road

$12,125,583 $3,078,685 $920,598 Pre K-2 at Big Flats and Ridge Road; 3-6 at the Intermediate/Middle Building; 7-12 at the High School; District Offices at Center Street

Yellow

Within this option Gardner Road School would be closed. As part of this closing a BCS cost avoidance has been realized in the table above as follows: Gardner Road School: $2,846,480; Broad Street: $3,945,760 Total: $6,792,240.

Yellow Closes – Center and Gardner Schools Cost Impacts • Capital Cost (One Time – State Aided) $12,125,583 • Estimated 90% of scope aidable $10,913,025 • At 82.9% (Current) State Building Aid $9,046,898 • District Local Share of Cost +/- $3,078,685 (+ Interest amortized over 15 to 30 years)

• Staffing Savings (Per current 2014 projections) $867,913 • Utilities/Building Supplies $120,904 • Cost to maintain closed buildings -$68,219 • Net Annual Savings $920,598

• Estimated Savings over a 15 year period $13,808,970 (Less local share cost of capital project)

Yellow

CONCEPT / FACILITY

5 year BCS Items Cost

Incl. (Contingencies

, inflation & Incidentals)

Square Footage of Renovation

Square Footage

of Addition Reno Additions Site

Implementation Project Const.

Cost Incl. (Contingencies,

inflation, Incidentals)

$24,190,530 18,850 20,000 $4,763,250 $7,229,500 $133,333 $12,125,583 Big Flats Elementary $2,542,540 Broad Street (District Office) Center Street Elementary (5-6) $1,465,100 Gardner Road Elementary Ridge Road Elementary $1,872,780 Middle-Intermediate School (Pre-K-4) $4,630,080 High School North Wing (Grades 7-12) $6,728,540 20,000 $7,229,500 $133,333 $7,362,333 High School South Wing (Grades 7-12) $4,832,100 18,850 $4,763,250 $4,763,250 Bus Garage $1,343,160 Maintenance Shop $316,680 Field House $459,550

Yellow Pre-K-2

SCHOOL CURRENT

CLASSROOMS ANCILLARY

CLASSROOMS

CLASSROOM INCREASE VIA RENOVATIONS

NEW CLASSROOMS ADDITIONS

TOTAL CLASSROOM

COUNT BIG FLATS 23 8 0 0 31 RIDGE ROAD 20 6 0 0 26 GENERAL USE CLASSROOM 43 14 0 0 57

Grades 3-6

SCHOOL CURRENT

CLASSROOMS ANCILLARY

CLASSROOMS

CLASSROOM INCREASE VIA RENOVATIONS

NEW CLASSROOMS ADDITIONS

TOTAL CLASSROOM

COUNT IS / MS 58 23 0 0 81 GENERAL USE CLASSROOM 58 23 0 0 81

Grades 7-12

SCHOOL CURRENT

CLASSROOMS ANCILLARY

CLASSROOMS

CLASSROOM INCREASE VIA RENOVATIONS

NEW CLASSROOMS ADDITIONS

TOTAL CLASSROOM

COUNT HIGH SCHOOL 64 20 10 10 104 GENERAL USE CLASSROOM 64 20 10 10 104

Yellow

Yellow

Yellow

Yellow

Yellow

Yellow

Yellow

Yellow

HORSEHEADS CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT

FACILITY CAPACITY/UTILIZATION AND GRADE CONFIGURATION

TASK FORCE

THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 12, 2015

5- 7 P.M., MULTI-MEDIA CENTER

MINUTES

Present: Ralph Marino, Jr.; Elizabeth Scaptura; Ronald Holloway; Gregg Moyer; Shawn

McDonough; Joyce Arms; Henry Farr; Dan Austin; Cynthia Massey; Kristine Dale; Joe

Atkinson; Kevin Sullivan; Jeff Robbins

Excused: Brian Lynch; Doug Johnson; Anne Marie Bailey; Karen Donahue; Lisa Early; Rebecca

Parks; Nicole Elston; Gerald Altilio;

The meeting started at 5 p.m.

Welcome—Dr. Marino welcomed all those in attendance.

Second review of Option ORANGE DRAFT Educational Impact Statement Summary was

conducted and additional changes made.

First Review of Option PINK DRAFT Educational Impact Statement Summary was conducted

and changes made.

Option YELLOW Presentation as made by:

o Jeff Robbins, Principal/Architect (Hunt Engineers, Architects, & Land Surveyors,

P.C.)

Group work: Option YELLOW Impact Statement

o Each group worked on a part of the Impact Statement for Option PINK as per Board

Policy 7810.

o A draft will be reviewed at the next meeting.

Wrap-up and next steps were discussed.

Meeting adjourned at 6:15 p.m.

Next meetings (5-7 p.m.):

March 4 (Wed.), 2015

March 19, 2015

Elmira Heights Horseheads Community Advisory Committee Meeting

January 12, 2015 6:00--9:00 PM

Elmira Heights CSD Community Room

Minutes

1. The fifth meeting the Elmira Heights Horseheads Community Advisory Committee was held on January

12, 2015 at the Elmira Heights CSD Community Room from 6:00--9:00 PM.

2. Thomas Coseo welcomed the group and provided a brief recap of the December 15, 2014 CAC meeting

that included a discussion of curriculum and instruction focused on elementary school program

comparisons. Current athletic program and extra-curricular activities were discussed along with

opportunities and challenges facing a consolidated district in these areas. Building Condition Surveys,

class size guidelines, and building capacities were reviewed at the 12/15/14 meeting. The CAC

reviewed three options for the location of a consolidated district high school. The overwhelming choice

of the CAC was the current Horseheads High School site.

3. The CAC continued their discussion of facilities. Dave Adams and Jeff Robbins, Hunt Architect,

provided additional information about the districts’ Building Condition Surveys, recently completed

capital projects, and future capital needs.

4. The CAC was divided into three groups and asked to complete the following task:

Come to consensus on a plan for housing the kindergarten through grade eight student population

in a consolidated district;

Provide a rationale for your plan;

Report out.

The following represents the consensus plan for each group and the rationale. Committee members

were also asked to anonymously select one of the options and provide a rationale for their individual choice.

Group 1

Create four pre-kindergarten through grade five elementary schools locating the schools at

Cohen ES/MS, Big Flats ES, Ridge Road ES, and Gardner Road ES. Create one grade six

through eight middle school at the Sing Sing Road location.

Rationale:

Meets capacity considerations;

Best building conditions;

Elementary students would have less travel at these locations;

Middle school location meets capacity and facility requirements;

These minutes are designed to accompany the PowerPoint presentation used at this meeting, as well as well as the Curriculum and

Instruction handout provided to CAC members.

Edison could serve as space for administrative offices, rental space for BOCES, or as a

location for advanced placement courses.

Six committee members preferred this option. Comments included:

Good for students, socially. Closes at least two buildings. Could use savings to enhance

programs.

Keeps students equal in terms of maturity by grade levels. Elmira Heights voters will be more

willing to vote yes if Thomas Edison High School is utilized.

Plan 1 or 2. All plans seemed similar. I feel we need to look at a different plan that would close

yet another building and add classrooms on to a school we would keep open.

9-12 at Horseheads HS (accelerated course work). 6-8 at Sing Sing (program modeled after

NYS middle school). PK-5 at Cohen, Big Flats, Ridge Road and Gardner Road (consistent

neighborhood schools).

Plan 1, however, Edison needs to be used so that plan would need to be modified. Keeping

elementary students closest to home base is important.

All schools meet enrollment capacity. Buildings selected are in good condition. Less travel for a

majority of the students. Use Edison for district office, rent to BOCES or use it as a “magnet”

school for advanced high school courses or make it a grade 6 school only. Second choice, plan

2 has good merits which can be combined with plan 1.

Group 2

Create five pre-kindergarten through grade five elementary schools located at Big Flats, Ridge

Road, Gardner Road and the equivalent of two elementary schools located at Cohen ES/MS.

One grades six through eight middle school at the Sing Sing location.

Rationale:

Minimum renovations required at Sing Sing Road complex to “unify” current schools;

Middle school would be centrally located for both Horseheads and Elmira Heights

students;

Middle school issue—concern with access points and traffic flow;

Plan would close Edison and Broad Street schools;

Center Street School could be closed or used for district offices or UPK program;

Plan would entail some redistricting of elementary school population.

Eight committee members preferred this option. Comments included:

We will not realize enough savings and integration of students with two grades 5-8 middle

schools. We need to close schools, including at least 1 Horseheads elementary school and

Edison. I also liked the idea of a “Freshman Academy” if we could make that work.

Best plan. I feel you have the ability to save the most money without cutting education.

Need to merge students at a middle school age. Need to close at least 2 schools in order to show

significant savings. May even consider a 5-8 at Sing Sing with renovations and classroom

additions, and then close Gardner, Center, and Edison.

I am for plan 2 with the exception of closing Edison. I believe we can adjust the grade levels and

find a use for it. I don’t believe the Heights residents will approve a consolidation plan that

includes a closing of Edison. I believe 2 schools should be closed.

Plan 2 works best due to building capacity and true consolidation of the districts and is most

cost effective. I like plan 3 and think if we can “save” Edison we should, but I don’t think it will

be a true consolidation and I agree that it will keep the students divided.

Points on the flip chart I agree with. Something I wondered if Horseheads should keep Broad

Street until this is decided so that it could be used to show the State additional savings.

Plan 2 is the most logical plan—minimal renovations, reduced travel to sites, closes buildings,

provides opportunities for renovations to improve teaching spaces, truly combines districts by

uniting students starting in grade 6.

Group 3

Create four kindergarten through grade four elementary schools located at Cohen (600 students

and include prekindergarten program and BOCES program), Big Flats (400 students), Gardner

Road (400 students), and Ridge Road (400 students). Create two grades 5-8 middle schools

located at Sing Sing (1,200 students and BOCES programs) and Edison (400 students).

Rationale:

Minimal impact on young students;

Better utilization of existing buildings.

Eight committee members preferred this option. Comments included:

I think plan 3 has the best potential, although not the best scenario. There is not enough cost

savings—just shuffling students around, closing only one school. Bottom line, there is too much

remodeling in the Horseheads district buildings to give any savings to tax payers in the Heights

district.

I prefer plan 3 using Edison and Sing Sing for a middle school with Edison used for grade 5 and

Sing Sing used for grades 6-8. This would bring all district students together in grade 5. Close

Center Street and make Cohen all elementary.

Edison can’t close! I like the idea of plan 3 the best, allowing for integrating the students before

high school. I agree it is important to bring students together at a younger age for better

cohesion…maybe do a 5-6 at Edison and a 7-8 at Sing Sing or vice versa. Sing Sing is probably

better equipped for younger students and leaves room for BOCES expansion.

I think plan 3 works best because it keeps Edison open and it is more apt to pass. I would

suggest pre-kindergarten through grade 4 at Big Flats and Ridge Road, a grades 5-6

intermediate school and pre-kindergarten at Sing Sing, grades 7-8 at Cohen, grade 9 at Edison,

and grades 10-12 at Horseheads HS.

Includes keeping Edison open, so yes.

I like plan 3 because it strikes the best balance between closing schools and using the best

buildings. Edison HS is in very good shape and it would be a shame not to use this building.

Another option with number 3 is to close another HH elementary school and make Cohen ES

larger. A third option with number 3 is to place the 5-8 students from Edison into Cohen, but

this keeps Cohen in essentially the same position it is now. It would be interesting to see if there

is any way to use Edison as a grade 5 or grade 9 school and use Sing Sing as the 6-8 school

Preference is number 3. Four prekindergarten-grade 4 elementary schools. Two 5-8 schools at

Sing Sing and Edison. Might be better to do a single grade at Edison either 5 or 8. Might better

prepare students for a 9-12 high school. Closing either Cohen or TAE would likely result in a no

vote from the Heights community. Need to minimize impact on younger students across both

communities to get support. Concern would be if savings from 1 building closure and savings in

overall administrative costs would be enough to get State approval. Additional option would be

to close a second Horseheads elementary school and add classrooms at other locations.

Three committee members did not select a particular plan but provided the following comments:

The plan I like best is number 4. Close Center Street, Gardner Road, Ridge Road, and Broad

Street. Tear down Center Street and Horseheads HS and build a new 9-12 complex. Cohen and

Big Flats would be pre-kindergarten to grade three schools. Grades 4-5 would attend Edison

and grades 6-8 would attend Sing Sing.

Plan 4—pre-kindergarten-grade 4 at Cohen, Big Flats, Gardner Road, and Ridge Road; grade 5

at Edison; grades 6-8 at Sing Sing. Merges students at an earlier age. Utilizes facilities without

too much change. Keeps Edison for athletic facilities.

Optimal plan—pre-kindergarten through grade 4 at Cohen, Big Flats, Gardner Road, and Ridge

Road; grades 5-6 at Edison; grades 7-8 at Sing Sing; Close Center Street. Least resistance from

community. Allows for extra capacity.

5. Roger Gorham provided information on employee contracts. Key points Dr. Gorham stressed included:

The consolidation of the Elmira Heights and Horseheads School Districts would require the

negotiation of new contracts.

Existing contracts would remain in place until successor agreements are negotiated.

Given differing representation models in the two districts, labor would first need to determine the

union(s) that will represent them.

The new Board of Education and labor unions are free to negotiate contracts that vary from the

existing contracts in either district.

6. Thomas Coseo provided comparative information on the districts’ transportation programs. Because of

the extensive cooperation that already exists between the two districts, merging these programs in a

consolidated district could be relatively seamless. However, one major difference that would need to be

resolved is student eligibility for transportation. Elmira Heights provides transportation service to only

those K-5 students living more than 1 mile from school and only to those 6-12 students living more than

1.25 miles from school. Horseheads provides transportation service to all students. Bus stops are placed

every ¼ mile so that no student is required to walk more than 1/8th mile to a bus stop. Adopting the

Elmira Heights policy would result in cost savings in a consolidated district. Adopting the Horseheads

policy would result in cost increases in a consolidated district.

7. Thomas Coseo provided comparative information on the districts’ food service programs. Both districts

provide the service through GST BOCES and the same person supervises both programs. It would not

be difficult to merge these services in a consolidated district. Some cost savings could be realized if

certain buildings are decommissioned.

8. A document providing responses to CAC questions developed at the September 8, 2014 meeting was

distributed.

9. The meeting concluded with a brief outline of the agenda for the next Community Advisory Committee

meeting, scheduled for 6:00 PM, on Monday, March 16, 2015 at the Horseheads CSD Multi-Media

Center. The agenda will include a discussion of staffing, fiscal conditions of the districts, and

background information.

10. The meeting adjourned at 9:00 PM.