School Board Related Experience and Involvement
- Active member School Safety Committee – Initiated the accident investigation sub team
- Active member Finance/Audit Committee
- Initiated an annual 5 year financial plan and review.
- Led and or supported audit findings of material substance for control and correction.
- Initiated activities and procedures to improve upon the control of school activity funds.
- Initiated and led School Resource officer investigation subcommittee
- Lobbied in Albany on behalf of the district in 2010
- Seminars, events & meetings attended:
- Positive Behavioral Interventions and Supports RE PBIS NOW UNDERWAY IN ACS!
- Olweus Bullying Prevention Program NOW UNDERWAY IN ACS!
- Al Hawk Award Dinner for Norbert Fuest for exemplary school board service.
- Financial and audit control training specific to school board members
- Seminar on finding new supplemental revenue sources for public schools
- Attended Genesee Valley Educational Partnership board meetings on behalf of ACS
- Attend numerous ACS events as a board member on a regular basis, concerts, award, recognition, and sporting events, public budget presentations, public "town hall" events etc
- ACS Goal Setting Workshops annually
- Board Member reading to kindergarten kids
- Met with our Principal to begin the use of College board certified Advanced Placement courses next year to supplement our Advanced Studies programs through GCC. NOTE IN 2011/12 OUR FIRST TWO AP COURSES WILL BE OFFERED!
- Working on bringing a KAPLAN SAT 10 week Prep Course into our school for 2011/2012
- Interviews – Ken Hammel for HS Principal, Rebecca Green for Special Education Chair
- Integrated pest management subcommittee
As a last word I am very well aware we have a drug problem in our community and school. Prescription drugs are being abused by students and others. While this may make us angry that our children in school are exposed to this issue there are underlying causes that cause these children to turn to drugs. They need our help. I believe the Positive Behavioral Interventions and Support system and the Olweus Bullying Prevention Program that I personally investigated and pushed for is a step in the right direction. Despite a survey that indicated our parents were supportive of a School Resource Officer by nearly a 2 to 1 margin I lost this battle. It is often misunderstood in that the role of an SRO is not to arrest students but to assist in identifying and garnering help for troubled students while protecting those that need protection. I have not given up on this, and I never will.
UPDATE 5/13/11: Just received word that we have been awarded a 3 year grant for a full time SRO to serve in our high school sharing time with Attica and 4 other local schools! "Deputy Ivan" will be coming in soon to meet with our team and students. He will perform his duties in plain clothes and will be getting to know our students. Another great example of persistence paying off. I want to thank Mr Hammel and Mr Spink for their efforts in bringing this to fruition. It shows me how much they care.