New Sharon Springs School Board member Patrick Yacobucci was sworn in at the July 13 reorganization meeting.
SHARON SPRINGS — All is organized for the 2026-27 school year in the Sharon Springs Central School District.
At its Monday, July 13 reorganization meeting, the school board again selected Helen Roberts to serve as president for another year. Sofia Issa will succeed Christine Cornwell as vice-president after she decided not to seek reelection this year. New school board member Patrick Yacobucci was sworn in.
Roberts is entering her 27th year on the school board and fourth straight year as president after also serving as president during various other times during her tenure.
"We have a great administration to work with," Roberts said. "There have been lots of bumps over the years but when you have a good staff and good administration, you slide over the bumps."
Among dozens of other measures approved during the reorganization meeting, the board made committee assignments for the school year and approved pay rates for various positions, including $140 a day for certified substitutes and $120 a day for non-certified, with non-certified substitutes with a four-year degree getting $125 a day.
Health insurance contracts were ratified with CDPHP, Empire Health Choice PPO, Delta Dental and NYSUT Vision Plan. Six financial institutions were approved as official depositories, and the free and reduced price lunch program was approved for 2026-27.
In a regular business meeting held immediately after the reorganization meeting, the board approved a SEQRA (State Environmental Quality Review Act) resolution for the 2026 capital outlay project. Superintendent Tom Yorke and Business Manager Tony DiPace explained that the $100,000 project will be either a replacement of the school district's wireless network, or improvements to the conference room and principal's office.
DiPace announced low bidders for the district's upcoming $3.4 million capital project that will include $1 million for an energy performance contract that will involve new lights, heating controls and other measures to improve energy efficiency. He said the low bidders will be notified and that actual contracts should be ready for the board to consider at the August meeting.
Other work to be done in the total $3.4 million project includes two new pickleball courts, a tennis court and basketball court; replacing the playground surface; changing entrances to allow after-hours public access to the weight room and repaving the parking lots in the area of the bus garage and the athletic fields. DiPace added there is still $448,000 left for additional work and he, Yorke and the school board members will consider options.
DiPace said there was more interest in the project from contractors than he expected.
"We got a good turnout," he said. "It was a real favorable bid process and I'm thankful for that."
During personnel actions at the end of the meeting, the board voted to officially acknowledge the retirement of DiPace from his full-time business manager's job after 27 years in that position. The retirement is effective Aug. 29.
DiPace explained he plans to continue on in a part-time role but that state rules require a retirement from the full-time position before that can happen. Under the administrative restructuring, DiPace said he will continue to handle business affairs and the budget but Yorke will be taking on more of DiPace's other duties that include directing pretty much all non-instructional departments in the school district. DiPace estimated he will be working roughly two-thirds of his current load under the new arrangement.
Other personnel actions saw the board approve several coaching positions for the upcoming fall season. Cyle Conley was approved as boys varsity soccer coach, Sam Bonderoff as boys modified soccer coach, Randi Korona as girls varsity soccer coach, Kelsey Girard as girls modified soccer coach and Richard Kendle as boys varsity soccer scorekeeper. The board also approved the hiring of Joshua Bivins as a computer support specialist and accepted the resignation of elementary teacher Rebecca Sniffin.
The August meeting was changed from Aug. 17 to Aug. 10 after it was determined more board members would be able to attend on the 10th.
