Charlotte Valley Excited About New Spaces For Students

DAVENPORT  – There's a lot going on at Charlotte Valley Central School as they are ready to welcome students back on Thursday, Sept. 4.

Superintendent Eric Whipple said they welcome six new faces, including two new positions.

"I think the biggest accomplishment is the fact that 95 percent of our $13.3 million capital project, underway for the past one and a half to two years, is 95 percent complete," he said. It is coming in on time, a little under budget and all that remains are some finishing touches that will take place this fall.

What that means is students will have a brand new library, art room, music and chorus room and instrumental music room. They began utilizing the new kitchen and cafeteria last January and the exterior window work is now completed. The new track was opened last fall.

"We are really looking forward to utilizing our new instructional spaces. Kudos to the team and school staff for all their flexibility over the past year and a half, working from different locations and with different procedures. He said he also appreciates all of the community's support in providing these new spaces that will add to the programming for students.

It has allowed them to hire Emily Gibson as a full time Library Media Specialist. She brings a great deal of experience. She will be using the library's literary programs and integrating them with the teacher's curricula. Elementary classes will have a library class once every six days and the middle school students will have a library seminar class. She will be integrating programming and collaborating research and media projects to compliment the teacher's classes.

The other course coming back to the classroom at CVCS is business education. Arthur Rigas will be shared with the Schenevus Central three half days per week. He will be teaching personal money management to every senior student and offering entrepreneurship to students who may already be attending BOCES classes or those thinking of opening a business in the future. The third class he will be teaching is presentation software and how to utilize what is out there in the world of business.

"We are real excited about the business program. Our goal is to build on it even though it is not a required program anymore," he  said. Students will learn how to write checks, balance accounts, establish budgets and other useful skills necessary for college and life after high school. "Myself and the board believe it's a program that is incredibly important whether you are planning to open your own business, going off to college or working for someone else. It will provide the fundamental skills."

CVCS is also welcoming  Patricia Kennedy and Linda Patton as licensed teaching assistants and Beladee Griffiths, high school special education, and Trinity Johnson, second grade teacher. 

Whipple is also proud of the fact they have increased the number of college credits they can offer students, which saves them money and provides an opportunity to take additional college course. "We are expanding those credits from 24 to 36," he said. Again he gave praise to the teachers for becoming accredited to teach these courses.

Over the summer, a team of stakeholders worked together to develop a three-year strategic plan that addresses academics, capacity and environment and culture, each with three to five goals. That plan is now being tweaked and finalized for presentation to the rest of the district. "We are attempting to keep focused on moving in a positive way," said Whipple.

They also have a team to develop strategies for the student attendance policy. Every school district is required to have a policy. Since the pandemic, there has been a greater percentage of student absences in general. The team at Charlotte Valley has revamped  the policy to increase expectations and develop a strategy of what they can do to help intervene or support students. "We want students engaged in some activity at school, no matter what it is. Our goal is to reduce any barriers and find ways to engage the students while they are here." If the students are engaged in something, then they want to be there. This includes some new clubs for elementary students, such as poetry club, coding club and environmental club.

Like all other school districts in the state, they have developed a policy for cell phones and other Internet devices. “The stakeholders have developed a policy that will utilize the Yndr pouches that will be provided to each student. Staff and employees will also be prohibited from using their cell phones while they are engaging with students. “It puts everyone on the same footing. It will be a hard transition for everyone. It should increase interaction and transform the school in a positive way of engagement.”

"We are extremely excited to welcome the students back with new spaces and new programming," said Whipple.