Gilboa-Conesville Teacher Seeks To Bring Back Varsity Club

GILBOA-CONESVILLE — Physical Education Teacher-Athletic Director Daniel McGlynn is seeking to revive the long-dormant Varsity Club at Gilboa-Conesville Central School.

He gave a presentation on the idea at the Thursday, Nov. 20 school board meeting. While all the details have not been worked out, McGlynn said the club would be open to Junior Varsity and Varsity athletes who would have to meet criteria like maintaining a certain grade point average. Members could be required to participate in at least two sports, either in a school year or during their high school careers, he added.

Among the several advantages of having a Varsity Club again after several years without one would be "developing leadership and supporting athletics throughout the school," McGlynn said. The club could organize spirit activities, hold fundraisers, help organize the end-of-year athletics banquet and bring in alumni and other guests to speak _ among other activities _ he noted.

"I really like the idea of working with younger kids," said School Board President Greg Woodcock.

In other actions from the Nov. 20 meeting, Superintendent Bonnie Johnson reported that the school is transitioning into managed Information Technology services and now has a dedicated district technician. She said there are certain areas of the school that lag in WiFi and the technician is trying to clean that up. The school district was recently the victim of a cyber breach and GC officials are working with investigators to get to the bottom of that situation, Johnson continued.

She further reported that things are progressing on the big $7.9 million capital project that will feature various improvements to different areas of the school and school grounds. A bids opening is scheduled for Dec. 9 and the school board will hopefully  award bids at its Dec. 18 meeting, Johnson said.

The school board approved contracts with the Charlotte Valley and Cobleskill-Richmondville School Districts that will allow some GC students to attend special education programs in those districts, with GC paying the expenses.

Also approved was the 2026 Homerun Program agreement. That's a program run out of Schoharie County for families in need of certain supports, Johnson explained.

The Gilboa-Conesville PTO/Booster Club was proud to host the Billy Martin Cole Circus the night of Nov. 20. All the proceeds from the event will directly support the GC student body and community, Johnson wrote in an email to this newspaper after the Nov. 20 meeting.

"One of the PTO/Booster Club goals is to bring new and exciting activities to our district events that encourage families and community members to get involved and stay connected," she stated. "We look forward to hosting more family focused events in the future as we continue to raise funds and support our students."

In personnel actions approved near the end of the Nov. 20 meeting, the school board granted amended approvals for Claudia Owen as Modified Boys basketball coach and Clyde Cole as Junior Varsity boys basketball coach. Named as elementary basketball coaches were Daniel McGlynn, Claudia Ludwin, Andrew Dumas and Jacqueline Cestare.

Clyde Cole was approved as a permanent substitute and Bailey Hughes as substitute UPK-12 teacher and Licensed Teacher Assistant. Nicholas Merwin was approved as a substitute UPK-12 teacher and LTA, and Cassidy Cox as substitute nurse, UPK-12 teacher and LTA.

The board approved Michelle Dumas as scorekeeper and shot clock operator for the winter sports season, and Jackie Cestare as shot clock operator. Kelly Reynolds was approved as an LTA effective Nov. 10. Corrected tenures were approved for LTAs Felina Marshall and Denise Calabrese, with Marshall's tenure date corrected to Nov. 1, 2022 and Calabrese's tenure date corrected to Sept. 1, 2023.