New Clubs for Delaware Academy Proposed

International Culture Club Approved, Ski Club Proposed

DELHI - The Delaware Academy Central School District Board of Education unanimously approved the creation of an International Culture Club at the regular meeting on Nov. 13. The proposal for the club was submitted by High School Principal Crystal Trask. 

High School students Erin and Sofia developed the club which will explore the cultures of countries outside the United States. "We hope to taste as many different foods, speak with people from around the world, and learn as much as we can about places unlike our own," the petition states. "This is a great way for us to explore more cultural understanding," said Erin. The goal is to bring culture and current international events to the rural town to encourage deep discussion. According to Erin, the students hope to take small trips if possible.

The club is self-funded by members and there will be no stipend for its advisor Phillip All. 

Meetings will be held biweekly with membership accepted for anyone in ninth grade until graduation. A constitution will be developed upon the first meeting and submitted to Trask. 

The club proposal states it is accepting of all race, creed, gender, nationality, and/or arbitrary criteria. 

"I think this is an amazing idea," said Board President Tammy Neumann.

In other business, Mr. Bethany asked the board to consider redevelopment of a ski club or program. Bethany participated in Ski Club when he was in primary school at Delaware Academy. Club members would meet every Thursday night and be bussed to a ski mountain where they would ski all night. "I have a six-year-old daughter," said Bethany, "When I asked about ski club and they said it doesn't exist anymore it was heartbreaking because it was something that was very very important to me and a lot of other students of my generation and the generations before that." Bethany said after starting a petition for the club to come back, promoting it on social media, and talking with parents, there is a lot of interest in it. Bethany secured over 80 signatures by the Nov. 13 meeting. "People want this to happen in the community," he said, "There is not much for children to do in the winter time, and providing those outlets that are away from television is very important these days."

He asked the board to review Franklin and Downsville central school districts' ski programs to gain a general idea of the organization. He said the budget will likely include faculty and chaperone stipends, bus driver costs, and fuel. 

Bethany has reached out to the Livestock Foundation in Bovina and the O'Connor Foundation in Delhi for possible grant opportunities. The grants would help support students who could not afford ski passes or gear. 

The Ski club Bethany participated in was dissolved in the early 2000s due to a need for budget cuts and a lack of membership. A program was reinstated shortly after as an out-of-school club for a few years. According to Superintendent Kelly Zimmerman, the program is still written into the transportation contract. Zimmerman has already spoken with the transportation director and reached out to other local school districts that have ski programs to discuss. Zimmerman said the previous out-of-school program cost $12,000 annually for transportation for an eight-week program with four advisors. 

Zimmerman also reached out to Plattekill Mountain in Roxbury. Plattekill continues to offer discounted season passes, rental gear, and lessons to Delaware Academy students even though the ski program ended. Zimmerman hopes to gain an understanding of what participation would be if the district started a program by how many families utilize the Platkill discount.

"I would love to support this again, I think opportunities for our students are a great thing. Coming out of COVID we had resurrected many of our prior activities and created new ones where there is an interest," said Zimmerman. She added that the district would be unable to start it for this ski season as the budget has already passed. It would need to be proposed to voters in the spring for the 2024-2025 budget.

One resident asked the board to consider partnering with Belleayre Mountain rather than Plattekill. She claimed the mountains are the same distance and a season pass at Belleayre offers more than Plattekill which opens a month after Belleayre and only on the weekends. She also said the season pass at Belleayre is cheaper than Plattekill.

Zimmerman explained that these are all details that the board will need to review before or if a program is initiated. 

Neumann said it will be important to secure data on potential participation. She explained that she once helped develop a before and after-school care program. The program only lasted two years due to a lack of participation.

The next Board of Education meeting is scheduled Dec. 18 at 5 p.m.