There’s a new leader at the top of the Fulton Board of Education.
Board member David Cordone was elected President during Tuesday night’s reorganizational meeting. He replaces Robbin Griffin, whose tenure of more than two decades on the board ended in June.
Rosemary Occhino continues as Vice President, while Fred Cavalier takes the post of Clerk from Brian Hotaling.
It marked the first meeting for Dan Pawlewicz, who rejoined the board after previously declining to run for reelection.
The board then ran through its annual agenda of appointing various officers and authorizing policies that must be renewed every year.
During its regular business meeting, the board:
- Heard that the district will have more flexibility to spend money on education because of a waiver obtained by the state from requirements of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act, commonly called “No Child Left Behind”. The waiver removes the requirement that 30% of the federal money be used for supplemental educational services and professional development;
- Heard that the district did well in a recent audit of its Title I program. Executive Director of Instruction and Assessment Betsy Conners explained that the state auditor found a few problems, but some of them were things that the district was doing right but which the auditor did not see during her brief visit. For the rest, the district has already submitted a plan to the state to improve. “There was nothing of real concern,” she said of the audit’s findings. “Just some of our procedures as far as paperwork.”
- Approved the district’s revised Code of Conduct;
- Gave its annual milk business to Fulton’s Hudson Dairy, which submitted the low bid;
- Approved new textbooks in social studies and math;
- Accepted letters of disclosure from Hotaling and from music department facilitator Debra Farden. Each has interest in a business that does or could do business with the district. Hotaling’s wife operates Kathy’s Cakes and Specialty Treats, while Farden and her husband own Midstate Music;
- Accepted the retirement of custodian Robert Harmon and the resignation of teacher aide Susan Darling;
- Appointed Jeffrey Rothrock head football coach. Rothrock replaces Mike Conners, who ended his long and successful tenure as Fulton football and wrestling coach with his decision to become athletic director and football coach at Oswego. Robert Galina was named Rothrock’s assistant. Matt Kipland was named head JV football coach, with Daniel Murray as his assistant. Jeff Waldron was named head coach of the modified football squad, with Harry Meeker as the assistant coach.
- Offered resolutions of respect to retiring staff members Katherine Biss, Melanie Bock, Kathleen Kinney, Stephen Kush, Patricia Lok, Mike Schroeder, Elaine McIntyre, Kathleen Rossi, Deborah Walbereger, Dave Wilson, Diane Wilson, Georgia Wood and Lynn Swayze.
