Thank you for service to schools, community

Next week marks School Board Recognition Week in New York State (October 29 - November 2, 2012), and I want to publicly thank our school board members, President Mark Scully, Vice President Chris Chartrand, Jeffrey Clermont, Jennifer Donovan and Matt Ethier for working tirelessly on behalf of our students and our schools.

School board members are district residents—elected to three-year terms—who are responsible for making decisions at the local level about what is best for our students and for the community. The five members of our school board serve voluntarily and are often called upon to make tough decisions and confront the numerous challenges we face in public education today.

School board members are true advocates for our students—they attend numerous school functions and provide financial stewardship and leadership to ensure that our mission of educating every student, every day is achieved in a safe and healthy environment. Our board generously volunteers their time and energy to improve the education we offer to Watervliet’s students while also considering and balancing the concerns of local taxpayers.

When I think of the district’s most recent accomplishments—our new athletic facilities being recognized as an outstanding project in a national architectural magazine, the state grant we have received to improve teacher and leader effectiveness in our classrooms—behind all of it is the unwavering support of our school board.

During the October 16 Board of Education meeting, I read a Proclamation from Governor Andrew Cuomo, which commends board members for their many hours of volunteer service to elementary and secondary public education as they continually strive for improvement, progress, and excellence in education. The proclamation states, “The members of New York's local school boards respond to the educational needs of the communities they serve, and in doing so, these leaders help strengthen our state’s educational system and improve future prospects for our children.” Read the Executive Chamber Proclamation

I ask that when you see our school board members out in your neighborhoods next week or any time, that you join me in thanking them for their dedicated leadership in public education and their continuing service to children, our schools and the community.