JOHNSTOWN — The Greater Johnstown School District’s faculty union president told the Board of Education recently that city teachers aren’t just vacationing this summer.
JTA President Nancy Lisicki in her monthly “building” report said JTA members have been busy to some degree concentrating on education matters.
“The JTA works closely with our administration,” she said.
Lisicki said the Johnstown teachers are spending the summer “recharging, planning” for future school days. She said the teachers have been training on new curriculums, training on instructional leadership, and getting ready for the next school year.
“It’s the most rewarding and exhausting job,” she said of being a teacher.
Lisicki said the teachers have been spending free time getting ready on such items as scheduling. Some are working on “bridge” programs for early learners. Others are busy working on their master’s degrees, she said.
“They’re going to bring all this stuff back to their classrooms for this fall and years to come,” Lisicki said. “The employees aren’t just idly sitting by and waiting for Labor Day to come.”
In other business:
∫ Board President Christopher Tallon discussed future board communication procedures, and ideas for changes to the district’s vision statement. He said his plan as new board president is to set a date for a meeting, but then “reach out” to board members for any additional matters they would like included in the meeting’s agenda.
“I think the best way to go is to send it to me,” Tallon said.
He said he will then forward board additions for the agenda to the superintendent.
∫ The board approved a Memorandum of Agreement with Gloversville’s Family Counseling Center for the 2019-20 school year. The MOA is for counseling, crisis intervention and referral services for students identified “in need” by the Greater Johnstown School District during the next school year.
∫ Approved were tuition rates for the 2019-20 school year. The $3,542 K-12 rate is retroactive to July 1 and runs through June 30, 2020.
∫ The board approved a Shared Services Agreement with the Greater Amsterdam School District (district of attendance) for special education services. Accepted was the recommendation of the superintendent to approve an agreement between the Johnstown district as the district of residence and the Amsterdam district as the district of attendance for certain programs or placements for special education services during the period Sept. 1 through June 30, 2020.
Michael Anich covers Johnstown and Fulton County news. He can be reached at [email protected]
