Considering Rachel’s Challenge

WEBUTUCK — After  High School Principal Drew Hopkins’ presentation to the Board of Education, the board voted unanimously to work toward bringing Rachel’s Challenge to Eugene Brooks Intermediate School and Webutuck High School.

Rachel’s Challenge is a national school program used to prevent teen violence. Rachel Scott, the inspiration for the program, was the first victim of the Columbine High School massacre in 1999.

Hopkins said the program was used to great success in the Taconic Hills district, where he previously worked. Some of the key points of the program include a student-run guide system to integrate new students into the community and a revolving system designed to ensure that students are not isolated by their classmates.

“In a school this size, no one should be sitting alone,� Hopkins said.

The desired result for the program is a snowball effect, where one good deed causes another. Publicly hung paper chains are formed by each good deed noticed.

The program would start with a presentation made by a speaker from Rachel’s Challenge, which Hopkins said is “very powerful and very moving.� Following the presentation, a training session is used to utilize that momentum for the future and establish a Friends of Rachel club for the school, which will be directly involved with all future initiatives.

The program is heading to the area in October, Hopkins said. The cost is $4,000, but a $1,000 discount is available if the group is already in close proximity to the school. The cost of Rachel’s Challenge, in addition to the opening presentation, also includes online interactive material and program staff input, Hopkins said.

“This is something we can do here that will make a difference in how people act, behave and carry out their lives,� Hopkins emphasized.

Board of Education (BOE) President Dale Culver said he was very interested in the program, and pointed out that Mike O’Neil, who was the elementary school principal a few years ago, had started something similar to the good deed paper chains for the elementary school program that was very successful. Culver said he would like to see that program reinstated for the children in the district too young for Rachel’s Challenge.

“I’d like to reinvigorate the whole thing so it’s schoolwide,� Culver said, “and turns out kids who are not only lifelong learners, but lifelong good citizens.�

The money for the program has not been raised yet, interim Superintendent David Paciencia said, because the administration wanted to run the idea past the board first. However, with the board’s approval, the district can begin to approach various local organizations for support. Culver immediately offered to donate to the program as the owner of The Round Tuit Restaurant on Route 22.

Enrollment numbers

will be analyzed

In other board news, Paciencia announced this year’s enrollment numbers and compared them to years previous.

The total enrollment, counted on Sept. 14 (not the opening day of school, which the superintendent said was often not a good indicator of the school’s actual enrollment), was 817 students, 44 fewer than last year. The largest percentage of that 44 was found in last year’s ninth, 10th and 11th grades, now this year’s 10th, 11th and 12th. Those three grades lost 27 students in the transition.

“We need to go back and see how, when and why,� Paciencia said. “That number is not acceptable.�

Liability insurance
increased

The board agreed to spend $1,300 more per year to upgrade liability insurance coverage from $2 million to $5 million.

“It’s a no-brainer,� Culver said. “It gives a lot more protection for John Q Public.�

The board is also looking into underground tank storage insurance, which Culver said was a must.

“It’s not a great deal of money for a substantial amount of coverage,� he said.

Board says yes to more

security cameras

Several more security cameras will be added to those already planned for the district. The plan was originally to install 16 cameras; however, one module holds a bank of 16 cameras, and trustees agreed that it would be better to purchase an additional module now in case the need for more arises. Each module costs $10,000, plus $2,000 for every camera. Three additional cameras will also be ordered.

Ag teacher to present

at October meeting

Paciencia announced that the new agricultural teacher, who is advising the FFA program at Webutuck, will be giving a presentation to the board in October as to the progress made so far and ideas for the rest of the school year. Culver reported the school has been in contact and is working with the Cornell Cooperative Extension. He said the school is “probably in more contact in the last three weeks than the last three years.�

After the meeting, Culver reported that, moving forward, more presentations will be scheduled, hoping for at least one per meeting.

“There will be a much greater display of what’s going on in the school, as to what we actually do every day,� Culver explained.

The next Board of Education meeting was scheduled for Sept. 21, after this paper’s publication deadline.