Public comment yields ag and language discussion with BOE

Diane Schaeffer of Elizaville spoke during a Pine Plains Central School District (PPCSD) Board of Education (BOE) meeting, during public comments, on Wednesday, July 16. Schaeffer, an art teacher in the Hyde Park Central School District, has two children, 8 and 15, in the PPCSD.Speaking from the perspective of a teacher working with small student numbers, Schaeffer emphasized the importance of offering a variety of educational choices.“I’m speaking about the ag situation but also about choices in general,” she said. “I feel as though with the really small group of small classes that we have, it’s really important to keep choices wide open.”Schaeffer added that her daughter, a Stissing Mountain High School student, is interested in agricultural photography.“I have no idea what that means; I don’t know that she knows what it means. But she has set her sights on something that she is enthusiastic about,” the parent said, encouraging the district to foster such interest.The parent also spoke to the district’s limited language program — offering Spanish without alternatives.“I know from experience in my life that not having choices is just mentally and emotionally restrictive and it confines you,” she said, “and I just want to say that as a taxpayer, I support keeping those choices open and not narrowing the horizons of the kids.”Handler’s responseSuperintendent Martin Handler responded to Schaeffer’s concerns, addressing first the agriculture program.Program Advisor Christine MacNeil resigned earlier this year after the position was reduced to being a .6 part-time position.“You’re right,” Handler said, “the ag program is something that is very critical to us. One of the problems, if you would, is we have a very healthy FFA, and ag courses that have not really been well subscribed.”The superintendent told Schaeffer that her ideas resonated and that he would like to emphasize aspects of the program like horticulture and ag leadership.“Kids can take ag courses without ever having the intention of going into farming,” he said, citing the example in Schaeffer’s daughter. “We’re being challenged in finding a teacher right now. We are moving heaven and Earth to be able to do that,” he added.The superintendent then addressed Schaeffer’s language concern, recalling the district’s former China Exchange Program.“I am going to be asking the board — I have an opportunity, maybe, to go to China in November with the College Board. The cost of the whole trip — tax, tip and everything — is $900,” he said.Handler noted that this would include an opportunity to meet with the Chinese Education Department.“My hope is, in 2015, that we can get a guest teacher from China who would be able to offer Mandarin in our school,” he said, adding that the program could include a language and culture overview for lower grades and full Mandarin classes as a language alternative for high schoolers.Handler asked the board to consider the venture. The school board meets next on Wednesday, Aug. 6.