Webutuck looks to improve with multiple staff changes

WEBUTUCK — Editor’s note: Webutuck has experienced some significant changes in staff and policy during the summer months. Look for an upcoming issue to feature interviews with some of the district’s top personnel, who will address the changes  and speak on the future of the Webutuck Central School District.

At the Board of Education (BOE)  meeting on Aug. 17, David Paciencia was approved by the board as the new interim superintendent, replacing Michael O’Neil. O’Neil served for three weeks, at the request of the board, in a major transitional phase for the school, as many other personnel changes have occurred in or around that time frame.

Additionally, Charles Harris is no longer with the district. Harris was the athletic director at the school, although BOE President Dale Culver pointed out during the Aug. 17 meeting that he was never officially hired by the school, and had been temporarily filling that position since the end of the 2008-09 school year. Harris was recently featured in a profile interview in this paper’s sports section, shortly before his departure.

In regards to Harris, Culver said simply that he did not meet the state requirements for the position.

“That’s all we can say,� he said.

Following Harris’ departure, the athletic department has been slightly reconfigured. Aaron Kelly will be filling the role of athletic director, coming to Webutuck fresh from Nichols College, where he earned a degree in sports management.

Robert Wood was named the director of athletics, and while the titles sound similar, Wood will be responsible for overseeing the athletic department, and has certain authorities and certifications that an athletic director might not have, including the authority to evaluate coaches. Kelly will be responsible for more of the day-to-day duties for the department, including scheduling matches. O’Neil announced that he would immediately begin a comprehensive inventory of all equipment in the athletic department.

The district has changed the position of middle school principal to vice principal for grades seven through 12. Wood will also be filling that position. The district has been consolidated into two main schools: seven through 12 with Principal Drew Hopkins and kindergarten through six with Principal Katy McEnroe. Dieter Schimmelpfennig, who was Eugene Brooks Middle School’s principal, is no longer with the district.

Of other significant staff changes, April Ary is now the pre-kindergarten teacher and Andrea Christenson will be the new seven through 12 school nurse. Anna Duffy will be the new agricultural teacher; there was some discussion by the board about the revival of Webutuck’s FFA program, nearly nonexistent last year.

BOE member John Perotti expressed concern that Duffy lacked the hands-on agriculture experience needed for the program to be successful.

After some debate, the board agreed that the Cornell Cooperative and Housatonic Valley Regional High School will be available to offer advice and expertise to the school. Perotti and other members of the board agreed that the two organizations could offer much to Webutuck’s program.

“I recommend going to Housy to see what they’re doing there,� Perotti said. “The foundations of how an ag program should run are there.�

“If we’re going to have a more team-oriented approach, I’m going to hope this is one of those areas where volunteers’ help is accepted,� Culver said.

The next Board of Education meeting will be held on Sept. 7 at 7:30 p.m. at the high school library.