The Eastwick Press Newspaper

Eastern Rensselaer County's Community Newspaper

Hoosick School Dist.

HFCS Reduces Budget

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by Alex Brooks
The Hoosick Falls School Board adopted its proposed budget for 2010-11, and for the first time in recent memory it calls for less overall expenditures than the previous year. The budget is $20,744,112, which is about $23,000 less than this year.
The tax levy will remain exactly the same as last year despite an anticipated drop in State aid for operating expenses of $484,627.
To achieve this result, the District will be laying off a Reading teacher, a Home and Careers teacher and ten Teaching Assistants, as well as reducing staff through several retirements and resignations. Since last month, the District was able to add back into the budget funds for renewal of the contract with Rensselaer County for a Student Assistance Counselor because of an additional retirement.
As part of the budget presentation, Superintendent Ken Facin reviewed information in the District’s School Report Card. Overall, Hoosick Falls is classified as a “School District in Good Standing.” Facin noted that the District has seen improved Regents passing and mastery rates this year and improved results in the grades 3-8 Language Arts and Math assessments.
Also on the report card are figures comparing expenditures in this district compared to other similar districts. Hoosick Falls spent $7,722 per pupil on instructional expenditures, compared to a $9,104 average for other similar districts in the state. Total expenditures per pupil were $14,277 in Hoosick Falls, compared to $16,987 average in other similar districts in the state.
Facin said, “Although we have seen very nice gains in student results over the last three years, we still have much work to do to in order to see continued improvement.” He said he is aiming for a higher graduation rate and higher reading scores. “We will maintain our focus on reading in the elementary.” He said when the Elementary School is more successful teaching reading in the regular Language Arts classes, less remedial reading teachers are needed and both the students and the District’s bottom line benefit.
Facin said the rate of classification of Special Education students has dropped in the District over the past three years, from 15.6% to 13.9% to 12.5%, and is now the same as the state average. This gives the District less need for Teaching Assistants, who are mostly used in Special Education. Facin also noted that the student population has declined over the last three years, from 1,278 to 1,238. Enrollment in the lower grades suggests this will be a continuing trend, so staffing needs to be reduced accordingly.
Facin often talks about doing more with less, but he felt that a small concrete example would help people to see exactly what he means by this. The example he gave was that the District reduced staff by one hall monitor this year. To make up for this, he put the Assistant Principal’s office in the third floor hall, and, as a result, behavior in that hall has been better than before, even with one less hall monitor.
Facin also noted that the Federal stimulus money has been a huge factor in the District’s finances. Many of the technological improvements in the District with the computer labs and the Smart Boards, would not have been possible without that money, and Federal grants are a significant piece of the District’s revenue on a continuing basis. He estimated that without these grants, the tax levy would have to be 10% higher.
In addition to adopting the budget by a unanimous vote, the Board approved a Bus Purchase Proposition, which does not add to local property taxes but which must be approved by the District voters, and a proposition to establish a Capital Reserve fund. The Board also approved a Science Symposium field trip on an ocean research vessel in Buzzards Bay in Massachusetts. Eleven students from Environmental Science classes and the Earth Club will be taking part.
There will be a Public Hearing on the School Budget on Thursday, May 6, at 6 pm, and the vote on the budget will be held on May 18 from 9 am to 9 pm.

Panther Softball Team Loses 1-0 In 12 As Quackenbush Strikes Out 20

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by Gary Danforth
Home standing Schuylerville Central School scored the only run of a twelve inning softball nail biter last Monday afternoon, April 19, on a passed ball as the Black Horses beat Charlie Weeden’s Hoosick Falls Central School Panther nine in WASAREN League action. Despite 20 strikeouts from the Queen of the Diamond, sophomore pitching ace Rachel Quackenbush, HFCS fell to 2-1 in league play and to 4-1 overall.
[Read more…] about Panther Softball Team Loses 1-0 In 12 As Quackenbush Strikes Out 20

Get Your Absentee Ballots Here

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All school districts in New York State must provide Absentee Ballots to all qualified voters.
To qualify for an Absentee Ballot, you must fall under one of the following guidelines:
• absent from district while polls are open due to business occupation or studies;
• confined in a hospital or jail or having a physical disability or illness;
• absent due to vacation (includes retirees).
[Read more…] about Get Your Absentee Ballots Here

ADAPT Coffee House Concert

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The Hoosick Falls Central School A.D.A.P.T committee will host a Coffee House Concert on Saturday, May 1, at 7 pm at the Immaculate Conception Church Hall, 67 Main Street in Hoosick Falls. The Coffee House Concert will feature musical entertainment by The Brewster’s, Krissy Fauler, Wayne Willson and Shari Hand as well as by Anne Smith, a professional vocalist from NYC.
[Read more…] about ADAPT Coffee House Concert

Panther Softball Team Wins Opener

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by Gary Danforth
Well, it appears Charlie Weeden’s Hoosick Falls Central School softball team has picked up in 2010 pretty much where it left off in 2009. Behind a dominating one hit, eighteen strikeout performance from the Queen of the Diamond, sophomore pitcher Rachel Quackenbush, and a stifling defense, the Panthers took their season opener 1-0 over a very good Duanesburg Central School team last Saturday. April 10, in the Lansingburgh High School Tournament. [Read more…] about Panther Softball Team Wins Opener

Panther Softball Team Wins Tournament

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by Gary Danforth
Hoosick Falls softball Coach Charlie Weeden may have gotten a late Christmas gift. Junior first baseman/pitcher Katie Kovage took to the mound in the championship game of the Lansingburgh High School Tournament last Saturday, April 10 and pitched a four hit, three strikeout performance as HFCS beat the host Knights 6-0 for the title. With sophomore hurler Rachel Quackenbush taking over Kovage’s usual first base duties, Kovage did a nice job of keeping the ball in play for her defense, which backed her up all day. But, more importantly, Weeden may be able to give Quackenbush needed relief all season if Kovage continues to pitch the way she did in the title contest.
[Read more…] about Panther Softball Team Wins Tournament

Panther Softball Team Remains Undefeated

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by Gary Danforth
Well, the Queen of the Diamond and her Hoosick Falls Central School softball teammates were at it again this past Monday afternoon, April 12, when Charlie Weeden’s Panther nine ran their unbeaten streak to 3-0 in this 2010 campaign by blanking host Hoosic Valley Central School 3-0 in their WASAREN League opener. Sophomore pitcher Rachel Quackenbush struck out 17 Indian batters, including the last eleven overmatched hitters in a row, in pitching herself and her stingy, defensive minded teammates to their initial league win after winning the Lansingburgh Tourney two days earlier. In 21 innings the Panthers have not allowed a run. As good as Quackenbush and fellow first baseman/pitcher Katie Kovage (Kovage pitched a complete game, four hitter in the tournament nightcap) have been to date from the mound, their defensive mates have come through whenever called upon to do so. It has been a real team effort.
HFCS went down via two strike outs and a ground ball out in inning one. Quackenbush got two Ks and a ground ball to second baseman Sierra Bailey to put HV away in the first inning.
HFCS went down on a strikeout, ground ball out and tap back to the mound to end inning two. Quackenbush struck out the Indian side in inning two. It was beautiful to watch.
Bailey walked to open the Panther third inning. A stolen base, K and ground ball out by Frankie Pearson moved Bailey to third base. Then Quackenbush belted a single up the middle to give herself the only run she would need. Kovage walked, but a Panther strikeout left HFCS leading 1-0.
Quackenbush handled two tap backs to the mound, making a nice recovery of a ball hit hard off her glove, for two quick HV outs in inning three. Then the Queen got her sixth strikeout to end the inning.
HFCS threatened to score in inning four. Marissa Davendonis singled to left field, and Kovage beat out an infield hit. But HV got out of the inning via a fielder’s choice ground ball, a strikeout and another ground ball out. In the Indian fourth inning, after the leadoff batter reached base, Panther shortstop Jen Priore made a nice play on a well hit ball, and Quackenbush ended the inning with two more strikeouts. By this time, on a cool Spring day of 52 degrees, the Queen’s right arm was getting loose. Hoosic Valley hitters didn’t have a chance.
In the Panther fifth inning, after a ground ball out and strikeout, Kovage walloped a double into centerfield. A pop up to the HV pitcher ended the Panther threat. Hoosic Valley went down in order via strikeout in the bottom half of the inning.
Davendonis opened the Panther sixth inning with a single to left field. A pop up and two ground ball outs put HFCS away in the inning.
Hoosic Valley went down via strikeouts for the first two outs of inning six. But a well hit, well placed bunt, which caromed between the pitcher’s mound and second base, fell in for the only Indian hit of the day. Quackenbush struck out the next Indian batter to end the inning.
HFCS scored twice more in inning seven. Priore reached on a dropped fly ball and Pearson beat out a slow roller. Quackenbush reached on a fielder’s choice with Priore forced at third base. Then Kovage laced a hard hit ball to right center field, plating the final two Panther runs of the day, good for a 3-0 HFCS lead. A strikeout, a walk by Davendonis and a pop up to the HV pitcher put HFCS away.
Quackenbush was pretty much untouchable. She ended the game with her 15th, 16th and 17th K in the Panthers’ 3-0 win.
Roaming The Outfield: HFCS travels to Schuylerville on Monday, April 19.