Delaware Academy Celebrates 2024-2025 Successes - Discussions on Future of Wrestling, Football Teams

By Matthew Avitabile

DELHI — Monday’s Delaware Academy school board meeting included planning for summer, as well as thanks for a successful school year. There was discussion about sports mergers and a special education update.

The first item was a presentation from Director of Special Education Winsome Zinkievich, who gave an update on the district's progress this academic year. Starting the meeting was a discussion on the District's strategic goals for the 2024-2025 school year. The first goal was Quality Special Education Programming, which included a quarterly review of progress notes, a quarterly review of iReady benchmark data, a state testing review, analyzing program needs, and creating an 8:1:1 room in the elementary school, which included parents calling to compliment the teacher involved.

"It's nice to see that we moved in the right direction," she said.

The next goal was Fiscal Responsibility, for which she said there was a further quarterly review of data, discussions about future programming news, and work with the elementary and secondary principals on scheduling to "ensure projected student needs." This included options for some students to attend BOCES and offering other alternatives. The third goal was professional development, including in-house programs "focused on special education topics and interventions." The last goal was family and community engagement, which included increasing Special Education communication with parents, including friendly reminders before meetings.

The district currently has 21 preschool students with disabilities, she said. There are 153 school-aged students with IEPs and 61 who have 504 plans. Zinkievich cited students from outside of the district, including three at the Children's Home of Wyoming in Binghamton, one at DCMO BOCES for full-day special education, two at Springbrook Day School in Oneonta, one at Walton Central School, and one at Oneonta High School.

Currently, 20.9% of students have IEPs, the highest level in a decade. This is higher than the February 2024 rate of 18.5% and a recent low of 14.5% in 2021-2022. Some of the students with IEPs are graduating this year, she said. Furthermore, some students with referrals are entering the special education program, which Zinkievich said could be a sign of better identification of needs. The Special Education Department has also taken special care to continue its improvement plan, including using data to identify student achievement trends and determine needs to support learners.

One resident brought up concerns about what he called a "breakdown of communication." He said that his son had been "spotlighted" twice in a teacher's classroom, which led him to feel "shamed." After reaching out to the teacher, the teacher said that the grade was based on a video assignment. The parent followed up but said that he did not receive a response again from the teacher. He was then contacted by a member of the administration, while the son was discouraged by the teacher's response. After a further request for a meeting, the parent said that he was told that the "meeting was not necessary." He called this a "lack of communication that's unacceptable." He cited the amount of property tax paid by the family and sought information from the District.

When asked further about the bell-to-bell phone policy for the following school year, it was stated there will be further discussion next Wednesday, which is open for observation but not direct public feedback at this point. The board said that there had been previous public input meetings.

There were a number of personnel moves. This included the retirement of Herman Bugge effective the end of this month. There was also the rescinding of retirement for Kelly Pinter. Kiley Lamoreaux resigned as school counselor to take a position elsewhere, effective Aug. 27. There were also a number of miscellaneous appointments, including Kaleb Ambrose, Bryce Burrows, Ryan Burrows, Steven Hillis, William Hillis, William Kulaski IV, Elijah Ransford, Jacqueline Slater, and Henry Wilcox as student cleaners; Amy Braymer-Engels as a summer bus driver; as well as a number of summer and substitute positions. The district also appointed a number of coaches for the next school year. Kyle Murray was appointed as Athletic Coordinator.

In the principals’ reports, the elementary school principal noted a number of successes, including the 4th and 5th-grade concert on May 20. The Pre-K and Kindergarten celebrations on June 11 went well for students and parents, and Field Days on June 17 was a “huge hit.”

At the Middle School-High School level, the National Junior Honor Society induction went well, Middle School Orchestra students attended the Highnote Festival in Lake George, and the Middle School concert was held on June 3. Students involved with NYSSMA received ribbons for their efforts. There was also the FFA banquet on June 6, where the original charter request was found during the cleaning of the taproom in anticipation of the upcoming construction project. June 16 was the last day for students in Grades 7-12 and included “friendly competition” between classes and staff during field day. Student Board members Brimley and Rocco rang the school bell to mark the last day. The principal also cited the strong softball and baseball seasons, including the Delaware Academy softball team being ranked in the top 20 statewide, which might be the first time in the District's history. There was a special thanks for the three performances in the Middle School this Spring and for those who organized Field Days.

High school teachers were grading regents and 6th-grade students were still in class this week.

Superintendent Carey Shultz thanked everyone involved in the school district and described the work on campus as happening at "full force." He said that the lower field area is "beautiful" and that the turf is a maroon-Bulldog color. Lights were installed last week. The recent rain had helped the sod grow, which was a silver lining, he said. Boilers are complete except for pumps. He described the activity as "really good progress." The entire parking lot will begin milling on July 1, which will be a "chess game" to determine where vehicles should park. Additional locations were opened for testing due to the heat, he said.

There was further discussion about the wrestling merger with Walton. Athletic Director Kyle Murray had brought up questions about whether it should continue. At recent meets, Walton students have often been the main students sent, with sometimes no Delhi students taking part. Some students said that they would join if more practices could occur at Delaware Academy. Delaware Academy provides much of the transportation and pays for the coach, and there is further review about whether or not it should continue. The District previously had its own team and there was further discussion about whether it would make sense for there to be an independent DA team. Without proper coaching or students, it's possible that the team might have to forfeit matches. There had also been discussion about a girls’ wrestling team, but no decision had been made so far. The discussion will continue in the future.

The board discussed a merger between Delaware Academy and Charlotte Valley for a Varsity Football team for Fall 2025. The motion passed unanimously.

Several students thanked the school board, faculty, and staff for their hard work for the students and district.

The annual reorganizational meeting will be Weds. July 9 at 6:30, followed by the regular board meeting. The school board entered into executive session.