CRCS Opens Without Issue

By Joshua Walther

COBLESKILL - At their first September meeting, the CRCS Board of Education met to discuss the smooth opening of all four schools, as well as some notification changes for parents.

“We’ve had a really strong and positive opening,” said Superintendent Matthew Sickles, who was happy to announce that there was no problem with getting students back through the doors.

“Obviously we have the big change of the Internet-enabled device policy, but we’re at least in the honeymoon,” he finished.

Student member Patrick Maillard confirmed that the device ban was working in the high school, saying “It’s been pretty smooth. It’s just something I have to think to myself throughout the day, like, ‘don’t take out your phone.’”

Superintendent Sickles then invited the administrators of the schools to give their thoughts, and they all said that they’ve had “wonderful” openings, with students getting out on time, everyone knowing where they’re going, and smiles from staff and students alike.

The Board also noted that due to transfers in and out of the district, CRCS has seen a net growth of sixty two students for this year, making for a livelier atmosphere.

With all of that said, Superintendent Sickles then announced that there was a slight change with how parents will be notified for school closings and delays.

He began by noting that with the rise in direct messaging and social media posts, there’s been less priority focused on TV and radio, saying “The traditional reporting of news outlets has really gone down the list, but it’s still a resource that some families use.”

He further explained that those outlets all operate within one network, and CRCS simply has to submit their closing information through one website before it’s distributed throughout the web of TV and radio.

However, the Capital Region station WNYT has disconnected themselves from that network, and CRCS made the decision to not contact them independently, so it will no longer be a viable source of information for school delays.

Finally, Board President Bruce Tryon thanked everyone that came out to the annual Cobleskill-Richmondville Education Foundation golf tournament at the Cobleskill Golf and Country Club.

He said that while there was a deluge of rain for the second year in a row, the event still saw the maximum number of teams, which Superintendent Sickles was also excited for.

“It’s really a testament to the community support for that event specifically, that even after a full washout, we’re back at capacity with twenty three teams, and I didn’t hear a gripe,” he said.

“Despite the rain, it was a really great day,” agreed President Tryon, finishing by saying that he was looking forward to next year.