DISTRICT NEWS
Public to Vote May 21 on Proposed 2013/2014 Budget - Posted May 9, 2013
The East Greenbush CSD Board of Education adopted a budget for the 2013-2014 school year at its April 8 meeting. The budget totals $86,143,773 and represents an increase in spending of 1.20 percent over the current year and would result in a 0.32 percent tax levy increase in the coming year. Read More...
Annual Arts Festival May 16 - Posted May 9, 2013
The Annual Arts Festival featuring artwork created by students across the district will be held Thursday, May 16 from 6 to 8 p.m. in the Columbia High School gymnasium. The community is also invited to visit the CHS library during that time for the annual book swap and local author visit. To download the Arts Festival flyer click here. To download the book swap flyer click here.
First Annual Spring Festival - Posted May 8, 2013
The community is invited to the first annual Spring Festival on Tuesday, May 21 at Goff Middle School. The event will feature performances by student musicians, carnival games, and a bounce house. Join us for free cotton candy sponsored by the EGTA and free ice cream sponsored by SRP. CMOST will present a reptile showcase and an introduction to nanotechnology. To learn more about spring fest click here.
Athletic Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony - Posted May 8, 2013
The Columbia All Sports Club held its Eleventh Annual Athletic Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony on Saturday, May 4. Congratulations to our nominees! To view a photo album of the celebration click here.
EGCSD Education Foundation and All Sports Club to Host Chicken BBQ - Posted May 8, 2013
The EGCSD Education Foundation and the All Sports Club will host a Chicken BBQ on Tuesday, May 21 from 4 to 7 p.m. at Goff Middle School. The menu includes BBQ Chicken Quarter, Cole Slaw, Baked Potato, Roll and Brownie. Cost is $8 for a PREPAID dinner. There will be a limited number of additional dinners available at the door for $10.00. For information click here.
CHS Ranked in Newsweek’s Best High Schools in U.S. - Posted May 7, 2013
Columbia High School was one of only seven high schools from the Capital Region to be ranked in the Newsweek/Daily Beast list of the 2,000 best public high schools in America. Read More...
District Report Card Shows Student Achievement- Posted May 6, 2013
East Greenbush Central School District students outperformed the state benchmarks in all areas of accountability for all student subgroups, according to the New York State Education Department’s (NYSED) 2011-12 school report cards released on April 30, 2013. Only one other district in Columbia, Rensselaer and Greene counties met the state accountability requirements for all student subgroups and EGCSD was one of only five Suburban Council schools to do so. Read More...
2013-2014 Budget Newsletter - Posted April 30, 2013
The 2013-2014 budget newsletter is now available. To download the newsletter click here. A print copy will be mailed to every household in the District in early May. For additional information on the 2013/2014 budget click here. For more information on the four capital project propositions click here.
Are you registered to vote? - Posted April 30, 2013
On May 21, district residents will head to the polls to decide on a proposed budget for 2013-2014 school year. Voter registration is required. If you are not registered you must do so prior to the vote. Residents may register to vote at the Office of the District Clerk, 29 Englewood Avenue, East Greenbush, from 8:00 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. on regular days of business. For additional information click here.
May 21 Vote to Include Four Capital Project Propositions - Re-Posted April 29, 2013
At the February 27 Board of Education meeting, the Board approved four capital project propositions that will go before voters on the annual budget vote and board of education election day, Tuesday, May 21. Residents will vote on a school budget for the 2013/2014 school year, a school bus referendum, four capital project propositions and three open Board of Education seats. Read More...
Goff Science Olympiad Team Earns 5 Medals at States - Posted April 29, 2013
The Goff Science Olympiad team earned medals in five events and placed 10th overall at the New York State Science Olympiad finals on April 12 and 13 at Syracuse University. Read More...
Absentee Ballot Information - Posted April 26, 2013
Qualified district residents who are unable to go to the polls may cast their votes by absentee ballot. An application is required first and may be obtained by calling the District Office at 207-2535. Applications are also available here. For important deadline information click here.
Student Artwork Selected for Regional Art Invitational - Posted April 25, 2013
Artwork created by Columbia High School students Megan Farley, Christina Celello, Rachel Tu and Caitlin Chiusano was recently selected for the 24th Annual Questar III High School Art Invitational. Read More...
EGCSD Students Advance to State Competition - Posted April 25, 2013
District students enrolled in career and technical education (CTE) programs at Questar III excelled at the 2013 SkillsUSA Regional Leadership and Skills Competition on March 13. Their performance earned them a spot at the state competition to be held in Syracuse April 24-26. Read More...
Student Art Earns Admission to 14th Annual Regional Juried Art Exhibition - Posted April 25, 2013
Art work created by Columbia High School students Coral Coons and Lucas Ceresia was selected to be part of the 14th Annual High School Regional Juried Art Exhibition. Read More...
School Resource Officer Peter Partak - Posted April 24, 2013
Every school day at Columbia High School begins with a steady stream of students welcomed by School Resource Officer Peter Partak and members of the administrative team. Partak, a 13-year veteran of the East Greenbush Police Department, is entering his second year in the district.
Superintendent Dr. Angela Nagle said, “Although many districts eliminated school resource officers when the state government stopped funding the program, we chose to look for ways to maintain the program.” Partak’s presence in the district is made possible by a cost-sharing agreement with the town of East Greenbush. Read More...
Dan Garab Appointed Green Meadow Principal - Posted April 24, 2013
At the April 23 Board of Education meeting Dan Garab was appointed principal of Green Meadow Elementary School replacing Interim Principal Dr. McDonald. Mr. Garab currently serves as an Assistant Principal at Goff Middle School. He will begin his new position on July 1. Read the letter from Superintendent Dr. Angela Nagle announcing the appointment here. Read a letter from Mr. Garab here.
CHS Grad Published in Peer-Review Journal - Posted April 23, 2013
Anna Cotroneo, 2012 graduate of Columbia High School, co-authored a research article that was recently accepted for publication in the Journal of Brain Research. The article presents research conducted at the Wadsworth Center by a research team including the primary author, Dr. Veronica Miller, Dr. Richard Seegal and Anna, among others. Read More...
Meet the Candidates Night Cancelled - Posted April 23, 2013
East Greenbush Central School District’s Meet the Candidates night, originally scheduled for May 13, has been cancelled because the Board of Education election is uncontested. Three candidates returned nominating petitions for the three open seats by the April 22 deadline. Read More...
Goff Student Qualifies for National History Bee - Posted April 17, 2013
Goff 8th grade student Nafisul Ghani was a winner at the regional History Bee competition on April 13; he has earned a spot at the National History Bee competition, to be held in Atlanta, Georgia in June. Read More...
Career Expo 2013 - Posted April 17, 2013
Students in grades 7-12 are invited to attend and learn about exciting careers in Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) at Birch Hill in Castleton, NY on Tuesday, May 7th from 5-8 p.m. For additional information click here.
Bell Top Teacher to Conduct Research at Sea - Posted April 15, 2013
On Monday, May 20, Bell Top teacher Melanie Lyte will go from teacher to student as she embarks on a 10-day voyage through the National Oceanic Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) Teacher at Sea Program. Read More...
CHS Student Investigates World Health Issue - Posted April 12, 2013
On the University at Albany’s East Campus, scientists and other professionals are busy trying to find the next scientific breakthrough in public health. On the same campus, Columbia High School senior Tammy Coffey and other students in Questar III’s New Visions: Scientific Research & World Health program are already researching world health topics, many in which they have a personal interest. Read More...
What do our students love about EGCSD schools? - Posted April 10, 2013
When students in the class of 2013 cross the stage at their graduation in June, what will they remember about their time in the East Greenbush Central School District? Learn about some of their experiences in a video produced by the Columbia High School Technology Department and the CHS Audio Video Club. To view the video click here.
Alan Cazarin Participates in Youth Leadership Institute - Posted April 2, 2013
The New York State Assembly chamber is the bedrock of New York State government, and on March 23 - 25 it was the stage for the Annual Puerto Rican/Hispanic Youth Leadership Institute (PRHYLI). Columbia High junior Alan Cazarin participated in the PRHYLI as a member of the capital region delegation, gaining insight and real-life experience on the inner workings of state government. Read More...
Librarian Jill Leinung Recognized for Contributions to the Field of Library Science - Posted April 1, 2013
DPS and Green Meadow librarian Jill Leinung recently was recognized by the New York State Library Association Section of School Librarians (NYLA-SSL) for her contributions to the profession and to the state organization. Read More...
What is the New York State Property Tax Cap? - Posted March 22, 2013
Does the New York State Property Tax Cap limit your school tax increase to 2% each year? Find out in a short video created by Capital Region BOCES available here.
CHS Science Olympiad among Top Five in State - Posted March 21, 2013
Competing against teams from across New York State, Columbia’s Science Olympiad concluded its 2013 season with a fourth place overall finish at the state finals competition on March 8-9. This is the fifth year in a row that the CHS team placed in the top five.Read More...
Annual Arts Festival - Posted March 18, 2013
The Annual Arts Festival featuring artwork created by students across the District will be held Thursday, May 16 from 6 to 8 p.m. in the Columbia High School gymnasium. The community is also invited to visit the CHS library during that time for the annual book swap and local author visit. To download the Arts Festival flyer click here. To download the book swap flyer click here.
Jazz Band Highlight of NYSCOSS Winter Institute - Posted March 15, 2013
The Columbia High School Jazz Band had the honor of performing at the New York State Council of School Superintendent’s (NYSCOSS) Winter Institute, held at The Desmond Hotel and Conference Center on March 3. Read More...
Odyssey of the Mind – Green Meadow Team Advances to State Tournament - Posted March 12, 2013
On Saturday, March 9, fifty-three students from across the district participated in the Region 4 Odyssey of the Mind competition at the Rensselaer city schools. Odyssey of the Mind is a creative problem-solving program with teams competing throughout the United States and internationally. Read More.
YMCA Outstanding Student and Educator Award Nominees - Posted March 12, 2013
Two Columbia High School students and two teachers were nominated for the Eighth annual Rensselaer County YMCA Student and Educator Awards. The awards are given each year to individuals who demonstrate leadership in their school, community or YMCA. Read More...
Frequently Asked Questions At the 2/12 Budget Forum - Posted March 6, 2013
At the World Café Budget Forum held on Tuesday, February 12, community members engaged in thoughtful discussion and provided important feedback to the Board of Education to guide its decision-making to formulate a budget for the 2013/2014 school year. The community also posed questions regarding the budget process and the school budget. To see a list of frequently asked questions and the answers click here.
Job Shadow Day - Posted March 4, 2013
On Friday, March 1, Columbia High School marketing students participated in Job Shadow Day at Albany Marriott and Cap Com Credit Union. Read More...
May 21 Vote to Include Four Capital Project Propositions - Posted February 28, 2013
At the February 27 Board of Education meeting, the Board approved four capital project propositions that will go before voters on the annual budget vote and board of education election day, Tuesday, May 21. Residents will vote on a school budget for the 2013/2014 school year, a school bus referendum, four capital project propositions and three open Board of Education seats. Read More...
District to Hold Budget Review and Community Budget Meetings - Posted February 25, 2013
The East Greenbush Central School District Board of Education will begin the budget deliberation process on March 6, with the first of three budget review sessions. While current projections indicate the district may receive an increase of $266,967 over last year, the district has lost a cumulative $12,059,550 since 2010 through the Gap Elimination Adjustment (GEA). As the Board formulates a budget for the 2013/2014 school year, the unique challenges brought about by the GEA and the tax cap legislation require a thoughtful discussion on the programs and services our community values most for our students. Read More...
What exactly is the GEA, and how does it affect our public schools? - Posted February 20, 2013
Introduced in 2010 by then Governor David Paterson, the GEA was supposed to be a temporary solution to closing the state’s $10 billion budget deficit. Instead, it has wreaked havoc on school district budgets. Want to learn why? Check out the video - a production of Capital Region BOCES Communications Service - that explains the GEA and the specific impact it continues to have on schools.
Budget Forum Provides Budget Insights - Posted February 13, 2013
On Tuesday, February 12, dozens of parents and community members gathered at Howard L. Goff Middle School to talk about the 2013/2014 budget. Read More...
East Greenbush Stakeholders Attend 'A Call to Action' - Posted February 12, 2013
A group of East Greenbush Central School District stakeholders were among the more than 400 people from across the Capital Region who attended Monday night's forum at Niskayuna High School to learn the A, B, C's of advocacy. The forum entitled, “A Call to Action,” was part two of the landmark program, Your Public Schools in Fiscal Peril: Running Out of Time and Options. Read More...
Regional Budget Rally Crowds Columbia - Posted February 1, 2013
More than 1,000 community members from all 47 school districts in the Capital Region came together on Jan. 31 to learn about the fiscal crisis facing their schools and find out what they can do to help. Parents, students, educators, community and civic leaders, and state legislators – representing seven counties – filled Columbia High School’s auditorium for the rally titled “Your Public Schools in Fiscal Peril – Running Out of Time & Options.” Read More...
Mrs. Lyte Named WNYT Top Teacher - Posted January 17, 2013
Bell Top first grade teacher Melanie Lyte was recognized for her outstanding achievement in the field of education through the WNYT and SEFCU Top Teacher program. To view the WNYT news story click here.
Coverage of Commissioner King’s Visit to CHS - Posted January 7, 2013
State Education Commissioner John B. King Jr. visited Columbia High School on November 13th to meet with students and see the diverse educational programs available in the East Greenbush Central School District. To view YNN’s coverage of Commissioner King’s visit click here.
