|
A School and Community Working Together
District residents interested in serving on District-Wide committees and programs, such as cited below, should contact the office of the Superintendent of Schools.
The Budget Review and Advisory Committee:
For the past several years the community based Budget Review and Advisory Committee (BRAC) has made specific recommendations to the District’s Board of Education that were intended to improve the school budget development process. The premise of BRAC’s recommendations was based upon the belief that following a sound process helps produce a sound budget. BRAC closely follows each step of the budget development process and takes every opportunity to provide advice and counsel to the District’s Central Administration and Board of Education. Both the revenue as well as the expenditure sides of the budget are addressed.
The Drug Free Schools Action Committee:
The Board has established the East Greenbush Central Schools to be a Drug-Free School. It has implemented a policy that clearly states that the unlawful possession, use, distribution, or sale of drugs, including alcohol and tabacco, is wrong and harmful and will not be tolerated. This policy applies to students, all staff members, and all persons attending school functions. The Drug Free Action Committee is comprised of members of the Board of Education, Administration, teachers, parents, community residents and businesses, and students. The committee’s goal is to support the District’s Drug Free policy and prevent the use of alcohol, tobacco, and other drugs by students.
The District’s Long Range Planning Committee was organized by the Board of Education in 1986. The Board’s charge to the Committee was to study long term plans for meeting the housing and population growth in our school community. Following the organization of the Committee several extensive architectural and demographic studies were completed which has led to the passing of the District’s buildings’ reconstruction Bond Issue. The Committee, comprised of community resident volunteers together with specific community school groups, continues to make critical decisions with regard to our school facilities; and they need to be made with community involvement and support.
E.G.C.S. Education Foundation was formed in 1985 as an organization whose sole purpose is to raise funds to support student achievement. The Foundation awards annual summer enrichment grants to over 150 District students. Students attend a variety of programs that provide enrichment in area that include: science, music, math, athletics, and leadership skills. The Foundation also administers award funds, endowments, and memorial contributions that produce college awards for graduating Columbia High School seniors.
The Goff Organic Garden is a community service project that donates over 2,000 pounds of fresh produce to food pantries in our area each year. Students also lead tours of the garden to help raise awareness about the benefits of organic agriculture and to encourage people to make good environmental choices each day. The Goff Organic Garden is currently looking for volunteers (children, adults, seniors, groups) to help with all aspects of the growing operation—which includes all seasons. For additional information please contact Goff Assistant Principal Mark Warford at 477-7434.
Seniors Teaching and Reaching Students (STARS) program was established, in the spring of 1993, as a result of the District’s awareness that many of its senior citizens, living on fixed incomes, were finding it increasingly difficult to pay their school taxes. It was also recognized that senior citizens, based on their life experiences, could make a valuable contribution to the education of students by providing supplemental help and assistance to the teaching staff. Each participating senior citizen may earn up to $1,000 annually at a rate of approximately $5.00 an hour.
|
