Eldred board presses forward

ELDRED, NY — At its recent reorganization meeting, Scott Hallock was named president of the Eldred school board and Stacey Kuhn was appointed vice president. With those positions secured, the board quickly worked through a lengthy agenda.

One of the items approved was a renewal and extension of the contract for Superintendent Dr. John Morgano. The board stated that the only change was to extend the contract period by three months to end at the conclusion of a school year. The five-year contract, originally ratified in March, extends to June 30, 2024.

Also unanimously passed was the rating of Morgano as “highly effective” which, according to contract terms, entitles him to a 3% raise. In keeping with his earlier comments, Morgano stated that he will not accept the $4,650 salary increase at this time.

Hallock said that as the district is restored to fiscal health, the issue would be revisited.

On hand for the meeting was the school resource officer from the sheriff’s department who will serve at the elementary school.

Maura Dutcher, a third grader at Mackenzie Elementary School, presented Morgano with a check for $6,149, which she, her mother and other interested adults and children raised through various efforts, spurred on by the news last year that pre-kindergarten would be eliminated. Although the program was ultimately reinstated and funded by other means, the fundraising efforts continued and, in her presentation, young Dutcher said that new efforts to raise money would be for an improved sound system at the elementary school. On behalf of the board, Morgano accepted the funds with gratitude.

The next school board meeting will be August 15. Most meetings will be held on the second Thursday of the month at a revised meeting time of 6 p.m.