Welcome back students!

Niskayuna Central School District students, like those from Birchwood Elementary School and Van Antwerp Middle School, head to class on Wednesday, Sept. 6 -- the first day of the 2006-07 school year. Kindergarten classes begin Friday, Sept. 8.

Wellness Policy adopted
On Sept. 5, the Niskayuna Board of Education adopted a Wellness Policy for the school district as required by federal law. All school districts that participate in the National School Lunch and/or School Breakfast Programs are required to establish such policy to promote student wellness.
The law mandates that school districts' policies include goals for nutrition education, physical activity and other school-based activities as well as nutrition guidelines for all foods and beverages available on school campuses.
View the district’s Wellness Policy. (Microsoft Word document)

Tax rates finalized for 2006-07
On August 21, the Niskayuna Board of Education adopted final tax rates for the 2006-2007 school year. For most Niskayuna Central School District residents, those rates are lower than the tax rate increase projected during the budget vote in May.
As a result of changes in assessed values and equalization rates, Niskayuna residents will see their tax rate increase 6.17 percent from $26.02 to $27.63 per $1,000 of taxable assessed value — which is lower than the 6.59 percent increase district officials had estimated in May. The STAR exemption, however, decreased from $24,440 to $23,220 due to a decline in the equalization rate for the Town of Niskayuna. Residents who had a basic STAR exemption in place over the last two years will have an additional tax increase from the prior year of approximately $34 as a result of this decline in the basic STAR exemption.
A Niskayuna resident who owns a home with a taxable assessed value of $140,000 will pay school taxes of $3,867.78, an increase of $224.63. If this homeowner applied for the basic STAR exemption ($23,220 in 2006-2007), the STAR reduction would lower the assessment from $140,000 to $116,780 and school taxes would be reduced $641.50 to $3,226.28 as a result.
Read more information, including tax rates by town.

Educators, staff members celebrate career milestones
Seven Niskayuna Central School District faculty and staff members were recognized for a quarter century of service to the district, while another five were honored for three decades of service during the 2006-07 Opening Day ceremony on Tuesday, Sept. 5.
Superintendent Kevin Baughman and Board of Education President Barbara Mauro presented each with a special pin to commemorate their years of service and dedication to the school district and its students.
Recognized for 25 years of service, pictured left, are: Michele Fox, Food Service Cook/Manager, Niskayuna High School; Joe Baciewicz, Math teacher, Niskayuna High School; Grace Cramer, Speech therapist, Hillside Elementary School; Beth Disque, Library/Media Specialist, Birchwood Elementary School; Betty Ferencik, Media Center/Educational Support Personnel, Niskayuna High School; and Tom Flood, English teacher, Niskayuna High School. Missing form the photo is Ken Test, Head Custodian, Iroquois Middle School.
Celebrating 30 years of service, pictured right, are: Paula Brinkman, Choral teacher, Niskayuna High School; Randee Hartz, Teacher, Rosendale Elementary School; Sandra Hughes, Art teacher, Van Antwerp Middle School; Karen Polsinelli, Social studies teacher, Iroquois Middle School; and Carol Warasta, Foreign language teacher, Iroquois Middle School.

Stay warm on chilly autumn nights with a Niskayuna stadium blanket
This fall, the Glencliff PTO is raising funds for the school’s new playground by selling fleece stadium throws embroidered with the Niskayuna emblem.
The fleece throws are available in red or gray, and can be purchased for $15 each during “Glencliff Night” at the Niskayuna Silver Warriors football game on Friday, Sept. 8 at 7 p.m. at the high school.
Can’t make it to the game? Contact PTO Co-president Cynde Diefendorf at 399-0361 to order your fleece throw.

Students named 2007 National Merit Scholarship Semi-Finalists
The following high school students have been named National Merit Scholarship Semi-Finalists, based on their PSAT scores. Congratulations to Jason Fishel,  Francis Ferraro, Mark Reineke, Julianna Manning, Ariel Shapiro Erin Sherman, and Leo Brown (missing from picture). Less than one percent of U.S. high school seniors are named semifinalists.

New forum provides student perspective on academic experiences
Called "Students First," it's a new forum that presents an opportunity for students to share their academic experiences and achievements with school board members and the public during Board of Education meetings.
Students First made its debut during the Sept. 18 meeting and featured senior Jason Fishel and junior Holly Dykstra who recently traveled abroad through Niskayuna High School’s Foreign Language exchange program. Read more about the presentation.

Niskayuna Board of Education appoints Administrator for Human Resources
The Niskayuna Central School District Board of Education has appointed Ronald Grastorf as Administrator for Human Resources, effective December 1. In this position, Grastorf will be responsible for district-wide personnel procedures including recruitment, orientation, compensation and benefits, and labor relations and negotiations.
Grastorf has served as the district’s Director of Physical Education and Athletics since 1993, and most recently served as Director of Physical Education, Health and Athletics. He previously served in a similar role for the Vestal Central and Susquehanna Valley school districts located in Broome County, New York. He began his career as an educator at two Texas high schools, before becoming a teacher and coach at Hartwick College in Oneonta and the Whitehall Central School District.
“Ron Grastorf brings significant knowledge of the district along with strong and positive people skills, which will enable him to be successful in this position,” said Superintendent Kevin Baughman.
 

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