District eyes bus needs, sets vote
By MICHAEL ANICH, The Leader-HeraldJOHNSTOWN - The Greater Johnstown School District is still interested in working with the Gloversville Enlarged School District on its long-term transportation needs, a Johnstown administrator said this week.
Interim Business Manager Ralph Acquaro gave a report on short-term and long-term transportation needs to the Greater Johnstown School District Board of Education on Tuesday.
In the short-term, he said, the district has a voter information sheet available for the public outlining an upcoming vote on two transportation propositions, which will take place from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. July 16.
District officials say two propositions from the May election need to be voted upon again because the "yes" and "no" levers on one machine in the high school lobby did not line up correctly with the ballot. Voters said the position of the ballot was confusing, and it may have caused the defeat of the two proposals, officials said.
Proposition one permits the district to lease the bus storage facility owned by the Crossroads Incubator Corp. at Crescendoe Road through June 30, 2010, making the lease eligible for state aid. The cost for the one-year extension is unchanged at $97,715, which is offset largely by state aid.
During the coming year, the Board of Education will develop and present to the voters a long-term plan, officials said.
Acquaro said a question that remains is whether the Johnstown and Gloversville school districts with work together regarding future transportation needs.
"We are having active discussions," Acquaro said.
He cautioned that possible shared transportation services with Gloversville have yet to be defined. He said a cost-benefit analysis must be done.
"We hope to try to clear up that as an option," Acquaro said.
Gloversville Enlarged School District Superintendent Robert DeLilli couldn't be reached for comment Friday.
Proposition two, which will be presented again to voters July 16, would extend the lease for four school buses for four years. These buses are used for everyday student transportation to and from school. The cost for one of the three 66-passenger buses is $12,000; the cost is $13,000 for the wheelchair bus, for a total of $49,000 per year for each of the next four years. State aid offsets most of the cost.
Johnstown Board of Education Vice President James Levin said an option may to store buses in parking lots if there is no structure to house them in the future.
In personnel matters handled by the board Tuesday, the resignations of these staffers were approved: social studies teacher Jennifer Keller, June 30; guidance counselor Deana Lenz, effective July 24; and French teacher Tiffany Brown, effective July 27. A probationary appointment also was made for Spanish teacher Deborah Messner, effective Sept. 1 at an annual salary of $44,232.
Michael Anich covers Johnstown and Fulton County news. He can be reached at johnstown@leaderherald.com
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Joseph
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07-06-09 12:18 PM
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Why not merge school districts with Gloversville and End the entire topic. Even a Combined school district would be smaller than the school my kids are in
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OxyMoron
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07-05-09 6:24 PM
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The garage is a dump, they could own it for one third that amount. It is falling down.... the roof is caving in!
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stratford
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07-04-09 12:55 PM
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republicans and their flag waving. Bush spit on the flag when he bankrupted this great nation.
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JeffreyR
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07-04-09 11:41 AM
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Send the problem to the YMCA Director. Maybe we all can watch him spit on our flag while we give him $$$ for this also. He fires a veteran for refusing to disrespect the flag and we are giving him $$$ for other things, why not this also?
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TiredOfTax
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07-04-09 11:03 AM
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Do I see this right, renting a bus storage facility costs $100.000.00 for 1 year? " The cost for the one-year extension is unchanged at $97,715" my god I never knew there was so much money involved in parking! I wish I had a few to rent out! And Johnstown, if you want a financial windfall from GESD just go down wind as they are always throwing money into the wind, just duck when the s_it hits the fan.
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MadAmerican
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07-04-09 8:37 AM
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If a leader emerges in the GJSD,I wouldn't hold my breath,a common sense solution is out there.Store the buses outside or in a pole barn with electric hookups to keep the engine blocks warm in the cold months. What we don't need is a large multi million dollar bus garage!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
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