FONDA-The Fonda-Fultonville Central School District Board of Education had its first meeting with its new interim superintendent Monday.
Hamilton-Fulton-Montgomery Board of Cooperative Educational Services Superintendent Patrick Michel is serving as Fonda-Fultonville's interim superintendent, filling in after former superintendent James Hoffman left the district to take a job in Averill Park.
One of the subjects discussed heavily Monday was the budget. According to Michel, the deficit for next year stands at almost $1.4 million, with a projected increase of $2 million every year if unattended.
"We got a lot of challenges ahead of us," Michel said.
One of his plans is to make adjustments to transportation and health insurance. He does not want to cut any academic programs, he said.
"We need to redefine how we do things," Michel said.
According to Michel, after a year of meetings and discussions, Fonda-Fultonville has found a way to save almost $800,000 in health-insurance costs.
Michel is optimistic the district can avoid major program cuts, perhaps by attracting more businesses to the area.
The Board of Education conducted its annual organizational meeting Monday.
New board members Mary Frollo, Donna Hayes and Kelley O'Kosky were sworn into office.
These newly elected members succeeded Carole DeBonte, Connie Conti and Rod Simonds.
The board re-elected Linda Wszolek as president and Timothy Wendell as vice president. This will be Wszolek's final term as board president.