Comments on: Board Votes Unanimously to Investivate MS Renovation

By: A NPHS Student

A NPHS Student — Wed, 27 Feb 2008 01:09:43 +0000

After attending NPMS for 3 years I believe that it would be more cost effective to just build a new school. No matter how much renovating that is done to the current NPMS it will still be stuck back in the ’60s. I agree, the school is a mess and needs to be fixed but a new school would be better for the community. I also believe that having the school in the village does not promote “healthy habits” but rather it is just an opportunity for students to get into trouble. The heating system is the worst. When I was in science class with Mr. Thibideau we would have the windows open all the way in the middle of February because otherwise the room would be well over 100 degrees. Good times…

By: jon Marchant

jon Marchant — Fri, 01 Feb 2008 18:04:41 +0000

Thank you to the board members and to Maria Rice for all the work you have put and will be putting into this very large project. As a new parent in the district I can only say good things about the board members, supervisor, and teachers and staff at the highschool. We are behind you all the way.

By: Nora Strano

Nora Strano — Fri, 01 Feb 2008 13:59:20 +0000

I also appreciate the public forum and the film of the public meeting on our local access channel. What I don’t appreciate and in fact dismays me considerably is some of the board members directing their anger towards Dr. Rodriguez for asking questions the community has asked him. Dr. Rodriguez is very connected to the community and hears concerns often. I for one appreciate his questions and it is not right to watch other board members show such disrespect. To disrespect his questions, shows disrespect to the community.

By: Jacob Lawrence

Jacob Lawrence — Fri, 01 Feb 2008 04:06:33 +0000

Bravo. I was unable to attend the 1/30 meeting, but from what I have read in the New Paltz Times and experienced when I visited the middle school for the Board of Ed’s listening night, this seems like the right decision. I eagerly await next week’s paper and will check the district’s web site over the next few days to see if there is more posted here.

The current location of the middle school is clearly preferable for our middle school kids. NY State’s formula for aid also clearly favors the idea of a renovation over a new construction.

It is important to keep in mind that this question will eventually be going to the voters by virtue of a bond proposal. Our Board and Superintendent must now work to create a worthy plan for renovation. I also hope that they will provide us with concrete plans for how we plan to deal with the 2 years of growing pains our students and staff will have to endure if and when we the voters do approve the bond proposal for renovation.

Thank you to Maria Rice and the Board for making the first step on this important community plan.

By: Tom Mulvihill

Tom Mulvihill — Thu, 31 Jan 2008 18:24:28 +0000

Many thanks for all the hard work the school board and Ms. Rice has put into this project. I think you made the right decision under difficult circumstances.

By: Amy Silvestro

Amy Silvestro — Thu, 31 Jan 2008 12:33:03 +0000

Thank you to KT Tobin Flusser and friends for their enormous effort in demonstrating the unanimous support of local businesses and residents throughout the district, by petition, to preserve the middle school on site. Your efforts not only paid off, but also served to remind us what a dynamic community we live in.