West Valley Central School and the State of the State Address

West Valley Superintendent Hillary Bowen announced that, in the wake of New York Governor Andrew Cuomo’s annual State of the State address, professional peer reviews have been in the forefront of New York schools’ minds.

Cuomo said, in his Jan. 4 speech, “We need major reform in ... teacher accountability and student achievement. We need a meaningful teacher evaluation system.” The governor went on to say that the 2012 “Race to the Top” was not effective and did not reach its goals. “We cannot fail in our mission to reform public education, because we simply cannot fail our children,” he said.

Bowen said, during the WVCS meeting held Jan. 24, that these peer reviews must be submitted by September. “The governor indicated that, if districts do not have their evaluations in, he will withhold aid,” she said. “But West Valley doesn’t have to worry about that. We are making substantial progress already.”

Board President Stephen Kowalski said that he attended a recent law conference, sponsored by Hodgson Russ LLP, in which “questions were raised and discussed about where the governor could go, legally.”

Bowen drew the board’s attention to a letter signed by many New York state senators that petitioned the governor for an increase in state education aid. That letter, which asked Cuomo to “consider the plight of our rural schools and to present to us a plan that recognizes both the sacrifices they have made and the unique challenges that they continue to face,” can be read in its entirety on WVCS’s website, www.wvalley.wnyric.org/newsletter/news.pdf.

Bowen said that New York Senator Catharine Young has assured the WVCS District that she is “doing all she can to draw attention to the difficulties we have.” The superintendent added, “At least she’s a voice and is trying to do something tangible.”

According to school representatives, the distribution of state aid is still a major concern for New York state school districts. Cuomo made his annual budget address on Jan. 17; the New York state budget will now be examined by the Senate and Assembly.

“West Valley needs relief on the unfunded mandates that we have,” Bowen said. “Every superintendent has been flooding their representatives with pleas for help. This has been continuous.”

In other board news:

- Principal Daniel Amodeo announced that the school’s winter sports are in full swing, with many students participating. “The competition is very rigorous,” he said. “The students are doing a great job.”

- For the first time in several years, WVCS will be putting on a school musical. The junior musical version of “Mulan” will be performed on Friday, March 30. According to Amodeo, auditions were held Jan. 30. “We are so excited for this performance,” he said.

- West Valley’s talent show, which Amodeo called “a great opportunity for the kids to challenge themselves,” will be held March 23 and will incorporate some of the younger students who may not be able to participate in “Mulan.”

- The board approved elementary girls and boys volleyball for fourth, fifth and sixth graders during the month of March. Amy Butler has volunteered to coach, and has offered her time for the four Saturdays in March from 3 p.m. in the gym.

The next WVCS Board of Education meeting will be held on Feb. 6 at 7 p.m.