Watkins holds public consolidation meetings

WATKINS GLEN—The advisory committee, looking into the possibility of Watkins Glen public schools becoming one campus, has started meeting.
The committee’s second public meeting is scheduled for Wednesday, Dec. 8. It will be held in the high school library starting at 6:15 p.m. Superintendent Tom Phillips updated the board of education on the committee at the regular school board meeting, Monday, Dec. 6. He said at the committee’s first meeting an agenda was created.
Phillips added he reminded the group it is “advisory in nature.” He said the members asked questions about what cost and space increases would be needed if the campus was consolidated.
In other business:
Phillips also spoke to the board on the Regents’ state aid proposal. He explained in the future the state education department would be asking the New York legislature “for millions of dollars.” Phillips said this would probably lead to changes in public education, from kindergarten to 12th grade. He explained one such change could be including pre-kindergarten in mandated programing.
The Parent-Teacher Organization donated $1,670 to the elementary school for library books. Tops Market also donated $500 to the high school music program. The board accepted a donation of new safety equipment for the fitness center from Seneca Physical Therapy.
The board accepted the 2010-11 tax collector’s report. Marie Keefer, tax collector, said the district has collected about 94 percent of taxes.
Board President Brian O’Donnell said the Watkins Glen and Odessa-Montour volleyball teams raised $1,015 in a Dig Pink tournament in October. That money was donated to the Side Out Foundation for breast cancer research.
Watkins swimmers Haleigh Wixson and Haley Tuttle were honored by the board for accomplishments this past season.
The next meeting of the Watkins Glen school board will be a workshop, Monday, Dec. 20, starting at 5:45 p.m.