SARATOGA SPRINGS — Cub Scout Pack 4016’s Kindergarten Lions Den held their “Box Car Derby” on Sunday, Oct. 24 at High Rock Park. The boys designed their own cars and feet-powered them around the parent-developed grass oval track. During the race there were pit stops for tire air, fuel, windshield washing, driver refreshments, and a game of Red Light, Green Light. An unexpected visitor was Saratoga Springs Mounted Patrol’s King Tut.

From exploring nature year-round to racing Scout-built cars at the January Pinewood Derby to summer outdoor activities, elementary grade Cub Scouts have year-round fun with friends while learning a wide range of skills. For more information about Pack 4016, contact Unit Commissioner John Koch (saratogascouter@kochny.com, 518-644-4438) or visit www.beascout.org to see all of the local units. Youth can join Scouts at any time of the year. Adventure Awaits – start your Scouting journey!

SARATOGA SPRINGS —Saratoga Springs City School District held a Board of Education workshop on Oct. 26 to discuss the ongoing Diversity, Equity, & Inclusion (DEI) efforts in the district. 

District-Wide DEI Committee 

The District-Wide DEI Committee meets once a month for one hour. All meetings are open for the public to watch via WebEx. 

The Committee is divided into subcommittees to focus on the following: curriculum and instruction, culture and climate, communications, hiring and retention practices, policy, and a steering committee. 

There are four open community spots on the committee. If you are interested in applying for a spot, please visit the District’s website at www.saratogaschools.org to fill out the SSCSD Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Committee Interest Form by Friday, Oct. 29. 

Examples of SSCSD Past and Present DEI Work

The Board of Education was presented with examples of past and present work done by the committee aligning with the DEI framework. This includes, but is not limited to, the following: the school website and school messenger has a language translation feature for multiple languages; PSAT costs are offset by the district for all students, with 800 sophomores and juniors taking advantage of that this past year; AP classes are open enrollment, meaning no prerequisites; the district has Best Buddies and Unified Sports programs; the teacher-run Community SnackPack Program provides meals to students and their families in need over the weekend; review of hiring and retention practices; and curriculum renewal with an equity lens, meaning textbooks and materials are reflective of the student population. 

Demographics 

Leading into BEDS Day demographics, in which enrolled students and staff self-identified themselves into cohorts, from 2012 to 2021 there was a significant increase in multiracial students. There was also a 2% increase in economically disadvantaged students. 

From 2018 to 2021, there was increase in graduation rate of all students, regardless of self-identified cohort, from 91.1% to 93.8%. There was also an increase from 57% to 64.9% of students who graduated with an Advanced Regents Diploma. 

Looking at the demographics, the committee should be able to determine trends and track what programs, intervention, support, and other DEI efforts are successful. 

Generation Ready Partnership

The SSCSD had partnered with Anna Muñoz from Generation Ready to guide their work and align them with the NYSED (or NYS Board of Regents) DEI and CR-S Framework that came out in the spring. It is recommended that schools in our state adopt the NYSED framework, but it is not required. 

Some elements the district has taken from the NYS Board of Regents framework is: governance, the 1st step, to establish a DEI Committee; teaching and learning; family and community engagement; workforce diversity; diverse schools and learning opportunities; and student supports, discipline, and wellness. To view the complete framework, visit www.regents.nysed.gov/common/regents/files/421brd1.pdf. 

In the workshop, Muñoz led the board members through an activity about the power of labels and how perspective influences how we interpret and respond to situations, and the implications that has as an educator. 

What’s Next? 

During the 2021-2022 school year, the DEI Committee will continue to work on aligning the district with NYSED/NYS Board of Regents DEI and CR-S Framework. 

Superintendent of Schools, Dr. Michael Patton said they are willing to have an open forum with community members to address their concerns about the DEI policies, but that it will most likely be scheduled for the spring of 2022. 

It was also brought up that several 2nd grade teachers have concerns with two unnamed books in the current curriculum. Administrators are aware and working to address the concerns. If a teacher has any DEI concerns regarding their curriculum or teaching materials, they should address it with their respective principal. 

SARATOGA SPRINGS — Skidmore College celebrated the inauguration of Marc C. Conner as the College’s eighth president on Saturday, Oct. 16 at the Arthur Zankel Music Center. A combination of in-person and virtual events were held to mark this time-honored tradition that recognizes the College’s profound academic mission, proud history, and exciting future. 

Marc C. Conner became the eighth president of Skidmore College on July 1, 2020. Conner came to Skidmore following 24 years at Washington and Lee University in Virginia. 

MIDDLE GROVE — Camp Stomping Ground, a new summer camp located on the old Boyhaven property, will host a fall festival to officially commemorate its doors opening to the larger Saratoga community. The campground is located on Middle Grove Rd and Route 29, and they operate 8 weeks each summer with hundreds of campers and staff. The organization partnered with local businessman John Munter to acquire the property and renovate the existing infrastructure. 

“For the past six years Stomping Ground had to rent a facility to run our summer program. Now we are thrilled to be in Saratoga Springs, settled into our permanent home. This area is a perfect fit with such a vibrant community and purpose,” said Executive Director and Co-Founder Laura Kriegel. “We want to invite our neighbors and local partners to see what camp is all about.” 

Previous owner John Munter, Founder of Munter Construction, bought the property from the Boy Scouts of America after the town’s plan to buy the land fell through. Camp Stomping Ground acquired 70 of the 300 acres and transformed the antiquated buildings and grounds with new infrastructure, vibrant paint jobs, and extensive landscaping. The camp is now looking towards another season of programming, with registrations already booming for the summer of 2022. 

“This past year had its challenges that we were able to surpass with great dedication from our year-round team,” said Kriegel. “To balance the maintenance of a new 70-acre property with a global pandemic, we have had to be more flexible and innovative than ever.” 

But Camp Stomping Ground persisted, and the work shows. While losing opportunities to host work weekends and large crews due to COVID-19, their year-round team and small volunteer force were able to transform the grounds, unused since 2015, into a facility that will host over 750 campers over the course of a summer. The camp received significant support from several local Capital Region natives to make this possible including the Munter family, the Dake family, and (former Boyhaven Alumni) William Byrnes and his wife Lisa. 

After wrapping up a successful first summer at the Saratoga Springs property, Kriegel and her team will host “Fall Fest,” an event that will welcome local families, neighbors, and partners to see the site and venture through the campgrounds. There will be pumpkin carving, hayrides, face painting, food, and live music happening from 1-4 p.m. on Saturday, Oct. 30. 

Admission to the event is free for all who wish to attend, but folks are reminded to bring money with them for food and beverage vendors. 

“We are so grateful to the warm welcome and vast support we have received since opening in Saratoga Springs,” said Kriegel. “We want to invite everyone to visit camp for the day and have some fall fun with us.” 

Kriegel and her team have also announced that 25% of camper slots are being reserved for local families and partnerships with discounts available as well. To find out more about Camp Stomping Ground and program offerings, visit www.campstompingground.org and follow along on their Facebook and Instagram pages. 

SARATOGA SPRINGS — The Saratoga Schools district is seeking four additional parents/community members to join the District Diversity, Equity & Inclusion committee.  Parents and community members are required to be residents of the school district.

Parents and community members who are interested are encouraged to apply by filling out the SSCSD Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Committee Interest Form by October 29.  Volunteers are expected to attend a monthly virtual meeting and participate on one of several subcommittees.

The District Diversity, Equity & Inclusion Committee will meet virtually every month and will be held via WebEx. The meeting can be viewed by all community members. The WebEx link for each meeting may be found on the district website calendar.

For more information visit www.saratogaschools.org 

SARATOGA SPRINGS — The Board of Education will be holding a Diversity, Equity, & Inclusion (DEI) workshop on Tuesday, Oct. 26 at 6 p.m. The workshop, which is open to the public, will update board members and community members of the work the District Diversity, Equity, & Inclusion Committee has been doing and how it aligns with the NYS Board of Regents Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Framework. 

What is Diversity, Equity, & Inclusion? The district describes the work their committee is doing that will be shared with the BOE on Tuesday in the following statement on their website: 

“The District Equity & Inclusion Committee supports our district’s Pathways Vision and ongoing work in creating a more equitable, inclusive, safe, and welcoming environment for all students, staff, and community members. The committee has been engaged in conversation and is developing action plans to recommend policies and implement practices designed to promote diversity, facilitate growth in becoming a culturally competent school community, and improve access, opportunity, and outcomes for all students.” 

Superintendent of Schools Dr. Michael Patton stresses that the district’s DEI policy has never been discussed as, and is different from, Critical Race Theory.

However, some local parents feel the policy is just another name for CRT. 

“Why are whites supposedly automatically racist, and why are minorities supposedly victims,” said Brian B. of Saratoga Springs. “I’ve known plenty of blacks and Latinos who were downright brilliant. These systems hold everyone back. My family is mixed race and these policies make me sick.” 

Another concerned parent was surprised when his son came home and said that the principal at Maple Avenue Middle School had made an announcement that students should wear an orange t-shirt next week to support the district’s commitment to DEI. 

“DEI is just a kinder, gentler way of saying CRT,” stated Ed S. “When you use a term like ‘marginalized students,’ which is a broad label applied to minority students, and the policy is to uplift the marginalized students by having the non-marginalized student realize they are privileged, and because of their privileged status, yield to marginalized students, how is that any different from CRT?” 

Ed added, “When I look at the members of the committee putting this together, it doesn’t seem like a fair representation of conservatives and progressives. I am just looking for it to be a conversation or series of conversations with other concerned parents to share our thoughts collectively on this topic.” 

Want to learn more about the Diversity, Equity, & Inclusion policy and get involved in the discussion? Stay tuned to the district website events calendar at www.saratogaschools.org for links and further information on how to attend the workshop and future District Diversity, Equity, & Inclusion meetings.

NEW YORK — The State Education Department has awarded $14 million to 135 public libraries and systems statewide to support construction and renovation projects. These funds help libraries construct new buildings, create additions, update electrical wiring and computer technology, improve broadband infrastructure, meet energy efficiency standards, renovate facilities to provide full accessibility to library users with disabilities, and provide meeting spaces to accommodate community needs. 

The Capital Region was awarded $894,661. The only library in Saratoga County to apply and receive state aid was Stillwater Public Library in the Southern Adirondack Library System. With the $337,500 they were awarded, the Stillwater library will purchase a former factory, the Fiber Mill at 712 Hudson Ave., to use as a new building. 

Construction funds are allocated to New York State’s 23 public library systems based on formulas in Education Law. Member libraries apply for the State funds allocated to their public library system. Each library system’s governing Board of Trustees then prioritizes the projects and sends approved project applications with recommended project awards to the State Library. After State Library review, applications are then sent to the Dormitory Authority of New York State for final review and approval. 

The $14 million in capital funds for State Aid for Library Construction are provided in the 2020-21 Enacted State Budget. In the 2021-22 State Budget, $34 million was provided for projects that will be announced in summer 2022. The deadline to submit an application for that funding to the New York State Library was Oct. 6, 2021. 

BALLSTON SPA — The Saratoga County 4-H will be hosting an Open House Halloween Extravaganza on Halloween. The event is free and open to the public. Activities will begin at 1 p.m. at the Saratoga County 4-H Training Center on Middleline Road in Ballston Spa, and conclude at 3 p.m. 

The public is invited to join in the fun of trick-or-treating, hayrides, games, arts & crafts, farm animal meet & greet, and more. Costumes are highly recommended. No need to sign up for the extravaganza, just arrive and enjoy. Watch the horses as their riders take them around barrels, over jumps, and in costume at the Fall Fun Horse Show. The Show is free for 4-H youth and $25 for adults to enter in; for class list and registration, email bh548@cornell.edu. Visit 4-H club booths in the main classroom and see what your youth can get involved in. 4-H club members and clubs will have a chance to build, decorate, and submit life-size scarecrows which will then be displayed and judged on creativity during the Extravaganza’s hayrides. Come join 4-H for a spooky day at their Training Center. 

4-H is the Youth Outreach component of Cornell Cooperative Extension that connects youth, ages 5-18 years of age, to hands-on learning opportunities that help them grow into competent, caring, contributing members of society. 4-H also looks to create healthy youth-adult partnerships with our network of caring and competent local volunteers. Saratoga County offers a diverse range of programming including veterinary science, robotics, shooting sports, public presentations, master gardener, market auction, wildlife & natural resources, nutrition, and more. 

Saratoga County 4-H Educators have put their best foot forward to work through the COVID-19 pandemic. Saratoga County 4-H is looking forward to offering more in-person programs throughout the new 4-H year. Their new 4-H Educator, Rylie Lear, is creating new opportunities in the animal science area for the youth. 

Saratoga County 4-H is excited to see everyone at the 4-H Open House Halloween Extravaganza on Oct. 31. For more information contact Cornell Cooperative Extension of Saratoga County at 518-885-8995 or visit their website at www.ccesaratoga.org 

SARATOGA SPRINGS — The Academy for Lifelong Learning (A.L.L.) continues its tradition of presenting educational and social opportunities for adults 55+ by offering eleven classroom/outdoor courses and ten Zoom courses in their second fall session starting the week of Oct. 18. Courses are 5 weeks. Registration is open now. 

Topics for these noncredit courses include music, literature, poetry, solar system, Italian language, genealogy, local walking tours, supreme court, cooking, painting, life stories, environment, writing, hiking, fly casting, investing, Chinese wisdom, speaker series, history, art, science, and more. Join A.L.L. locally for outdoor courses or from anywhere on Zoom options. 

Course brochures are available at local libraries, YMCAs, and retirement communities, or by request at 518-587-2100 ext. 2390 or jeff.shinaman@esc.edu or online at www.esc.edu/all. Registrations will be accepted throughout the term until full. Some courses will sell out. Annual membership is $75 and goes through June 30, 2022. Five-week courses are $50.

SARATOGA SPRINGS — With one month of the school year completed, Saratoga Springs City School District held a Board of Education meeting on Oct. 12 to discuss health & safety and academic quarantine plan updates.

Superintendent Dr. Michael Patton announced that across New York State last Wednesday, schools gathered enrollment and employee data as part of Basic Educational Data System Day, or BEDS Day. As of last Wednesday, Saratoga Springs City School District has 5,989 students enrolled and has close to 1,100 employees. 

Health & Safety Update

As of Oct. 12, there have been 61 total positive COVID-19 cases between students and staff members since school opened in September. Just a few weeks ago, close to 150 students were under quarantine by Saratoga County. As of Oct. 12, less than 10 students in the district are now under quarantine from contract tracing. 

Academic Quarantine Plan Update

Lisa Cutting, Assistant Superintendent for Curriculum, Instruction, & Assessment presented updates and clarifications to the plan made in the past two weeks, since the last BOE meeting. Adjustments have been made in terms of grouping, communication with parents, and iTutor, clarifying the timeline of when a student will begin tutoring and what that entails. 

Students under quarantine will access information on Seesaw and Canvas. If it is determined that a student needs to be under quarantine longer than three days, they will be enrolled into iTutor three days into quarantine at the latest. iTutor is live instructional support online to small groups with certified teachers vetted by the school district. The parents of students under quarantine who will be enrolled in iTutor will receive an email, phone call, and a flyer with information about the tutoring when they pick their child up from school. 

Cutting also addressed some frequently asked questions. They tested a tutoring pilot with retired teachers from the district; however, those teachers were not able to provide the students with a consistent schedule. Also, teachers can record their classes to be posted on Seesaw or Canvas, and students will receive information from the class in many different forms. If your student would benefit from visual or auditory lessons, please contact your student’s teacher or have your student speak to their teachers directly. A plan for support for students with disabilities is still being worked on.

Maple Avenue Pathways Vision 6-8 Program Report

Principal Scott Singer and administration discussed the goal for the 21-22 school year – increase the number of students performing at or above grade level in literacy and math. 

Students already test three times a year in reading and math using i-Ready assessments that show skills mastered, skills ready to learn, and skill deficiencies and gaps needed to address. Teachers have access to this information and an i-Ready tool kit with lessons, resources, and activities. An individual learning path is created for every student to access after their skill assessment. 

i-Ready growth from fall to spring of last year shows an 11% increase in students that are at or above grade level. 

Additionally, the PLT and TILT committees will be working on a curriculum renewal that includes digital learning standards in addition to social studies, math, art, music, and physical education/health. Digital learning standards will include things like cyber security, keyboarding skills, research and how to search properly.