On Monday, May 13, Rep. Paul Tonko visited Questar III’s Green Technologies & Renewable Energy program based at Rensselaer High School. Students demonstrated how this hands-on career and technical education (CTE) course helps them better understand energy management and sustainability as they prepare for careers in a growing field locally and across the nation.
This program, which expanded to Rensselaer last fall, prepares high school seniors for emerging careers that can literally make a world of difference. Students learn about solar and photovoltaic energy, wind technology, energy saving solutions and efficiency, as well as renewable energy. Students complete a DC Electricity course and are eligible to receive five college credits through Hudson Valley Community College. The program includes work-based learning, a senior project, and networking with local businesses.
“It’s a wonderful opportunity for students to get hands-on experience and to compete robustly in the innovative technology sector,” said Representative Tonko. “We have no choice but to move forward with sound investments in our workforce, and that starts here in the education system. We will win this race on innovation and thanks to the faculty and leadership at Questar III BOCES and Rennselaer High School.”
During the visit, Representative Tonko drove a student-built solar powered car. He, along with New York State Energy Research and Development Authority (NYSERDA) President and CEO Frank Murray also built their own solar chargers with the guidance of the students.
Several months ago, the program was awarded $50,000 in funding from NYSERDA for the purchase of energy efficiency and renewable energy training equipment, including the equipment used to make the solar chargers. Money was used to purchase Energy Auditing Technology Trainer and Sustainable Conservation Trainer equipment that will provide real-world skills to CTE students at our Rensselaer, Troy and Hudson-based locations.
“At NYSERDA, we are very focused on workforce development and on the green economy. We must make sure we create jobs for the future and that we have a capable workforce,” said Murray. “To do this, we must penetrate the lover levels of education with Science, Technology, Engineering and Math (STEM), and we are very pleased to give you even a small amount of money to achieve that.”
This funding augments Questar III’s existing partnership with Hudson Valley Community College and NYSERDA as a participant in the Home Energy Analyst Technician (HEAT) program, which provides construction and HVAC students and teachers with curriculum and hands-on training in building science and energy auditing.
“We appreciate the support of Congressman Paul Tonko and NYSERDA President and CEO Frank Murray as we seek to provide more students with hands-on learning opportunities,” said Dr. James N. Baldwin, Questar III District Superintendent. “Our students continue to demonstrate that applied learning is a critical part of the pathways to future success in college and careers.”
The Questar III Board of Education unanimously approved a new three-year strategic plan called Shared Success on May 9, 2013 – the culmination of more than a year of planning. More than 100 staff and school district colleagues provided feedback as Questar III developed this plan.
The agency’s planning process was designed to help Questar III respond to the numerous challenges and opportunities facing our region’s schools and BOCES, from the classroom to the board room. Now, the focus shifts to implementing the plan.
Questar III is now seeking volunteers to join implementation teams that will bring the plan’s ideas and initiatives to life. These three teams will be charged with developing operational work plans to advance an initiative. The agency intends to engage a diverse team of individuals from school districts and the BOCES to outline a plan and timeline for moving forward.
“Nothing is more important to our future success than ensuring that Questar III BOCES remains fully accessible, adaptable and responsive,” said Questar III District Superintendent James N. Baldwin. “By devoting our region’s collective talents and abilities to this plan’s implementation, we will do more than simply survive and comply; we will achieve shared success.”
Questar III Data Analyst Nichole McCollum hosts one of two breakout sessions on PARCC.
Questar III Data Analyst Katie Barrett hosts an overview session on PARCC during the Data Analysis Technical Assistance Group (DATAG) conference on March 15.
On Friday, March 15, Questar III BOCES data analysts, Katie Barrett and Nichole McCollum, led two overview sessions on the Partnership for the Assessment of Readiness for College and Careers Assessments (PARCC) during the quarterly Data Analysis Technical Assistance Group (DATAG) conference in Colonie.
PARCC will develop a K-12 assessment system aligned to the Common Core Learning Standards in English Language Arts and Mathematics. These assessments will help partnering states – including New York – to dramatically increase the number college- and career-ready high school graduates.
Participants said they found the session extremely useful and were impressed with Barrett and McCollum’s level of knowledge on the subject.
“This session was an outstanding co-presented overview of the next generation PARCC testing” said Tom O’Hara, Director of Technology at East Greenbush Central Schools.
“Katie and Nichole not only did a great job articulating what we currently know about the PARCC assessments, but it was also a great way to promote Questar III’s data analysis service to the rest of the state” said Jeff Baker, Questar III Chief Information Officer.
A copy of Barrett and McCollum’s presentation can be found on the DATAG website at http://www.datag.org/home.
Questar III’s Regional Odyssey of the Mind tournament is being held Saturday, March 9 at Rensselaer City School District. The tournament consists of 76 teams from schools in Rensselaer, Columbia and Greene counties. With over 600 students participating, it one of the largest tournaments Questar III BOCES has ever organized.
Odyssey of the Mind is an international program with a mission to teach students how to solve problems creatively. It encourages them to use their imagination and learn the importance of working as a team.
“This tournament is always a wonderful culmination for students of many months of hard work, brainstorming and creative problem solving as a team,” said tournament coordinator Arlene Sampson. ”Many students discover for the first time that they can really speak in front of an audience, or paint a backdrop or build a structure that holds hundreds of pounds. These are skills they will use for the rest of their lives. It is rewarding to know that the Odyssey of the Mind program can have such an impact,” she added.
Registration for the daylong competition begins at 7:30 a.m. and performances are from 8:10 a.m.- 4:30 p.m. The awards ceremony will begin at 5:30 p.m.
In order to assure that all participants, their families and friends will have a safe and enriching Odyssey experience, please note the following:
Parking: Due to limited parking, shuttle buses will be available every 20 minutes from 7 a.m.-7 p.m. Shuttles will be running to the CDTA parking lot on Route 4 and Carmela’s Banquet House on Washington Avenue. After 1 p.m., shuttles will also be making stops at Doane Stuart on Washington Avenue.
Food: This year there will be a new food service option with Omer’s Food Court. Luncheon items ranging from Chili, salad, pizza and sandwiches will be provided by three or four local vendors in the elementary cafeteria and sold from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. In addition, the Rensselaer Athletic Association will be providing a full range of snack items (pizza, burgers, ice cream) and beverages from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Only cash will be accepted for these items so please prepare accordingly.
Weather: In case of inclement weather, the tournament will either be delayed or be held Sunday, March 10. Please check local radio and TV stations for an announcement.
Special Guest: Odyssey of the Mind mascot, Omer, will be appearing once again at this year’s program. Remember to bring your camera to take a picture with Omer!
Each team has been challenged to create original and creative ways to solve one of the following open-ended questions:
Pet Project The problem is to design, build, and run three vehicles that will deliver parts to an Assembly Area. The team will create a signal that lets the audience know which vehicle is about to travel and deliver a part.
The Email Must Go Through
The team’s problem is to create and present an original performance that includes a technical representation of messages being sent by email.
ARTchitecture: The Musical
For this problem, teams will create and present an original performance that includes a replica of a documented architectural structure that was built between 1,000 AD and 1,600 AD.
Tumble-wood
Teams will design and build a structure made of only balsa wood and glue that will balance and support as much weight as possible.
It’s How You Look at It
The problem is to create and present an original humorous performance that includes two characters that act naturally — to them — but odd to those around them.
Top Sea-cret Discoveries
(K-2 Teams only) The problem is to create and present a performance that includes exploring the ocean and making discoveries.
Contact Arlene Sampson, tournament coordinator, at 518-479-6843 or asampson@questar.org for more information.
Questar III BOCES staff and students spent February 12 at BOCES Lobby Day meeting with legislators to encourage them to maintain funding and to see BOCES as a solution for the state’s fiscal issues.
Students and teachers attend BOCES Lobby Day.
Danny Ramirez, HVAC teacher at Rensselaer Educational Center (REC), and Joe Mix, Construction Technologies teacher at REC, brought five students to BOCES Lobby Day. Students Chris Herrington, Brittany Eggleston, Alannah O’Dell, Kaitlin Cancelliere and Zak Harrington visited State Assemblyman John McDonald to discuss the issues facing school districts throughout the state and how BOCES could help.
The students advocated for a number of proposals such as:
•Include BOCES in New York’s SAFE Act, which allows schools to receive state aid for the purchase of security devices.
•Include BOCES in any pension-smoothing law that is enacted since they face the same fiscal pressures as school districts.
•Support full-day BOCES programs.
•Change BOCES lease terms from 10 years to 20 years to save costs.
•Exclude BOCES capital projects from the property tax levy cap.
Ramirez is proud of the way the student advocates presented themselves and the important information to Assemblyman McDonald.
“I feel it is important that students not only learn about the legislative process, but how to go about presenting an issue and conducting themselves. It also doesn’t hurt to have the individuals who education cuts affect speak on their own behalf,” Ramirez said.
TVHS senior Rokeya Sultana speaks as sophomore Richard McKoys looks on.
In a move designed to boost the educational opportunities for students across the region, Tech Valley High School® will move to the College of Nanoscale Science and Engineering (CNSE) for the start of the 2014-15 school year.
“I don’t think there is a partnership like this anywhere in the country,” Duffy told a crowd of more than 100 dignitaries. “This partnership will guarantee more investment, more growth and more jobs in the future.”
The move will provide enormous opportunities for the students of Tech Valley High School, as well as the region and will further grow TVHS’ abilities to provide professional development to teachers across the region, state and country.
“CNSE is the center of the Tech Valley Region’s growth and revitalization. It is only fitting that TVHS be at that center. The partnership of Tech Valley High School and CNSE truly creates the pipeline of school to college to career that in most places in this country is still only talked about,” said Capital Region BOCES District Superintendent Dr. Charles Dedrick.
TVHS junior Stephen Lewis examines an object.
The school is operated by Capital Region BOCES and Questar III.
“When we conceived the idea of Tech Valley High School 10 years ago, the dream was to co-locate this 21st century high school with technology businesses and an institution of higher education focused on emerging technologies. The location of Tech Valley High at the College of Nanoscience and Engineering brings that dream to fruition beyond our wildest expectations. It will secure the future of Tech Valley High, providing its students with un-paralleled education and making it a catalyst for school reform throughout the region and state,” said James N. Baldwin, district superintendent of Questar III BOCES.
Questar III District Superintendent James Baldwin at the College of Nanoscale Science & Engineering annoucement
“This game-changing partnership with the world’s leader in nanotechnology education, research, and economic growth brings our decade’s old dream of co-locating to fruition beyond our wildest expectations. This is an exciting and important step forward on a new journey – one that will open new doors for students and schools across our region – and one that will turn Tech Valley High School into something even larger.
Tech Valley High School Principal Dan Liebert said the partnership affirms the school’s role in education innovation.
“Our students will now be in close proximity to a world-class institution of higher education on the cutting edge of science and technology. This affirms our role as education innovators and cements the role of TVHS in developing innovative science and technology education,” he said.
TVHS will lease for 20 years more than 22,000 square feet of state-of-the-art space at CNSE – larger than its current location at the UAlbany’s East Campus in East Greenbush. At CNSE, TVHS will have modern classrooms and high-tech laboratories to be used by its students and teachers. In addition, TVHS will have access to common space at CNSE, such as technology-equipped auditoriums, to enable opportunities for interactive long-distance learning and collaboration.
TVHS teacher Michelle Sweeny delivers a lesson.
The move is not just an opportunity for the students who attend TVHS, but also those who attend schools around the globe.
“TVHS is a resource to schools across the region, state and globe, providing along with the two BOCES professional development that leads to the Tech Valley High educational process being implemented in classrooms everywhere,” said Liebert.
Dr. Alain E. Kaloyeros, senior vice president and CEO of CNSE, said the partnership between CNSE and TVHS will prepare the next generation of innovators.
“As Governor Andrew Cuomo has championed New York’s rise as a global leader in nanotechnology education, innovation, and economic growth, this partnership between Tech Valley High School and the NanoCollege is both timely and essential in helping to prepare our next generation of innovators,” he said. “We are delighted to work with the pioneering leadership of Tech Valley High School to develop groundbreaking educational and training programs for students, and excited with the synergy that will be realized by locating the visionary Tech Valley High School together with CNSE in a one-of-a-kind hub for nanoscale learning and discovery.”
TVHS students heralded the move.
“At Tech Valley High School, we have been collaborating with our peers and business professionals from the first day of school. Now we get to collaborate with some of the most accomplished scientists in the world,” said sophomore Richard McKoy, from Menands.
TVHS senior Rokeya Sultana, who will graduate before the school moves, said that the change in location will provide future generations of TVHS students with an even greater opportunity to “save the world.”
“My hope is that the future students will be inspired by their experiences here to apply science and technology to solve some of the world’s most difficult problems, such as energy production without pollution, medical devices and technology that cure illnesses, and computer technology that will allow smaller, cheaper, more powerful computing,” said Sultana, who attends TVHS from Hudson.
TVHS sophomore Grace Bombard from Schodack examines a DNA strand in a tube of strawberry juice.
Founded in 2007, Tech Valley High School provides students with the skills necessary to be successful in college and in tomorrow’s workforce, with a strong emphasis on math, science and technology.
Tech Valley High School presently serves 120 students in grades nine through 12 who are drawn from 38 schools across Albany, Columbia, Greene, Rensselaer, Schenectady, Schoharie and southern Saratoga counties.
Its two graduating classes feature a 100 percent on-time graduation rate with 95 percent of students pursuing higher education and 50 percent of the students pursuing STEM-based (science, technology, engineering and math) education and careers.
The school is the result of collaboration with K-12 educators, higher education, business, organized labor, and state and local government. Funding for the school is provided by component school districts, as well as the state and grants provided by private-sector sources.
TVHS students pose at CNSE with Lt. Gov. Robert Duffy, Captial Region BOCES District Superintendent Dr. Charles Dedrick and Questar III District Superintendent Dr. James Baldwin.
A key ingredient of Tech Valley High School’s offerings is serving as an education incubator, providing professional development opportunities for teachers across the globe. This is accomplished by TVHS teachers and trainers provided by Capital Region BOCES and Questar III who conducted professional development classes and workshops attended by teachers and education leaders.
It is the second move for TVHS since its inception. The school was initially located at MapInfo building (now Pitney Bowes) in North Greenbush. TVHS relocated to the UAlbany’s East Campus for the start of the 2009-10 school year. That lease expires at the end of the 2013-14 school year.
Besides Baldwin, Dedrick, Liebert, Sultana and McKoy, several other TVHS representatives were at the announcement at the CNSE campus. They were: TVHS seniors Jesse Fawcett from Green Island, Kevin Bates from Voorheesville and Savanah Beers from Cairo-Durham; freshmen Gary Peck from Cobleskill-Richmondville, Jennifer Mosher of Averill Park and Nafis Rahman of Hudson; sophomores Justin Canaperi of Averill Park, Dan Quinones of Averill Park and Leah Clifford of Ichabod Crane; juniors Isaac Prentice of Scotia-Glenville, Libby Cass of Berlin, and Dan Heck of Cairo-Durham.
Monday’s regional advocacy workshop at Niskayuna High School brought hundreds of school district stakeholders together to learn how to effectively advocate for their schools.
Robert Lowry and Kyle Belokopitsky from the New York State Council of School Superintendents were the featured presenters and offered “how-to” strategies and techniques for helping parents, teachers and taxpayers reach out to lawmakers and take that important step in advocating for educational change.
UPDATE: Monday’s regional advocacy workshop at Niskayuna High School brought hundreds of school district stakeholders together to learn how to effectively advocate for their schools.
Robert Lowry and Kyle Belokopitsky from the New York State Council of School Superintendents were the featured presenters and offered “how-to” strategies and techniques for helping parents, teachers and taxpayers reach out to lawmakers and take that important step in advocating for educational change.
For resources and information on advocating for your child’s school, please visit EducationSpeaks.org.
Join us at Niskayuna High School Monday, February 11, at 7 p.m. for “A Call to Action” and learn how to advocate for your schools.
With the Capital Region still buzzing from last week’s unprecedented regional rally to avert the fiscal crisis facing public schools, educational stakeholders representing 47 school districts will reconvene Monday night to learn what they can personally do to advocate for change.
The Niskayuna Central School District will be the host this time for “A Call to Action,” part two of the landmark program, “Your Schools in Fiscal Peril: Running Out of Time & Options,” which drew an overflow crowd of 1,500 school administrators, teachers, students, community members, and more than a dozen state legislators to Columbia High School on January 31.
Following this memorable kick off event, hundreds pledged to do more than just listen about how years of state aid cuts are crippling our schools. By filling out the blue comment cards in that night’s program, they made a pledge to speak out for change by contacting their elected state representatives as they meet in Albany in the coming weeks to discuss public school funding for the 2013-14 year.
That’s what “A Call to Action” is all about. It’s a 90-minute follow-up workshop to be held at 7 p.m., February 11, in the auditorium of Niskayuna High School, Balltown Road, offering effective “how-to” strategies and techniques for helping parents, teachers and taxpayers like you reach out to lawmakers and take that important step in advocating for educational change.
Area education leaders hope Monday’s advocacy “how-to” program sequel will be every bit as powerful as the January 31 forum in terms of public support as they brace for yet another year of unpopular to untenable budget cuts that will affect urban, suburban and rural school districts alike.
Monday’s featured speakers will be Robert Lowry and Kyle Belokopitsky from the New York State Council of School Superintendents (NYSCOSS). Their presentations will be followed by an audience question and answer session, then refreshments and conversation in the school cafeteria.
Please contact your school district if you’d like to attend this event.
EAST GREENBUSH – More than 1,000 community members from all 47 school districts in the Capital Region came together on Jan. 31 to learn about the fiscal crisis facing their schools and find out what they can do to help.
Featured speaker Dr. Rick Timbs, Executive Director of the Statewide School Finance Consortium, pointed to three major causes of the fiscal crisis facing school districts: cuts in state aid through the Gap Elimination Adjustment, inequities in how the state distributes school aid to school districts, and a lack of meaningful relief from state mandates that drive up the cost of education.
Dr. Timbs, a retired educator, explained that the Gap Elimination Adjustment is a cut in state education aid that Gov. David Paterson proposed as a one-time fix to help the state’s budget deficit. But the state has used it the past three years, costing Capital Region schools a total of $305 million in state aid they otherwise would have received. It is included in Gov. Andrew Cuomo’s executive budget for a fourth straight year.
Dr. Timbs also pointed to the state aid formula New York uses to distribute school aid. Using the state’s own budget figures, Dr. Timbs illustrated how upstate school districts are not getting their fair share of state aid. As a result, upstate schools are faced with cutting programs they and their communities value while the cost of education is increasingly being shifted to local property taxes.
“The truth is all kids should be treated fairly, no matter where they live. Shouldn’t everyone have a fair shot at an education, no matter their zip code?” said Dr. Timbs. “The reality is that the Class of 2012 may have received the best education for the foreseeable future.”
To help illustrate the deep concerns of rural, suburban and urban school districts, superintendents from three area districts spoke about the impact the Gap Elimination Adjustment, inequity of school aid and lack of mandate relief have had on student opportunities.
Schodack CSD Superintendent Bob Horan explained how worried he and other educators from rural school districts are. He explained how his district has done everything the state has asked, including studying a merger with a neighboring school district, applying for state and private grants, cutting its budget three of the past four years and draining its reserves. But despite their efforts, the district still faces steep cuts with little else to eliminate but student opportunities.
“I’m incredibly proud of our students. Our graduation rate and attendance rate is in the 90s. When we ask our students to do one thing, they’ve always done three. They always go above and beyond,” said Mr. Horan. “We’ve always made them a promise that if they work hard, they’ll be rewarded. Now we’re at a point where I’m afraid they won’t be able to compete against students in other school districts as they apply for college.”
Guilderland CSD Superintendent of Schools Dr. Marie Wiles spoke on behalf of the many suburban districts represented at the event, dispelling the myth that suburban schools are not affected by the inadequacy of state aid. “From the outside looking in, it might appear that suburban schools have endless resources,” she said, “when in fact our resources are just as finite as those of our friends and colleagues in rural and urban school districts.”
Dr. Wiles noted that Guilderland has lost $12.3 million over the past three years due to the Gap Elimination Adjustment. As a result, the district has eliminated 125 full-time equivalent positions, leading to increased class sizes at all levels and fewer supports for faculty, staff and students who are struggling.
“Despite the rhetoric that suggests that state aid has been increased to school districts, the reality is that the resources needed to fund our programs are being whittled away,” said Dr. Wiles. “In the absence of adequate state aid and any meaningful relief from costly mandates, the financial and educational insolvency of our school districts is not a function of ‘if’ it will happen, but rather ‘when’ it will happen.”
Schenectady City Schools Superintendent Larry Spring described both the proud tradition of his district – from its innovative programs to its outstanding performing arts – as well as the challenges of an urban school district.
Schenectady has the 13th highest rate of childhood poverty in the nation, Mr. Spring explained. As a result, students often need the support of social workers and others to help them with the trauma they experience daily. Yet, due to a lack of sufficient state funding, the district is forced to cut services that those students need.
“Mental health services are not mandated but PE minutes are. Reading is not mandated but PE minutes are,” Mr. Spring said. “Schenectady is shorted $62 million a year. If we received the funding we are supposed to receive, we could wipe out these problems.”
East Greenbush CSD Superintendent Dr. Angela Nagle ended the evening by stressing to the audience that they have the power to help. She urged them to learn more and contact their state legislators to ensure they understood their concerns about the future of their schools. She also urged community members to attend a Feb. 11 event at Niskayuna High School at 7 p.m. where they can learn how to advocate for their schools.
“Although there are great challenges confronting us as we gather today, we can work together using the strength of our numbers to bring about change, and ensure our children an opportunity to achieve their dreams,” said Dr. Nagle.
