ALLEGANY, N.Y. — In a surprise announcement during Tuesday’s Allegany-Limestone school board meeting, Superintendent Dr. Karen Geelan reported that high school Principal Dean Mesi abruptly resigned Friday.
The announcement, which was not on the school board agenda, was made during Geelan’s report near the end of the meeting. Mesi could not be reached for a comment following the meeting. Geelan said Mesi, who was hired over two years ago, resigned abruptly on Friday for personal reasons. She said news of Mesi’s resignation was shared with the high school staff early Monday.
In a prepared statement, Geelan said Mesi “indicated a desire to pursue other opportunities. “We are grateful for the service he provided our students and school community over the past two years, and wish him well in all his future endeavors.”
In her comments at the meeting, Geelan thanked “everyone who stepped up and took care of tasks handled by Mesi.
“I wanted to share with everyone that we have an interim principal between now and the end of June,” she said of Kevin Straub, director of technology, who had served as high school principal in the past. “Our whole notion is to have as seamless of a transition as possible. Mr. Straub brings the experience of knowing what needs to be done to get ready for our Regents exams, for our awards assemblies (for seniors) and all of our traditions at the end of the school year.”
Geelan said the district won’t attempt to find a new principal in the immediate future because the end of the school year.
In other business, the board adopted the district budget of $22.8 million for the 2016-17 school year. The budget represents a 2.92 percent decrease in the tax levy, a 100 percent retention of current programs and services and a 1.72 percent budget increase for the school district. A budget presentation will be held at 6:30 p.m. May 3 at the high school, followed by the budget vote and board election for two seats on May 17.
In other matters, the board heard a presentation on the PTO by president Mary Jo Black and vice president Tracy DeRose.
Black said the organization wants to improve communication between the group, parents, teachers and administrators and increase its presence in the elementary school.
“I’m happy to say we’ve done that very well this year,” Black said. She said the organization recently donated $5,000 to the Allegany-Limestone School Endowment fund, thanks to funds it has raised.
DeRose said the PTO conducts a number of activities and fundraisers, with one being the new Mother/Son Jam and Fun event. She said the activity was “the mother and son answer” to the traditional Sweetheart Dance held for fathers and daughters. DeRose said other activities during the year have included the Family Fun Night to welcome students back to school, among others. She said the PTO also collects funds through cereal box top collections, can returns and spring and fall book fairs. The funds are then donated to the school for anti-bullying programs, field trips and reimbursing teachers for items purchased for students.
The board also heard a presentation from Straub on the new 3-D Rover technology system acquired by the school district this year. The system is used in all three schools and provides 3-D videos and programs on a variety of topics, from physics, biology and chemistry to mechanics and Earth Science. The board and audience were provided 3-D glasses to watch a biology video on a beating heart, which could be rotated on the screen to observe different angles and views of the heart during the demonstration. Straub said each of the 3-D carts cost approximately $4,000 and include 25 sets of 3-D glasses for viewing the educational material.
