Millbrook school officials consider next steps after capital plan defeat

Elm Drive Elementary School in Millbrook.
Archive photo
Elm Drive Elementary School in Millbrook.
MILLBROOK — The Central School District Board meeting on Tuesday, Dec. 17, in the wake of voters’ rejection of the three-phase major capital plan at the Nov. 19 referendum brought discussion of how to interpret the defeat.
Board members offered opinions on a wide range of factors which might have led to the vote result. Also discussed without resolution were potential next steps to resurrect portions of the capital plan. Particular focus was on the most serious of the roof leak problem areas.
Following a lengthy discussion, board members agreed to decide on a way forward at the next meeting on Tuesday, Jan. 7, when decisions will be made about reducing the project scope to enable critically needed roof repair, along with cost estimates.
Early in the discussion, a reduction in project scope seemed warranted, so roof repairs to Elm Drive School could proceed and the Middle School could receive roof repairs and installation of a lift for ADA-compliance, but perhaps not the originally planned elevators for access to all levels of the Middle School.
Representatives of BBS Architects offered advice during the discussion. For more information on the architects’ project planning, go to www.millbrookcsd.org.
Wide-ranging board discussion recognized residents’ reluctance to pay for the repairs. Others felt officials and project proponents were not effective in explaining the project to the public and there were not enough people who came out to vote in the referendum.
How to get to a ‘Yes’ vote was a focus of the discussion. The total number of voters at the special referendum numbered only slightly more than 500. One board members felt that 3,000 voters should have turned out to vote.
Board members spoke of previous boards deferring maintenance from term to term, bringing the schools to the current emergency where rainwater can be heard within the walls of Elm Drive School and rainwater spurts directly into the Middle School. Damage to the floors is evident.
Architect Joseph Rettig said it would be essential to retain plans for a lift in the Middle School to allow for access where none exists from the lower corridor to the auditorium. The elevators which would have provided more convenient access to other levels could be eliminated, he said.
“We will do anything we can to ensure continuity of the Middle School programs, but the buildings will decide for us,” one official said.
Rettig noted that a flat roof does shed water as a flat roof does have a gentle pitch to channel runoff water.
“But the Middle School roof is very old,” Rettig said.
Most board members agreed that the community must be better informed of the need for maintenance work.
If the project is reduced in scope, the needed repairs will be deferred further. In a few years, the demonstrated needs will be more severe, and more expensive to correct, starting with a redo of the design plans.
Rettig pointed out that if the Middle School roof is replaced, and then in a few years, the HVAC work is approved, then the new roof would need to be cut into to do the installation of the new equipment. He said that cutting into a new roof invites damage to the roof, recommending instead that roof and HVAC occur at the same time.
The school district board has until the first week in February to choose a direction.
PINE PLAINS — The Pine Plains FFA Ag Fair brought a crowd to the high school on Church Street Saturday, Oct. 11.
Kicking off the day was the annual tractor pull, attracting a dedicated crowd that sat in bleachers and folding chairs for hours watching Allison-Chalmers, International Harvesters and John Deeres compete to pull the heaviest weights.
A large collection of food was on offer from the Pine Plains FFA and each one of the classes in the Pine Plains Central School District. The football team was selling pickles.
Stissing Mountain High School Principal Christopher Boyd enjoyed a dip in the dunk tank to raise money for the Pine Plains teachers’ union-sponsored scholarship.
Stissing Mountain High School Principal Christopher Boyd got dunked several times during his half-hour shift in the dunk tank. Proceeds from the throws benefitted the Photo by Nathan Miller
The Rev. AJ Stack, center right, blessing a chicken at the pet blessing event at St. Thomas Episcopal Church in Amenia on Saturday, Oct. 4.
AMENIA — After serving more than five years as Priest-in-Charge of St. Thomas Episcopal Church in Amenia, the Rev. AJ Stack announced Tuesday, Oct. 7, that he will resign from the church and Food of Life/Comida de Vida pantry. His last day at his current post will be Sunday, Nov. 2, the conclusion of the Feast of All Saints.
The news was shared in two emails from Stack — one to Food of Life pantry subscribers and volunteers, and another to parish members.
“I write tonight with difficult news, and I wanted you to hear it from me as soon as the Vestry and I had a chance to meet,” he wrote. “After much prayer and careful discernment, I have submitted my resignation to the Vestry as Priest-in-Charge of St. Thomas, and therefore as Executive Director of Food of Life/Comida de Vida.”
Stack provided few details about his departure. At time of publication, he had not announced his next steps but said the decision was “not sudden,” and followed careful consideration over a period of months. He will not be leaving the area or the diocese.
An announcement about his path forward and the transition process is expected soon. In the meantime, Stack said he remains “fully present” at the church, and the food pantry services will continue without interruption.
Stack expressed gratitude for the community and the growth of St. Thomas’ mission during his tenure. “Together we have welcomed new neighbors and strengthened our outreach in meaningful ways,” he said. “I trust that good work will continue.”
He joined St. Thomas in March 2020 and guided the church and community through the challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic. In a recent interview with The News about the food pantry, Stack estimated that it serves 653 individuals from 156 households each week, highlighting a significant contribution to the community.
The announcement was met with messages of reassurance from pantry volunteers. Jolly Stewart, a Vestry member and volunteer, wrote to the community with words of reassurance following the announcement. “I have complete faith in the strength of the parish of St. Thomas,” she wrote. “Our history shows how we have done this time and again, each time becoming more than what we were before. We can, without a doubt, do this now.”
MILLERTON — Ten candidates for office in the Nov. 4 election will answer questions from Dutchess County voters at a candidate forum on Friday, Oct. 24, at the Annex at the NorthEast-Millerton Library located at 28 Century Blvd.
The forum, which is sponsored by the library, will be held from 6 to 7:30 p.m.
Candidates for local and county offices will answer questions from residents in attendance or from residents who have submitted questions in advance.
“We’re excited to keep the tradition of the candidate forum going,” said Rhiannon Leo-Jameson, director of the library. “Some years we can’t always get candidates together.”
This year’s forum will include:
Rachele Grieco Cole, a Democrat, and Chris Mayville, a Republican, who both are running uncontested for the North East Town Council;
Casey McCabe, a Democrat, also running uncontested for North East Justice.
Among Dutchess County races:
Tracy MacKenzie, who is endorsed by Republicans and Democrats, is running uncontested for Dutchess County Family Court Judge;
Kara Gerry, a Democrat, and Ned McLoughlin, a Republican, are in a contest for a Dutchess County Court judgeship currently held by McLoughlin.
Chris Drago, D-19, and Tonya Pulver, a Republican, are competing to represent Dutchess County’s19th District seat currently held by Drago.
Democratic incumbent Dan Aymar-Blair and Will Truitt, the Republican chair of the county legislature, are competing for the Dutchess County Comptroller position currently held by Aymar-Blair.
Leo-Jameson is encouraging questions for the candidates to be submitted in advance, which will not be revealed to candidates beforehand. Dutchess County residents may pose questions during the forum. To submit a question on the library’s website, go to the calendar at nemillertonlibrary.org and find the link in the Oct. 24calendar entries.
The format calls for opening statements from the candidates, followed by questions from residents, and candidates will be able to stay after the forum to answer questions personally.
The residence at 35 Amenia Union Road in Sharon was damaged after being struck by the Jeep Grand Cherokee around 3 p.m. on Saturday, Oct. 11.
SHARON, Conn. — Emergency crews were called Saturday, Oct. 11, to Amenia Union Road in Sharon for a report of a vehicle into a building with entrapment.
Connecticut State Police reported Charles Teti, 62, was driving his Jeep Grand Cherokee northbound on Amenia Union Road when, for an unknown reason, the vehicle veered across the southbound land and exited the roadway where it struck a tree and home. Airbags deployed.
Teti and front seat passenger Aidan Cassidy, 63, sustained serious injuries. Teti was airlifted to Hartford Hospital and Cassidy was transported by ambulance to Sharon Hospital for treatment.
Back seat passenger Shea Cassidy-Teti, 17, sustained fatal injuries and was pronounced dead on scene. Cassidy-Teti was a senior at Kent School. He played on the football and tennis teams.
The residence that was struck is located at 35 Amenia Union Road.
The case remains under open investigation. Witnesses are asked to contact Trooper Lukas Gryniuk at Troop B 860-626-1821.