A semi-truck has reportedly struck a utility pole on Court Street in Batavia.

No word on possible injuries, if any.

City Fire and Mercy EMS dispatched.

Press release:

The Erie County Fair, in partnership with Milk for Health, will honor WNY’s Dairy Farmer of the Year during Dairy Day at the Erie County Fair this August.   Dairy Day will be Saturday, August 12, and will have a variety of activities that will showcase dairy farming and products.

The WNY Dairy Farmer of the Year designation could be awarded to an established or even newer Western New York dairy farmer who exhibits outstanding management of their dairy farm business and showcases leadership in the WNY dairy industry and/or their community.  It’s not necessarily the farm putting the most milk in the tank or with the fanciest cows, even though being efficient and having happy animals is important.  Essentially, we are looking for the farmer that displays passion for the dairy industry and is an advocate for its purpose.

“It is our pleasure to partner with the Erie County Fair to honor an outstanding Western New York Dairy Farmer for the second year.  We have amazing dairymen and women that give so much to the community, promoting the industry, and perfecting their trade that we find absolutely necessary for this award,” said Bethany Hobin, Executive Director for Milk For Health.

The winning nominee will receive this award at a special presentation at the Erie County Fair on Dairy Day. 

To nominate a dairy farmer from any of the 8 counties of Western New York (Erie, Niagara, Chautauqua, Cattaraugus, Orleans, Genesee, Wyoming and Allegany), visit this link:  Dairy Farmer of the Year (ecfair.org) to complete the application form.  Forms must be submitted by June 1st to be considered.  

Traveling to Lyndonville on Tuesday, the Elba Lancers came away with a win, 68-55, in Girls Basketball.

Sydney Reilly scored 20 points and grabbed 12 rebounds. Halie Scouten scored 15 points and 15 rebounds. Lydia Ross scored 10 points. Kennedy Augello scored six and had six assists.

The Lancers evened the team's season record at 10 and 10.

Girls Basketball on Tuesday:

• Notre Dame beat Wheatland-Chili, 66-20. Amelia McCulley scored 26 points, had 10 rebounds and five assists and five steals. Emma Sisson scored 15. Avelin Tomidy scored 14.
• Alexander beat Kendall, 57-17.  Alyssa Kramer scored 19 points and Melanie Pohl scored 11.
• Pavilion beat Perry, 52-35. Karlee Zinkievich scored 27 points. Lauren Kinglsey scored 16 and had eight rebounds, four blocked shots and four steals.

Boys Basketball:

• Byron-Bergen beat Kendall, 63-44. David Brumsted scored 18 points and had eight rebounds. Colin Martin scored 10 points.

Photos by Kristin Smith

This February 2023, the City of Batavia Police Department has teamed up with the local Cancer Services Program (CSP) provided through United Memorial Medical Center to raise cancer awareness.  The Cancer Services Program provided Batavia PD members with several options of pins to wear during their tour of duty to raise cancer awareness.  The City of Batavia Police Department would like to thank the CSP and for allowing Batavia PD and it’s Officers to participate in spreading the word on such an important topic.  Batavia PD would also like to thank our local CSP and their employees for all the great work that they do for our community. 

The Cancer Services Program provides breast, cervical, and colorectal cancer screening, follow-up tests, help getting treatment and support services at no cost to people who qualify. 

Who qualifies?  People who;

• Live in New York State
• Do not have health insurance
• Have health insurance with a cost share that makes the cost of screening too high
• Meet the program rules for age in income

Why should I be screened?

• Cancer screening can save lives.  Screening tests check for signs of cancer before there are symptoms or problems.
• Screening tests for breast, cervical, and colorectal cancer can find cancer early, when it may be easier to treat.
• Cervical and colorectal cancer can be prevented if found early.

Cancer Screening

• Breast Cancer Screening
  • Women ages 40 and older
  • Women under age 40 at high risk for breast cancer
• Cervical Cancer Screening
  • Women ages 40 and older
• Colorectal Cancer Screening
  • People age 45 and older at average risk for colorectal cancer
  • People at increased or high risk for colorectal cancer

Follow-Up for Abnormal Tests

• If a screening test finds something, the CSP will do more testing, called diagnostic tests.  These tests can tell if something is, or is not, cancer.

Help with Treatment

• If breast, cervical or colorectal cancer is found, the CSP helps though who meet the program rules enroll in the New York State Medicaid Cancer Treatment Program (MCTP).  The MCT provides full Medicaid for the entire time a person is treated for cancer.
• -Men diagnosed with prostate cancer by a CSP-participating health care provider may be able to enroll in the MCTP.

Note: The CSP does not pay for prostate cancer screening or diagnostic testing.

Support Services

• Patient Navigation
  • CSP staff can help you find transportation and other assistance you may need if you are having trouble making o getting to your screening appointment.
• Case Management
  • CSP case managers make sure follow-up appointments for more testing are scheduled and that patients have the supports they need.
• Links to Other Cancer Service Organizations
  • Organizations through New York State provide support services to New Yorkers with cancer and their families.  Call 1-866-442-2262 to find services, such as survivor support groups and genetic counseling.

What if I have health insurance?

• Most health insurance covers breast, cervical and colorectal cancer screenings at no cost to the patient.  This includes Medicaid and plans in the New York State of Health.  Check with your insurance plan to find out what cancer screening services are covered.

What if I need health insurance?

• To enroll in the New York State of Health, call 855-355-5777 or find out more on their website: nystateofhealth.ny.gov

Did you know…

• Breast cancer is most often found in women age 50 and older.  Women ages 50 to 74 years should get a mammogram every two years.
• Cervical cancer is most often found in women who have never been screened.
• About 9 in 10 colorectal cancers occur in people age 50 or older.  People ages 45 to 75 years should get colorectal cancer screenings tests.

How do I find a CSP?

• Call your local CSP at 716-278-4898
• You may also call 1-866-442-CANCER ( 2262).  The call is free and operators are available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week to connect you to a CSP near you.  Hablamos Espanol.  There are translation services for other languages.

Members of the City of Batavia Police Department and your local Cancer Services Program employees.  The sign reads “Are you uninsured?  Call the CSP and ask about free cancer Screenings!  716-278-4898”

Press release:

Leaders and Reality Check youth with Tobacco-Free Genesee, Orleans and Wyoming (TF-GOW), a partner in the New York State Tobacco Control Program (NYS TCP), recently met with Senators Robert Ortt, as well as staff members for Senator George Borrello and Members of the Assembly Marjorie Byrnes and Stephen Hawley, at the state Capitol in Albany to discuss efforts to reduce New Yorkers’ tobacco use and smoking-related deaths and disease. Warsaw High School juniors Samantha Werner, Addison Gay and Patrick Langdon; Attica Middle School eighth-grader Trinnity Wheatle; and  Batavia Central School students Prudence Favaloro (junior) and  Abbigayle  Leone (sophomore), shared details of tobacco control progress and areas of continued need since over 28,200 adults New Yorkers still die every year from smoking. They also stressed that funding for the state’s Tobacco Control Program is just 1.6% of the state’s annual tobacco revenue.

The NYS TCP continues to make immense progress in reducing smoking. The average adult smoking rate in New York State is now 12%, or 1.7 million adult New Yorkers smoke, down from more than 23% in 2001, and the youth smoking rate is down to 2.4% from 27.1% in 2000. However, in addition to the over 28,200 adult New Yorkers who still die every year from smoking, another 750,000 suffer from a smoking-related illness. Despite the reduced cigarette smoking rate, 280,000 New York youth currently under the age of 18 will die prematurely from smoking. And, vaping, or e-cigarette use is still dangerously high. Nearly one in four high-school-age youth in New York State vape/use e-cigarettes, the most used tobacco product among youth.

“Ninety percent of adult smokers begin the deadly addiction of smoking as teenagers or earlier,” said Brittany Bozzer, Reality Check Coordinator for TF-GOW. “I’m proud of our youth for their efforts in encouraging their peers to be tobacco-free, standing up to the tobacco industry and its deceptive marketing, and educating elected leaders on the impacts of tobacco product use in their community.”

The NYS TCP promotes an environment open to change
New York State passed several landmark tobacco control laws in 2020, ending the sale of flavored vape products – including menthol vapes– and the sale of tobacco products in pharmacies statewide; prohibiting tobacco coupons and other discounts; and restricting the exterior display of tobacco product ads near schools. Over the past five years, tobacco control partners have assisted public, affordable and market-rate multi-unit property owners transition over 44,000 multi-unit housing units to be free of tobacco smoke for the health and safety of their residents. Also, during that time, Health Systems for a Tobacco-Free New York assisted 163 medical health care organizations and 152 mental health care organizations in implementing processes that ensure every patient is screened and treated for tobacco dependence during their appointment.

Smoking rates remain high among certain demographic groups; more work is needed to save New Yorkers’ lives and improve their health
NYS TCP’s policy-driven, cost-effective and evidence-based approaches contributed to a substantial decline in tobacco use. These approaches are now further focused on communities and populations with high tobacco use rates. Throughout New York State, smoking rates remain high among:

• adults who report frequent mental distress at 19.7%,
• adults with less than a high school education, at 19%,
• adults with an annual household income of less than $25,000, at 20%,
• adults enrolled in Medicaid, at 22.9%, and
• adults living with a disability, at 17.4%.

New York State Tobacco Revenue vs. Tobacco Funding
To combat the deadly impact of smoking, the CDC recommends a $203 million annual investment in New York State’s Tobacco Control Program. The state’s investment is $39 million, just 1.6% of the state’s annual tobacco revenue of $2.36 billion. Further, New York State residents’ annual state and federal tax burden from smoking-caused government expenditures is $1,528 per household.

New York State’s tobacco revenue is a combination of the annual Master Settlement Agreement (MSA) payment of $737.7 million, and collection of tobacco excise taxes of $1.63 billion. Under the 1998 MSA, tobacco manufacturers are obligated to pay billions of dollars annually to 46 states, five U.S. territories and the District of Columbia in perpetuity as compensation for taxpayer money that had been spent on tobacco-related diseases and loss to local economies.  Learn more about The Economic Reality of Tobacco in New York State.

Flavored products, including menthol cigarettes, pose significant risk
For decades, the tobacco industry has used menthol and other sweet, fruity and candy flavors in tobacco products to make them taste better and less harsh on the throat, making them more appealing to youth. Tobacco companies also have heavily marketed menthol cigarettes to the African American and LGBTQIA+ communities, making it more likely that African American and LGBTQIA+ smokers will suffer from smoking-related diseases and death. The reason is simple: Menthol makes it easier to start smoking and harder to quit. 

Support is available for New Yorkers who want to quit
The New York State Smokers' Quitline is a confidential service for all New York State residents who wish to overcome tobacco use, including e-cigarettes. Free offerings include individualized coaching and assistance with quit-planning from highly trained tobacco treatment specialists, text and online chat support and free shipping of stop-smoking medications such as nicotine patches, nicotine lozenges or nicotine gum for those 18 and older. Residents of all ages may contact the Quitline for support and educational materials. In addition, the Quitline encourages teens and young adults (ages 13-24) to text “DROPTHEVAPE” to 88709 to join “This Is Quitting,” a free texting support program for help with quitting vaping. Visit nysmokefree.com anytime for more information or call 1-866-NY-QUITS (1-866-697-8487) seven days a week, beginning at 9 a.m.

Reality Check New York empowers youth to become leaders in their community in exposing what they see as the manipulative and deceptive marketing tactics of the tobacco industry. The organization’s members produce a change in their communities through grassroots mobilization and education. Reality Check in this area is affiliated with Tobacco-Free Genesee, Orleans and Wyoming counties (TF-GOW), a program managed by Roswell Park Comprehensive Cancer Center.

The New York State Department of Health, Bureau of Tobacco Control funds TF-GOW to increase support for New York State’s tobacco-free norm through youth action and community engagement. Efforts are evidence-based, policy-driven, and cost-effective approaches that decrease youth tobacco use, motivate adult smokers to quit, and eliminate exposure to secondhand smoke. 

Photo: Submitted photo. Reality Check Coordinator Brittany Bozzer; Abbigayle Leone, a sophomore at Batavia High School; and Prudence Favaloro, a junior at Batavia High School, on the staircase at the  New York State Capitol.  

Press release:

Debbie Slocum was an elementary classroom teacher for over two decades before she learned about instructional coaching. Her interest began in 2013 when she was teaching third grade, and the District introduced an instructional coaching program. “I fell in love with the process immediately,” said Slocum. “I had been teaching for 24 years at that point and had never seen myself teach.”

Slocum has now been an Instructional Coach at Byron-Bergen for seven years. That first interaction led her down a path that included participating as a panelist in a national webinar hosted by Swivl, a company that produces technology for reflective teaching practices. The webinar entitled “Building Trust Through Reflection: A Discussion with Swivl” featured Slocum and two other panelists, Mandi Olsen and Brenda Tonanek, both K-12 Instructional Coaches.

The Instructional Coaching program is a 1-on-1, confidential process where teachers video record classroom lessons. The lessons are then analyzed by an Instructional Coach for certain data. Data could include the number of times students are given an opportunity to respond, the amount of time given to students to respond, and the time the teacher is talking compared with the time students are responding. The analysis will include positive aspects of the lessons as well as areas for improvement.

In the Swivl webinar, Slocum compares instructional coaching to looking in the mirror. “You look in the mirror every single day. You see your reflection, and you fix what you don’t like immediately. And sometimes you will go and get a second opinion. So, when you reflect, you’re looking not at your appearance but your teaching.”

Slocum implements the Elementary School Instructional Coaching program, where she has a 95% voluntary participation rate. Diana Walther, the Jr./Sr. High School's Instructional Coach, also boasts an almost 90% participation rate.

“Obviously, we want to improve student learning,” said Walther. “Instructional coaching helps replace ‘one and done’ professional development. It provides consistency. That reflective practice is so powerful, and it’s all about what the teachers want to get out of it. The data can point to areas for improvement, and then I can present strategies to strengthen those areas, and then we can reflect again and again. It’s pretty cool.”

“Teachers are life-long learners,” said Slocum. “This program gives them the opportunity to reflect and grow year after year. It’s a continuous priority because everything’s changing. Our expectations for the kids keep changing. Technologies keep changing, and the culture is changing. There’s a need for continuous reflection to keep up with the changes.”

February 10, 2023 Contact: Gretchen Spittler Byron-Bergen Communications Specialist (585) 794-6340

In addition to implementing the Instructional Coaching program at Byron-Bergen, Slocum and Walther run the training at Genesee Valley Education Partnership (GVBOCES) for the GLOW region instructional coaches cohort. They were asked to take on this role in 2019. This cohort has about 20 instructional coaches who gather three or four times per year.

“Byron-Bergen made an early commitment to instructional coaching,” said Superintendent Pat McGee. “As such, our team is on the forefront of not only the regional movement but the national movement. I am very proud of Mrs. Slocum and Mrs. Walther and the impressive contributions they make to our District and to the practice of instructional coaching.” 

Press release:

Congresswoman Claudia Tenney (NY-24) on Monday released the following statement after her appointment to the House Science, Space, and Technology Committee in the 118th Congress. This committee has jurisdiction over all non-defense-related federal scientific research and development portfolios. 

Congresswoman Tenney was also named to the committee’s Energy Subcommittee, which has jurisdiction over the Department of Energy’s research and development programs.

"It is an honor to serve on the House Science, Space, and Technology Committee for the 118th Congress," said Congresswoman Tenney. "This committee is vitally important for maintaining our technological edge over adversaries like China. We simply cannot let our enemies out-compete and out-innovate us. Additionally, with the Biden administration’s war on energy, I am especially honored to serve on the Energy Subcommittee. New York’s three remaining nuclear power plants are in New York’s 24th Congressional District. Safe and reliable nuclear power continues to hold great promise for our nation. As a member of the Energy Subcommittee, I will continue to oppose the Biden administration’s dangerous Green New Deal policies and support targeted investments in energy technologies like nuclear that are clean, affordable, and reliable.”

The Science, Space, and Technology Committee Chairman Frank Lucas released the following statement following Congresswoman Tenney's appointment to the committee.

"I’m very pleased to welcome Congresswoman Tenney to the Science Committee," said Chairman Lucas. "She understands how scientific innovation drives a strong economy, and she’s been a strong voice for an all-of-the-above approach to developing clean, affordable, and reliable American energy. She will be a tremendous asset to our Committee as we tackle the challenges facing us and work to keep America at the cutting edge of scientific, technological, and economic development."

Arthur Brown

Arthur J. Brown, 46, of Britton Road, Rochester, is charged with criminal possession of a controlled substance with intent to sell, criminal possession of a controlled substance 3rd, obstructing governmental administration, resisting arrest, and tampering with evidence. Brown was reportedly the subject of a traffic stop on Jan. 31 by Officer Wesley Rissinger at an unspecified location in the City of Batavia. He allegedly fled on foot from his vehicle and attempted to hide a quantity of cocaine in a bush. Brown was arrested and arraigned in Centralized Court and ordered held in the Genesee County Jail. (Previously: Le Roy man in 'shots fired' case accepts plea deal)

Cassandra L. Elmore was arrested on warrants stemming from previous charges after she allegedly failed to appear in court as ordered. She was arrested on Aug. 30 on charges of criminal possession of a weapon, obstructing governmental administration, aggravated unlicensed operation third, operating a motor vehicle without inspection, and two counts of criminal use of drug paraphernalia. On Sept. 10, she was charged with obstructing governmental administration. Elmore was ordered held on $100,000 bail, $100,000 bond, or $250,000 partially secured bond.

Cordero L. Royes, 35, of West Main Street, Batavia, is charged with criminal contempt 2nd and burglary 2nd. Royes accused of violating a stay-away order of protection.  Officer Stephen Quider reportedly found Royes in a residence he wasn't allowed to enter. Royes was arraigned in City Court and jailed without bail.

Jarrod K. Fotiathis, 28, no permanent residence, is charged with burglary 2nd, petit larceny and identity theft 2nd. Fotiathis is accused of entering another person's residence, stealing property and personal information and then using the personal information to defraud the victim. Fotiathis was arraigned in City Court and ordered held on $2,000 bail, $5,000 bond.

Toni B. Crenshaw, 30, of Church Street, Lockport, is charged with felony DWI, felony driving with a BAC of .18% or greater, and failure to keep right. Crenshaw was stopped at an unspecified location in the City of Batavia on Feb. 4 by Officer John Gombos. Crenshaw was released on an appearance ticket.

Jonathan K. Banks, 30, of Park Road, Batavia, is charged with resisting arrest, criminal possession of a controlled substance 7th, tampering with physical evidence and obstructing governmental administration. During a traffic stop by Officer John Gombos on Jan. 31, Banks was allegedly found in possession of crack cocaine.  He allegedly attempted to flee on foot and fought with officers before being taken into custody. Banks was arraigned in Centralized Court and held in the Genesee County Jail.

Nikita N. Shook, 36, of East Main Street, Batavia, was arrested on three warrants out of City Court. She was arraigned in City Court and ordered held until her next court appearance.

A 16-year-old girl from Albion is charged with harassment 2nd. The girl was allegedly involved in a fight with another juvenile on Cherry Street in Batavia on Jan. 24. She was issued an appearance ticket.

Salvatore M. Motisi, 68, of Woodland Avenue, Farmingdale, is charged with DWI. Motisi is accused of driving his car over an embankment on an undisclosed street in the City of Batavia on Feb. 1.  He was arrested by Officer Wesley Rissinger and released on an appearance ticket.

Jenna L. Josephite, 34, of West Main Street, Batavia, is charged with trespass. Josephite is accused of being in a local residence without permission on Feb. 4. Josephite was issued an appearance ticket.

Aamir K. Holloway, 23, of East Main Street, Batavia, is charged with harassment 2nd. Holloway was arrested on Feb. 6. No further details released. Holloway was issued an appearance ticket.

Zakara R Jackson, 19, of Trumbull Parkway, Batavia, was arrested on a warrant issued by the BCC and additionally charged with criminal possession of a controlled substance 7th. Jackson is accused of failure to appear as ordered on a previous arrest. She was held in the Genesee County Jail pending arraignments.

Former county Manager Jay Gsell made a brief reappearance Monday at the Old County Courthouse to seek approval on behalf of the Batavia Rotary Club for the annual Fly-In breakfast later this year.

Apparently, the group is anxiously waiting for the summer fundraiser to arrive.

“We’re ready to rock and roll again,” Gsell said to the Public Service Committee members.

Rotary Club expects 800 to 900 attendees to the pancake breakfast, which has become a well-organized event that keeps drawing people for more, he said.

“That’s why we keep getting people coming back,” Gsell said.

Rotary Club had requested permission to host the breakfast at Genesee County Airport on June 18, and to also have related access to and use of the grounds prior to and after the event on June 16 through 20, “subject to the rules and regulations of the Genesee County Airport.”

The budget impact is minimal expense offset by Rotary’s promotion of the airport and increased fuel sales, the resolution states. Gsell added that attendees are expected to arrive by plane in addition to automobiles this year.

The Committee agreed to the request, and it will eventually go before the county Legislature for final approval.

File Photo of Jay Gsell serving up pancakes during a Rotary Fly-In Breakfast, by Howard Owens.

So far, there has been more than $370,000 worth of changes made to the new county jail, senior project manager Carl York says.

York, of The Pike Company, has been providing monthly updates about the $70 million project to county officials.

To date, there have been 14 days lost due to uncooperative weather and 33 quality issues, along with those change orders; however, the project is doing well financially, and according to schedule, York said.

“For project costs, we now have changes to the date of $371,757. In January, we processed about $128,000. So they involved some build conditions, that was around $25,000, structural precast revisions, that was about $22,000, plumbing revisions of $47,000, electrical workstations $24,000,” he said during Monday’s Public Services meeting. “All of these costs are where they've been projected in the budget, and they represent less than .7 percent. Everybody seems to be moving right along, the schedule’s going great.”

While that may seem like a rather tedious report, it’s something that taxpayers and legislators likely want to hear more of a multi-million dollar project remaining under budget and on time. Completion is still quite a ways off, but it is estimated for spring 2024.

Upcoming to-do lists include masonry work, moving up to the second floor to set precast panels and interior masonry walls, an administrative area, and installing HVAC equipment and mechanical rooms by late February, York said.

“We expect to complete the spray fireproofing and admin building this month. And probably the last week of February, we'll start setting the steel joists that will form through the roof line in between each set of cells,” he said, adding that the quality issues have been closed. “These are minor things. There have been no issues brought up by the county commissioner of corrections. Communication between all parties is going great. We recently just had our own architect meeting, and there were no issues, far from that.”

The painter and drywall contractor began this week, and a final slab was poured after a  grease trap was moved into the correct location within the kitchen, he said.

The 184-bed jail facility is to house male and female inmates along Route 5, on West Main Street Road in the town of Batavia. It will sit between County Building #2 and Genesee County Animal Shelter.

File Photo of Carl York by Joanne Beck.

Photos below, from public report delivered to the Genesee County Legislature.

A bicyclist has reportedly been struck at Oak Street and Main Street, Batavia.

Unknown injuries.

City Fire and Mercy EMS dispatched.

A house fire is reported at 878 Gabby Road, Pembroke.

The initial call was for a chimney fire with smoke and flames showing.

Pembroke Fire and Indian Falls Fire responded, and the fire is now reported as contained to the structure adjacent the chimney.

Second alarm can proceed non-emergency.

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When Peggy Grayson was hired more than a quarter century ago, she was told she’d be the “last man standing.”

Multi-county agencies have been disappearing, and this one — GLOW Solid Waste Management Recycling --  has remained in the capable hands of its Administrator, Grayson, for going on 26 years.

And she plans not to be the last one standing, but, in fact, to hand the torch to a temporary administrator to train as she winds down her time. Grayson is set to retire on June 30.

During Monday’s Public Services meeting, Grayson asked for an amendment to the 2023 management salary schedule to create a temporary full-time recycling administrator position to help with the transition of her retirement. The amendment would allow for shared services costs of $28,426 to pay the position from April 10 to Aug. 11.

Legislator John Deleo credited Grayson before making his own request.

“She’s got the knowledge and the passion, and if there’s a way I can refuse her request,” he said, his voice trailing off to laughter.

Fellow Legislator Marianne Clattenburg disagreed with Deleo, adding that "she deserves it," and all legislators thanked Grayson for her years of service.

The GLOW Committee was created in 1987 as a cooperative effort between the Counties of Genesee, Livingston, Orleans and Wyoming, whose purpose was to develop strategies for the management of solid waste in the region. Orleans County ended its affiliation at the end of 2003.

Efforts have included a household hazardous waste collection program, composting and recycling programs, the Don’t Throw That Away Recycling Game, a waste reduction and recycling display at Picnic in the Park, a recycling hotline, and backyard composting.

The future retiree said she’s seen “a lot of changes over the years.”

“I can spew so much off the top of my head,” she said. “Some people appreciate it, others not so much.”

Her steadfast dedication has shown through her willingness to be a lone worker — for the most part working alone for 19 of her 26 years, she said. She promised to still volunteer at the household waste collection, and spoke about the paint collection, which will book some 400 people in June, she said.

The committee agreed to the budget amendment, which has to be approved by the county Legislature at a future meeting.

It was done to save money. Two and a half years ago, and three superintendents back, the Batavia City School District decided to eliminate its IT director position. 

Nobody around now can explain that decision precisely, but the result -- at least in large part -- was hundreds of missing units of technology equipment and unnecessary fees, and a negative Comptroller's audit.

Superintendent Jason Smith -- who just last month celebrated his one-year anniversary at the district -- recommended that the school board consider reinstituting the full-time technology director position to provide “clear, strong and strategic direction” for the district. Although this conclusion stemmed from a Comptroller audit last August of 2022, it came more directly from a series of district surveys and interviews with students and staff.

“What prompted this study was the Comptroller's audit. And what I found from our studies is that … not having that position turned out to be detrimental. For review, I wanted to write a full review of the whole instructional technology area, not just the laptops missing, which, obviously, is a great concern. I wanted to dive deeper than that.”

The state Comptroller audit found that nearly 300 pieces of technology equipment were missing, unnecessary service fees were paid for those items and an additional amount of $8,700 was paid to a third-party consultant.

At the time, Smith acknowledged the issue and promised that “we can and will do better going forward.” Since that audit, the district has reduced its service fees by an additional $109,000, he said.

A few of the recommended steps the district has taken include:

• Engaged a third-party company specializing in IT services to conduct an assessment of our entire IT department, including our inventory and staff. 
• An internal team has taken the results from the audit and gone above and beyond to reduce the district's BOCES service charges by purging and returning unused inventory. 
• The district is working closely with the Board of Education to adopt a comprehensive written policy for establishing and maintaining controls to track and inventory IT equipment. 

The board approved a plan of action in November and submitted it to the state, which approved the corrective measures. Smith, however, opted to take it further with the series of interviews and surveys to more fully flesh out what’s going on with technology across the district as a whole.

A sampling of survey questions were:

• I believe that the use of technology (digital resources) in my classroom or my teaching positively impacts student learning and achievement.
• I believe that the use of technology (digital resources) in my school positively impacts student learning and achievement.
• I believe that the use of technology (digital resources) in my classroom or my teaching promotes student critical thinking.
• I believe that the use of technology (digital resources) in my school promotes student critical thinking.
• I have the required knowledge and skills to integrate technology (digital resources) into my instruction successfully.
• I believe that the use of technology (digital resources) in instruction provides for the needs of students with disabilities to successfully access the curriculum.

The full-time director of technology position had been eliminated in 2020, during Superintendent Anibal Soler's rein, apparently due to concern that finances might get tight with COVID protocols. The city school district then shared a director part-time with BOCES.

Other identified needs included resurrecting the Instructional Technology Committee, working on WiFi/connectivity problems throughout the district, investigating the usefulness and practicality of Chromebooks versus laptops, adding Microsoft, giving the technology curriculum more teeth “to ensure our students are being provided with the essential skills needed upon graduation,” and thoroughly reviewing existing technology staff and related use of BOCES services, Smith said.

Of all of the information that he garnered during this time, he was most surprised to hear kids’ comments about Chromebooks. Although they have been a popular device used in school districts, kids weren’t quite so enthused about them, he said. He first heard his own children’s remarks about Chromebooks, and perhaps didn’t take them so seriously until the surveys in school, when kids echoed similar sentiments. He had to smile and admit, “hey, my kids were right,” he said during an interview with The Batavian.

Chromebooks are less expensive than laptops; however, laptops offer more options for students, which could be more helpful as they prepare for college or work.

“But you know, you get what you pay for some time,” he said. “So, we have to be thoughtful.”

While many of his suggestions and recommendations are just that at this point, the full-time director of technology is a firm statement with hopes of board approval. Smith and the business administrator will be working on the budget to present more definite details of how salary and benefits will impact the next year’s budget, he said. That vote will be coming up in May.

Another position to consider is a part-time data protection officer to handle duties for the Data Protection Privacy Act. This may not be a new position and person, he said, but additional job responsibilities assigned to an existing employee once the technology director gets on board to organize the department. Smith and Trisha Finnigan, executive director of staff development and operations, will be writing the job description for the tech director, and they plan to check in with other local city school districts for guidance. 

Smith wants the public to know that district leaders take the Comptroller’s audit “very seriously,” and they recognize it as a concern in the community.  He listens to the questions, answers them, and understands the significance of the audit findings, he said.

“We haven't hid behind that. I said to the public and to the media, we're going to enact a comprehensive study. We've done that, here are the nine key findings that I took from that, that I've shared with the board, and we're going to go beyond, we're going to make sure we have processes in place to protect our assets. And that's important, you know, for our school district and for our public, but also, we went beyond and looked at our overall technology program as a whole,” he said. “So, we met the obligation, we did a corrective action plan in November, that's what we were required to do … I wasn't happy with that, we allowed to go beyond checking the boxes. I was looking at the overall program for our students, and this Comptroller’s audit prompted us to do that.

“So I'm optimistic that we're going to have some good results come out of this,” Smith said. “We've already implemented some changes as far as inventory control goes. But we want to have a good overall technology, robust program for our students, and support our staff.”

His draft timeline for action includes:

March 13 for board approval to reestablish a full-time administrative position in the technology department

Throughout March for budget implications to be reviewed and adjusted for that recommendation. He expects implications to be negligible since the position has been in the budget to date.

April and May for the posting and recruitment process. 

May and June to fill the appointment of director of technology (or whatever the official title will be, which is to be determined). 

Prior coverage:

• Batavia city schools taxpayers have right to be concerned
• Batavia superintendent answers comptroller report

File photo of Superintendent Jason Smith from Batavia City Schools.

 

This evening's sunset, submitted by Chris Crocker.