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Byron-Bergen School District

B-B school district’s $17 million capital project up for vote Thursday

By Joanne Beck

Residents of Byron-Bergen Central School will have an opportunity to cast a yay or nay vote tomorrow on the district’s proposed capital project for more than $17 million. 

The vote is from 1 to 9 p.m. Thursday at the Junior-Senior High School cafeteria, 6917 West Bergen Rd. 

School officials have said that the majority of the project  will use available state building aid to pay the cost of the $17,107,802 project. The District’s capital reserve fund, which is designated to be used exclusively for capital improvement projects, will pay for $2 million of the “local share.” The remainder of the project’s cost will be offset by retiring debt service payments, resulting in a “tax neutral” financing plan, officials say. All that is to say that it won’t directly impact school taxpayers.

This project is for improvements to the Elementary School, Junior-Senior High School, the natatorium (indoor swimming pool) and the bus garage. Priority has been given to “asset protection, healthy building initiatives, energy efficiency, and programmatic enhancement,” district officials say. These improvements will further district goals to provide quality, well-maintained buildings, infrastructure and facilities, district materials state. 

A Question and Answer section on the district’s website covers:

  • Why the district has proposed this capital project (short answer: to ensure proper upkeep, make necessary repairs and spend the money now versus having more costly work and deterioration in the future);
  • How it was developed (through a long-range plan and required five-year state-mandated building surveys to assess and complete vital upgrades to preserve the current infrastructure); 
  • Money that comes from state taxpayers (It is true that taxpayers have put money into the pot, and the district believes that doing this project would keep some of those dollars locally to benefit the Byron-Bergen school district);
  • When this project will begin (Once the State Education Department approves the project’s initial phase, expected by fall 2022, work would begin in early 2023 with anticipated completion by fall 2024);
  • What happens if the referendum is defeated (more critical safety requirements still need to be done and would be built into the annual budget, meaning that eventually, school taxpayers would bear the full cost. It’s a do-it-now or spends more later proposition).

A public information meeting was conducted on Sept. 30, but for those that missed it, project details can also be found at www.bbschools.org

 

Little Byron-Bergen students get lesson in taking care of their teeth and gums

By Billie Owens

Top photo: Special guest Courtney Voos (center left) and Byron-Bergen Elementary School counselor Jenna Voos (center right) with Elementary School students at Dental Health presentation.

Submitted photos and press release:

February is National Children’s Dental Health Month and Byron-Bergen Central School District finished strong with a special presentation from dental hygienist Courtney Voos.

She works at Caledonia Family Dentistry.

Voos described healthy teeth habits with Pre-K through second-grade students.

“How long should you brush your teeth? Does anyone know?” Voos asked. “Two minutes. In two minutes you can brush all of your teeth. The tops, bottoms, insides and outsides.”

Voos also talked about healthy snacks, special treats, flossing, and what happens if you get a cavity. She then asked the students if they had any questions. One student asked why people are not supposed to swallow toothpaste.

Voos explained, “Toothpaste has something in it called fluoride. Fluoride is really good for your teeth, but is isn’t so good for your tummy. If you swallow a little toothpaste when you brush, it’s not really a big deal, but if you ate a lot, you would get an upset stomach.”

“I wanted to become a dental hygienist because I loved going to the dentist as a kid,” said Voos. “I still love going to the dentist and I love helping people clean their teeth so they can have awesome teeth, too.”

“The really important thing is to make sure you go to the dentist two times a year,” said Voos. “Remember, you don’t have to brush all of your teeth, just the ones you want to keep!”

Bottom two photos:Dental hygienist Courtney Voos gives dental health presentation at Byron-Bergen Elementary School.

Byron-Bergen students compete in district’s annual National Geographic Bee

By Billie Owens

(Above photo: Byron-Bergen Jr./Sr. High School National Geographic Bee champion Matthew Tanner, left, and runner-up Nicholas Zwerka celebrate their achievements.)

Submitted photos and press release:

Students from both Byron-Bergen schools proved their mastery of geography on Jan. 4 as the school hosted its annual National Geographic Bee competitions, sponsored by the National Geographic Society.

At the Jr./Sr. High School, after an exciting battle of wits and global knowledge, Matthew Tanner was declared the Byron-Bergen Geographic Bee champion. He was given a medal and awarded a $30 Amazon gift card. Runner-up Nicholas Zwerka received a $20 Amazon gift card.

(Inset photo, left: Student Jack Farner is the top winner of the Byron-Bergen Elementary School’s National Geographic Bee.)

At the Elementary School, the title of Geographic Bee champion was awarded to fifth-grader Jack Farner, who edged out fellow fifth-grader Jackson Lundfelt for the honor.

Participants from both schools qualified for the Bee by achieving high scores on a test taken in December. Both winners will now take another written test, which will be submitted to the National Geographic Society. If their scores are among the highest in New York State, they may be invited to participate in the state competition. State winners go on to the televised national bee held in May in Washington, D.C.

The school is very proud of all the contestants.

Jr./Sr. High School participants included — Seventh grade: Molly Belknap, Jack Benstead, Cameron Carlson, Caris Carlson, Evan Cuba, Kendan Dressler, Gianni Ferrara, Alec Kulikowski, Kendall Phillips, Elizabeth Piper, Andrew Rimmerman, Alexandria Schuck, Matthew Tanner, Lillian Walker, and Nicholas Zwerka; Eighth grade: Ashton Gavenda, Grace Huhn, Madelyn Pimm, Elli Schelemanow, Ella VanValkenburg, Claire Williams, Corden Zimmerman, and Josh Zittel.

Elementary School Geo Bees were — Fourth grade: Liam Boyle, Colin Rea, and Simone Scharvogel. Fifth grade: Ryan Benstead, Jake Carlson, Deborah Catalino, Noah Clare, Ada Clookey, Owen Cuba, Craig Diquattro, Lea Donofrio, Jack Farner, Rachel Hanel, Landon Kent, Eli Kupfer, Jackson Lundfelt, Martin Mac Connell, and Anna McLaughlin. Sixth grade: Brody Baubie, Braedyn Chambry, Grayson Erion, Aurora Hiscutt, Stephanie Onderdonk, Brendan Pimm, Carter Prinzi, and Quintin Rich.

The National Geographic Bees are coordinated by the schools’ social studies teachers Aaron Clark, Ken Gropp, and Nick Muhlenkamp.

For more information on the National Geographic Bee, visit here.

Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library comes to the Byron-Bergen School District

By Billie Owens

Press release:

The Richter Family Foundation runs a program that gives books to children under age 5 through The Dolly Parton Imagination Library. It has been in operation since 2004 and the Oakfield-Alabama, Elba, Pavilion, and Pembroke school districts participate in the program. Recently, Byron-Bergen was added to the program.

Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library is a set of books beginning with the children’s classic "The Little Engine That Could." Each month a new, carefully selected age-appropriate book will be mailed in your child’s name directly to your home. Best of all it is a FREE GIFT! There is no cost or obligation to your family.

To be eligible in the Byron-Bergen School District, the child must live in the Byron-Bergen School District and must be between the ages of birth and his/her 5th birthday.

A committee representing the Byron-Bergen School District, the Byron and Bergen Communities, and the Byron-Bergen Library is partnering with the Richter Family Foundation to bring the Imagination Library to the children.

If your zip code is 14020, 14021, 14058, 14143 or 14482, the only way to register is to fill out a registration form and mail it to the address indicated on the form. The forms can be found at the Byron Town Hall, the Bergen Town and Village Offices, the Byron-Bergen Library, and the Byron-Bergen Elementary Office.  

If your zip code is 14416, 14422, 14428, 14429 or 14470, you may fill out and send in a registration form or, you may register online at www.imaginationlibrary.com by clicking on the box “register my child” and following the directions.

The Byron-Bergen Imagination Library Committee consists of: Nancy Bailey, librarian, Bergen Public Library; Anna Marie Barclay, Village of Bergen mayor and retired teacher; Donna Gerrard, Byron resident and a mom and grandmother; and Brian Meister, Byron-Bergen Elementary School principal.

They know that you, the parents and your children, will love the Imagination Library and encourage you to sign up your children today. A family can register several children within the household as long as they are under age 5.

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