Monticello Schools: Redesigning Structure & Learning for Greater Relevance

September 2007

Opening Day Ceremony Inspires and Invigorates

On Sept. 4, at MCSD’s Opening Day Ceremony, Superintendent of Schools Dr. Patrick Michel unveiled a comprehensive plan of action to make student learning more “relevant and rigorous.” Though Dr. Michel noted that the many changes planned for the district would take years to fully implement and bear fruit, he encouraged the nearly 800 attendees to open their minds to the need for change.

“Our children are facing a very different kind of workforce and a very different world than we did,” explained Dr. Michel. “If we don’t plan for them now, they won’t be able to compete in the global marketplace.”

Some of the changes include:
• the addition of new K-12 academic administrators to create and encourage a cohesive curriculum so that each grade level is adequately preparing students for the next;

• a redesign of the high school to an academy structure as a way of helping students establish more meaningful relationships with their peers and their teachers, and to produce college-ready graduates with higher skill levels; and

• the creation of a dynamic plan that will strengthen the district’s partnership with Sullivan County Community College to build a program that could have future high school graduates leaving school not only with a high school diploma, but with an associates degree as well.

Dr. Michel also spoke about the needs of local businesses and how plans for the future would bring more skilled jobs to our area. To reinforce that point, guest speaker Suzanne Loughlin, president of the Sullivan County Partnership spoke about some new business possibilities on the horizon.

Newly appointed Board of Education President Robert Stewart spoke about how one of the Board’s initiatives for the new school year was to embrace the mindset that “failure is not an option.” And Assemblymember Aileen Gunther thanked the hundreds of Monticello teachers for their hard work and dedication and spoke of how their importance was surpassed by no other profession as the most influential factor on the future of this country.

Sullivan County Clerk Neil Gilberg and Legislators Ron Hiatt and Sam Wohl all commended Dr. Michel on his vision for the future and each offered his support for the school district becoming an “engine for progress” within the community.

Dr. Michel also spoke of the new Boys & Girls Club after-school program for middle school students and of the new Sullivan County branch of the YMCA, located at the high school, scheduled to open its doors to the community later this fall.

As a special opening day treat, attendees were serenaded with classical piano music performances by 8th grader Jessica Nesin and 9th grader Ruby Hong.

Photo captions:
Photo #1: Right, Superintendent of Schools Dr. Patrick Michel welcomes the bustling crowd to Monticello Schools Opening Day Ceremonies. Pictured center is 9th grade music student Ruby Hong who wowed the crowd with her amazing classical piano performance. Pictured left is district technology guru Dennis DePasquale who worked hard to make sure there were no technical glitches during the day’s event.
Photo #2: From left, Monticello High School ELA head teacher Karen Collura enjoyed her continental breakfast while chatting with the new K-12 Director of ELA, Social Studies & Library Education Ted Kusulas.
Photo #3: Monticello Board of Education President Robert Stewart, flanked by BOE members Richard Feller and Liza Glick, happily served breakfast to the hundreds of attendees at the district’s opening day event.
Photo #4: Assemblymember Aileen Gunther watches as school officials talk about the future of the district. Ms. Gunther gave a brief speech about the vast importance of the teaching profession. Pictured left is Monticello High School math teacher Lou Aubain.
Photo #5: From left, Sullivan County Legislators Ron Hiatt and Sam Wohl expressed their support of the Monticello School District and of their vision of change for the future.

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