Volume 4, Issue 5Volume 4, Issue 5

North Colonie Central School District

UPCOMING EVENTS

February

4th Friends of Music, SHS, 7 p.m.

10th

BOE Meeting, JHS, 7 p.m.

11th

HazCom Training, CO, 3 p.m.

Anti-Harassment Training,

CO, 3:30 p.m.

14th

Valentine’s Day

16th

President’s Day

All Employee Holiday

16th—20th

February Recess

23rd

BOE Meeting, SG, 7:15 p.m.

March

2nd

BOE Budget Meeting, CO, 7 p.m.

5th

BOE Budget Meeting, CO, 7 p.m.

8th

Daylight Savings Time begins

Set clocks ahead one hour

23rd

BOE Meeting, BH, 7:15 p.m.

DISTRICT MISSION: All students are provided the opportunity and necessary support to engage in relevant, challenging

work which contributes to their academic and social development. All staff, teachers, and administrators are part of a larger learning community, working together to build collective capacity in

order to provide a high-quality, relevant, equitable education for all.

February 2015

From left to right: Mrs. Evelyn Rybaltowski, Tom, and daughter Sarah.

Co-workers, former employees, business associates, and friends came together on

Monday, January 12 at the SHS Art Gallery to recognize Tom Rybaltowski for 35+ years of

service to North Colonie Schools. Mr. Rybaltowski officially retired on January 19.

The program included remarks from Linda Harrison, BOE President; Joe Corr,

Superintendent; and Jenna Bongermino, Human Resources Director, and included a

“roast” by John Myers, Director of Transportation. In his remarks, Mr. Rybaltowski

thanked his family and colleagues who provided him the opportunity to be successful in

his position. Special thanks were extended to his secretary, Janice Patrie, for her ability to

“read his mind”.

Mr. Rybaltowski was presented with a check for approximately $2,000 collected in

donations for his favorite charity, the People of the Dominican Republic. In addition to

continuing his charitable work in the Dominican Republic, Mr. Rybaltowski plans to raise

bees and chickens on his homestead.

Thanks also to the Food Service Department for preparing a lovely and delicious buffet.

Page 2 The Inside Resource Volume 4, Issue 5

The search for an Assistant Superintendent for Business can

be a lengthy process, if you want to do it right. In order to

allow time to generate the strongest applicant pool,

Superintendent, Joe Corr, chose to appoint Scott Hunter as

Interim Assistant Superintendent for Business. Mr. Hunter

will serve in this capacity until approximately June 30, 2015

while the District conducts a search for a permanent

replacement for Tom Rybaltowski.

Mr. Hunter is a veteran educator with 41 years of experience

and has worked in various positions in a number of school

districts in the area. Since retiring, he has served in other

interim positions and as a consultant for CASDA. Through

CASDA, he was involved in a recent review of our Business

and Human Resources Offices and is, as a result, already quite

familiar with our District.

When asked why he accepted this position, Mr. Hunter

remarked that Mr. Corr has made a smart decision to

transition the change and that he was looking forward to

helping with our search for a permanent replacement. He

added that he enjoys retirement, but still also enjoys

contributing to the educational environment, and looks

forward to visiting our buildings and getting to know the

District better.

Mr. Hunter and his wife, Marilyn, have three grown children;

two sons and a daughter, and one granddaughter. In his

“retirement” time, he enjoys flying and is a licensed pilot,

does wood carving, plays golf, and plays the bagpipes (though

he admits he hasn’t played in years). Proud of his Scottish

heritage, last year, he had the opportunity to travel to

Scotland and visit the area where his family originated.

Join us in welcoming Mr. Hunter to North Colonie.

Have news that you want to share? email: hr@ncolonie.org

Page 3 The Inside Resource Volume 4, Issue 5

Ask HR

Dear HR:

I’m a Volunteer Firefighter and saw something in the

paper about a new law requiring leave for volunteer

emergency responders. Can you tell me more?

-Smokey

Dear Smokey:

Great nickname! Yes, NYS passed a law that

become effective December 22, 2014 granting leave to

employees who serve as volunteer emergency

responders during times when the Governor has

declared a state of emergency. Eligible employees must

give NC Human Resources written documentation

regarding volunteer status as a volunteer firefighter or

volunteer ambulance service responder prior to

requesting leave related to a declared emergency. The

employee may choose to use personal leave or vacation

to cover the absence, or take the time as unpaid. Upon

return from leave, a notarized statement from the head

of the volunteer service certifying the period of time that

the employee spent responding to the emergency may

be requested.

UPCOMING WORKSHOPS

*March 20, 2015 — NCTA Maternity Workshop,

What to Expect When You’re Expecting, JHS, Room

B209, 3:30 - 4:30 p.m.

*March 20, 2015 — TRS Retirement Workshop, CO

Training Room, 3:30 -5:00 p.m.

This workshop will provide general information on

the Teacher Retirement System. It is designed specifically for

teachers with five or more years of service in TRS.

*May 7, 2015 — ERS Retirement Workshop, CO

Training Room, 3:30 -5:00 p.m.

This workshop will provide

general information on the

Employee Retirement System.

It is designed for all members,

regardless of number of years

of service in ERS.

At the January 26 Board Meeting, seventeen North

Colonie Administrators and Teachers were

awarded tenure in the listed area, effective 7/1/15

or 9/1/15.

Administrators:

Davis Chamberlain, Asst. Dir., PPS, 9/1/15

Crystal Fox, Administrative Dean, 9/1/15

Eric Phillips, Supervisor, CTE, 9/1/15

Brian Spofford, Hall Principal, 7/1/15

Aaron Theill, Building Principal, LR, 7/1/15

Teachers:

Kelly Bootier, Foreign Language, SHS, 9/1/15

Heather Burke, Science , SJHS, 9/1/15

Rebecca Carmack, Special Educ, SJHS, 9/1/15

Amanda Cotrupi, Elementary, FF, 9/1/15

SooYeon Justeson, Music, BH, 91/1/15

Davia Litz, Mathematics , BC, 9/1/15

Erica McCarthy, FACS/Home Econ., SJHS, 9/1/15

Mandy Mittler, Speech, SG, 9/1/15

Lauren Sheldon, Reading, LR, 9/1/15

Jaimee Shipley, Business, SHS, 9/1/15

Brittany Slingerland Kitterman, Technology,

SHS, 9/1/15

Jessica Young, Special Education, SG, 9/1/15

Congratulations! “A teacher is a compass that activates

the magnet of curiosity, knowledge,

and wisdom in the pupils.”

Ever Garrison

TENURE RECIPIENTS

Page 4 The Inside Resource Volume 4, Issue 5

New Hires and Staff Changes

Amanda Cutter

Transportation Operations

Coordinator, Bus Garage

In Memoriam

Walter Rockenstire passed away

December 19, 2014 at the age of 89.

Mr. Rockenstire was hired by North

Colonie Schools in July 1954 as the

first Custodian at Shaker High School.

He left in 1958 to pursue another

career, returning to NCCS in February 1998 as a Bus

Driver. In September 2001, he became a Bus Aide and

worked in that position until his retirement in 2012.

Mr. Rockenstire was a WWII veteran and was married

to Caroline, the love of his life, for 66 years. Mr.

Rockenstire’s daughter, Marcia Gates, also works at

NCCS as a Bus Driver and his grandson, Michael works

at Shaker High School as a Custodial Worker.

New Arrivals

Wedding Bells

Congratulations to CJ

Theiss and William Gannon,

who were married Sept. 19,

2014.

CJ is a Health Education

Teacher at JHS.

Amber McDonald

Teacher Aide, BC

Milestones

Karen Keegan, French Teacher at SHS, recently

received her Doctorate Degree. Congratulations,

Dr. Keegan!

Keith Weiss, Science Teacher, SHS

Daughter: Sadie Harper, Dec. 11

Sadie Harper Weiss

Robert Kaercher, Guidance Counselor, SHS

Daughter: Charlotte Keil, Jan 9

Charlotte Keil Kaercher

ARE YOU TAKING ADVANTAGE OF ALL THE

BENEFITS AVAILABLE TO YOU AS A NORTH

COLONIE CONTRACT EMPLOYEE?

If you are a contract employee, are you aware of

the many “extra” benefits provided by our insur-

ance providers? For more information on specific

programs, contact HR.