In late September, Highland Falls-Fort Montgomery Central School District Superintendent Michael McElduff, former Superintendent Dr. Frank Sheboy and Board of Education President Anne Lawless travelled to Washington DC to participate in a National Association of Federally Impacted Schools (NAFIS) conference.

At last week’s Board of Education meeting, Lawless and McElduff updated other members of the board and other district administrators, as well as the public, about the trip.

“It was long, but interesting,” Lawless said, noting a highlight was getting to meet with Senators Chuck Shumer and Kirsten Gillibrand, as well as Congressman Pat Ryan. “We know we need their support as we continue to lobby for fair Impact Aid, but I believe we have it. Just remember that on Election Day … they do support us.”

The HF-FMCSD gets about $3.4 million in Impact Aid each year. Lawless noted that one of the facts Sheboy shared with federal officials is that when he arrived in the district in 2014 the overall budget was $26 million.

“Now it’s about $40 million, and we still get just $3.4 million in Impact Aid,” she said. Lawless added that while the district would love to do things like build state-of-the-art playgrounds, and invest in robotics and drone programs, “we use our money just to keep our doors open.”

McElduff said that the three HF-FMCSD officials “got more time with the NAFIS director than we’ve ever had before”, and said that’s exactly why they continue to go to federal conferences to advocate for the district. “We’re finally getting through to these people that we need help,” he added. “We’re not getting our fair share.”

Lawless did add that while the trip was productive, no significant result came from it.

“Right now in DC it’s all status-quo,” she said. “Everyone is waiting to see what happens in the election.”

She did add one thing, unrelated to Impact Aid, that came to light while they were in DC.

“Someone from Senator Shuman’s office asked us for the documentation on our ‘Raider’ situation,” she said, referring to the district’s request to New York State to be able to keep the name Raider as the school’s mascot. They dropped the former Indian head logo over a year ago.

In other business from the meeting:

•  The board accepted a $1469 donation from the West Point-Highland Falls Rotary Club in support of the O’Neill High School music department.
• In two personnel matters, the board accepted the resignation of Athletic Director Bryan Wilson, effective at the end of October. He is taking the same position at Monroe-Woodbury High School. Longtime custodian Scott Lewis’ resignation for the purpose of retirement, as of November 29, was accepted.
  n Several appointments were made including that of teacher aides Tiffany Caughey and Karen Scott; of Henry Smith as a long-term substitute teacher and a home-bound instructor; and of LTC Justin Ostensen as a JROTC instructor.
• Under $1000 worth of occupational therapy equipment was declared obsolete.
• McElduff noted he had recently attended a ‘Cell Phone Policy Summit’ in Albany with State Education Department officials, mental health experts, NYS Police and superintendents from around the state, as Governor Kathy Hochul works on a state-wide cell phone policy for schools. “They are talking about the dangers of cell phones as students are becoming addicted to the internet and their cell phones,” McElduff said. “When the times comes, we will be fully transparent – and right now we are doing our homework.”
• Facilities Director Chris Kirwan said that the roofing projects at both the intermediate and high schools are wrapping up, and digging for the foundation of the addition to the FMES is expected to begin next week.