Brunswick (Brittonkill) Central School District
Encyclopedia
Brunswick Central School District (BCSD) is a rural fringe central school district located east of the city of Troy whose main campus resides in the town of Brunswick
in Rensselaer County, New York, United States
. The district has two operating school buildings: Tamarac Elementary School (Pre-K
through 5
) and Tamarac Secondary School (6
through 12
). The district is a member of the Rensselaer-Columbia-Greene Board of Cooperative Educational Services
(BOCES), known as Questar III.
The district was created upon the centralization (consolidation) of fourteen smaller districts in Brunswick, Pittstown
, Grafton
, and Poestenkill
in 1956 and the high school opened in 1958. The first class graduated in 1960. The district had a combined student body of 1363 during the 2007-2008 school year.
had set up in 1805 to help cover the costs of public education. In 1812, the Legislature developed a school district system in which each district was self-governing. These districts were typically small by necessity, so that students could walk or ride to school in a reasonable time period each day.
At the time, public schools were funded by a combination of population-based state reimbursement, taxes, and tuition paid by parents. In 1867, tuition was abolished, making public education free to all. At that time, attending school was voluntary, but by 1874, it became mandatory for students aged 8 to 14. Enforcement was sometimes difficult though, especially considering the agricultural economy that the area depended upon at the time.
By 1945, ten districts in Brunswick had a student population of 313 between first and ninth grades. Due to the added expenses of small districts (in an era becoming increasingly dominated by the automobile) and sometimes crumbling school facilities, the idea of consolidating smaller districts into one larger district (centralization) became a legitimate issue. By 1953, fourteen districts in Brunswick, Grafton, Pittstown, and Poestenkill were proposed for centralization. Eight of the districts were serviced by one-room schoolhouses with no running water.
District #1 is located at the corner of Menemsha and Lansing Lanes and was commonly known as the Paul Springer School. The original schoolhouse was built in 1885 but burned down in 1970. The district became known as Brunswick Common School District after the Brunswick Central School District centralization. In the 1960s, students from the elementary school (the only building in the district) voted to name the school George Washington School. The district remained independent until merging into Averill Park Central School District
in 1995.
District #2, known as the Garfield School
, is located at the corner of Moonlawn Road and New York State Route 2
(Brunswick Road). The school was originally named for President
James A. Garfield, who occasionally taught nearby. It was owned by BCSD until the mid 1980s when it was transferred to the Town of Brunswick. It currently houses the Brunswick Community Library and Brunswick Historical Society and was added to the National Register of Historic Places
in 1988.
District #3 was known as the White Church School or the Horace Mann School. Little more information is easily found about the school.
District #4, known as the Pleasant Valley School, Rock Hollow School, or Cropseyville School, was located in the Pleasant Valley sector of Cropseyville on Brunswick Rd. This school was built in 1889 as a replacement for two nearby schools: one near the site of this school, and one on South Road. Today the building is a private residence.
District #5 was originally serviced by the McKinley School, located on New York State Route 7
(Hoosick Road), east of New York State Route 142
(Grange Road), and west of Town Office Road. The building was built around 1872 and the building still stands, housing a local business. The replacement schoolhouse, known as the Lee School, was located at Keyes Lane and Merrill Avenue. It was constructed in 1953 but soon closed due to centralization. It was then sold to the Brunswick Center Fire Department and used as a banquet hall until it was demolished in 1997 to be replaced by a new town community center.
District #6, most commonly known as the Little Red Schoolhouse
, but also sometimes known as the Lincoln School, Brick School, or Rocky Road School, is located at the corner of Buck Road and New York State Route 278
(Brick Church Road). Built around 1830, the building is the oldest standing schoolhouse in Brunswick and is still owned by BCSD. It underwent renovations in the 1970s and received additional refurbishments in the latter half of the 2000s. It was added to National Register of Historic Places
in 2008.
District #7, known as the VanArnum School, was located on Grange Road north of Calhoun Drive. The school was closed and sold at public auction
in 1953. District #7 was centralized into Lansingburgh Central School District.
District #8, located on Hoosick Road across from Mickle Hill Road, was known as the Haynerville School, most likely named for the hamlet. District #9, known as the Moody School, was located on Dater Hill Road. District #10, located on Brunswick Road, east of St. Mary's Cemetery entrance, was centralized into the Enlarged City School District of Troy. District #11, called the Sycaway School, was located on the corner of Hoosick Street and Lee Avenue. This district was consolidated into the Enlarged City School District of Troy and is the current site of School 18, one of that district's elementary schools. District #12 was known as the Tamarac School, which is the namesake of the current schools on the main campus. It was located on Camel Hill Road, off Tamarac Road. The school was built in 1864, but collapsed under the weight of snow during the winter of 1994-95.
, which was approved. Unfortunately the plan was out of the scope of a reasonable budget. By late 1950, town residents began commenting on the inadequacies of the then current infrastructure
, equipment, and services within their schools. In early 1952, the district superintendent created a committee made up of one member from each school district to reevaluate centralization. By July 1953, the committee was formed and a chairman elected. That August, committee members met with members of the Education Department to discuss school programs and expected expenditures. It is estimated that an average teacher's salary would be $3,750 in 1956. In March 1954, the Centralization Committee produced a pamphlet entitled Digest of Facts to inform the community of the project. In April 1954, a citizens' advisory committee was created, made up of 48 individuals, representing all districts involved in centralization. By August, the committee produced A Partnership in Education pamphlet to be distributed in the area. On October 8, 1956, the citizens' committee voted to centralize and the first Board of Education was elected.
While the official name of the district is that of the encompassing town, the name Brittonkill has been in use since 1956. The name is a combination of the names of the four main towns served by the district: Brunswick, Pittstown, Grafton, and Poestenkill. The district held a competition in late 1955 to replace its name "Central School District No. 2 of the Towns of Brunswick, Grafton, Pittstown and Poestenkill". First prize was Brittonkill, submitted by Charles Meeson (also the district treasurer at the time); second prize was "Pittwick", a combination of Brunswick and Pittstown, submitted by Sally Parker; and third prize was "Rock Hollow", the name of a hamlet just east of Cropseyville, submitted (coincidentally) by both Cynthia Pope and Susan Kehn. The Board of Education did not adopt "Brittonkill" on the first attempt, voting four to four on January 12, 1956, and the naming issue was tabled indefinitely on February 9, 1956.
The name can be found in use throughout the district. For example, the school's website uses the name Brittonkill rather than Brunswick (http://brittonkill.k12.ny.us), the district seal (see above) uses Brittonkill, and all district buses are labeled "Brittonkill Central Schools". In addition, the Brittonkill Teachers' Association, Brittonkill PTSA, Brittonkill Educational Enrichment Program, and Brittonkill Education Foundation all make use of the name.
Media and official references to the district typically use the name Brunswick (as with budget votes and school closings) and sometimes "Brunswick (Brittonkill)", although many times the district is referred to (incorrectly) as Brittonkill Central School District. Sports reports will usually reference the Tamarac Bengals. On rare occasions, the school buildings may incorrectly be referred to as Brittonkill High/Middle/Elementary School.
to the east; Averill Park Central School District
to the south; and Enlarged City School District of Troy and Lansingburgh Central School District to the west.
(BOE) is the authoritative legislative body of the school district. It approves policy
and funding
; sets committees and district priorities; and approves employment (including the Superintendent) within the district, among other things. The president of the BOE is the de facto
Chief Financial Officer
of the district and the spokesperson of the Board. According to official policy:
Members are elected
by district residents that are registered
to vote
. The election takes place on the third Tuesday in May annually. This is the same day as the budget
vote. Each year, three board seats are up for election. Board members are not paid for their services to the district.
The BOE is made up of nine members, each serving a three-year term; there are no term limits. The current members are Paul Daley (President), Christine Fox (Vice President), Kyle Christiansen, Craig Gilbert, Ryan Matthews, Kathleen McGrath (Vice President Emerita
), Nancy Rheeman, Matt Wade, and Karen Zagursky.
is Louis C. McIntosh, Jr., who began his tenure on July 1, 2008. The Superintendent is the Chief Executive and Administrative Officer
of the district, is the official district spokesperson, and has ex officio membership to all district committees. The Superintendent is responsible for the day to day operations of the district in addition to administering policies of the Board.
Below is an incomplete list of past superintendents (incomplete in that it only spans back to 1984):
through 12
, has a total staffing of 81.3 (on FTE
basis), 685 students, and has kept average class sizes below 25 pupils from 2004 to 2007. There is one building principal and one building assistant principal.
The district auditorium
is located within the Secondary School. This is where graduations, school plays, concerts, and some BOE meetings take place. The auditorium lobby is also a polling place during general elections and budget votes.
The Secondary School hosts a state of the art video production studio, allowing students to take part in all aspects of the media production process. Morning announcements are produced live in the studio, hosted by a teacher and student.
The red "TAMARAC" letters found on the front façade of the building (see image at left) were the class gift of the Class of 2003
Tamarac Elementary School opened in 1965. It currently serves grades Pre-K
through 5. The building has a total staffing of 55.92 (on FTE basis), 668 students, and has kept average class sizes at or below 22 pupils from 2004 to 2007. There is one building principal.
While the latest school report card and NCES records do not mention a Pre-K program, one has been initiated during the 2008-2009 school year on a limited basis.
after graduating high school, almost half of which planned on attending a four year institution. The following is additional data for the 2006-2007 school year:
of the University of the State of New York
, under the direction of the Commissioner of Education and the New York State Education Department
. To graduate, a student must have at least four credits each of English and social studies; three credits each of math and science; two credits each of gym class and foreign language classes; one credit of fine art; and one-half credit of health class. The student must also have at least 22 credits overall and pass a prescribed amount of state tests to receive a Regents diploma
. For all subjects except gym and health, a full-year course is equal to one credit. Each year of gym class is equal to one-half credit and one-half year of health class is equal to the required amount of health credit.
In addition, the secondary school offers many electives such as digital photography, media production, studio in art, drawing, painting, band, chorus, choralaires, Latin roots, public speaking, fundamentals of Microsoft Office Suite, in addition to many others. The secondary school offers two AP
classes: AP US History
and AP Physics (B
and C
). The district's foreign language options include Spanish, French, and Russian. Most of this information can be found in the High School Curriculum Guide, which is published by the high school Counseling Center.
Students have the opportunity to take part in a number of New Visions programs offered by Questar III and Capital Region BOCES. New Visions programs are higher-level and hands-on learning programs offered to students that apply to take it their senior years and take place at different locations around the capital district
. Choices include the New Visions: Math, Engineering, Science, and Technology program, the New Visions: Medicine and Allied Health program, New Visions: Scientific Research and World Health program, the New Visions: Visual and Performing Arts program, New Visions: Health Career Exploration program, the New Visions: Health Services and Special Education program, the New Visions: Law and Government program, and the New Visions: Journalism and Media Studies program.
Dependent upon funding, students also have the opportunity to attend the new four-year Tech Valley High School
. Even if a student attends Tech Valley High School, the student still receives their diploma from their home school district.
All of the athletic teams are known as the Tamarac Bengals. Football offers varsity
, junior varsity (JV)
, and modified teams. The varsity team is in Class C and in 2008 had its first winning season in over a decade. Soccer offers varsity, JV, and modified teams for both boys and girls. The boys' varsity team is in Class B of the Wasaren League and won the sectionals game against Cohoes in 2008, but lost the regionals game to Plattsburgh. Basketball offers varsity, JV, and modified for both boys and girls. For the school's fiftieth anniversary, the athletic department released a list of the top 50 boys' varsity players of all time. Cheerleading is offered both for football and basketball seasons. Baseball and girls' softball both offer varsity and JV teams. Wrestling offers varsity, JV, and modified teams. Volleyball is only offered to girls and has varsity, JV, and modified teams. Cross country offers varsity and modified teams and includes many athletes from the track and field team. Recently added was a golf team.
.
In addition, the school offers these student organizations:
Besides the two school buildings on the main campus, the district also owns another school building, Parker School, in Pittstown.
The campus has one main sports field, complete with bleachers, a reporters' box, concession stand
, and newly installed storage building. The track that surrounds the main field underwent a significant upgrade in the late 1990s from a small dirt track to a professional running track. The field is used for both football
and soccer. The area is also used for track and field events such as high jump
, long jump
, and pole vault
. Elsewhere on campus there are three soccer fields, one baseball diamond, two softball diamonds, one outdoor basketball court, and two tennis courts.
The district owns and runs its own bussing
service. The bus garage
is located on Tamarac Road, about one half mile from the main campus.
The main campus is serviced by a trickling filter
type wastewater treatment plant
, which replaced a large septic tank and leach field in the early 2000s.
Brunswick, New York
Brunswick is a town in Rensselaer County, New York, United States that was originally settled in the early 18th century. During its history, it had been part of Albany County, Rensselaerswyck, and Troy, before its incorporation in 1807...
in Rensselaer County, New York, United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
. The district has two operating school buildings: Tamarac Elementary School (Pre-K
Pre-Kindergarten
Pre-kindergarten refers to the first formal academic classroom-based learning environment that a child customarily attends in the United States. It begins between the ages of 3-5 depending on the length of the program...
through 5
Fifth grade
Fifth grade is a year of education in the United States and many other nations. The fifth grade is the fifth school year after kindergarten. Students are usually 10 – 11 years old, and are preteens...
) and Tamarac Secondary School (6
Sixth grade
Sixth grade is a year of education in the United States and some other nations. The sixth grade is the sixth school year after kindergarten. Students are usually 11 – 12 years old...
through 12
Twelfth grade
Twelfth grade or Senior year, or Grade Twelve, are the North American names for the final year of secondary school. In most countries students then graduate at age 17 or 18. In some countries, there is a thirteenth grade, while other countries do not have a 12th grade/year at all...
). The district is a member of the Rensselaer-Columbia-Greene Board of Cooperative Educational Services
Board of Cooperative Educational Services
In 1948, the New York State Legislature created the Boards of Cooperative Educational Services to provide school districts with a program of shared educational services.-History:...
(BOCES), known as Questar III.
The district was created upon the centralization (consolidation) of fourteen smaller districts in Brunswick, Pittstown
Pittstown, New York
Pittstown is a town in Rensselaer County, New York, United States. The population was 5,644 at the 2000 census. It is in the northern part of the county.A small part of the north town line is Rensselaer County's border with Washington County, New York...
, Grafton
Grafton, New York
Grafton is a town in Rensselaer County, New York, United States. The population was 1,987 at the 2000 census. It is believed that the town received its name from Grafton, Vermont, from where the first town supervisor, Nathaniel Dumbleton, was originally from. The town is an interior town near the...
, and Poestenkill
Poestenkill (town), New York
Poestenkill is a town in Rensselaer County, New York, United States. The population was 4,054 at the 2000 census. The town is named after the Poesten Kill, an important stream in the area. The words "poesten kil" are traditionally supposed to signify "foaming water" or "foaming creek" in Dutch...
in 1956 and the high school opened in 1958. The first class graduated in 1960. The district had a combined student body of 1363 during the 2007-2008 school year.
History
The district was created upon the centralization (consolidation) of local schools in 1956. Previously, Brunswick was serviced by twelve smaller districts, each usually made up of one single-room schoolhouse. Of those previous districts, only two of the original buildings exist in their original state.Pre-centralization
Upon the creation of the government of the Town of Brunswick in April 1807, three commissioners of schools were appointed. Their tasks were to develop schools within the town and offer funding using the Common School Fund, which the New York LegislatureNew York Legislature
The New York State Legislature is the term often used to refer to the two houses that act as the state legislature of the U.S. state of New York. The New York Constitution does not designate an official term for the two houses together...
had set up in 1805 to help cover the costs of public education. In 1812, the Legislature developed a school district system in which each district was self-governing. These districts were typically small by necessity, so that students could walk or ride to school in a reasonable time period each day.
At the time, public schools were funded by a combination of population-based state reimbursement, taxes, and tuition paid by parents. In 1867, tuition was abolished, making public education free to all. At that time, attending school was voluntary, but by 1874, it became mandatory for students aged 8 to 14. Enforcement was sometimes difficult though, especially considering the agricultural economy that the area depended upon at the time.
By 1945, ten districts in Brunswick had a student population of 313 between first and ninth grades. Due to the added expenses of small districts (in an era becoming increasingly dominated by the automobile) and sometimes crumbling school facilities, the idea of consolidating smaller districts into one larger district (centralization) became a legitimate issue. By 1953, fourteen districts in Brunswick, Grafton, Pittstown, and Poestenkill were proposed for centralization. Eight of the districts were serviced by one-room schoolhouses with no running water.
Districts preceding centralization
At the time just preceding centralization, Brunswick was served by twelve districts.District #1 is located at the corner of Menemsha and Lansing Lanes and was commonly known as the Paul Springer School. The original schoolhouse was built in 1885 but burned down in 1970. The district became known as Brunswick Common School District after the Brunswick Central School District centralization. In the 1960s, students from the elementary school (the only building in the district) voted to name the school George Washington School. The district remained independent until merging into Averill Park Central School District
Averill Park Central School District
Averill Park Central School District is a rural fringe public school district located east of the city of Rensselaer in south central Rensselaer County, New York. The district has five operating school buildings: three elementary schools, one middle school, and one high school...
in 1995.
Garfield School (Brunswick, New York)
The District #2 Schoolhouse, known locally as the Garfield School and also known as Brunswick District No. 2 School, located in Brunswick, New York, United States, is a two-room schoolhouse built and opened in 1881. It hosted local students until the consolidation of Brunswick Central School...
, is located at the corner of Moonlawn Road and New York State Route 2
New York State Route 2
New York State Route 2 is a state highway in the Capital District of New York, United States. It extends from an interchange with Interstate 87 and NY 7 in the hamlet of Latham within the town of Colonie to the Massachusetts state line, where it continues to Boston as Route 2....
(Brunswick Road). The school was originally named for President
President of the United States
The President of the United States of America is the head of state and head of government of the United States. The president leads the executive branch of the federal government and is the commander-in-chief of the United States Armed Forces....
James A. Garfield, who occasionally taught nearby. It was owned by BCSD until the mid 1980s when it was transferred to the Town of Brunswick. It currently houses the Brunswick Community Library and Brunswick Historical Society and was added to the National Register of Historic Places
National Register of Historic Places
The National Register of Historic Places is the United States government's official list of districts, sites, buildings, structures, and objects deemed worthy of preservation...
in 1988.
District #3 was known as the White Church School or the Horace Mann School. Little more information is easily found about the school.
District #4, known as the Pleasant Valley School, Rock Hollow School, or Cropseyville School, was located in the Pleasant Valley sector of Cropseyville on Brunswick Rd. This school was built in 1889 as a replacement for two nearby schools: one near the site of this school, and one on South Road. Today the building is a private residence.
District #5 was originally serviced by the McKinley School, located on New York State Route 7
New York State Route 7
New York State Route 7 is a 180-mile long New York State Highway that runs from the New York/Pennsylvania border south of Binghamton, New York to the New York/Vermont border east of Hoosick. Most of the road runs along the Susquehanna Valley, closely paralleling Interstate 88 throughout...
(Hoosick Road), east of New York State Route 142
New York State Route 142
New York State Route 142 is a north–south state highway in Rensselaer County, New York, in the United States. The southern terminus is at an intersection with NY 7 in the hamlet of Brunswick Center within the town of Brunswick. Its northern terminus is at U.S. Route 4 in the...
(Grange Road), and west of Town Office Road. The building was built around 1872 and the building still stands, housing a local business. The replacement schoolhouse, known as the Lee School, was located at Keyes Lane and Merrill Avenue. It was constructed in 1953 but soon closed due to centralization. It was then sold to the Brunswick Center Fire Department and used as a banquet hall until it was demolished in 1997 to be replaced by a new town community center.
Little Red Schoolhouse (Brunswick, New York)
The District #6 Schoolhouse, also known locally as the Little Red Schoolhouse or the Lincoln School, located in Brunswick, New York, United States, is a one-room schoolhouse built circa 1830 or 1837 that was home to grades one through eight until the consolidation of Brunswick Central School...
, but also sometimes known as the Lincoln School, Brick School, or Rocky Road School, is located at the corner of Buck Road and New York State Route 278
New York State Route 278
New York State Route 278 is a state highway in Rensselaer County, New York, United States. The route, in length, is located entirely in the town of Brunswick...
(Brick Church Road). Built around 1830, the building is the oldest standing schoolhouse in Brunswick and is still owned by BCSD. It underwent renovations in the 1970s and received additional refurbishments in the latter half of the 2000s. It was added to National Register of Historic Places
National Register of Historic Places
The National Register of Historic Places is the United States government's official list of districts, sites, buildings, structures, and objects deemed worthy of preservation...
in 2008.
District #7, known as the VanArnum School, was located on Grange Road north of Calhoun Drive. The school was closed and sold at public auction
Public auction
A public auction is an auction held on behalf of a government in which the property to be auctioned is either property owned by the government, or property which is sold under the authority of a court of law or a government agency with similar authority....
in 1953. District #7 was centralized into Lansingburgh Central School District.
District #8, located on Hoosick Road across from Mickle Hill Road, was known as the Haynerville School, most likely named for the hamlet. District #9, known as the Moody School, was located on Dater Hill Road. District #10, located on Brunswick Road, east of St. Mary's Cemetery entrance, was centralized into the Enlarged City School District of Troy. District #11, called the Sycaway School, was located on the corner of Hoosick Street and Lee Avenue. This district was consolidated into the Enlarged City School District of Troy and is the current site of School 18, one of that district's elementary schools. District #12 was known as the Tamarac School, which is the namesake of the current schools on the main campus. It was located on Camel Hill Road, off Tamarac Road. The school was built in 1864, but collapsed under the weight of snow during the winter of 1994-95.
Centralization
In January 1945, the Town of Brunswick Trustees created a committee charged with gathering facts about school district centralization and reporting back to the community. In late 1945, the committee proposed a plan to the New York State Education DepartmentNew York State Education Department
The New York State Education Department is the state education department in New York. It is part of the University of the State of New York , one of the most complete, interconnected systems of educational services in the United States...
, which was approved. Unfortunately the plan was out of the scope of a reasonable budget. By late 1950, town residents began commenting on the inadequacies of the then current infrastructure
Infrastructure
Infrastructure is basic physical and organizational structures needed for the operation of a society or enterprise, or the services and facilities necessary for an economy to function...
, equipment, and services within their schools. In early 1952, the district superintendent created a committee made up of one member from each school district to reevaluate centralization. By July 1953, the committee was formed and a chairman elected. That August, committee members met with members of the Education Department to discuss school programs and expected expenditures. It is estimated that an average teacher's salary would be $3,750 in 1956. In March 1954, the Centralization Committee produced a pamphlet entitled Digest of Facts to inform the community of the project. In April 1954, a citizens' advisory committee was created, made up of 48 individuals, representing all districts involved in centralization. By August, the committee produced A Partnership in Education pamphlet to be distributed in the area. On October 8, 1956, the citizens' committee voted to centralize and the first Board of Education was elected.
"Brittonkill"
The name can be found in use throughout the district. For example, the school's website uses the name Brittonkill rather than Brunswick (http://brittonkill.k12.ny.us), the district seal (see above) uses Brittonkill, and all district buses are labeled "Brittonkill Central Schools". In addition, the Brittonkill Teachers' Association, Brittonkill PTSA, Brittonkill Educational Enrichment Program, and Brittonkill Education Foundation all make use of the name.
Media and official references to the district typically use the name Brunswick (as with budget votes and school closings) and sometimes "Brunswick (Brittonkill)", although many times the district is referred to (incorrectly) as Brittonkill Central School District. Sports reports will usually reference the Tamarac Bengals. On rare occasions, the school buildings may incorrectly be referred to as Brittonkill High/Middle/Elementary School.
Geography
The district is bordered by Hoosic Valley Central School District and Hoosick Falls Central School District to the north; Berlin Central School DistrictBerlin Central School District
Berlin Central School District is a rural public school district located in the eastern part of Rensselaer County, New York and borders the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. The district has three operating school buildings: two elementary schools and one middle school/high school building...
to the east; Averill Park Central School District
Averill Park Central School District
Averill Park Central School District is a rural fringe public school district located east of the city of Rensselaer in south central Rensselaer County, New York. The district has five operating school buildings: three elementary schools, one middle school, and one high school...
to the south; and Enlarged City School District of Troy and Lansingburgh Central School District to the west.
Board of Education
The Board of EducationBoard of education
A board of education or a school board or school committee is the title of the board of directors or board of trustees of a school, local school district or higher administrative level....
(BOE) is the authoritative legislative body of the school district. It approves policy
Policy
A policy is typically described as a principle or rule to guide decisions and achieve rational outcome. The term is not normally used to denote what is actually done, this is normally referred to as either procedure or protocol...
and funding
Funding
Funding is the act of providing resources, usually in form of money , or other values such as effort or time , for a project, a person, a business or any other private or public institutions...
; sets committees and district priorities; and approves employment (including the Superintendent) within the district, among other things. The president of the BOE is the de facto
De facto
De facto is a Latin expression that means "concerning fact." In law, it often means "in practice but not necessarily ordained by law" or "in practice or actuality, but not officially established." It is commonly used in contrast to de jure when referring to matters of law, governance, or...
Chief Financial Officer
Chief financial officer
The chief financial officer or Chief financial and operating officer is a corporate officer primarily responsible for managing the financial risks of the corporation. This officer is also responsible for financial planning and record-keeping, as well as financial reporting to higher management...
of the district and the spokesperson of the Board. According to official policy:
The Board of Education is a legislative body responsible for the governance of the Brunswick School District in a manner consistent with the laws, rules and regulations of the State of New York and the United States of America... and as a body, is the unit of authority for the School District
Members are elected
Election
An election is a formal decision-making process by which a population chooses an individual to hold public office. Elections have been the usual mechanism by which modern representative democracy operates since the 17th century. Elections may fill offices in the legislature, sometimes in the...
by district residents that are registered
Voter registration
Voter registration is the requirement in some democracies for citizens and residents to check in with some central registry specifically for the purpose of being allowed to vote in elections. An effort to get people to register is known as a voter registration drive.-Centralized/compulsory vs...
to vote
Voting
Voting is a method for a group such as a meeting or an electorate to make a decision or express an opinion—often following discussions, debates, or election campaigns. It is often found in democracies and republics.- Reasons for voting :...
. The election takes place on the third Tuesday in May annually. This is the same day as the budget
Budget
A budget is a financial plan and a list of all planned expenses and revenues. It is a plan for saving, borrowing and spending. A budget is an important concept in microeconomics, which uses a budget line to illustrate the trade-offs between two or more goods...
vote. Each year, three board seats are up for election. Board members are not paid for their services to the district.
The BOE is made up of nine members, each serving a three-year term; there are no term limits. The current members are Paul Daley (President), Christine Fox (Vice President), Kyle Christiansen, Craig Gilbert, Ryan Matthews, Kathleen McGrath (Vice President Emerita
Emeritus
Emeritus is a post-positive adjective that is used to designate a retired professor, bishop, or other professional or as a title. The female equivalent emerita is also sometimes used.-History:...
), Nancy Rheeman, Matt Wade, and Karen Zagursky.
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Superintendent of Schools
The Superintendent of SchoolsSuperintendent (education)
In education in the United States, a superintendent is an individual who has executive oversight and administration rights, usually within an educational entity or organization....
is Louis C. McIntosh, Jr., who began his tenure on July 1, 2008. The Superintendent is the Chief Executive and Administrative Officer
Chief executive officer
A chief executive officer , managing director , Executive Director for non-profit organizations, or chief executive is the highest-ranking corporate officer or administrator in charge of total management of an organization...
of the district, is the official district spokesperson, and has ex officio membership to all district committees. The Superintendent is responsible for the day to day operations of the district in addition to administering policies of the Board.
Below is an incomplete list of past superintendents (incomplete in that it only spans back to 1984):
Schools
Tamarac Secondary School (then Tamarac High School) opened in 1958 and the first class graduated in 1960. The building serves grades 6Sixth grade
Sixth grade is a year of education in the United States and some other nations. The sixth grade is the sixth school year after kindergarten. Students are usually 11 – 12 years old...
through 12
Twelfth grade
Twelfth grade or Senior year, or Grade Twelve, are the North American names for the final year of secondary school. In most countries students then graduate at age 17 or 18. In some countries, there is a thirteenth grade, while other countries do not have a 12th grade/year at all...
, has a total staffing of 81.3 (on FTE
Full-time equivalent
Full-time equivalent , is a unit to measure employed persons or students in a way that makes them comparable although they may work or study a different number of hours per week. FTE is often used to measure a worker's involvement in a project, or to track cost reductions in an organization...
basis), 685 students, and has kept average class sizes below 25 pupils from 2004 to 2007. There is one building principal and one building assistant principal.
Auditorium
An auditorium is a room built to enable an audience to hear and watch performances at venues such as theatres. For movie theaters, the number of auditoriums is expressed as the number of screens.- Etymology :...
is located within the Secondary School. This is where graduations, school plays, concerts, and some BOE meetings take place. The auditorium lobby is also a polling place during general elections and budget votes.
The Secondary School hosts a state of the art video production studio, allowing students to take part in all aspects of the media production process. Morning announcements are produced live in the studio, hosted by a teacher and student.
Tamarac Elementary School opened in 1965. It currently serves grades Pre-K
Pre-Kindergarten
Pre-kindergarten refers to the first formal academic classroom-based learning environment that a child customarily attends in the United States. It begins between the ages of 3-5 depending on the length of the program...
through 5. The building has a total staffing of 55.92 (on FTE basis), 668 students, and has kept average class sizes at or below 22 pupils from 2004 to 2007. There is one building principal.
While the latest school report card and NCES records do not mention a Pre-K program, one has been initiated during the 2008-2009 school year on a limited basis.
Ethnicity
Students during the 2006-2007 school year:- Total Student Body: 1353 (100%)
- WhiteCaucasian raceThe term Caucasian race has been used to denote the general physical type of some or all of the populations of Europe, North Africa, the Horn of Africa, Western Asia , Central Asia and South Asia...
: 1304 (96%) - African AmericanAfrican AmericanAfrican Americans are citizens or residents of the United States who have at least partial ancestry from any of the native populations of Sub-Saharan Africa and are the direct descendants of enslaved Africans within the boundaries of the present United States...
: 19 (1%) - Asian: 16 (1%)
- LatinoHispanic and Latino AmericansHispanic or Latino Americans are Americans with origins in the Hispanic countries of Latin America or in Spain, and in general all persons in the United States who self-identify as Hispanic or Latino.1990 Census of Population and Housing: A self-designated classification for people whose origins...
: 12 (1%) - American IndianNative Americans in the United StatesNative Americans in the United States are the indigenous peoples in North America within the boundaries of the present-day continental United States, parts of Alaska, and the island state of Hawaii. They are composed of numerous, distinct tribes, states, and ethnic groups, many of which survive as...
or Native Alaskan: 2 (0%)
Grade level
Students during the 2006-2007 school year:- Elementary (K-5): 556 (41.4%)
- Middle School (6-8): 326 (24.3%)
- High School (9-12): 461 (34.3%)
- Class of 2007: 103
Testing scores
Data of passing rates (≥ 65%) for students taking Regents exams in the 2006-2007 school year:Other statistics
According to reports, more than 90% of the class of 2007 intended on attending either a two-year or four-year collegeCollege
A college is an educational institution or a constituent part of an educational institution. Usage varies in English-speaking nations...
after graduating high school, almost half of which planned on attending a four year institution. The following is additional data for the 2006-2007 school year:
- Attendance rate: 96%
- DropoutDropping outDropping out means leaving a group for either practical reasons, necessities or disillusionment with the system from which the individual in question leaves....
rate: 1% - Spending per student per annum: $12,971
Curriculum
The district follows the general curriculum set forth by the Board of RegentsBoard of Regents
In the United States, a board often governs public institutions of higher education, which include both state universities and community colleges. In each US state, such boards may govern either the state university system, individual colleges and universities, or both. In general they operate as...
of the University of the State of New York
University of the State of New York
The University of the State of New York is the State of New York's governmental umbrella organization responsible for most institutions and people in any way connected with formal educational functions, public and private, in New York State...
, under the direction of the Commissioner of Education and the New York State Education Department
New York State Education Department
The New York State Education Department is the state education department in New York. It is part of the University of the State of New York , one of the most complete, interconnected systems of educational services in the United States...
. To graduate, a student must have at least four credits each of English and social studies; three credits each of math and science; two credits each of gym class and foreign language classes; one credit of fine art; and one-half credit of health class. The student must also have at least 22 credits overall and pass a prescribed amount of state tests to receive a Regents diploma
Regents Examinations
Regents High School examinations, sometimes shortened to the Regents, are mandatory in New York State through the New York State Education Department, designed and administered under the authority of the Board of Regents of the University of the State of New York...
. For all subjects except gym and health, a full-year course is equal to one credit. Each year of gym class is equal to one-half credit and one-half year of health class is equal to the required amount of health credit.
In addition, the secondary school offers many electives such as digital photography, media production, studio in art, drawing, painting, band, chorus, choralaires, Latin roots, public speaking, fundamentals of Microsoft Office Suite, in addition to many others. The secondary school offers two AP
Advanced Placement Program
The Advanced Placement program is a curriculum in the United States and Canada sponsored by the College Board which offers standardized courses to high school students that are generally recognized to be equivalent to undergraduate courses in college...
classes: AP US History
AP United States History
Advanced Placement United States History is a course and examination offered by the College Board as part of the Advanced Placement Program...
and AP Physics (B
AP Physics B
AP Physics B is an Advanced Placement science course that is divided into nine different sections: Newtonian Mechanics, Electricity and Magnetism, Fluid Mechanics and Thermal Physics, Waves and Optics, and Atomic and Nuclear Physics. The course is equivalent to a one-year college course that...
and C
AP Physics C: Mechanics
AP Physics C: Mechanics is an Advanced Placement science course that studies Newtonian mechanics. Methods of calculus are used wherever appropriate in formulating physical principles and in applying them to physical problems which is why most schools recommend that the student have completed or be...
). The district's foreign language options include Spanish, French, and Russian. Most of this information can be found in the High School Curriculum Guide, which is published by the high school Counseling Center.
Students have the opportunity to take part in a number of New Visions programs offered by Questar III and Capital Region BOCES. New Visions programs are higher-level and hands-on learning programs offered to students that apply to take it their senior years and take place at different locations around the capital district
Capital District
New York's Capital District, also known as the Capital Region, is a region in upstate New York that generally refers to the four counties surrounding Albany, the capital of the state: Albany County, Schenectady County, Rensselaer County, and Saratoga County...
. Choices include the New Visions: Math, Engineering, Science, and Technology program, the New Visions: Medicine and Allied Health program, New Visions: Scientific Research and World Health program, the New Visions: Visual and Performing Arts program, New Visions: Health Career Exploration program, the New Visions: Health Services and Special Education program, the New Visions: Law and Government program, and the New Visions: Journalism and Media Studies program.
Dependent upon funding, students also have the opportunity to attend the new four-year Tech Valley High School
Tech Valley High School
Tech Valley High School is a four-year technical high school located just east of Albany, New York, in the town of East Greenbush, in Rensselaer County...
. Even if a student attends Tech Valley High School, the student still receives their diploma from their home school district.
Athletics
Varsity team
In the United States and Canada, varsity sports teams are the principal athletic teams representing a college, university, high school or other secondary school. Such teams compete against the principal athletic teams at other colleges/universities, or in the case of secondary schools, against...
, junior varsity (JV)
Junior varsity
Primarily in North America, junior varsity or JV players are the members of a team who are not the main players in a competition , usually at the high school and college levels in the United States and Canada. The main players comprise the varsity team...
, and modified teams. The varsity team is in Class C and in 2008 had its first winning season in over a decade. Soccer offers varsity, JV, and modified teams for both boys and girls. The boys' varsity team is in Class B of the Wasaren League and won the sectionals game against Cohoes in 2008, but lost the regionals game to Plattsburgh. Basketball offers varsity, JV, and modified for both boys and girls. For the school's fiftieth anniversary, the athletic department released a list of the top 50 boys' varsity players of all time. Cheerleading is offered both for football and basketball seasons. Baseball and girls' softball both offer varsity and JV teams. Wrestling offers varsity, JV, and modified teams. Volleyball is only offered to girls and has varsity, JV, and modified teams. Cross country offers varsity and modified teams and includes many athletes from the track and field team. Recently added was a golf team.
Student organizations
The high school offers a significant number of extracurricular student organizations. One of the major events is the school play. The high school and middle school each have a play on opposite years. In 2008, the high school presented their adaptation of Beauty and the BeastBeauty and the Beast (musical)
Beauty and the Beast is a musical with music by Alan Menken, lyrics by Howard Ashman and Tim Rice and a book by Linda Woolverton, based on the 1991 Disney film of the same name. Seven new songs were written for the stage musical...
.
In addition, the school offers these student organizations:
Infrastructure
The campus has one main sports field, complete with bleachers, a reporters' box, concession stand
Concession stand
A concession stand , snack kiosk or snack bar is the term used to refer to a place where patrons can purchase snacks or food at a cinema, fair, stadium, or other entertainment venue. Some events or venues contract out the right to sell food to third parties...
, and newly installed storage building. The track that surrounds the main field underwent a significant upgrade in the late 1990s from a small dirt track to a professional running track. The field is used for both football
American football
American football is a sport played between two teams of eleven with the objective of scoring points by advancing the ball into the opposing team's end zone. Known in the United States simply as football, it may also be referred to informally as gridiron football. The ball can be advanced by...
and soccer. The area is also used for track and field events such as high jump
High jump
The high jump is a track and field athletics event in which competitors must jump over a horizontal bar placed at measured heights without the aid of certain devices in its modern most practiced format; auxiliary weights and mounds have been used for assistance; rules have changed over the years....
, long jump
Long jump
The long jump is a track and field event in which athletes combine speed, strength, and agility in an attempt to leap as far as possible from a take off point...
, and pole vault
Pole vault
Pole vaulting is a track and field event in which a person uses a long, flexible pole as an aid to leap over a bar. Pole jumping competitions were known to the ancient Greeks, as well as the Cretans and Celts...
. Elsewhere on campus there are three soccer fields, one baseball diamond, two softball diamonds, one outdoor basketball court, and two tennis courts.
The district owns and runs its own bussing
School bus
A school bus is a type of bus designed and manufactured for student transport: carrying children and teenagers to and from school and school events...
service. The bus garage
Bus garage
A bus garage or bus depot is a building where buses are stored and maintained. In many conurbations, bus garages are on the site of former car barns or tram sheds, where Streetcars or Trams were stored, and the operation transferred to buses...
is located on Tamarac Road, about one half mile from the main campus.
The main campus is serviced by a trickling filter
Trickling filter
A trickling filter consists of a fixed bed of rocks, lava, coke, gravel, slag, polyurethane foam, sphagnum peat moss, ceramic, or plastic media over which sewage or other wastewater flows downward and causes a layer of microbial slime to grow, covering the bed of media...
type wastewater treatment plant
Sewage treatment
Sewage treatment, or domestic wastewater treatment, is the process of removing contaminants from wastewater and household sewage, both runoff and domestic. It includes physical, chemical, and biological processes to remove physical, chemical and biological contaminants...
, which replaced a large septic tank and leach field in the early 2000s.
Education-related
- New York State Education DepartmentNew York State Education DepartmentThe New York State Education Department is the state education department in New York. It is part of the University of the State of New York , one of the most complete, interconnected systems of educational services in the United States...
- University of the State of New YorkUniversity of the State of New YorkThe University of the State of New York is the State of New York's governmental umbrella organization responsible for most institutions and people in any way connected with formal educational functions, public and private, in New York State...
- Regents ExaminationsRegents ExaminationsRegents High School examinations, sometimes shortened to the Regents, are mandatory in New York State through the New York State Education Department, designed and administered under the authority of the Board of Regents of the University of the State of New York...
- Board of Cooperative Educational Services (BOCES)Board of Cooperative Educational ServicesIn 1948, the New York State Legislature created the Boards of Cooperative Educational Services to provide school districts with a program of shared educational services.-History:...
- List of school districts in New York
- New York State School Boards AssociationNew York State School Boards AssociationThe New York State School Boards Association serves as the statewide voice of more than 700 boards of education. The collective influence of some 5,000 school board members, who constitute half the elected officials in the state, enables NYSSBA to work toward the benefit of the elementary and...
- National School Boards AssociationNational School Boards AssociationThe National School Boards Association, or NSBA, is a nonprofit organization operating as a federation of state associations of school boards across the United States. Founded in 1940, NSBA represents 95,000 local school board members who govern 14,890 local school districts serving more than 47...
- No Child Left Behind ActNo Child Left Behind ActThe No Child Left Behind Act of 2001 is a United States Act of Congress concerning the education of children in public schools.NCLB was originally proposed by the administration of George W. Bush immediately after he took office...
Geographical
- Brunswick, New YorkBrunswick, New YorkBrunswick is a town in Rensselaer County, New York, United States that was originally settled in the early 18th century. During its history, it had been part of Albany County, Rensselaerswyck, and Troy, before its incorporation in 1807...
- Town the district resides in - Grafton, New YorkGrafton, New YorkGrafton is a town in Rensselaer County, New York, United States. The population was 1,987 at the 2000 census. It is believed that the town received its name from Grafton, Vermont, from where the first town supervisor, Nathaniel Dumbleton, was originally from. The town is an interior town near the...
- One town the district serves - Pittstown, New YorkPittstown, New YorkPittstown is a town in Rensselaer County, New York, United States. The population was 5,644 at the 2000 census. It is in the northern part of the county.A small part of the north town line is Rensselaer County's border with Washington County, New York...
- One town the district serves - Poestenkill, New YorkPoestenkill (town), New YorkPoestenkill is a town in Rensselaer County, New York, United States. The population was 4,054 at the 2000 census. The town is named after the Poesten Kill, an important stream in the area. The words "poesten kil" are traditionally supposed to signify "foaming water" or "foaming creek" in Dutch...
- One town the district serves - Schaghticoke, New YorkSchaghticoke (town), New YorkSchaghticoke is a town in Rensselaer County, New York, USA. The population was 7,456 at the 2000 census. The Schaghticoke is a native tribe original to the area. The town is on the northern border of the county, north of Troy...
- One town the district serves (albeit very little of the town resides in the district) - Rensselaer County, New YorkRensselaer County, New YorkRensselaer County is a county in the U.S. state of New York. As of the 2010 census, the population was 159,429. Its name is in honor of the family of Kiliaen van Rensselaer, the original Dutch owner of the land in the area. Its county seat is Troy...
- County the district resides in
Printed works
- Zankel, Sharon Martin. Images of America: Brunswick. 1st. Great Britain: Arcadia Publishing/Brunswick Historical Society, 1998. pp 69–80. ISBN 0-7524-1306-6.
Notable documents
- Superintendent's Contract from SeeThroughNY
- Teachers' Contract from SeeThroughNY
- The New York State School Report Card: District Summary Reports 2004-2005. New York State Education Department.
- New York State District Report Card: Accountability and Overview Report 2006-2007. The University of the State of New York.
- New York State District Report Card: Comprehensive Information Report 2006-2007. The University of the State of New York.