NEW SCOTLAND — Voorheesville’s new superintendent, Brian Hunt, offered the school board the first of his monthly evaluations of the district at the board’s August meeting, and welcomed the interim high school principal, Annemarie Barkman.

Hunt explained at an earlier meeting that he would research and bring to the board reports that examine all aspects of the district, including enrollment projections, building use, and staff development. In August, he addressed current and predicted student enrollment.

“The steepest decline has already occurred,” Hunt said. “We’ve leveled off in 2010.”

He examined data that showed that the district’s enrollment dropped from over 1,300 students in 2000 to about 1,170 now; current predictions expect the number to be stable at 1,100 by 2020, Hunt said.

Overall district enrollment dropped 10.6 percent over the 15-year period, he said; elementary and high school enrollments dropped by 26 students, or about 6 percent, while middle school enrollments dropped by 78 students, or about 22 percent.

The “fairly significant” enrollment decline has been seen across the state, he said.

“We’re trying to avoid program and staff cuts, but we do have this enrollment pressure upon us,” he said.

Hunt also noted that projections for enrollment are difficult to make, as housing developments could be built, or parents could choose to send their children to private schools.

Enrollment shifts from 60 to 100 students per class level, but not always evenly, Hunt said.

“We need a pre-school census,” he said.

The district will begin the census soon, and use the information to anticipate future enrollment changes, and budget for them over a long term, he said.

Corinna Parker, a secretary at the elementary school, will handle the census, Hunt said.

“Beyond five years, you’re really guessing,” Hunt said.

“This is very helpful, thank you,” said board member Diana Straut.

Straut said that the enrollment data does not include information about whether students in the district have language or special education needs that may not be met within the district. The district should look at trends with that additional data, she said.

Interim principal

Hunt welcomed Annemarie Barkman to replace high school Principal Patrick Corrigan while the district searches for a permanent administrator.

Corrigan left in August after 14 years in Voorheesville where he first served as a teacher before becoming principal.

Barkman is expected to fill the spot until Oct. 31, by which time the board hopes to have found a principal.

One district resident asked the board why Voorheesville has had turnover of a majority of its administrators this year.

“It’s a bad, but normal, period for us,” said board President Timothy Blow. “It seems to be a cyclical sort of thing.”

Blow said that the district experienced a similar turnover six years ago.

“I don’t think there’s anything odd or unusual,” he said. “It’s great for us.”

Blow said that Voorheesville has been able to hire good people who grow while in the district, and that six years in a workplace is expected.

“That’s not bad in today’s world,” Blow said.

“When you’re picking the best, the best have a lot of opportunities,” said longtime board member C. James Coffin. “If we bring good people in, they’re going to give good results and they’re going to be wanted.”

Blow noted that some of the turnover is due to retirements.

“Pat replaced me as a teacher,” Hunt said of Corrigan. “I appreciated his energy and enthusiasm.”

“We, of course, concur,” Blow said.

Barkman completed a four-year stint as the interim principal at Catskill High School in June, and was promptly called by Hunt to fill Corrigan’s spot, she told The Enterprise.

“I’m old,” she joked. “My career was in Western New York — Syracuse, Rochester, and Buffalo.”

Barkman is from Greenville, and returned to the area after she retired, she said. Before she worked in Catskill, she served as the interim superintendent at Coxsackie-Athens.

“They just keep calling me,” she said. “I’m very flattered that I’m still able to make a difference for young people.”

Asked what Barkman’s focus will be for her two months at Voorheesville, she said, “You want to maintain and further the excellent work that’s been done here, and pave the way for a new principal.”

Barkman said that she wants to meet as many parents and students as she can.

“It’s important that they know who is taking care of their children for this period of time,” Barkman said.

Barkman enjoys her work as an interim administrator, she said.
“It’s so wonderful here. I keep fresh. I learn new things, and I still have the opportunity to make a difference for students,” Barkman said. “I get more out of it than I could ever possibly give.”