Brigitte McAuliffe, Knox

The Berne-Knox-Westerlo Board of Education accepted Superintendent Timothy Mundell’s proposed budget in a unanimous vote, along with the district’s annual bus proposition and the proposed purchase of 1772 Helderberg Trail. All three items — plus school board elections — will be subject to a district vote on May 17.

WESTERLO — Trevor Burnside knows that doing the small things right leads to doing the big things better.

In this week’s Enterprise podcast, Burnside describes the sound of each member of a platoon pulling forward the bolt on their rifles at the exact same time.

“You can only hear one sound … It is awesome,” he said.

Mary-Jane Araldi, Director Westerlo Heritage Museum

Following three incidents at local schools — including Berne-Knox-Westerlo and Voorheesville — this month that raised the specter of mass shootings, The Enterprise spoke with a researcher who focuses on school safety measures and the unintended impacts they can have, particularly on marginalized communities. 

Maryellen Gillis, Helderberg Family and Community Organization

Albany County spokeswoman Mary Rozak confirmed for The Enterprise this week that “conversations are ongoing” between the county and town over a shared-use agreement or full transfer of ownership of Switzkill Farm.

An investigation by the New York State Division of Homeland Security and Emergency Services concluded that leaked propane was ignited “by an electrical arc produced during the normal operation of an appliance” in the home’s basement.

Congressman Paul Tonko’s office announced that Westerlo’s ambitious broadband project was among those that will be funded largely by the federal government, but the project’s impact may shrink a bit from early projections due to rising costs.

The Albany County District Attorney’s Office said that it has not yet decided whether it will charge Andrew R. Gibson, who killed Berne resident Lisa Sperry in a drunken crash last year, with bail-jumping after he failed to show up for his sentencing in February.