By splitting the role of school business manager between its superintendent and an accountant, Berne-Knox-Westerlo is hoping to attract superintendent candidates of a higher caliber when Timothy Mundell retires from the position within the next five years. 

According to the State Education Department, a majority of BKW students in grade 3-8 who took the spring 2016 English Language Arts test  scored below proficiency levels.

Timothy Mundell is celebrating his one year anniversary as superintendent of the Berne-Knox-Westerlo School District and feeling good about the future.

BERNE — After years of eking out wins, and sometimes facing budget defeats, Berne-Knox-Westerlo saw its $22.6 million budget for next year pass by a landslide on Tuesday.

The Berne-Knox-Westerlo School voted to support sharing a football team with Duanesburg, knowing that board had voted down the plan, 4 to 3. The BKW superintendent urged football supporters to attend Duanesburg's next board meeting.

Berne-Knox-Westerlo's new superintendent says his team of administrators is  "working to transform a school system."

The new superintendent said that, at the next school board meeting, district programs that alleviate harassment will be explained. "Our mantra has been find it and fix it," he said.

BERNE — On Jan. 12, Mackenzie Dunnells, who is 12, swallowed bleach from a bottle in her home in Berne; she wanted to die.

“I got this overwhelming feeling, thinking about all that has been done for five years at school and no one listened to me,” said Mackenzie.

"It makes me feel like nothing," says a 12-year-old of being bullied at school for years. Her hurt was made worse when, she and her mother say, it was ignored by school leaders.

Five candidates vying for two vacant school board seats participated in Monday's forum, featuring literal round-table discussions on their hopes and dreams for the school district.