School Year Off to a Good Start
by Rowan Beck,
September 23, 2010, page 7.....

A new school year has started with a bang, literally, at the Charlotte Central School (CCS). There has been a wide variety of changes among faculty and staff, classroom relocation, new incoming students, plus the arrival of two new co-principals, Greg Marino and Audrey Boutaugh. Construction on the new wing is in full swing, and Greg and Audrey have risen to the challenge. When one enters the school, construction is hardly noticeable.
Currently the construction is on schedule for June completion. “Everything seems to be moving along nicely,” according to Greg. The two principals have taken the challenges of construction in stride and see the benefits of it. Humor, flexibility and communication are a must. “Hard hats are the theme for the year and we are playing on it,” Audrey and Greg laugh. Cher Feitleberg greeted her class of third graders in a hard hat and a Lowe’s construction belt. Her humor was welcomed by her new students and appeared to put them at ease. At staff meetings hard hats are often filled with candy.
A yellow line has been painted down the center of the hallways to help students move through their newly cramped quarters. It appears quite helpful amongst the third graders, who have been relocated on the second floor, as they pass through the halls with the middle and upper school students. Lily Menk, a third grader in Tom Scatchard’s class, was happy to report that she liked the yellow line. “It helps me know where I’m going, I just follow it.” When asked about how she liked being upstairs she simply responded, “I don’t really like it that much because sometimes it’s scary in the morning with the big kids when they’re putting stuff in their lockers, but it will probably get better.” Her tune changed, however, when talking about the construction. She said she found it “interesting and it doesn’t interfere with what I’m doing. It doesn’t bother me.” Eighth grader Jack Colgan had a similar response. He doesn’t mind having the younger kids upstairs. “It’s not bad, you don’t see them that often. They (3rd graders) stay mostly in their classrooms. Changing between classes is almost the same. Everybody stays mostly to the right of the yellow line.” The construction hasn’t affected him much either. “You just need to get used to it; there’s only one stairway, just a quick right to go downstairs. The only time it’s crowded is the beginning and end of the day. It doesn’t really affect me at all.”
Audrey and Greg both echo these comments. “People have been incredibly flexible,” Greg said. They agreed that the teachers would be the most affected, and they had yet to hear anything negative. Both laughed as they said, “There’s only the occasional vibration.” As for the yellow line, “It’s like driving a car, you always pass to the right!”
“DEW Construction have been doing a great job. They are used to working in schools and are geared toward safety and the least amount of impact,” Greg reflected while Audrey commented on the importance of reinforcing safety at recess and how children should exit the building. Both felt there were positives to all the maneuvering and construction. “Flaps have been cut in so students can lift them up (on the playground) so they can see what’s going on. They like watching it come alive.” Audrey chuckled. Greg felt there is “a benefit having everyone scrunched in closer quarters. It’s good, everyone works together. When the new wing is completed there will not be as much interaction.”
Aside from the construction, Greg and Audrey are busy establishing themselves within the school community as well as the local community. Both enjoyed the welcome barbecue hosted by the PTO and felt well received by the faculty and staff. “The teachers are very supportive and understanding there’s a learning curve.” She said. Both agreed they wanted people to know “we are here for support.”
Already they have had a school-wide assembly to meet with the students and go over their school-wide expectations and the Positive Behavior Intervention Supports (PBIS) policy. They’ve also been “doing road shows,” which means they have been traveling to the different classrooms to go over rules and safety procedures. “It’s a great way to get to know the kids,” Greg and Audrey smiled. They also enjoy that they are both new and they can bounce ideas off each other. Neither felt that “it would work so well if only one of us was new.” Both agreed that the only way to get to know the school community was through meetings and going to individual classrooms, and when Greg entered one second grade classroom the children offered to read aloud to him.
One can see the enjoyment that both Audrey and Greg get from their jobs. Staff and parents are feeling their presence. Both principals attended curriculum nights last week and more this week. Each takes a turn at the end of the day when students are picked up to make sure it goes “smoothly and people keep moving.” They have entered CCS at a difficult time with budget cutting and new construction, but they are leading by example with a very positive attitude and keeping the parents informed.