COOPERSTOWN – After less than a year as Cooperstown Junior-Senior High School principal, Kristin Butler will resign at the end of the school year, according to a letter sent out this afternoon by Superintendent William Crankshaw.
She cited “personal reasons,” according to Crankshaw’s letter.
According to his letter, the superintendent says he’s recommended Ann Meccariello, the elementary principal, to succeed Butler, and and that he’ll begin the search for her replacement in a few weeks. It’s unclear from the letter if the school board has voted to proceed accordingly.
“We’re asking you to take better care of the students and then we’ll trust you more.”
Cooperstown Central School’s PTA Co-President Tabetha Rathbone’s remarks to school board members and administrators echoed what 60-plus plus parents and students said in a packed Cooperstown Elementary School’s library Tuesday, June 11.
However, School Super-intendent Bill Crankshaw said he isn’t sure what the school district will do next.
The PTA meeting offered the first forum to discuss bullying since two high school students reportedly insulted and beat a student they perceived as gay, recording it on a cellphone.
On June 3, the PTA sent an email reiterating it is committed to “ensuring a safe, inclusive school environment for all students” and invited teachers, parents, administration and students to attend the meeting and “discuss the issue in an open forum.”
However, the PTA officers, teachers and Crankshaw cautioned they could not discuss a “specific incident” of bullying, especially names of students involved, because that information was confidential.
“We are here to protect everyone, staff and students,” Crankshaw said. “I will say publicly, though, we are taking things very seriously.”
Parents and students said they’re concerned the school administrators isn’t doing enough, especially in assuaging students’ fears that they are being ignored.
One student said, “I was afraid on the day of the incident it would get pushed to the back burner, then we’d get a tepid response, and nothing would change.”
“We all know there was an incident. We want to know there was a follow-up,” said Lizzie Cooper, the PTA’s press liaison. “What are you going to do next?”
Another parent, who did not want her name cited, said, “We have no confidence in the administration. How do we know you have my kids’ back?”
Several parents urged school administrators to address the student body and to make a “strong statement, so the kids know the grownups are protecting them.” But Crankshaw said he had not decided yet whether or not he would hold such a meeting.
“We follow up reports of discipline problems according to our Code of Conduct, which has five different levels of intervention depending on the situation,” Crankshaw said.
“One level is lunch detention, another is after school detention, and then it increases to after-school suspension and expulsion.”
He cautioned that all sorts of factors were involved that people are unaware of.
COOPERSTOWN – The Cooperstown Central School physical-education teacher arrested this morning received and distributed child pornography over the Internet, the Office of the U.S. Attorney for the Northern District confirmed in a just-issued press release.
The teacher, Justin Hobbie, 41, Springfield Center, used peer-to-peer file-sharing services, a federal crime, the statement alleges. An initial review of Hobbie’s desktop computer allegedly revealed numerous incriminating files.
He appeared today before U.S. Magistrate Judge Thérèse Wiley Dancks. She ordered him detained pending a hearing, scheduled for 1 p.m. Wednesday, Dec. 12, in Syracuse Federal Court.
COOPERSTOWN – Justin Hobbie was identified as the phys-ed teacher arrested on child-pornography charges a few minutes ago in a telephone message to parents from Supt. of Schools Bill Crankshaw.
“There is no evidence this arrest and charge involves any children of Cooperstown Central School,” Crankshaw said, adding, “All steps are being taken to ensure the safety of our students and faculty.”
SUNDAY PROGRAM – 3 – 4 p.m. CCS Superintendent presents on “The Importance of Rigor, Relevance, and Relationships in Our Public Schools.” Cooperstown Village Library. Call 607-547-8344 or visit libraries.4cls.org/cooperstown/upcoming-events/
SUGARING SUNDAY – 9 a.m. – 2 p.m. Features contemporary and historic maple sugaring demonstrations, activities for the kids, more. The Farmers Museum, Cooperstown. Call 607-547-1450 or visit www.farmersmuseum.org
Dr. William Crankshaw, center, Cooperstown Central School’s new superintendent, arrived on campus today and is introducing himself to students and staff. Here, he stopped by Mike Toulson’s senior math class, accompanied by Middle/High School Principal Donna Lucy. Crankshaw, who has been Remsen Central superintendent, succeeded C.J. Hebert, who died in an ATV crash last March. (Jim Kevlin/AllOTSEGO.com)
Dr. William Crankshaw, Cooperstown’s new superintendent of schools, is congratulated by Lisa Price, who used to work with him at Northville and has been at Cooperstown Central for the past five years. At center is the superintendent’s partner, Wally Hart. (Jim Kevlin/AllOTSEGO.com)
COOPERSTOWN – William Crankshaw, superintendent of Remsen Central schools in the Adirondacks since 2013, was appointed Cooperstown Central superintendent, effective Jan. 1, when the school board met this evening.
“I feel this is a district I can fit with,” said Crankshaw, adding his only disappointment is “I can’t start right away.”
