Superintendent D. Joseph Corr 91 Fiddlers Lane, Latham, NY 12110 785-8591

September 8, 2010 - It is with great pleasure and the anticipation of wonderful experiences for your children that I welcome you to the new school year. This is my 38th year in education and 30th in North Colonie as a teacher and administrator. As your new Superintendent, I look forward to working with you and your children to provide your family with the best-possible learning experience at North Colonie.

The start of a new school year brings new challenges and a sense of excitement to every member of the educational family in North Colonie. It is a time for optimism, high energy and a commitment to making a positive difference in the lives of each child we have the responsibility to nurture, educate and support.

We are coming off a school year where some very painful decisions regarding the future of certain programs and staff members had to be made. We are all well aware of the current financial crisis. This past year was a difficult budget year for North Colonie and the 700 other New York State school districts. Unfortunately, budgetary planning for the 2011-2012 school year will pose even greater challenges.

As a result, the district plans to start the budget process earlier than ever with meetings beginning in late September or early October compared to the typical late February to early March start. We encourage you to check the web site and participate actively in the budget process. You may also wish to participate as a part of the district budget committee. Please contact us through the website or by phone at 785-8591 if you wish to part a part of the committee process. It is important to me and the district as a whole to keep the lines of communication open. After all, we are in this together.

Along those same lines of communications, North Colonie is now utilizing new forms of communication, designed to keep you more informed and bring you closer to the district. North Colonie is now on Twitter. Please visit the district website to find out more and sign up to receive information through Twitter. We will also be implementing the School News Notifier (SNN) this year. Parents will have the opportunity to sign up through the web site or at open houses held in September throughout the district’s schools. This service will allow parents to receive frequent and periodic updates about school events, closings, or emergencies via e-mail or text message.

Finally, the Parent Portal, available through our student information system, has been opened up for use by all of our elementary schools and Shaker Junior High School. In September, this will be made available to high school parents as well. The Parent Portal provides parents with access to their child’s attendance, progress reports, report card, and assessment results and transcripts.

I encourage you to stay actively involved in your child’s education. Involvement in your child’s learning can take many forms and can incorporate experiences both inside and outside of school. Try to incorporate some of these positive experiences in your child’s life by way of simple activities such as reading, visits to museums, and attendance at cultural events, including concerts and plays. These are excellent family events that do much to nurture a child’s growth and development.

I wish the best to you and your family as we move forward to a wonderful year for the children of North Colonie. As I embark upon my first year as Superintendent, I look forward to working with you and your children.

Sincerely,
D. Joseph Corr
Superintendent of Schools