Welcome to the Salmon River School District! This summer our administrators and supervisors have been diligently working to prepare for the 2009-2010 school year. Steve Mayville and his staff worked all summer to prepare the four schools for our teachers and students.

In the area of Board news, there will be a special election for a vacant Board seat on September 15 from 12 noon to 8 PM in the high school auditorium. The Board has asked that we implement a new food service initiative called Universal Breakfast and Lunch Programs which will provide a free breakfast and a free lunch for every student. The research shows that when schools implement this program student achievement improves and federal aid follows. Principals are working closely with Rene Durant and Barbara Derouchie to implement the program.

During the 2009-2010 school year, the Salmon River Schools will begin the second phase of a 3 year capital project that will involve new construction to the elementary school, the junior high school and the high school, as well as, renovation work in the high school and junior high schools. The bid process closes on August 27, 2009 and the Board of Education is slated to approve the bids on September 14, 2009. The contractors will begin to mobilize on September 21, 2009. The work will begin in the rear of the facilities with a geothermal well field which will entail the development of a rear access road and the drilling of 160 wells. The well will be 450 feet deep and will provide the ground source heating system to heat the additions that are part of the new construction. The geothermal renewable energy is in accordance with the New York State Collaborative for High Performance Schools (CHPS) which supports the Board’s directive to focus on green energy initiatives. The first leg of the project also includes the construction of a technology wing. A ground breaking ceremony will be held this fall. Student enrollments in the secondary continue to increase with some 780 pupils slated to be in grades 7-12. To date Salmon River Elementary has 423 pupils enrolled and the St. Regis Mohawk School enrollment has 444 pupils. We expect additional students to enroll during the first week of school, as well.

Mr. John Simons retired in August 2009. We welcome Mr. John Fairchild to the Salmon River High School principal position. He spent the last four weeks becoming acclimated to our high school and the Salmon River Community. 

Mr. Fairchild has 24 years of educational experiences which includes administration, teaching mathematics at both the high school and college levels, as well as teaching technology. Our new principal is passionate about working with staff, students, parents and the community. His experiences focus on creating successful experiences for all students to excel.

The Junior High School Principal, Mrs. Robert, will be joined by Mrs. Minka Lemke, who will provide clerical sup-port in the office at the Salmon River Junior High School. The junior high school welcomes Mrs. Huong Hoag to seventh grade science, as well. The school will be implementing a guided study hall program to support student success. The custodial staff has converted the school its original configuration following a thorough summer cleanup. A seventh grade and new student orientation was held in August at which time students had an opportunity to meet their teachers, participate in team building activities, and become familiar with the junior high facilities. The junior high school is currently grades 7 and 8 and Mrs. Robert and the teachers are implementing a middle level instructional focus called grade level teaming.

Mr. Walbridge and the Salmon River Elementary School are looking forward to a new school year which may include a full day pre-kindergarten program should the district be awarded an Early Reading First grant. The US Department of Education reported that the grant money will need Congressional approval and grant awards may be as early as the beginning of September. All students who are enrolled will begin in a half day program. If the district receives the grant, the district will expand the program to full day for those children whose parents request a full day program. This school continues to be a Pre-K through grade 6 elementary school.

The Mohawk School is ready for classes to resume in September! This school continues to offer a Pre-K through grade 6 configuration. The school has undergone significant renovations that include upgrades with a generator system that will keep the sump pump system and boiler systems functioning during power outages, classroom flooring and ceiling replacements, painting throughout the school, and upgrades to the phone system. Mrs. Cathy Dupra will join the clerical staff in the office. The teachers and the Principal, Ms. Thomas, are looking forward to returning the St. Regis Mohawk School.

We are pleased to begin 2009–2010 school year with a number of instructional initiatives that will enhance our instructional program. Classrooms across the district will be equipped with interactive white boards! The teachers will receive professional development in the use of these new instructional tools. Sound enhancement systems and Smart Responders will be phased into those classrooms where teachers are ready to implement their use.

Additionally, our Director of Instruction and our Director of Special Education, Mrs. FitzRandolph and Mr. Gravell, and the principals will be implementing a program called Response To Intervention (RTI) that involves an instructional tiered approach to supporting student achievement.

While 2008-2009 presented many unanticipated challenges, the year ended in June on a very positive note thanks to a very dedicated staff! We made it through a tough year amidst adversity and the Shamrocks will soar to even greater heights 2009-2010!