March 5, 2006

New additions and renovated spaces showcased at Open House

Assemblyman Paul Tonko watches as Duanesburg Elementary School students demonstrate the use of SmartBoards in one of three new fifth-grade classrooms.

At one point during Duanesburg Elementary School's Open House on Sunday, March 5, Superintendent Mark Villanti called on young elementary students to list reasons why they like the new library. Some said it was the books, others cited the new tables and chairs or plasma TV. Still more replied: "It's so big."

Measuring 4,000 square feet, the new facility is palatial compared to the school's old library. What past and present school board members, faculty and staff, and parents, however, like most is that the library is no longer located in the basement and is easily accessible to all students.

"Dreams come in many sizes and shapes," Villanti said. "One of ours was to give students this state-of-the-art library because what's more important than reading and books?"

Senator Hugh Farley, who co-chairs the New York State Senate's library subcommittee, was instrumental in securing a $10,000 grant to help stock the library's shelves with a collection of new books. "Libraries are cathedrals of learning," he said. "Show me a child who loves to read and I'll show you a good student."

Other state and local officials, such as Assemblyman Paul Tonko, Duanesburg Mayor Sally Burns and Town Supervisor Renee Merrihew, joined hundreds of community members in checking out the new library, the new fifth-grade addition and music rooms and recently renovated areas of the school building. 

District officials acknowledged this accomplishment has been a long time in the making. Former superintendent Lew DeFilippo, who joined the district in 1982 and currently serves as the business administrator, explained that it was nearly 40 years ago when the elementary school's footprint was last changed. 

Community Service Club students greeted visitors to Duanesburg Elementary School's Open House on Sunday, March 5.

"In 1968, a wing for the second- and third-grade classrooms was added," he said. "Throughout the years, we proposed three separate building projects for the

 elementary school that would have relocated the library - each was voted down. In our case, the fourth time proved to be the charm."

In 1955-56, Board of Education President Ray Hawes was a member of the first sixth-grade class to attend what was at the time the "new" Duanesburg Elementary School. "We thank the community for their support in helping us upgrade the facility for our students," said Board of Education President Ray Hawes. "It has taken many years and many school board members to get where we are today." 
Assemblyman Tonko congratulated district officials on their vision for the future. "We should do more for education," he said, " and everything we do must be seen through the eyes of students."

Principal Katie O'Brien thanked students, faculty, staff, parents and the community for their patience, support, and flexibility throughout the construction phase of the building project. "There was a lot of noise, but through it all we were able to keep the focus on learning."

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