Author Archives: Meghan E. Murphy

Meghan E. Murphy

Meghan E. Murphy covers the Towns of Montgomery, Shawangunk and Marlboro, as well as Education for the Times Herald-Record. Email her news tips and comments at mmurphy@th-record.com.

Superintendent explains budget FAQs

By Meghan E. Murphy | Published: March 16, 2010 | 0 Comments
Superintendent Richard Hooley addressed some frequently asked questions at Monday’s community budget meeting. Here’s his take on the popular topics of fund balance and administrative costs. Fund balance As shown in documents from the second budget meeting, the district has almost $8 million in total unreserved fund balance. This is a combination of a about $4.7 million [...]
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Berea PTA: Save our school

By Meghan E. Murphy | Published: March 15, 2010 | 0 Comments
After a meeting last Friday, the Berea Parent Teacher Association backed keeping the elementary school a kindergarten through fifth grade school. The district has proposed five restructuring plans, three of which suggest making Berea a kindergarten and first grade center, a fourth and fifth grade center, or a grade 5 and special education building. In a press [...]
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Valley Central to post school survey online

By Meghan E. Murphy | Published: March 11, 2010 | 0 Comments
Valley Central announced today that it will post an online survey after the last budget meeting, which is Monday, March 15. The survey will go live Wednesday, March 17, and will be available through Wednesday, March 24, at 4 p.m. on the district website. The results will be shared at work session on April 5. The district [...]
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Charity seeking head shavers

By Meghan E. Murphy | Published: March 9, 2010 | 0 Comments
The third Walden St. Baldrick’s fundraiser is coming up, and Robbie Brown is recruiting folks to shed a little hair for children’s cancer research. In the past two years, the group has raised about $40,000 for the St. Baldrick’s Foundation. Brown started the event in honor of his cousin, Megan Maureen Dunn, who died at age [...]
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The list of potential cuts

By Meghan E. Murphy | Published: March 3, 2010 | 0 Comments
Valley Central School District has posted the list of potential cost saving measures as well as other handouts distributed at Monday’s budget meeting on its website. The next meeting is Thursday at 7 p.m. in the middle school cafeteria.
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New school budget meeting schedule

By Meghan E. Murphy | Published: March 1, 2010 | 0 Comments
The district has posted the new community advisory budget committee meeting schedule: 2nd meeting: Monday, March 1 3rd meeting: Thursday, March 4 4th meeting: Monday, March 15 All meetings begin at 7 p.m. in the middle school cafeteria. Also, check out the district website for video of the first CABC meeting as well as some suggested letters to legislators.
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Budget meeting snowed out again

By Meghan E. Murphy | Published: February 23, 2010 | 0 Comments
The Community Advisory Budget Committee meeting scheduled for Tuesday at Valley Central Middle School has been snowed out again. The meeting will be held Monday, March 1 at 7 p.m. The third CABC meeting, which was originally slated for March 1, will be rescheduled.
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Youth drug prevention group forming

By Meghan E. Murphy | Published: February 18, 2010 | 0 Comments
Montgomery parent Jill Schmitt is organizing a school- and community-based awareness group to talk about drug and alcohol prevention among youth. Local police last year noted increases in heroin deaths, use and heroin-related crimes throughout the county. Schmitt wants the community to come together and talk about solutions. Schmitt has already rounded up everyone from police officers [...]
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Salary scrutiny: A new look at superintendent pay

By Meghan E. Murphy | Published: February 17, 2010 | 0 Comments
After some challenges to our numbers on Superintendent Richard Hooley’s salary, I re-requested those figures. Here are the numbers straight from the district office: Base salary Salary increase 2006-07: $154,120.00 2007-08: $166,450.00 8.00% 2008-09: $178,450.00 7.21% 2009-10: $187,352.50 4.99% Total percent increase since 06-07 21.56% Total dollar increase $33,232.50 Note: The original blog post had the 2006-07 salary under the incorrect year and included pay that [...]
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