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Wednesday, May 22, 2013
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Lisbon hires new staff as enrollment increases

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Lisbon Central School appointed several new teachers at Monday’s Board of Education meeting in response to an enrollment increase.

“We basically had an additional classroom when we did our kindergarten screening [in June],” said Superintendent Erin E. Woods.

Typical kindergarten class sizes range from 30 to 35 students, but this year will see 60 new children.

That and the resignation of two staff members has made this year one of the top years in terms of new hiring.

Monday’s board meeting saw five new hires and, with former elementary guidance counselor Debbie Mcnally’s decision to start teaching in the elementary school, a total of six people will start this year as new teachers.

“Typically we don’t have as many new hires,” she said. “We’re not necessarily in better financial straits than other districts.”

Ms. Woods praised Business Manager Wendy S. White for her shrewd financial management and calculated use of title grants to enable the school to take on more students.

The school has also hired a new elementary guidance counselor to replace Ms. Mcnally and a census taker.

In addition to the new hires, the school appointed middle and high school principal Eric S. Burke as its new Bullying Prevention Coordinator in compliance with state law that went into effect in July.

“I’ll be working closely with counselors,” said Mr. Burke of his new role, which comes with no pay increase.

The position is the result of a law signed by former Governor David A. Paterson in 2010.

The Dignity for All Students Act is designed to clamp down on bullying and recommends that a principal is selected for the role as prevention coordinator.

The law targets not only traditional bullying, including threats of aggression, but also discrimination and hazing.

It only covers incidents that take place on school grounds or at a school function.

Mr. Burke will be tasked with being available to students who have been victimized by bullying to help address their complaints, investigate ongoing problems and report to the state.

Mr. Burke said the job will consist of “mostly prevention,” but will include group counseling and mediation when needed.

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