Superintendent's Report

 

Ballston Spa School District Superintendent Dr. Gianleo Duca was our speaker on Thursday. 

He started by describing the expanding construction trades program, which among other things builds "tiny houses" behind the high school. When completed they are moved and donated to area veterans.

The physical education program is changing, with students choosing "strands" such as lifetime sports or fitness. 

Musical productions included Beetlejuice Jr. in February, and Catch Me If You Can is coming up March.

Problem areas include mental health issues, homelessness, food insecurity, and absenteeism, all of which the district is trying to address.

Ballston Spa is planning to buy its first electric school bus, as mandated by the state. "I'm OK being late to the party," he said of the vehicles, which cost about $480,000 each.

Zim Smith Trail

 

We detoured for one meeting to the Round Lake Fire House, where Steve Haydon spoke about the Zim Smith Trail in south-central Saratoga County. In Malta, the trail extends from Round Lake northwest through the Shenantaha Park.

It also goes well beyond Malta, with the most recent extensions to Mechanicville in the east, and northwest to Ballston Spa. Cynthia Young confirmed plans at the county level to extend the trail north to Saratoga Springs, and possibly at some point beyond that.

Steve mentioned sights to be seen including a golf course and train depot near Mechanicville, a turtle crossing, the Ushers Road loop through a patch of state forest, and, in Malta, benches donated and installed by our club.

This week we return to our regular meeting site at The Ugly Rooster diner.