New Hires For MMCSD

Changes made in the Mount Markham Central School Transportation Department have resulted in a 92.5 passing rate with DOT inspections.

Transportation Supervisor Cindy Hazekamp and Assistant Supervisor Eric Watson gave a presentation at last week’s MM School Board meeting.

Hazekamp has been at Mount Markham for seven years, taking over supervision of the department last year after being the dispatcher.

Watson, a MM CSD graduate, joined as assistant last year after working at UPS.

Hazekamp said the fleet consists of 36 vehicles, including 29 large buses and three small ones.

Eight of those are spare vehicles put in the rotation when the Department of Transportation inspects buses and regular buses have to be off the road.

Some of the District’s buses are nine years old, with rust issues, she said.

The goal is to replace a bus after seven to eight years of use. Last year MM had 80 buses inspected, with only six failing.

The District a few years ago had a passing percentage rate in the 70s.

MM Superintendent Lauren Crisman commended the Department for its hard work, especially since the number of mechanics dropped from three to two for the District.

Hazekamp said once a month she and Watson meet with all the drivers.

Drivers now communicate about issues on the buses to help mechanics get to repairs sooner.

Watson said the new bus wash helps get rid of road salt in hard to reach places, cutting down on rust.

A safety checklist is gone over every 45 days or 2,500 miles.

Watson went over a garage improvement project that upgraded the tools and equipment, which save time and money.

“If you walk in the garage it’s very organized now,’’ Crisman said.

Hazekamp said they were proud that there were no accidents last year.

She reviewed how she communicates in the winter with area Town Highway superintendents to assess road conditions.

In return drivers will pass on information about roads that need attention. Watson said a new routing system called TransFinder allows parents to be notified when the bus is getting near their stop.

Crisman said this year’s enrollment as of that day stands at 432 students in the Elementary School, 285 in Middle School and 279 in the High School.

Although a lot smaller enrollment than in previous years with two buildings under 300 students, she said those numbers are likely to change.

Based on the enrollment at the Elementary School, some changes were made to increase the leadership of the building, reflecting the almost 200 more students than in either of the other buildings.

A new Capital Project is being planned.

Crisman said details will come at the September meeting, and a public hearing is set for November.

Residents will vote Dec. 2.

The three building principals met to discuss similar disciplinary procedures.

The following personnel changes were made:

Accepted the resignation of custodian Justin Benedict with best wishes; Accepted the retirement request of custodian George Guske with best wishes; Accepted the resignation of cleaner Jessica Louch to be appointed a Teacher Assistant;

Accepted the resignation of Teacher Assistant Laura Neff to become an Office Assistant;

Accepted the resignation of teacher Katelyn Baker-Yuhasz with best wishes; Appointed Michael Larkin as Teacher Aide;

Appointed Suzanne Phillips a long-term substitute French teacher;

Appointed Lauren Lockwood a long-term substitute Elementary teacher; Appointed Lindsay Stiefvader a Teacher Aide; Appointed Breann Greenfield a Teacher Aide;

Appointed Ryan Brehmer a custodian;

Appointed Jose Daniel Delgado-White a cleaner;

Appointed Joseph Kohlbrenner and Nathan Staring as modified boys soccer coaches;

Appointed Chris Osborne modified girls soccer coach;

Appointed Carl Lohman varsity basketball coach and Brad Ratcliffe junior varsity basketball coach;

Appointed students Jillianne Maine, London Sirko, Katie Assisi, Grace Assisi, Natalee Griffiths and Abigail Schoonover as ex officio Board members.

Board members approved the sale ...