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Sch’dy County Legislature starting to ‘sort of’ listen

    I was so pleased to read in the Gazette May 31 that the county Legislature decided to finally listen to experts in the field and the public in regard to leaving the SCCC Music Department on campus.
    While moving the department was obviously a ludicrous idea for several reasons, without a public outcry our elected leaders would have indiscriminately moved the department downtown in an attempt to sell a few more sub sandwiches and create the illusion of downtown being a bustling arts district reminiscent of one in New York City. The majority Democrats would have then most likely used this illusion to make bold campaign statements during future elections.
    It’s also interesting that the county Legislature backed down regarding the library renovation project when it realized the political ramifications would have been equally devastating [May 11 Gazette]. In any event, I applaud the Legislature for finally listening to the people even if for its own self-serving reasons.
    However, there is still one glaring mistake the majority Democrats must fix or it should be curtains for them come election time. Politicizing the Schenectady County Youth Bureau, a department that works toward positive outcomes for children and families, was a despicable move that must be rectified. With this one move, the majority can gain back some public trust by showing they will not kowtow to patronage, especially in regard to our most vulnerable, non-voting citizens — children.
    At the very least, the current unqualifi ed Youth Bureau director, Ed Kosiur, needs to take an open civil service exam against true youth development experts. The majority must open its eyes and realize that
    transparent attempt to justify this hiring, such as creating bogus summer camps and bashing the former director, are just adding fuel to the public’s mistrust of their leadership abilities.
LARRY SMITH
Glenville

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Global Youth Service Day Slated for April 25

Schenectady's Promise and the Schenectady County Youth Bureau will continue the five-year tradition of Global Youth Service Day in Schenectady County on Saturday, April 25. You and your organization are invited to be one of the many groups who are involved in cleaning up their neighborhood, school or park. On this weekend, Schenectady County will be part of a worldwide experience of youth and adults making our planet a better place to live.

In the past, the event focused on one special day of cleaning with a celebration at the end of the day. This year, individual projects will take place throughout the weekend of April 25-26, giving everyone the opportunity to complete their project in a convenient time frame.

As in the past, equipment such as rakes and shovels will be available to help groups complete their projects. If your organization is interested in getting involved, please contact Ed Kosiur at 518.386.2211 at the Schenectady County Youth Bureau, e-mail Edward.kosiur@schenectadycounty.com

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make the people rake the lawns of the seniors over here it will be traning for there lives

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SCHENECTADY COUNTY
County adds academic twist to day camp
BY MICHAEL GOOT Gazette Reporter
Reach Gazette reporter Michael Goot at 395-3105 or mgoot@dailygazette.net.

    Besides swimming and tennis, some Schenectady children will be practicing their reading, writing and arithmetic this summer.
    The county’s summer day camp, called Schenectady County Outreach in Recreation and Education (SCORE), is expanding this year to include remedial math and reading classes taught at the Central Park pavilion.
    “We have two certified teachers and two paraprofessionals that are going to be instructing math and reading for all our kids,” said Ed Kosiur, special assistant to the commissioner of social services for youth development.
    The SCORE program started as a county-run day camp offering swimming, fishing, boating, tennis, hiking and other activities.
    Kosiur said its expansion came about because of a $30,000 grant the county received from the federal stimulus package for existing summer day camps that tied in an academic component.
    “A lot of these kids lose those simple reading and math achievements they made throughout the year,” he said.
    Kosiur contacted Schenectady Superintendent of Schools Eric Ely and district officials about the possibility of including an academic component in the day camp. The county is matching the $30,000 grant.
    The program will run from 8 a.m. to noon each weekday for six weeks starting July 6.
    Kosiur said the school district is providing busing for all the kids and there will also be a free breakfast and lunch.
    Eighty kids between the ages of 8 and 12 are enrolled in the program. There is no cost to attend. Kosiur said more than 140 children applied for the program and the county did a lottery to select those who could attend. He said 70 percent of the children attending are from the Hamilton Hill, Vale, Mont Pleasant and Central State Street neighborhoods.
    There will be 45-minute sessions for each age group — 8, 9, 10, 11 and 12. Kosiur said they are looking to restrict it to 15 students per session.
    The county is also hiring 15 youths to work at the camp as part of its Summer Youth Employment Program.
    Kosiur said the county is looking to obtain a computer laptop cart from the district that they can use right at the pavilion. ............>>>>............>>>>.........http://www.dailygazette.net/De.....amp;EntityId=Ar00901

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Ely said the district’s expenses for the staff members are covered through its federal entitlement grants. “It doesn’t cost the local taxpayer anything,” he said.