Holley school superintendent announces retirement plans

As of January 1, 2004, the Holley Central School District will have a new leader at the helm. The Holley School Board recently accepted the resignation of Superintendent Vernon Hobbs.

"I'm honored to have had the opportunity to serve the district," Hobbs said. "But it's time for me to step down so I can spend more time with my wife, children and grandchildren."

The board accepted the resignation, with regret, on February 24, Hobbs said. School Board President John Penna said Hobbs would be missed.

By the time Hobbs steps down, he will have been with the district for seven-and-one-half years. "We have a really dedicated team of administrators, faculty and staff that provide the students with excellent learning opportunities both during, and after school," he said.

Before beginning his career in Holley, Hobbs was a history teacher in the Canton Central School District. He also spent seven years in the Schoharie School District working as a principal and school business administrator. Before coming to Holley, he was superintendent at a school in Lake George.

When he initially came to the district, Hobbs said, he promoted a building referendum to the elementary school which added 42,000 square feet. "It joined the existing primary school and the intermediate building," he explained. The project added 18 classrooms, a new elementary cafetorium and kitchen facilities. It also allowed renovation of the two existing buildings and upgraded wiring and internet accessibility. "We put computers in the classrooms."

As a way to relieve congestion on the village streets, Hobbs said as part of the building project, a road was constructed on the school campus between the elementary and secondary schools. "It's improved the safety for our students," he said.

The district now boasts computer assisted instruction that allows each child to progress at their own level of ability, he said. "We've done a lot of curriculum upgrades and summer projects," Hobbs said, adding the district has implemented a summer school program for the elementary level.

Holley, Hobbs said, also does its own in-house financial accounting, payroll and personnel systems. "It used to be done at BOCES," he said. "We also do our own attendance, census, scheduling and grade reporting ... things that used to be done at a regional information center are now done by the district." The in-house work saves the district money.

The district has been reorganized, under Hobbs' watch, to a kindergarten through six and seventh through 12th configuration. "Five years ago we established the position of special programming to coordinate special education services within the district," Hobbs said.

Hobbs said he has enjoyed all of the challenges he has faced, and is proud of the changes the district has undergone. "Our achievement scores in educational programs have improved as the state has raised its standards," he said. "I'm proud of the faculty for their dedication to improving instructional programs."