ILION – The Herkimer-Fulton-Hamilton-Otsego BOCES Pathways Academy at Remington 2019-2020 yearbook cover design created by students and staff has taken on a higher level of symbolism as the future of the Remington school building where Pathways Academy is located will be determined in a public vote on Tuesday, Sept. 29.
The yearbook cover artwork shows the names of the 10 Herkimer BOCES component school districts as the roots of a tree. The tree trunk has the initials of 2019-20 Pathways Academy seniors, and the word “Pathways” is displayed inside a heart-shaped opening in the tree. The branches have “opportunities for growth” and other positive words displayed on them.
“We liked the idea of the tree being like this building – all the districts coming together as one,” said Cheri Evangelista, a Pathways Academy teaching assistant who is co-advisor of the Pathways Academy Yearbook Club with art teacher Dina DeSarro. “Even though they come together from different schools, we come together as one student body.”
The Pathways Academy yearbook design was created prior to the governor’s order closing schools in March in response to the coronavirus public health crisis. School continued virtually, and yearbooks were mailed to students in June. Pathways Academy students returned to school on Tuesday, Sept. 8.
Residents from all Herkimer BOCES component districts will have the opportunity to vote from noon to 8 p.m. on Tuesday, Sept. 29, on whether to approve the Herkimer BOCES proposal to purchase the former Remington Elementary School building at 77 E. North St. in Ilion from Central Valley. The Central Valley community voted 256-16 on Nov. 12, 2019, in favor of selling the building to Herkimer BOCES.
‘All together’
The Herkimer BOCES Pathways Academy focuses on students who have had a difficult time in a traditional school structure or have to catch up on credits but have the ability to get a high school diploma. Pathways Academy classes are project-driven and infuse career and technical education.
For Pathways students, the Yearbook Club is a way to learn responsibilities and deadlines like they would have in a real job, and it gives them something to take pride in, the yearbook advisors said.
Pathways Academy student Arianna Gulley, of Richfield Springs, played a particularly significant role in the cover design – including collaborating on the idea and doing some of the painting.
The yearbook is a manifestation of the pride Pathways Academy students take in their school and the home they have found in the Remington school building, the yearbook advisors said.
“Students and staff truly are a Pathways family,” they said.
How to vote
For the Tuesday, Sept. 29, vote on the Remington school building purchase proposal, qualified voters may vote at any location listed below or at the Herkimer BOCES William E. Busacker Complex Technical Education Conference Room at 352 Gros Blvd. in Herkimer. Each district will have a voting location for residents’ convenience:
- Central Valley: Small gym at CVA
- Dolgeville: High School Lobby
- Frankfort-Schuyler: Old Gymnasium
- Herkimer: Media Center Jr./Sr. High School
- Little Falls: Middle School Gymnasium
- Mount Markham: District Office
- Owen D Young: Gymnasium
- Poland: Lobby
- Richfield Springs: Entrance adjacent to baseball field
- West Canada Valley: High School Front Lobby
A qualified voter for the Herkimer BOCES proposal must:
- Be 18 years of age or older
- Be a citizen of the United States
- Have or will have resided within the Herkimer-Fulton-Hamilton-Otsego BOCES region for a period of at least 30 days
All persons offering to vote will be asked to provide one form of proof of residency. Such form may include but is not limited to a driver’s license, a non-driver identification card, a utility bill or a voter registration card.
Upon offer of proof of residency, all persons offering to vote will also be required to provide their signature and address. Persons who do not provide a proof of residence will be asked to sign a declaration in order to be allowed to vote.
Find out more information about the purchase proposal and the vote at www.herkimer-boces.org/remingtonbuilding.
