M IA
JU
DG
E WIL
L
Cooperstown’s offiCial newspaper
1808 BY
COOP
E
OUNDED
IN
R
•F
founded in 1808
CHECK ALLOTSEGO.COM FOR MORE local news and more ORIGINAL REPORTING VISIT www.ALLOTSEGO.com, OTSEGO COUNTY’S NEWSPAPER/ONLINE Volume 218, No. 18
Cooperstown, New York, Thursday, April 30, 2026
Newsstand Price $1
Cooperstown Faculty Association Calls for Board Intervention in District Disputes By ERIC SANTOMAURO-STENZEL COOPERSTOWN t the Cooperstown Central School District board meeting on Wednesday, April 22, the Cooperstown Faculty Association, the union representing regular full-time, part-time, probationary, and tenured teachers, wanted to make a statement. When union co-president and decades-long teacher Rebecca Burk-Sciallo rose to speak during public comment, over a dozen other faculty wearing black
A
shirts with orange text reading “Cooperstown Faculty Association” rose beside her. The move reflects a continued escalation arc, where for months now CFA members have taken to public comment to express concerns about district practices. “We want to begin by acknowledging the Board of Education and the work you do to support our students, staff and the future of CCS,” Burk-Sciallo said. “Over the past year, the CFA has consistently communicated openly and transparently serious concerns regarding Continued on page 8
Cooperstown School District Proposes 4.7% Budget Increase By ERIC SANTOMAURO-STENZEL
T
COOPERSTOWN he Cooperstown Central School District has proposed a 4.7 percent increase for its 20262027 budget, with a 2.7 percent tax increase. The deficit budget will draw on the district’s reserves, with district officials saying rising costs are outstripping the district’s current ability to raise revenue or make cuts. The budget increase primarily comes from a 17.85 percent increase—$926,252.00—in the cost of benefits, mainly health insurance, under existing contractual obligations. The total proposed budget is $24,877,283.00. Last year’s adopted budget was $23,760,273.00. The board unanimously approved the budget to go to the public for a vote on Tuesday, May 19. A public information hearing will be held on Monday, May 11 at 6 p.m. in the Junior-Senior High School library. “I’m glad that over the past few years, the district has carefully managed its finances and built up a rainy day fund,” School Board President Pete Iorizzo said after a budget presentation at the Wednesday, April 22 board meeting. “But the bad news is it is now raining, and the forecast doesn’t look so hot for the next little while.” District Business Manager Elizabeth Rickard presented details of the budget, which were develINSIDE
► CHERRY VALLEY SPRINGs INTO SUMMER, page 2 ► PERFORMING ARTS AT THE B SIDE, page 3 ► THE AMERICAN DREAM, eXPLORED, page 4 ► COOP CONCERTS: iT’S A WRAP! page 5 ► AREA NEWS IN BRIEF, page 6 ► CONCERT HELPS FUND CENTER, page 7 ► lwvca aNNOUNCES ccs BOARD DEBATE, page 7 Follow Breaking News On
Photo by Eric Santomauro-Stenzel
Cooperstown Central School Business Manager Elizabeth Rickard presents details of the proposed school budget at the Wednesday, April 22 school board meeting.
oped over months of collaboration between the district office and school board Facility and Finance Committee members Chris Franck and William Streck. Rickard said that similar to the past, 80 percent of district costs are people related. “Health plan costs are rising. Workers comp is up 37 percent. Debt service and transportation have stayed stable, as has general services, which
is down slightly,” Rickard said. “Fixed costs per student are high and continue to rise with declining enrollment.” She added that BOCES services and utility costs also increased by 11 percent each. “These increases are being offset by cost reductions: not filling six vacancies for approximately $600,000.00; we’re not replacing certain vehicles Continued on page 11
Yellowjackets Capture SFCU Softball Tourney Title By MICHAEL CASTRACANE III SUNY Institute for Local News ONEONTA he Oneonta High School varsity girls softball team capped a strong showing on April 16 by winning the 35th Sidney Federal Credit Union Softball Tournament, defeating both Norwich and Sidney to claim the tournament title. The Yellowjackets opened the day with a 4-0 victory over the Norwich Purple Tornadoes at the Cooperstown All Star Village fields in Oneonta. They then carried that momentum into the championship game, where they rolled past the Sidney Sabers 13-2 to secure the 2026 SFCU Tournament crown. In the opening-round win against Norwich, pitcher Carley Mistler delivered a dominant performance in the circle, setting the tone early in the shutout. Mistler worked efficiently through the lineup, mixing her pitches well and keeping Norwich hitters off balance. Photo by Michael Castracane III Norwich’s Kira Quattrocchi matched Mistler early, and The Oneonta Yellowjackets took home top honors on April 16, defeating Norwich Continued on page 11 and then Sidney in the Sidney Federal Credit Union Softball Tournament.
T
THE FREEMAN’S JOURNAL & HOMETOWN ONEONTA, OTSEGO COUNTY’S AWARD-WINNING WEEKLIES 2010 WINNERS OF The Otsego County Chamber/KEY BANK SMALL BUSINESS AWARD
WE ARE SO EXCITED!
WE’RE bACk TO full TAblE-SIDE SERvICE! The Family Restaurant for Over 75 Years I-88 Exit 16, Rt. 7 Oneonta • 607-432-1782 • brooksbbq.com