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‘Gatekeeper’ training Running for a cause Cazenovia community to host free Local runner, 72, heads to Boston Marathon suicide prevention event May 6

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The Cazenovia Public Library will host a free 90-minute suicide prevention gatekeeper training on May 6. Kristine Knutson from the non-profit Contact Community Services will lead the training. By kate hill Staff writer The Cazenovia Area Volunteer Ambulance Corps (CAVAC) will recognize Mental Health Awareness Month by partnering with the Cazenovia Central School District, Cazenovia Fire Department, and Community Resources for Independent Seniors to bring a free, 90-minute QPR Suicide Prevention Gatekeeper Training to the Cazenovia Public Library. The event will be held on Tuesday, May 6, from 5:30 to 7 p.m. in the Betsy Kennedy Community Room. According to the Surgeon General’s National Strategy for Suicide Prevention (2001), a gatekeeper is someone in a position to recognize a crisis and the warning signs that someone may be contemplating suicide. QPR stands for Question, Persuade, Refer, “three simple steps that

anyone can learn to help save a life.” The training was developed by the QPR Institute, an educational organization with a mission to save lives and reduce suicidal behaviors by providing innovative, practical, and proven suicide prevention training. “Just as cardiopulmonary resuscitation and the Heimlich maneuver equip individuals to save lives in medical emergencies, QPR teaches participants how to recognize warning signs of suicide and take action to help someone in crisis,” said Kristine Knutson, who will lead the May 6 training. Knutson is the manager of community programs at Contact Community Services, a Syracuse-area nonprofit dedicated to mental health education, suicide prevention, and crisis support. Its mission is to provide a lifeline for individuals in crisis and foster well-being Gatekeeper l Page 2

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On April 21, 72-year-old Fairmount resident Penny Noll will run in the 129th Boston Marathon. By kate Hill Staff Writer In 2024, Fairmount resident Penny Noll accomplished her goal of running a marathon in every state in the country. Now, she has her sights set on the 129th Boston Marathon, which she will run on April 21, 2025. Noll, 72, has aspired to participate in the Boston Marathon since she began running in her early fifties. “[It] has been my dream because it is

one of the oldest marathons,” she said. “It has a beautiful course from Hopkinton to the center of Boston, and each of the 26.2 miles is lined with cheering crowds. The race is a big, exciting celebration and attracts runners from around the world and elite athletes. I have volunteered at the Boston Marathon finish line for the past six years, and it was so inspiring.” Noll has been accepted as a charity runner for the Michael Lisnow Respite Center in Hopkinton, Massachusetts, which Boston l Page 2

School district seeks community input on budget

The district submits and Technical Education (CTE) advanced Regents diplomas. We and [we see] a focus [on] an inDistrict proposes community. a budget proposal to the BOE offerings, and preserving extra- have anywhere between 61 and 78 clusive environment and an opadoption, then the proposed curriculars at all school levels. percent getting advanced Regents portunity for all students to be tentative five-year for spending plan must be approved diplomas based upon [their suc- successful,” said Linck. by eligible voters in the district. CCSD highlights cess] on these Regents exams.” Next, DiFulvio spoke about financial plan “New York is one of the only Assistant Superintendent Linck also reported that for the value of the district’s extraBy kate hill Staff writer On March 25, the Cazenovia Central School District (CCSD) held a School Budget Community Dialogue Night in the high school gym to inform the public about the current budgetary landscape, existing challenges, and potential avenues for growth. Attendees also had the opportunity to share their priorities and offer insights on key school programs and initiatives. “We seek your valuable input to ensure that our resource allocation reflects the community’s highest priorities and maintains the quality of education our students deserve,” the event announcement said. “Your participation will be instrumental in shaping a responsible and sustainable budget for the upcoming school year.” Superintendent Christopher DiFulvio began the event by highlighting the complexities of the annual budget process and explaining that it requires collaboration between district administrators, the CCSD Board of Education (BOE), and the local

states in the country that does budgeting this way,” DiFulvio said. “Most school budgets in the rest of the country are simply set by the board of education.” The CCSD BOE anticipates adopting its final budget on April 21 and putting it up for a public vote on May 20. “As we look at this budget, what we are trying to focus on as an administrative team is sustaining our identity and providing opportunities for children,” said DiFulvio. “We want to provide a high-quality education that is aligned with our district’s mission. We also recognize that we need to maintain financial responsibility and long-term financial stability.” CCSD’s mission is to nurture, inspire, and empower students to make a positive impact in the world by building healthy relationships in a safe, diverse, and welcoming environment that encourages learning and growth for all. DiFulvio explained that upholding CCSD’s identity means sustaining the guaranteed curriculum, maintaining high schoollevel advanced courses and Career

of Instruction, Equity & Personnel Kevin Linck shared the district’s achievements in two areas of its strategic plan, which aims to enhance the school community through fostering mental wellness, ensuring curriculum alignment, cultivating an inclusive culture, strengthening special education support, and expanding student opportunities for academic and personal growth. Linck focused specifically on curriculum alignment and special education. He first presented 2024 English language arts (ELA), math, and high school Regents proficiency data demonstrating that the district’s efforts to establish a vertically aligned curriculum, prioritize grade level standards, and eliminate redundancies have yielded positive results. “There is a lot to celebrate with this data,” he said. “This shows that we are challenging our students; we are pushing our students. This shows that they are meeting those challenges. This shows that we have very high standards for our students. . . . We also have a high percentage of students who are gaining

the past 15 years, Cazenovia’s graduation rate has been between 94 and 98 percent. Students can earn college credits through the high school’s 12 AP classes and 12 concurrent enrollment offerings. According to Linck, students have left CCSD with as many as two years of college already completed. Last year, 48 percent of students who graduated had taken at least one AP class. Two graduates had passed nine AP classes, and one student had earned a five, the highest score, on all nine AP exams. When discussing special education, Linck explained that the district’s goal is to provide the education and support students need in the least restrictive environment — the classroom, ideally — and help the students develop independence by the time they move on from the district. Linck shared a figure showing that CCSD special education students outperformed students at three comparable schools on eighth-grade ELA, math, and science assessments. “We see strong academic performance, we see opportunities,

Volume 215, Number 14 The Cazenovia Republican is published weekly by Eagle News. Office of Publication: 35 Albany St., Second Floor, Cazenovia, NY 13035. Pe r i o d i ca l Po sta ge Pa i d at Cazenovia, NY 13035, USPS 095-260. POSTMASTER: Send change of address to Cazenovia Republican, 2501 James St., Suite 108, Syracuse, NY 13206.

cnyspca pet of the week: Meet Sniffer.

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government: Mannion introduces act to protect students with disabilities.

curricular programs, including the Cazenovia High School (CHS) InterGroup Dialogue Club, which helped lead the evening’s table discussions; the CHS Academic Decathlon Team, which will compete in this year’s national championship in Iowa; Cazenovia’s championship-winning First LEGO League team; the CHS Drama Club, which recently presented a successful production of “Legally Blonde — The Musical;” Project Café, which helps organize the Fourth of July Parade and other events; and all the athletic teams. “The more connected students feel [to school], the better they are going to perform in the classroom,” DiFulvio said. The superintendent also discussed the district’s partnership with the Greater Cazenovia Area Chamber of Commerce and its Caz Life events committee. He explained that the chamber’s brick-and-mortar location is now inside CHS, providing opportunities for students to collaborate with local businesses through internships and help plan and market events. Budget l Page 5

Editorial �� 4

Obituaries �� 3

history �� 4

PennySaver �� 6

letters �� 4

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