Category: Archive
Merger Process Update: Next Steps and Focus Teams
The process of exploring a potential merger between the Canajoharie and Fort Plain school districts continues to move forward, guided by the CFP Development Panel. This panel has been meeting regularly to discuss key ideas, timelines and next steps as the steering group for this important process.
Focus Teams: shaping the future of the combined district
Important questions about what a merger would mean for our students and community have been raised throughout the recent merger process. As a way of digging into these, we plan to convene a set of focus teams that will include both district representatives, subject area experts and you, the members of our community. By coming together for this work, we believe we can best imagine our future and prepare to meet the interests and needs of our students–independently or as a merged district if that is what our communities choose. These groups will gather detailed information on key topics and prepare recommendations that will position us well to move forward if a merger is approved.
The Focus Teams will address the following areas:
- Cultural Integration: Traditions, celebrations, activities, athletics and mascots.
- Educational Programming: Academic offerings, curriculum, plans for schools and school configuration.
- Operational Planning: Transportation, facility usage and school day schedule.
- Student-Centered Transition: Orientation, mentoring and programs to support students.
- Staff-Centered Transition: Professional development, orientation and staff supports.
Dependent on the outcome of the vote next summer on a potential merger, we will also offer opportunities to be a part of additional focus groups, such as:
- Financial Planning: Long-term financial projections, taxes and current trends/budgets.
- Policy Alignment: Codes of conduct, curriculum requirements, contracts and district policies.
Join a Focus Team
Your voice and expertise are vital to this process. We are inviting all interested community members and school stakeholders to apply to be a part of a Focus Team. This is an opportunity to contribute directly with the planning for our students’ educational experience and success of a merged district, if this is the path the communities choose.
If you are interested in applying, please fill out the Google form available here. The first Focus Team meeting is scheduled for Wednesday, Jan. 7, 2026.
Mark your calendar: Straw Poll and Binding Vote
Straw Vote (Advisory Referendum): Thursday, June 4, 2026 This non-binding vote will assess the community’s support for the merger proposal before proceeding to the final vote.
We encourage all stakeholders to stay informed and participate in this important process and visit our website for information. We will also be sending monthly updates during that time.
Dec. 17 BOE meeting rescheduled for Dec. 18
Due to a conflict, the Fort Plain Board of Education’s regular meeting scheduled for Wednesday, Dec. 17, 2025 has been rescheduled for Thursday, Dec. 18. The meeting will begin at 6 p.m.
The meeting will take place in the Ronald H. Thibodeau Conference Room in the District Office, 25 High St., Fort Plain.
Harry Hoag first quarter honor roll and principal’s list
Harry Hoag Elementary School is proud to announce the 2025-26 first quarter Honor Roll and Principal’s List. The Honor Roll and Principal’s List recognize outstanding achievement and effort.
Congratulations to the following students:
Honor Roll
Grade 5
- Skylah Becker
- Ava Brownell
- Jayleigh Brownell
- Elliot Coveny
- Julianna Delgado
- Kaileb DiLorenzo
- Jackson Dolly
- Jacoby Henderson
- Jayce Humphrey
- Adisyn Jones
- Keegan Jones
- Isaiah Mykel
- Liam Ohlidal
- Avaj Schuyler
- Molly Williams
Grade 6
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Payton Bennett
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Khloe Cionek
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Abel Clink
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Jaydan Crouse
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Sofia Dawson
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Isaac Evans
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Kailee Gordon
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Maison Houston
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Noah Randall
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Cassidee Reese
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Abigail Ryder
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Joseph Walter
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Carma Weaver-Porter
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Kayleigh Woodcock
Principal’s List
Grade 5
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Emalynn Alkinburgh
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Amber Bowley
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Kamilla Brazee
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Kassidy Brazee
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Emari Brown
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Brady Brownell
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Brianna Compton
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Aleena Crouse
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Jackson Curtis
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Dawson Dean
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Louis Fanelli III
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Mieke Hallstein
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Leigha Hardnett
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Raelynn Hazzard
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Samuel Hisert
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Carter Hubal
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Raylynn Jones
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Sadie Jones
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Arianna Lewis
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Tessa McFee
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Terrence Nemecek Jr.
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Riley O’Connor
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Penelope Prevost
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Janasia Raphael
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Ares Rockwell
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Jace Savoie
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Logan Staples
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Madeline Valovic
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Trent Webb
Grade 6
- Cecilia Baker
- Shani Brackett
- Zane Bradt
- Ellyana Brown
- Ty Brownell
- Noah Clark
- Aubrey Clayburn
- Nicholas Compton
- Raelynn D’Arcangelis
- Ryelee David
- Blaine Dodson
- Bryson Dodson
- Dalton Fournier
- Harper Fowler
- Aiden Hardnett
- Corbin Hazzard
- Harlan Heroth
- Jovalee Hisert
- Maria Hisert
- Gulzreen Khalid
- Abel Kretser
- Audrey Krug
- Lailah Lewis
- Livia McDuffee
- Joshua Murphy
- Zannah Poultney
- Tanner Putnam
- Grant Reese
- Tabitha Romanello
- Kobe Skiffington
- Gracie Smith
- Samuel Thomas
- Renesmee Tompkins
- Garett Trumbull
- Troy Zabawczuk
Staff Spotlight: Meet Hanna Conbeer – School Librarian and Media Specialist
Join us in shining a spotlight on Harry Hoag Librarian and Media Specialist Hanna Conbeer.
“The Fort Plain Central School District is proud to recognize Hanna Conbeer,” said Interim Superintendent Dr. Karen Geelan. “Hanna is an important part of our teaching team at Harry Hoag, helping our learners develop the strong English Language Arts (ELA) and literacy skills they need to be successful in and out of school, and for the world they will live and work in once they graduate. We are grateful to have Hanna in our school community.”
For Harry Hoag Library and Media Specialist Hanna Conbeer, it is a good day at school when she learns library time has sparked a love of reading in her students.
“I really enjoy being a part of the students’ learning,” said Conbeer. “I love watching kids discover a book that they love. I love when they tell me they have loved a book so much that they read it with their mom or dad, too. This is the best!”
Now in her third year with the district, Hanna Conbeer is an important part of the school team—helping our students become strong readers, writers and critical thinkers. She also works closely with the teachers—providing the books and other tools to support their classroom lessons and helping them build even the most reluctant readers’ “literacy muscles.”
“Hanna consistently engages the students in rigorous, ELA-focused lessons that go far beyond the traditional ‘read-and-check-out’ library model,” said Harry Hoag Principal Amy Batholomew. “Her commitment to their learning—and to her own growth as a professional—has a meaningful impact on the literacy learning for all of our students.”
Inspiring a love of reading – for every student
Before joining the Fort Plain teaching team, Conbeer worked as a librarian in the Springfield and Canajoharie public libraries. While this was meaningful, becoming a school librarian and media specialist has allowed her to do what she is most passionate about—work with kids and help develop their literacy skills.
“My heart has always been in working with children, but it was like pulling teeth to get the children into the public library. Here, I have a sort of ‘captive’ audience,” she said with a grin.
From lessons that help students build their skills at finding what they need to know in the library and online to one-on-one work with our students who are learning English as a new language, developing strong, curious and confident readers and media-smart citizens is the goal.
“Reading is essential. It opens doors in our minds and in our worlds. It helps us unlock our imaginations, be creative and solve problems. It helps us succeed in what we want to do,” said Conbeer. “I love that Harry Hoag is such a close-knit school and that I get to know all the kids, help inspire their learning and watch them grow.”
Jr./Sr. High School first quarter honor roll, principal’s list
Our Jr./Sr. High School is proud to announce the 2025-26 first quarter Honor Roll and Principal’s List. The Honor Roll and Principal’s List recognize outstanding achievement and effort.
Congratulations to the following students:
Honor Roll
Grade 12
- Ezra Brown
- Emma Cook
- Marcus Dunbar-Eller
- John Fountain
- Isis Hammond
- Natashia Hammond
- Jorge Medina
- Sonia Medina
- John Morrison
- Makena Nurnberger
Grade 11
- Jayson Austin
- Kayden Battisti
- Trinity Belliveau
- Alannah-Mari Blowers
- Ariana Nemeth
- Brodie Poultney
- Trent Reynolds
- Aidyn Rooney
- Kendra Schaffer
- Jordan Thackrah
Grade 10
- Blake Battisti
- Dio Callan
- Violet Handy
- Sedona Horning
- Lincoln Kretser
- AshLyn Lewis
- Paige Lochner
- Sean McGuire
- Jasmine Rumrill
Grade 9
- Laura Atkins
- Alyvia Castellano
- Lexis Downes
- Alexandra Hinkle
- Khloe Hisert
- Joshua LaQuee
- Madden Lathers
- Connor Lochner
- Gideon McCarty
- Hailee Moore
- Jack Parkinson
- Isaac Passero
- Gabriella Peters
- Anthony Polidori
- Karson Rhodes
- Trent Richards
- Gregory Simons
- Anna-Belle Snyder
Grade 8
- Brantlee Brownell
- Yadiel DeLeon
- Amarha Herring
- Olivia Jones
- Kayden Rouse
- Ethan Shostek
- Rosabella Smith
- Maicee Thomas
- Ziva Yerdon
Grade 7
- Zachary Alkinburgh
- Kyle Christman
- KataLenah Clapper
- Lleyton Emrick
- Rystara Handy
- Andres Medina
- Isabella Shibley
- Colton White
Principal’s List
Grade 12
- Alexis Buley
- Ian Burns
- Josephia Carcasole
- Owen Castellano
- Madison Clayburn
- Michael Dinehart Jr.
- Breyanna Gilot
- Jordynn Gomez
- Koby Herron
- McKenna Karker
- Kimberly Kirby
- Alexander Lamphere
- Macey LeRoy
- Constance Narzymski
- Taylor Potter
- Bradley Rumrill
- Morgan Stock
- Dawson Tracki
Grade 11
- Genavive Bathrick
- Jordyn Best
- Gamliel Brackett
- Kala Clapper
- Faith Clark
- Tyler Cotton
- Bryellah D’Arcangelis
- Isabella Fountain
- Mason Gray
- Jansheen Haider
- Lyllie Handy
- Hailey Hayes
- Levi Hext
- Brooke Jones
- Landon Kretser
- Lilly Lapi
- Madison Lewis
- Gavin Massie
- Elle Nare
- Faith Narzymski
- Layla Negron
- Jonathan Palmeri
- Morgan Prime
- Kendra Sackett
- Larry Sanders III
- Silas Smith
- Brady Spaulding
- Dameon Trant
- Landon VanGorder
- Cheyanne Wall
Grade 10
- Joseph Barr
- Eliyahna Brackett
- Nalisha Cadet
- Brianne Gallt
- Jordan Gallt
- Elijah Houle
- Blake Lapi
- George Mang
- Charlotte Sherwood
- Gabreilla Steinhauer
- Daija Suits
- Dorian Tracki
- Zachary Walsh
- Evan Weaver
Grade 9
- Halleli Brackett
- McKenna Hisert
- Jazmain Leonard
- Lainie McDuffee
- Isabella McGuire
- Mary Pomatto
- Braddock Putnam
- Molly Shults
- Jaymes Smith
- Gavin Souza
- Kinley Trumbull
Grade 8
- Fiona Brown
- Owen Charboneau
- Aubree Childs
- Milo Clark
- Christopher Compton Jr.
- Sienna Dean
- Bently Dodson
- Laura Flynn
- Jake Fountain
- Raelynn Fournier
- Laylah Hardnett
- Isabella Hearn
- McKenzie Jones
- Timothy Keane
- Piper Kretser
- Jacob LaQuee
- Claudia Maring
- MaeLyn Meddaugh
- Aishwarya Murray
- Mara Poultney
- Dante Santiago
- Gavin Smith
- Noah Smith
- Booker Tarica
- Adalay Webb
Grade 7
- Isabelle Allen
- Aiden Bunker
- Nauni Fink
- Audrina Gomez
- Quinn Hisert
- Demora Lawson
- Lilly Mang
- IvyKate McGuire
- Elaena Minarich
- Oliver Parkinson
- Willow Richards
- Isley Ruszkowski
- Beverly Sherwood
- Addison Weaver
Walk indoors this season: Fort Plain Pacers Program sign up
Again this season, the Fort Plain Central School District is inviting district residents to walk indoors at Harry Hoag Elementary School, Nov. 17 through April 30.
Residents can walk during the hours of 4:30 – 7:30 p.m. on days school is in session. The cost to participate is $5.00 for those who do not already have a Pacers Program Card.
Sign up for the Pacers Program by contacting Becky Smith in the District Office at 518-993-4000 ext. 1000 or becky.smith@fortplain.org.
Board of Education Meeting – Nov. 19
The Fort Plain Board of Education will hold its regular meeting on Wednesday, Nov. 19, 2025 beginning at 6 p.m.
The meeting will take place in the Ronald H. Thibodeau Conference Room in the District Office, 25 High Street, Fort Plain, N.Y.
View the FPCSD Board of Education – Nov. 19, 2025 meeting agenda.
NHS Thanksgiving food drive – through Nov. 21
Again this year, the Fort Plain chapter of the National Honor Society is holding a Thanksgiving food drive.
Food collected will provide holiday meals for area families.
Items being collected include:
- Boxed stuffing mix
- Canned corn
- Canned green beans
- Instant mashed potatoes
- Canned cranberry sauce
- Cornbread mix
- Pie crust and fillings
- Turkeys
Donations can be made at Room 204 of the Jr./Sr. High School or Room 5 at Harry Hoag Elementary, now through Friday, Nov. 21.
Questions? Want to arrange for drop off of food items? Please reach out to NHS Advisor Kolbe Gray.
Dinner’s ready! Class of 2027 Brooks BBQ fundraiser
The Fort Plain Class of 2027 has partnered with Brooks BBQ for a chicken dinner fundraiser on Tuesday, Nov. 25.
Tickets are $15 for a complete meal including a 1/2 chicken, baked potato, macaroni salad and roll.
Drive through pick up will be at the Fort Plain CSD Bus Garage from 3 – 6 p.m.
For more information or to purchase tickets please contact class advisor Kolbe Gray.
Staff Spotlight: Meet Student Support Liaison Will Ryan
Join us in shining a spotlight on Fort Plain Jr./Sr. High School Teacher and new Student Support Liaison, Will Ryan.
“The Fort Plain Central School District is proud to recognize Will Ryan’s many years of dedication as a teacher, mentor and advocate for our teaching team,” said Interim Superintendent Dr. Karen Geelan. “Will is known for the meaningful connections he builds and the impact he’s had with the students in his classroom. We are grateful to have him in this new role, where he will be able to continue this important work on a larger scale—throughout the school and with our many students.”
For more than 25 years, Will Ryan has been an active member of our school community: teaching social studies and University in the High School (UHS) psychology and sociology courses through UAlbany, serving as director for 14 years of the FP-Canjo Drama Club and its spring musical, and leading the Fort Plain Teachers Association as president for seven years.
Through it all, Ryan says he’s had the opportunity to grow as an educator while forming strong, lasting connections with students, their families (some of whom were once his students themselves!) and his colleagues.
This school year, Ryan has taken on a new role as Student Support Liaison at the Jr./Sr. High School—a position for which he feels his years of experience as a teacher and community volunteer have uniquely prepared him.
Building Bridges and Creating Connections
As Student Support Liaison, Ryan focuses on building trusting relationships with all students—in the halls, the lunchroom and the classroom—but especially with those who may feel disconnected or need extra support.
He emphasizes the importance of curiosity and compassion in understanding students: shifting the question from “What’s wrong with you?” when they misstep to “What’s going on for you?”
While part of his role involves assisting administrators with disciplinary procedures, Ryan knows that being a trusted adult—someone students know believes in them—can make all the difference during challenging times.
This summer, Ryan completed training in restorative practices, an approach that emphasizes accountability and helps students repair relationships with peers and staff when harm has been caused. He uses these strategies with his own students and is helping model them for teachers and staff across the school.
“The biggest thing I’ve learned as a teacher—and in life—is that how we treat others matters,” said Ryan, “We always have a choice in how we react to a situation or setback. Sometimes these are skills we already know; other times, we need someone to teach us. I hope I can help both our students and our school team learn and practice those skills together.”