Category: District News
Fort Plain mourns the passing of Ronald J. Pettit, Jr.
Fort Plain Central School District mourns the passing of Ronald J. Pettit Jr., a longtime bus driver and custodian in our Fort Plain community.
Our thoughts are with his family and friends.
View the tribute to Mr. Pettit and learn about his many interests and life experiences.
Join our team: Fort Plain CSD is hiring
Good schools make good communities—and are great places to work. Join our awesome Fort Plain CSD team!
Fort Plain Central School District is hiring:
- Regular Run Bus Drivers
- Cleaners (full-time)
- Food Service Workers (part-time)
Interested? Call the district office at 518-993-4000, ext. 1000.
A welcome message from Superintendent Lauren Crisman

Dear Fort Plain Central School District Community Members,
I wish to take this opportunity to warmly welcome everyone back to school for the 2023-2024 school year!
The first day of school for students kindergarten through grade 12 is Wednesday, September 6, 2023.
While you were away, the summer teams remained busy preparing for your return. I extend a deep notion of gratitude to all summer employees.
In addition, many stakeholder groups including administrators, teachers, parents and community leaders spent time identifying the types of skills and knowledge that we believe will best prepare our students for success beyond graduation. The summer conversations helped begin our process of long term planning. As adults, we passionately agreed that school should be a safe place where students can explore their interests and aspirations, thoroughly enjoy their school day experience, and be held accountable to display self worth and good character. During the fall, student stakeholder groups will be consulted to learn more about their very important perspectives on these topics and more.
Last year, the Board of Education identified five enduring goals:
- Improve safety in our schools.
- Improve student learning outcomes.
- Build and maintain trusting relationships with students and their families.
- Support social and emotional wellness for all school community members.
- Ensure responsible and strategic use of fiscal and human resources to best support the needs of our students.
In alignment with our enduring goals, the leadership team has prioritized the development of a comprehensive, Multi Tiered Systems of Support (MTSS) Plan as a necessary project for the upcoming year. When completed, the plan will be a resource for both professionals and parents that can be used to address questions related to academic and social-emotional intervention services.
A second priority for both buildings will be to ensure that every student attends school regularly. We will do a comprehensive review of our local attendance policy and delve deeply into attendance data to analyze the excuses associated with high rates of absenteeism specific to Fort Plain CSD. Students who miss more than 10 days of school are at risk for failure related to learning milestones and often become disengaged with the school process in general. Our teachers and leaders believe in the promise of education and we feel strongly that being in school daily guarantees each student the opportunity to get what they need from us in order to pursue a life filled with success and enduring happiness.
I’m excited for what’s to come and, again, thank you for the opportunity to be a part of your children’s education and well being.
Take good care and see you soon,
Lauren Crisman
Superintendent of Schools
Welcome new staff and faculty
Welcome to the newest members of the Fort Plain Central School District community!
All were recognized at the Sept. 5, 2023 Superintendent’s Conference Day, along with current faculty and staff, including many who have served the district for decades and will continue to do so this school year.
Thank you everyone!
New Harry Hoag Elementary School Teachers
- Hanna Conbeer – Library Media Specialist
- Madison Crouse – First Grade Teacher
- Janelle D’Aoust – School Counselor
- Wayne Hartman – Special Education
- Jessica Osgood – School Nurse
- Jolene Parker – Long Term Substitute in Special Education
New Jr./Sr. High School Teachers
- Joshua Coyne – Math Teacher
- Mary Simons – Biology Teacher
New K-12 School Team Members
- Nikki Bush – Food Service
- Christine Carpenter – Communications Specialist
- Alena Krug – Principal Clerk in the Office of Special Education
- Tenisa LaQuee – Food Service
- Karen Shibley – Clerk Typist in Jr./Sr. Guidance Office
- Caylen Tierney – Computer Services Coordinator
- Paul Wagner – Bus Driver
Program helps families pay for internet service
The federal Affordable Connectivity Program (ACP) helps New York State families pay for internet service.
Under this program, households are eligible to receive $30 per month assistance toward internet/broadband service if they are enrolled in the Free and Reduced-Price School Lunch Program and/or the School Breakfast Program, including through the USDA Community Eligibility Provision.
Visit the Affordable Connectivity Program website for more information.
View a flyer with more information about this program.
If you are not able to access the information in this flyer and need it in another format, please contact the Fort Plain CSD district office at 518-993-4000 ext. 1000.
Questions about the Affordable Connectivity Program?
If you have questions or need to know if you are eligible for this program, please contact the Fort Plain CSD district office at 518-993-4000, ext. 1000.
School supply lists for 2023-2024
Fort Plain mourns the passing of Cheryl Ann Phillips
Fort Plain Central School District mourns the passing of Cheryl Ann Phillips, a longtime supporter of the Fort Plain community and member of our teaching staff.
Most recently, Mrs. Phillips had worked as a Speech Therapist, a position she held for over 25 years.
“Mrs. Phillips had a true love for the Fort Plain community and an unwavering sense of Topper Pride. She worked tirelessly behind the scenes supporting and loving not only her own children but many other student athletes who became family. She supported her husband while he more publicly helped an endless number of student athletes obtain otherwise unobtainable goals,” reads a tribute, in part, to Cheryl Ann Phillips.
View the tribute to Mrs. Phillips and learn about her many interests and life experiences.
Our thoughts are with her family and friends.
Fort Plain mourns the passing of Vera Phillips Croote
Fort Plain Central School District mourns the passing of Vera Phillips Croote, a longtime member of our teaching staff, who taught in our elementary school program from 1950-1983.
Our thoughts are with her family and friends.
View the tribute to Mrs. Phillips Croote and learn about her many interests and life experiences.
Fort Plain mourns the passing of Robert Jenks
Fort Plain Central School District mourns the passing of Robert Jenks, a cleaner in our schools from 2007-2012. He retired after five years in service of the district.
Our thoughts are with his family and friends.
View the full tribute to Mr. Jenks, including details about his life experiences and interests.
Free school backpacks available at Harry Hoag

Again this school year, free backpacks filled with school supplies are available for Fort Plain students.
The packs are available at the main office of Harry Hoag Elementary School, Monday, Aug. 28 through Thursday, Aug. 31, 2023 between 8 a.m. and 3 p.m.
Thank you to area business Hill & Markes for their generous donation of these colorful packs and supplies.