Cuomo Reaches Deal on Tougher Teacher Evaluations:

A statewide agreement between Governor Andrew Cuomo, teachers unions, and the state Education Commissioner will bring tougher teacher evaluations in public schools.  Announced yesterday, the plan will allow for 40 percent of a teacher’s grade to reflect student performance.  The agreement also creates a rating system for teachers following an evaluation.  A score of 64 percent or lower would rate a teacher as “ineffective,” and that could eventually lead to dismissal if the teacher doesn’t show improvement.

Corning-Painted Post School District Approves Busing Study:

The Corning-Painted Post School Board has announced that it will look for savings by taking a closer look at how it handles transportation.  On Wednesday night the board agreed to spend up to $10,500 to have a transportation efficiency study done.  The School’s Superintendent believes there’s an opportunity to find significant savings, saying, “…the district covers a large area.  Between the district’s own busing operation and the busing that is contracted out.  Everything from routes to personnel will be studied to see where there are potential savings.”  The study will be done by Transportation Advisory Services and the results should be available next Fall.

Hornell’s Saint Ann’s to Close:

Saint Ann’s School, a facility that has served the Hornell area for over 150 years, will be closing down at the end of this school year…. According to Father Peter Aangalare, pastor of Our Lady of the Valley Parish, who made the announcement last night at a meeting at the Hornell Knights of the Columbus.  He cited financial troubles as the reason.  Presently, there are 65 students at the school in grades one through six.

Curtiss School Could Become an Arts Center:

After three years of waiting, Simon Sananas’ dream of turning the former Glenn Curtiss Middle School into a new arts center may finally come true.  The local artist’s bid of $301,000 for the 75-year-old building was approved by the Hammondsport School board on Wednesday night.  There will now be a 45-day waiting period during which residents could force a public vote on the sale.  If all goes well, Sananas has said he plans to offer art therapy for people with special needs.  He said he was inspired by his son, Ariel, who was stricken with a brain tumor when he was 2 years old.

Corning East High Band to Play Universal Studios Today:

Highs for us in the Finger Lakes Region are expected to be around 40 degrees today, but down in Orlando, Florida, it should be a balmy 80 when the East High Marching Band takes to the field to perform at Universal Studios Florida.  The band will be taking part in the park’s Stars Parade, which begins at 10am.  About 80 members of the East band and 20 chaperones have made the trip, leaving on Wednesday on a pair of coach buses and arriving yesterday afternoon.  After performing today, the band members will spend the President’s Day weekend enjoying the Universal Parks complex before leaving on Sunday.  Updates from the trip will be posted on the band’s website, http://www.ehsbandparents.com.

CMoG up for Budget Travel’s Latest Contest:

On the heels of Budget Travel’s “Coolest Small Town in America Contest” comes “15 Places Kids Should See Before 15,” and with it comes another local destination up for the top prize.  The Corning Museum of Glass has been nominated to be named one of Budget Travel’s 15 domestic destinations that children should see before they turn 15.  In order to be considered, a destination must be fun, educational and “especially magical through the eyes of a child,” says Budget Travel.  Online voting and the Budget Travel staff will determine the final 15.