Democrat File Photo A view of the Delaware Valley Central School earlier this fall. A buyer has expressed interest in the property.

Interest in Delaware Valley campus

Story by Dan Hust
LAKE HUNTINGTON — While Sullivan West’s closed Narrowsburg School has been unable to recoup potential buyers’ former interest, the Delaware Valley campus in Callicoon may have a suitor.
SW Superintendent Nancy Hackett told the board at its meeting November 8 that a Queens school for Chinese students remains interested in the 60-year-old complex along Route 97.
In addition to working with the school’s real estate agent, John Hector, the potential buyer is negotiating for around 100 acres from Richard Winter, who a year ago bought the majority of DV’s acreage, save for the school itself and about five surrounding acres.
However, added Hackett, “there is not an offer on the table.”
Hector’s contract with SW expires in March, by which time officials hope to have at least one offer in hand.
In the meantime, board member Angela Daley suggested the district consider renting out the campuses until they’re sold, but Assistant Supt. Lorraine Poston advised that state aid would be reduced proportionally to rental payments.
Surviving Sandy
“The campuses had minimal damage,” Hackett said of Hurricane Sandy’s impact the week prior.
Still, enough trees came down across SW’s 250-square-mile district to force three days of cancellations, and the 1938 Jeffersonville building couldn’t quite stand fast against the howling gale.
“The wind was strong enough to take the copper off the cupola and pull it up to expose the wood,” Hackett confirmed.
She added, however, that the copper was malleably rolled back into place – a relatively simple fix.
“I was really happy to see the school open up for showers,” remarked board member Lucas Arzilli, adding that the effort reaffirmed SW as the center of the community.
Mourning van Swol
The November meeting was the first without board member Noel van Swol, who died in a car crash in October.
“It really did take everyone back,” noted Hackett. “... We miss that voice.”
“Looking at that empty chair underscores the loss,” added former board member John Reggero.
“We will miss Noel for everything he added,” said Daley, van Swol’s most frequent sparring partner. “He made us all work harder.
“He sat here with us and put the time in, and I’m thankful for that,” she concluded.
The board seems headed toward appointing a replacement, rather than holding a special election.
Interested candidates can contact District Clerk Peg Luty at 482-4610, ext. 3000 or send a letter of interest to the district by Dec. 3. (Letters can be emailed to lutypeg@swcsd.org or mailed to Luty at 33 Schoolhouse Road, Jeffersonville, NY 12748.)
The board will interview each candidate on Dec. 6, then select one who will serve until the elections in May.