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| May 05, 2024 |
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General News: Alumni Introduce Plan to Revamp NYMA
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| Cornwall residents had a lot of questions about NYMA's future at the meeting on Saturday. |
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| Lana Melendez, a NYMA alumna spoke with people after the meeting. |
May 17, 2010
A gathering of alumni this weekend at the New York Military Academy in Cornwall brought a glimmer of hope about the future of the 121-year-old institution with the release of a new plan designed to reinvigorate funding efforts and avert a closing of the school.
The school’s superintendent, Captain Robert Watts confirmed on Monday that the trustees and administration are backing a new plan that could lead to a total revamping of the curriculum and facilities at the school. He noted that several aspects of the plan were initiatives he had researched in the past but did not have the money to support. Now at least some of the alumni think they have a chance to find the resources necessary to make lasting changes.
NYMA 2.0: Focus on Academics and Facilities
Alumnus Richard Pezzullo said that the centerpiece of the proposed changes is a plan called NYMA 2.0 that he and eight other alumni put together in order to inspire a new wave of donations needed to meet a June 15th deadline to raise $2 million in cash. On Saturday, he presented to alumni the outline of the plan, which includes raising academic standards, refurbishing buildings and constructing new ones and creating an internship program for the cadets. Pezzullo said that parents and alumni were standing in the aisles cheering and applauding the proposal to save the school.
Last month, school trustees announced that NYMA was suspending operations at the end of the school year in June and that a decision on whether to close permanently was weeks away. The board members reported that they needed $7 million to keep the school open long-term. That announcement came as a surprise to many alumni, who began to work feverishly to create their rescue plan.
School Still Doesn’t Have the Necessary Financing
Captain Watts cautioned that nothing has materially changed at the school as a result of the weekend meetings. “The administration and the board supports the NYMA 2.0 plan,” he said. Everyone thinks it is a very good concept but the problem is that without money, it doesn’t happen.”
Pezzullo said the momentum is favorable for alumni to make the large contributions that they were reluctant to make in the past because the trustees did not have a plan for the long-term growth of the school. He said that as part of NYMA 2.0 some of the alumni who helped create it will be included on the board of trustees. “We have a breath of life,” Pezzullo said on Sunday night. “The door opened a crack.”
In a statement released Monday afternoon, the NYMA board of trustees embraced the fundamentals of NYMA 2.0 and proposed the creation of a subcommittee made up of the NYMA 2.0 development team that would serve as a bridge connecting the initiatives of the NYMA 2.0 development group with the responsibilities of the board.
Cornwall Community Asked to Get Involved
On Saturday, two of the alumni, Lana Melendez and David Fields, met with a group of about 25 Cornwall area residents to explain how local support is critical to the academy’s long-term viability. They envision businesses and individuals supporting their efforts through donations or volunteerism and noted that the crisis revealed how intertwined NYMA is with the community. They also noted that even a petition signed by local residents that showed local support for the school would be another way to encourage alumni to make a financial commitment to the school’s long-term goals.
Pezzullo said that any member of the Cornwall community who would like to learn more about NYMA 2.0 may contact him at [email protected].
Meanwhile, a target date of June 1st was established for the alumni team to meet with the board of trustees to analyze their success
Comments:
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Good Luck NYMA. Look for other sources of revenue, Horse riding lessons, an on site preschool. anything to create an on going stream of cash.
Walter
posted by Walter Dorritie on 05/17/10 at 3:00 PM
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We need volunteers to help get signatures tomorrow. These signatures will focus to "Keep Cornwall as Cornwall; Keep a Landmark Alive" and will presented to Donald Trump on Thursday. And call Quigley for a special meeting! ASAP!
posted by Rachael Skigen on 05/17/10 at 3:01 PM
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Uh, I don't think you want to let Donald Trump know about ANY parcel of open land anywhere. The guy would probably build a condo or a casino on his mother's grave if he thought he's get a 25% return on it.
posted by Ted Warren on 05/17/10 at 3:13 PM
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- Good Luck NYMA.
- Please count us in for: $2,000 donation to NYMA 2.0.
- Contact Mayor Gross & Supervisor Quigley for a special meeting ASAP
- This issue will not wait, we need to help our NYMA neighbors
Nancy, thank you for covering this important story
posted by Dan Poindexter on 05/17/10 at 3:56 PM
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You could ask each merchant on Main Street if you could leave a petition with each of them so customers could have the opportunity to sign it when they come in.
posted by Doreen Denice Syed on 05/18/10 at 12:27 PM
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The petition "Keep NYMA and a 120 Year Old Landmark Alive" is in circulation. Please visit 2Alices, Leo's or either Town Hall to sign. If you would like to help, take a piece of paper, add the title above and get the name, phone number and email and get some signatures! All sheets must be dropped off at 2 Alices or emailed to me at [email protected] NO LATER THAN WEDNESDAY, 3:00 PM. Forward to your friends.
posted by Rachael Skigen on 05/18/10 at 1:57 PM
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