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General News: New NYMA Board Lays Out Plans to Rebuild
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| The NYMA Board includes (front, l to r): Joseph Bonura, David Fields, Wayne Corts, Richard Gerlach, Michael Rant; (rear, l to r): Acting superintendent Maj. Jeffrey Coverdale, John Smith, Randy Clark. |
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| Evan Jones described building a new curriculum that emphasizes leadership and academic skills. |
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| The Academy announces that it is now accepting enrollments for the 2010-11 school year. |
July 26, 2010
Seven days after the reins of power at the New York Military Academy were handed over to a group of businessmen and alumni who pledged to rescue the school from the brink of closing, school officials are racing against the clock to recruit students and highly-qualified teachers who are key to their plan to restore the aging academy.
Higher Academic Standards Planned
With classes set to resume on September 13th, the new school trustees held their first official meeting on Friday, July 23rd, and their optimism was palpable as the newly-installed dean of academics described a plan to develop a rigorous curriculum with honors programs in every discipline that will build to offer an international baccalaureate. That includes offering Latin and requiring upper-class cadets to undertake a challenging thesis project. Junior ROTC will continue to be a backbone of the school.
“NYMA will be the military model that stands along any prep school in New England or New York,” promised Evan Jones, an alumnus and seasoned educator brought back to serve as academic dean. “This will not be a scaled down program,” Jones said. "We’ve talked about making it a premier leadership lab in the country.”
Trustees Sit for First Board Meeting
The trustees sitting at the table represented both alumni -- president David Fields, Richard Gerlach, Michael Rant, John Smith – and Joseph Bonura and Wayne Corts, the two Orange County businessmen who provided the primary financial package to keep the school open. Cornwall town councilman Randy Clark, an honorary member, was also present, along with Major Jeffrey Coverdale, the school’s former commandant of cadets who is serving as interim superintendent. Smith, a Cornwall-on-Hudson resident, is the only member who served on the previous board.
Asked about their long-term interests in the New York Military Academy, a 120-acre property that many Cornwall residents feared would land in the hands of developers who could build high density housing, Wayne Corts and Joseph Bonura explained why they stepped forward to offer a $5.8 million loan package.
Corts and Bonura Explain Their Interest in School
“It all started when I went to see Wayne at the Falkirk Golf Course to loan him some chafing dishes, “ Bonura explained. Both men are in the development and hospitality business. Bonura owns Anthony’s Pier 9 and a host of other businesses along the waterfront in Newburgh. Corts purchased the former Central Valley Golf Course a year ago, renaming it Fallkirk and bringing its balance sheet from the red into the black. Corts recalled that meeting as the starting point of their offer to bail the school out. “Joe mentioned that his granddaughter was a cadet there and maybe we could do something to help them out,” Corts said.
Board Members Want Transparency in Financial Operation
Corts said that his interest was piqued by one of his retail tenants who urged him to get involved. Corts, whose brother graduated from NYMA, is the developer of the upscale Greens of Woodburuy housing development in Central Valley. He denied any personal interest in the future development of the NYMA property and said that he and others had taken an oath of transparency on the board, pledging to keep all business out in the open.
Joe Bonura said that he structured the loan to NYMA so that the school would not have to pay any interest during the first year of the three-year loan, which would allow it to focus its resources on the cadets, facilities and curriculum upgrades. Bonura also noted that he and Corts, the principal lenders along with Wallkill dentist Peter Chiadello, are not pushing the school to sell off the eleven houses and another dozen lots immediately to pay back their $5.8 loan but want the school to get back on its feet first. He also indicated that the school is looking at the 35-acre lot along Route 9W that is disconnected to the main campus but whose sale could be an important part of the long-term solvency of the school.
Campus Will Be Consolidated and Run More Efficiently
Board president David Fields described the outlines of the pared down operation of NYMA. He said that the school could operate the first year with 80 to 90 cadets, who will be moved into buildings in the central quad of the campus, with classes largely held in the main administration building. He said the board members have found $800,000 that they will cut from the school’s operating budget, with additional savings in heat and maintenance. “Last year, NYMA had 80 employees with 135 cadets,” Fields said, describing an untenable situation that they are changing.
The school’s equestrian center will be back in operation this fall, Wayne Corts said, indicating that he would make that happen with some of the resources of his equestian center in Central Valley. He has already loaned the school a 12-foot wide lawn mower that allows the staff to turn a three-day job into one.
Cash Reserve Puts School on Stronger Financial Footing
Fields said that with the solid financial backing of Corts and Bonura and with nearly $1.8 million in the bank for the school year, NYMA has more leverage with suppliers and can demand better deals. “We can negotiate with suppliers,” he said, “no more begging that occurred in the past.”
The trustees are also counting on a collaborative relationship with the town of Cornwall, which must approve its plans to subdivide some of its property for sale. They are looking for cadets to get internships with local businesses and for other forms of local support.
Donations and Pledges Welcomed
One issue the trustees discussed on Friday was the pledges that were made to the school if it was able to remain open. Fields said that the mechanism is in place to begin accepting these donations, including a $1,000 donation from the Greater Cornwall Chamber of Commerce that was approved in May.
“We’ve had a huge amount of support – from parents, alumni and the community, “ Fields said, “now we need to organize and focus that energy and turn it into long-term success.”
Comments:
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Mr. Bonura and Mr. Cortz,
It appears that the statements have comforted the doubt that was casted by sceptics. It will be nice to see horses at the stables and cadets walking Main Street to pick up day to day items. Please utilize the strengths of the community, a partnerhips with local residents would enhance the good that is taking place.
Mazel Tov.
posted by j h on 07/26/10 at 7:49 PM
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