Senate Resolution No. 355

BY: Senator LITTLE

HONORING John Rieger upon the occasion of his
designation as recipient of the 2018 Everett R. Dyer
Award for Distinguished School Board Service by the
New York State School Boards Association

WHEREAS, It is the custom of this Legislative Body to recognize the
accomplishments of individuals whose enduring commitment and dedication
significantly enhance the quality of education in their community; and

WHEREAS, The American public school system is a treasured
institution; those individuals, such as John Rieger, who work to improve
our schools and ensure that all children have access to quality
educational programs merit the highest commendation of this Legislative
Body; and

WHEREAS, Attendant to such concern, and in full accord with its
long-standing traditions, this Legislative Body is justly proud to honor
John Rieger upon the occasion of his designation as recipient of the
2018 Everett R. Dyer Award for Distinguished School Board Service by the
New York State School Boards Association (NYSSBA), celebrated at its
99th Convention & Expo on Thursday, October 25, 2018, at the Hilton
Hotel in New York City; and

WHEREAS, Each year, the Everett R. Dyer Award is presented to a
current or former school board member who has done the most for public
education and the children of his or her community; and

WHEREAS, John Rieger is truly deserving of this prestigious award;
for over 55 years, he has served the young people of his community,
first as a member of the Schuylerville Central School District Board of
Education, and then the Washington-Saratoga-Warren-Hamilton-Essex BOCES
Board of Education; and

WHEREAS, As a student at Schuylerville High School, John Rieger took
part in the four-year agricultural program at the Saratoga BOCES; a true
success story, he established Country Power Products in Greenwich, New
York, a thriving business which has served the community for more than
five decades; and

WHEREAS, Proud of his BOCES education and the tools it provided for
him to be successful, John Rieger served on the Schuylerville Central
School District Board of Education from 1963-1984; he was then elected
to the Saratoga-Warren BOCES Board of Education, which merged with the
Hamilton, Essex and Washington BOCES in 1993; and

WHEREAS, In this capacity, John Rieger has been instrumental in
strengthening and streamlining BOCES' special education program,
expanding employee professional development opportunities, rebranding
its Career and Technical Education Division, and created the Early
College Career Academy; and

WHEREAS, John Rieger's exceptional leadership has fostered a culture
of serving component districts; he has consistently encouraged

innovation and welcomed new ideas, and demonstrated exemplary dedication
to the students from those districts; and

WHEREAS, In addition to his work with his local BOCES, John Rieger
serves in leadership roles with regional school board groups and various
organizations which include the Greater Adirondack Resource,
Conservation and Development Council; the Washington County Soil and
Water Conservation District; and the county Agriculture and Farmland
Protection Board; he can often be found at open houses, graduations,
skills competitions and other student events; and

WHEREAS, John Rieger believes in the children of the
Washington-Saratoga-Warren-Hamilton-Essex district, and has demonstrated
an impressive dedication, an unparalleled devotion and an unremitting
enthusiasm to continually improving the quality of educational programs
and opportunities offered to its faculty and students as well as for the
entire community; and

WHEREAS, John Rieger has clearly had an enduring impact on the youth
of the Washington-Saratoga-Warren-Hamilton-Essex district, as well as on
the community-at-large, and accordingly merits recognition and applause
for his impressive dedication to others; now, therefore, be it

RESOLVED, That this Legislative Body pause in its deliberations to
honor John Rieger upon the occasion of his designation as recipient of
the 2018 Everett R. Dyer Award for Distinguished School Board Service by
the New York State School Boards Association; and be it further

RESOLVED, That a copy of this Resolution, suitably engrossed, be
transmitted to John Rieger.