Senate Resolution No. 4851

BY: Senator GRIFFO

HONORING Howard D. Mettelman upon the occasion of
his retirement after more than 14 years of
distinguished service as Oneida-Herkimer-Madison
BOCES District Superintendent

WHEREAS, It is the practice of this Legislative Body to take note of
and publicly acknowledge individuals of remarkable integrity and
character whose endeavors have enhanced the quality of education in this
great State; and

WHEREAS, This Legislative Body is justly proud to honor Howard D.
Mettelman upon the occasion of his retirement after more than 14 years
of distinguished service as Oneida-Herkimer-Madison BOCES District
Superintendent; he will officially retire from this esteemed position on
Saturday, June 30, 2018; and

WHEREAS, Howard D. Mettelman has committed more than 45 years of his
life to children and their education in the Mohawk Valley; he has served
as the Oneida-Herkimer-Madison (OHM) BOCES District Superintendent since
April of 2004, following more than five years as the Oriskany Central
School District's superintendent; and

WHEREAS, In addition, he has served the Madison-Oneida BOCES, the
Camden Central School District and Notre Dame in Utica, New York; and

WHEREAS, Howard D. Mettelman is a true leader whose unwavering
service to children, the BOCES' 12 component school districts, and their
communities, has made him a role model for administrators and educators
across New York State; and

WHEREAS, As a District Superintendent, Howard D. Mettelman serves a
dual role as the Commissioner of Education's representative for the 12
component school districts in the OHM BOCES region, and as the Chief
Executive Officer of the OHM BOCES; and

WHEREAS, Through these roles, Howard D. Mettelman tirelessly
advocates on behalf of all students with both state and federal elected
officials to offer equity and access for all students; he also serves as
a mentor to up-and-coming administrators through his leadership role
with Education Leadership Mohawk Valley (ELMV); and

WHEREAS, In this capacity, Howard D. Mettelman was instrumental in a
capital project which renovated and expanded the facilities at the
Middle Settlement Road campus into a state-of-the-art facility currently
used to prepare students and adults for both college and careers after
they graduate; he also oversaw the creation of the Mandarin Chinese
distance learning program which serves more than 700 students in grades
6-12 throughout the state; and

WHEREAS, Furthermore, Howard D. Mettelman secured a Safe
Schools/Healthy Students grant initiative and, most recently, worked
with the 12 component school districts to launch the Pathways in
Technology Early College High School (P-TECH) program, permitting

students to obtain their Regents diploma and an associate's degree from
Mohawk Valley Community College; and

WHEREAS, Over the past 14 years, Howard D. Mettelman has seen the
expansion of programs in career and technical education, special
education and alternative education; his work with the School and
Business Alliance has led to the growth of more than 1,300 student
internships in collaboration with business and industry in 2017; and

WHEREAS, Howard D. Mettelman's leadership, vision and commitment to
partnerships to better the education for the region's children have
profoundly impacted the entire Mohawk Valley; and

WHEREAS, The community is indeed fortunate and blessed to have had
such a dedicated and respected educational leader; his wisdom and
contributions reached into every classroom, truly making a difference in
the lives of those lucky enough to have worked with him; and

WHEREAS, A significant contributor to education in New York State,
Howard D. Mettelman has continually demonstrated an impressive
dedication, an unparalleled devotion and an unremitting enthusiasm for
the quality of the educational programs and opportunities offered at OHM
BOCES for the benefit of its faculty and students, as well as for the
entire community; now, therefore, be it

RESOLVED, That this Legislative Body pause in its deliberations to
honor Howard D. Mettelman upon the occasion of his retirement after more
than 14 years of distinguished service as Oneida-Herkimer-Madison BOCES
District Superintendent; and be it further

RESOLVED, That a copy of this Resolution, suitably engrossed, be
transmitted to Howard D. Mettelman.