Sen. Peter Oberacker visits Groton’s STEAM Program

After spending time visiting Groton Central School’s (GCS) STEAM program Sept. 21, New York state Republican Sen. Peter Oberacker said he was “over-the-top excited and just in awe over what Groton is doing.”

Oberacker dedicated two hours of his time discussing the future of education in rural upstate New York with GCS Superintendent Margo Martin, hearing about the STEAM program from its faculty and getting a firsthand view of how our small district is doing some pretty big things.

Succeeding Sen. James Seward in representing the 51st Senate District, Oberacker was elected in November 2020 and serves on several Senate committees.

“Sitting on the Education Committee has opened my eyes to a lot of things,” Oberacker said.

Martin thanked Oberacker for the opportunity to introduce him to GCS and explained her passion for “turning Groton around,” as well as showing him a presentation for the competitive 21st Century Community Learning Centers grant that the district is applying for to help sustain the STEAM program’s initiatives in future years.

Now in her seventh year at the helm of GCS, Martin recalled that she had heard someone at a sports event in another district during her first year on the job say that “Groton is the armpit of all the towns around here.” Since then, she has been determined to build both the school and community identity into something great, something the STEAM programming can lend itself well to.

“Groton has not had an identity since manufacturing left in the late 1980s,” Martin said. “Building a highly skilled workforce can reimagine an entire town.”

It wasn’t long into his initial conversation with Martin that Oberacker realized how much of what is being done at GCS closely aligns with some of his leading priorities, such as supporting small businesses and ensuring they have the resources needed to increase employment and assisting volunteer EMS squads with training requirements, recruitment and retention.

Oberacker also spent time getting to know the STEAM faculty and hearing about the programs directly from those who are teaching them, including STEAM Coordinator Mick LeVick, teachers Babs Carr, Todd Martin, Will Morey, Amber Novack-Landers and Jason Oliver and Michael McWilliams, coordinator of health sciences programs.

The more Oberacker heard, the more enthused he became about what students are learning and doing at GCS, how relatable it is to what is needed in business and industry in the 21st century and how he could personally relate it to much of his own background.

Oberacker attended Schenevus High School in Otsego County, from which he graduated with his class of just 33 students. He also graduated with an agriculture degree from SUNY Delhi.

Not only could Oberacker relate to Groton due to his educational background, but he is also a business owner himself and a member of his local fire department and EMS squad.

Oberacker grew up in a family of sausage makers and started working in the family’s local market when he was 8 years old and has had a long career in product research, development and implementation in the food industry business as an adult. In fact, he once worked for ConAgra and helped develop TGI Fridays’ famous Jack Daniels bourbon sauce.

Oberacker is the CEO of FormTech Solutions, working with major companies around the world to develop and incorporate new and innovative products and then make them applicable in the ever-growing food industry.

In 2017, Oberacker brought FormTech Solutions to Schenevus, New York. He said it was “the first business to come there,” so he understands how important it can be for a community to attract and retain viable businesses.

In addition to the overview of GCS STEAM’s original four programs currently offered, Martin also laid out its pilot program plan for becoming an inclusive community school, educating both students and adults alike for marketable careers in the health sciences field. This includes its new EMT-Basic and EMT-Advanced certification programs offered to both students and community members.

Being a part of his own EMS squad, Oberacker was particularly thrilled by that component of GCS’ program and its ability to address the lack of emergency personnel in communities and related his own personal story.

“In 2018, there was a catastrophic incident coming through the scanner,” Oberacker said, “I kept hearing the calls being dropped because there were no ambulance drivers available. When I realized the address the incident was coming from was the farm where my son worked, I became pretty worried that he might be the one in trouble.”

Oberacker tried reaching his son, Derek, on the phone to no avail, so then called his son’s friend, finding out it was indeed Derek who had become caught in a grain auger.

“I was doing triage on the phone at that point and was able to get the air unit in to get my son the help he needed,” Oberacker said. “He’s OK, but he might not have been.”

Derek’s predicament is not an isolated incident. Hundreds of emergency calls are delayed or not answered locally because of the lack of workers. With 52 students currently enrolled in GCS’ first semester of EMT classes (three are GCS students, as minimum age is 17, and the rest are adults that represent nine different fire departments), Martin is looking forward to minimizing the shortage very soon.

As Oberacker’s visit came to a close, he told us he “didn’t want to leave” and wished he could stay all day.

“I keep thinking of a quote from ‘Miracles on Ice’ right now that says, ‘Great moments are born out of great opportunity,’” Oberacker said. “I am enthralled and energized. You are truly commended for what you have done here, and I can’t wait to come back again!”

Groton on the Inside appears weekly. Submit news ideas to Linda Competillo, lmc10@cornell.edu or (607) 227-4922.

In brief: 
 
Storytime at the library 

The Groton Public Library is hosting a special storytime for children at 6 p.m. Oct. 7. Masks are required, and only 20 children will be permitted to attend. Each child will receive a free book, homemade blanket, mini pumpkin and treats. To register, call (607) 898-5055 or email director@grotonpubliclibrary.org.

Library needs knitters 

Sara Knobel, director of the Groton Public Library, is looking for volunteers to knit and crochet hats, scarves or mittens for the library to give away to Groton community members.

Knobel will gladly receive these items already made, or you may volunteer to make them with yarn from the library. All sizes are needed, infant through adult.

Call (607) 898-5055 or email director@grotonpubliclibrary.org for more information or to volunteer to knit.

Groton Community Choir 

Groton Community Choir Director Ginny Casey is sounding the call for interested singers to participate in the 71st season of this popular choir group. Rehearsals will begin at 6:30 p.m. Oct. 5 and will be held every Tuesday thereafter at the Groton Assembly of God church building, 701 S. Main St.

Minimum age for choir members is 14, and Casey is calling for all former members, as well as anyone new, to come out and be a part of this musical tradition. It is not necessary for members to reside in Groton; all who love to sing with others are welcome. The main performances will be held Dec. 4 and 5, so being available those days is necessary.