N. William O'Connell, a former long-time Pioneer administrator and a key figure in the founding of Pioneer Middle School, has passed away at age 86.
When local voters approved the merger of the Delevan-Machias and Arcade school districts in the spring of 1966, George Crawford was the supervising principal at Delevan-Machias, and Joseph Kemp was the supervising principal at Arcade. Mr. Kemp retired the day before the new Pioneer district came into being on July 1, 1966, so Mr. Crawford became the supervising principal (later superintendent) of the new district. Raymond Garlapo, a longtime teacher at Arcade, became the junior-senior high principal at that building, and Mr. O'Connell, the young supervising principal at Limestone (now part of Allegany-Limestone) was hired to take over at Delevan.
Mr. O'Connell and Mr. Garlapo became the principals at the new Pioneer Junior-Senior High School when it opened three years later, with Mr. Garlapo focusing on grades 10-12 and Mr. O'Connell in charge of grades 7-9. Raymond Cenni, a math teacher at Arcade, became the assistant principal, and replaced Mr. Garlapo when he retired in 1974.
ABOVE: Pioneer founding figures are shown during the district's 35th anniversary celebration in 2001. William O'Connell, left, original Superintendent George Crawford, and long-time high school principal Raymond Cenni.
According to a history of Pioneer School District by Jeff Mason, Mr. O'Connell played a vital role in creating Pioneer Middle School.
"After the new junior-senior high school opened in September 1969, it did not take long for crowded conditions to re-appear in the lower grades. The youngest of the 'baby boomers' were just starting school, the area’s parochial schools had closed, and the Pioneer area was experiencing more rapid population growth than most of Western New York.
"[Pioneer's three] elementary schools (Arcade, Delevan and Sardinia) exceeded their rated capacities on opening day in September 1970. A year later, district enrollment stood at 3,507, a 34 percent increase in the five years since the merger. The school board put Junior High Principal William O’Connell in charge of researching the best plan for adding another building to the Yorkshire campus.
"[Mr. O'Connell] and his team recommended a middle school for grades 5 through 8, and the State Education Department gave its approval to the plan in 1972. Since the local share of the junior-senior high school had been paid off, voters gave their approval to the creation of a capital reserve fund to finance the anticipated project.
ABOVE: William O'Connell, left, is shown during the construction of Pioneer Middle School in 1975.
"The school board selected Gordon W. Jones Associates to design the building, and preliminary plans were ready by the spring of 1973. The voters approved the project that May, hoping for occupancy in September 1975. A $4.7 million bond anticipation note, earning 7.32 percent interest, combined with the reserve fund and incentive aid from the state due to the merger, made it possible for the middle school to be completely paid for by early summer 1975, two months before it opened. "
Mr. O'Connell was recognized as an authority on the concept of middle schools, which had just begun to replace traditional junior high schools in the early 1970s. He continued as the principal of Pioneer Middle School until his retirement in 1992. He continued his involvement with Pioneer and other school districts after his retirement in a different role, as the coordinator of many student teachers at St. Bonaventure University.
Mr. O'Connell was not only a former administrator but also an active pilot. At the time of the Pioneer School District's 35th anniversary in 2001, he helped create an aerial video of the school district that was shown at the celebration.
Mr. O'Connell is not only one of Pioneer's founding figures, but was also the husband of Mary Lee O'Connell, a former Delevan Elementary librarian, who survives. Among his surviving children is Pamela Kaminski, former Pioneer elementary teacher and current substitute teacher. Mr. and Mrs. O'Connell lived on Cobb Avenue in Delevan for many years before moving to the Rochester area several years ago.
Former Pioneer teacher Nancy Hurlburt said, "So sad to hear that the Pioneer family is mourning another loss. I worked with many educators over the years, but never one I respected more than Bill O'Connell. He led his staff with strength and fairness and most importantly, he NEVER gave up on a kid. To me that is the mark of a true professional. And of course the fact that he sang 'Danny Boy' with true Irish flair was the frosting on the cake. So proud to have been a part of your team, Bill. RIP."
ABOVE: Bill and Mary Lee O'Connell are shown in 2008 at a School to Watch celebration for Pioneer Middle School.