Learning for Life
SCHOHARIE COUNTY — I retired in 2024, leaving Florida to return to my home state of New York, settling in Schoharie County. During winter months, I visit friends in Florida, and we enjoy lots of activities that their 55+ communities offer—day trips, exercise classes, crafts, gardening, dance, and more. When I relocated to New York, I assumed I would have to forego such events since I don’t live in a senior community with all the perks. But a trip to my local library showed me an even more attractive alternative—S.C.H.O.O.L., the Schoharie County Home Of Ongoing Learning, which offers a variety of more than 150 classes or courses throughout the Fall and Spring. Even better, once you pay an annual $50 registration fee, classes are free of charge. There are also a few classes that have costs for materials or cooking ingredients, but all are taught by volunteer enthusiasts, professors, hobbyists, and subject experts. Venues include libraries, classrooms, church halls, gyms, parks, college classrooms, and other neighborhood locations, as well as meeting online.
How It All Started
It turns out that the intention of the original program that evolved into S.C.H.O.O.L. was to create a lifelong learning program like those established in other college communities. According to Jeannie Irvine, the S.C.H.O.O.L Curriculum Chair, Jan and Jerry Peters, two retired professors from SUNY Potsdam, had established a group in 2001 in that area called SOAR (Stimulating Opportunities After Retirement) that became more popular every year. When they relocated in 2004 to retire in Cobleskill, they met with two members of SUNY’s PACE (Professional and Continuing Education) office—Linda Serdy and Marie Gerhardt—to discuss a similar program in Schoharie. The timing was perfect—PACE had discontinued their evening, hobby-related classes and they were happy to partner with Jan and Jerry to provide a Lifelong Learning model that was part of the Road Scholar Program.
The first classes were held in the 2012-2013 academic year, with 16 areas of interest from art to computers, to literature, language, history and physical and emotional fitness. Initially, S.C.H.O.O.L. involved SUNY Cobleskill professors/instructors and retired instructors teaching their areas of expertise, but local businesses began to volunteer to offer classes, as well. According to current Chairman of the Board, Kathy Livingston, the program has moved out into the community apart from the college to become part of outreach for the Institute of Rural Vitality and as one of almost 400 lifelong learning groups affiliated with Road Scholar. However, the college does provide them with an office on campus and use of college classrooms, and some professors and former professors teach S.C.H.O.O.L. classes. The move away from the campus began during the pandemic when the campus was closed, and online options and other venues in the area—libraries, churches, and others with A/V capacity—offered space to hold classes.
New and Improved
The program has evolved to include teachers who are worldwide renowned specialists in their field, authors, artisans, chefs, and outdoor enthusiasts leading hikes and tours. There is also no limit to who can become a member, according to Livingston. Though many classes are held in the middle of the day, normally attracting participants in the 55+ age range, all are welcome to join, and age is not usually a factor, though they have done wine and cheese tasting classes. Evening and weekend classes are also offered. Although the program is based centrally in Schoharie County, online classes have allowed former Schoharie residents who moved away to participate, as well as an instructor from Europe who was a former exchange student in Cobleskill to teach classes. As a member of his Parliament, he comes to the UN in New York City for meetings, so his original host family convinced him to share his expertise in the S.C.H.O.O.L. program.
The Volunteers Who Make It Work
According to Livingston, a curriculum committee works ahead of the two-semester-yearly program to gather information on what is going on in the county. They search newspapers, travelogue brochures, and recommendations from others who have seen a specific presentation.
Livingston became Chairman of the Board of S.C.H.O.O.L. after joining a member of the program as a guest (paying members can invite a guest to accompany them in a class or hike). She later joined as a member to go on the hikes offered, and was asked to serve on a committee for others interested in hiking. From there, she was recruited to hold a management position, became Vice Chair, and then was elected Chairman for a two-year term overseeing a 13-person Board of Directors that sets strategy, policy, and oversees committees such as curriculum or finance.
“It is like a corporation,” Livingston said. “We have to have insurance, codes of conduct, and technology tools to support behind-the-scenes matters,” including their website, Facebook page, and agreements with each organization.
Registration for Classes Still Available
Sign-up begins about a month before each semester, with Fall semester running from late August through November, and Spring semester from March through June. However, registration continues to take place for each class up until 10 days before the class begins, so there is still time this semester to register for classes in April, May, and June.
Currently registration is done on paper and payment is by check and then it is all mailed in. Course catalogs are available online at www.cobyschool.com, with print copies being distributed at local libraries. An online registration and payment option is being revamped and will hopefully be available for registration for this fall.
Contact S.C.H.O.O.L. by Phone at (518)255-5463 (message only), email at SCHOOL@cobleskill.edu, and the website at www.cobyschool.com for more information. You can also find them on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/cobyschool .
