Relatively little is known about the early history of Geneva public schools. On June 19, 1812, the New York State legislature passed an act for the establishment of Common Schools which became the basis of the common school system in the State of New York. The date of the first public school established in Geneva in compliance with this act was in 1815. Subsequently, a number of schools were established in Geneva.
In 1853, the Geneva Union School was incorporated and authorized to maintain a classical department and to instruct a normal class. In 1863, Geneva schools were desegregated. On March 16, 1869, the Union School’s corporate title was changed to “The Geneva Classical and Union School.” It was the first Union School built in New York State.
In 1924-1925, a commodious High School building was built at the corner of Milton and Pulteney Streets in the City of Geneva. The school was erected on the grounds formerly occupied by a cemetery; the bodies from which were exhumed and removed to Glenwood Cemetery. The building was used by Finger Lakes Community College for several years starting in 2007, before being demolished in 2014.
In 1981, the high school was moved to its present location at 101 Carter Road in the City of Geneva.
The District offices are located at 400 West North Street in Geneva. The current Superintendent is Ms. Trina Smith Newton. Previously, the school's offices were located at 649 South Exchange Street in Geneva, but were moved before the 2010 school year.
Ms. Trina S. Newton–Superintendent
Mr. Kevin Whitaker–Assistant Superintendent for School Improvement & Accountability
Mr. Stephen Kruger–Assistant Superintendent of Administrative Services
Previous assignment and reason for departure denoted in parentheses
Mr. William H. Vrooman–1879–1891
Mr. W.H. Truesdale–1891–1913
Mr. A.J. Meller–1913–1926
Mr. W. Lynn Houseman–1926-1956 (Principal - White Plains High School, retired)
Dr. Melvin C. Livingston–1956-1963 (Assistant Superintendent of Business- Garden City School District, resigned)
Albert C. Lindemann [interim]–1963-1964 (Assistant Superintendent - Geneva City Schools, returned to position)
Dr. William S. Chiverton–1964-1972 (Supervising Principal - Huntington Valley Central School, resigned)
Lee E. Thomas–1972-1975 (Assistant Superintendent for Curriculum & Instruction - Geneva City Schools, contract not renewed)
Dr. Paul E. Kirsch–1975-1985 (Superintendent - Salmanca City School District, retired)
Vincent J. Scalise–1985-1993 (Principal - Geneva High School, retired)
Mr. George A. Kiley–1993-2000 (Principal - Ithaca High School, named Superintendent of SAD 37)
Mr. Joseph F. Stoner–2000–2004 (Superintendent - Unadilla Valley Central School District, named Superintendent of Maine-Endwell Central School District)
Dr. Larry R. Pedersen (interim)–2004–2005 (Interim Superintendent - Churchville-Chili Central School District, retired)
Dr. Robert C. Young, Jr.–2005-2011 (Assistant Superintendent for Business & Personnel - Corning-Painted Post City School District, retired)
Dr. David Gleason (interim)–2011-2012 (Assistant Superintendent for Business - Geneva City School District, returned to position)
Josephine Guard–President
Stanton Tepfer–Vice President
José Canario
Michael Ellis
May Farnsworth
Amy Jackson Sellers
Jeff Pierce
Geneva High School is located at 101 Carter Road and serves grades 9 through 12. The current principal is Mr. Gregory Baker and the current assistant principal is Mr. Nathan Schneckenberger.
Geneva High School was originally based on 63 Pulteney Street in Geneva, a three-story building that was constructed in 1926. A new classroom wing was added to the building in 1965 on the southern half of the building. In 1981, following the construction of a new high school building on 101 Carter Road, the High School moved to the new location, the Pulteney Street campus served as the location of Geneva Middle School.
Previous assignment and reason for departure denoted in parentheses
Mr. Issac Swift–1839–1852
Mr. J.E. Dexter–1852–1855
Mr. E.M. Hutchins–1855–1857
Mr. B.F. Bristol–1857–1859
Mr. William Vrooman–1879–1889
Mr. W.H. Truesdale–1889–1913
Mr. A.J. Meller–1913–1921
Mr. Lewis M. Collins–1921-1950 (Inspector - New York State Department of Education, retired)
Mr. Spurgeon B. Wuertenberger–1950-1971 (Principal - Belvedere Middle School, retired)
Mr. Vincent Scalise–1971-1985 (Principal - Geneva Junior High School, named Superintendent of Geneva City School District)
Mr. Edward J. Cigna–1985-1993 (Assistant Principal - Kings Park High School, named Director of Instructional Technology of East Meadow School District)
Mr. Brian J. Mazza–1993-1997 (Dean of Students - Canajoharie High School, named Principal of Nashoba Regional High School)
Mr. Michael E. Simon—1997-2004 (Principal - Waterloo Middle School, named Administrator for Human Resources for Geneva City Schools)
Mrs. Ann I. Goldfarb—2004-2005† (Principal - Geneva Middle School, returned to Middle School)
Mr. David D. Pullen—2005-2007 (Assistant Principal - Geneva High School, named Principal of Penn Yan Middle School)
Mr. William W. Rotenberg–2007-2011 (Principal - North Rose-Wolcott High School, denied tenure)
†Served as Executive Principal of Middle and High School campuses
Previous assignment and reason for departure denoted in parentheses
Mr. Arthur J. McCann–1923-1958 (Physical Education teacher - Geneva High School, retired)
Mr. Harold A. Bonesteel–1958-1967 (Athletics Director - Geneva City Schools, dead)
Mr. Raymond Harrold [interim]–1967-1968 (Principal - Prospect Street School, retired)
Mr. Robert Paradiso–1968-1969 (Business teacher - Geneva High School, returned to teaching)
Ms. Helen P. Maney–1969-1978 (Social Studies teacher - Geneva High School, retired)
Mr. Guy Spader [interim]–1978 (Physical Education teacher - Geneva High School, returned to teaching duties)
Mr. Robert J. Maher–1978-1996 (Work Study Coordinator - Gates-Chili High School, retired)
Ms. Claudia W. Masters–1996–1997
Mr. Michael J. Ferrara–1997-1998 (Social Studies teacher - Geneva High School, named Vice Principal of Waterloo High School)
Mr. Thomas J. Douglas–1998–2000 (Assistant Principal - Geneva Middle School, named Principal of Paul V. Moore High School)
Mr. David Pullen–2000-2005 (Physical Education teacher - Penn Yan Academy, named Principal of Geneva High School)
Mr. Carmine L. Calabria–2005-2007 (English teacher - Geneva High School, named Principal of Geneva Middle School)
Mrs. Karen C. Simon–2007-2010 (Assistant Principal - North Street School, retired)
Mr. Robert Smith–2010-2013 (Assistant Principal - Wayne/Finger Lakes BOCES, named Interim Principal of Geneva Middle School)
Mrs. Danielle Ouilette–2012-2014 (Assistant Principal - West Street School, named Principal of North Street School)
Mrs. Tricia Budgar–2013-2015 (English teacher - Geneva High School, named Principal of West Street School)
Mrs. Cheryl L. Covell–2015-2016 (Data Analyst - TST Boces, named Director of Curriculum & Instruction at Dryden Central School District)
Geneva Middle School is located at 101 Carter Road and serves grades 6 through 8. The current Principal is Mr. Robert Smith, and the current Assistant Principal is Kevin Fairben.
The Middle School began on what is now North Street School on West North Street in Geneva. In 1981, the school moved to the former high school on 63 Pulteney Street and remained there until the 2004 school year. At that time, it moved to a brand new building and campus built adjacent to the High School.
Previous assignment and reason for departure denoted in parentheses
Mr. Theodore L.R. Morgan–1926-1930 (unknown, named Principal of East Rochester High School)
Mr. C. Leonard Bowler–1930-1955 (Mathematics teacher - Geneva High School, retired)
Dr. Edward R. Cuony–1955-1966 (Guidance Counselor - Geneva High School, named Assistant Professor of Hobart and William Smith Colleges)
Mr. Lee Thomas–1966-1968 (Principal - Marcellus High School, named Assistant Superintendent of Geneva City Schools)
Mr. Vincent Scalise–1968-1971 (Assistant Principal - Geneva Middle School, named Principal of Geneva High School)
Mr. Duane H. DaBoll–1971-1974 (Vice Principal - Webster Junior High School, named Principal of Clifton-Fine High School)
Mr. Lawrence E. Ludd–1974-1978 (Principal - North-Rose Wolcott Middle School, named Principal of Merton Williams Middle School)
Dr. Salvatore F. Scaglione–1978-1991 (Principal - Batchelor Middle School, retired)
Mrs. Ann Goldfarb–1991-2001 (Spanish teacher - Ithaca High School, placed on assignment)
Mr. John M. Natti [interim]–2001-2003 (Assistant Principal - Geneva Middle School, returned to assistant principal duties)
Mrs. Ann Golfarb–2003-2007 (Administrator on Assignment - Geneva City School District, retired)
Mr. Carmine Calabria–2007-2013 (Assistant Principal - Geneva High School, placed on administrative leave and fired)
Previous assignment and reason for departure denoted in parentheses
Mr. Andrew T. Power–1931-1944 (Industrial Arts teacher - Geneva Junior School, named Vice Principal of Bloomfield High School)
Ms. Laura Wellman–?-1967 (Unknown, named Guidance Counselor of Geneva High School
Mr. Vincent Scalise–1967-1968 (Federal Projects Director - Geneva City Schools, named Principal of Geneva Junior High School)
Mr. Raymond R. Gagnon–1969-1985 (Science teacher - Geneva Junior High School, retired)
Mr. Edward M. Wright–1985-1988 (6th Grade Teacher - Geneva City Schools, named Principal of Ithaca Central Elementary School)
Mr. Daryl T. Scherer–1988-1993 (Business Teacher - Penn Yan Academy, named Principal of Perkins Elementary School)
Mr. Reed K. Patterson–1993-1996 (Industrial Arts teacher - Fairport High School, named Assistant Principal of Owego Free Academy High School)
Mr. Thomas Douglas–1996-1998 (Technology teacher - Penfield Central School District, named Assistant Principal of Geneva High School)
Mr. John Natti–1998-2001 (Director of Athletics - Geneva City School District, named Interim Principal of Geneva Middle School)
Mrs. Karen Simon–2001-2003 [interim] (Assistant to the Superintendent - Geneva City School District, named Principal of Southern Cayuga Middle School)
Mr. John Natti–2003-2007 (Interim Principal - Geneva Middle School, retired)
Mr. John O. Arthur–2007-2010 (Science teacher - Geneva Middle School, named Assistant Principal of Canandaigua Middle School)
North Street School is located at 400 West North Street and serves grades 3 through 5. The current interim principal is Tracy Marchionda, and the current assistant principal is Mrs. Margaret Wright.
Originally constructed as the Geneva Junior High School, The building switched to an elementary school housed Grades K through 5 for students who lived within the area close to the school. In 2008-2009, the school became a school for grades K through 2, switching principals and some faculty.
Previous assignment and reason for departure denoted in parentheses
Ms. Jessie M. King–1933-1937 (Principal - Cortland Street School, retired)
Mr. Leonard Bowler–1937-1948 (Principal - Geneva Junior School, named Principal of Geneva Junior High School)
Mrs. Marjorie C. Hucker–1948-1965 (Principal - Prospect Street School, named Principal of West Street School)
Mr. George J. Abraham–1965-1966 (Principal - West School School, named Director of Educational Services for Geneva City Schools)
Mr. Angelo T. Capizzi–1966-1968 (Elementary teacher - Geneva City schools, named Principal of Prospect Avenue School)
Ms. Mary E. Luckern–1968-1997 (Second grade teacher - West Street School, retired)
Mr. D. Thomas Scherer–1997-2003 (Principal - Perkins School, retired)
Mrs. Nina W. McCarthy–2003-2009 (Assistant Principal - North Street School, named Principal of West Street School)
Mrs. Arlene F. McDermott–2009-2011 (Principal - West Street School, retired)
Mrs. Tracy A. Marchionda–2011-2014 (Director of Curriculum and Instruction - Bath Central School District, named Director of Innovative Programming of Geneva City School District)
Mrs. Danielle Oulette–2014-2016 (Associate Principal - Geneva High School, resigned)
Previous assignment and reason for departure denoted in parentheses
Mr. William Hughes–1972-1977 (Teacher - Geneva City Schools, named Principal of Highland Elementary School)
Mr. Joseph J. Keane–1977-1979 (Teacher - Susquehanna Valley Elementary School, named Principal of Deposit Elementary School)
Mrs. Nina McCarthy–?-2003 (Unknown, named Principal of North Street School)
Mr. Terry L. Richards–2003–2006 (unknown, named Assistant Principal of Wilson Magnet High School)
Mrs. Karen Simon–2006-2007 (Principal - Southern Cayuga High School, named Vice Principal of Geneva High School)
Mr. Kevin Fairben–2007-2010 (Teacher - Penn Yan Elementary, named Assistant Principal of Geneva Middle School)
Mr. Scott J. Donnelly–2010-2014 (Assistant Principal - West Street School, named Principal of Bloomfield Elementary School)
West Street School is located at 30 West Street and serves grades K through 2. The current principal is Mrs. Tricia Budgar, and the current assistant principal is Mrs. Susan Meskos.
West Street school opened in 1956. The school originally housed Grades K through 6 (eventually Grades K through 5) for students who lived within the area close to the school. In 2008-2009, the school became a school for grades K through 2, switching principals and some faculty.
Previous assignment and reason for departure denoted in parentheses
Mr. George J. Abraham–1956-1965 (Math/Science teacher - Geneva High School, named Principal of North Street School)
Mrs. Marjorie Cook-Hucker–1965-1966 (Principal - North Street School, retired)
Mr. James C. Gugino–1966-1972 (Principal - Cincinnatus Elementary School, dead)
Mr. Angelo Capizzi––1972-1978 (Principal - Prospect Avenue School, named 5th grade teacher of West Street School)
Mrs. Ethel M. Peters–1979-1992 (Assistant Principal - West Street School, retired)
Mr. Joseph L. DeMeis–1999-2008 (Psychologist - West Street School, retired)
Mrs. Arlene McDermott–2008-2009 (Assistant Principal - West Street School, named Principal of North Street School)
Mrs. Nina McCarthy–2009-2015 (Principal - North Street School, retired)
Previous assignment and reason for departure denoted in parentheses
Mrs. Ethel Peters–1972-1979 (Teacher - West/High Street School, named Principal of West Street School)
Mrs. Arlene McDermott–1999-2008 (Principal - St. Mary's School, named Principal of West Street School)
Mr. Scott Donnelly–2008-2010 (4th grade teacher - LaFayette Intermediate School, named Assistant Principal of North Street School)
Mrs. Danielle F. Ouillette–2010-2012 (1st and 2nd Grade teacher - Leary Elementary School, named Associate Principal of Geneva High School)
Mrs. Sarah V. Cupelli–2012-2015 (2nd grade teacher - West Street School, named Principal of Bellevue Elementary School)
*Denotes interim appointment
