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Feb. 15, 2011—The
Schalmont Board of Education adopted a resolution last night to
close both Mariaville and Woestina elementary schools, effective
June 30, 2011.
All kindergarten through fourth-grade students, including the
approximately 166 students from Mariaville and Woestina, will
begin attending Jefferson Elementary School this fall.
All fifth-graders will attend the middle school.
They will continue to ride elementary school buses and attend
classes in the traditional elementary format—separate from other
middle school grades.
“This was an extremely difficult and emotional decision for
everyone involved,” said Superintendent Dr. Valerie Kelsey.
“However, I believe this was the tough decision that needed to
be made to ensure a fair balance of quality programs and
services for all district students while being sensitive to the
needs of our taxpayers.”
The closures will save an estimated $1.2–$1.4 million at a time
when the district is faced with declining enrollment, rising
operating costs and a significant gap between expenses and
revenues. It will also help balance the per pupil cost at the
elementary level, which currently has a difference of roughly
$3,000 depending on the school.
The decision comes after months of discussions in which
residents evaluated several potential scenarios designed to more
efficiently deliver the district’s kindergarten through
twelfth-grade programming. The board commissioned an independent
review of the district’s facilities in December 2009.
“Generally the feedback we received indicated that doing nothing
was not an option,” said Board of Education President Kevin
Thompson. “Our community said they cannot afford to pay higher
taxes although they believe in maintaining educational
programs.”
Thompson noted that the board’s decision was reached in order to
prudently plan for the long-term financial stability of the
district.
Gov. Andrew M. Cuomo’s executive budget proposal, in which
Schalmont is slated for a $1.1 million cut in state aid, and the
potential property tax proposal, both present very real and
difficult financial challenges to the district as well.
“While school closings are probably one of the most difficult
decisions a school board has to make, I believe this is the path
that had to be pursued to maintain the integrity of our
educational programming for all of our students,” said Thompson.
Over the past few years, district officials have been addressing
declining enrollment and cuts to state aid by initiating a
variety of cost-saving initiatives and reducing staffing by 13
percent. In addition, more than $1.5 million in reductions were
made in last year’s budget alone.
In order to balance the 2011-12 budget, district officials
expect additional cuts will be needed districtwide. This
information will be made available publicly in the coming weeks
and will also be reviewed by the Citizens Budget Advisory
Committee, a volunteer group of parents, community members and
staff.
The school board has indicated that maintaining class size and
providing students with access to academic programming that
prepares them for success in college, the workforce and beyond
remain their top priorities.
Fate of the school buildings
Over the next several months, the school board will decide on
the future of the two school buildings.
In the past, the district has sold or rented facilities no
longer in use. For example, Schonowe has not been used by
Schalmont as an elementary school since 1980, but various
programs and organizations have leased the facility over the
years. It currently houses the Schalmont-Mohonasen Community
Transition Program with the remainder of the building rented to
Capital Region BOCES.
“The surrounding community is still vibrant and attracting new
property owners,” said Thompson. “The board’s goal is of course
to find similarly successful functions for the Mariaville and
Woestina buildings.”
Planning for the transition
Feedback will be sought from parents, teachers and
administrators in the near future to help ensure a smooth
transition that meets all students’ academic, social and
emotional needs. Issues raised during roundtable discussions
this fall/winter regarding the fifth-grade structure and the
transition process for elementary students will also be
addressed.
A committee will be formed this fall discuss the long-term
structure of the middle school program, including the possible
implementation of an intermediate grade format that houses
fifth- and sixth-graders together and potential changes to
transportation arrangements for sixth-graders. Any such changes
would be incorporated for the 2012-13 school year.
“While it’s heartbreaking to see two schools steeped in history
and culture and cherished so deeply by their communities close,
I have no doubt that we’ll be able to work together to make this
a positive transition for all of our students,” said Kelsey. “Schalmont
has a reputation for excellence, and that’s certainly not going
to change.”
Stay tuned for more information as it becomes available via the
district website,
Facebook,
Twitter and the district’s opt-in
news alert service,
School News Notifier.
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