Dear DCS Community,
We have heard both excitement and concerns from the community over Schenectady County’s recent announcement about their potential purchase of the local YMCA, and consequent donation of the facility back to the school district. While I think we are all eager for the facility to once again reopen for our students and community members to utilize, it is important that the district take the time necessary to ensure this project’s long term sustainability and potential impact on district finances.
As I previously communicated, we want all stakeholders to be informed about this process and will be sure to share updates with the community as the initiative develops.
I would like for the community to know that the district is approaching this opportunity with two priorities in mind — first and always foremost, the academic, mental and social well-being of our students — second, the financial impact to our district and potential financial burden of our taxpayers. Decisions will be made collectively by the Board of Education and not by any one single person. No decisions will be made lightly, or without fully vetting and researching every possible consequence. All of this being said, the district continues to have positive conversations with Schenectady County officials to make sure that the deal is one that aligns with the district’s priorities and one that protects the district’s interests.
This, of course, remains just one of many exciting things happening in our district this summer. The district has been hard at work to prepare for the start of the 2022-23 school year. Our capital project to construct a new bus loop at the elementary school is progressing on schedule. We have also been making safety improvements to our buildings, including adding silent alarms on all exterior entrances that will prevent door propping and adding tools that will increase the speed at which we can lockdown and notify first responders.
Teachers and principals have been hard at work revising curriculum and running really exciting summer enrichment programs while our maintenance staff has been cleaning and refreshing our facilities from top to bottom. New staff have been hired and are being trained so that they can hit the ground running in the fall. Class schedules have been assigned, bus routes are in the process of being created and, soon, our students will learn what classrooms they will be in and what buses they will ride.
Teachers will report for their first day of school on Tuesday, September 6, followed by our students, who will kick off the new school year on Wednesday, September 7. I can’t wait to see everyone again!
Sincerely,
Dr. James Niedermeier
Superintendent of Schools
Duanesburg Central School District