Grade realignments under consideration
The school district is reviewing five possible changes to the use of its buildings in light of declining enrollment.
The Onteora school district is reviewing five possible changes to the use of its buildings in light of declining enrollment.
A report has been posted on the district website (onteora.k12.ny.us), and the district plans to schedule a public information session that will allow residents to provide input about it.
Onteora currently has grades K-3 at Phoenicia and Woodstock elementary schools, grades 4-6 at Bennett Elementary School in Boiceville, and grades 7-12 at the middle/high school in Boiceville.
Information provided by the state shows Onteora had total enrollment of 1,212 students during the 2018-19 school year, down 430 from a decade earlier. And enrollment is forecast to shrink by another 195 students over the next 20 years.
The options in the report include:
• Closing Bennett Elementary School, splitting grades K-5 between the other two elementary schools, and adding sixth grade to the middle school.
• Closing Bennett, splitting grades K-5 between the other two elementary schools, and adding grades 5 and 6 to the middle school.
• Closing Phoenicia and Woodstock elementary schools, having all K-5 students attend Bennett, and adding grade 6 to the middle school.
• Closing Phoenicia and Woodstock, having all K-4 students attend Bennett, and adding grades 5 and 6 to the middle school.
• Closing either Phoenicia or Woodstock, splitting grades K-5 between the remaining school and Bennett, and adding grade 6 to the middle school.
The report does not provide cost estimates for reconfiguring the schools says the annual savings would be $534,000 for either of the two options that would close Bennett; $979,000 for either of the two options that would close Phoenicia and Woodstock; and $414,000 for the option that would close either Phoenicia or Woodstock.