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Superintendent outlines 'Reimagining Our Schools' committee to study future use of elementary buildings
Summary
Superintendent Schwartz presented a plan to form a central Reimagining Our Schools committee, open applications July 28 through Labor Day, and produce recommendations in time to inform the district budget process; the work could include school repurposing or closure and will follow New York State education law.
Superintendent Schwartz told the Scotia-Glenville Central School District Board of Education that she is creating a Reimagining Our Schools committee to evaluate future uses of the district's elementary school buildings and report in time to inform the district's budget process.
Schwartz said the group will be ‘‘a vehicle for determining the future use of the district's elementary schools,’’ adding, “I am not saying closure. I don't know.” The superintendent said the committee’s work could range from repurposing buildings to closure, and emphasized the group must address student reassignment, transportation, staffing and contractual obligations.
The committee will begin as a single central group and split into smaller work teams focused on tasks such as attendance boundary review, grade-level configuration, communications, transportation and human resources. Schwartz said the district will post an online application for people who want to serve; the application will be available July 28 through Labor Day and will be hosted on a dedicated “Reimagining Our Schools” page on the district website.
Schwartz told trustees the committee must complete work in time to “contribute meaningfully as we are preparing budget and getting ready for a budget adoption at the March or early April.” She said the district will comply with New York State education law and commissioner regulations governing school closings and related public hearings.
Schwartz described required subwork: transportation analysis with the director of transportation, human-resources work led by district HR staff, and separate teams to draft communication materials and run public forums. She said some items—like mascot changes—are premature and will be placed in a “parking lot” of topics to address after higher-priority decisions are made.
The superintendent emphasized equity and student outcomes, saying any configuration change (for example, moving sixth grade back to elementary) would require analysis of impacts on grades 7–12, staffing, special education services and collective bargaining obligations. She named Joe Bush as a district staff member she expects to lead human-resources work and referenced the transportation director, Clara, as key to boundary and routing analysis.
Schwartz said the draft charge will be circulated for board feedback; she plans to bring a final charge to the board at the next meeting and to begin collecting committee member names and communicating publicly. She said the district will publish agendas and minutes for all groups, hold required public hearings, and maintain a living document on the web so the community can follow progress.
The board asked clarifying questions during the presentation; several trustees welcomed the transparency and the website-based sign-up. Schwartz said the process will be iterative and that timelines may adjust as work proceeds.
Trustees and staff will review applications and form balanced teams intended to include representation from affected schools and families. The superintendent said the district will pay attention to honoring school legacies and supporting staff and students through any transitions.
A final charge and timeline will be presented to the board at a future meeting; applications will remain available after Labor Day for people who miss the initial window.
