Please join us at a special Town Board meeting April 1st, 7:30 pm at the Community Center to discuss alternative ways of organizing the Onteora Central School District (OCSD)
After reading the mission statement if anyone would like to address the Town Board but are unable to
be at the meeting they can forward their comments to the Board's e mail addresses below.
Best Regards,
Gina Maloney
supervisor@woodstockny.org
asweet@woodstockny.org
lsimonson@woodstockny.org
trosenblum@woodstockny.org
jwenk@woodstockny.org
ccollins@woodstockny.org
COMMUNITY-BASED SCHOOL GROUP
MISSION STATEMENT:
The Community-Based School Group (CBSG) was created to explore alternative ways of organizing the Onteora Central School District (OCSD) that would ultimately benefit all students, families, educational staff and tax-paying residents of the existing district. Our goal is to plan for and create a thriving community-based school system that maximizes existing facilities and faculties, while responding to the individual needs of our communities. To that end, we envision the re-organization of the OCSD into two significantly smaller districts: the Easterly (which is to include West Hurley and Woodstock), and the Westerly (which is to include Phoenicia and Boiceville).
BACKGROUND:
As reported in The Woodstock Times, the Onteora Central School Board (OCSB) has directed Superintendent Dr. Ford to preside over the reduction of the current district – the second largest school district within the state of New York. At a time when our student population is declining and the cost of education and infrastructure maintenance is rising, the OCSB is seeking the passage of major tax bonds, as well as possible school closures. There is an urgency to address these issues as decisions are imminent.
A thriving community-based school system is arguably the most important cornerstone of a healthy community. Vital school districts attract families. Families support local economies. Reorganization would help preserve housing values and encourage the economic viability of our business districts. Smaller school districts would also result in a decrease in transportation costs, shorter commutes for students, as well as more opportunities for parental and neighborhood involvement in school-related activities.
CALL TO ACTION:
Before long-term decisions are made that will impact our communities for decades, we hereby request that the OCSB place a moratorium on the implementation of any current 5-8 middle school planning and the securing of any associated bonding authority until a formal study is undertaken to examine the redistricting of the OCSD.
To the Board Members and Supervisors of our respective towns, we request the adoption of a resolution in support of exploring the district re-organization process. We also ask for support to call upon BOCES Superintendent Martin Ruglis for the purpose of acting as a liaison between the Town Boards, the OCSD citizens and the OCSD School Board in assessing the potential for the successful re-organization of the Onteora Central School District.
CONTACT:
For more information, please visit our website http://cbschoolgroup.blogspot.com.