Local school districts have shared essential services for a long time. Now they’re taking that cooperation to a new level.
Cobleskill-Richmondville Superintendent Matt Sickles Tuesday night detailed the state-mandated plan, which would have six districts collaborate on everything from athletics to special ed.
C-R, Middleburgh, Schoharie, Sharon Springs, Duanesburg and Berne-Knox-Westerlo are the local group.
Representatives from each district––superintendent, board president and vice president––have met several times and will continue to meet monthly.
Called the Regionalization Initiative, the effort is designed to answer pressing issues of declining enrollment, funding and hiring challenges that affect all districts, Mr. Sickles said.
“It’s an opportunity to tackle needs and how best to meet those needs,” he added.
“It’s about thinking ahead to share resources.”
When the state first rolled out the plan months ago, the first reaction was that Albany was forcing smaller districts to merge, a long-time fear, Mr. Sickles said.
“That is not what this is about,” he said.
The goal, Vice President Dominga Lent said, is to improve education in all six districts.
“Because we live in a rural area, we have to make sure kids don’t miss opportunities,” she said.
As an example, Mr. Sickles said a district may have a full-time position, but because of declining enrollment, that person doesn’t have enough to do.
But a neighboring district may need the services that person provides, so the two districts can share the position.
Although school reps have met in the past, “This is the first time we’re all in the same room” regularly, President Bruce Tryon said.
And with monthly meetings, districts will be more aware of what each needs––and can offer.
“If we need something, I’ll know who to call,” Mr. Sickles said.
Districts already share some services; C-R is a hub for special ed, Berne-Knox and Duanesburg share a physics teacher, and Middleburgh and Berne-Knox share a wrestling team.
But the Regionalization Initiative “is a shift away from the traditional,” Mr. Sickles said.
“It’s how we better leverage our resources.”
Part of the process will be keeping in touch with faculty, staff, parents and communities to let them know what’s happening.
“We’re all trying to find the best way to serve all students,” Ms. Lent said. “Everyone’s in it together.”
The six districts are in Capital Region BOCES. Gilboa-Conesville and Jefferson, the other Schoharie County districts, are in Otsego Northern Catskills BOCES and will have a similar sharing plan with districts in their BOCES.
C-R and the other five districts already share some services with Gilboa-Conesville and Jefferson, and “We’ll be looking for more later,” Mr. Sickles said.