The school year may be winding down, but in Niskayuna local board members are gearing up to make a decision that could have a direct impact on how hundreds of students get to and from school every day. The changes in the construction project could make it easier for students to access Craig Elementary School but leave one less classroom in the building when work is completed.
Expanding the school’s bus turnaround was discussed during a Monday evening school board meeting after district officials took a closer look at the school’s Zenner Road entrance. Craig Elementary is just one of the five schools that will see work done under the $94 million facilities project approved by voters in January.
Changes in the number of students at Craig won’t leave the school cramped if there is one fewer classroom, according to district Superintendent Kevin Baughman. But any changes in the design have to be aired before the school board before being finalized.
With the summer season getting under way, putting final details into place for the construction project has been targeted as a top priority of school board president Barbara Mauro. The district is looking to get more information from the project’s design architect for the board’s July 10 meeting.
During that session, the school board is expected to set much of its direction for the 2006-07 school year. Among the items on tap is a review of the student code of conduct. Broken into three grade levels (elementary, middle and high school), the code has been updated in recent years as the district has adjusted to concerns raised by the state Department of Education.
Judy Frost, spokeswoman for the district, said on Tuesday that no decisions have been made yet on possible changes to the code.
They look at it every year and consider whether it needs to be revised, she said.
Mauro has also announced plans to run for another term at the helm of the unpaid school board. Hopeful about the outcome, she expressed caution when it comes to claiming victory before the seven-member panel formally selects a new leader.
`I’m pretty careful about not counting votes before they’re cast,` said Mauro.
`We have a policy of giving board members two years to serve as president and this is in keeping with that policy,` she said. `We have a lot ahead of us, especially with the project that the voters approved in January, and I look forward to working on that.` “
