In a strong showing Thursday, Oct. 11, residents voted in favor of North Colonie Central School District’s annexation of Maplewood Colonie Common School.
Maplewood, a kindergarten- through-eighth-grade school, will become North Colonie’s seventh elementary school. Under the annexation agreement, the school will remain open for at least seven to 10 years before North Colonie officials will choose to keep open or close the more than 100-year-old school.
North Colonie residents voted in favor of the annexation, 1,232- to-248. Maplewood residents voted 214-to-29 in favor.
Beginning next fall, Maplewood’s seventh and eighth graders will enter Shaker Junior High School, as Maplewood moves to a kindergarten-through-sixth-grade format.
The schools will officially become one on July 1, 2008. Maplewood will keep its name, staff, colors and its insignia, the maple leaf.
Is it bittersweet? It’s more sweet than bitter. I think it’s a rebirth for Maplewood, said Jerome Steele, Maplewood principal, superintendent and business manager. Under the agreement, Steele will now be known as Maplewood principal. It’s a title he welcomes.
`The biggest loss for us is that seventh and eighth grade will no longer be part of the school,` said Steele.
But the annexation was about the students, he said.
Under the agreement those students will have access to resources that trump what the small hamlet school could provide as it struggled with double-digit tax increases to meet the rising costs of doing business during the past several years. It was the reason the district sat down with North Colonie last year.
Now Maplewood students will have access to countless after-school programs and athletics at a fraction of the cost.
Logistically, the transition will keep the school’s staff of 14 full-time teachers and as many as four part-time, Steele said. Teachers also stand to see pay increases as well as extracurricular programs for teachers.
For Steele, having to serve only as principal will open up time to refocus Maplewood’s educational direction.
`There will be a lot more focus on curriculum, structure and assuring the programs in place. Are they what they need to be and in alignment with North Colonie’s?` said Steele.
Looking back, people will say the annexation was a good thing, he said.
North Colonie officials are just as pleased as Steele at the support for the annexation.
`I am very appreciative of the support that both school communities gave to this effort. We are very pleased that this referendum passed in both districts by more than 80 percent,` said Randy Ehrenberg, North Colonie Central Schools superintendent.
Ehrenberg commented on the extensive work between both of the schools boards of education and the 26-member committee that put together the feasibility of the annexation.
Under the annexation, North Colonie will get $30 million in state incentive aid during the next 14 years. Also, North Colonie will see its state building aid jump from 48 percent to 68 percent. That funding will benefit both schools as the two are expected to meet in coming weeks to discuss capital projects at both schools.“
