On Tuesday, July 1, the Maplewood School District officially became part of the North Colonie Central School District as the annexation that was adopted in October became effective.
Before the October vote, The Board of Education studied how the annexation would impact the schools, taxpayers and the community.
In November 2006 Board members presented the possibility of annexation, at which point, Consultant Roy McMaster broke down the annexation plan in terms of financial factors, saying the move could generate $30 million in operating incentive aid over the next 14 years.
In addition to the financial benefits, Superintendent of Schools Randy Ehrenberg said the annexation will allow students at Maplewood to attend the North Colonie Central School District’s Shaker Junior High School and then move on to Shaker High School.
Jerry Steele, principal of the Maplewood School and former superintendent of schools for the Maplewood District, said that many students who attend school in the Maplewood district also attend Shaker High School.
I guess we’re just completely part of the family now, said Steele. With the annexation, Steele is no longer superintendent of schools and does not hold a seat on the North Colonie Central School District Board of Education, but according to Ehrenberg, he has already become part of the team by attending many administrative meetings.
`He’s been invited to all our administrative meetings,` she said. `He’s already been an active member of the group.`
Ehrenberg said she hopes that people would begin to feel that Maplewood is part of North Colonie, and that it would be a smooth transition once school resumes in the fall.
She also said that the board has been talking to communities about the annexation for a long time, and that, `to have it official and fine sealed is wonderful.`
According to Steele, `We’ve been going through [the annexation process] for two years now. I think it feels good to be part of North Colonie.`
Steele said he has had a close working relationship with the administrators in the North Colonie Central School District, and that they have seen the annexation process through together.
As far as changes to the Maplewood School, Ehrenberg said she hopes the students notice virtually no changes. Steele mirrored that sentiment.
`I guess as an educator, I hope when the students walk in, I don’t want them to see any difference,` he said.
But Steele did say a few noticeable changes will be made to the Maplewood School, including a new concert band that students can participate in.
`Some of the students will be playing some instruments. I think it’s just a matter of allocation of time ` now that my seventh- and eighth-grade students will be going to [Shaker] Junior High, that frees up my music teacher to teach band,` he said, `We’re looking forward to it.`
As for what Maplewood gave to the district, he cited the school’s foreign language programs.
But despite whatever changes the school sees in the months after it has officially become one with North Colonie, Steele said the future of Maplewood should be as bright as the past.
`Maplewood has always been a great school, and it’s going to continue to be a great school, now that we’re under the umbrella of North Colonie,` he said, `It’s been a great process over the past two years, and I’m going to continue to see it through, and I’m excited to be principal.`
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