Thursday, March 30, 2023
Subscriber Login
My Profile
SpotlightNews
  • Home
  • News
    • Election 2022
    • Business
      • Spotlight On Business
      • Spotlight on Finance
    • Crime and Police
    • Discover-Towns
      • Discover Coeymans Selkirk and Feura Bush
      • Discover Delmar
      • Discover Glenmont
      • Discover Guilderland
      • Discover Latham and Boght
      • Discover Loudonville
      • Discover Menands
      • Discover Slingerlands
      • Discover Village of Colonie
      • Discover Voorheesville and New Scotland
    • Fire Departments
    • Government
    • Milestones
    • Schools
    • Sports
    • Obituaries
  • The Spot 518
    • Galleries
    • Art
    • Food and Recipes
    • Health & Fitness
    • Music
    • Theatre
  • Hot Spots Calendar
    • Calendar Listings
    • Submit Your Event
  • Opinion
    • Blogs
    • Our Opinion
    • Point of View
    • Your Opinion
  • Family Now
    • Parenting News
    • Senior News
  • Towns
    • Albany County
    • Bethlehem
    • Colonie
    • Guilderland
    • New Scotland
  • Classifieds
    • Employment – Hire Power
    • Services In the Spotlight
    • Classified Listings
    • Advertiser Login
  • Subscribe
    • Subscriber login
    • Give the gift of news
    • Join us – subscribe today
    • Newsletter sign up
    • Renew Subscription
No Result
View All Result
  • Home
  • News
    • Election 2022
    • Business
      • Spotlight On Business
      • Spotlight on Finance
    • Crime and Police
    • Discover-Towns
      • Discover Coeymans Selkirk and Feura Bush
      • Discover Delmar
      • Discover Glenmont
      • Discover Guilderland
      • Discover Latham and Boght
      • Discover Loudonville
      • Discover Menands
      • Discover Slingerlands
      • Discover Village of Colonie
      • Discover Voorheesville and New Scotland
    • Fire Departments
    • Government
    • Milestones
    • Schools
    • Sports
    • Obituaries
  • The Spot 518
    • Galleries
    • Art
    • Food and Recipes
    • Health & Fitness
    • Music
    • Theatre
  • Hot Spots Calendar
    • Calendar Listings
    • Submit Your Event
  • Opinion
    • Blogs
    • Our Opinion
    • Point of View
    • Your Opinion
  • Family Now
    • Parenting News
    • Senior News
  • Towns
    • Albany County
    • Bethlehem
    • Colonie
    • Guilderland
    • New Scotland
  • Classifieds
    • Employment – Hire Power
    • Services In the Spotlight
    • Classified Listings
    • Advertiser Login
  • Subscribe
    • Subscriber login
    • Give the gift of news
    • Join us – subscribe today
    • Newsletter sign up
    • Renew Subscription
No Result
View All Result
Spotlight News
No Result
View All Result
Home News

EDITORIAL: Need to upgrade is not a choice

Michael Hallisey by Michael Hallisey
December 28, 2016
in News, Opinion, Our Opinion
Reading Time: 2 mins read

To think where Latham was in 1970, compared to its appearance today, is staggering.

The majority of the housing developments that branch off of Troy-Schenectady Road, and those that have since sprouted north, were not present. Many of those homes were built in the early ‘80s or later and have had families continue to move in to raise their children. It’s an influx of population growth that North Colonie has endured over the years, with the school district tweaking and adjusting its elementary school assignments accordingly. But, the last major addition to Shaker High School was in 1970, when girls swooned over the guys with Bobby Sherman 8-track tapes playing in their cars.

North Colonie Superintendent Joseph Corr presented an ambitious $196 million upgrade project that voters promptly responded to in record numbers just prior to the holidays. A knee-jerk reaction would have readers thinking the the district was trying to pull a fast one on voters. The hefty price tag, also, leaves one with ticket shock. And, the timing of the vote has left some to voice their skepticism of the entire project.

The district projects roughly 1,000 additional students to walk through its doors over the next decade, and that surpasses its usual means of adjustment. It now has the opportunity, with the approval of its residents, a plan to include much needed upgrades to several of the district’s schools. Not only to address the need for more space, but also address present and future technological needs. And, the district already has state aid available to it, presently 69 percent of the cost, so long as a plan is submitted on time.

But, you voted it down.

Correction — 54 percent of voters turned the plan down. But, instead of the district shelving the idea for another time, it is scrambling to come up with yet another plan in time to take advantage of the generous state aid available to it. That rate decreases to a little more than half should a plan come in after next June. And, another plan is coming. Which means, the district is looking to do two things, convince roughly 350 voters to change their minds, and to do so in time to have more than two-thirds of the cost covered by the state.

The potential tax increase of $250 a year is a concern to anyone watching their budgets, and most of us are doing just that. However, if the original plan went through, the increase would not be effective until 2022, at its earliest.

Latham has attracted families to its school district for decades, for its low taxes, excellent schools and superb community services. North Colonie is an investment the community needs to take a look at. Corr will come back with another plan, and hopefully before next June. Everyone is tasked in making sure Shaker Pride is more tangible than those Bobby Sherman 8-tracks.

Tags: Joseph CoorNorth Colonie School DistrictShaker High School
ShareTweetShareShare
Previous Post

School of Rock to hold benefit for Niko DiNovo

Next Post

Study: Capital District music scene one of the best

Leave Comment

Stay Connected with Us

Recent News

River Road crash turns fatal

March 29, 2023

Key Elements of a Comprehensive Financial Wellness Program for Your Employees

March 29, 2023
Lake Winnepesaukee
Thomas Cole (1801-1848)
1827 or 1828
Oil on canvas; 25 1/2" x 35 1/4"
signed lower left: T.Cole
Albany Institute of History & Art, Gift of Dorothy Treat Arnold (Mrs. Ledyard)
Cogswell, Jr. 1949.1.4

A journey through the Hudson River landscape

March 29, 2023

Crossgates donates two acres to the Rapp Road Historical Association

March 29, 2023

Hot Stories This Week

  • Trending
  • Comments
  • Latest

Colonie Area Weekly Police BlotterMarch 15th – March 22nd

March 26, 2023

A ‘wicked good time’ coming to Xgates

September 2, 2022
The Rail Trail bridge over Route 85 March 2023. Photo by Scott Anson.

Route 85 to close Monday for bridge replacement

March 25, 2023
The Heath Dairy barn on the corner of Wemple Road and Route 9W.

Town stabilizes Heath Dairy barn, DOL investigates

March 24, 2023

River Road crash turns fatal

March 29, 2023

Key Elements of a Comprehensive Financial Wellness Program for Your Employees

March 29, 2023
Lake Winnepesaukee
Thomas Cole (1801-1848)
1827 or 1828
Oil on canvas; 25 1/2" x 35 1/4"
signed lower left: T.Cole
Albany Institute of History & Art, Gift of Dorothy Treat Arnold (Mrs. Ledyard)
Cogswell, Jr. 1949.1.4

A journey through the Hudson River landscape

March 29, 2023

Crossgates donates two acres to the Rapp Road Historical Association

March 29, 2023
Spotlight News

Spotlight News, The Spot 518 and Capital District Family Now are divisions of Community Media Group, LLC. Our local offices are located at 341 Delaware Ave, Delmar, NY 12054. You can contact us at 518.439.4949.

Browse

Follow Us

  • About
  • Advertise
  • Contact the Editor
  • Employment
  • Our Team
  • Privacy & Policy
  • Legal Notices Portal

© 2022 Community Media Group, LLC - 341 Delaware Ave. Delmar, NY 12054. 518.439.4949

No Result
View All Result
  • Home
  • Election 2022
  • News
    • Crime and Police
    • Fire Departments
    • Milestones
    • Real Estate and Housing
    • Schools
    • Sports
    • Spotlight On Business
    • Spotlight on Finance
  • The Spot 518
    • Galleries
    • Art
    • Theatre
    • Music
    • Food and Drink
    • Health & Fitness
  • Hot Spots Calendar
  • Newsletter Sign Up
  • Opinion
  • Classifieds
    • Advertiser Login
    • Service Directory
    • Hire Power – Employer Spotlight
  • Capital District Family Now
    • Parenting News
    • Senior News
  • Towns
    • Albany County
    • Bethlehem
    • Colonie
    • Guilderland
  • Log In
  • Subscribe

© 2022 Community Media Group, LLC - 341 Delaware Ave. Delmar, NY 12054. 518.439.4949