A new captain is stepping to the helm of the Capital Region Maritime Center, as a Clifton Park-based private school expands its offerings to middle school students.
The Saratoga Academy for the Arts and Science and Maritime Center officials announced on Monday, Dec. 3, an agreement to create a new middle school serving fifth to eighth graders, at the Alplaus facility along the Mohawk River. The new school, Saratoga Academy for Leadership and Maritime Programs, will open its doors to students next September. The not-for-profit school will lease the facility for three years at $90,000 annually, with an option to renew the agreement.
Michael Christensen, founder and headmaster of Saratoga Academy, said the academy saw a need for the middle school.
“Our school was tapped out at sixth grade and we didn’t see a proper fit in terms of a transition for the kids we have in-house,” Christensen said. “We certainly have the in-house need and then we saw a lot of demand from the outside community asking us … ‘When are you going to do a middle school?’”
Christensen said around 235 students attend the Academy’s elementary school. The new middle school will have a minimum of 20 students enrolled, with the goal of reaching 50, he said. Five to 10 staff members are expected in the first year and that could increase to around 25. The second school year, he hopes the middle school serves 100 students.
Another benefit for the Academy is freeing up space at its facilities in Saratoga County, which will allow it to serve more elementary students.
“As we are expanding vertically, we are expanding horizontally as well,” Christensen said.
The partnership between the Maritime Center and Saratoga Academy was spurred by a suggestion from Chamber of Southern Saratoga County President Pete Bardunias to Christensen. Bardunias knew both organizations were searching for a new partnership.
“A new generation of young people will gain a quality education along the shores of one of America’s most historic and vital waterways,” Bardunias said in a statement. “Students will learn how the Erie Canal helped shape our country’s development, but also how it can play an integral part in our future.”
Saratoga Academy Chairwoman Tiffany Torrey was “very excited” the school is linking to a maritime theme.
“Having been personally educated at the United States Merchant Marine Academy,” Torrey said, “I am pleased that my children and other children within the Capital Region will have an opportunity to experience education related to the maritime industry and our local waterways.”
Rep. Paul Tonko, D-Amsterdam, commended the partnership and said he looks forward to connecting the new school to his Mighty Waters Initiative, which seeks to promote development and investment along Mohawk and Hudson Rivers.
“Now we have even greater opportunities to capitalize on this wonderful location on the historic Mohawk River and Erie Canal,” Tonko said in a statement. “It is important that we provide young minds with experiences and a sense of place that allow them to develop an understanding of the unique geography and history of our region in order to be better stewards of our environment and heritage.”
Middle school programming will focus on project-based learning relying heavily on science and math, with themes that focus on the river and Erie Canal, Christensen said. He said the Erie Canal would provide a great pathway into state history.
“There are all kinds of hands on opportunities,” he said. “There are so many opportunities to do really cool, fun and engaging things.”
He said the maritime focus plays into the school’s vision for students while continuing to embrace technology.
“We are a leadership academy and we area trying to impart high level thinking skills with our students,” he said. “Doing things that have these maritime themes is way of extending and enriching at a higher level.”
The Maritime Center had searched for a new tenant for about a year after Capital Region BOCES left the center when its lease expired. The center was bound by the stipulation that any organization leasing the building must teaching low- to moderate-income students, which was a requirement from the terms of a loan it received from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development. The center still owes around $350,000 of the loan.
The Town of Glenville facilitates the loan payment for the center, but Supervisor Christopher Koetzle previously said the town is not liable for it. Koetzle said the school is “a fine addition” to the town.
“The school is a great use of this magnificent building and location, and is compatible with the surrounding area and the mission of the Maritime Center,” Koetzle said in a statement.
Chester Watson, president of the Board of Directors for the Maritime Center, said he was “elated” to see an agreement be reached.
“I am very, very happy that we have reached an agreement with the school to lease the facility,” Watson said.
Christensen enthusiasm for the center was apparent, too.
“The more I talk about it, the more excited I get about it,” Christensen said.