Local Districts Looking for More Collaboration

SCHOHARIE - Six school districts in northern Schoharie County and the surrounding regions are not looking to merge, but as seeking ways to work more collaboratively.

Schoharie school Superintendent David Blanchard detailed Collaborative Planning and Resource Initiative that will be delivered to the state Educational Department by December 6. The report involves the Schoharie, Middleburgh, Berne-Knox, Duanesburg, Cobleskill-Richmondville, and Sharon Springs school districts as well as Capital District BOCES.

The districts have been meeting monthly for about 10 years with the Capital Region BOCES District Superintendent to plan, problem solve and collaborate, Mr. Blanchard said. The group operates as a subgroup within the larger BOCES region.

The districts have worked  very well together and it has been a very cooperative partnership, Mr. Blanchard told school board members. 

The collaborative work has improved education in all the districts and made them more efficient, he added. Examples includes the joint wrestling team between Schoharie and Duanesburg and the regional special education program at Cobleskill-Richmondville. He also noted that students from Schoharie and Middleburgh go to the New Visions program at BOCES. Students from all six districts also attend career and technical programs at the CTE center in Schoharie.

The collaboration between the districts is very important in a rural area where student enrollment is declining in most districts, Mr. Blanchard said. The districts have similar hurdles to overcome in hiring teachers and staff and meeting state mandates.

Representatives, superintendents and other staff, from the districts will have a meeting to discus their needs, he added.

A "dashboard" will be set up so districts can express needs and have access to help.

The key objectives  of the report are: Enhance and preserve educational opportunities, Improve operational efficiencies, Address budget constraints, and Meet state mandates.  

New York State is pushing for school districts to share more. Mr. Blanchard noted.