Margaretville and Roxbury School Districts Strengthen Collaborative Partnership to Expand Student Opportunities

Michelle Osterhoudt and Stacy Ward

MARGARETVILLE — The superintendents of Margaretville Central School District and Roxbury Central School District are proud to announce new milestones in their collaborative partnership, continuing a tradition of regional cooperation that puts students first.

Superintendent Michelle Osterhoudt (Margaretville) and Superintendent Stacy Ward (Roxbury) have worked closely together to ensure that students in both districts have access to high-quality academic and career opportunities—opportunities that may not have been possible without shared resources and creative problem-solving.

The collaboration began last year when a Margaretville student risked losing a scholarship due to lack of access to physics. Recognizing the urgency, Osterhoudt and Ward quickly arranged for the student and others to attend physics at Roxbury. That effort set the stage for a deeper, ongoing partnership.

This year, Roxbury students will travel to Margaretville to participate in chemistry courses, while a Margaretville student will attend Roxbury’s new Career and Technical Education (CTE) program in architecture and construction (see photo below). These reciprocal exchanges reflect both districts’ shared vision: that every student deserves access to the courses and programs that best prepare them for the future.

“Regionalization isn’t just a concept we talk about—it’s something our schools have been living and modeling for years,” said Michelle Osterhoudt, Superintendent of Margaretville Central School District. “Whether it’s through sharing teachers, transportation, or now expanded academic programs, we’re proving that collaboration creates real equity for students.”

Stacy Ward, Superintendent of Roxbury Central School District, added: “At the heart of this work is a commitment from our teachers, staff, and administrators. We all want to provide our students with the very best, and by working together, we’re opening doors that neither district could offer alone.”

The ONC BOCES region has long been a leader in collaborative education across New York State, with districts sharing sports, transportation, and instructional programs. The Margaretville–Roxbury partnership builds on this legacy, demonstrating that regional cooperation is not just efficient but transformative for students.

“This is about more than logistics,” Osterhoudt and Ward emphasized in a joint statement. “It’s about doing what’s right for our kids.”