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The Poughkeepsie City School District Board of Education is set to vote on a plan to restructure the district's elementary schools on Wednesday (February 19). The proposed plan aims to address students' needs and improve academic outcomes by reconfiguring the grade levels served by each school. If approved, the changes will take effect in the fall of 2025.
Under the plan, the Morse and Krieger school buildings will serve students in pre-K through second grade, while the Clinton, Smith, and Warring school buildings will accommodate grades three through five. This reconfiguration is designed to provide stability for students and reduce the stress associated with switching schools multiple times in their early education years. Janet Bisti, director of elementary education, emphasized that the new structure would support "greater curriculum alignment" and foster stronger relationships between families and school staff.
The district has been working on this proposal for over a year and a half, considering feedback from families and community stakeholders. The plan also includes providing bus transportation for most students in grades pre-K through five, which voters will need to approve during the May 20 budget vote and board election. The district has already secured "Child Safety Zone" designations, making it eligible for state aid to cover 81.5% of transportation costs.
The board meeting will also address the renaming of three district buildings, including the Samuel F.B. Morse and Gov. George Clinton elementary schools, due to their namesakes' controversial histories. The committee overseeing the renaming process has gathered community input and will present its findings at the meeting.