FAQ: Grades 4-8 Configuration

The District has previously operated this building successfully as a single Middle School with more students than are enrolled today. 

• In 2011-2012, the former Rondout Valley Middle School served 626 students in Grades 5-8.
• In 2012-2013, Rosendale Elementary School was closed and all of the District’s Grade 4 students moved to the building, which was reconfigured into two schools: the Intermediate School, which served Grades 4-6, and Junior High School, which served Grades 7-8. Under this configuration, 776 students in Grades 4-8 attended.
• Today, the combined Grade 4-8 enrollment of the Intermediate School and Junior High School has dropped to 608 students.
• Enrollment projections indicate that numbers are expected to continue declining in Ulster County and New York State.

When enrollment falls, many costs do not decrease at the same pace. Operating two schools within one building means duplicated administrators and support staffing, even as student numbers decline.

Reconfiguring to a single Middle School is a way to:

• Right-size our structure
• Keep resources focused on students
• Protect academic programs, extracurriculars, and supports over time
   

For students, the daily experience would look the same as it currently does, but there are meaningful benefits:

• One school identity, one mission, one leadership team
• Smoother transitions between grades
• Unified school identity and coordinated support services
• Greater consistency in expectations and school culture
• Long-term protection of academic programs, electives, clubs, and athletics by reducing overhead costs

The goal is to make a fiscally responsible change that strengthens, rather than diminishes, the student experience. Student supports, including counseling and special education services, would remain in place.

If approved by the Board of Education, the Grades 4-8 Middle School configuration would begin in the 2026-2027 school year.

No. There would be no changes to class sizes as a result of this reconfiguration.

No. All classrooms and instructional spaces would remain the same.

No. All current instructional models would remain in place:

• Grade 4 would remain self-contained
• Grade 5 would continue its team-based structure
• Grades 6-8 would continue subject-based instruction
   

No. There would be no changes to:

• Bus routes or transportation schedules
• Start and end times
• Lunch or recess schedules
   

No. All extracurricular programs would continue as they are currently offered.

In fact, reducing duplicated administrative costs helps the District preserve funding for these opportunities as enrollment continues to decline.
 

Staffing changes for the reconfiguration would occur through attrition, which means when someone retires or voluntarily leaves, a position may be restructured or left unfilled. This approach allows the District to plan responsibly while minimizing disruption and maintaining stability for staff and students. The full staffing and fiscal impact would occur gradually over several years as these retirements are realized. 

Currently, the Grades 4-8 building operates with two separate principals and administrative support teams, including one full-time assistant principal and another who is shared with the High School. Under a unified Middle School configuration, the principal role and Main Office functions would be combined and be supported by two assistant principals, offering consistency and streamlining services. It also allows the current shared assistant principal position to return to the High School full-time where additional support is needed.

CURRENT CONFIGURATION 2025-2026

PROPOSED CONFIGURATION 2026-2027

Separately from this reconfiguration discussion, a committee of stakeholders has been actively studying whether Grade 4 should be returned to the elementary schools, an idea that has been raised and is being explored further. While that decision is not part of the immediate reconfiguration being discussed now, it does underscore the importance of planning for continued enrollment decline. The discussion on returning Grade 4 to the Elementary Schools is ongoing and would be considered separately as a potential Phase 2, if the reconfiguration is pursued.

Yes. Community input is an important part of this exploration. Superintendent Spadaro will be providing multiple opportunities for conversation over the coming weeks, including:

• Meetings with staff
• Discussions with student representatives
• An online form  
• A presentation to the Board of Education on February 10, with opportunity for public comment
• A special Board meeting later in February