October 11, 2023 by Eleanor McNamara (‘24)
Saratoga Spring’s Board of Education has had a successful start to the school year!
The first meeting of the Board of Education occurred on September 14th at Dorothy Nolan Elementary School. The District Safety Committee presented a handful of ongoing initiatives in the school district and shared what they have accomplished to make the school safer. Some of these improvements include the implementation of both external and internal warning devices which signal that a building is in lockdown, as well as a new district-wide video surveillance system placed in key areas. Secure vestibules with dividers will be installed in all schools to ensure safe entry of visitors. These additions are being funded by the Legacy Project, a $129.7 million venture intended to improve and renovate all eight school buildings and the transportation facility.
The second meeting was on September 28th at Geyser Road Elementary School. Led by building principal Ms. Tsao, the SSHS administrative team presented their annual Pathways Vision 9-12 program report. The presentation highlighted the program expansion that Saratoga Springs High School has undergone; the high school now offers 16 AP courses, 35 CHS/UHS courses, and various pathways for career and technical education through BOCES. The administrative team emphasized the importance and continuation of community outreach through programs like No Place for Hate, Saratoga Unified, and The Ally Program. Saratoga Springs High School has recently added two part-time coaches as support for students and staff. The hope is for these coaches to use restorative practices to help build and heal relationships in the high school. The administrative team was also extremely proud to announce that U.S. News and World Report recently named Saratoga Springs High School to their list of best high schools! For more information on any meeting, visit Agenda – Saratoga Springs City School District BoardDocs® Pro. It is important to remember that the first three slots of the public comment period at the beginning of board meetings are reserved for students in the district. If you have a concern, please come and voice it! The next meeting is on October 12th at Greenfield Elementary School starting at 7:00 p.m. A complete list of future meeting dates is available here: 2023-2024 Board of Education Schedule – Saratoga City School District (saratogaschools.org).