Revamp Nyack Elem. Schools? Meeting Tonight

A major change may be on the horizon for Nyack's elementary schools.

The Nyack Board of Education is contemplating a shift to the Princeton Plan, which would divide the current K-through-fifth-grade experience into smaller segments.

Under the Princeton Plan, grades would be assigned to specific schools. Instead of the three schools—Valley Cottage Elementary, Liberty Elementary and Upper Nyack Elementary—housing children from all grades, they would house children from just two grades.

For example, Kindergartners and first graders would attend Valley Cottage, second graders and third graders would attend Liberty, and so on.

A committee of parents and staff have been studying the idea since 2010, according to superintendent James Montesano.

"The committee conducted research based on enrollment projections, building utilization, educational advantages and disadvantages, cost efficiencies and pertinent miscellaneous other concerns," he said. "Its report was given at a public Board meeting in June."

Montesano said the committee will also share finding with parents over the course of four public meetings throughout the month of October.

"Recognizing this is a sensitive issue, I assure you that no decision has been made about it by me nor the Board of Education," Montesano added. "We are now beginning a process of providing information and gathering feedback on the concept so the best possible decision can be made."

This year also marks the first the Nyack High School implements block scheduling.

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Meeting dates

• Upper Nyack School Monday, October 1 7:30 PM
• Liberty School Wednesday, October 3 7:30 PM
• Valley Cottage School Tuesday, October 9 7:30 PM
• Nyack Center Tuesday, October 30 7:30 PM