The Onteora School District is moving forward with a plan to consolidate students onto a single campus, citing declining enrollment and financial constraints. In 2004, the district enrolled 2,111 students across four school buildings. As of January, that number has fallen to 1,040, prompting officials to pursue a $70.5 million capital project, funded in part by an approximately $55 million bond, that would expand and enhance Bennett Elementary School and the Onteora Middle-High School, as well as close Woodstock Elementary by 2028.

After months of public meetings and financial analysis, the Onteora Board of Education voted unanimously on March 4 to put forward a single bond proposition rather than separate proposals for elementary and secondary school upgrades. District officials said the decision reflects the community’s vision for a unified central campus and ensures that financial savings from consolidation will offset costs over time. However, some residents remain frustrated, arguing that the decision prevents voters from weighing in separately on the closure of community schools and other planned improvements.

The $70.5 million bond, set to go before voters on May 20, 2025, includes:

• Bennett Elementary: 10 new classrooms, a larger library and art space, a new gym, and an additional music room.
• Onteora Middle-High School: Renovations to science classrooms, upgrades to counseling offices, and improvements to the auditorium.
• Athletic Facilities: A multi-use turf field, new lights, and a new track.

The school board has defended its decision, citing the need to address staffing shortages, inefficient building usage, and budgetary pressures. “We have all received frequent and detailed presentations from our administration documenting our declining enrollment and the enormous expense of maintaining and operating under-enrolled schools,” the board said in a statement provided via email to The Overlook. The board argues that consolidation will reduce staffing redundancies, maintenance costs, and transportation expenses—noting that the district could cut its daily bus runs from 26 to 19, potentially saving hundreds of thousands of dollars annually.

Shandaken Hires Inspector to Assess Phoenicia Elementary

As Onteora moves forward with its centralization plan, the Town of Shandaken has hired a building inspector to evaluate the former Phoenicia Elementary School, which the district closed in 2024.

Shandaken Deputy Supervisor Robert Drake said the inspection is expected next week and that officials are exploring options for leasing the building from the school district. “We’re asking our lawyer to clarify any usage limitations,” Drake said, adding that the town is unlikely to make a final decision before its April 7 town meeting.

Officials have also discussed acquiring the school for $1, a potential deal that would allow it to remain a community asset. However, the property requires significant repairs.

Community Reactions

For some, the consolidation plan aligns with long-term financial and educational goals. Jessica Wisneski, a parent from Olivebridge and a political organizer and strategist, supports the plan both for its cost-saving potential and its impact on special education services. “One of my children really needed a co-teacher in the classroom all day but only had one for half the day. When you bring everybody together on one campus, full-day co-teaching becomes a possibility,” she said.

Others, particularly in Woodstock, have voiced concerns over the closure of neighborhood schools. Lindsay Shands, member of the Woodstock Parent Teacher Association (PTA) and a Hurley resident with children at Woodstock Elementary, said the process has been difficult for many families. “I understand the benefits of centralization, but I am heartbroken about the loss of our community school,” she said. “I also feel angry about how the board handled the decision—it was rushed, and they never really took ownership of how it divided the community.”

Some residents have also questioned whether the district’s projected savings will materialize. Daniel Souweine, a Woodstock parent who lives in Hurley and works in software, pointed to the closure of Phoenicia Elementary as an example. “They haven’t shown us exactly what they saved from closing Phoenicia Elementary yet, and still they’re using the same argument to justify closing Woodstock,” he said. “If they lost $7 million in state foundation aid, would closing Woodstock really be the only option?”

What Happens Next?

Despite calls from some residents to split the bond into two separate votes—one for Bennett Elementary and another for the Middle-High School and athletic upgrades—the board has opted to keep the improvements bundled into a single vote. “We learned that if we bundle all of the additions, improvements, and upgrades that the community has visioned for the capital project, the impact of financing it on the tax levy would not be to add tax burden, it would actually be to slightly reduce the overall tax burden over time, due to substantial reductions in ongoing operating expenses,” the board stated.

The final vote on the bond will take place on May 20, and the outcome will determine whether Onteora moves toward a single-campus future or whether the district will need to explore alternative solutions for declining enrollment and rising costs.

For now, the community remains divided—between a vision for the future and a sense of loss for what is being left behind.

Noah Eckstein is the editor-in-chief of The Overlook. Send correspondence to noah@theoverlooknews.com.