• Friday, May 23 – No School
• Monday, May 26 – No School
• Tuesday, May 27 – No School
• Wednesday, May 28 – School in Session (ValleyCats Field Trip)

Notice Is Hereby Given that a public hearing of the qualified voters of the Wynantskill Union Free School District, Rensselaer County, Wynantskill New York, will be held in the Gardner-Dickinson School in said District, on Tuesday, May 13, 2025, at 7:00 p.m. prevailing time, for the presentation of the budget document.

And Further Notice Is Hereby Given that said vote and election will be held on Tuesday, May 20, 2025, between the hours of 12:00 p.m. and 9:00 p.m., prevailing time, in the Gardner-Dickinson School at which time the polls will be opened to vote by voting machine upon the following items:

1.       To adopt the annual budget of the School District for the fiscal year 2025-2026 and to 

authorize the requisite portion thereof to be raised by taxation on the taxable property of 

the District.

2.       To elect two (2) members of the Board of Education. Both are three (3) year terms commencing July 1, 2025, and expiring June 30, 2028.

Kyle Barber, District Clerk                                                  

Wynantskill Union Free School District

To view continous updates regarding the ongoing Optimization Study, visit our web page here: https://www.wynantskillufsd.org/optimization-study/

April 2025: Dear Gardner-Dickinson School Community,

We hope this letter finds you well. We are writing to provide an update regarding the progress with the district’s optimization study.  The Schmitt Leadership Group continues to work on the study and anticipates it will conclude in the summer.  The Board of Education will receive a preliminary report in July 2025, and the completed study will soon follow.  The final report will be presented in a public forum at a date to be determined after the August Board of Education meeting.

The primary purpose of this optimization study is to conduct a thorough assessment of the views and insights from various stakeholders, including the Board of Education, superintendent, principal, faculty, staff, students, family members and community members. By gathering data and reviewing stakeholder perspectives, the district will gain a comprehensive understanding of the current state of our district.  This study will inform and position our district to create the best future for the Wynantskill UFSD.

Each action of the optimization study reviews current data and gains stakeholder perceptions, so all views are represented in future discussions.  The Schmitt Leadership Group reviewed current enrollment trends, enrollment data, financial data, and prior programming decisions to develop a complete and inclusive perspective. To date, the study has offered or will offer the following opportunities to gather information, review data, and gain stakeholder perceptions:

• March 2025: Interviewed all students in grades 7&8 – over 60 participants

• March & April 2025: Stakeholder interview sessions with admin/faculty/staff, and initial in-person conversations with families -over 100 participants

• April 2025: Preliminary consolidation aid run analysis

• *May 2025: Community-wide Electronic Survey to be Launched- May 15th

• May 2025: Community-wide Member Forum Discussions- May 22nd @ 5pm and 6pm

• June 2025: Review completed for bargaining unit, transportation, tuition contracts and survey analysis

• June 2025: Review district finances and enrollment data

• June/July 2025: Public presentation and discussion

• July/August 2025: Optimization Study report provided

*Survey coming soon…

Beginning on May 15th, all district-wide community members will have the opportunity to provide feedback through an electronic survey. The survey will be launched with instructions in the budget newsletter for community members.  The purpose of this survey is to dive deeper into community perceptions and to incorporate all views and visions for the future of the district.

Thank you for your continued support and commitment to our district. We look forward to working with you throughout this process and are excited about the opportunities that lie ahead. Together, we can build a stronger, more resilient and innovative educational environment for all students.

Sincerely,

Dr. Yodis and the Wynantskill Board of Education

Dear WUFSD Families,

Please view the letter to families regarding the upcoming 2025-26 Sports Merger by clicking here.

Thank you!

Dear Wynantskill Community,

We hope this letter finds you well. We are writing to inform you about an important initiative that began last week within the Wynantskill Union Free School District. As part of our ongoing commitment to providing an exceptional educational experience for our students, we’re launching an Optimization Study that aims to evaluate and enhance the opportunities currently offered within our school district. This study will position our district to create the best future for the Wynantskill community. Mr. Breidenstein has already been in-district, engaging students and faculty in these important conversations.

The primary purpose of this Optimization Study is to conduct a thorough assessment of the views and insights from various key stakeholders, including parents, guardians, faculty and staff, students, Board of Education members, administration, and members of the community. By doing so, we aim to gain a comprehensive understanding of the current state of our district and to envision and reimagine its future together. This assessment will be conducted by veteran school leaders Mr. Robert Breidenstein and Dr. Brian Schmidt from The Schmitt Leadership Group, LLC.

Mr. Breidenstein will facilitate two opportunities for community conversations in order to provide an overview of the process and purpose of the study and, most importantly, to allow the Wynantskill community an opportunity to share their experiences, opinions, and concerns. 

These conversations that welcome our community members, and families (which include students if they so choose) are scheduled to be held on:  Tuesday, March 18th at 5:00 PM and again at 6:00 PM in GD’s gymnasium.

Additional opportunities for community input will occur throughout this process, which will also include a survey to each family. We look forward to meeting with you to discuss the Wynantskill UFSD.

Sincerely,

Dr. Mary Yodis and the Wynantskill UFSD Board of Education

Dear WUFSD Community:

Please note the dates of the remaining Board of Education Meetings for the 2024-25 school year:

Special Meeting – 3/14/25 @ 4pm

Regular Meeting – 3/20/25 @ 7pm

Regular Meeting & QUESTAR III Budget Vote – 4/22/25 @ 7pm

Regular Meeting – 5/22/25 @ 7pm

Regular Meeting – 6/19/25 @ 7pm

All meetings will be held in the GD library. Thank you!

Dear GD Families:

As a reminder, there is no school this Friday, March 14th, for staff development day. Enjoy the weekend!

Dear Community:

We hope this letter finds you well.  We are writing to inform you about an important initiative that will soon be underway within the Wynantskill Union Free School District.  As part of our ongoing commitment to providing an exceptional educational experience for our students, we are launching an optimization study that aims to evaluate and enhance opportunities currently offered within the district.  This study will position our district to create the best future for the Wynantskill UFSD.

The primary purpose of this study is to conduct a thorough assessment of the views and insights from various key stakeholders, including the board of education, superintendent, principal, faculty, staff, students, and community members.  By doing so, we aim to gain a comprehensive understanding of the current state of the district and to envision its future together.  This assessment will be conducted by veteran school leaders Mr. Robert Breidenstein and Dr. Brian Schmitt from the Schmitt Leadership Group, LLC.

Through this study, we will build a robust plan that focuses on several critical areas:

Census Data: Reviewing current school enrollment, town population, and other data to predict future class sizes.

Educational Quality: Ensuring that our academic programs continue to meet and exceed the highest standards, preparing students for future success.

Optimal Student Experience: Creating an enriching and supportive environment where students may thrive both academically and personally.

Operational Excellence: Streamlining and improving operational processes to ensure efficiency and effectiveness in all that we do.

Fiscal Responsibility: Managing resources wisely to sustain and support the long-term goals of the district.

We believe that the input and collaboration of our entire community is vital to the success of this study.  We will be conducting various meetings, surveys, and forums beginning in March to gather your feedback and ensure that every voice is heard.  

Thank you for your continued support and commitment to our district.  We look forward to working with you throughout this process and are excited about the opportunities that lie ahead. Together we can build a stronger, more resilient, and innovative educational environment for our students.

Sincerely,

Dr. Mary Yodis & The Wynantskill UFSD Board of Education

State Education Law requires parents or guardians of a child residing within Wynantskill UFSD to submit a written request to the district for transportation to a non-public school.

The deadline is April 1 (or for those moving into the district, within 30 days after establishing residency within the district). Late requests shall be granted only when a reasonable explanation is provided for the delay and there is no additional cost to the district. The Board of Education will decide whether the explanation is reasonable. If a student is denied transportation to a non-public school, the parent or guardian may appeal to the Commissioner of Education if a satisfactory resolution cannot be reached with the Superintendent or Board of Education.

• Request for Transportation to Non-Public School
• Emergency Contact Information for Non-Public School Students
• Request for Transportation to Public High School