Wynantskill Community: Please see the following message from the Troy CSD, which was posted on their website at https://www.troycsd.org/2025/10/23/troy-csd-wynantskill-ufsd-preliminary-reorganization-plan/

We have been listening carefully to the input and questions from both communities regarding the Troy/Wynantskill Reorganization Feasibility Study.  As you may know, there are community meetings scheduled for the coming weeks, but even before they begin, we want you to know that we are committed to the following:

Preliminary Reorganization Plan

Facilities

• Gardner-Dickinson School stays open.
• Gardner-Dickinson remains a PK-8 school.
• Construction and technology infrastructure upgrades would be completed (roof, gym floor, security enhancements, and more).
• The enhanced Building Aid will enable long-term, state-of-the-art building improvements, including site work and athletic fields, at no cost to taxpayers.

Tax Impact

• Proposed five-year tax plan is a 5 percent reduction in the school tax levy the first year, followed by four consecutive years of no tax levy increase.
  • 2027-2028   –    5% reduction in school tax levy
  • 2028-2029   –    0% school tax levy increase
  • 2029-2030   –    0% school tax levy increase
  • 2030-2031   –    0% school tax levy increase
  • 2031-2032   –    0% school tax levy increase

Staffing

• No reduction in current Gardner-Dickinson staffing levels.
• Operations at Gardner-Dickinson would remain largely unchanged, with the capacity for additional supports, programs and positions.

School Choice

• Students currently enrolled in high school would be able to continue in their programs through graduation.
• We are open to a school choice transition period that is reasonable, practical, and sustainable.
• We value the community’s input around this topic.

We will dive deeper into the topics at the community meetings.  Please join us for some or all of these opportunities to discuss this plan in more detail.

• October 28, 2025, 6pm: TMS Auditorium (1976 Burdett Avenue, Troy)
• November 5, 2025, 7pm: TMS Auditorium (1976 Burdett Avenue, Troy)
• November 6, 2025, 6pm: Wynantskill UFSD Gymnasium (25 East Avenue, Troy)
• December 2, 2025, 6pm: Questar III BOCES (10 Empire State Blvd., Castleton, NY 12033)

For additional information, resources, and details, please visit www.questar.org/feasibility.

Please submit any questions to troywufsdfeasibility@gmail.com.

To view this information as a PDF, click here: Preliminary-Reorganization-Plan

Please see the letter below from Bob Breidenstein and Brian Schmitt of the Schmitt Leadership Group, or you can click here to view the newsletter that will be arriving in mailboxes soon.
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We are pleased to announce that the Troy City School District and the Wynantskill Union Free School District have initiated an Annexation Feasibility Study to explore the potential for district reorganization. This important study will be conducted by the Schmitt Leadership Group, LLC, in collaboration with Questar III BOCES and the New York State Education Department (NYSED). Together, these partners bring extensive expertise in school district leadership, financial and facilities analysis, and community engagement.

Purpose of the Feasibility Study
This study will provide an in-depth review of both districts to help our Boards of Education, staff, and community members make informed decisions about the future. Areas of focus will include:

• Enrollment trends and projections
• Academic and extracurricular programming
• Facilities and transportation systems
• Staffing, contracts, and financial impacts
• Tax implications and reorganization processes
• Opportunities to enhance programs and community connections

Schmitt Leadership Group will gather data, meet with staff and community members, and host Community Committee Working Groups to provide transparent updates throughout the process. The study will use these Community Groups to expedite the gathering of information and then incorporate committee work to facilitate study recommendations.

Timeline of the Study

• October 2025: Community engagement begins; districts provide background information.
• October – December 2025: Community Committee Working Groups.
• December 2025 – January 2026: Petition process to gauge support for annexation in both communities.
• January 2026: Draft report reviewed by Questar III BOCES and NYSED officials. Once NYS Department of Education approves the final study recommendations, they will be released to the communities.
• February 2026: Study presented to both Boards of Education in a joint session.
• March/April 2026: Wynantskill community vote.

This is a draft of the process that will take approximately six months and include many opportunities for community involvement along the way.

Continued Community Engagement
In-person Community Meetings are outlined below. These meetings are designed to encourage broad stakeholder participation. Larger, open, Community Committee Working Group meetings are intended to engage stakeholders and guide the study. All voices are welcome. Questions and comments are welcomed at troywufsdfeasibility@gmail.com until December 31, 2025.

The first meeting will be a welcome session hosted by the Troy City School District, where participants will have the opportunity to meet the Superintendent, Business Official, and Board of Education members, as well as hear the initial assurances and commitments from the Troy district team.

Meet the Troy City School District
October 28, 2025 – 6:00 PM | Troy Middle/High School Auditorium
Meet the Troy Board of Education and Superintendent
Topics include:

• 5-Year School Tax Reduction Initiative
• Facilities Improvement Plans & PK-8 Commitment, Modernization
• Staff Preservation Plan
• School Choices
• Includes a Student/Staff-Led High School Tour

Community Committee Working Groups – All Are Welcome!
All community members, parents, students, staff, and residents are invited to attend a series of 5 Community Committee Working Groups. Each meeting will focus on a specific topic and include presentations, data sharing, and opportunities for questions and feedback.

Please note: The dates and topics listed below, and discussions will prioritize the scheduled topics for each evening. Other questions or ideas can be shared or directed to the consultants via email or through the surveys that will be distributed later in the process.

November 5, 2025 – 7:00 PM | Troy Middle/High School Auditorium
(1976 Burdett Ave, Troy, NY 12180)
Topic: Tax Levy Implications

November 6, 2025 – 5:15 PM, 6:00 PM & 7:00 PM | Wynantskill UFSD Gymnasium
(25 East Avenue, Troy, NY 12180)
    5:15 PM – WUFSD Student/Staff-Led Building Tour
6:00 PM – Facility Planning and Condition Survey
7:00 PM – High School Choice, Historical Trends, and Demographics

December 2, 2025 – 6:00 PM & 7:00 PM | Questar III BOCES
(10 Empire State Blvd, Castleton-On-Hudson, NY 12033)
    6:00 PM – Transportation, Food Service, Governance & Policy Integration
7:00 PM – Instructional Programming

Presentation of Findings & Next Steps
December 17, 2025 – 6:00 PM | Troy BOE Meeting (1976 Burdett Ave, Troy, NY 12180)
December 18, 2025 – 7:00 PM | Wynantskill BOE Meeting (25 East Avenue, Troy, NY 12180)
Presentation of findings to both Boards of Education on community feedback sessions.

Please note: These are the dates we have confirmed currently. As we move through the data and process, additional small or large group meetings may be added and will be posted as they are scheduled.

Join the Conversation
Your voice matters! The meetings are designed to ensure transparency, build understanding, and incorporate all perspectives throughout the process. We encourage all members of both communities to attend, ask questions, and share feedback. Questions and suggestions can also be submitted to troywufsdfeasibility@gmail.com until December 31, 2025.

In addition to in-person opportunities, community surveys will occur at later dates to gather additional feedback from those unable to attend meetings in person.

For background information, posted materials, and updates after every Community Committee Working Group meeting, please visit the Feasibility Study webpage at https://www.questar.org/feasibility

Together, we will ensure this process reflects the values and priorities of both communities as we plan for the future of our students.

Warm regards,

Bob Breidenstein                        Brian Schmitt
Lead Consultant                                Consultant
Schmitt Leadership Group                Schmitt Leadership Group

Read Aloud to a Child Week

Every year during the last week in October, families take part in a national event to showcase the importance of reading aloud to children and to encourage families to read together. To participate, all you need to do is pick up a book and read it aloud as a family!

The theme for this year’s event is “Purposeful Acts of Kindness.”  We’ve all heard of random acts of kindness, but it is so much more powerful to intentionally lead with compassion, empathy, and an open heart.

Here’s a small sampling of books that include the theme of kindness.  If you need help finding the right book for your family, ask any bookstore or librarian for assistance.

Picture Books
K is for Kindness by Rina Horiuchi
The Rabbit Listened by Cori Doerrfield
The Tree in Me by Corinna Luyhen

Chapter Books
Wishtree by Katherine Applegate
Anybody Here Seen Frenchie by Leslie Connor
Merci Seuarez Changes Gears by Meg Medina
Legends of Lotus Island: The Guardian Test by Christina Soontornvat

For reading aloud tips and fun printables, visit www.readtothem.org/family-resources.

2025 RACW Handout

Wynantskill Community:

The 2025-26 Cardiac Arrest – AED Response Plan is now available to view and has a 30-day comment period prior to board approval. Please see the plan below, along with the district-wide safety plan, and direct any comments to Safety Specialist Tim LeVan at tlevan@wynantskillufsd.org

Thank you!

Cardiac Arrest- AED Response Plan

Wynantskill UFSD District-Wide Safety Plan 2025-2026

GD Families,

Reminder: there is no school tomorrow, Friday, October 3rd, for a staff professional development day. See you Monday!

To the Wynantskill Community,

Thank you to the many community members who joined us last week to review the results of the Optimization Study, which led the district to enter into a Feasibility Study with the Troy City School District.

Many of the questions raised about the Optimization Study have already been addressed in the posted Q&A. However, we have added updates and clarifications to reflect common questions and to address some misconceptions. You can view them here: https://www.questar.org/feasibility/

Schmitt Leadership Group, LLC to lead Feasibility Study

The Troy City School District and the Wynantskill Union Free School District are pleased to announce the selection of a search consultant who will lead both districts through a Feasibility Study as they explore a potential reorganization.

Following a Request for Proposal process led by Questar III BOCES, the Schmitt Leadership Group, LLC of Mendon, New York, was selected to conduct the study. The study will explore the following data points:

• Background descriptions of the districts; 
• History and projections of pupil enrollments; 
• Instructional Programs for students; 
• Extra-curricular offerings; 
• Facilities; 
• Transportation; 
• Personnel and  employee contracts; 
• Timelines and processes associated with reorganizations, and
• Finances, including tax implications

Troy Superintendent John Carmello noted that, “The Schmitt Leadership team provided a comprehensive proposal that met the needs of both districts.” Wynantskill Superintendent Mary Yodis added, “We were impressed with the availability of the Schmitt team, including their engagement with our community, during the Optimization Study performed last year.”

The Feasibility Study will be led by Robert Breidenstein and is anticipated to take approximately seven months to complete. For more information about this process, please visit https://www.questar.org/feasibility/ 

Attention Wynantskill Community:

Please note that next week’s Board of Education meeting, scheduled for Thursday, September 18, will begin at 7:30 p.m. instead of the regular 7:00 p.m. start time.

Thank you for your understanding!