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The Poughkeepsie City School District has announced a reorganization plan for its elementary schools, set to begin in the 2025-2026 school year. The plan, approved by the Board of Education, aims to consolidate students and faculty of the same grade levels into fewer buildings, enhancing educational resources and fostering a sense of community among young learners.
The reorganization will see pre-K and kindergarten students integrated with first and second graders at Krieger and Sojourner Truth Elementary Schools. Meanwhile, grades three through five will be housed at Warring, Smith, and Roberto Clemente Elementary Schools. This new structure is designed to balance school sizes and provide more targeted support services, such as special education and literacy interventions.
According to district administrators, the changes aim to improve academic outcomes by enhancing students' social and emotional development and strengthening family-school relationships. The plan also includes the addition of bus services to all elementary schools, addressing a long-standing concern among parents about student safety during commutes.
As part of the reorganization, the district will rename several schools to honor historic figures who embody values of resilience and achievement. Samuel F.B. Morse Elementary will become Sojourner Truth Elementary, Gov. George Clinton Elementary will be renamed Roberto Clemente Elementary, and the current district administration building, formerly Christopher Columbus School, will be named Jane Bolin Elementary. These changes reflect the district's commitment to aligning school names with community values and demographics.
The district's superintendent, Dr. Eric Jay Rosser, emphasized that the restructuring will not impact taxpayers, as funding has been secured to support the initiative. The new transportation services, if approved by voters, will provide bussing for students living more than half a mile from their designated schools.
The reorganization plan is subject to approval by the State Education Department and will be implemented with the goal of improving educational experiences and outcomes for Poughkeepsie's youngest students.