Increasing enrollment leads to need for more teachers

One of the main cost drivers in this year’s budget is increasing enrollment. Enrollment at every elementary school has increased over the past four years and the district is projected next year to have more than 3,000 elementary students for the first time in district history.

These new students not only need new classroom space, which is being addressed in our ongoing capital project, but also new teachers.

The 2019-20 budget calls for the addition of seven new teaching positions to address the growing enrollment. The 2019-20 school year is the last year the district will have a K-6, 7-8, 9-12 building configuration. With the opening of Shaker Middle School in September 2020, the district will reconfigure to K-5 at the elementary schools and 6-8 at the middle school. This reconfiguration, along with classroom additions, will alleviate the large class sizes due to increased enrollment.

“It is such an exciting time to be in North Colonie – not just because of the construction of our middle school – but because of the expansion of our North Colonie family,” said Deputy Superintendent Kathy Skeals. “As we welcome new students and families, we also welcome the passion and innovative ideas our new faculty members will bring to the district.”

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