Company to study closing school

By Steven Cook
Gazette Reporter

March 12, 2002
AMSTERDAM - A Catskill firm will conduct a study on the feasibility of closing one or more Amsterdam elementary schools, the Greater Amsterdam Board of Education voted Monday night.

The board chose Management Advisory Group in a 9-0 vote over another firm, Education-Solutions-Progress, of Clayville.

The study is to cost $11,500 and be completed by Aug. 1.

"In concept, it's a study, a look at all elementary programs, all curriculum items in the elementary program," Management Advisory Group representative Timothy Clay said under questioning by the board. "Finally, does it make sense economically to do it?"

The board had hoped to interview representatives of both consultant firms at Monday night's meeting, but only Clay could attend.

William Whitehill, a representative from Education-Solutions-Progress, bowed out at the last minute due to health problems, Superintendent Ron Limoncelli said.

The board requested proposals for a study to look at the feasibility of closing one or more schools in December, a move prompted by the district's consolidation committee. The committee wanted the study done in-house, but the board wanted an outside consultant.

The committee has been studying cost-saving measures, including the possibility of closing one or more elementary schools, since last summer.

Management Advisory Group, which has conducted other studies for the district in the past, is expected to begin in early May. The study is expected to take eight to 10 weeks, Clay told the board.

As many as six Management Advisory Group staffers are to conduct the study, looking at the district's education policy, geographic layout and transportation, among other issues, Clay said.

Interviews with district personnel and site visits would also be included, he said.

Board member Sandy Griffin expressed concern on whether the firm would use information already gathered by the consolidation committee.

Clay said the firm would use that information, but not be limited to it.

Also Monday, the board voted to begin the process of joining Hamilton-Fulton-Montgomery BOCES, directing Limoncelli to gather student information for a possible entry into the program.

However, any possible entry into BOCES would be dependent on the outcome of the state budget process and state aid figures, board members said.

Posted July 13, 2002