Parents voice concerns over plan to send Onteora sixth graders to middle school in Boiceville
Finally deciding the first part of its approach to tackling declining enrollment, the Onteora School Board unanimously voted January 24 to move sixth graders from its elementary schools to the middle school in Boiceville. Next, it will have to decide which elementary school or schools to close, and when.
The board voted 6-0 to move the sixth grade starting with the 2024-25 school year. Trustee Kristy Taylor abstained because she has a child who will be affected.
Meanwhile, parents at the meeting complained of students afraid to use the bathroom because of vaping, drug use and fights.
Currently, the Woodstock and Phoenicia elementary schools serve kindergarten through third grade, while fourth- through sixth-graders attend the Bennett School next to the junior high and high school. Before the school board restructured them in 2012, Bennett, Phoenicia and Woodstock housed kindergarten through sixth grade.
