Facing sharply declining enrollment and a significant projected budget deficit for next year, the Ogdensburg City School District Board of Education at its Feb. 9 meeting reviewed a proposed elementary grade reconfiguration for the 2026-27 school year that would maintain academic programs while reducing costs.
Under the plan, Grant C. Madill Elementary would become a primary school for UPK-1 students, while John F. Kennedy Elementary would become an intermediate school for grades 2-6. Ogdensburg Free Academy would continue to serve grades 7-12. Read more about the plan here.
“The district is too big to close an elementary school building, but too small to continue our practice of address‑based enrollment,” Ogdensburg Superintendent Kevin Kendall said. “The proposal is the most fiscally responsible option while maintaining academic integrity.”
Kendall emphasized the need for restructuring due to a 16% enrollment decline since 2015, when the district served 1,700 students. According to a recent study, enrollment is projected at 1,273 students next year, with long‑term projections showing enrollment as low as 879 students by 2033.
In addition to declining enrollment, the district faces a projected $2.54 million deficit for 2026-27, while foundation aid is expected to increase by only 1%, or $220,000 next year. Without restructuring, Kendall said, the district would need to consider an unsustainable 20% tax levy increase.
As a reconfiguration would streamline grade sections, reduce duplication of services across the two K-6 schools and improve staffing and scheduling efficiency, the district would be able to reduce costs by eliminating several positions through attrition, ensuring no current employees lose their jobs. With about 10 anticipated retirements, the district plans to leave those positions unfilled, generating significant savings to help reduce the projected deficit to under $500,000. A detailed presentation of the 2026-27 budget will be shared at the Feb. 23 board meeting.
In addition to cost savings, the proposed reconfiguration would result in:
- Greater equity and access for students, including consistent opportunities across grade levels, more balanced class sizes, and equitable resource distribution.
- Enhanced student experience, with early learners benefiting from a dedicated primary environment and intermediate students gaining equitable access to specialized spaces such as science labs and a band room, along with smoother cohort transitions.
- Operational and support‑service benefits, including more effective deployment of teaching assistants, specialists, and support staff, and improved developmental alignment for health and counseling services.
As consideration of the plan continues, a steering committee of community members and board representatives will be formed to anticipate questions, address concerns and examine all aspects of the proposal.