Changes would improve student experience, fiscal sustainability
On December 17, 2025, administrators from the Ogdensburg City School District met with teachers to review enrollment trends and discuss inequities between the district’s two elementary schools. Prompted by financial and budget development considerations for the 2026-27 school year, leaders outlined a proposed grade reconfiguration designed to create a more balanced and equitable structure for elementary students while preserving programs and services.
Currently, both Grant C. Madill Elementary (Madill) and John F. Kennedy Elementary (JFK) serve students in UPK/Jr. Kindergarten through grade 6, with building assignments based on home address. Under the proposed reconfiguration, students in UPK through grade 1 would attend a primary school at Madill, while students in grades 2-6 would attend intermediate school at JFK.
Following the presentation, administrators invited teachers to share their feedback. Clear themes emerged:
- Broad support for the proposed model, with staff believing the move would result in stronger curriculum alignment, improved collaboration within full grade‑level teams, and more efficient communication and scheduling.
- 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.
“Our staff’s overwhelmingly positive feedback and support gives us great confidence in moving forward with this reconfiguration,” said Superintendent Kevin Kendall. “Ogdensburg has always been creative in meeting financial challenges. By reorganizing our elementary schools, we can remain fiscally responsible while continuing to deliver the high‑quality education our students deserve.”
The district will host two community forums to share information about the proposal and answer questions. The first meeting will be held at Grant C. Madill Elementary school at 6 p.m. on Tuesday, Feb. 10. The second will take place at 6 p.m. on Wednesday, Feb. 11 at John F. Kennedy Elementary School.
A preliminary budget proposal for the 2026-27 school year will be presented at the board of education meeting at 6 p.m. on Monday, Feb. 9.
For more information and updates, please visit https://www.ogdensburgk12.org/elementary-grade-reconfiguration/.