Superintendent Dan Kalbfliesh shared the following message with Heatly students, staff, and parents/guardians.
As educators, our core mission in Green Island is to empower every student to succeed and reach their maximum potential.
In recent years, however, it has become increasingly challenging for our small school to deliver the rigorous academic foundation, diverse extracurricular experiences and exposure to real-world learning opportunities that our high school students need — and more importantly, deserve — to prepare for success after high school.
In exploring potential solutions that prioritize the best interests of students, I want to share with you that our Board of Education is considering an initiative to tuition grades 9-12 students to neighboring Watervliet High School. This would mean that beginning in September 2025, all our grades 9-12 students would attend high school in Watervliet. The proposed initiative would provide greater access to programs and experiences that, I believe, will better prepare our students for college and careers after high school.
Given that our school currently has a successful partnership with the Watervliet City School District for interscholastic sports, shared food/cafeteria services, various transportation services, and special education programs, it makes good academic and fiscal sense to expand as partners in education with the proposed tuitioning plan for our high schoolers.
Mark your calendars
To learn more about the tuition plan, hear our recommendations, ask questions and express your opinions, I invite everyone to join me and our school board members for a Town Hall meeting on Monday, Dec. 9 at 5 p.m. The Watervliet Superintendent of Schools will also attend the meeting and be available to answer your questions about the academic programs, services and learning opportunities that would be available to high school students.
Please check our website for additional information, including a Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) web page. You may also use an online form to submit questions ahead of the December 9 Town Hall and upcoming Board of Education meetings.
On Monday, Dec.16, our Board of Education will vote on a resolution to determine how to proceed with the process. If the resolution is adopted, a public vote will be held on Tuesday, Feb. 4, 2025.
As we move forward, I welcome families, teachers, students, staff and community members to engage in this process as we look for the best ways to support the students of Green Island. I look forward to your participation in candid discussions and will continue to share updates with you on this developing plan.
Sincerely,
Dr. Dan Kalbfliesh, Superintendent