To the Editor:

The Guilderland Central School District is presently seeking interested community members to serve on a district Facilities Committee. This committee will be composed of board members, district staff, administrators, and Guilderland residents and will be assisted by the architectural firm of CSArch.

The purpose of the Facilities Committee is to compile a report of recommendations to address short- and long-term improvements to GCSD facilities. These recommendations will be presented to the board of education.

The Facilities Committee will consider the work of the Future Ready Task Force, a team of school community stakeholders that is currently focusing on educational programming priorities and implications for district facilities and future capital projects.

The Future Ready Task Force has five subcommittees working on matters related to elementary programs, secondary STEAM (science, technology, engineering, art, and math) and career skills, secondary humanities, performing arts, and gathering spaces.

The Facilities Committee will be appointed at the regular board of education meeting in September. Those appointed to serve on the committee will participate in a joint meeting with the board of education and Future Ready Task Force in early October; the Facilities Committee will hold one to two meetings per month, from 4 to 5:30 p.m., from October 2024 until January 2025.

The committee is tasked with making recommendations to the board of education in February 2025, with the objective of a referendum going to Guilderland voters in May 2025.

We are seeking three parent/community representatives who would be willing to commit to serve on the committee through the creation and issuance of the final report. Interested community members should send a letter of interest by July 1, 2024 to Kelly Person, Board of Education President, Guilderland Central School District, 8 School Road, Post Office Box 18, Guilderland Center, NY 12085.

Interested community members may also submit a letter of interest electronically by emailing: superintendent@guilderlandschools.net.

Please note, if you have construction or facilities management expertise, please include that information in your letter. All letters of interest will be reviewed by the board of education’s Business Practices Committee. Community members will be notified of the committee's selection by Sept. 1.

Questions about the Facilities Committee and/or committee member search should be directed to me, Superintendent of Schools Dr. Marie Wiles at 518-456-6200, ext. 0125.

Marie Wiles, Ph.D.

Superintendent

Guilderland Central

School District

Editor’a note: See related story.