Consulting engineer Bill Hennessy told the board that the current building is approximately 1,775 square feet and an additional 550 feet will be added.

“Westmere is lost and McKownville was lost long ago,” said David Bourque, who has lived in Guilderland for 50 years, the last 30 in Altamont. “Voorheesville is on the cusp of being lost to suburbia …. We want to protect Altamont’s unique character.”

“Some of the recommendations in this report may appear at first reading to be too big or too bold, but significant change is warranted,” the report says, noting the formula’s use of “old, outdated information” as well as its “outmoded modeling to measure pupil needs and local school district wealth.”

Christine Duffy, a Guilderland resident and consistent advocate for people with disabilities, spoke against the expenditure, saying the board should instead spend funds so disabled children could play in the town parks. Prodded by Duffy, two of the board’s five members spoke in favor of providing equipment, in the future, for handicapped children in the town’s parks.

Superintendent Marie Wiles said of the Dec. 9 forum, “This will be an information-gathering session for the school community and would help inform a cell phone-free policy.”

“All the companies that submitted are good … We believe we found the best fit,” Fraine told the board, while noting it wasn’t the lowest price.

Trying to attract substitute teaching assistants to work with special-needs students, the Guilderland school district hiked the salary for subs to $25 per hour, causing turmoil. The unit president called for negotiations, which will start on Monday.

Superintendent Marie Wiles said of the Dec. 9 forum, “This will be an information-gathering session for the school community and would help inform a cell phone-free policy.”

The student body at SUNY schools is becoming more diverse. For the first time, enrollment of white students in the SUNY system came in below the 50-percent mark, and is at 49.1 percent this year, down from 59.6 percent a decade ago.

Joseph Slichko wants to highlight the work of both students and staff at the Capital Region BOCES Career and Technical Education Center – Albany Center.

He started work on Nov. 18 as the center’s new principal.