Pine Plains Superintendent Brian Timm presented a summary of the challenges the district faces at the School Board meeting on Tuesday, Sept. 2. His workshop, Why is Pine Plains Central School District Discussing the Need to Right-Size?, highlighted two key reasons that one of the three schools may have to be shuttered: a drop in student enrollment from 1,420 students in 2003 to 783 last year, and possible Foundation Aid cuts that could reduce by half the district’s $8 million in annual state funding.
Timm reviewed the findings of the facilities utilization study reported in March: Closing one school would have no effect on class size or delivery of services; transportation costs would decrease; and revenue could be generated by renting or selling the unused schoolhouse.
Timm said he intends to give the presentation to all the town boards in the school district, and has already spoken to Pine Plains council members at their Aug. 21 meeting. “We need to make sure our [towns] and our stakeholders are aware of what’s happening, and what we are doing about it,” he said.
The School Board will sponsor employee, parent, and community forums to share information, get feedback, and answer questions; a quarterly newsletter is also planned. “I want to emphasize that no decisions have been made,” Timm said. “For now, we are analyzing the operational costs of each building and monitoring what’s happening with Foundation Aid. I know we’ll get our money this year — I’m just not sure about next year.” Further details can be found at the Future-Ready Organization: Information Center page on the district’s website.
The board discussed the appointment of three 504 coordinators — referring to section 504 of a 1973 federal civil rights law preventing discrimination against people with disabilities. The coordinators are responsible for overseeing services for students who need special accommodations, such as having exam questions read aloud, but don’t require an Individualized Education Program. Board member Fred “Chip” Couse said that before the positions were created last year, special education teachers were tasked with those duties.
“The board must be aware that because of declining student enrollment, our percentage of special ed students has also dropped 22 percent in the past 10 years [based on the district’s Pupil Personnel Services data],” he said. “My point is, as we’re trying to right-size our schools, our special ed teachers have fewer students and more time. They should be able to take back the 504 coordinating responsibilities [to help cut costs].” The board voted to appoint the three coordinators, 7–2; Couse and Board President Amie Fredericks were opposed.
In anticipation of the special capital project referendum scheduled for Oct. 15, 2025, the School Board created a video and display board to use at public events, detailing the proposed $12.9 million renovations, which include roof, elevator, and sports facility repairs.The vote will be held in the Stissing Mountain High School cafeteria between 7 a.m. and 8 p.m.
In other business, 16-year-old Stissing Mountain senior Hailey Lamping was welcomed as the 2025-26 Student Board of Education Representative; and the board approved the formation of the Stissing Mountain Performing Arts Club.
Timm will be speaking to Milan’s Town Board on Sept. 15; to Stanford’s on Oct. 9; and to Ancram’s on Oct. 19. Each meeting begins at 7 p.m. The next School Board meeting will be held at 6:30 p.m. on Sept. 16.
Maybe the Town Hall could move into the “shuttered” school?
I like this idea. The current town hall property would be a much easer sale than a school building.
It could only move into Seymour Smith or Stissing Mountain. Cold Spring is located in Stanford, not Pine Plains.
Asset management has never been a strong suit of the district.Cold Spring was an exceptional school in its day . Its closing does not come as a surprise to any one .
Many would say its overdue given the amount of under utilized classroom space in the
district. From the outset its location as a early childhood learning center may have been counter productive to its stated purpose. I don’t understand why a consultant had to be hired to justify what everyone knew. Is it question of CYA or giving the board comfort ? On hand demographic studies saw this coming . Potential cutbacks should not have precipitated this action .
The $12.9MM capital program is about $17K+ per student based on current enrollment.
Is the ballot a all or none offering ? I hope it’s broken out by necessity and allow the voter to consider each project separately. This would demonstrate diligence on part of the board and administration.
The PPCSD is large . It includes a number of towns . However , there is only one voting
place , the high school. This came about through changes in voting machine technology.
The district is asking the taxpayer for $12.9 MM , it should make every effort to allow as many taxpayers to vote as possible on this request. The current system does not allow
this. Is the district able to place voting machines in each town , as it was done some years ago ? If not, are good old fashioned paper ballots allowable? Are there other alternatives? Should they put this vote aside until a solution is found ? Hopefully , the right answer is out there .
All meetings are held on weekdays. For weekend home owners who pay PPSCD school taxes there is no way to register opinions or to vote. I never receive absentee ballots or even an indication that a vote on an issue was forthcoming.
What happens if we don’t get the funds from the state. I was not informed that there was even going to be a vote. This is terrible. How can decisions be made about something that is going to cost 12.9 million without the taxpayers even knowing? Half the students but 3 more jobs? Seems that jobs could be cut. The work of 1/2 the students should require 1/2 of at least the office staff.