The Pine Plains school board returned Sept. 15 to the financial questions surrounding the proposed closure of Cold Spring Early Learning Center, even as it considered a series of athletic-facility upgrades that could create new costs outside the district’s existing capital project.
The school consolidation discussion followed a public hearing two weeks prior, at which Stanford residents pushed back against the an educational impact report prepared by the Building Utilization Advisory Committee
The committee’s report makes the case to close Cold Spring for the 2027–28 academic year. Under the proposal, Cold Spring Pre-K through first-grade students would move to Seymour Smith Intermediate Learning Center. Declining student enrollment, uncertain state funding, and escalating costs were the primary factors driving the committee’s conclusion that it would be best to close at least one school.
Renting or Selling Cold Spring
Superintendent Brian Timm said one of the main questions raised by residents is whether Cold Spring should be rented or sold if the district decides to close the school.
He said that renting the building to an educational organization would protect state building aid — which the impact statement puts at an annual $300,000, in addition to rental income.
The current tenant, Anderson Center for Autism, is interested in renting more classrooms, according to Timm. “Also, Dutchess BOCES is at capacity and looking for space,” he said. “They would move their Salt Point students from pre-K through grades 2 or 3 into Cold Spring.” Timm emphasized that students currently served by PPCSD special education teachers would continue under their care.
Board member Jim Griffin supported renting the building: “Selling the property would bring a zoning issue to the new buyer.” He suggested the school could also house other student services, such as dental care, through the Community Schools Initiative,
Board member Fred “Chip” Couse favored renting, but noted, “It would be difficult for me to believe we wouldn’t get a variance to put a $2 million building on the tax roll. It would go from nontaxable property to taxable property, and relieve the burden for the Town of Stanford residents.”
Timm said the other major public concern was the need for a deeper understanding of the financial implications of consolidation. He deferred the discussion to a closed executive session. “Based on certain matters presented, it is important to have an executive session conversation related to the both employee status of certain individuals, as well as the interplay with collective bargaining agreements,” he told the board.
Athletic Upgrades Raise Cost Questions
Later in the meeting, Athletic Director Les Funk asked the board to consider several improvements to the district’s athletic facilities, beginning with security around its newly resurfaced track.
Funk proposed installing a chain-link fence to limit access to the field and protect the track from damage.
“A fence will control the way in and out of the field and protect the track,” he said. “I’d hate to come here and find track damage because electric bikes are drag racing on our track.”
Timm said he would seek pricing information and return to the board at a future meeting.
Funk also said the district’s 35-year-old baseball and softball dugouts need to be replaced. Timm said the high school maintenance crew could complete the work, reducing the cost.
Other proposals were largely cosmetic. Funk suggested installing a branded entrance arch at the athletic fields and decorative banners along the backs of the bleachers.
“Every team and every spectator sees these areas,” he said. “We need to upgrade our branding to something colorful.”
Timm said a branding committee composed of “well-known community sports people” would oversee the effort.
Unlike the track resurfacing and other work already underway, however, the proposed improvements are not included in the district’s current capital project.
“If the cost is significant, it must be deferred to the 2027–28 budget,” Timm said.
Couse cautioned the board against losing sight of the district’s broader financial pressures as it considers both consolidation and additional facility spending.
“We need to be careful how we balance our financial conversations,” Couse said.
Football Costs, Student Leadership
The board also authorized Funk to approach the Rhinebeck Central School District about sharing the costs of the schools’ joint football program, which has operated for about a decade.
Pine Plains has paid for the program’s equipment and operating expenses, including equipment for Rhinebeck players, Funk said. Helmets now can cost nearly $400 apiece.
Board members agreed that Rhinebeck should contribute to those costs if the partnership is to continue.
The board also voted to dedicate the field hockey field to Richard “Dick” Meilinger, who coached the Bombers for 30 years and led the team to nine Section 9 Class C championships before retiring in 2013.
It then approved the creation of a captain-led student-athlete council intended to give students a larger role in working with coaches and developing leadership skills.
Earlier in the meeting, former Stanford Town Supervisor Wendy Burton asked the district to support placing a nonvoting student on the Stanford Town Board for a one-year advisory term.
Burton, who chairs the workforce development committee for the New York Association of Towns, said local governments need to do more to introduce young people to public service.
“It’s a real crisis,” she said. “My generation is aging out, and there aren’t young people coming up and saying ‘I wonder what a town clerk does.’”
Burton said she developed the idea after speaking last year to John Schoonmaker’s social studies class at Stissing Mountain Junior-Senior High School. Two of Schoonmaker’s former students — Pine Plains resident Trevor Roush and Stanford resident Teddy Secor — now serve on their respective town boards.
“You would be the pilot program,” Burton told the school board. “If you adopt this, then I can go to other school boards in northern Dutchess.”
Timm agreed to ask Stissing Mountain Principal Christopher Boyd to serve as the district liaison in identifying a student candidate.
Timm also reported that the first phase of the district’s $12.9 million capital project is nearly complete.
The work includes a new high school roof, resurfaced track and tennis courts, a new scoreboard, and new lighting. Timm said the tennis courts still need to be lined and work remains on the sound system.
The second phase, scheduled to begin in spring 2027, calls for a new concession stand, bathrooms, and storage space.