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Saratoga Independent School to Host Annual Kite & Flight  Family Festival on October 3

Written by Saratoga TODAY on . Posted in Education.

Saratoga Independent School is thrilled to welcome families from across the region to its annual Kite & Flight Family Festival, happening Saturday, October 3, from 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. on the school’s scenic 60-acre campus located at 459 Lake Avenue, Saratoga Springs, NY. 

This festival celebrates imagination, movement, community, and the many forms of flight. Admission is completely free. More information can be found on www.siskids.org/kite.

Visitors can enjoy hands-on craft tables led by Saratoga Independent School teachers, bounce around in a bounce house, explore a balloon globe, and get creative with face painting and other engaging activities. 

Food will be available for purchase from a variety of vendors. Attendees can grab lunch or a snack from Rollin in Gravy Food Truck, and a treat from Left Field Shave Ice.

The event also features interactive exhibits and hands-on activities presented by a range of local community partners. Representatives from SPAC School of the Arts, Wilton Wildlife Preserve & Park, Third Space Saratoga, Wellspring, and Saratoga Springs Recreation Department will be on hand to engage visitors of all ages with educational experiences, demonstrations, and helpful resources.

“We look forward to inviting the community to SIS every year for this event. It’s a day of exploration, creativity, and fun,” said Betsy Boland, Director of Development at Saratoga Independent School. “It’s a wonderful reflection of our mission to inspire learning both inside and outside the classroom.”

The Kite & Flight Family Festival is made possible through the generous sponsorship as well as the enthusiastic support of SIS faculty, staff, family, and friends.

For more information on Saratoga Independent School’s commitment to exceptional education and student development, please contact Betsy Boland at bboland@siskids.org.

Legacy Capital Project: Improvements Continue Across the Saratoga Springs District

Written by Saratoga TODAY on . Posted in Education.

The Saratoga Springs City School District completed multiple projects over the summer (Courtesy of The Saratoga Springs City School District)

As part of the Legacy Capital Project, approved by voters in 2020, significant improvements were completed across the Saratoga Springs City School District during summer 2026. The project continues to enhance learning environments, improve efficiency, and protect the community’s long-term investment in schools.

Geyser Road Elementary School

Improvements included classroom, bathroom, library, kitchen and roofing work, along with mechanical and electrical upgrades. The library renovation also includes a new corridor through the center of the building.

Lake Avenue Elementary School

Summer improvements included auditorium stage lighting and rigging replacement, a first-floor bathroom renovation, select stairwell door replacements, and paving and site improvements along Marion Place.

Saratoga Springs High School

Summer work included classroom and bathroom renovations, music room renovations, boys’ locker room renovations, and mechanical and electrical upgrades. Construction will continue throughout the 2026-2027 school year on the new Learning Staircase and Commons.  In addition, the library will remain temporarily located in the Spa Room throughout the school year.

Transportation Facility

Over the summer, the fuel tanks at the Transportation Facility were replaced.

The School Springs City School District appreciates the patience and cooperation of our students, families, staff and community as this important work continues.

Test Optional: Regents Test No longer a Graduation Requirement Starting in 2028.

Written by Saratoga TODAY on . Posted in Education, Featured.

It’s a ritual all high school graduates in New York public schools know all too well. 

You get to high school and as part of your path to graduate, you have to endure a series of state tests called the Regents Exams. To graduate requires the passage of at least four of these standardized tests with an advanced regents diploma requiring the passage of at least seven standardized tests.  

But in the next two years, however, students will have the option not take part in that ritual. On Sept. 14, the Board of Regents voted to make the Regents Exams optional starting with the 2028 graduating class. 

The move is part of a broader effort to reform New York education which began in 2019. That year, a Blue-Ribbon Commission was launched to study the matter and come up with recommendations to better assess diploma requirements. The recommendations came out in 2023 and an effort to implement the recommendations, known as NY Inspires was initiated in 2024. The decision to drop the Regents as a requirement came from this effort. 

 “NY Inspires is fundamentally about strengthening teaching and learning and creating deeper, more meaningful educational experiences for every student,” Commissioner Betty A. Rosa said, “By maintaining rigorous standards while giving students more opportunities to apply their knowledge, think critically, solve problems, and demonstrate what they know and can do, we are better preparing them for college, careers, civic life, and the future. These transformations will give educators greater opportunities to engage students in high-quality learning while providing a more complete picture of student growth and achievement.”

Under the new system, the three diplomas offered by the state — local, regents and advanced regents — will be merged into a single NYS high school diploma with seals and endorsements recognizing academic success.

While the regents will no longer be a requirement, they aren’t going away entirely. Students will have the option of taking the Regents exam in order to measure proficiency in specific subjects. Full details of how this will be implemented are expected to come in February 2027. 

 “Every student in New York deserves access to rich, high‑quality learning experiences and meaningful opportunities to demonstrate what they know and can do,” Board of Regents Chancellor Lester W. Young, Jr. said, “Advancing this work moves us closer to a more equitable system, one that upholds high expectations for all while ensuring that a student’s zip code, background, or circumstance never determines their opportunities for success.”

Third Annual Saratoga Downtown Oktoberfest Block Party Returns September 26

Written by Saratoga TODAY on . Posted in Education.

Oktoberfest is returning to downtown Saratoga Springs. The Third Annual Downtown Saratoga Oktoberfest Block Party will take place Saturday, September 26, from 12–5 p.m., turning the Saratoga Central Catholic School parking lot just off Broadway into an afternoon of live music, local food, craft drinks and fall fun.

The 21+ block party is hosted by Druthers Brewing Company, an SCC alumni-owned business, and Franklin Square Market, an SCC family-owned business. All proceeds from the event are donated back to Saratoga Central Catholic School, with the first two Oktoberfests raising a combined $25,000 for the school.

The event is open to the Saratoga Springs and greater capital region community, with plenty of covered seating and an afternoon of live music from local favorites No Latency and Matt O’Rourke.

Tickets are on sale now. A $50 all-inclusive ticket includes event admission, a custom Saratoga Oktoberfest stein to take home and beverages from Druthers Brewing Company throughout the afternoon. General admission is $10, with beverages available for individual purchase. Food from Franklin Square Market will also be available for purchase throughout the event.

Tickets can be purchased online by scanning the QR code.

Grant Cottage Unveils Accessible Trail

Written by Aidan Cahill on . Posted in Education.

If a visitor wanted to get a good overview of Saratoga County and beyond, then Grant Cottage State Historic Site might be a good place to start. 

Standing at the Eastern Overlook, visitors can look out and see the entire region laid out before them. To the east lay the Green Mountains and Bennington Monument of Vermont, the Hudson River, and the battlefields of Saratoga in Stillwater. To the south lay the forests of Saratoga County, the Catskills and the Corning Tower in Albany. 

The spot was once home to the first carriage road that connected the mountain with Saratoga Springs and where former President Ulyssess S. Grant took in one last view three days before his death. 

While the historic site is known for its stunning views, there was one problem. For years, people couldn’t get down to the site. While there were trails to get down there, those with mobility issues couldn’t easily reach it, according to Grant Cottage Operations Manager Ben Kemp. 

Kemp said there were times that he would see people waiting at the top of the trailhead for their families to return from going to the overlook. 

“The [path] that still existed when I first got here about 13 years ago was very narrow,” Kemp said. It was paved, but incredibly narrow and incredibly steep. So, it wasn’t built for accessibility in mind, and we had to shut that down years ago because of safety issues. And we opened a dirt trail, which again was a little bit safer, but it still was not accessible.” 

However, that reality has changed. A new trail was opened on Sept. 8, allowing visitors of all abilities to access the famed vantage point. 

Kemp said the trail was a six-year process. It was completed at a cost of $376,000, $300,000 of which came from funding from the New York State Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation as part of a program administered by Parks and Trails New York. The funding went to the Friends of Grant Cottage, a volunteer group that supports the historic site.

 “Strong partners like Parks & Trails New York and the Friends of Grant Cottage help us create the extraordinary experiences New Yorkers enjoy every day at our parks and historic sites,” OPRHP Commissioner Kathy Moser said. “This new pathway is a wonderful example of what those partnerships can accomplish. Together, we have opened an awe-inspiring and historically significant view to visitors of all abilities. More than 140 years after President Grant asked to see this landscape one final time, everyone who visits Grant Cottage can now more easily follow in his footsteps and experience that same remarkable view.”

Grant Cottage is open Wednesday through Sunday, 9:30am – 4:00pm. Visitors are free to walk the grounds for free with tours of the cottage available for a fee.

New York Association for Pupil Transportation Urges Motorists to be Extra Careful as Schools Reopen

Written by Saratoga TODAY on . Posted in Education.

With schools reopening statewide and as students head back to school, the New York Association for Pupil Transportation (NYAPT) is urging motorists to use extra caution around school buses and stop when they see the flashing red lights.   

According to reports from school bus operators from across the state, NYAPT says the problem of illegally passing a school bus remains a major safety concern across the state.  School bus operators indicate that motorists frequently ignore flashing red lights and thereby endanger those students getting on and off the bus. 

A recent survey conducted by the National Association of State Directors of Pupil Transportation Services (NASDPTS) indicated that 213,800 illegal passings occur each school day in the United States, endangering the children riding school buses.   

“Our top priority is ensuring New York students travel to and from school safely every day, and motorists play a crucial role in that,” said NYAPT President John Spacht. “As schools reopen, we ask motorists to stay vigilant around children and always stop when a school bus has its red lights flashing.” 

New York State Vehicle and Traffic Law requires all vehicles to come to a complete stop when approaching a school bus that is stopped with its red lights flashing. Flashing red lights indicate that a child is either boarding or disembarking the bus. New York State law prohibits passing a school bus that is stopped with its red lights flashing, regardless of your direction of travel, even on a multi-lane or divided highway. 

Penalties for a first-time offense include a fine from $250 to $400, five points on your license and the possibility of 30-days in jail. A second conviction within three-years will result in a $600 to $750 fine and up to 180-days in jail; while three or more convictions will result in a fine from $750 to $1,000, mandatory revocation of your driver’s license, and up to 180 days in jail. 

Additionally, many school buses in New York State are equipped with stop arm camera systems that record illegal passing.  If a motorist passes a school bus equipped with a stop arm camera system, the vehicle owner faces a $250-$300 penalty.  

“Illegally passing a bus is completely unacceptable and entirely preventable,” said David Christopher, NYAPT Executive Director. “School buses are statistically the safest way for children to get to school—and motorists need to help us keep them safe by always stopping when they see those red lights flashing.” 

NYAPT is also advising parents and caregivers that New York, like much of the nation, continues to face school bus driver shortages. According to a recent survey, 55% of NYAPT members, which include school districts and private school bus contractors, report an immediate need to hire additional school bus drivers. 

To help address these driver shortages, the Association encourages anyone seeking a rewarding part-time opportunity to apply. School bus driving offers flexible hours, competitive hourly wages, health benefits, and schedules that align with school holidays and breaks. Interested applicants should contact their local school district or private school bus contractor to learn more.

Schuylerville Public Library Hosts Repair Café

Written by Saratoga TODAY on . Posted in Education.

At Schuylerville Public Library (52 Ferry Street) on Saturday, September 26, everything centers on making repairs. Starting at 11:30am and ending at 1:30pm, various volunteer repair experts will be available to help make all possible repairs free of charge. Most tools and materials will also be on hand. 

People visiting the Repair Café will bring along their broken items from home. Limit of two items per person.  Small appliances, lamps, hair dryers, radios, clothes, toys… anything that is broken and small enough to carry is welcome and can more than likely be repaired. The Repair Café specialists almost always have the know-how.  

By promoting repairs, the library wants to help reduce mountains of waste. According to Library Director Caitlin Johnson, “By repairing instead of tossing, we lessen the strain on our environment.”    

Interested in volunteering for this event, as a repairer?  Simply contact Caitlin Johnson at cjohnson@sals.edu or 518-695-6641.  Schuylerville Public Library wishes to organize a Repair Café on a regular basis. News about dates of up-and-coming editions will follow as soon as possible!

September Preschool Nature Time at Wilton Wildlife

Written by Saratoga TODAY on . Posted in Education.

Wilton Wildlife Preserve & Park is inviting its youngest adventurers to celebrate Monarch Butterflies during September’s Preschool Nature Time, held on Friday, September 11, at 10:00 a.m. This month’s theme, “Amazing Monarchs,” will teach children about the amazing monarch butterfly, its life cycle, and the incredible journey they take!

Led by a Wilton Wildlife environmental educator, preschoolers will embark on a brief stroll through Camp Saratoga. After the walk, children and their caregivers will gather for a cozy lineup of monarch stories, hands-on activities, sing-a-longs, and a creative craft designed especially for ages 3-6.

This program is primarily held outdoors to celebrate the season, though activities will be moved indoors if the weather calls for it. An adult must accompany each child. An additional Preschool Nature Time is scheduled for Friday, September 25 at 10:00 a.m.

Registration is required at least one business day in advance. To register, or for up-to-date trail conditions or program information, please visit the website at  www.wiltonpreserve.org or on Facebook or Instagram @wiltonpreserve. For more information, call the Wilton Wildlife office at 518-450-0321 or email info@wiltonpreserve.org. Celebrating 30 years of providing environmental education and opportunities for outdoor recreation while supporting conservation of ecological systems and natural settings.

Brendon Russell Appointed Assistant Principal at Maple Avenue Middle School

Written by Saratoga TODAY on . Posted in Education.

Maple Avenue Middle School has announced that Brendon Russell has taken over as Assistant Principal. 
(Courtesy of Saratoga Springs Central School District)

Brendon Russell has been appointed as Assistant Principal at Maple Avenue Middle School. Mr. Russell began his new role on August 28.

Mr. Russell brings extensive experience supporting students and families at Maple Avenue. Most recently, he served as a Teacher on Special Assignment (TOSA) as the Elementary CSE Chairperson. Prior to that, he served as a Social Worker at Maple Avenue beginning in 2017. He has also provided professional development on trauma-informed practices, behavioral interventions, and crisis responses.

“Brendon has built strong relationships with students, families, and staff throughout his years at Maple Avenue,” said Superintendent of Schools Dr. Michael Patton. “His compassion, collaborative approach, and commitment to supporting students make him an excellent fit for this leadership role. We are excited to see him take on this new opportunity and continue to make a positive impact at Maple Avenue.”

Mr. Russell earned his Bachelor of Arts degree from MCLA and his Master of Social Work from SUNY Albany. He is currently completing his Advanced Certification in District and School Building Leadership from Russell Sage College.

$400,000 in Funding Available to Help Close the Digital Divide

Written by Saratoga TODAY on . Posted in Education.

Community organizations across the Greater Capital Region have an opportunity to receive funding to help more residents access the technology, skills and support they need to fully participate in today’s increasingly digital world. The Digital Equity Coalition of the Capital Region (DECCR), in partnership with United Way of the Greater Capital Region, is accepting applications for a new grant opportunity that will distribute $400,000 to community organizations working to bridge the digital divide.

Eligible applicants include 501(c)(3) nonprofit organizations and government entities, such as libraries and senior centers. The initiative aims to help Capital Region residents overcome barriers to reliable internet, technology, digital literacy, and essential online services.

Applications are open now and will be accepted through September 18, 2026, at 11:59 p.m.

Addressing a Growing Need Across the Capital Region. 

President and CEO of United Way of the Greater Capital Region Peter Gannon says, “access to devices and reliable internet connectivity is critical in today’s digital first world.”

“For families already struggling with rising costs, affordable access to technology can help close the affordability gap by connecting them to critical services, employment opportunities, and resources that support financial stability and their wellbeing. This grant opportunity will help bridge the digital divide by connecting people with the resources, technology, and support they need to navigate an increasingly digital world,” Peter Gannon concluded. 

Reliable internet access and digital skills have become essential to everyday life. Applying for a job, accessing healthcare, completing schoolwork, finding housing, managing finances and connecting with government services increasingly require people to be able to navigate the digital world. Yet not every Capital Region resident has equal access to the necessary devices, connectivity, skills or technical support.

The new funding opportunity is designed to strengthen organizations already serving capital region residents and help expand their capacity to address those barriers.

Eligible projects may include efforts that:

• Provide internet-enabled devices such as laptops, computers and tablets

• Deliver digital literacy and technology training

• Offer technical support and device assistance

• Improve the accessibility of digital content and online services

• Help residents access employment, education, healthcare and government resources online

Priority will be given to projects that expand access to internet-enabled devices, strengthen digital literacy and skills, provide technical support, and make digital content and online services more accessible throughout New York’s Capital Region. This includes Albany, Columbia, Greene, Rensselaer, Saratoga, Schenectady, Warren, and Washington Counties. Any organization is welcome to apply, but priority will be given to organizations working in the capital region.