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Ballston Spa Robotics Team Heads to World Championship

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


Photo via the 0xBe4 robotics team Facebook page. 

BALLSTON SPA — Ballston Spa’s 3US First Robotics Team 3044 0xBE4 has received and accepted a wild card invitation to attend the World Championships happening in Houston, Texas from April 16-19. They are one of 600 out of 3,690 teams worldwide to receive an invitation.

Earlier this month, the team was ranked the 4th best team in New York State following the New York Tech Valley FIRST Robotics Competition at MVP Arena. The squad also earned its 32nd team award with the Gracious Professionalism Award.

Prior to the event at MVP, 0xBe4 competed at the Finger Lakes Regional against 54 teams from New York, Ohio, and West Virginia. The team qualified in 11th place and was selected to compete in Eliminations with the 5th seed Captain. The team’s record was 10-4 and their robot placed in the top ten in many categories. At the time, they were ranked #147 out of 2,947 teams in the country, and they were ranked #189 out of 3,712 teams in the world.

Schuylerville School District Adds New School Resource Officer

Written by Saratoga TODAY on . Posted in Education.


Photo of Saratoga County Deputy Paula Wilbur via the Schuylerville Central School District.

SCHUYLERVILLE — Saratoga County Deputy Paula Wilbur will be the new School Resource Officer (SRO) for the Schuylerville Central School District following the departure of Sheriff’s Deputy Chris Greive, who served as the district’s SRO since September 2023. 

Deputy Wilbur has been a Sheriff’s Deputy with Saratoga County since June 2024, and previously worked in law enforcement in Whitehall, as well as a Child Protective Services caseworker for Washington County Social Services.

“I’m excited to work in Schuylerville and make a positive impact on students,” Wilbur said in a statement. “I look forward to working with kids of all ages and being part of their day-to-day at school. Helping children view law enforcement as positive role models is something that can benefit them throughout their lives.”

Deputy Greive has accepted a new position with the Warren County Sheriff’s Office.

Ballston Spa Middle Schoolers Crowned Odyssey of the Mind State Champs

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


Photo via the Ballston Spa Central School District.

ALLSTON SPA — The Ballston Spa School District’s Middle School Problem 4 team was recently crowned New York State Champions at the Odyssey of the Mind State Finals Tournament in Syracuse. The team was one of five squads representing Ballston Spa. 

The Wood Road Elementary team, participating in the tournament for the first time, came in 8th place for their problem/division and got the highest spontaneous score.

Activists and Community Members Debate Resolution at Contentious School Board Meeting 

Written by Jonathon Norcross on . Posted in Education.


Riley Gaines Center Ambassador Kaitlynn Wheeler speaks at the April 10 Saratoga Springs School District board meeting. Photo via the district’s livestream.

SARATOGA SPRINGS — The Saratoga Springs High School auditorium was packed last Thursday night with a divided crowd of attendees that debated a recent resolution passed by the school board that reaffirmed the district’s support for, among other things, transgender students’ ability to participate in sports consistent with their gender identity.

The resolution did not change any of the district’s existing policies, but it did attract the attention of many locals and even national political activists such as the conservative X account “Libs of TikTok,” which accused the Saratoga Springs School District of supporting “radical gender ideology” in a post that garnered hundreds of thousands of views. 

It also attracted the attention of the Riley Gaines Center, which sent its Ambassador Kaitlynn Wheeler to the April 10 Saratoga school board meeting. Wheeler, who advocates for “fairness and the protection of female athletes,” said in a press release that the board had departed from federal protections designed to ensure fairness in women’s sports.

“As someone who has experienced firsthand the importance of fair competition, I am deeply concerned about policies that undermine opportunities for female athletes,” Wheeler said.

Wheeler is a graduate of the University of Kentucky and a former member of the women’s swim team alongside Riley Gaines. According to Wheeler, she was “violated” when a transgender athlete was allowed to undress with her and her teammates at the 2022 NCAA championships. The incident was partly what inspired Wheeler to become “a fierce advocate for upholding our freedoms and rights to privacy, safety, and equal opportunity.”

Wheeler’s visit caused community members on both sides of the trans athletes debate to attend the April 10 meeting, where they offered their often passionate opinions during public comment periods.

“Boys do not belong in girls’ bathrooms, locker rooms, or sports, period,” Wheeler said at the meeting. “No resolution, no board has the right to rewrite federal law. No state is absolved from following federal law.”

Wheeler continued speaking after her allotted time, causing the auditorium to erupt in commotion as School Board President Anjeanette Emeka repeatedly told Wheeler that her time had expired. Many attendees cheered when Wheeler concluded her remarks.

Saratoga Springs High School student Sarah Pipino thanked the board for passing the resolution.

“There are a lot of people who are very scared to speak at meetings and I’m friends with a lot of those people and we’ve been talking a lot and they feel more safe and accepted and loved in the community and they are so grateful, so I am saying ‘thank you’ from all of them who have talked to me,” Pipino said to a round of applause.

Dr. Emanuel Cirenza, the district’s physician advisor, said that “to a large extent, this is very much a manufactured controversy…I’ve been here for coming up on 28 years and this issue has come up one time to my knowledge. I did a little investigating, and it was a track athlete essentially trying to get onto a team where nobody was pushed out and nobody was made to feel uncomfortable. These issues have always been handled, I can reassure everybody in this room, with the greatest amount of sensitivity to everybody’s needs.”

The controversial resolution at the center of the debate, titled “Affirming Our Support for Every Student,” states, among other things, that the Board of Education would:

  • reaffirm its support for the district’s policy and regulation 0105 titled “Equity, Inclusivity, and Diversity in Education”
  • uphold New York State laws safeguarding vulnerable populations and not comply with directives that violate civil rights protections;
  • affirm that every student has a right to an education regardless of immigration status, and that law enforcement officers may not question students on school property except under very specific conditions;
  • respect students’ chosen names and pronouns while also ensuring their right to use facilities and participate in activities and sports consistent with their gender identity.

The resolution appeared to be a clear attempt to combat several Trump administration policies that threaten to rescind federal funds from educational institutions that don’t comply with the president’s orders. According to Board Vice President Tony Krackeler, $3.1 million of the district’s 2024-25 budget came from the federal government. All of those funds, Krackeler said, are only amendable by an act of Congress.

Ballston Spa Education Foundation Awards Grants to Local Teachers

Written by Saratoga TODAY on . Posted in Education.

BALLSTON SPA — Last week, the Ballston Spa Education Foundation announced its 2025 grant recipients. The grants, totaling $8,799, were made possible through the support of community members.

The five funded projects were:

  • Gordon Creek M.O.V.E. Room Coffee Cart – A student-run coffee cart that will provide hands-on learning experiences in fine motor skills, social interaction, and business operations while utilizing assistive technology for inclusivity.
  • Birch High School Special Education School Store – This project, led by the 12:1:1 Life Skills Students and the Ballston Buddies Club, provides valuable lessons on running a business, benefiting both the student “business owners” and the entire High School population.
  • Assistive Technology/OT – Outdoor Expression Swing for Gordon Creek – This swing fosters inclusive play, creating an environment for children of all abilities to engage in meaningful, accessible play alongside their peers.
  • Smart TVs for Universal Pre-K at BACC – The Education Foundation is funding the purchase of four internet-connected Smart TVs, which will be installed in Universal Pre-K classrooms at the Ballston Area Community Center to enhance science curriculum and improve learning through multimedia technology.
  • Sensory Bubble Wall for Special Education Middle School – This project includes a 4-foot, floor-standing sensory bubble wall with eight color settings, paired with a sensory knot ball and sound machine. It’s designed to create a calming environment to support sensory and emotional regulation. This space will provide a safe space for students to regroup to return to learning.

St. Mary’s School Introduces New Principal: “It’s a Dream Job”

Written by Jonathon Norcross on . Posted in Education.


St. Mary’s School Principal Katie Fleming. Photo by Jonathon Norcross.

BALLSTON SPA — St. Mary’s School in Ballston Spa has a new principal with a long history in education.

Katie Fleming, who took over the position in January, was previously the principal of a private school in Clifton Park. She also taught 4th grade at St. Mary’s while earning a master’s degree. She then worked for an education-related consulting firm for four years. She’s also been a St. Mary’s parishioner for 18 years.

“It’s a dream job,” Fleming said. “I’m really excited to be here.”

Fleming called herself kid-centered and said she’s regularly in and out of classrooms. Among her top priorities are ensuring that the parish and school work well together, and being ahead of the curve on early literacy standards.

“Governor Hochul has lots of things that are happening, early literacy wise and just literacy in general wise, and we are meeting all those standards ahead of time which I’m excited about,” Fleming said. 

Fleming said she wants her students to have “a really balanced day; some good social and emotional learning, lots of educational opportunities, lots of curiosity—those are certainly things that are really important to me as an educator.”

After three months on the job, Fleming said the position is “a lot of work but a lot fun. Seeing those little faces makes it worth it every day.”

St. Mary’s School is a small, private, Catholic, co-ed Pre-K through fifth grade school located in downtown Ballston Spa. For more information on the school, visit www.smsbspa.org.

Waldorf Students Learn About Mapling

Written by Saratoga TODAY on . Posted in Education.


Photo provided. 

RUPERT, VERMONT — Fourth graders from the Waldorf School of Saratoga Springs recently visited the Merck Forest and Farmland Center in Vermont to learn about mapling.They learned how to identify a Sugar Maple tree, how to tap it, and also how to collect its flowing sap. After a walk in the woods, students got a tour of the Sap House, where sap is boiled and then strained into syrup. 

The Waldorf School of Saratoga Springs serves children and their families from preschool through 8th grade.

Schuylerville School District Budget Details: Public Hearing on May 6, Vote on May 20

Written by Saratoga TODAY on . Posted in Education.

SCHUYLERVILLE — Last month, the Schuylerville Board of Education adopted the 2025-26 budget proposal that will go before voters on Tuesday, May 20. Qualified voters will be able to vote from 12:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. in the District Office Board of Education room.

The $40 million proposed budget calls for a 1.71% spending increase and an estimated tax levy of 1.9%, which is below the district’s allowable tax cap. Tax rates for individual properties will be determined over the summer once equalization rates and assessments are available for the district’s seven towns. 

Year to year, the budget always includes previously-agreed upon salary increases from all current contracts, as well as increases or decreases to other expenses depending on the needs of the district. 

State aid is historically a large portion of Schuylerville’s revenue each year, equating to about half the district’s budget. This year, in Governor Hochul’s executive budget proposal, Schuylerville received a 2% increase in foundation aid, but will lose building aid, which corresponds to a bond that’s expiring. This results in a projected decrease in overall revenue from the 2024-25 budget. The district intends to use $1.7 million of fund balance to cover the gap of lost revenue and expenditure increases. Over the next two years, the district plans to reduce the use of fund balance to a more manageable figure of $1 million.

If the 2025-26 proposed budget is voted down, the Board of Education has the following options: 

Put another budget (revised or not) up for a vote in June

Immediately adopt a contingent budget

If the district adopts a contingent budget, there can be no increase to the tax levy from the prior year. Ordinary contingent expenses may also have to be reduced to ensure no increase to the tax levy.

A public hearing on the proposed 2025-26 budget will be held on May 6 at 6 p.m. in the Schuylerville High School Auditorium.

During the May 20 annual budget vote, voters will elect two members to the Schuylerville CSD Board of Education to fill the following positions:

One five-year term beginning July 1, 2025. The seat is currently held by Bernie Buff.

One term that will commence immediately after the May 20th election (or as close thereto) to succeed Michael Bodnar, who resigned effective Aug. 31, 2024. The term expires June 30, 2027. The seat is currently held by Shaun Cumm, who was appointed by the Board of Education to fill the vacancy for the 2024-25 school year.

Candidate profiles are due Monday, April 21 by 5:00 p.m. Questions can be directed to Board of Education Clerk, Jennifer Tompkins at (518) 695-3255, ext. 3242.

Capital Project Proposal

A capital project proposal is also scheduled for a vote on May 20, alongside the annual budget vote. The district invites community members to attend an information session to learn more about the proposed capital project on Thursday, May 1 at 6 p.m.

Tang Teaching Museum Stages Queer Archives Symposium, April 4–5

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

SARATOGA SPRINGS — A two-day program of conversations, presentations, and screenings titled the Queer Archives Symposium will take place April 4–5 at the Frances Young Tang Teaching Museum and Art Gallery at Skidmore College.

Presented in conjunction with the exhibition a field of bloom and hum—a survey of work from more than 160 queer artists from the past 100 years—the symposium brings together a group of artists, scholars, archivists, dancers, and musicians to explore the complexities and power of queer art to assert a place for queer identities and communities.

The largest exhibition ever organized by the Tang, a field of bloom and hum spans both floors of the museum. 

The series of events begin at 12:30 p.m. Friday, April 4 and will continue through Saturday, April 5. Sessions include art history students creating new oral histories with public interviews with exhibiting artists, scholars and artists discussing the legacy of exhibiting artists, screenings of experimental film and video, and a live performance of music and dance.  

All events are free and open to the public. For more information, contact the Tang Visitors Services Desk at 518-580-8080 or visit tang.skidmore.edu.

In a separate event, Mark Newport will be featured as speaker for The Raab Visiting Artist Lecture, which will take place 6 to 7 p.m. Wednesday, April 9, at the Tang Teaching Museum. Newport uses textiles, performance, print, and photography to reveal the vulnerability inherent in traditional western ideals of masculinity.

Saratoga School Board Approves Resolution,Attracts National Attention

Written by Jonathon Norcross on . Posted in Education.

SARATOGA SPRINGS — The Saratoga Springs School Board voted to approve a resolution that reaffirmed the district’s support for, among other things, DEI policies and transgender students’ ability to participate in sports consistent with their gender identity.

At a Mar. 27 meeting, seven board members voted in support of the resolution. One opposed it, and another abstained from voting.

Board member Dr. Connie Woytowich said she abstained due to the resolution being a “political act” that could create deeper division in the community and put the district at odds with federal regulations. Dean A. Kolligian Jr. was the lone “no” vote. 

Board member Dr. Deborah Amory said the district’s lawyers reviewed the resolution prior to the vote and found it to be “certainly legal.” The lawyers recommended some minor edits to the resolution, which Amory and several other board members addressed. 

Prior to the vote, students, parents, and community members offered their thoughts during public comment periods. Most speakers supported the resolution.

One transgender student said that the federal government was targeting trans people and that school board members who voted “yes” were “brave.”

A parent who opposed the resolution said that his daughter on a track and field team won’t compete due to transgender students being allowed to play on teams consistent with their gender identity. 

A district resident who called the issue of transgender people in sports “touchy” and “not clear-cut,” said she still supported the resolution as a whole because kids “need to know” that grownups “have got their backs.”

A parent with two daughters in the district said swimming record times showed that biological male high schoolers significantly outperformed biological female college athletes. As a result, she called for delaying a vote on the sports-related section of the resolution.

Superintendent of Schools Dr. Michael Patton responded to comments about trans athletes, saying that the New York State Public High School Athletic Association has already established guidelines for transgender students that all districts in the state must follow. Those guidelines state that students should be placed on teams that most align with the student’s gender identity.

News of the resolution attracted national attention in the days preceding the vote, when the popular conservative X account “Libs of TikTok” accused the Saratoga Springs School District of supporting “radical gender ideology” in a post that garnered more than 237,000 views. The account also retweeted a post from the local conservative blog Moving Saratoga Forward that listed the names and emails of Saratoga School Board members.

The resolution, titled “Affirming Our Support for Every Student,” states, among other things, that the Board of Education would:

reaffirm its support for the district’s policy and regulation 0105 titled “Equity, Inclusivity, and Diversity in Education”;

uphold New York State laws safeguarding vulnerable populations and not comply with directives that violate civil rights protections;

affirm that every student has a right to an education regardless of immigration status, and that law enforcement officers may not question students on school property except under very specific conditions;

respect students’ chosen names and pronouns while also ensuring their right to use facilities and participate in activities and sports consistent with their gender identity.

The resolution appeared to be a clear attempt to combat several Trump administration policies that threaten to rescind federal funds from educational institutions that don’t comply with the president’s orders. According to Board Vice President Tony Krackeler, $3.1 million of the district’s 2024-25 budget came from the federal government. All of those funds, Krackeler said, are only amendable by an act of Congress.