While the Board of Education considers construction options, administrators are investigating ways to house the additional students who will join Niskayuna schools in the coming weeks and months, before any new classrooms could be built.

With all schools at or near capacity, administrators have lots of short-term planning to do to prepare for more students, said Superintendent Kevin Baughman. “We are trying to creatively use every square inch of every building.” He noted that even if a construction project were approved by voters in December 2005, new classrooms would not likely be ready until 2008 (see timeline on page 6).

The district has investigated purchasing modular classrooms as a temporary measure until permanent classrooms can be constructed. Unfortunately, modular classrooms are expensive, and can pose security concerns, according to other nearby districts that have used them, said Baughman.

Instead, more new students may be bused to schools that have room, if their neighborhood school is full. Or, some classes may temporarily be larger than the district’s class size guidelines, said Baughman. “We are looking at all the possibilities for dealing with our classroom shortage to find the best options for students,” he said.


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