Are New Changes On The Horizon For Wappingers School District?

I'll be the first one to admit that I was not always 100% informed as to what was going on within the community, especially when it came to budgets and specific propositions. That all changed when I became a homeowner, and then again when I had a school-aged child and needed to know how my vote may impact her educational experience.

Recently, one of the largest school districts in the state, which happens to be in the Hudson Valley, has put a proposition out for a massive change to their school structure.

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WCSD Capital Improvements Proposition

On May 20, 2025, residents in the Wappingers Central School District will see something called 'Proposition 2' on their Budget Vote and Board of Education ballots, and the district wants to make sure voters are aware of some of the components of that proposition.

In an effort to 'respond to the changing needs of our families,' WCSD has included in their proposition a significant change for the elementary and junior high structure.

As outlined in their Capital Improvements Proposition website, WCSD has indicated that they need more space in order to provide vital services to students. As a result, in order to find that space, they are proposing 'adding onto junior high schools' and shifting 6th grade to the junior highs. The move will not only open up space in the elementary schools, but also offer '6th graders more access to tech classes, high-school level courses and more.'

The proposed move is said to 'free up 33 total elementary-school classrooms,' and those spaces would in turn be used to accommodate AIS (sometimes held in school hallways), art classes (which are currently facilitated via 'Art on a Cart' due to lack of space), and in order to offer more Special Education in the schools to avoid a student having to switch to a different school that offers those services and programs.

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What Else Does Proposition 2 Include For WCSD Families?

In addition to the proposal to shift 6th grade from the elementary facilities into the junior highs, Proposition 2 also targets athletic facilities for secondary-school campuses, as well as structural upgrades and repairs across the district.

The upgrades to athletic facilities include new turf fields and additional access for community teams.

There is a full Needs Assessment presentation about the proposal that can be accessed below:

The vote will take place on May 20th, and for those looking for additional resources about the capital improvements (Proposition 2), more information can be found here.