Green Island UFSD proposes new tuition plan for Heatly

GREEN ISLAND, N.Y. (NEWS10)-- Green Island Union Free School District is considering partnering with Watervliet High School to take on Heatly School's high school students. The Green Island Board of Education is hosting a Town Hall meeting with Watervliet High School officials to discuss the proposal with students, parents, and the community.

Green Island UFSD Superintendent Dan Kalbfliesh said on the district's website that the proposed partnership is an option they explored as a potential solution to the ongoing challenge of delivering opportunities to high school students. If a public vote passes for the partnership on Tuesday, February 4, 2025, the initiative would be effective as of September 2025 for first-year students through seniors to attend Watervliet High School.

Both districts have partnered for interscholastic sports, cafeteria services, transportation, and special education programs. Kalbfliesh said the partnership is a better chance for students to prepare for college or careers after graduation.

"As educators, our core mission in Green Island is to empower every student to succeed and reach their maximum potential," Kalbfliesh said. "In recent years, however, it has become increasingly challenging for our small school to deliver the rigorous academic foundation, diverse extracurricular experiences, and exposure to real-world learning opportunities that our high school students need — and more importantly, deserve — to prepare for success after high school."

The town hall meeting is on Monday, December 9, at 5 p.m. in the Heatly School cafeteria. Education board members will vote on the proposed partnership at the board of education meeting on Monday, December 16.