The Scotia-Glenville Central School District was once one of the top school districts in the Capital District. Whenever you drive into the village, you will come across a sign that proclaims Scotia’s schools to be those of national excellence. The high school was awarded the Blue Ribbon back in 1984, as was Sacandaga Elementary School a decade later. We also once had a strong athletic department, with the Varsity boys’ basketball team heading to the state championship back in 2015. Without a doubt, we had a proud school district.

So what happened? Under the two-decade-long tenure of Superintendent Susan Swartz, Scotia-Glenville has gone down in many ways, to the point in which the district is now a joke (especially amongst those in the neighboring Burnt Hills-Ballston Lake school district). The district has experienced a dramatic decline in enrollment to the point where one of the elementary schools will likely close, a decline in our athletic program under a wildly unpopular athletic director who was only removed as a result of community pressure despite years of complaints, teachers and staff who despite giving their all are unsupported by the administration all the while being underpaid compared to those in other school districts.

But the straw that broke the camel’s back for so many people was the recent budgetary crisis. During this school year, Scotia-Glenville was hit by increasing health insurance costs and special education students moving into the district. In order to cover all costs, the district called for a 3.14% increase in spending over the current year, or $2,043,464, and includes a 5.09% increase in the tax levy. There were fears that if the budget didn’t pass, the district would have to enter into a contingency budget, which put at risk programs that weren’t mandated by the state (such as athletics, extracurriculars, and even kindergarten), as well as massive layoffs and the possible closure of an elementary school. Others were outraged over another potential tax increase following two years of massive tax increases in the Village.

Ultimately, the budget failed to get the necessary supermajority it needed and the administration was forced back to the drawing board. At the first Board of Education meeting following the referendum, the Superintendent and the Business Manager presented a brand new budget that will not only stay below the tax cap, but also assured that nothing will be cut. Instead of feeling relieved, people were left frustrated and confused. The Board felt blindsided while the public was left wondering as to why the administration was unable to come up with such a budget before May 20th.

Scotia itself has gone downhill in many respects. If we ever hope to make our village great again, then we need to improve our school system and Susan Swartz has clearly shown that she is incapable of the task. Scotia-Glenville is in desperate need of reform, and the resignation of Susan Swartz from her position as Superintendent of Schools is a good start. We would like a Superintendent who wants the best for our students, our community and our future.