Saratoga Shredders Donates Learn To Ride Bike Curriculum To Greenfield Elementary Kindergartners

SARATOGA SPRINGS —

Some community members raised concerns about the possibility of the shelter receiving a ‘low-barrier’ designation, which could mean it may not require background checks, drug screenings, or other verifications.

“Pedophiles can go into a low-barrier shelter. There’s no background checks,” said Zacharewicz at the meeting.

It has not yet been confirmed whether the Williams Street shelter will receive a ‘low-barrier’ designation.

“All we have to do is bring awareness to this, because any reasonable person is going to agree with us that this is a very poor placement for a homeless shelter,” said Sara Nucera, a member of the SCC security committee, at the meeting.

Several parents also said there has been a lack of transparency and communication from city officials, with many parents on Monday claiming they were unaware of the plans for the shelter until recently. VanDeCarr said he wished the city had hosted a public hearing to allow residents to discuss the shelter.

“At this stage, there really should be some effort in that regard,” said VanDeCarr, who noted he was unaware of the plans for the shelter until roughly a week ago.

“This is an adult problem. It should not be made a problem for kids at the school. The adults have to get together and figure out a solution.”

Duane Vaughn, executive director of Shelters of Saratoga, delivered a presentation to the city council on Oct. 18 in regards to the shelter, and the council engaged in a discussion before voting unanimously to pass the resolution to approve the shelter’s location.

Vaughn said at the Oct. 18 meeting that moving the shelter to the Williams Street location would allow more space for beds, and allow for other organizations such as RISE and the Salvation Army to possibly utilize the space as well. He said the Adelphi Street location has 60 beds.

A petition on change.org urging for ‘Safety for SCC Students’ has received over 1,300 signatures as of noon on Wednesday. The group is organizing a ‘Solidarity Walk’ to be held every Friday at 2 p.m. at the school.

Parents and community members were also encouraged to attend the next Saratoga Springs City Council meeting on Feb. 7 at 7 p.m.

Saratoga Shredders, a local nonprofit whose mission is to get more young girls on mountain bikes, has donated a fleet of balance bikes to Greenfield Elementary School, to be used in kindergarten gym class.

The equipment donation of 24 balance bikes, 24 pedal conversion kits, 24 helmets, and a learn to ride PE curriculum, was accepted by the Saratoga Springs School Board Tuesday evening.

Anna Yarsevich, a 6th grade alum of Greenfield Elementary School, presented to the School Board, explaining that she learned to ride on a balance bike and saying how thrilled she is that kindergartners at Greenfield Elementary will have a chance to learn how to ride a pedal bike in gym class.

This kindergarten pilot program will run this Spring, led by Coach Coop as the head PE teacher at Greenfield Elementary. Funding for this pilot program was provided by families of Greenfield Elementary school kids: Will & Jen Aldrich, Dr. Amy Knoeller, Dr. James North, Thad & Talara Hedgpeth, Peter Mulford, Jane Cramer Varian, and the Winter Family.

Saratoga Shredders runs programming for kids on bikes in the spring and fall, with summer camps in the Summer. Program registration for Spring opens Feb. 1. Summer Camp registration is already open.

There are 4 different programs running this spring between Albany and Queensbury, girls-only programs and coed programs for kids in grades K-12. Their aim is to remove as many barriers to entry for the sport of mountain biking. They provide full program scholarships and bikes to kids in need, thanks to their local sponsors Teakwood Builders, Grey Ghost Bicycles, KindNest, Women’s Care, and Trek Saratoga.