Doane Stuart School says goodbye to Albany

Doane Stuart School in Albany will soon be Doane Stuart School in Rensselaer.

The school has reached an agreement with the Rensselaer City School District to purchase the former Van Rensselaer School property. While the proposal has been enthusiastically received by Rensselaer city and school district officials, several contingencies have to be satisfied and a public referendum passed before the change is finalized.

Doane Stuart was formed in 1975 through the merger of Kenwood Academy , a Roman Catholic school, and St. Agnes School , an Episcopalian school. The combined ecumenical facility was located on the Kenwood Convent campus.

Location change

The Religious of the Sacred Heart are planning to sell the Kenwood campus. Doane Stuart School made an offer to purchase the property, but the offer was rejected by the religious order, according to Richard Enemark, headmaster.

"We are deeply disappointed to leave Kenwood," he said. "There is a great sense of regret leaving the school we have known for years."

But, he continued, there is also excitement about the new location. The building will undergo a year of renovations prior to Doane Stuart's officially moving in, he said. The new facility will offer more modern spaces and warmth in the winter, he noted, as well as greater accessibility for the 282 students enrolled from nine different counties.

Renovations

According to a letter to the school community from John Robinson Jr., president of the Doane Stuart board of trustees, the new facility offers 117,000 square feet under one roof and 24 acres of outdoor space. (Mr. Robinson is also on the board of directors of The Evangelist.)

"The building is fully functional in its present condition," he said. "However, we look forward to selective restorations and creative renovations of interior space, and significant enhancements to the site that will make it truly our own."

According to Dr. Enemark, one of the most important renovations will be converting the auditorium into a chapel. Faith plays an important role in the Doane Stuart curriculum, he noted, and a chapel is important for the school to have.

(06/05/08) [[In-content Ad]]