Residents in Albany's school district will vote next Tuesday on a proposed budget that includes a number of school facility renovations, as well as a plan for the district to purchase the North Albany YMCA on North Pearl Street.

The YMCA would be turned into a middle school. The district has negotiated a sale agreement with YMCA worth $2.5 million.

If voters approve the purchase, it would be turned into a Grades 6-8 middle school and serve about 650 students.

Currently in Albany, some schools run from kindergarten to grade five, while others are kindergarten to sixth grade. But the district wants to move to a model where all sixth, seventh, and eighth graders are in designated middle schools.

They say this sets students up for the most successful high school experience because of increased instruction time and the relationships they build when they are in their own buildings.

"Relationships between adults and children is what really helps children learn, and in a middle school environment, if it's only two years, by the time the child is involved in the school, really getting their feet on the ground under them as a seventh grader, they've practically got one foot out the door because the very next year is their last year. Having that three-year commitment really makes the difference for those kids going forward," said Albany School Board President Anne Savage.

Spectrum News received a statement from the North Albany YMCA which states that, if the sale is approved, the location would transition to a temporary location in September 2019 as a long-term solution in the city of Albany is sought.

"Our steadfast goal is to develop a new and comprehensive service delivery model, in collaboration with our community partners, that is designed specifically to meet the long-term needs of Albany city residents," the North Albany YMCA said.

If the sale is approved, the building would be a middle school by fall 2023.