About RiverRun - Location
Directions and
Map
We are so
pleased that RiverRun's initial home will be in a wonderful existing
schoolhouse - the Bianco DeFranco Center, home of the former St. Anthony School - located at 1840 Van Vranken Avenue in
Schenectady. The location is particularly exciting as it is in the
area of the city's current revitalization efforts.
St. Anthony
School opened its doors to provide a Catholic elementary education to St. Anthony's
congregation and to the surrounding community. Four years ago, the church made the
difficult decision to cease operation of its elementary education offerings. Since that time, the school
has been used for a universal pre-K program, a traditional nursery school program, by
Beginnings (to serve a small group of hearing impaired children), and by the
church a few hours a week for their religious education classes. Since
the closing of the elementary school, the
second floor has been vastly underutilized.
RiverRun is leasing
classroom space on the second floor, along with the prior faculty
lounge which will be used as our main office. The classrooms
at Bianco DeFranco are well-designed and beautiful - each with a wall of
large windows allowing natural light to flood the room, a high ceiling, and
built in closet cubbies. RiverRun is graciously being allowed to use
some tables,
chairs, bookshelves, and desks that are at the school, thereby decreasing
our start-up costs.
In addition,
RiverRun will have use of the school's library, gymnasium, cafeteria, and
an outdoor fenced play area. There is also more classroom space
available for our use as we grow in the next few years.
In the spirit
of RiverRun's
focus on collaboration
with the community, we are happily working
with the other groups using the school building to coordinate use of the
non-classroom spaces as well as entering into agreement with St. Anthony's
to share use of our leased space twice a week in the evening for their
religious education classes.
Finally, it
should be noted that while leasing space in a Catholic building, RiverRun
will remain firmly non-denominational. Our leased space and the
surrounding hallway will be free from religious artifacts and postings.
Catholicism will, of course, be incorporated into discussions and studies
about world religions; however, its teachings will not receive any special
emphasis.
As RiverRun
grows and becomes firmly established, we will be seeking to purchase or
build a permanent home in Schenectady for the school. Right now,
however, we are truly delighted to have the Bianco DeFranco Center serve as our
initial home!
