Park Avenue School may close

WARWICK — As some 80 members of the community, mainly parents, anxiously awaited news of the fate of their schools, School Superintendent Dr. Raymond Bryant recommended closing Park Avenue Elementary School during Monday’s regular monthly meeting of the Warwick Valley School Board.

Bryant said that there are “no winners and losers in this presentation,” and that unless public education funding changes at the state level, “my successor in a few years will be looking at closing another school,” he said. “Our kids are the losers in this.”

He added that he’s “trying to balance the needs of the students and honor the taxpayers who have already given so much.”

Shortfall
The Warwick Valley School District is struggling to close a $2.5 million gap (potentially as much as $3 million, depending on final state aid totals) on a nearly $85 million proposed budget.

Shutting the school is considered only a last-ditch, short-term solution. The larger issue is how to continue adequately funding public education in light of rising costs, declining enrollment, unfunded mandates and shrinking aid from Albany and the federal government, while maintaining full-day kindergarten and elective programs, or “specials” like strings, band and athletics, as well as core curriculum. And doing all that without raising property taxes.

Cuts, considerations and closings

According to the information in Bryant’s presentation, Warwick Valley has reduced its administrative staff by five positions since 2009-10, going from 20 positions that year down to 15 for 2012-13, or a 25 per cent reduction.

The administration looked at the possibility of closing either the high school, middle school, Kings or Sanfordville Elementary Schools as well as Park.

Closing the high school was not practical, as it is the only building set up for grades 9-12 scheduling; also, this building has science labs and adequate parking, among other features, according to the superintendent’s presentation.

Closing the middle school was also rejected as an option: moving 7th and 8th graders to the high school would have created a crowded building and left no room to accept potential transfers from Greenwood Lake.

As Sanfordville is both the newest and largest facility in the district, closing it is not feasible, according to Bryant, as the board believes it offers the “greatest flexibility” in future planning (i.e., should enrollment begin to increase again).

Further, Bryant said that it would be too big a logistical issue to move Sanfordville kids to the remaining schools.

Both Kings and Park were considered just about equal contenders, as both schools are of equivalent quality, and each can accommodate elementary students from both sites.

Why Park?
Bryant recommended Park for closure because Kings has more classroom space; has more flexible cafeteria/auditorium/gym space; and has more parking spots. Closing Park also would save the district $32,000 a year in transportation costs.

Further, closing Park would save district taxpayers about $50,000 in operating costs (projected cost to operate Park for 2013-14 is $63,558, versus $11,463 if the site is closed).

Long-term
Bryant recommended putting together a marketing committee to do the following for the former Pine Island Elementary as well as Park:

Surveying Sanfordville Elementary land to consider the practicality of selling 50-70 acres for development.

Using proceeds from any land and/or building sales to pay down Sanfordville debt, thereby saving on the cost of debt service.

Explore shared services and a joint school district (Bryant will be meeting with Supervisor Michael Sweeton and the Florida School District on the latter issue later this month).

Investigating bringing in Korean and other international tuition-paying students (ideally, 50 students at $10,000 each, or $500,000 in new revenue).

Lobbying for a personal tax mechanism as an alternative to property tax as a source of funding public education.

Public comment
As in the case of the Pine Island closure two years ago, parents and other residents made impassioned pleas to the board to spare their school, Kings and Park alike.

Long-time Sugar Loaf resident Lenny Silver said that, though he grew up in New York City, his kids went through the Warwick school system; he was “ecstatic” about the education they received at Kings. Silver said that there was something about Kings that’s “magic.”

Although his children are long since grown, he said he feels emotional about the issue of a school closing because he cares about the quality of kids’ “education, safety and well-being.”

Park Avenue parent Mary Ellen Quinn, grew up in New York City schools, but moved to Warwick because “it has awesome schools,” and added that the staff at Park Avenue “saved” her 12-year old son during a difficult period.

She also voiced concern about a “big, empty building” in the heart of town – she lives near the school – and its potential impact on local residents.

Warwick native and Park Avenue and Middle School parent Jeanine Wadeson added some perspective, noting that the town has experienced difficult economic times before and came out OK: “We were a great district then, a great district now, and will be a great district moving forward.”

She added that she attended the middle school when 5th grade was in the building, and that “it was handled well” then, and will be again.

As to acclimating children to new school buildings, she noted: “New students moving to new buildings will be welcomed with open arms,” even though some may not be happy about it.

Wadeson added that she respects Bryant and what she and other commenters said is a difficult choice, but noted that “my heart is breaking over this decision.”

She said that her children are the fourth generation in her family to attend Park Avenue, and she is saddened about losing the ability to walk her kids to school.

“I do not envy you (school board members) sitting up there behind that high table.”

She noted that she was among the group of parents who were “critical” of the Pine Island parents who tried to save their school house two years ago: “The irony is not lost on me.”

Like many speakers in the audience, Vanessa Holland, Park Avenue parent and organizer of Parents for Change/Warwick, is a Park Avenue walker who is saddened by the likely closing of her neighborhood school: “The whole block walks their kids together.”

Holland suggested parents form a “melting pot committee” where students can learn about the respective cultures of each school, Park and Kings, so that kids can feel they’re represented.

Next:
Work session, including a special public comment period, March 12, 7-9 p.m., Middle School cafetorium.

Regular Board of Education meeting, March 18, 7 p.m., High School auditorium – to include a motion to accept the Superintendent’s recommendation.

Regular Board of Education meeting, to include Superintendent’s budget – April 8, 7 p.m., Dorothy C. Wilson Education Center; BOE to vote on budget.

By Abby Wolf