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Principal: NB Schools Have Been Supportive of Gunther

Gunther students will be transferred to Saw Mill, Dinkelmeyer and Martin Avenue schools.

 

When the North Bellmore Board of Education announced in December that Jacob Gunther Elementary School will close in June, Principal Marie Testa said that her main concern was getting her 239 kids through the process smoothly.

Testa said that North Bellmore schools have already been helpful to the Gunther community.

"The receiving schools have been working with us and have been very proactive," Testa said. "Principals from the other schools have gone to PTA meetings to introduce themselves to the parents and have come to the school to introduce themselves to the children."

Most Gunther students will be moved to Saw Mill Road Elementary School and Dinkelmeyer Elementary School. Students in special education classes will be transferred to Martin Avenue Elementary School.

Marie Spohrer, president of the Gunther Parent Teacher Association, said that some parents are not happy with the decision.

"Most of the children are closer to Dinkelmeyer, but some will be sent to Saw Mill and won't be able to walk to school, some parents are upset. We should know in a week where the children will go."

Testa said that her students are doing well and are adjusting to the changes.

"We are now working on planning activities that will be supportive of students and parents and that will allow them to celebrate Gunther and leave their legacy."

Related Topics: School Closure and gunther school

Thomas Hayes

12:24 pm on Tuesday, January 17, 2012

I thought Saw Mill had a problem with a toxic chemicals from an old dry cleaners 2 blocks away that was never cleaned or treated?

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Karen

2:00 pm on Thursday, February 2, 2012

The Gunther PTA president, whose child will be moved to Martin Ave., states it mildly; "some parents are not happy". In fact, most parents are upset about the closing of their child's neighborhood school. Most of the children are as well. It's not just the act of not being able to walk to their school that is upsetting to all - it is the removal of the children from a place to which they call home within their neighborhood. It is the dispersal of these children to other schools. Some cited and compared this decision to when Park closed and all the kids were sent to Saw Mill. Difference is: Then: ALL the kids were sent to Saw Mill; a then, brand new school. Now: Kids wrenched out of and divided b'ween two schools. (Newly arriving Martin Ave. students will be kept together.)
Seems like Principal Testa is the one administrator who clearly has the children's best interests in mind. Nice to see someone gets it.

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