There will be a public hearing regarding the closing of one of six North Bellmore schools on Thursday, Dec. 8. Superintendent Arnold Goldstein said that the school board will most likely announce which school will close.
"Hopefully the final decision will be made at the public hearing, but there are no guarantees," he said.
On Nov. 16, The Committee to Explore Educational Options, a group comprised of parents, teachers and employees of all six schools in the district, voted to close Jacob Gunther Elementary School. Twelve out of the 21 members found that closing Gunther would be the best option.
The committee's vote will be recommended to the school board at the public hearing and the board will have the final say in which school will close.
In October, Goldstein said that the district needs to cut $1.8 million in costs and that enrollment has decreased since the 2004-05 school year. School officials said that the district could save money by shuttering one school and keeping kindergarten through sixth grade at each campus.
The public hearing will be held at Saw Mill Road Elementary School at 7 p.m.
This isn't the first school that will close - Bellmore's Reinhard is seeing substantial declines too.. Soon enough, the effects will be felt in the CHSD, especially Kennedy High School, which is already seeing declines like it did in the late 80's. There are simply not enough kids to fill all these schools, something will have to give, and districts will have to consolidate in order to survive.
best Martin Cantor