Proposed school closing upsets parents

WEST SENECA, N.Y. W(IVB) - A lot of parents are very upset about a proposal to close East Elementary School in the West Seneca School District.

Parents argue high standardized-test scores, the annual Business First Rankings ( East Elementary was ranked 29 out of the top 100 schools in 2010 ), and a dedicated staff of teachers are all reasons to keep the school open.

Parents voiced concerns about the proposal to close the school and the expand East Middle School to grades 5, 6, 7 and 8 Tuesday night, at the second public meeting on the subject.

Katy LaPorta's daughter is in fourth grade this year at East. An alumna herself, LaPorta treasures the school community and the quality of her daughter's education at East.

"I have actually started a petition, in hopes to keep West Seneca East Elementary open," LaPorta told News 4's Rachel Kingston. "We do a wonderful job with our students. Their scores on their ELAs, their math... a letter that went home [to parents] clearly states, 'East Elementary was one of five elementary schools to receive the high-performing [designation], out of eight counties of Western New York.' And we're proud of that, as parents."

LaPorta added, "I don't want my daughter riding a bus with eighth-graders. There's a big difference between fifth- and eighth-graders."

Sixty-eight-hundred students attend West Seneca schools today, 1,000 fewer than 10 years ago. Since 2010, the district has lost $30 million in state aid. The fund balance is down to $500,000.

Administrators say, something needs to be done.

Closing East, and consolidating grades K through 4 at  the district's other elementary schools, as well as converting both East and West Middle Schools to 5-6-7-8 this is the only move that makes sense, the administrators contend -- both educationally and financially.

West Seneca School Superintendent Dr. Mark Crawford explained, "The other elementary buildings are not located on a middle school campus. That's the simple answer. That's why that school is being targeted."

Dr. Crawford continued, "Right now, we're one of just a couple of districts in Western New York that have only seventh and eighth graders in middle school. I had served in another district, as principal of a four-year middle school, 5 to 8, and it was a marvelous experience. I think it's educationally-sound."

Worried parents asked what would happen to special autistic services, which are now provided exclusively at East Elementary; the "Magic Penny Literacy Program," in which parent volunteers work side-by-side with classroom teachers to teach Kindergarteners how to read; and annual athletic contests for fourth-, fifth-, and sixth-graders from across the district.

Stacey Kalenik added, "East Elementary is also the English as a Second Language school for the district. So I'd be concerned about people in our district that do not have English as a first language, as to how those children would properly learn English."

Administrators and school board members didn't have an answer Tuesday night, for parents who asked what would become of the ESL and autistic programs. They would most likely be moved to other buildings, said Assistant Superintendent Charles Lehman. But, Lehman noted, that decision won't come until after the boar d votes on the closure plan.

Based on feedback from the first public meeting, the school board dropped plans to move split current East students between Clinton and West Elementary schools. Now, the plan is to send them to Clinton -- unless their parents specifically request another placement.

West Middle School, which is also currently a 7 and 8 building, would move to grades 6-7-8 for the 2013-14 school year, and eventually, when enrollment allows for it, would convert to 5-6-7-8, according to Dr. Crawford.

"[Students] will have the same or relatively the same class sizes, all the opportunities for special areas -- exploratories, as we call them -- in phys. ed. and music and so forth. And they'll be able to participate in all of the regular school events, musicals and all those kinds of things," said Dr. Crawford.

LaPorta has gathered about 200 parents' signatures, on her petition to save East Elementary.

LaPorta noted, "We're a Blue Ribbon School. We do very well. Our principal is very dedicated to our students. Our teachers are wonderful. And we don't want to see our children leave. People buy houses [in that part of the district] specifically to have our children at East Elementary."

"I am a graduate of East Elementary, East Middle, East Senior. And my husband and I really wanted to stay in the district so that my children could experience what I did," Kalenik concluded.

The School Board is expected to vote on the East Elementary closure plan February 11.