Hit by declining student numbers, the economy, and Albany cuts in aid, the Ken-Ton school district voted last night to close Thomas Jefferson Elementary School one year from now.
The school board met in a crowded community room of Hoover Elementary Tuesday. While there had been rumors that Jefferson was on the fiscal chopping block, it didn't become official until Monday when Superintendent Mark Mondanaro had a meeting with parents to deliver the news.
The district has been on a long student population decline and Jefferson only has 271 students, which is considered small by today's standards.
Even so, parents are supportive and the school has good report cards.
"It seems short-sighted to me," said parent Jen Logue.
"When I was in elementary school, I went to Jefferson. It closed and literally five years later it re-opened because enrollment bounced back. I feel like it's more prudent to wait for the independent consultant to come in and take a look at the plan long-term throughout the whole district to see which option works best."
Mondanaro says the fiscal situation is dire with the district cutting into the programs which attracted parents to Ken-Ton and the future looking even worse, potentially with more school closings.
