'Domino effect' of school renovations
Parents applauded suggestions that the whole Syracuse school renovation plan be put on hold, but the school district says the vote on closing two more schools will happen this Friday.
At Corcoran High School on Tuesday night, dozens of parents complained about plans to close Elmwood Elementary, as well as Bellevue Middle School, to use them as the 'swing space' to transfer in students from schools that are being renovated.
Elmwood parent Lorraine Funderburg questioned why schools on the south and west side were being targeted for closure.
"They want to close two schools within the black community. Why are we always the target?" said Funderburg. "It doesn't look good."
One of the most impassioned pleas came from eleven year old Shedalia Payne as she asked the School Board to keep Elmwood Elementary open for students younger than her.
"Little kids love that school. My little cousin was watching the news yesterday and he was boo-hoo crying that they they were going to close elmwood. He said he loves that school."
Parents say they did not get enough notice, and they had several objections, including not wanting their elementary children with older students in K-8 schools, and worrying what will become of the library at Elmwood, just refurbished with a big grant from Target (the Superintendent say they're negotiating to move it all to Danforth, where most of the Elmwood students would go).
Superintendent Lowengard calls it a 'domino effect,' moving students to different schools as the renovation plan finally gets underway. One concern is still Blodgett's part in the project, and that may be decided, he says, by City Hall.
but, the plan is basically:
Dr. Weeks: Pre-K - 4 to Bellevue Middle
5th grade to Lincoln
HW Smith K-5 to Elmwood
6, 7 to Levy
8 to Nottingham
Elmwood PreK - 5 to Danforth, which becomes Danforth k - 8
Bellevue Middle 6 - 8 to Blodgett, which becomes Blodgett Middle School
Blodgett Pre K, 1 - 5 to Delaware or Seymour
6 - 8 stays at Blodgett
McKinley Brighton feeds to Clary
Bellevue Elem feeds to Blodgett
Lowengard says the feeder system in the city's quadrants will stay essentially the same.
The School Board votes Friday afternoon on the school closing plan.
