The Katonah-Lewisboro School Board held a preliminary vote on December 19 determining whether to close Lewisboro Elementary School beginning in the fall of 2014. Five members indicated they were in support of or leaning towards closure of LES, and two Board members appeared undecided. A public hearing will be held on January 16 and a final vote will take place on January 23, 2014.
Removing an elementary school from a small, tightly knit community is a delicate, complicated and emotional process. This process must consider the input of all stakeholders and be grounded in current, reliable information and analyses. It must also reflect sound educational policy. Unfortunately, many concerned citizens believe that the Katonah-Lewisboro School Board and administration have undertaken this task as if performing surgery with a sledgehammer. They are acting in a biased manner, without consideration of the interests of all of stakeholders, including the elementary school children most likely to be affected.
The Save Katonah-Lewisboro Schools organization exists to encourage our local School Board to “establish a new process and timeline that addresses all relevant issues -- properly, fully and inclusive of our whole community.” Nearly 1,000 community members have signed a petition to that effect.
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Whether our organization’s diverse group of community members act by speaking at public hearings, writing to the Board, or planting signs in their yards, we are permitted by law to speak out, express our political opinions, and assemble peacefully. A fundamental rule of our representative democracy is that we can seek answers of elected representatives to the questions that have not been answered – whether our individual concerns are educational impact, redistricting, taxes, property values, impact on local businesses, or budgetary necessity, among many others.
We recognize that what we are not permitted to do is vote on the school closure. That responsibility rests in the hands of the seven Board members:
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Charles Day, President: (914) 232-6628, (914) 225-5686; cday@klschools.org
Janet Harckham, Board Trustee: (914) 232-6667; jhharckham@aol.com
Jeffrey Holbrook, Board Trustee: (914) 533-7186; jholbrook@klschools.org
Marjorie Schiff, Vice President: (914) 763-3068; mschiff@klschools.org
Richard Stone, Board Trustee: (914) 763-6130; rstone@klschools.org
Stephanie Tobin, Board Trustee: (914) 763-8372; stobin@klschools.org
Peter Treyz, Board Trustee: (914) 763-8617; petertreyzdds@gmail.com
Though the Board has held public forums, collected data and performed an analysis, they have not demonstrated that a 2014 closure is the only available solution which is in the best interests of the school district and the affected elementary school children. The next few weeks are critical for the school closure process. Each member of the School Board members needs to hear your questions and concerns by letters, emails, calls and comments now. If you have acted before on this issue, please act again.
Save Katonah-Lewisboro Schools, as a group, is interested in ensuring a positive outcome for our children and our community. We encourage each member of our School Board and the administration to perform their responsibilities in a thoughtful and comprehensive manner and pursue our common goals as well.
