On behalf of Save Katonah-Lewisboro Schools, community members Elizabeth Stabile and Adrienne Kenny recently collected signatures from 44 local businesses who oppose the current school closure. They presented a petition to the Board of Education at its November 21 meeting. Their prepared remarks are reprinted below. Click here to view their presentation.
We want to thank the Board for taking the time to hear our concerns. Since you announced on October 3 that the School Closure Task Force is targeting Lewisboro Elementary for potential closure, you have heard from many voices on both sides of the issue. You have heard from parents. You have heard from politicians. You have heard from property owners and renters.
But there is one important group that you have not heard yet.
Over the past few weeks, we have been visiting stores, restaurants and businesses in the South Salem and Cross Rivers areas. We tracked down the owners of these businesses (not an easy task) to open a dialogue with them regarding this potential closure and its effects on us all. We had candid (and often lengthy) discussions with them on the subject. We can honestly report that they had all heard of this issue - were shocked at the timeframe and disturbed with the data. After this discussion we asked them to read our petition statement which reads as follows:
“We believe that the decision to close LES is being made with insufficient and inaccurate data and is progressing in a rushed manner, unsuitable for a decision that disrupts our community so deeply. Closing LES for a projected budgeted savings of less than 2% will displace 30% and disrupt 100% of the district's elementary students. Not to be overlooked, the lack of an elementary school in our hamlet may negatively impact our valued local, family-owned businesses.”
EVERY owner (and again we strictly spoke with "owners" only - these are not random employee signatures) signed our petition without hesitation. These are the owners of true local, family owned small businesses. Most of these people live in district and have children who are either in/or a product of this school system.
The businesses include:
AIA Team Sports
Bacio Trattoria
Bagel Nosh Café
Barbara Lynch, DDS
Bouton Mobil
Body Back
Club Z Tutoring
Cap’s Country Market & Deli
Cooney Tree Service
Cross River Animal Hospital
Cross River Barber Shop
Cross River Cleaners
Cross River Eye Care
Cross River Pharmacy
Cross River Shell
Cross River Wine Merchant
DeCicco’s Marketplace
Echo Farm
For UR Nails
Gossett’s Nursery
The Gym at BodyFit
G. Walker Construction
Haiku Restaurant
Horse & Hound
JT Farms /JT Stable, Inc.
Kyle Worell, Chiropractor
John Keith Russell Antiques
La Familia Pizzeria
Land & Homes Realty
Leslie Simon, DDS
Lewisboro Paint & Hardware
Michelle Blum Photography
One Price Cleaners
Orange Barrel Media
Sal’s Service Station
Salem Liquor
Salem Nails & Spa
South Salem Animal Hospital
South Salem Enrichment
Subway Sandwich Shop
Treat Frozen Yogurt
Visions Salon
Wood Tiger Martial Arts
The Yellow Monkey
These business owners believe that closing our neighborhood school is short-sighted. They believe it will compromise our school district and lower the attractiveness of our community to prospective buyers. Most of all, it may harm their businesses.
On behalf of these 44 business owners, before you decide whether to close Lewisboro Elementary, you must consider the serious consequences of your actions. Here are their signatures and contact information. Thank you for your time.
For more information, visit www.saveKLschools.org.
