Chester more open to accepting Greenwood Lake students

By Edie Johnson CHESTER — It was a different scene than five years ago, when about 100 Chester residents said they wanted no part of Greenwood Lake students, or the tuition they'd bring with them.

This year, only about 15 parents showed up at last Thursday's forum at the school, and were nearly evenly split about whether Chester should accept the extra students, with only a slight majority opposed. But even opponents liked the idea that the extra money would protect the school's advanced and athletic programs. Superintendent Sean Michel assured worried parents he did not expect any loss of BOCES classes or income.

Tensions did run high in Chester when the superintendent said the decision rested with Greenwood Lake: their residents would have a chance to vote on the proposal, but Chester residents would not.

"The law does not require a vote on the Chester end," Michel said.

But residents persisted, with one asking, "But does it allow our vote as well?"

Michel said school officials "have not gotten to that point in discussions."

The Chronicle originally reported that Greenwood Lake had 300 high school students. But Michel last week put the number at 240. He said Greenwood Lake had originally given him a figure of 260 but, like Chester, has a declining enrollment. He based the 240 figure on the state report car.

Greenwood Lake's student population was 358 five years ago, when its contract with George F. Baker High School in Tuxedo was last up. Greenwood Lake students have attended Tuxedo for 30 years, but the Village of Greenwood Lake are shopping for a better deal. The state has refused to allow Greenwood Lake to build their own high school.

A Greenwood Lake student, Lee Stanton, thanked the board for considering the proposal, but said he would not want Chester to "look at us as a cash cow." He also said Chester residents should have an opportunity to vote "so we would know that we were asked because we were wanted." To that, he received an enthusiastic burst of applause.

Several parents and residents in favor of the idea said they were familiar with Greenwood Lake students.

"They are just like us," one said. "They are nice kids and smart kids."

Others who had attended regional high schools said they had derived great benefit from the expanded curriculum and added opportunities, and getting to know students from other towns.

But some others were angry at being forced to contribute significant taxes to support a new school that past administrators said was needed to support a burgeoning population, but that is now too big. The Chester Academy opened in 2004. Others said they saw nothing wrong with having fewer students in the school.

One asked what would happen to the Tuxedo school system, which would be left with only 80 students if the Greenwood Lake students left — and whether Chester would be asked to take the remaining 80 as well. Michel again said discussions had not proceeded that far.

Worry about teens' influence Some parents were worried about class sizes, how an entirely different social population will affect the school, and a big change in proportion of middle school children to the older teens, whose population would almost double. They were concerned about the influence of older teens on buses, in the hallways, and in the caféteria on impressionable youngsters who might be exposed to sexual overtones and rowdiness. One parent was so concerned, she asked if middle school students could return to the elementary school, or at least formulating a program to keep them safe.

Michel said Chester's average class size is around 17, with some classes bigger only because there aren't enough students to split into two classes. The state recommends a maximum class size of 27, he said.

Adding Greenwood Lake students would mean a few minor changes for Chester, he said, like getting more lockers and furniture for the caféteria, and about eight new staff members. But, he said, there would be much greater flexibility for teachers, some of whom are qualified to teach both middle school and high school.

Chester stands to get up to $9,500 per student but can accept less for a better chance at the contract. Greenwood Lake is still considering Warwick Valley High School along with the option of remaining in Tuxedo. Monroe-Woodbury has rejected the offer.

Michel said Chester is experiencing decreasing enrollment — the district lost 39 more students during the past year — at a time when state and federal funding is harder to get. The state estimates that 10 percent of New York schools are in financial trouble. Worse yet, he said, the state is threatening to close or consolidate schools with poor enrollment, and the Chester Academy is operating with much a much lower than optimum capacity.

A demographic study from two years ago predicts the school population will stay flat until 2019, Michel said.

Already the school is facing cancellation of some college-level courses, including Spanish and algebra, and extracurricular activities like cross-country because there are too few students interested. Adding students would probably allow these activities to continue and may even make additional electives possible.

Sweetening the choice, Michel said, is a state school aid bill offering incentive grants for schools that become more efficient.

Michel was set to make a presentation before the Greenwood Lake school board on Feb. 16, as this paper goes to press. Greenwood Lake will have two more sessions with its own residents before making its decision, Michel said.