LOCKPORT, NY ( WKBW ) The state budget crisis is hitting home in Lockport where residents will learn tonight which two of their elementary schools are closing. Lockport residents tell Eyewitness News they expect the schools are John Pound Elementary on High Street and DeWitt Clinton Elementary on North Adam Street.
"I don't want it closed because my kids know everyone in there. I know everyone in there. I love this school. It's closer to my house," says Betty Doxey whose son and daughter attend John Pound Elementary.
School officials say state budget cuts have left them with a nearly $8 million budget gap and little choice but to close two schools. One will close completely while the other will be re-purposed as a preschool. "The decisions are hard," says Terry Ann Carbone, Superintendent of Lockport Schools, "We love our neighborhood schools. We love small class sizes but we are able to absorb the children from both of those schools into the four remaining schools and still maintain desirable class sizes." Carbone says that's possible because of Lockport's population decline.
Carbone says she has already talked to faculty at the affected schools about the closings and will make the public announcement about the two schools at Wednesday night's board meeting. The meeting starts at 7:00 at the Lockport High School auditorium. The meeting was moved there to allow for more room for all the parents who are expected to show up. A total of approximately 500 students attend the two schools that are closing. Carbone says ten teacher positions will also be eliminated as the schools merge.
"I put most of the blame I'm sorry to say it but Governor Paterson," says Doxey, "He wants to cut all these programs, he wants to do this. What can we do? We're just taxpayers."
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