Schools
Close to 100 Rally to Show Support for Abrams
Large group of local residents came out to show support prior to Board of Ed meeting.
Following the July 11 shooting of a 16-year-old girl near the grounds of Jack Abrams Intermediate School in Huntington Station, the Huntington Union School District held a special meeting on Monday night in front of a packed house in the Abrams auditorium.
But prior to the 7:30 p.m. meeting, close to 100 concerned residents held a rally in front of the school to voice their displeasure with the possible closing of the Huntington Station School. They chanted, "Don't close our school, keep education in the Station" as Huntington School District Board of Education members, parents and elected officials headed inside for the meeting.
"We need to relocate criminals, not relocate our children in school when there is crime," said Rebecca Sanin who led the rally. "It is unacceptable in Huntington Station to leave one school standing. We love this school and we want to keep it open."
The chant was heard time and time again outside Abrams prior to the meeting as there were many members of the community on hand to support keeping the school open.
"I'm here to support the community, we're trying to keep the school open," said Quincy Nelson of Huntington Station. "I've been living in the community for about 45 years. ... I'm just here to show support."
The area surrounding the school has been plagued with crime in recent years, but it was the pride and support for the community that was rampant before the meeting. Edith White of Huntington Station was one of the volunteers on hand to help support Abrams.
"There's a big crowd here and they're here to show their support of Jack Abrams Intermediate School," White said. "I'm hopeful, very hopeful."
While those outside showed their support for keeping the school open prior to the hour-and-a-half meeting, the Board of Education voted four-to-three to shut the doors of Abrams for at least the 2010-11 school year.
