Emotional Public Voices Concerns to Board of Ed About Abrams Fallout

Tempers flared and emotions ran high at Monday evening's Huntington Board of Education meeting as parents and district residents vented their frustrations over Jack Abrams Intermediate School and demanded answers from the still-divided school board. The board, meanwhile, debated what exactly their role should be in potentially getting the school reopened.

One of the biggest complaints from those who spoke during the evening's two public commentaries was overcrowding as students were relocated throughout the district's already crowded schools when Jack Abrams was closed.

Angel Gonzalez told the board that his son said classmates have to sit so far back in the classroom, they have difficulty seeing the board and hearing the teacher. With a lack of desks and space, students needing to see the board have to sit on the floor with their schoolwork in their laps, he added.

"I don't think my kids or anybody else's kids should be able to go to school and have to do their homework and their schoolwork on their laps," Gonzalez said.

Theresa Collins, another parent who has two children in the district, said she was concerned over the large size of classes hurting children who work better in smaller groups, calling the overcrowded numbers "disgraceful."

"In a class of 30 students, is the teacher going to be able to keep them excited about learning and keep them interested?" Collins questioned.

Jeff Moss agreed, mentioning his fifth-grade daughter was in a class of 22 students last year. "In that class, I guarantee more was being accomplished," he said, compared to the class of 30 she is now in at Woodhull Intermediate School.

In total, 22 people spoke during the two public commentaries, their remarks being met with applause from many in the audience. Many even held signs, urging the board to "Bring Back Jack," a sentiment echoed by nearly every speaker.

"We need, as a community, to help the neighborhood improve," Collins said. "But I don't think closing Jack Abrams is a means to that end."

When it came time for the board itself to discuss the topic, the seven members revealed that they remained divided on the "very charged issue," as Board President Bill Dwyer called it. Dwyer said the task of revitalizing Huntington Station falls on the town and the county, and called on both to step up.

"We're a school board, we don't control the community," Dwyer said. "I personally feel the county needs to be held more accountable for what goes on here in Huntington Station."

He added that while things had to be done, he did not see any solutions coming in time to bring students back to Jack Abrams for the 2011-12 school year.

"I think this is a problem that has taken a long time to develop and it's not something that you solve in a year or nine months," Dwyer explained.

Other board members called for action. "We can't just keep on coming to the taxpayers and asking them for more money. We have to find solutions and resolve them ourselves," said board member Christine Bene. "Let's come up with some solutions instead of just skirting the issue."

One solution offered came from board member Emily Rogan, who called for the board to poll the community and see what the people wanted, an idea that was voted down by the board last year. "We were elected to make decisions but we are also supposed to be making decisions on what our constituents want," Rogan said. "I'm confused why anybody would oppose having an exit poll to get a flavor at least of how they feel about this school being used for educational purposes."

District resident Rebecca Sanin said she agreed with the polling idea, but urged the board to poll educators instead of the community. "If we really want to know what the majority of people think, it should be the people who know what's best for children from an educational perspective," she said.

Bene added, "We need to gather information. Ask teachers what's happening in their classes and if their kids are struggling. We have to start to listen, or our education is going to be affected. Even if it's anonymous, I want the parents' questions answered."

Despite all the board's discussion, where members nearly broke into arguments at points, many audience members were dissatisfied. Donna Blair told the board she did not want to hear everyone's personal opinions again, but wanted answers. Blair said closing Jack Abrams had a toxic effect on the community, and the board had itself to blame. 

"You closed this school – not the town, not the county," Blair said. "You have destroyed the children in this town. You are loading them onto buses and shipping them to other schools, telling them they come from a place of no worth. That's when you start gangs. That's when you create a community of divides. And that's what we're doing here in Huntington."

The Board of Education's next meeting is scheduled for Oct. 25 at 7 p.m. at Jack Abrams Intermediate School.