Announcement To Close East Elementary School Could Come Next Week

LONG BEACH, NY — The East Elementary School is on the chopping block. The Board of Education is expected to decide the school's fate next week.

In the meantime, one woman is making her voice heard to keep the century-old school open. Joanne Kapp, who has two children (2nd grade and 4th grade) in the East School, has created a petition, which received more than3,500 online signatures in favor of saving the school.

It comes despite a major investment in education from Gov. Hochul in the state budget.

"It just doesn't seem to make any sense," Kapp said.

Patch attempted to get a comment from the district.

The East Elementary closure, though, is tied to finances, as the school and students would get consolidated into the other elementary schools, Newsday reported.

"I'm not convinced that consolidation without a crisis or without a need is necessary to do this to a community," Kapp said.

That would likely mean an increase in classroom sizes. "Adding an additional four to six students to these teachers' classrooms, especially students that need services, is also troublesome," she said.

While residents await the board's decision, Kapp thinks the administration already knows what they'll do.

"I personally deep down think that they've already made this decision and just not been sharing with the public," Kapp said.

It's anticipated that the Jan. 28 board meeting will provide answers to the community.