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Personally I think the author is in favor of these high density projects and took offense to a district fighting it. I would be curious to find out where the author lives? How many East Northport residents are loving the idea of one of these projects going up on Elwood and Pulaski? The people for these projects normally are in favor of it as long as it isn't in their back yard. I am against it. The idea that in 10 years Long Island is going to look this way or that way is ridiculous. I grew up on the south shore. I lived in Levittown most of my life. A working class town. After living in NYC for 1.5 years I spent 4 more in W. Hempstead, another working class town. I wanted something more than that and that is why I moved to Huntington. I was told at the time don't worry about the district. People love the district. It is great. It is diverse. Blah blah blah. How many CSH residents would choose to send the kids to Huntington over CSH? NONE. How about Harborfields? Anyone, anyone? The reason I chose Huntington is that it is unique. It has elements of NYC and NE. Upper middle class. To tell me in 10 years just deal with your town going downhill is crap. Why will it go downhill? When you allow huge projects built in areas that they shouldn't be, property values drop. These developments contribute little money to the school district yet influxes of kids attend. Who pays for that? Those in Huntington Station or those north of the tracks. I pay over $10k for .18 acres, most of which is unusable land with a retaining wall and a 45 degree hill for a street. Why is Huntington so high? Because it subsidizes the kids from the neighborhoods that don't pay any taxes. The socialists call it diversity. I call it stealing. Sure, I would love a handout so my children could go to better schools. But I am considered rich under this administration. Yet we are a two income family just to pay the mortgage.
How about telling residents of Huntington Station and S. Huntington to merge and give me my tax dollars back. They are closer in economic status than those of Huntington Station and the two towns connect. That won't happen because that district will end up like Roosevelt and Hempstead, two tremendously diverse and dense districts that continue to fail and need a state takeover.
Like I said earlier, people move to areas because they want to be part of a community. But when you start re-districting you break those communities up. Think about how stupid this area is. If you live in E. Northport, you could be in E. Northport, Elwood or Commack. If in Huntington, Elwood or Huntington. Why not if you live in a town you to that town's schools. Think about this, what is your home worth to you? Because when the community breaks apart it becomes less desireable to others. Try reselling in that environment. People in high scoring districts fight to keep those districts because they want their children to have the best opportunities available and have the ability to eventually sell high to those that want the same. Otherwise allow us to get our tax dollars back and spend it where we want (like Catholic School). But I guarantee you most people that want the merging of districts for financial reasons would never want that because no one would choose public over private or charter schools. In that scenario, the bad areas that pay little tax would get public and those that pay high taxes would have a choice. But we all know that is a reasonable idea so that won't happen either.
Yes this piece may only be an opinion piece, but it is the mentality that worries those that work hard for their money and want to have the most they can possibly have. When plans and ideas like these take shape, especially in a state which has proven to take from the rich and distribute to the poor (just look at how Long Island tax dollars are distributed state wide) it gives you reason to pause and stand up for your beliefs.
If the discipline and learning does not start and continue at home, it doesn't matter where your children go to school. Huntington has ALL the amenities that the surrounding districts do. Your children will never miss a beat when it comes to "programs". The teachers are just as good as the other schools, the valedictorian still goes to an elite school, etc. Successful people have graduated from Huntington!
What it also has is diversity, which many people don't like. Diversity can bring about some problems, but it also allows children to be learn about different cultures. I've never seen that as a bad thing; the real world is based around acceptance of others.
Ultimately, it does come to what your family is comfortable with. We actually purchased a home in HTon because we're not afraid of the direction the SD is going. My wife is a highly acclaimed teacher (she has the awards to prove it) and has an administration degree as well. She visited elementary schools in neighboring districts and was comfortable w/the school we are zoned for. Don't just go on test scores and hearsay, go see for yourself.
Sportsfan - you have every right to your opinion and I don't disagree w/much of what you are saying. We always wanted to live in HTon but in only certain areas. We chose an area that buffers multimillion dollar homes and that is close to the water. I don't ever see the value of the area going down (BTW - we didn't buy a very expensive home).
You have to buy in a place you feel comfortable in.
I'm very surprised residents in South Huntington SD didn't want to consolidate with Elwood. Isn't Elwood considered the far better district of the two?! I wouldn't worry too much....I think we'll see flying cars and intergalactic space travel before we see any Long Island school districts consolidated.
The 'resident opposition' came primarily from the Elwood side, it was beyond evident at the board meeting. A merger between Elwood and South Huntington would never go through for more than a couple reasons. One is generally more affluent, is less diverse from a racial point of view, and does significantly better exam-wise--aren't those the qualifications for a superior school!?!
(Sarcasm)
The sickening part is that that's truth. Residents will fight any proposed merger with not only S. Huntington, but ANY district, 'til it's completely shut down-- even if it means higher property taxes that put the remaining low-income familes on the street while their houses are left vacant.
Though I can't say I'd be totally content if I were paying the reasonably higher taxes for the "better" district, either.
Me either. That is insane, to choose a district with an uncertain fate.
Once again, I'm afraid that the errors generated by Newsday's half-baked story last Winter, about what Elwood was ACTUALLY trying to in its January 6th informational and exploratory meeting, are in many threads.
All five districts surrounding Elwood had either their Superintendent, or BOE President and/or trustee, in attendance at what was a purely informational meeting in January, with experts in Education Law as well as State regulations governing potential consolidation of school district making presentations.
All of those districts ultimately decided, either overtly or by lack of a clear statement, that merger with any district under current NY State law (which permits only mergers with contiguous districts) does not make sense. That is also what Elwood's BOE and Superintendent have concluded, as indicated in a statement which they released a few months ago.
I actually attended the January informational meeting and can attest to the following:
First, there never was an "Elwood school merger proposal," as the original invitation letter posted to the district website made clear.
Second, there was a presentation of information by three professionals with varying areas of expertise related to the complexities of merging school districts under current State law, and one of them also reviewed some historical elements relating to the subject.
Third, the Elwood Superintendent made clear, to anyone not asleep or reading their Blackberry or focusing instead upon what they could say later to be destructive, that this issue was being studied -- basically as a proactive measure -- because of the potential for damaging cuts to programs that would be caused by the proposed draconian property tax cap (that was later imposed by the Legislature and Governor), because reductions in aid were also not being matched by simultaneous cuts in pension fund contributions or salaries or other expenses over which each school district has little or no control.
The audience, by the way, was about four hundred plus by my very rough count (I was sitting in the middle, on the aisle), and it included the Superintendents of the Commack, Half Hollow Hills, and Northport school districts, and the Board president of the South Huntington school district, and a Trustee of the Harborfields school district. There could have been others in attendance, but those are the ones I could see and identify.
I am currently looking to potentially move into the Elwood sd, but am a bit confused by what I've read in these threads. Their being dated, does anyone know what is going on now? I would want to know if any kind of merger is expected in the near future? Also, if anyone has any comments on the Elwood schools from an involved parent's/student's viewpoint. Looking at comparison between this and E.Northport or Commack.
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