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School board votes to close Sheffield, Youngsville high schools

Photo by Michael Zabrodsky Pictured are kids from Youngsville High School standing before the vote to decide whether or not to close their school.

RUSSELL – Now that the decision has been made to close Youngsville and Sheffield high schools, Warren County School District staff members will begin figuring out what the reconfigured district will look like.

Gary Weber, district superintendent, released a prepared statement following Monday’s vote by the Warren County School District board to close the two high schools that said, in part, the closure is part of a strategic plan to boost academic offerings while helping improve the district’s finances.

“Tonight’s decision is a pivotal step toward creating a more equitable educational experience for our students. High School consolidation will increase our course options, including more diverse range of electives,” said Weber, whose full statement can be found in today’s edition of the Times Observer. “This will allow students to explore a variety of academic and vocational interests, supported by a more flexible master schedule. The new structure will also lead to significant cost savings, which will be used to balance the budget. The cost savings offer an alternative path that enhances educational services while addressing financial realities; the district is committed to ensuring that this transition is as seamless as possible for students, parents and faculty. “

Monday’s meeting was contentious and emotional, with community residents trying to convince board members to save the schools.

“There is no easy answer that will please everyone,” board member Mary Passinger said before the vote. “I’ve said several times, it’s not about the money, but rather the quality of education we’re offering. This has been a very difficult decision for me, and while I can’t speak for my fellow board members, I’m pretty sure they feel the same way.”

Pictured aere community members at the board meeting

Board member John Wortman began the latest attempt to consolidate schools last June. The region’s declining population was one reason Wortman introduced the initial resolution to have the district’s solicitor present to the board in July the process to close high schools. Population was still on Wortman’s mind on Monday, with the board member saying the board had to “look to the future” and think about all 38,000-plus residents when it came to the closure decision.

“Warren County has declined every single census since 1970 and one of the biggest reasons why people are choosing to leave our community is the lack of quality education,” Wortman said. “We have an obligation as a board to do what is in the best fiduciary interest of all of the people that we represent. And while we can treasure and cherish and always hold what has made Warren County what it is. We have to look to the future. We have to work together as one Warren County if this county is to be able to turn the tide that we have faced since 1970.”

Board members Cody Brown, Kevin Lindvay, Paul Mangione, Mary Passinger, and John Wortman voted in favor of the closures, while Savanna Cochran, Tammi Holden, Stephanie Snell, and Dan Sullivan opposed. There were actually four votes, all by the same margin. There was a vote to close each high school and then a vote to assign those students to Warren or Eisenhower. Under the new plan, students in ninth through 12th grades from Sheffield will attend Warren Area High School, and students from Youngsville will attend Eisenhower High School beginning in the 2025-26 school year.

Holden, who ran for the board as an opponent of the last effort to consolidate schools, said too many board members weren’t listening to the pleas of community members.

“The PSBA states that we should hear what the community and the teachers have to say,” Holden said. “Our community has definitely been engaging. We’ve had a lot of public comment, and it’s been well-spoken. The thing that they left out is the word listen. The word heard defines the physiological act of sound that comes in the ear, goes through the nerve, hits the brain. Listening is the actual interpretation and logistics of what is being heard. I feel like a lot of people are hearing, but they are not listening.”

Stephanie Snell, another board member who ran for the board in opposition to previous school merger attempts, criticized the lack of a plan for what high school would look like for Sheffield and Youngsville students if their high schools close.

“I could get on board with consolidation if you can show me what we’re offering,” Snell said. “So the only thing that I can see that we’re offering either to Sheffield or Youngsville, we’re offering them emotional distress, financial stress, and a lack of community support. That’s the only thing we’re offering.”

Youngsville students sat on the floor in front of the board before standing up in unison, a silent plea to keep their schools open. Some students were visibly emotional, with tears streaming as the results were announced. Parents also expressed frustration.

The board’s decision to move into an executive session to consult with a solicitor was criticized by parents and students, who then left the meeting.

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