Parents protest Elwood school merger proposal

Students would face culture shock and the Elwood Union Free School District would lose its treasured sense of intimacy if it merged with adjacent districts, according to some of the more than 300 people - most opposed to the plan - who attended a special meeting last night.

Betty Dimitriou, 46 of Greenlawn, who has five children, all of whom have attended Elwood schools, said she was concerned about how her youngest, a daughter in seventh grade, might adjust to having new peers.

"Elwood is such a small district," she said. "It's so intimate. Our kids are not used to merging and suddenly they would be with thousands of new children."

Elwood district officials asked surrounding districts last month about their interest in a merger.

If a merger is approved by voters, the state would provide the new district with an additional 40 percent of its 2006-2007 operating aid - based on numbers provided by both districts - for five years. After that, the aid would decrease by 4 percent each year until it hits zero.

The new district would also be eligible for an additional 30 percent building aid - up to 95 percent of the approved cost of a project - for construction within 10 years of the reorganization.

None of the five school systems Elwood reached out to last month have scheduled formal talks with the district.

The Elwood district eliminated 14 teaching and staff positions this school year and officials told residents in a statement that similar cuts could "seriously damage the quality of our district."

Kate Flore, 45, a parent of three young children, said she is concerned about the district becoming larger.

"I am from a small town and like the small community in Elwood. We are a very close and caring community, where principals, teachers, parents and students all know each other," Flore said. "I am trying to keep an open mind because of the potential cost savings. But my knee-jerk reaction is negative."

Paul Caplan, 52 of East Northport, is a local businessman and member of the district's citizens finance board. He said he understands why Elwood wants to explore consolidation.

"Our superintendent realizes the cost of running the district is getting more and more difficult to pass on to the taxpayers," he said in a conversation before the meeting. With Chau Lam