The Tuxedo Union Free School District awaits to hear the New York Board of Regents decision on the conversion charter process to create Tuxedo STEM Academy at George F. Baker High School.
Update: The NYS Board of Regents voted Tuesday, March 17, to return the application to the Tuxedo school district, leaving the Tuxedo Union Free School District and town with options explored during a March 12 Public Meeting.
Tuxedo students wore red and rallied around George F. Baker High School recently as the New York Board of Regents met in Albany to determine the Tuxedo STEM Academy Conversion Charter application, to no avail as the the Board of Regents committee denied the Tuxedo charter conversion.
@NYSEDNews let them learn. Let us teach. Keep us open. #savetuxedo @TuxedoSTEMAcade pic.twitter.com/ANfvpDwJlt
— GFB Drama Club (@GFBDrama) March 16, 2015
The 17-member Board of Regents is scheduled to vote on the committee’s recommendation Tuesday, which could set into motion any number of actions by the Tuxedo Union Free School District.
@TheEllenShow PLEASE HELP SAVE OUR SCHOOL #SaveTuxedo https://t.co/VItjyzyjCs PLEASE WATCH https://t.co/kev8VYEC5V
— Kristen Costello (@kristencostell0) March 17, 2015
Tuxedo held a crowded town meeting on March 12 at George Grant Middle School on the future of the district’s high school. Due to a revised contract with the Greenwood Lake School District, Greenwood Lake students had school choice for the first time in some 30 years whether to attend Tuxedo or Warwick. After this school year, GWL students will no longer attend Tuxedo schools. That change has altered the future of storied George F. Baker High School, known for small class size and student cohorts that move in unison from elementary to middle to high school.
My students are absolutely incredible. Much love goes out to all of them!. You are all an inspiration! #SaveTuxedo #TwoCommunitiesOneSchool — Art Schouten (@ASchout10) March 16, 2015
At the mid-March meeting, Tuxedo schools Superintendent Carol Lomascolo discussed the dire logistics of of a denied STEM charter conversion application. Writing for the Times Heald-Record, Hema Easley reported that Lomascolo said that if the Board of Regents turned down the application, George F. Baker High could face closing. To keep the small high school open and operating as is would increase the school tax levy some 10 percent — which would translate into a town tax increase of 7-10 percent and would include personnel layoffs, program reductions and class sizes of around 20 students.
One option on the table if the NY Board of Regents rejects its conversion charter application Tuesday is to turn to Suffern High School and the Ramapo Central School District.
“@RT_Sibwarra: We don’t want to be thrown away. Here’s a glimpse of what we’re doing about it. #GFBUnity pic.twitter.com/4sA2t9Moia” @News12HV — Zach Messick (@zachmessick72) March 16, 2015
Can’t even imagine how depressing our graduation will be if we’re the last class in Tuxedo — Matt Murray (@mattmurray65) March 16, 2015
Another option for Tuxedo would be to send its students to Suffern High School — a move that would involve shutting George F. Baker.
My freshman, sophomore, and junior class shirts.I was really hoping for a senior one too #TuxedoIsOurHome #itsnotover pic.twitter.com/pvvPjDhJFf — victoria christiano (@Hihihi_VIctoria) March 16, 2015
Many Tuxedo students wore school-color red on St. Patrick’s Day in support of what could be the last full senior class at the historically highly rated George F. Baker High School.
