‘The Titanic has already hit the iceberg'

Tuxedo school chief says discussions about future of GWL students already has affected his district BY LINDA SMITH HANCHARICK TUXEDO — Joseph Zanetti is very frank. Without a decision — without even a complete investigation into the possibility -from either Warwick or Greenwood Lake as to whether Greenwood Lake high school students will leave his district for Warwick within the next few years, “the damage is already done.” “The teachers in my high school, they don’t know as much as the people who are bargaining,” said Zanetti. “They’ve got to be saying ‘Zanetti says Greenwood Lake will be here in 07-08 so I may have a job through 2008.’ Some have begun looking already. The Titanic has already hit the iceberg. Some are seeking employment elsewhere, even though nothing has been firmed up.” Greenwood Lake has been sending it high school students to Tuxedo’s George F. Baker High School on a tuition basis for the last 25 years. The cost of educating them is higher than in surrounding districts since Tuxedo is considered a wealthy district. Greenwood Lake has approached other districts to take on their high school students, including Chester just last year, and is in discussion with Warwick currently. The Warwick School Board and superintendent Dr. Frank Greenhall are looking into the possibility of taking the Greenwood Lake students on a tuition basis, but have said they would leave it up to the district voters. If the research is complete, the issue will be on the May 15 school budget ballot. No change would take place, they have said, until the 2008-09 school year when students would be transitioned in over a two-year period. Greenwood Lake voters will also decide whether to keep their students in Tuxedo or send them to Warwick. Only affirmative votes in both districts would precipitate a move. Loss of 75 percent of students And what would that do to Tuxedo? The most obvious change would be a loss of 75 percent of the student body. Zanetti insists Tuxedo’s high school would remain open. “We do not intend to close,” said Zanetti. “There is no intention of closing. There would be between 90 and 100 kids left. Of course, that would have a huge impact on our staff.” Zanetti said, for example, if the English department has four or five teachers with 400 kids and 310 leave, they are not going to keep five teachers. Class offerings would change. Publicly, officials from both the Warwick and Greenwood Lake school districts have said the transition would begin at least a full year after the current contract expires in June. Greenwood Lake is negotiating with Tuxedo for a new contract, but at the same time is talking with Warwick to see if the students could eventually be moved there. Originally, the reason was money. Greenwood Lake currently pays nearly $13,000 per high school student. Tuition is set using a state formula, called the Seneca Falls formula. Greenhall has said based on that formula for this year, Warwick could charge up to $6,800 per student, saving Greenwood Lake district tax payers nearly half their cost and eventually bringing in about $1 million to Warwick. However, there may be more to it. Growth potential “The issue of cost has been the public outcry from Greenwood Lake,” said Zanetti. “But there have been issues over the past few years. Tuition, aid—they were brought to the forefront. BOCES and state aid. We had differing positions on how the aid would be shared. But we have an agreement and we followed that agreement. We discussed the issues, got appropriate counsel and settled our differences by essentially the two superintendents agreeing and the two boards approving.” Zanetti said his district’s elementary school enrollment is increasing significantly. Even with the possibility of the 1,200-home Tuxedo Reserve being built—which has been in the planning process for many years—Zanetti said the number of new students would not equal the amount of Greenwood Lake students. “Warwick is growing, too,” said Zanetti. “People need to keep that in mind.” Zanetti said the Tuxedo district has formed an advisory committee called Save Our Schools. They discussed the inequity in state aid, according to the superintendent, and want the state legislature and the state Education Department to recognize the inequity in aid and to see the unique situation here in Tuxedo. The committee also wants to get its information out. “There are parents in Greenwood Lake who are very interested in keeping their kids in Tuxedo,” said the superintendent. Zanetti said the future of the Tuxedo School District, as far as he is concerned, includes Greenwood Lake. In the budget he is putting together, future plans for the high school all include the students from Greenwood Lake. “All of our discussions have included Greenwood Lake being here,” he said. “This is an emotionally charged issue. We recognize there are quality programs in Warwick. Warwick is a quality school district. But we want to make sure people are hearing as many facts as possible before making any decisions.”