Sweeton: ‘Greenwood Lake kids belong in Warwick schools'

To the editor: If you are a resident of the Warwick School District like me you have been the target of a highly professional scare campaign aimed at convincing you only bad things can come from allowing Greenwood Lake High School kids to come to Warwick. It is unfortunate that this is the approach of the Tuxedo School District since I believe it will backfire and it will obscure the good education they have provided the Greenwood Lake students in the past. The fact of the matter is Greenwood Lake kids are first and foremost Warwick kids. They are good kids, very much the same as mine or yours. They belong in Warwick schools. The other thing to consider is that Warwick School enrollment is clearly declining due in no small part to the Town’s successful Purchase of Development Rights (PDR) program. These declining numbers are real and will continue well into the future as our Community Preservation Fund retires more development rights. There will be no added costs to Warwick school district residents by accepting Greenwood Lake kids, programs will be enhanced and Greenwood Lake will have sorely needed money to invest in their elementary and middle schools. I urge everyone to find out for yourselves by contacting either the Warwick or Greenwood Lake School Districts who have clearly laid out the facts in easy to understand fact sheets which can be found at www.warwickvalleyschools.com or calling 987-3000. This is an important issue for our town with lasting consequences. Please get educated about this issue and come out to vote on Dec. 12th. Michael P. Sweeton Warwick Town Supervisor