Vote no

To the editor: Here I am, a week before the non-binding vote to allow high school students from Greenwood Lake to enroll in Warwick High, and I must say my mind is made up, It was really an easy decision. As a longtime Warwick resident, I remember too well how 20-25 years ago there was strong sentiment voiced by some for the closing of the Park Avenue Elementary School. The claim back then, similar to the argument today, was that there was a declining population of school age children in Warwick and so it would be cost effective to close the school It was said that a condominium developer had an interest in the property. Well, thankfully the decision was reversed. In fact, the Park Avenue was later expanded and several years ago Warwick even had a need to build an additional elementary school. Goshen is planning for a school enrollment increase of approximately 1,000 students in the next ten years. Yet, some here in Warwick would like us to believe that our enrollment will decline. This simply makes no sense. Once the mortgage crisis eases, perhaps in a year or two, an incredible housing boom is likely, due to pent up demand. While it might be considered magnanimous for Warwick to accept Greenwood Lake students for a variety of reasons - will we be asked to support an expansion of the high school within the next decade should this proposal be accepted? Whatever short term financial gain, if any, is derived from the approval of this proposal is surely negated when one considers the cost of future expansion. The present overcrowding at the high school (classes of 30 or more) is in required courses (Math and Science) offered to freshman and sophomores. Yet, students to be admitted from Greenwood Lake will be freshman - exasperating already over-crowded conditions. The fact that some elective or advanced classes offered mostly to juniors and seniors have a class enrollment of 10 students will not be remedied by this proposal. As far as I’m concerned, a vote no is in the best interest of Warwick, its children and ultimately its taxpayers. Joe DiGregorio Warwick