Stop the Warwick Community Schoool Closure

Closing the Warwick Community School (WCS) at the end of the current school year (June of
2019) is being seriously considered by the Pioneer Valley School District. This will likely come
up for a vote at the Thursday January 10, 2019 school committee meeting.
The School District is facing significant financial challenges, some of which have come from
basic mismanagement and a lack of fiscal oversight on the part of the previous superintendent
and School Committee. Closing the Warwick school will not fix the significant shortfalls projected
over the next 4 years, it will only provide a temporary financial bandaid.
If WCS were to close elementary children from Warwick would be bussed to and from the
Northfield Elementary School each day. Warwick property taxes are likely to rise due to the
costs for maintaining the empty school building being the sole responsibility of the town. It
seems likely that Warwick would be asked to contribute to capital costs at the large and aged
Northfield Elementary School. In addition, Warwick property values would likely decrease
without a school in town.
The Community School was built less than 20 years ago at considerable expense to taxpayers
and with a tremendous community effort over several years. Due to an excellent staff and
facility, WCS has has the highest test scores in the district and attracts many students from out
of town, adding revenue to the school district.
We petition the Pioneer Valley Regional School District school committee to keep Warwick
Community School open. The Superintendent and others have been exploring several ideas for
significant cost savings and revenue generation. These solutions need to be fully investigated
and utilized to rectify the financial crisis.