Parents fight to keep beloved Old Bridge elementary school open

A group of parents are fighting to keep their children’s elementary school from closing its doors.

News 12 Staff

Jan 29, 2019, 3:18 AM

Updated 2,084 days ago

Share:

A group of parents are fighting to keep their children’s elementary school from closing its doors.
Officials with the Old Bridge School District say that Cheesequake Elementary School most likely will close down at the end of the school year. Superintendent Dr. David Cittadino says that the reason is due to a recent loss in state aid.
The district will lose $12 million over the next six years and has decided to close the school as a result.
“This school sits right on Route 34 - it's on a state highway. It's our oldest school, so it has its own maintenance needs,” he says. “So that's really why we’re focusing on the school.”
But the superintendent adds, “If we had the state aid that we needed or at least a way to go above the 2 percent tax levy to make up for the loss in state aid, then we wouldn't even be investigating this option."
But parents say that Cheesequake Elementary is the only Blue Ribbon school in the district.
“If you have a school that is doing well, why are you going to close that school?” asked one parent.
Mother Carrie Kazmirek says that her son only has one more year left at the school.
"My biggest concern is him adjusting for one year because he really is not gonna have a lot of time to develop a relationship with teachers and other kids at that school,” she says.
Other parents say that they are worried about class sizes increasing at the other schools.
The district says that they plan to announce where these students will be re-assigned in the next few weeks.
A final decision will need to be made by March 15.