Students, staff close books on Center Street

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June 22, 2012

Students, staff close books on Center Street

By Mark Boshnack Staff Writer The Daily Star Fri Jun 22, 2012, 03:30 AM EDT

Students and staff at Center Street Elementary School said goodbye for the last time Thursday during a series of events.

Budget cutbacks and declining enrollments led to the Oneonta City School District plan to end classes at the school and send students and most staff to other elementary schools. In May, voters turned down an option to keep classes at the school.

Thursday included a sing-along, graduating ceremony and pizza party before the 11:30 a.m. dismissal. Some students decided to leave through a special window exit. Students in kindergarten and sixth grade wrote their names in concrete, which coincidentally was being poured by workers outside the school.

"Today was bittersweet," Principal Coleen Lewis said afterwards. "It was a very emotional day. It was the last day we would be together as a Center Street family. I tried to keep it upbeat -- to make it a positive ending."

It went really well thanks to the "professional manner of the teachers and staff. They rose to the occasion," she said.

She had been "holding it together" emotionally during the day, but when she saw the students leaving, "I got a little choked up," she said. "I know they will do fine and do great things but this place was very special."

Many students had gone recently to open houses at the elementary schools they will be attending in the fall. The students had a series of events the last two weeks to help with the transition.

Most of those interviewed said they had a mixture of emotions.

Liam Flynn is a fifth-grader going to Riverside Elementary School. "To us it is unfair, but what's done is done," he said of the closing. "We have to carry on with our new lives, but Center Street will always be in my heart." He said he likes what he had seen of his new school, "but I'd rather be here."

Third-grader Molly Forbes will be attending Greater Plains Elementary School next year. She said of the final day, "I definitely liked being with my friends and getting to go up on stage and graduating."

She said of her new school: "I know some people there. It's going to be a cool experience." But, she noted, "It's sad that they are closing."

Third-grader Kevin Kurkowski said he was sad to be leaving. "I will miss everybody." But he enjoyed Thursday's events. He was looking forward to going to Riverside. "I know a lot of people there," he said.

Among the parents commenting was Mary Allen, whose son will be going to Valleyview Elementary School.

"I'm sorry to see the loss of community." She thanked Lewis and staff for helping the students with the transition.

Anna Legname has a daughter who will be attending Valleyview. "I am very sad to see this but at the same time, I feel appreciative for all the teachers and staff have been doing." It has been an "emotional day," which has been helped by seeing her daughter enjoying the activities. "Nothing will change the sadness of losing the school."

Staff commenting included Wendy Willis, who has been at the school for 30 years, working the last several as a counselor. She will be working with special education students at several district buildings next year, a position she has held for most of her career. Over the years she has seen students deal with painful issues, but she has never seen so many struggle, as has been the case with the closing.

However, "they are very resilient," and the recent activities have helped them deal with it.

For her, "everyday has its ups and downs." The staff has become a family over the years and has taken turns in supporting each other. "It's been a real group effort" with all participants in the school community, including the Parent Teacher Organization, staff and teachers working together, she said.

Angie Saggese teaches kindergarten at Center Street and will be doing the same at Riverside.

"It's been very exciting," she said of the last day. "It's the perfect ending to a journey that began 14 years ago." She was impressed by all of the hard work everyone put into the activities, but she will miss those that she has seen every day.

Physical education teacher John Nealis said he has been successful in trying to "put on a good face and end on a positive note." The closing was "the wrong move, but we lost the vote." He worked hard to make sure it was a good transition. "I'm glad kids can walk out with a smile." He is waiting to see where he will be assigned in the district.

"It's bittersweet," school speech pathologist Dawn Mushtare said. She was fortunate to have experienced Center Street as a faculty member and as a parent who sent two children to the school. "It's a unique and special place," thanks to the last two principals, John Cook, who helped with Thursday's final graduation, and Lewis, who are "exemplary leaders." Mushtare will be working at Riverside next year. "The other schools have been welcoming to kids and staff alike," she said.

Lewis was the only staff member to lose her job in the realignment because of seniority. She was recently hired at Schenevus Central School as principal. "I'm happy to have the opportunity," she said. She will be starting July 1.

Relocation of district and special education offices, as well as adult and alternative education were scheduled to begin at Center Street on Thursday.