Tensions ran high at a public hearing Monday night as parents and school officials voiced strong opposition to a proposed charter school that could open in Central Islip by 2027.

The Academy Charter School has submitted an application to the SUNY Charter Schools Institute seeking approval to open a new high school in the area. But many in the community are pushing back, claiming the move would have devastating consequences for the local public school district.

District leaders argue that the financial impact would be significant. Central Islip School District Superintendent Sharon Dungee explained that the district would lose roughly $23,000 for each student who enrolls in the charter school instead of the public school system.

“It does harm the district,” Dungee said. “It’s less monies that we have to allocate towards the students that remain here within the public school system.”

Although no representatives from Academy Charter School attended the hearing, the school issued a written statement in response to the criticism, accusing Central Islip administrators of making “defamatory complaints.”

“Charter schools do not divert funds from public institutions but rather bolster a district's educational options for parents seeking more rigorous educational opportunities for their children,” wrote a spokesperson for the charter school.

The final decision on whether to approve the new charter school rests with the SUNY Charter Schools Institute. Central Islip school officials are urging the agency to reject the application, citing widespread opposition from parents and educators in the community.