Rockville Centre school may close due to budget woes

A Nassau school district may be forced to close one of its schools due to budget problems.The Rockville Centre School District is facing a possible $1.2 million reduction in state aid. School Superintendent

News 12 Staff

Feb 11, 2009, 6:10 PM

Updated 5,735 days ago

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A Nassau school district may be forced to close one of its schools due to budget problems.The Rockville Centre School District is facing a possible $1.2 million reduction in state aid. School Superintendent Dr. William Johnson says the possible reduction means close to $2 million will need to be trimmed from this year's budget.A redistricting plan by the district would close the Watson Elementary School, one of five elementary schools in the district. The plan also calls for turning Riverside Elementary School into a kindergarten center. Hundreds of parents protested the plan at Tuesday night?s school board meeting at Southside High School.
?I think it's extremely sad,? says Elizabeth Heines, a mother with three kids in the district. ?I think it's a mistake ? they would feel very displaced.?
The district says more revenue could be generated by turning the elementary school into a community center.
The school board will meet again on Feb. 24.