Scranton parents, teachers question motives, fairness in school closure plan

Oct. 19—SCRANTON — Without a dependable car, Crystal Sanchez walks her daughters to John Adams Elementary School each morning.

As Sanchez arrived to school Tuesday, she and other parents learned the news: Adams, William Prescott and Charles Sumner elementary schools may soon permanently close.

"That would be ridiculous," Sanchez said. "It would be really bad. I like the fact they go to school close."

Across the city Tuesday, in Pine Brook, the Hill Section and West Scranton, parents and teachers questioned the district's motives and wondered if the plan best met the needs of children. The recovery plan calls for the district to consolidate and realign neighborhood schools, with finances and educational opportunities in mind.

"They're thinking about it more like a business and not a school community," said Kelly Butler, who teaches third grade at Sumner. "We know every kid in the building. The principal knows every kid in the school. You don't have that in big buildings."

Under the district's plan, presented to the board Monday night:

Adams and Sumner would close at the end of this school year. Starting in fall 2023, Adams students would attend Neil Armstrong in North Scranton.

Sumner students would be split between Isaac Tripp and Frances Willard, both in West Scranton, Lafayette Street would be used as the boundary to determine which school students would attend.

Prescott students would move to Robert Morris in Green Ridge in 2025-26, following a renovation and addition for needed classroom space at Morris.

A relocation of the Electric City Academy, sale of the Administration Building and selling the buildings slated for closure are possible.

The plan shows a reduction of two teachers districtwide and will set off a bidding process for all displaced teachers.

Jean Price taught preschool at John Audubon Elementary before it closed in 2012. Then she taught preschool at Adams until the district eliminated the program two years ago. Now a kindergarten teacher, she thought of the Pine Brook students who may no longer have a school in their neighborhood.

"It's never the kids first," Price said as she walked into school Tuesday. "It's so disheartening and demoralizing. Will it be worth the cost?"

Transportation costs would increase by more than $300,000 per year for displaced Adams and Prescott students. Sumner students would not be bused to Tripp or Willard.

Adriani Sanchez walks her 6-year-old son, Santos Salacar, to Adams each day. Even if Santos can ride a bus to Armstrong, Adriani said she was unsure how she would travel the 1.8 miles to the school if necessary.

"It's very said. The school is good," Sanchez said through an interpreter. "He has great teachers."

Amanda Birch walked her son to Adams' entrance. Less than two months into his kindergarten year, he's found a welcoming place he looks forward to attending each day.

"It's shocking and sad," Birch said of the possible closure. "He's so happy to come here."

Teachers and parents questioned how Armstrong or Tripp could fit the additional students, even though district-prepared capacity numbers show there is room. District leaders say additional supports and services can be provided to students in larger schools, but parents and teachers worry kids will be overwhelmed in large environments.

"With our demographic, those kids need that community vibe, that safe place," said Lottie Olsen, a fourth grade teacher at Sumner. "The teachers know them. I'm very sad."

Outside Sumner on Tuesday afternoon, parents waited to pick up their children. This year's third graders, whose entire elementary school career has been impacted by the pandemic, would move for fourth grade and then move to intermediate school in fifth grade.

"It's just way too many transitions. ... I just feel so bad," said Sarah Evans, the mother of a third grader at Sumner. "I think more kids will fall through the cracks."

Sabrina Kreinberg, whose daughter also attends third grade at Sumner, agreed.

"These kids are already behind," she said. "How will this help them?"

Christina Knitter's children, in second and third grades, learned early Tuesday morning that their school may close. Knitter doesn't have a driver's license and worries about getting her kids to a different school. The district's plan doesn't include busing for Sumner students.

"They were upset. They don't want to leave," she said. "With classes so small here, they get more one-on-one time."

Contact the writer: shofius@timesshamrock.com; 570-348-9133; @hofiushallTT on Twitter.