Merrimac Elementary School in Holbrook will stay open, Sachem school board decides
Merrimac Elementary School in Holbrook had been considered for possible closure due to a budget shortfall. Credit: Newsday / Steve Pfost
The Sachem Central school board voted Wednesday to keep Merrimac Elementary School in Holbrook open for the near future, as officials look at alternatives to reduce a multimillion dollar budget shortfall.
The decision comes about a week after the district notified the state of the possibility of pursuing a school closure. Wednesday's reversal came as school officials faced pressure from parents and community members to keep the elementary school open.
Board President Robert Scavo said at a meeting Wednesday night that the district will alert the state Education Department about "rescinding notification" regarding the closing of Merrimac for the 2025-26 school year, according to a video of the proceedings.
"With that said, we are clearly not out of the woods ... Once this budget is passed, we start the process of looking at redistricting and looking at where we can find revenue by downsizing some of our buildings," he said.
Superintendent Patricia Trombetta said in a statement Thursday that the district will hire an outside consultant to review student attendance and enrollment to determine the best options for redistricting.
With about 12,000 students and 15 schools, Sachem is one of the largest districts on Long Island. However, enrollment has dipped by 20% since the 2000-01 school year, when there were 14,948 students in the district, according to state enrollment data.
"If needed, this would be for the 2026-27 school year," Trombetta said, referring to a potential school closure. "In addition, the district will hold public forums to allow for community input."
School board members on Wednesday discussed alternative cost-saving measures to close a budget gap of up to $6.5 million, which officials have attributed to insufficient state aid and property tax increases not keeping up with inflation.
The district would receive $140.5 million in state aid under Gov. Kathy Hochul's proposed budget, which must be approved by state lawmakers.
One option discussed was revising transportation distance limits among all schools, which officials said could be a proposition on the ballot during the budget vote in May. It would need a simple majority to pass.
The district is also considering cutting late buses, girls gymnastics and fall junior varsity dance and cheerleading teams. Reductions in supplies, chaperones at musical events and off-site location days for bowling and golf teams are also possible, according to budget presentation documents. The district may also reduce IT licenses to one year, which would save the district nearly $500,000.
Officials said elementary class sizes could be increased by two students, which would require eliminating eight full time teacher positions. Three social worker and eight secondary teacher positions would be eliminated as well.
"We recognize that any cuts will be difficult and understand that every school holds a special place to the community and the district," Trombetta said. "We appreciate the community’s support, and we will work through these challenging times together."
Last year, Sachem was one of only two districts on Long Island that failed to pass budgets in the first round of voting. In a revote, Sachem voters approved a $374.3 million budget with a 1.92% tax levy increase, down from 4.87% previously proposed. District officials cut staff, increased elementary class sizes by about one student and eliminated sixth-grade foreign language instruction.
The Sachem Central school board voted Wednesday to keep Merrimac Elementary School in Holbrook open for the near future, as officials look at alternatives to reduce a multimillion dollar budget shortfall.
The decision comes about a week after the district notified the state of the possibility of pursuing a school closure. Wednesday's reversal came as school officials faced pressure from parents and community members to keep the elementary school open.
Board President Robert Scavo said at a meeting Wednesday night that the district will alert the state Education Department about "rescinding notification" regarding the closing of Merrimac for the 2025-26 school year, according to a video of the proceedings.
"With that said, we are clearly not out of the woods ... Once this budget is passed, we start the process of looking at redistricting and looking at where we can find revenue by downsizing some of our buildings," he said.
Superintendent Patricia Trombetta said in a statement Thursday that the district will hire an outside consultant to review student attendance and enrollment to determine the best options for redistricting.
With about 12,000 students and 15 schools, Sachem is one of the largest districts on Long Island. However, enrollment has dipped by 20% since the 2000-01 school year, when there were 14,948 students in the district, according to state enrollment data.
"If needed, this would be for the 2026-27 school year," Trombetta said, referring to a potential school closure. "In addition, the district will hold public forums to allow for community input."
Closing the budget gap
School board members on Wednesday discussed alternative cost-saving measures to close a budget gap of up to $6.5 million, which officials have attributed to insufficient state aid and property tax increases not keeping up with inflation.
The district would receive $140.5 million in state aid under Gov. Kathy Hochul's proposed budget, which must be approved by state lawmakers.
One option discussed was revising transportation distance limits among all schools, which officials said could be a proposition on the ballot during the budget vote in May. It would need a simple majority to pass.
The district is also considering cutting late buses, girls gymnastics and fall junior varsity dance and cheerleading teams. Reductions in supplies, chaperones at musical events and off-site location days for bowling and golf teams are also possible, according to budget presentation documents. The district may also reduce IT licenses to one year, which would save the district nearly $500,000.
Officials said elementary class sizes could be increased by two students, which would require eliminating eight full time teacher positions. Three social worker and eight secondary teacher positions would be eliminated as well.
"We recognize that any cuts will be difficult and understand that every school holds a special place to the community and the district," Trombetta said. "We appreciate the community’s support, and we will work through these challenging times together."
Last year, Sachem was one of only two districts on Long Island that failed to pass budgets in the first round of voting. In a revote, Sachem voters approved a $374.3 million budget with a 1.92% tax levy increase, down from 4.87% previously proposed. District officials cut staff, increased elementary class sizes by about one student and eliminated sixth-grade foreign language instruction.
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