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Resident urges Scotia‑Glenville board to let superintendent recommend which school to close
Summary
A parent told the Board of Education that the superintendent, not the board, should make a formal recommendation about potential school closures to avoid the board being cast as the decisionmaker; the comment reflected broader community concern about an upcoming consolidation process.
Jason McCord, a parent and resident of Cherokee Road, urged the Scotia‑Glenville Board of Education to have the superintendent make a formal recommendation when the district decides which school to close, rather than leaving the decision to the full board.
McCord said he has worked in school communications for about 20 years and described typical district practice: the superintendent (as the district’s chief executive) recommends an action and the board asks questions, can accept or reject the recommendation, and oversees the final decision. “Typically the superintendent would make a recommendation to the board,” McCord said. He added he fears that if the board is left to pick which building to shutter, “parents, faculty, and staff are gonna fill this room and ask why you’re closing their school,” and the board may be viewed as “the bad guys.”
McCord suggested that a recommendation from the superintendent would help present a united district approach and avoid unfairly directing community ire at the board. He said parents have already heard informal advice that “the only way to save their school was to go to board meetings and make as much noise as possible,” and that he wants a clearer public process.
Board leadership acknowledged the comment and thanked McCord. Superintendent Schwartz and other district staff have previously indicated that the district is considering consolidation because of budget pressures; McCord and others requested clarity about roles and public communications as that process continues.
The comment was made during the meeting’s first public comment period. Board members did not take formal action in response at this meeting; the comment will inform the public record as planning continues.
