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Schools

Parents Question Quogue Elementary's Enrollment Policy

Parents say allowing non-residents into the Quogue Elementary School is concerning.

Tuesday night’s Quogue Board of Education meeting heated up when a debate erupted between several audience members and Walter Stockton, school board president, concerning the school’s policy on allowing non-residents to attend Quogue Elementary School.

A group of concerned parents stood to probe the board on its policy to allow non-resident students to enroll at the Quogue Elementary School for an annual tuition of $4,500. They stated they are concerned for the future of the Quogue Elementary School and feel that the tuition fee does not effectively cover the cost for non-residents to attend the school.

According to the school district, presently 35 percent of Quogue Elementary students are non-residents. They were permitted into the district when enrollment numbers dipped.

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President Stockton responded to the residents saying that while non-residents are permitted into the school, Quogue Elementary is still very much a community school.  He said that if the district didn’t take in outside students, it would be a question whether it could successfully run.

“We are here to perpetuate thee the success of Quogue School,” said Stockton. “Without those non-resident students, there might only be two or three children in a classroom, which hinders socialization and the learning process.”

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 Budget in the Works

While the Quogue school district has received 9.07 percent more in than orginally expected, balancing the district’s new budget is not an easy task, said Richard Benson, superintendent of schools.

“It wasn’t easy,” said Benson. “It was a tough budget this year and even though we are a small district and don’t rely too heavily on state aid, that $40,000 to $50,000 cut has an impact on our programs.”  

He did say, however, that Quogue Elementary was fortunate to have a surplus from last year budget, which will be able to offset the decrease in state revenue.

The budget, said Bensen will be presented to the public early in May.

Cones for a Cause

Even a heavy downpour of rain didn’t keep the crowds away from the Quogue Elementary School’s Free Cone fundraiser at Main Street Sweets in Westhampton on Tuesday.  

With several PTA members greeting customers inside the shop and asking for donations, Ben & Jerry’s supplying free frosty treats and Main Street Sweets generously serving it up, the fundraiser brought in $1000 for the school’s playground project.

Customers, who picked up a free cone, were asked to donate a dollar to the PTA’s Playground Fund, which is an ongoing fundraising effort to rebuild the school’s playground.

Earlier this year, the school’s play structures were deemed hazardous and removed, leaving the kid’s recreation area desolate.

Since then, the Quogue PTA and the Board of Education have raised $35,000 for Phase 1 of the project and the new Pike’s Peak play structure is set to be installed next week.

Fundraising efforts will continue for Phase II and III of the playground project, which will require the purchase of additional play structures, installation costs and a playground safety surface.

Anyone interested in donating to the new Quogue Elementary School playground, can visit www.replaceoutplayground.org.

The PTA is also looking for volunteers to help mulch the new playground area on Saturday.  Anyone interested in lending a hand, can contact Quogue Elementary School.

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