As of Monday, June 1, over 600 people have signed an online petition calling for the P-Tech program at Jamestown Public Schools to remain open during the 2020-21 academic year.
JAMESTOWN – A group of families from the Jamestown Public Schools district are asking for community support in expressing concern for the closure of two programs as part of next year’s school budget.
Earlier this month it was announced the Jamestown School board approved a 2020-21 “pandemic budget” for next year which – among other things – called for the temporary closure of both the Success Academy program and the P-Tech program. Jamestown School Superintendent Bret Apthorpe had acknowledged both programs were very successful in helping to improve student achievement and performance, but also said that due to a projected cut in state aid, the district had no choice but to remove those programs for next year.
However, a group of parents are hoping the district can still find a way in the 11th hour to bring the programs back.
“I understand that this is a tough time for so many, but for these kids and so many more losing their education will profoundly and drastically change their futures,” explained Alexis Macri, one of the parents whose child is involved with P-Tech. “We (P-Tech/success academy families) are reaching out to gain support for these amazing programs, hoping to get financial help from government aid so that we can let these kids continue on the great path they are on.”
The families that want to see the programs restored are now asking the public to join them in asking the district to make them a top priority, should more school aid come in from the state than what is projected in next year’s budget. An online petition has also been set up specifically asking for the public to support re-instating the P-Tech program. As of Monday morning, over 600 people had signed on to the petition.
The school board will hold a budget hearing on Monday at 6 p.m. The hearing will be held remotely and the public can access the
Budget Hearing at www.jpsny.org/budgethearing. There are also directions on this page for community members who would like to participate in the live broadcast Budget Hearing with questions or comments.
The public can also email questions or comments in advance to the BOE @ jpsny.org by noon on Monday to have them read during the Budget Hearing.
VOTE NO to JAMESTOWN Budget! PLEASE! How can we be the ONLY SCHOOL in NY STATE that had NO CHOICE??JAMESTOWN is the ONLY School District In NEW YORK STATE to CUT P-TECH! They CANNOT say they did not have a CHOICE! What did they try to do to keep these programs, SUCCESS ACADEMY and P-TECH??At the VERY LEAST, they could have proposed a budget with a SMALL Tax Levy, If voted down THEN and ONLY THEN could having “NO CHOICE” be honest and Not be the OUT & OUT RIGHT LIE IT IS!
VOTE NO to JPS Budget! PLEASE! How can we be the ONLY SCHOOL in NY STATE that had
no choice, JPS ONLY School District In NEW YORK STATE to CUT P-TECH! They CANNOT
say they did not have a CHOICE! What did they try to do to keep these programs? To say no tax increase because of Pandemic is CUTTING THE VOTING Jamestown PUBLIC
SHORT! Who are they not to give OUR COMMUNITY the CHOICE to say YES to RALLY Together when people are Helping and Supporting EACH OTHER MORE THAN EVER! SHAME on the JPS BOE to say they didn’t have a choice, WHEN CLEARLY THEY ABSOLUTELY POSITIVELY DID! Ballots came in the mail, Vote NO AND MAIL today, they must be
received by 5pm JUNE 9th. THANK YOU IN ADVANCE for Voting NO to Jamestown’s School Budget!
The p-tech program is fantastic I have to great grandchildren that go there they both have social anxiety they love the school they finally feel like you fit in some place please do your best to help I get this program back