Introduction to the Crisis
Hundreds of students, teachers, parents and alumni cheered each other on as State Attorney General Letitia James listened to them talk about how closing Preston High School would irreparably harm the community and the future of its current students.
The Hearing
Hundreds of people flooded the auditorium of Lehman High School Tuesday night, while hundreds more watched online as New York State Attorney General Letitia James listened to over three hours of testimony from generations of women who are fighting desperately to save their beloved Preston High School, an all-girls Catholic school in Throggs Neck set to close in June. Current students, parents, faculty and alumni told James that “The Bronx needs Preston,” at times becoming emotional while describing the friendships, support, leadership skills, academic success and moral compass they all say they owe to Preston High School.
Reasons for the Closure
The hearing follows months of rallies, petitions and organizing from the community in Throggs Neck and an escalating dispute with the school’s landlord, the Sisters of the Divine Compassion. The Sisters’ leadership team – who also make up 50% of Preston’s Board of Trustees – did not attend the hearing, but noted in a statement that it came to the decision to close the school due to declining enrollment, financial instability and aging infrastructure.
Testimonies and Rebuttals
Among those who spoke was Katie Ann Gannon, a history teacher at Preston who began her position this academic year but whose ties to the school run deep. She grew up hearing her mother’s stories about attending Preston in the 1980s, later becoming a student herself and graduating in 2019. “Preston is thriving,” Gannon said, rejecting the board’s claims that the school is no longer viable. “It’s not just a school, it’s a feeling,” she added. “You feel it in every hallway, every classroom, every parent, every alum who begins with pride saying that they went here.”
The Role of the Attorney General
The Attorney General’s office oversees nonprofit organizations like the Sisters of the Divine Compassion in New York to ensure fiscal responsibility, proper governance and that they remain true to their charitable missions. Addressing the packed auditorium James emphasized the importance of transparency and said that boards should be communicating “clearly and frequently with their constituents.” “We want to make sure that they exercise appropriate care in their decision making and consider the impact of their decisions on the people they serve,” James said.
The Community’s Plea
Throughout the night, advocates for Preston High repeatedly said they felt blindsided by the February announcement to close the school, claiming they had never been made aware of any concerns from the Sisters about declining enrollment, infrastructure issues, or financial instability. Twenty-five people testified over the course of the evening. The students who shared testimony told James that other schools couldn’t offer them the same opportunities, excellent academics and financial assistance as Preston and that transferring so late in their high school years would derail their paths to a future they’d been working hard to achieve.
The Issue of Demographics
Preston High School Principal Jennifer Connolly told James that the Sisters listed “changing demographics” as one of their reasons to close the school and questioned what the term was referring to and why it would even matter. The Sisters have not elaborated about what exactly the term was referring to, but several people who testified connected “changing demographics” to race. Emily Marino, who graduated in 2011, said that the diversity at Preston High School was a strength. “Sisters of Divine Compassion listed changing demographics as one of the reasons for the closure,” Marino said. “The Bronx has experienced significant ethnic diversification through the Borough’s history, and that should be commended by the Education Board, not condemned.”
Conclusion
The fate of Preston High School remains uncertain as the community awaits the outcome of the Attorney General’s investigation. The school’s closure would not only affect the current students but also the alumni and the community at large. The women of Preston High School have shown resilience and determination in their fight to save their school, and their efforts have sparked a larger conversation about the importance of community and the need for transparency in decision-making processes.
FAQs
Q: Why is Preston High School closing?
A: The Sisters of the Divine Compassion, the school’s landlord, cited declining enrollment, financial instability, and aging infrastructure as reasons for the closure.
Q: What is the community doing to save the school?
A: The community, including students, parents, faculty, and alumni, has been organizing rallies, petitions, and testifying at hearings to save the school.
Q: What role is the Attorney General’s office playing in this situation?
A: The Attorney General’s office is investigating the decision to close the school to ensure that the Sisters of the Divine Compassion are exercising appropriate care in their decision-making and considering the impact on the community.
Q: What is the significance of the term "changing demographics" in this context?
A: The term "changing demographics" was listed as one of the reasons for the school’s closure, and some have connected it to the diversity of the student body, suggesting that the Sisters may be referencing racial or ethnic changes in the community.
Q: What are the potential consequences of the school’s closure?
A: The closure of Preston High School would affect not only the current students but also the alumni and the community at large, potentially disrupting the education and personal growth of the students and eroding the social fabric of the community.
