LI Parents, Students Fight To Keep High School For The Arts Open

NEW YORK(CBSNewYork) -- On Long Island, parents and students are trying to keep the Long Island High School For The Arts open.

As CBS2's Tracee Carrasco reported, the school's superintendent said it should be closed because of a lack of student enrollment and budget problems.

Despite hearing news of a possible program closure, drama students have been rehearsing for an upcoming performance at the Syosset based school which opened just 2-years-ago.

Programs there now face being hsut or transferred by the end of the school year.

"We've failed to meet budget the last few years and by law we have to meet budget," District Superintendent of Nassau BOCES, Dr. Robert Dillon, said.

Dillon said the school has run up a $2-million deficit because of classes that are only half-filled. He said the financial bleeding is in part because tax squeezed school districts are reluctant to pay the $7,500 it costs to enroll each student.

"It would break my heart," Emma Boudin said.

Boudin, 15, is among the students and parents outraged by the potential closure. They blame a lack of state funding and districts not pushing to enroll students.

"The parents don't even know about it, and shame on those districts in Nassau and Suffolk counties that are not taking advantage of it because of money," Jeanne D'Esposito-Malverine said.

A Long Island representative on the State Board of Regents told CBS2 that the Regents are preparing new arts requirements for students to graduate that could persuade school districts to use facilities like the high school for the arts.

Parents called it the right thing to do.

"We don't want their hearts broken, and we want their promises kept and their commitments held to," Jen Boudin said.

A closure recommendation will be made to the full Nassau BOCES Board on Thursday night.

Frustrated parents and students said they will be at the meeting.