Mattison Avenue Parents Fight to Keep Their School Open

Ambler residents turned out to fill the board room at Monday night’s to fight to keep .

The School Board listened to over an hour of public comment, the overall theme being Ambler’s love of their community school.

parent, Chuck Moore, began the discussion by reminding the board that Ambler is a walkable community and nationally there is a push towards walkable communities. He said to extract the community school from a resurgent town right now is a bad idea.

Mattison Avenue Elementary parent, Sandra Honeycutt, echoed those same sentiments, “Our community…and out school means a lot to us.”

Karen Sheedy, said, “[The school is] absolutely the heart of our community.”

Sheedy added that every teacher knows every student, and there is no prejudice between the students.

Tara Graefe, another Mattison Avenue Elementary parent, said closing the community elementary school would be taking away a piece of the community.

Frank DeRuosi, a former Mattison Avenue Elementary parent, said the school serves a bigger purpose than education.

However, he added that there is an underlying perception of the students who attend Mattison Avenue Elementary, and are sometimes seen as “the others.”

Chris Raines, who’s son has graduated from Wissahickon High School, but is a Mattison Avenue alumni, said her research showed that the small school size has been linked to high levels of achievement and better for children of low income families.

“I have friends all over the Philadelphia area who are jealous of me because the are paying for education similar to what my children are receiving at Mattison Avenue Elementary School],” said parent Christine DeLaurentis.

Charles “Bud” Wahl, the Mayor of Ambler, spoke at the meeting, as well.  He said the town has spent a lot of money to make the town “look great,” but “a school is an integral part of a community.”

Mary Avera, Ambler Borough Manager, who also had three children go through Mattison Avenue Elementary, said the school is the only community center in the borough. The school is where the Borough’s summer YMCA camp program is held, intramural basketball is held there, and more.

Parents also wanted to stay involved in the vote and the process going forward regarding Mattison Avenue. Parents asked to be informed of any public forums they can attend as well as when the vote will happen on closing Mattison Avenue.

Aversa asked the school board to have conversations with the Borough as the district debates this decision.

Scott Wolpert, the School Board’s Solicitor, told the board and the public the process of closing a school. A public hearing would need to be held and the school board’s vote held no sooner than 90 days afterwards.

However, the sentiment was to keep the community school open.

Raines said she would love to see other children have Mattison Avenue Elementary to go to in the future.

Matthew Joyce said, “Dollars are dollars, but these kids mean more than dollars.”

Dorothy Beacham added that even in a financial crisis, a school board can’t cut the legs out from under a community.

“Keep our school open, please,” said Honeycutt.

The Wissahickon School Board is looking for 20 community members to be part of a Community Input Group. Interested applicants should e-mail applications and a resume to Wade Coleman, the District’s Business Administrator, by June 30.

Mattison Avenue Elementary Parents have also created the Facebook group "Supporters of Mattison Avenue Elementary School Staying Open."

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