Two weeks before the start of school, dozens of students have learned their classes have been eliminated at a magnet school in New Haven.
Officials from the New Haven School District said the Microsociety Magnet School's 6th, 7th and 8th grades have been cut because of a $3 million deficit and students affected must begin a new school year at a different school.
"The short notice was disheartening because I got a phone call today at 2:30 p.m.," said Stacey Allen, whose 11-year-old child attends the school. "And I had to leave work to come here, and I work way in Norwalk, so for me to come down here was a challenge."
Allen, like other parents, got a message that in part said, "This meeting only applies to students currently enrolled in 6th, 7th and 8th grades at Microsociety. This includes both regional and district students. We are asking parents to attend one of the meetings scheduled for Wednesday August 14 at 10 a.m. or 5:30 p.m. for further explanation."
Kim Johnsky, director of instruction for New Haven Public Schools, said they will be making a decision by Tuesday.
"I think that they came in anxious but they're leaving feeling that their voices are heard," Johnsky said.
The decisions are slightly easier for those families who live in New Haven. Those parents can pick from a magnet or New Haven public school. Those who don't live in New Haven can only pick a magnet.
"They're getting more choices than I am because I live in Hamden so I think that's unfair," said Janese, whose son goes to Microsociety. She feels it's unfair she has to return the uniforms she bought to buy regular clothes. "I think it's terrible because it's not enough time to get situated."
Members from the Board of Education said they regret the timing of the announcement, but in an effort to save money, they decided to close classrooms that are under-enrolled like Microsociety.
"We're looking at not only budgets but we're looking at the education experience for our middle school students and with so few children the opportunities are limited," Johnsky said.
"The routine, the afterschool program is great, the extra curricular activities were great," Allen said.
NBC Connecticut is told more cuts could be coming.
Officials from the Board of Educations says they are looking into closing classrooms at another under-enrolled school in the near future.
