Sachem Central District To Close 3 Schools

RONKONKOMA, N.Y. (CBSNewYork) -- Long Island's second largest school district, the Sachem Central system, will close three schools as a cost-cutting move.

The school board has decided to shutter two elementary schools and one middle school, WCBS 880 Long Island Bureau Chief Mike Xirinachs reported.

Some parents are not happy about it.

"I can't see why they built the brand new schools to begin with," Nicholas, a father, told Xirinachs. "They built how many brand new schools between last year and the year before, and now they're shutting schools down? Doesn't make any sense."

"I think they never should have built that new high school over in Farmingville," said Rob, another dad. "And the middle school, I think they might have needed it, but I don't think they needed a second high school. I think that's where they wasted a lot of money."

Officials are blaming declining enrollment and rising health care, pension and special education costs for the need for closures.

The schools likely to be shuttered have not yet been identified.