This month, all residents of the Mineola School District, whether you have children in the school district or not, will be asked to comment on a grade configurations study for the school district that will present six options, one of which calls for closing one of the schools in the district, three of which call for closing two schools, one of which calls for closing three schools and one which calls for maintaining the status quo.

At the suggestion of a community-based finance committee, the Mineola Board of Education commissioned School Leadership LLC to conduct a study on whether the district can save money by reconfiguring its grades. The study concluded that the school district as it presently stands is underutilized as according to School Leadership LLC, the school district is only operating only at 63 percent capacity in terms of its enrollment and what amount of students the school district can hold. Here is a breakdown of each school:

• Willis Avenue School (Pre-K and Kindergarten) - Capacity 429, Enrollment 349, 81 percent of capacity

• Cross Street School (K-5th Grade) - Capacity 308, Enrollment 216, 70 percent of capacity

• Hampton Street School (K-5th Grade) - Capacity 281, Enrollment 191, 68 percent of capacity

• Jackson Avenue School (K-5th Grade) - Capacity 548, Enrollment 360, 66 percent of capacity.

• Meadow Drive School (K-5th Grade) - Capacity 350, Enrollment 175, 50 percent of capacity.

• Mineola Middle School (6th - 8th Grade) - Capacity 822, Enrollment 566, 69 percent of capacity.

• Mineola High School (9th -12th Grade) - Capacity 1,447, Enrollment 804, 55 percent of capacity.

Closing school buildings is expected to save the district anywhere from $3.90 million annually for closing three schools to $150,000 for closing any one school. Closing two schools is expected to save the district $3.65 million, $3.45 million or $2.62 million depending on the option. The board also has keeping the status quo listed as an option.

Residents will be asked to rate each of the options and give comment. Residents will be asked to complete the questionnaire and return it in the self-addressed sealed envelope provided no later than Wednesday, April 23.

- Joe Rizza