Migrant Education finds summer home at Lyndonville Elementary School

Photo courtesy of Lyndonville Central School – Lyndonville Central School Superintendent Jason Smith, left, meets with students and staff of the Brockport Migrant Education Program, which is using Lyndonville’s elementary school for a summer program serving 120 students.

Press release
Lyndonville Central School

LYNDONVILLE – When the doors shut on Lyndonville Elementary School about a year ago due to decreased enrollment, it seemed unlikely that the building would hear again hear the sounds of children learning, playing and expressing their artistic abilities.

But for six weeks over the course of the summer, the school will come to life again as migrant children from kindergarten to grade eight have found a place to continue their education.

A teacher from the Brockport Migrant Education Program approached Lyndonville about leasing the site for six weeks this summer. Lyndonville agreed, and will be paid $10,000 for use of the space. That will cover the district’s utilities and other costs in maintaining the site for the whole school year.

“After talking with them we thought it would be a good fit for the property,” said Jason Smith, the district superintendent. “We had been researching options for the use of the building, since we prefer it is not vacant.”

The school is run by Principal Darlene Senco and has 120 students for the ESOL (English for Speakers of Other Languages) program that includes academics, art and gym.

“They chose us because we are a central location for Niagara, Orleans, Genesee and Monroe counties,” Smith said. “We have agreed to a one year lease to see how it goes for both of us.”

The program is operated with a grant through Brockport College and run by Program Director Donna Spencer. It has been in operation for nine years.

“It is a very big program and it usually works as a tutoring program throughout the school year and then we have our summer program where we focus on math and literature,” Spencer said. “Our goal is to help every student get a high school diploma and possibly go on to higher learning.”

She likes the site in Lyndonville and said school staff have been accommodating to the program.

“We are really hoping to continue building a partnership with Lyndonville,” she said.