Support New Management
Kevin Gersh, who runs several private schools and programs for students with special needs elsewhere on the Island, won overwhelmingly positive support from more than 30 families at a meeting at the Child Development Center of the Hamptons on Feb. 10. It had been called in anticipation of the State University’s Charter School Institute giving him approval to take over the school’s management.
C.D.C.H. would be Mr. Gersh’s first foray into charter schools, though not his first program that blends general education and special education students in an inclusion setting. He is the founder of the Gersh Academy schools for students with autism and the co-founder of the West Hills Montessori School. News of his potential management takeover came to light about two weeks ago.
Mr. Gersh told parents that the major challenge would be adding enough pupils to keep the school afloat. His goal for next year is attracting 25 new students, he said, while at least 50 more is the ultimate goal. There are now 57 students enrolled, whereas at the school’s peak it had 95.
School officials recently reported C.D.C.H.’s finances had leveled following a troubled year in which it lost at least $350,000. Family Residences and Essential Enterprises, the Old Bethpage not-for-profit that has managed the school for many years, has been handling many of its expenses, and toward the end of 2015 began looking for a new entity to manage the school.
Revenue for the school comes from tuition paid by the public school districts from which its students come, which varies widely based on those districts’ average per-pupil costs. Students in the general education program may come from districts within a 15-mile radius of C.D.C.H., while students in special education may come from within a 50-mile radius.
Parents at the meeting asked Mr. Gersh if he might undertake a summer camp or before and after-school programs for the children of working parents who have trouble finding those services. Others asked him to expand the school through eighth grade. It now serves students in kindergarten through fifth grade.
“There’s nothing we can’t do. . . . We are an organization that is child-first,” Mr. Gersh said.
Kevin Fleming of Riverhead, who has a son at C.D.C.H., said after the meeting that he was ecstatic that Mr. Gersh may be coming in. Mr. Fleming and his wife, Janice, had looked at the Gersh Academy in West Hempstead for their son, who has special needs, but the private school tuition put it out of reach.
“C.D.C.H. was the closest thing to Gersh Academy that we could find,” Mr. Fleming said. “To find this out was just amazing. Absolutely phenomenal. We know that this is going to be an asset to the community. We’re looking forward to it. C.D.C.H. is doing an amazing job with our son, and to have Kevin Gersh come along is just a win-win.”
Maria Ortiz of East Hampton, whose son recently transferred to C.D.C.H. from the John M. Marshall Elementary School, said she had confidence in Mr. Gersh. “Everything is going to be better for the children,” Ms. Ortiz said.
Fiona Fleming of Sag Harbor, who also has a son at C.D.C.H. and who recently joined its board of directors, said, “Once we get our name out, and with this organization helping us, we’ll have a lot more enrollment.”
The meeting was conducted bilingually for those whose first language is Spanish. Sheila Fridman, the co-founder and executive director of the Gersh International Puerto Rico schools, was the translator.
Mr. Gersh said his inspiration to provide excellent education for children came from his own background as a student with special needs. In a recent interview, he said he has dyslexia and attention deficit disorder, and found school very difficult. In fact, he said, he had attended seven different colleges, but could not graduate.
“Basically, the goal is to customize the learning process around children’s strengths and weaknesses. You support them where they’re weak and push them where they’re strong, instead of teaching children all the same way like the way I was taught,” he said.
“My life is education. That’s what I do, I educate children,” he said. “I saw an amazing opportunity to bring quality service to the East End of Long Island.”