NARROWSBURG, NY — Narrowsburg Organized For Responsible School Usage (NORSU), a group of concerned home and business owners who want to encourage economic growth by promoting and preserving the character, natural resources and cultural heritage of the pre-Revolutionary War hamlet of Narrowsburg, in the Town of Tusten, NY, officially announced its formation. NORSU was founded to prevent the conversion of the historic Narrowsburg Rural School—decommissioned in 2005—into a drug and alcohol rehabilitation clinic slated for a downtown zoning district which currently prohibits such a use.

On June 19, when the Sullivan West Central School District (SWCSD) awarded the winning bid to a family-run business from Ft. Lauderdale, FL proposing an in-patient drug and alcohol rehabilitation clinic over a bid by a local family proposing a community-orientated center, the outcry of disapproval was palpable in the town of Tusten, particularly in the hamlet of Narrowsburg, a Delaware River community within the town’s boundaries and host to the Delaware Valley Arts Alliance. In recent years, Narrowsburg has developed into a thriving arts, dining and shopping destination. Tusten is one of many towns that comprise a large school district running from Youngsville in Sullivan County to Hancock in Delaware County.

Opposition to the sale was swift. Former Tusten clerk and NORSU steering committee member Kathy Michell spearheaded a massive letter-writing effort to the state comptroller’s office. “We believe there were a number of procedural improprieties that occurred during the bidding process,” said Michell. In response, well over 300 individually signed letters were sent to the comptroller’s office asking him to sort this out by conducting an audit to determine the fairness and legality of the school board’s actions. In addition, the group’s attorney is looking into NORSU’s claim that the school board misunderstood the parameters of its fiduciary responsibility in the sale of the school and may have not performed the requisite due diligence.

NORSU steering committee member and Narrowsburg resident Tony Staffieri said, “We believe the school board failed in its duty by allowing the sale of the school for a stated purpose that is simply not permitted in the downtown business district.” The group believes if current zoning laws are circumvented by variances and unintended interpretations to permit the drug rehab center or any other use that is not in sync with the vision and goals set forth in the Town of Tusten Comprehensive Plan enacted in 2007, both the quality of life in Narrowsburg and surrounding areas will forever change, and property and business values will suffer. Iris Helfeld, also a steering committee member stated, “This is a passionate calling to not only undo the regrettable choice made by the board of education without any input from the community and a vetting of our laws, but an ongoing effort to ensure for the future that the school be fully integrated into our downtown business district for community uses. We have an attorney and other professionals working with us and fully intend to assert our legal rights when necessary.”

Business owner and steering committee member Joan Santo remarked, “We all want to be very clear—we are not opposed to a drug and alcohol rehabilitation center in Tusten. That said, our school is the wrong place. It has a rich history that many hold close to their hearts, and it is a gem at the center of our downtown business district. We are united in saying ‘no’ to any misguided business proposals that do not comply with our zoning, and the vision we have created for our community through our comprehensive plan and zoning laws.”