Fort Montgomery parent Nick Podias says the education he received at James I. O’Neill High School set him up for life, and he’s happy the next generation can do the same.

“We never had ROTC programs here," Podias said. "In conjunction with West Point, it was brought here. There was some AP classes at that time, in 1985, but not as many as there are now.”

What You Need To Know

  • James I. O'Neill High School accomodates students from the Highland Falls-Fort Montgomery area, as well as kids who live on base at West Point

  • State Senator James Skoufis says that while the contract between the Department of Defense Education Activity expires every five years, the contract is usually not put to competitive bid

  • Skoufis says that that could change this year, and has established a website to try and raise awareness for the process

Changes could be coming to the school.

Highland Falls-Fort Montgomery School District is home to local students, as well as kids of parents who live on base at West Point. But according to State Senator James Skoufis, the Department of Defense Education Activity (DoDEA) plans to put the contract between the district and West Point up to bid, and West Point kids could go to school elsewhere.

“Every five years, traditionally, it has been a very pro forma process," Skoufis said.

This led Skoufis to create savehffm.com, a website to raise awareness about the process. He says ending the partnership would be devastating for the district and the entire community.

“You’re going to have untold layoffs, you’re going to have empty classrooms and you’re going to have an enormously negative impact on Highland Falls-Fort Montgomery,” he said.

Carlys Lemler, a veteran and West Point parent, agreed.

“I think it's extremely important for our kids to remain here at O’Neill High School," she said.

She has one student that graduated from O'Neill last year and another still enrolled.

She’s informed West Point parents and students about this potential change, and organized letter writings to make their voices heard.

“All of the opportunities that are afforded here at O’Neill, and the benefits of being at a school who’s perfectly tailored to really support and combine these three communities together into one wonderful student body,” Lemler said.

Podias hopes West Point students will stay, otherwise, it could permanently alter the school district that served him and his sons.

“Teachers losing their jobs, programs would be cut," he said. "There won’t be any AP classes, there won’t be any ROTC. All these programs will be cut.”

Spectrum News 1 reached out to DoDea but has not heard back.

Highland Falls-Fort Montgomery superintendent Doctor Frank Sheboy says that “the district has educated the high school aged students from West Point for generations." And added that, "we have fostered positive relationships with all of our families and value those relationships, immensely.”