New Leadership teacher: We'll fight closing

SPRINGFIELD, Mass. (WWLP) - 22News was first to report that the New Leadership Charter School in Springfield will close its doors in June, and now, teachers at the school are reacting.

The decision to close was made due to financial reasons. The school is currently facing about $500,000 in debt. 

Students and parents said that they were shocked to hear about the closing, but so were the teachers.

New Leadership teacher Sarah Dehey said that this is a charter renewal year, and they knew the state was looking at them closely. Still, she was not expecting that the school was going to be closed.

“Our teachers and our faculty and our staff are all willing to fight and keep this school open,” Dehey said.

Springfield Public Schools plans to hire some of the teachers from the charter school, but it's unclear at this time how many. As for the students, they will be integrated into the city's public school system.