South School kids likely to Melrose
Published on March 4th, 1998
STONEHAM, MA - Following near unanimous support from the parents, the Stoneham School Committee is expected to approve the transfer of South School students to the former Franklin School in Melrose, beginning in September.
At a public forum attended by about 40 parents this past Thursday, former School Supt. Dr. Ellen Bueschel recommended that at least five classrooms be moved to the Melrose site while a new South School is constructed on its present site. Demolition of the current school is not expected to start until at least August 1.
The School Committee is expected to vote on the move at its March 12 meeting. (The only other proposal on the table was a shift of South School students to the southeast corner of the high school.)
In order to move the entire school community to Melrose, seven classrooms as well as group and office space must be found within the facility. At the present time only five classrooms are available, but Bueschel said the classrooms are extremely large and may be subdivided.
"We should know before the March 12 meeting," said Bueschel.
If only five classrooms are available, then the two first grade classes at South will be transferred to North School. Those students would remain at North School, if construction lasts past September of 1999, to maintain the first-second grade looping program.
School Interim Supt. Robert Barbarisi, School Business Manager Donald Simpson and South School Principal Dr. Paula Sline will negotiate the classroom space and rent at the Franklin School, which is owned by the Melrose Public Schools. Currently, the building is the home for the SHORE Collaborative Special Education Program, YMCA pre-school program and the Kumon Math afterschool enrichment program.
The current rental price at the site is $700 per room per month, but Stoneham officials hope to reduce that price since South School would provide its own custodial service.
If the school is needed for 20 months, as expected, the total rent could reach $70,000. Additional costs included $52,000 for a total of two buses plus monitors on each bus. All of these costs, including undetermined moving expenses, are not included in the proposed FY 1999 school budget. Bueschel said the School Department will likely go to the Finance Board for a Reserve Fund transfer to cover the costs.
"The Melrose location was our first choice because it keeps the most students together and it is already outfitted as an elementary school," said Bueschel. "I would like to commend all of the administrators for putting together all of the potential plans."
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