Plan unveiled for student transfers
Published on February 17th, 1999
STOEHAM, MA - Parents of South School third graders received some good news last week as the School Committee voted to accept the recommendation of School Superintendent Dr. Joseph Connelly in keeping these students in their current interim quarters for one more year.
In response to parents' concerns regarding the number of moves this particular group of students would have to sustain in a five year period, Connelly investigated the availability of additional space at Stoneham High School, where South School students are currently housed as they await the rebuilding of their elementary school.
He called the attendance at the School Committee meeting of one week earlier a "wonderful turnout," and expressed his appreciation for parents' suggestions to address the current space constraints.
"My recommendation tonight is based on further discussion with the administration... and...consideration of suggestions from last week," he stated.
In a concurrent move to increase space, Connelly's recommendation to keep the third graders in place another year necessitates the move of the South School kindergarten, along with South School kindergarten teacher Linda O'Brien, to the Robin Hood School. Again, this move would be for the next academic year only.
"I am standing by my original recommendation. I've given it a lot of thought. I believe this is in the South School's and the High School's best interests...It solves most of the issues"
Connelly investigated three options: make the High School wing a kindergarten through fourth grade area for next year and suffer through the space problem for one more year; keep the wing a kindergarten through grade 3 school and move next year's fourth grade to Robin Hood School as originally planned; make the wing a grade 1 through 4 school and send South incoming kindergartners to Robin Hood for one year.
"Our success this year is due to the South School being fully contained (at the High School)," stated Connelly.
An earlier discussion regarding an open classroom concept for next year's first grade was also addressed on Thursday.
"The open classroom concept is an educational issue, this is a space issue," said Connelly.
South School principal Dr. Paula Sline reported that after hearing considerable parental hesitation regarding the concept, she has withdrawn the proposal, adding that she did not want it perceived that the school was sacrificing next year's first grade for the sake of the fourth.
"We will have divided classrooms," she said regarding next year's first grade.
The School Committee unanimously approved Connelly's recommendation.
With a long-term solution to the space problem on the horizon in the form of a brand new South School, School Committee Chairman Stephen Gucciardi stated, "Hopefully this is the very last time we have to deal with this..."
In a related matter, Connelly reported that the school busing contract is ready to go out to bid despite the fact that no final decision has been made regarding funding the service for next year. The School Department has made considerations for this, however.
"We've added a clause in the contract that protects our options," said Connelly, regarding protection of the per bus cost if the School Department opts to eliminate fully funded busing and instead go to partial or private funding plan, the three options recently presented by the busing subcommittee.
As Connelly and the School Committee await the town's input regarding the FY2000 education budget, a final decision regarding this service cannot be made.
Gucciardi stated that he was very concerned regarding the budget. The School Department is requesting a 5.5 percent increase for FY2000 over this year's budget, which will allow the addition of considerable staff including reading specialists at elementary level and an MCAS direct study teacher. In addition, the proposed budget makes provisions for recommendations resulting from the high school accreditation process.
"These are not frivolous additions," he said. "If we don't get that money, we're in serious trouble...We will start building a negative rather than a positive reputation."
Without minimizing the resultant impact on parents, he added that, with little exception, these additions should precede funding of school bus service in priority.
On Thursday, parent Jill Albiani advised that some parents have already been notified in writing by Sline and Connelly that if South School kindergarten is transferred to Robin Hood they would be bused.
Others voiced concern regarding the School Committee's earlier commitment to busing South School students that have already transferred to Robin Hood School.
Another parent, Linda Corapi, suggested that next year's Kindergarten parents be asked whether or not they would utilize bus service for their youngsters. With children that young, many parents may choose not to utilize the $25,000 bus, she asserted, in which case, a less expensive van may suffice.
"That's a good point...a very good suggestion," said Connelly and requested that Sline to look into it.
Gucciardi offered the following clarification, "If we say we'll offer busing, it is always subject to appropriation."
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