The School Committee has narrowed down the long-term education and facilities master plan options for consolidation to two choices. That was the goal of last Wednesday’s workshop meeting with …
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The School Committee has narrowed down the long-term education and facilities master plan options for consolidation to two choices. That was the goal of last Wednesday’s workshop meeting with Symmes Maini & McKee Associates (SMMA), the firm hired to develop two alternative master plans for the district.
The two options consist of the creation of two middle schools (grades 6-8) and two “magnet high schools” with two ninth grade academies, and the creation of three two-school campuses (middle and high), incorporating grade 6 and the reorganization of secondary to “magnet schools with ninth grade academies.”
When the meeting began, four plans were under consideration. The other two plans consisted of asset protection, which involved only doing what it is necessary to bring buildings up to code and maintain them to ensure a safe and healthy learning environment, and the creation of a super high school and a super middle school (grades 6-8), by either closing all six secondary schools and building brand new schools or by performing necessary additions and renovations on existing buildings to convert them into super schools.
SMMA Senior Vice President Ed Frenette previously explained magnet schools are schools with a focus or concentration in specialized programming, such as the arts, humanities, STEM [science, technology, engineering, and math], that draw students from all over the district. He said ninth grade academies would function as “a school within a school,” where students would have the same team of teachers that work together on lesson plans, which serves to assist students with the transition from middle school to high school.
Frenette said magnet schools would set Warwick apart from other districts in New England and would provide educational enrichment.
“The most potential for enrichment and educational offerings comes from two high schools and two middle schools if you keep the current curriculum,” Frenette said. “If you change the schedules and match them up and move toward a different approach to education, you can recapture enrichment with the three campuses.”
No matter which option is selected, Frenette said it would require the use of bond money, which must be approved by voters as well as the Rhode Island Department of Education.
According to SMMA, the one-time bond cost associated with each plan is as follows: $141 million for asset protection; $112 million for two middle schools and two high schools; $142 million for three two-school campuses; $253 million for two super schools with additions and renovations to existing buildings or $280 million for two brand new super schools.
“I would be shocked if the state would fund the super schools or if the voters would approve it,” Frenette said, adding that closing six schools is a waste of a lot of resources.
School Committee member Karen Bachus said the committee should rule out doing the asset protection plan, since it doesn’t involve educational enrichment or address declining enrollment and excess capacity. She also agreed with Frenette, saying the super schools would be “lovely,” but the district won’t get the funding needed to make them a reality.
In either of the two scenarios still under consideration, two secondary school buildings would be retired and the recommendation for both plans is to retire Aldrich and Gorton Junior High Schools. In the two middle schools and two high schools plan, Warwick Veterans High School would be re-purposed to a super middle school and Vets students would be split between Pilgrim and Toll Gate.
The Long Term Facilities Planning Committee (LTFPC), which was initially tasked with studying the district and determining how best to address declining enrollment, reached a similar decision when it recommended closing Aldrich and Gorton and re-purposing Vets as a super junior high school. However, many in the public felt that process was tainted and called for an independent consultant from outside the district to be hired, which the School Committee voted in favor of and later hired SMMA.
Frenette said Vets was chosen to become the super middle school for geographic reasons.
“Pilgrim is on the northeast and Toll Gate is on the southwest, so you’re bracketing the students in the city,” he said. “We’re primarily looking at geography; rather than have a corner of the city be just high school, we thought it would be better to bracket the population between two schools.”
In the three two-school campuses plan, all three high schools would remain open but modifications would be made in order to divide the buildings to accommodate both middle and high school students while keeping them separated. For example, the buildings would feature separate bus routes, entrances, gyms, lunchrooms, and library/media centers. However, this option would also require separate administrations as well as separate guidance counselor teams because “it’s too broad a spectrum for one team to cover.” There would also be fewer staff reductions and no savings on busing due to the need for separate bus routes.
Nathan Cornell, a member of the audience, said he would be in favor of the three two-school campuses model.
“It’s not beneficial to split students apart and shove them into two buildings,” he said. “You can keep students together with the three campuses. That’s more beneficial. Students fear change.”
Frenette responded, saying, “We’re not cramming kids in with the two middle schools and two high schools because it’s virtually the same square footage either way.”
Frenette said while major construction is probably one to two years away, whichever plan is decided, the start date for either plan would be the same and it could mean moving students as early as this September.
“It’s your decision to decide when you want it to happen, not mine,” he reiterated.
Darlene Netcoh, English department chair and teacher at Toll Gate, said secondary schools have been working on scheduling since January.
“It would be folly to close a school in September and undo the work that has been done the past five months,” she said. “I don’t want to close schools on the spur of the moment.”
Netcoh said the city and schools need to work together.
“We need to work with the city and see what we can do to grow,” she said. “If they want families to move in and the city to grow, they need to support the schools and we need to work together.”
One audience member raised concerns over Aldrich and Gorton not being fully fire coded. If the schools remain open, that work would need to be completed, otherwise the buildings would be shut down and the school department would have to pay fines until the work is completed.
“We met with the Fire Board of Review, they reviewed our case and gave us an extension to September 22 for an update of where we are,” Superintendent Richard D’Agostino said. “If we don’t have a decision by then, the schools will remain open and we would repair what’s needed.”
A member of the school’s former long range planning committee said over the past six years there’s been an issue of not knowing the direction of the school system.
“We’ve had an interim superintendent, there may be a new one. I’m not quite sure where the leadership is going and will someone new bring forth what you recommend,” she said. “The cart is before the horse. I would like to have a team in place before implementing a project.”
School Committee Chairwoman Jennifer Ahearn responded.
“An organization isn’t created by one individual. I think we have a lot of good team players in our organization and whoever is in place will be qualified to move forward,” she said. “We’re not dependent upon one individual because we have a lot of people in place to support our students.”
Frenette said there is never a right time to do this.
“Everyone is acting in a committed manner to make the best decision,” he said.
Committee Vice Chairman Eugene Nadeau agreed.
“Finally something is being done to benefit the students long-term and I’m satisfied with the way this has been handled,” he said. “Everything comes down to money. It’s up to us to convince the city this is the right move to make for the city and for the students.”
Bachus said she believes in the adage, “if we build it, they will come.”
“There was a time when Warwick was one of the best school systems in the state and I believe we can rise to that again,” she said. “It will be hard work, but the kids are worth it.”
The next SMMA workshop meeting will be held at 6 p.m. on Monday, June 8 in the auditorium at Toll Gate High School.
7 comments on this item Please log in to comment by clicking here
davebarry109
MAKE A DECISION AND GET IT DONE. DO NOT TAKE ANOTHER COUPLE OF YEARS. CLOSE SCHOOLS NOW.
Tuesday, June 2, 2015 Report this
jackiemama63
Obstinate, close-minded, and willfully ignorant...when will they accept reality? They wouldn't accept the plan (wouldn't even READ) the plan submitted by the LTFPC, now they refuse to accept the findings of the $250,000 consultant? More crocodile tears from one School Committee member, more blathering from another, more dithering by the Chairwoman, and silence from the remaining two (because they know what has to be done, both are tired of explaining it to the people who refuse to listen). I understand that the Union people want to retain their jobs, but WPS is not a "jobs" program..but then again.. Wonder how the vote will go tonight at City Hall? Wonder if WPS will get the $6.9 million in funds they are asking for? I think we know the answer.
Wednesday, June 3, 2015 Report this
maggie123
Nathan Cornell, a member of the audience, said he would be in favor of the three two-school campuses model.
“It’s not beneficial to split students apart and shove them into two buildings,” he said. “You can keep students together with the three campuses. That’s more beneficial. Students fear change.” I don't think students fear change....Parents fear change and pass that down to their children. Most 6th graders are all done with sitting in one class all day long (ask just my 6th grader and his classmates)....they want to move into the Jr. High and move about. The Bristol/Warren school district is proof of what a great change this would be. My oldest son moved to that district for Middle school and the school was state of the art! Beyond what Warwick could ever offer.
I am NOT at all surprised that the that the consulting firm has come up with the same plan that the original planning committee came up with 2 years ago. Lets just hope that they move with that plan and not delay by wasting time putting the other option on the ballot....RI's are not going to give Warwick money for schools, I am Warwick resident and I would not vote for the bond and I suspect most of the city's residents would also not vote for the bonds. MOVE ON and stop wasting our tax dollars on BS. Enough is Enough....
Wednesday, June 3, 2015 Report this
BobSavage
The Three High School/Three Junior High School model will keep high school size at an optimal level (between 800 to 900 student) and keep grade and class size at their current moderate levels that are best for students. At the same time, by having two schools within a building (high school and junior high in the same building) it will optimize use of building capacity. One school board member claimed that it may be difficult to implement this plan because it would require negotiations with the Warwick Teacher Union. That is not a real obstacle; it is likely the WTU will favor this plan over the Two High School/Two Junior High School plan and will want to cooperate in getting it implemented.
Thursday, June 4, 2015 Report this
BobSavage
To sign petition to support Three High School/Three Junior High School plan go to:
http://www.gopetition.com/petitions/keep-a-three-high-school-model-in-the-city-of-warwick-ri.html
Thursday, June 4, 2015 Report this
jackiemama63
BobSavage,
Well...we are having the same conversation we had almost two years ago, except the school district is $250,000 poorer for it. It would be fabulous to have the model you speak about. It's not realistic. Money matters and we don't have the money to implement a plan such as the "3 campus" model. It's too bad, really. However, we must be realistic and accept the changes that are coming. Instead of fighting it, and being negative, look at the upside. More money equals better funded programs, increased technology, upgraded facilities, ability to hire more teachers with specialized backgrounds. It's not a bad thing, it is a good thing. Difficult, but good!
Thursday, June 4, 2015 Report this
PPerry66
I have no problem with city saving money. I have lived in Warwick for 5 years, bought my home and pay may taxes in neighbor I chose because of the school locations and my children would not have take a school bus. I pay my property taxes, my SUPER HIGH vehicle taxes, and my water/sewer to the CITY OF WARWICK. Aldrich is the Jr. high is where my oldest child has gone, and my younger will be attending in the near future. I feel it's a very safe school, it's close to a Fire Station, and it also the same school that our entire family has attended.. If that closes then my child will be bused to Vet's..........I may consider putting my house up for sale and leaving the city to a town that can afford the keep their school locations as a top priority....
Friday, June 5, 2015 Report this