To the Editor: In a general sense, I understand the need to consolidate the Warwick Public Schools, including at the elementary level. But I pause when I think about converting John Brown Francis Elementary School and effectively ending its role as a
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To the Editor:
In a general sense, I understand the need to consolidate the Warwick Public Schools, including at the elementary level. But I pause when I think about converting John Brown Francis Elementary School and effectively ending its role as a neighborhood school, mostly because I know it better than the other elementary schools in the system.
I grew up in Governor Francis Farms and attended JBF in the 1980s, roughly five decades into its life, and, admittedly, three decades ago. I remember JBF as being central not only to its students but also to Governor Francis Farms as a whole. It linked together the lives of the people living in the 1,000 or so homes on the Gaspee peninsula where it sits. Like the Newport Creamery (and, then, the A&P/IGA and the Adams/Brooks Drugs), it was a focal point for life in the area. And this was very much by design.
My cousin, who lived near the school on Miantonomo, had in his house a map showing the original plan of Governor Francis Farms from the 1930s. That map showed that before any houses were built, land was set aside for the neighborhood school, as well as for the apartments near the shopping plaza and the shopping plaza itself.
Governor Francis was a thoughtfully constructed community, built on its own geographically identifiable area, meant to function as a social unit. This meant that the school and commercial infrastructure was located near Warwick Avenue, with the housing extending back and east toward the water. This meant that kids could walk or bike to school, at about a mile or so distance at the most, never having to cross any main “lined” roadway. This meant that other organizations, like the Governor Francis Farms Garden Club, could coordinate with the school to teach kids about gardening and taking care of their neighborhood.
If the current proposal is accepted and JBF kids are sent to Holliman and Wyman, I am confident that they will be educated just fine. But Governor Francis Farms will not be the same place. A major component of the neighborhood feel will be lost, and I think families will value living there less. I’d guess that the housing prices – which have been especially stable within Warwick for a very long time – will decline, and, with that decline, part of the city’s tax base will also erode. I’d like to hear about how the School Committee and city have measured, and intend to address, that diminishment. Does it offset the projected savings of re-purposing JBF? In the end, we can teach our kids reading and math in any building, located anywhere. But do we want to?
George Shuster
Warwick
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markyc
Warwick is stuck between a rock & a hard place. And, in general, it's related to education. Back during the 1960s, Warwick had 21,000+ students & a population of almost 90,000 by the end of the 1970s. Those days are gone & the decline in student enrollment & population is now being addressed by the Warwick School System as far as the educational programs are concerned. These issues should have begun to be solved during the 1990s. Here we are-trying to solve ALL the issues at once; more or less at the last minute. Consolidation at the high school level has only JUST begun & it's a struggling work in progress. Consolidation at the elementary level is anticipated to start in Sept., 2017. Maybe that can be delayed a year. But the elementary level plans include a "middle" school model change for Vets & Winman (5th & 6th graders will be changing schools at the same time-regardless of WHEN that eventually occurs). Drum Rock, as is, doesn't meet State Education requirements for early learning without MAJOR changes. As an outsider, I personally believe that only JBF or Wyman could meet these requirements from what I've read & basically they're in the same general area. The choice appears to be between the two. On top of that, most of Warwick's school buildings require major renovations(the planned $ 250 million bond proposal ). Then you have to add the effect of Green Airport's expansion plans into the mix-on enrollment & on which schools are you planning to close. I expect problems for the next several years as the consolidation/renovations are implemented regardless of whatever member makeup exists on the School Committee.
Not having a current employment contract with the Teachers union only complicates matters .
Thursday, September 15, 2016 Report this
davebarry109
Toughen up. We cannot afford all of these teachers and all of the school buildings. Your emotions cannot dictate the 'business' of the city. That is a lesson we must teach our children. Life will give you some hard knocks. Move on.
Friday, September 16, 2016 Report this
davebarry109
Toughen up. We cannot afford all of these teachers and all of the school buildings. Your emotions cannot dictate the 'business' of the city. That is a lesson we must teach our children. Life will give you some hard knocks. Move on.
Friday, September 16, 2016 Report this
gwsjr75
davebarry109: Wait, someone is running this city (and esp. the schools) as a business? That is terrific news! Where is the business plan? (Completely agreed that the infrastructure we have does not work and we need to move on ... but to what?)
Friday, September 16, 2016 Report this