Dayton and Deans schools to return to campus format

By KATHY CHANG
Staff Writer

SOUTH BRUNSWICK — The Dayton and Deans elementary schools, which both educate students in kindergarten and first grade, will no longer operate as standalone schools.

Superintendent of Schools Gary Mc- Cartney and Assistant Superintendent for Curriculum and Instruction Joanne Kerekes announced the change in a recent letter to parents and guardians of students at Dayton, Deans, Brooks Crossing and Indian Fields schools.

“Our best thinking is that a return to the — South effective operational approach that was in use about four years ago makes the most sense moving forward,” the administrators wrote. “This means that Dayton and Deans will no longer operate as standalone schools, and that each school will reconnect to its original main campus school.”

The main campus schools are Brooks Crossing Main Campus and Brooks Crossing at Deans, and Indian Fields Main Campus and Indian Fields at Dayton.

Brooks Crossing Principal Jodi Mahoney Mahoney will remain at the school, and a full-time assistant principal will assume responsibility for operating the Brooks Crossing/Deans campus.

Indian Fields Principal Kimberly Maloy-White will remain in place, and a full-time assistant principal will be responsible for operating the Indian Fields/Dayton campus.

Presently, both schools have half-time assistant principals.

“There are many reasons for this return to a campus-school model, including enrollment trends and the need for greater administrative consistency,” the administrators wrote. “The principals will also be

Brunswick school able to focus their administrators schools collectively on program growth and student achievement along a K-5 continuum.”

During the last few weeks of school, Joseph Anzek served as the interim principal at Dayton and Deans while the administration and the Board of Education assessed the future needs for leadership at the two schools.

In August, the principals will send emails regarding kindergarten and firstgrade classroom placement.

Contact Kathy Chang at [email protected].