HOWELL — After months of deliberation, public information sessions and research, the Howell K-8 School District Board of Education has adopted a plan to reconfigure the district’s schools.
The 9-0 vote for the reconfiguration of the district’s schools to a kindergarten through second grade, third grade through fifth grade, and sixth grade through eighth grade model came on April 15 at Howell Middle School North.
The changes are expected to be in place when the new academic year begins in September.
Dozens of parents were on hand to listen to the board members discuss reconfiguration. After several hours of questions and answers among the board and the administration, board member Denise Lowe made a motion to adopt the plan and said it is in the best interest of the children.
“I believe this plan will work for the district through my experience as an educator, and I believe there will be benefits for the staff and the children,” Lowe said.
Lowe, board President Timothy O’Brien, board Vice President Chuck Welsh and board members Mary Cerretani, Suzanne Brennan, Jeanne DePompo, Al Miller, James Moretti and Mark Bonjavanni voted to approve the reconfiguration plan.
Reconfiguration will correct the problem of imbalance in enrollment in the district’s schools, Superintendent of Schools Joseph Isola said.
“It has been a rewarding experience to meet with residents of the community and hear their concerns. Through reconfiguration, we are maximizing the educational opportunities for all students in a way that has long-term sustainability,” Isola said.
Reconfiguration of the district’s schools from K-5 and 6-8 gained momentum as an alternative to a redistricting plan that would have redrawn attendance area boundary lines.
According to the administration, the reconfiguration plan divides the district into a north portion and a south portion.
The north portion will have three K-2 primary schools and three grades 3-5 elementary schools. Pupils who graduate fifth grade will attend Howell Middle School North.
The south portion will have two K-2 primary schools and two grades 3-5 elementary schools (Howell Memorial Middle School will be repurposed into an elementary school). Pupils who graduate fifth grade will attend Howell Middle School South.
From kindergarten through eighth grade, each pupil will attend three schools. Administrators estimate the following enrollments for the 2015-16 school year:
Greenville School (K-2, 270 students), Ramtown School (3-5, 384 students), Howell Middle School South (6-8, 923 students).
Taunton School (K-2, 422 students), Aldrich School (3-5, 440 students), Howell Middle School South (6-8, 923 students).
Griebling School (K-2, 261 students), Memorial School (3-5, 267 students), Howell Middle School North (6-8, 1,077 students).
Adelphia School (K-2, 281 students), Ardena School (3-5, 317 students), Howell Middle School North (6-8, 1,077 students).
Land O’ Pines School (K-2, 307 students), Newbury School (3-5, 368 students), Howell Middle School North (6-8, 1,077 students).
Administrators said students who reside in the area north of Aldrich Road and west of Route 9 will be reassigned to the Land O’ Pines School and Newbury School pairing.
English as a Second Language students will be in the Adelphia and Ardena school pairing, according to the presentation. Prekindergarten pupils will attend Land O’ Pines, and the district’s program for gifted and talented children will be placed in Newbury.
At one point, Miller suggested including fifth-graders in the two middle schools.
“Students can move more cohesively with this current plan, so moving a grade out of elementary school and into the middle school level was not considered a good plan,” Isola said.
In response to board members who expressed concern about staff members getting to know students, Patricia Callander, the assistant superintendent of pupil services, said she does not foresee that being an issue.
“Each staff member like a school nurse will maintain communications with a sister school and they can use each other for whatever they may need,” Callander said.
In regard to board members’ concerns about class size, Bruce Preston, the assistant superintendent of curriculum and personnel, said first and second grade classes should have about 22 students; third, fourth and fifth grade classes should have about 25 students; and sixth, seventh and eighth grade classes should have about 28 students. Some kindergarten classes may have between 22 and 25 pupils, with a teacher and a teacher’s aide.
“This is all about change and newness, and the plan will help daily staff focus in on the needs of students at similar age levels and is a benefit to gathering valuable resources,” Preston said.
During public comment, resident Meredith Patterson said she disapproved of the reconfiguration plan. She said many parents do not believe their voice was heard.
“So many people did not come here to see the vote because they feel they have already been defeated. We should not change something that is not broken,” Patterson said.
Resident Maura Varner said some questions relating to the reconfiguration have not been answered.
“This plan is flawed, and there will be much underutilization of our schools. It will also affect the community because it is happening so fast and we are not ready for this in September,” Varner said.
Administrators said they will work to make the transition to a new school setup as smooth as possible.
“We will work toward maximizing opportunities for the kids with this plan and we must use our assets to best benefit the children of this community,” Isola said.