Groton School Recommendations

Posted By: ed j
Published 11/03/2011 12:00 AM
Updated 11/03/2011 08:08 PM

Notes from the Old Noank Jail

The following brief comments are directed to the Groton Town Council, the RTM, the FFAE and some BOE candidates. They are based on my recent suggestions in some local media, represent my personal opinions and not necessarily those of any group or association. No personal offense is meant towards anyone. Some of the ideas I present below are also based on suggestions by others who are not named here.

1) Keep 3 middle schools open next year (perhaps longer?), per the suggestion of Mr. Zezulka, a BOE member with an outstanding teaching career. Since the Fitch Senior High School has a student body of around 1500 but only one Principal and two assistant Principals, it makes sense to reduce the number of Middle School Principals to just one, keeping 3 assistant Principals for 3 middle schools. The same can be applied to the elementary school administration, reducing operating costs considerably. The focus needs to be on students and their teachers…and not administrative personnel.

2) Then, use this one (or 2?) year(s) to construct temporary classrooms at West Side and Cutler, the newer buildings which have more physical expansion space, especially Cutler. Make necessary repairs at Cutler and Westside. In the 2nd (or 3rd?) year, bus the kids from the central area (formally served by Fitch Middle) to the two expanded schools and thus address the racial balance issue accordingly. Remember that all three existing middle schools are nowhere near disrepair to the point that they have to be closed right now. This will allow the BOE to proceed in a steady approach with minimum disruption to the kids. By that time, you will have figured out the ultimate disposition of the Fitch Middle building.

3) Mr. Pasqualini, an RTM member, suggests “they look at all possible options… so far they have been trying to keep 6th, 7th and 8th grades in one of two schools. I have a problem with 6th graders being in middle school. Have they looked at moving 8th grade classes to the renovated high school or eliminating pre-K and freeing up classrooms to keep the 6th grade within the elementary school setting?…Everything should be on the table as a long term solution.”

And he’s right. It was therefore inappropriate for the present BOE to rush into a vote in favor of closing one middle school for next year. This action should be rescinded by the NEW BOE Board…while the baseball field mess gets straightened out right away by the OLD BOE Board….at no cost to the Groton Taxpayers.