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David, you are comparing apple to oranges. To determine how well our high schools are doing you must take into consideration that at least 1/3 our high students are considered "at risk," as estimated by those that receive subsidized lunches and/or special education services, and compare our schools with other schools that have a similar student population to determine how well they are performing. Again, by ignoring these factors it makes Warwick's high school appear as though they are not performing as well in comparison but when these factors are considered Warwick schools may actually be performing well. Small school size is especially effective in educating "at risk" students. Looking at costs only without addressing other factors is the tactic of those that merely want to lower taxes and cut government services regardless of the outcome. The most prominent of those today are Tea Party supporters. Take a good look at the comments of those that write in support of your positions and tell me whether they fall in this destructive category.

While I probably should not bother to address persons who do not identify themselves, I'll address "patenntman" one last time. "My world" includes pulling one of my children out of Warwick Public Schools when I thought that it was best move for him. I have two children, a son who is 21 years old, who is a physics major at Holy Cross and an engineering major Columbia University in what is known as a 3-2 program, and a daughter who is a freshman at Warwick Vets. My son went to Sherman School from 2nd grade to 6th, which ended, I believe, in June 2004. My wife and I did not like the composition of the students in his grade but had no problem with the school or the teachers; the grades below and above him were fine. We decided enroll our son in a small "school within a school" at La Salle Academy known as Pegasus for 7th-8th grade. I think that it had about 40 students in an entire grade and small class sizes. I contemplated having him return to Warwick to go to Vets for high school but he wanted to stay a La Salle and he graduated for there in 2010. My daughter has had a great experience at Sherman, Gorton, and her first year at Vets. Her grade and classes in the honor programs at Gorton and Vets had been good and the class, grade, and school size have added to her and her classmates educational, social, and athletic experiences. I did not see any reason to take my daughter out of Warwick schools to put her in a large parochial school such as La Salle, which I understand now has more than 1,300 students. I have confidence in Warwick Vets and I know that it is being well run and the students are very enthusiastic about their school. Gerry Habershaw has done a great job as its principal. What is the education purpose of closing such a good school and increasing the size of one of the other high schools by 60%?

Finally, if the WPS manipulates the bid process for the study so that the scope of the study will again only determine which high school will be closed due to a consolidation, the study will be a waste of money and time and most voters will lose confidence in the integrity of WPS and the School Committee. I hope that does not happen and the study actually evaluates our entire school system K-12 and come up with alternative long term plans that will give the school committee and the public choices to select from. If it does not, then will all be a waste of money and time.

From: Plan should focus on children’s education, not money saved

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