'Slow down' message echoed at final consolidation hearing ahead of committee decision

By Tessa Roy
Posted 10/20/16

The last elementary consolidation hearing before the special October 25th School Committee meeting gave community members one more chance to make their voices heard. School Committee Vice Chair Eugene Nadeau thanked community members for

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'Slow down' message echoed at final consolidation hearing ahead of committee decision

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The last elementary consolidation hearing before the special October 25th School Committee meeting gave community members one more chance to make their voices heard. School Committee Vice Chair Eugene Nadeau thanked community members for attending and being outspoken.

The consolidation committee met yesterday afternoon behind closed doors. Members made a final decision after meeting for an hour and a half, Dambruch said. She would not share the decision with the Beacon as it first needed to be presented to the School Committee on Thursday, but said it would be made public before the October 25th meeting. She added that the committee took feedback from the three hearings “very seriously.”

“We listened to parents and reflected on their concerns and wishes. We want to work with the community moving forward as we always have,” she said.

“We asked for your input. You certainly have given it. Most of the time it hurt, but it’s what we needed to hear from you,” Nadeau said Monday night. “Please understand we have given the utmost consideration for all the viewpoints that have been expressed.”

On Monday night consolidation committee member Sarah Monaco tried to focus on the “positives” of consolidation, saying adding more support staff like social workers, psychologists and full-time nurses to the schools would be possible if it happens. Consolidating would save money for facility upgrades, adding more programs to the schools, and obtaining resources for Blended Learning, she added. In addition, since Drum Rock would become part of the Career and Technical Center, it would allow for that program to be expanded as well.

Community members, however, said they were still unsatisfied and felt the three hearings had been rushed.

“I do feel like our voices are not being heard,” said one parent, one of many who said they didn’t think the committee was listening. “I’m embarrassed to say my children go to Warwick schools.”

Others voiced their frustrations in a curt manner.

“I have no faith in your ability to do this right. None,” said one parent who said her family is considering moving.

Tina Hobba, a John Brown Francis parent, wished the vote could wait until after the election so any new School Committee members would have the chance to weigh in.

“People shouldn’t be able to have their say and scram. They have nothing to do with the fallout,” she said. “I think it’s kind of a shame that they’re going to pass this vote through without people who can make a better informed decision and who will have something to do with our kids when other people leave. That’s not right at all.”

Leah Hazelwood, a special education teacher’s assistant at Pilgrim and a parent, agreed that the process should be slowed.

“What is one more year going to matter when it comes to having the best for the students of Warwick?” she said.

The committee once again showed its presentation (which, along with the full consolidation report, is available on the Warwick Public Schools Consolidation site) from the last two hearings, which detailed the consolidation process since 2008. The process began that year with Potowomut and Christopher Rhodes closing. A year after, John Greene School was closed and Drum Rock re-purposed. Short- and long-range planning committees were assembled from 2010-2013, and SMMA was hired for consulting a year after. The firm recommended closing four to six elementary schools, which Elementary Education Director Lynn Dambruch has repeatedly said was considered too many by the committee. Elementary population decline is one of the biggest causes for consolidation. Since 2006, the population has decreased by 859 students and schools are currently 26.5 percent under capacity. The population is expected to decrease by another 1,090 students by 2024.

School buildings recommended for closure at the end of this academic year are Randall Holden and John Wickes. Drum Rock and John Brown Francis are up for re-purposing as an extension of the Career and Technical Center and an early childhood center, respectively. Holden students would go to Hoxsie and Sherman Schools while Wickes students would go to Greenwood, Park, Robertson and Scott Schools. John Brown Francis students would attend Wyman and Holliman Schools. Holden is recommended for closure due to its small size, closeness to other elementary districts, and the $5.5 million cost of renovations, had seen prominent support at the first hearing. Wickes was recommended due to difficulties with Main Avenue reconfiguration, the building’s proximity to the Green Airport runway extension (it is 1,600 feet, approximately five football fields, away from the runway), and the $9.8 million needed for renovations.

Drum Rock scored 1/5 on the BrightStars Tiered Quality and Improvement System, so its conditions are not appropriate to serve its young children, the presentation said. The facility would become part of the Career and Technical Center on the Toll Gate campus. John Brown Francis is the proposed new location for the early childhood center as it has the proper resources for children like restrooms, large hallways, and square footage that meets state and federal recommendations, according to the report and presentation.

Quite a few parents expressed issues with the committee having members from Scott and Holliman Schools (Scott Principal Virginia Bolano and Holliman Principal Joseph Coffey), but none from any of the schools recommended for closure. Loud laughter erupted after a committee member claimed there were “no politics on this board.”

In response, Dambruch said Wednesday that she had sent out emails to all 16 principals asking for three volunteers to serve on the committee. Only four responded, including Bolano, Coffey, and Gary McCombs (Hoxsie School). She said there was not a principal at Holden at the time and that the Wickes principal did not respond to the inquiry.

“I was trying to get representation from different parts of the community, including parents,” she said.

The School Committee is set to vote on a plan October 25th, but that could change if the recommendation of the consolidation committee differs from the original plan.

Comments

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  • Justanidiot

    Bottom line, this is a way to dump a lot of problems into the cities lap. The school district shutters a school and walks away leaving a mess for the city. Christopher Rhodes school was looked at very seriously to be the home for Artists Exchange, but the building would need major work before it could even be considered. So I guess when my kids went there it was ok to breath asbestos, be exposed to toxins, etc. The buck can only be passed so many times before it has to be dealt with.

    Friday, October 21, 2016 Report this

  • davebarry109

    “What is one more year going to matter when it comes to having the best for the students of Warwick?” she said.

    Seriously? It's taxpayer money dummy. The school administration acknowledged that they should have been shutting/consolidating schools a decade ago. Do you not understand that $60.00 of each 100.00 of your tax money goes to schools? By putting this off another year, you accomplish nothing and cost us all money. What idiots. Your little kids will do fine at another school. Life is about change. Get over yourselves already. I feel for your kids if this is how you act.

    Wednesday, October 26, 2016 Report this