School Reorganization Update

Given the high rate of community interest in the potential school reorganization plans, I am describing the latest numbers ran by the schools in terms of the current option for next year (but this model does NOT include the projected cuts that would have to occur) as well as the three other plans (pair CF/FR, MM/WW; close MM; CF/FR/MM K to 4, WW 5-6). The group will be meeting tomorrow night to discuss these options (this group includes all the principals, plus teachers and parents from each of the schools, and administrators), and I'll blog more after that meeting. But for now, here are the numbers:

Current FY10 projection without cuts
Crocker (16) 268 kids
K (3) 15.7
1 (3) 15.3
2 (2) 15.0
3 (2) 17.5
4 (2) 18.0
5 (2) 21.5
6 (2) 15.5

Fort River (23) 441 kids
K (3) 19.0
1 (3) 17.0
2 (3) 18.3
3 (3) 21.3
4 (3) 20.3
5 (4) 18.8
6 (4) 19.5

Mark's Meadow (9) 180
K (1) 24.0
1 (1) 23.0
2 (2) 17.0
3 (1) 21.0
4 (1) 19.0
5 (1) 25.0
6 (2 ) 17.0

Wildwood (22) 413 kids
K (3) 19.3
1 (3) 17.3
2 (4) 17.3
3 (3) 21.3
4 (3)18.3
5 (3) 19.7
6 (3) 18.7

70 classrooms

Here's the key data: we don't know the cuts/cost savings with this configuration (to be determined soon, but there would be cuts); there is a pretty big range of class sizes; the schools look VERY different in terms of equity (range of kids on free/reduced lunch is from 22% in Wildwood to 54% in Crocker); and there are a number of educational pros and cons (least distruptive to families -- no one has 2 kids in 2 schools; minimizes transitions, meaning that staff know kids and families for up to 7 years; maximizes cross-age activities; maintains the idea of "neighborhood" schools; maintains inequities in class sizes, with some large classes at MM and some small classes at CF; perhaps most importantly, it is unclear what cuts will look like.

Here's what closing Marks Meadow would look like:

Crocker (16) 347 kids
K (3) 20.7
1 (2) 21.5
2 (2) 20.9
3 (2) 23.0
4 (2) 21.4
5 (3) 22.4
6 (2) 22.1

Fort River (22) 478 kids
K (3) 20.6
1 (3) 21.5
2 (3) 20.9
3 (3) 23.0
4 (3) 21.4
5 (3) 22.4
6 (4) 22.1

Wildwood (22) 477 kids
K (3) 20.6
1 (3) 21.5
2 (4) 20.9
3 (3) 23.0
4 (3) 21.4
5 (3) 22.4
6 (3) 22.1

60 classrooms (total)

Here's the key data: requires redistricting all schools (can't just divide MM kids/families into three schools, so other kids/families would have to be moved); this plan would save 10 teacher salaries PLUS the salaries of an administrative team (principal, office staff, nurse, etc.) which would total $825,000; this plan would leave us with an average class size of 20.6 to 21.5 in K to 2, and 21.4 to 23.0 in 3 to 6 (slightly larger than the current projection, but of course that projection doesn't include ANY cuts); this plan has many of the same advantages of our current K to 6 system (least distruptive to families -- no one has 2 kids in 2 schools; minimizes transitions, meaning that staff know kids and families for up to 7 years; maximizes cross-age activities; maintains the idea of "neighborhood" schools); this plan could improve equity in the schools by including some redistricting; this plan includes more equitable class sizes; this plan is logistically hard (it redistricting all schools); this plan has larger average class sizes, and more kids per school; this plan has an extra burden on MM families; closing a school is traumatic; if we leave the UMass building, we won't be able to get it back later.

Here's what the pairing plan (K to 2, 3 to 6 schools: CF/FR, MM/WW) would look like:

Crocker (14) 286 kids
K (5) 20.8
1 (5) 19.4
2 (4) 21.3

Fort River (21) 423 kids
3 (5) 19.8
4 (5) 19.4
5 (6) 19.7
6 (5) 21.8

Mark's Meadow (13) 260
K (4) 20.5
1 (4) 18.8
2 (5) 20.6

Wildwood (16) 333 kids
3 (4) 21.3
4 (4) 18.5
5 (4) 21
6 (4) 22.5

64 classrooms total

Here's the key information: this plan assumes can find another classroom at MM (perhaps by moving a "special" to auditorium) OR could have only K-1 at MM and 2-6 at WW; this plan would save 6 teacher salaries (at an estimated savings of $324,000); this plan would lead to class sizes of (K-2) 18.8 - 21.3 and (3-6) 18.5 - 22.5; this plan would have a more equitable distribution of kids on free/reduced lunch (26% in the MM-WW schools, 37% in the CF-FR schools); this plan could have some educational benefits (age-appropriate focus in each schools; maximizes opportunities for grade-level collaboration by teachers; maximizes opportunities for special grouping of kids based on ELL or special needs); this plan creates more equitable and smaller class sizes; this plan is easily understandable in terms of redistricting (e.g., families already know which district they are in); this plan creates a new configuration of neighborhood schools -- North and South; this plan creates one additional transition, with a large number of peers going together; this plan has the staff knowing kids, families for fewer years per school; this plan limits cross-age activities; it is possible that this plan would lead to staggered start times given bus schedules, and it is not clear how the bus schedules would work (e.g., would kids stay on one bus for two drop-offs at different schools, or would two buses go through each neighborhood).


Here's what the 3 K-4s, 1 5-6 (in Wildwood) plan:

Crocker (17) 312 kids
K (4) 18.6
1 (4) 17.2
2 (3) 16.7
3 (3) 20.4
4 (3) 19.0

Fort River (21) 384 kids
K (4) 18.6
1 (4) 17.2
2 (5) 16.7
3 (4) 20.4
4 (4) 19.0

Mark's Meadow (11) 201
K (2) 18.6
1 (2) 17.2
2 (3) 16.7
3 (2) 20.4
4 (2) 19.0

Wildwood (18) 401 kids
5 (9) 22.4
6 (9) 22.1

67 classrooms total

Here's the key information about this plan: it involves redistricting all schools (and assumes distributing WW K-4 classes evenly across other three schools); this plan saves 3 teacher salaries ($162,000 -- ALTHOUGH I DO NOT THINK THESE NUMBERS WERE RAN CORRECTLY -- IF YOU MAINTAIN SAME CLASS SIZES THAT WE HAVE IN THE PAIRING MODEL, YOU ACTUALLY SAVE AT LEAST FOUR TEACHERS, POSSIBLY MORE); this plan creates class sizes in (K-4) 16.7 - 20.4 and (5-6) 22.1 - 22.4; this plan could target range through redistricting; this plan has complete equity 5-6; this plan creates age-appropriate focus; this plan creates 5/6 and 7/8 middle school complex; for Amherst kids; this plan creates more opportunities for grade-level collaboration by teachers and more opportunities for special grouping of kids by ELL/special education; this plan creates more equitable class sizes (and very nice sizes for K-4); this plan could improve equity through redistricting; this plan requires redistricting all schools; this plan creates one additional transition; this plan involves the staff knowing kids/families for fewer years; this plan limits cross-age activities; this plan creates a particular burden on WW families; it is possible that this plan would lead to staggered start times given issues in busing.


OK, so there are the big options ... in looking at the choices, it seems pretty clear to me that closing Marks Meadow is the best option -- it would save a lot of money at a time in which money is in short supply, and thus preserve the educational experience for ALL kids. Although I understand that closing a school is hard, the Marks Meadow kids could move together (or largely together) to a new school (likely Wildwood?), and other kids would also have to move as part of the redistricting (and my own kids, who now go to Fort River, would potentially move to another school). It may be possible for us to scrape by next year with larger classes, more fees (I hear rumor of fees for taking the BUS), elimination of orchestra/band, etc., but I just don't think that is the answer. In fact, if we can find $100,000 in the budget, we can add (based on a world language grant) either Chinese or Spanish to ALL the elementary schools, so our kids would have exposure to another language (like the Wildwood kids ONLY now have) from K to 6. That seems like a great plus that would benefit all kids.

Stay tuned to see how the discussion goes tomorrow night ... I'll certainly keep you posted.