1975-12-01-SC-min - Laserfiche WebLink

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Page 229 December 1, 1975 Mr. Charles Code, 15 Flintlock Rd. , Stated his support for the PUBLIC neighborhood school concept. He expressed his concern that the PARTICIPATION smaller schools in the center of town were slated for closing. These neighborhoods, he said, were ideal for families with small children due to ease of walking, price, etc. In summation he noted that closing down a school or a facility was not related to quality "pay-off" for a school system. Mrs. Catherine Nigrini, 17 Highland Ave. , expressed concern that the Lexington Minuteman article reported an atmosphere of hostility at a recent Munroe parents meeting. She wished to emphasize that no hostil- ity existed at the meeting and parents were attending School Committee meetings to hear what the School Committee is saying. Parents are in- terested in listening to the School Committee. William Spencer, representing the Meriam Hill Association, wished to remind the School Committee of a letter sent last May from the Associ- ation to the School Committee which called attention to the concern for closing any of the downtown area schools. Mr. Don Blackwell of 24 Percy Rd. , commented on the enrollment de- cline from a town-wide viewpoint. He noted that the schools projected for phase out have had fairly consistent enrollments. He also remembered that Franklin School operated half empty for years. He cautioned the School Committee about completely closing a facility, Mr. Blackwell sup- ported Mr. Brown's comments that were read at the beginning of the meet- ing. ( Mr. Roland Gubisch, 627 Massachusetts Ave. , stated that the P.T.A. Boards of Parker, Munroe, Hancock, Adams and Muzzey Schools found it im- possible to understand why the School Committee is considering school closing at this time. He stressed that the Educational Program Study Committee would not report until after January 1, the Cost Savings Com- mittee noted no substantial savings unless the buildings are sold, leased or demolished, and that the closing of Munroe next year ran contrary to all sub-committee reports. He further stated as other factors the sta- bility of Munroe's enrollment, the lowest per pupil expenditure of all the Lexington schools, and the Fiske and Franklin Schools, to which Mun- roe students would be reassigned could not provide the proper space. In summary, he stated that the P.T.A. might support a closing, if the. rea- sons were clear. Mrs. Swanson responded saying that any school closing will be ac- companied by specific reasons. Dr. Kenneth Hoffman, Chairman of the Educational Program Study Com- mittee, requested that a schedule be set for discussion between the School Committee and citizen's sub-committee. He felt that only by this mode of operation can citizens feel that their inputs are being received. Mrs. Patricia Maier, 29 Bloomfield St. , expressed support for Mr. Brown's ideas outlined in his statement. Her concern was also with the size of schools. She supported small, neighborhood walking schools especially in grades K-3. She asked the School Committee if a discussion of grades or redistribution of grades had been considered. Mrs. Swanson commented that all alternatives would be reviewed.