The URL can be used to link to this page

Home My WebLink About1979-12-05-SC-min Page 101 December 5, 1979 A meeting of the Lexington School Committee was held on December 5, 1979, at 8:00 p.m. , at the Bowman School. Those in attendance were: Brown, Swanson, Shaw, Michelman, Gaudet, and student representative Dohan. Also present were: Lawson, Pierson, Haclnnes, Monderer, DiGiam- marina, and Barnes. The hearing on the Analysis of School Closing-1979 began with a SCHOOL CLOS- review of the recommendations of the report: ING REPORT 1979 - The Adams School be closed, effective September 1, 1980, and that the students be reassigned according to the Report to Study the Reassignment of Pupils (see Option 3) - The Muzzey Junior High School continue to remain open during the 1980-81 school year and be closed, effective September 1, 1981. Following the recommendations, Dr. Di.Giam,.arino reviewed the en- rollment projections. The projections were found to be no more than 27. less than the actual enrollments. He also explained that an error in the 1977 census influenced the projections but the error was not noted in sufficient time. Therefore, an added Kindergarten section was necessary this year. The 1977 census takers failed to record twenty- six pre-school children. Some of these students turned up at the Adams School this year. He also noted that 158 pre-schoolers were not noted as an affiliate of any school district. He explained that it was neces- sary to live with the situation but that meetings have occurred now with the census taker and the firm responsible for the census, and accurate procedures have been put into effect. Parents then presented the comments and concerns to the School Com- mittee. A summary of concerns and comments were as follows: - That the decision to close Adams be delayed for a one-year period. - That the decision to delay the closing of Adams would also keep the class sizes small. - That a minimal change in the financial savings would occur if there were a one-year delay. - That guarantees be made for class sizes, if Adams were closed for the receiving schools. - That if margin of error that had been present occurs again, it would be detrimental in the Adams School closing. - That the Harrington School which has a capacity of 392 was expected to have 378 students next year and would have problems. - That the unexpected Kindergarten class at Adams indicated en- rollments were increasing or inaccurate in the Adams district. - That the Adams School had a stable population unlike the other elementary schools. Page 102 December 5, 1979 In response to the parents' concerns, the Administration and School Coauuittee responded that there were forty-two classes in 1976 between twenty-five and thirty pupils, and in 1979 there were only twenty-two classes in that range. Both the Superintendent and Mr. Michelman com- mented that class sizes have not increased; in fact, they have gone down in size. Mrs. Swanson added that the School Committee had not blindly followed the original ' 75 Study Committee on the Reassignment of Pupils because all the older schools would have been closed by now. That re- port recommended closing Adams, Munroe, and Muzzey by the end of the '79- '80 school year. She felt that the present School Committee policy was reflective of good planning and responsiveness to students, parents, and public. Bowman 2 parents indicated their concerns also. These parents hoped that those students living in the Bowman 2 district and accepted for trans- fer to the Bowman School would have transportation provided for them by the School Department. Also, that these students be given priority in the transfer process. The Superintendent said that an additional teacher would be assigned to Bowman if the expected twenty-eight fifth and sixth graders from Bowman 2 district requested and were approved transfers. The addition- al teacher would make the Bowman classes smaller than projected (between twenty-one and twenty-four students) . The principals of Bowman and Harrington reviewed simulations of class- room sizes both with Bowman 2, fifth and sixth graders remaining at Bowman, and with them not remaining at Bowman. Due to the lateness of the hour, it was agreeito continue the school closing discussion at the next meeting. It was VOTED: to adjourn at 11:05 p.m. Respectfully submitt , f l .,Gf./GGA: LLG.ie.GL�L./ Richard H. BaRnes Recording S4retary /c