March 16, 2006

 

To:            Elementary Facilities Task Force Committee

 

From:   Jane Wellehan

 

Re:       Notes for EFTF meeting of March 15, 2006

 

The EFTF met on March 15, 2006.  In attendance were committee members Jason Toothaker (chair) MaryJo O’Connor, Doug Sherwood, Michelle Hedrich, Kevin Mallory, Marysue Morrison, David Turner, Ed Suslovic, Liz Holton, Michelle Butterfield, and Jane Wellehan. Also present were Ed King from the West End News, Chris Busby from The Bollard, Martha Sheils (Nathan Clifford parent), Kristen McCabe(Hall parent), Kathy McIntyre (PHS and Presumpscot parent) and Carole Clark, Presumpscot Principal.

 

Doug Sherwood presented to the group several reports.  The first was one that people had asked for last week, entitled “EFTF Closure Savings Analysis”.  It shows operating expenses at Longfellow, Baxter, Jack and Adams when it was a K-2 with the projected operating cost of the new East End school.  The projected savings shown on the report are about $65,000, but Doug also clarified that the actual custodial costs at Adams are higher, as there is also a head custodian in residence there.  This cost could be estimated.

 

Next Doug shared with everyone the State priority list for funding, as it is relevant information for the packet of data that the EFTF will hand off.  Finally, Doug presented “EFTF Closure Savings Analysis” that showed facility operating costs for West, Baxter, Jack, Adams and the new East End School.  All of this data was requested at the last meeting.

 

Next Jason asked that we review the 2002 EFTF Plan with 2006-2007 enrollment figures.  At this time, Kevin Mallory presented the latest version of his report.  He made it clear that he had listened to the group; he had taken out anything that appeared to be a recommendation, and changed the title to “An Elementary Challenge”.  Kevin reviewed the lengthy report with everyone, and answered questions on the data and findings.  It presents one 8 school scenario, all of the 7 school scenarios we discussed, and one 6 school scenario for the next group to study.

 

Jason reiterated that the EFTF is under a lot of pressure to finish up our work, and that it is time to start making prescriptions for next steps.  Something will need to be prepared for the next group.  He also stated that at the heart of the disagreement among group members is skepticism over the data.  He asked if we should recommend to the next group that they have an independent consultant come up with projected school age census data.  He then asked for input.

 

Michelle Hedrick stated that she didn’t see it as disagreement within the group, but a lack of time to fully finish the work.  If we had had time to review all the data, hold public meetings and weigh their input, she believes we would have been able to come up with a “best” recommendation.  

 

Liz Holton expressed her concerns about which School Committee members and City Councilors will serve on the 3x3 or 4x4.  She asked how the group would be selected, and was advised to send letters/email to the chair of either group.

 

David Turner stated that he had major concerns about adding West School onto any elementary school in the system, new or otherwise.  He felt, as an Elementary Educator and Asst. Principal, that it would be very problematic.  A discussion of West school ensued. Jason agreed that West School needs more discovery and examination by the next group of people, and that point needs to be on our list of recommendations.  Ed questioned the viability of West, and Kevin agreed that the grounds of the building and the building itself were a big drain on the system.  David Turner said that he thought the students at West should be back at whatever school they were from, and that the teaching resources should follow those students.  He suggested that if the educators were polled, they would agree.  Michelle Hedrick thought we need to add more data to that discussion.

 

Ed Suslovic stated that as a group, we have learned a lot and done a lot of great work, and that our recommendation to the next group is not a failing (that there isn’t just one), as this process was always going to go to another group.  He suggested that our recommendation to the joint task force should suggest they hire an independent person to assemble the census-type data (number of projected students in the system), as without consensus regarding the veracity of the data, the process will have no credibility.  He also suggested that our recommendations should include some of the “lessons” that we have learned:

            * That this is a VERY emotional decision in the City

            * That the fiscal data and examination needs to be rigorous

            * That this needs to affect the Education our students in a POSITIVE way

 

Ed also suggested that on our “to do” list would be some ideas on how either or both the multi-lingual center and the Adult Ed program could be moved into existing buildings.

 

Jason stated that we needed to decide what should go into the report that we hand off to the School Committee.  Michelle Hedrick volunteered to work with Kevin Mallory on the report.  They agreed to have a draft ready by Friday, March 24th, with copies available at Central Office.  We all agreed to read it thoroughly, send to Kevin questions or comments, and be ready as a group to review the recommendation on Wednesday, March 29th, at our next (and likely final) meeting. 

 

We agreed to meet again on Wednesday, March 29th, at 4 pm, at room 350 at PATHS.

 

Respectfully submitted,

 

 

Jane Wellehan