AmherstElementarySchoolBuildingProject:

Teacher/StaffSurvey

AllOpenEndedCommentsandQuestions
Received

January2016

Thisdocumentcontainsthe52openendedcommentsandquestionssubmittedby
respondentstotheTeacher/StaffSurveyontheAmherstElementarySchoolBuildingProject,
administeredJanuary4,2016,toJanuary11,2016.

Approximately38percentofallrespondentstotheTeacher/StaffSurveysubmitted
comments/questions.

Toensurerespondentanonymity,noadditionalidentifyinginformationisincludedwiththe
comments/questions.

Thecommentnumberswereaddedforreferencepurposes.Theywereassignedrandomlyand
thusdonotreflectanyotherfactors(suchasdatesubmitted,school,gradelevel,orbuilding
optionpreferences).

Paragraphbreaksweremanuallyaddedtolongerresponsesinordertoimprovereadability.
Asidefromthatchange,therewerenoothereditsmadetothecomments;theyareincluded
verbatiminthisdocument.

Comment
Number
1

Comment/Question
Therecomesapointwherebycollaborationbecomesmuchmoredifficultduetosize.I
cannotimaginehowcollaboratingbetween78gradelevelteamteacherswouldbe
efficientand/oreffective.Whenteachercollaborationisconsideredgroupingsshould
bekeptsmallere.g.34classroomgradelevelteachersplussupportstaff.
Theschoolsrecentlyredistricted.Teachersandfamilieshaveworkedhardtorebuild
communitiesintheirschools,withsuccess.Hasatrafficstudybeencompleted?
Whatisthecostofmovingmaterialsbetweenschools?
Renovation/newbuildingconsiderationsre:TechnologyIamawarethatbuilding
projectsandrenovationsneedtotrytouseaMagic8Ballandprojectintothefuture
howclassroomsandotherroomsandopenspaceswillbeusedtothebestpossible
extent.Ialsoknowthatgooddesignalsotakesintoaccounttheclient'sneeds,notjust
incorporatingthecurrenttrendsofarchitectureandspacedesign.Tothisend,the
trendistonotincludea"computerlab"incurrentschooldesigns.Iamfullyinfavorof
integratingtechnologyintoallclassroomsandintocurriculumforallstudents.Amajor
concernIhavethatIwouldlikethecommitteetobeawareofisthattheneedforsuch
labsstillneedstobeapartofthenewdesign.Isaythisbecauseofthefollowing
reasons:

1.Onlinetesting,suchasthecurrentACCESStestingthatisbeingadministeredtothe
ELLstudents,isbestgivenusingdesktopsnotwirelesslaptops.TheInformation
Systemsdirectorhasstatedthatherecommendstheuseofwireddesktopsover
laptopsforthispurpose.

2.AmherstcontinuestohaveTechnologyontheARTSschedulerotation.Whatthis
meansisthatInstructionalTechnologyisontherotationtocoverclassroomteacher
prepperiods.Ifthismodelistocontinue,thenlabsneedtobeincludedinthebuilding
plan.Manyfactorsgointotheformulationofschedulesbuttherealityisthatitseems
thatTechnologyInstructionistoremainontheARTSrotationfortheforeseeable
future.IfschedulingofInstructionalTechnologyforgradesK6staysasitis,then
functionalinstructionclassroom(s)needtobeprovidedforthisinthenewbuilding.
Thisneedneedstobeaddressedearlyinthedesignstagesothatadequatespaceand
storageisallottedtotheseclassrooms.

3.Pleasebeawareoftheamountoftechnologyequipmentthatisalreadyinuseinthe
elementaryschoolsandhowmuchspaceisneededforstorageandsecurity.Justthis
year,26Chromebookcartshavebeenaddedtotheelementaryschoolsalone.Thisisin
additiontoipadcartsandregularlaptopcarts.Astechtrendsindicate,laptopsand
ipadsgetsmallerbuttheyallstillneedchargingstationsandcartstodothis,thisneed
willnotdiminish.Otherequipmentsuchasrobotickits,camerasandvideoequipment
willalsoneedsecurestorage.Tonerandprinterkitsarealsostoredineachschoolin
thecurrentcomputerlabs.Thesetakeupalotofspace,sopleasedonotdiminishthe
needofstoragespacefortheseitemsaswell.

Comment
Number
4

10

11

12

Comment/Question
IfeelthathavingCFbeanearlychildhoodbuildingwouldallowforPKtofeelmore
included,allowformorecollaborationbetweenPKandKand1tgrade,allowforyoung
childrentohavefewertransitionsintheearlygradesbyattendingoneschool,and
havetheoverallfocusofthebuildingbeforyoungchildren,suchasdevelopmentally
appropriateassemblies,etc.
Thefabricofourcommunitywillbechangedwhenchildrencannolongerwalkorbike
toschoolduetodistanceandtraffic.Theamountofnoiseatasuperschoolduring
communityeventsmightbeuntenable?Moredrivingforparentsofkidswhomissthe
bus?Moredrivingtoplaydates?Lesschanceofbeinginclasswithyourneighbors?
ThephysicaldisrepairoftheFortRiverbuildingisablemishonthetownofAmherst.A
newbuildingaccessibletobothWildwoodandFRstudentsandstaffisanecessity.
Theconfigurationofthenewbuildingissecondarytothefactthatwemustclosethese
noisy,dilapidatedbuildingsasap.
Ithinkitisimportantthatchildrenstayneartheirneighborhood.Ithinkitishealthyfor
themtomeetnewfriendsafter6thgraderatherthantravelwiththemfrompreKto
highschool.Iwouldmissreadingbuddiesbetweenupperelementaryandlower
elementary.
Whateveroptionischosen,Ithinkitisimportanttoaskwhythedistrictdidnotbudget
maintenanceexpensesduringthepasttwentyyearssowecanpreventthisproblem
withanynewbuildings.Thedistrict'snegligencetobudgetmaintenanceandrepair
expensesforFortRiverandWildwoodledtothecurrentdilemmaoutdatedfire,
ventilation,etcsystems.Thisisunacceptable.Nowthetownwillbeartheburdenof
payinganyremainingexpensesbeyondthegrantmoneytorebuildandhousethe
studentpopulationoftwoentireschools.
Theimportanceofcontinuity,ofadultsandstudentsinabuildingknowingeachother
overmanyyearsandofthenumberandqualityofrelationshipsthatcanbebuiltover
anextendedtimeperiodcannotbeoverstated.Iseeeverydayhowveryimportant
theserelationshipsaretostudents.Additionally,theincreaseintransportationcost,
time,andcomplexitywithsomeoftheoptionsseemsabsurd.Also,splittingsiblingsby
ageamongmultipleschoolsCreatesanunnecessaryhardshipforfamilies.
Withourdistrictbeingcommittedtopromotefamilyengagement,Iwouldhave
concernscreatingschoolsthatdonotfeelliketheyareeasilyaccessible
(transportationwise)tothefamilies.Wealreadyhaveadifficulttimegettingsome
familiestoschoolforassemblies,conferences,openhousenight,etc.Itwouldseema
disservicetosplitupchildreninonefamily(i.e.akindergartenstudentatCFand
anotherstudentingrade26inanotherbuilding).IfeellikehavingthreeK6schools
willhelptokeepthe"community"feelintactaswellashelpschoolstobetterfoster
relationshipswithfamilies.
KeepingthecommunityofofK6orPreK6ineachschoolisimportantfor
maintainingthestrongestbondswithfamiliesthroughouttheyears.
IhavesharedmyopinionsatlengthwithMikeMorrisandsomemembersofthe
schoolcommittee,butIwillsaybrieflyhere:ChoosingoptionA(newWW,keepingFR
open)would,Ibelieve,bethemostinequitableoptionforstudentsinAmherst.
Secondarily,IalsothinkthatmaintainingtheK6modelhasenormousvalue.

Comment
Number
13

14

15

Comment/Question
IamverycuriousabouttheplansforWildwoodduringconstruction.Whilenew
buildingsarebeingbuilt,iftheyareontheWildwoodproperty,howwillourstudents
haveaccesstotheoutdoors?Wouldweberelocatedtoadifferentlocation?Ihavenot
heardanythingaboutthisissue.
Iamconcernedabouttheunintendedconsequencesofmakinganearlychildhood
center.Will2ndgradeteachers,whoareECEcertifiedbyisolatedinthebiggerschool.
Iwouldpreferprek2atCFand36atww.
Bycreatingdistrictwideschools,morefamilieswithlowersocioeconomicgroupmay
beimpacted...ifstudentsmissthebus,andiffamiliesdon'thaveacar,orneedtoget
towork,theytendtomissschoolbecausethereisnowayoftransportingthechild.
Theycan'twalktoschoolortherearenotenoughpracticalpublictransportation
route.Thisdifference,whichwealreadysee,willbecomemoreevidentwithcreating
districtwideschool....fromparentteacherconference,openhouse/curriculumnight,
schoolwideactivities,andfamilyconnection.

16

Istronglyfeelthatinordertolivebytheequitystandardswecareandworkstowards,
allAmherststudentsshouldattendahealthyschoolthatsupportstheneedsofall
students.

17

ProblemswithacombinedWildwood/FortRiverSchool:*Cafeteriatoomany
studentsinoneroomatonetimewillmakeforachallenginganddifficult
environment,especiallyforstudentswithsensoryissues,*BusandCardropoffand
pickupmayneedtobestaggeredhowwillthisbefacilitated?,*Smaller,
neighborhoodschoolsmoreconducivetohealthysocialrelationships(friendships)out
ofschool,*Atalargerschool,moredifficultforstafftoknoweachother,*Principal
can'tpossiblyknoweverystudentoreveneverystaffperson,*Schedulingfor
collaborationalreadydifficultwillbecomeevenmoresowithmorestudentsina
largerbuilding*Mayloosemorestudentstocharterschools,whichtendtobesmall.

18

Fewertransitionsforstudentsandanopportunitytobeknownthroughoutyour
elementaryschoolcareerarepredictiveofbetterschoolsuccess.

19

Iliketheideathatthelowerelementarychildrenwouldbehousedallinonebuilding
andthefocusforcurriculumwouldbenarrowedtothosegradelevels.Idon'tlikethe
ideaofcompetingwingsorschoolsK6.Thisfeelslikeasetupforrivalries.I'drather
haveageappropriatewingslowerele.andupperele.wings.Collaborationcouldbe
greatthisway.

20

Thespanforearlychildhoodeducation(includingMAteacherlicensure)spansPreK2,
soitmakesmoresensetoincludegrade2inanyearlychildhoodcenter.Students
oftenformabondwiththeirteacherfrompreviousyears,sotonothaveaccessto
themcouldbedetrimental,especiallytothosestudentswhostruggleandwho've
formedapositiverelationshipwithatrustedadult.Itisdifficultforthosestudents
whoneedtoberetainedtohavetoremaininaseparateschoolorsubstantially
separatewingfromtheirpeerswho'vemovedon.

Comment
Number
21

Comment/Question
Iamconcernedaboutbuildinglarge,districtwideschoolsbecauseIcareabout
children'sneedtofeelthattheybelongtoacommunity!Itisessentialtochildren's
senseofthemselvesasstudentsthattheyaregiventheopportunitytolearninone
schooloveranumberofyears.Iftheyareabletointeractovertimewiththeirformer
teachers,theyareabletomaintainasensethattheyareknownandthattheir
academicgrowthisrecognized.Inaddition,Ihaveseenthatolderchildrenreally
benefitfrominteractingwithyoungerones.Whengiventheopportunitytosupport
youngerchildren,olderonesoftenrevisitandsolidifyconceptsastheyhelpteachtheir
youngerpeers.Theyoftendevelopanewselfconfidencewhentheyworkwith
youngerkidsandgainperspectiveonhowtheyhavegrownaslearnersthemselves.
Manyofthemtakeprideinbeingrolesmodelsandschoolleaders.Thiskindofsense
ofcommunityandsharedidentityiscentrallyimportanttoelementaryschoolaged
childrenanditwouldclearlybelostifweweretoinvestinlarge,gradelevel
segregatedschools!

22

OptionBwith2K6wingsisthebestoptionforthesocialemotionaldevelopmentof
thestudentsandtheirfamilies.Studentsperformbetterwhentheyarecomfortable
andlessstressed.Studentswouldbeabletomeetfuturestaffmembers,haveless
transitions,andknowalltheirpeers.Themusic,art,andphysicaleducationteachers
wouldknowtheirstudentsbetterandthereforeincreasetheirgrowthmorerapidlyin
thoseareas.Inlargeclustersof6to7classespergradelevel,thestudentsthatare
shy,aremoreunique,orhavetransitionissueswouldloseconfidenceinthemselves.
Thefoundationforlearningisbuiltduringtheelementaryyearsformoststudents.
Studentsfromsingleparenthomesortwoworkingparenthomeswouldbelesslikely
tobedrivenalloverAmhersttoplaywiththeirfriendsmadeinschool.Ourthree
elementaryschoolsarecentersofcommunitythatfollowthestudentsintothehigher
gradesandalsounitefamiliestosupporteachother.ManyfamiliesmovetoAmherst
becauseofthenumerouscollegesinourtown.Thosefamiliesoftenhavenoextended
familyintheareaandfindtheirsupportcommunitythroughtheschools.Ifafamilyis
associatedwithoneschoolforsevenyears,thestaffandotherfamiliesaremorelikely
toknowthemwellandbeabletosupporttheminatimeofneed.Thegreaterthe
connectiontotheschool,themoreinvolvedafamilywillbeintheirchildren,school,
andcommunity.

23

Therehasnotbeenaspecificopportunityforteacherstovoicetheirconcernsoutside
ofthepublicforums.Wehavehadpresentationsandaskedquestionsbutnotgiven
feedbackotherthanwritingormakingourownefforts.

Comment
Number
24

Comment/Question
ISTRONGLYdisagreewiththe(apparentlyfirmlyfixed)ideathatwewouldallbebetter
withlargerschools.ISTRONGLYbelievethatthesmall,neighborhoodschoolsare
OVERWHELMINGLYbetterforourchildren.WhileIcertainlyagreethattheFortRiver
andWildwoodbuildingsareincreasinglyunacceptable,Iwouldhavethoughtthatthe
SuperintendentandtheSchoolCommitteewouldrecognizetheenormousamountof
datasupportingthesuperiorityofthesmallneighborhoodschool,andthatanother
optionwouldhavebeenstrenuouslysought.Iamperfectlywillingtokeepworkingina
lessthandesirableschoolbuildingforthetimebeing,andwouldbehappytowork
towardgrantwriting,fundraising,anothershotatStatemoneywhateveritmight
taketofindawaytoALSOrebuildFortRiver.IamCOMPLETELYopposedtoallofthe
reconfigurationplans,andfinditincomprehensiblethattheDistricthasgonedown
thisroad.FamiliesmovetoAmherstandputupwiththeexorbitanttaxesbecauseof
theclosecommunityandthestrengthofthesmallschoolsystem.Itisnowonderthat
theyareswitchingtothecharteroptionsindroves.

25

MyfirstchoicewouldbetobuildanewWildwoodandtothenalsobuildanewFort
River.Bothschoolsdesperatelyneedtobereplaced.Researchshowsthatsmall
schoolsarebestforstudents.Wewouldneverdecidetofixalltheroadsandbridges
intowninoneyear.Itseemsreasonabletosaywewillfix(replace)oneschoolata
time.Sincethisdoesnotseemtobeanoption,IstronglyfeelthattwoK6"twin"
schoolsarethenextbestoption.Studentsneedtofeeltheyarepartofacommunity
thatisamanageablesizefortheirage.

26

Weneedahealthyworkenvironmentforstudentsandstaff.FRandWWbothneed
newschools.Asataxpayer,$$hastocomeintoplayaswell.

27

CrockerFarmisagem.ToseeDerekSheaandSharriConklinknowingeverysingle
student,deeply,isbeautiful.Thatwillgoawayifyouhave750studentsinan
elementaryschool.Savethegreatschoolwiththehealthyenvironmentandbuildone
greatnewone,butdon'ttakeawayonethatisalreadyinplaceandsucceedinginso
manyways.FortRiverhastobereplaced.Thatshouldbeaneasydecision.

28

Researchsupportssmallerschoolswherestudentsfeelcomfortable,andtheyknow
eachotherandthestaff.Ahealthybuildingandlearningenvironmentisalso
extremelyimportanttostudentsuccess.Teacherscollaboratemorewhentheyare
giventhetimetodoso.Placingthemtogetherwithoutadditionaltimeintheschedule
willnotensurecollaboration.

29

ForELLteachers,focusingourattention(teachercollaboration,professional
development)onasmallergradespanisideal.

30

Themiddleschoolshouldbegrade68Thehighschoolgrades912.Theelementary
schoolsshouldremainastheyare.Thereisgoingtobetoomuchtrafficgoingfromone
partoftowntotheother.Toomanyschoolbuseswillbeparkedoutsidetheschools

Comment
Number
31
32

33

34

35

36

37

38
39

Comment/Question
ALLstudentsinourcommunitydeservetobenefitfromhavinganewschool.
InmyopinionthecurrentlearningenvironmentsinWildwoodandFortRiverare
unacceptable.Eachdayourmostvulnerablestudentswithlearning,attentional,
communication,andESLissuesfindthemselvesinspacesthatallowforfrequent
interruptionsandsignificantlevelsofnoise.Iamlookingforwardtothedaywhenmy
studentsdonotlookatmeandsay,"Whyaretheysoloud?"multipletimesduringour
lessonstogether.Ibelievethelearningenvironmentofthestudentsshouldbeourtop
prioritytomaximizethegrowthofourstudents.Ifeelstronglythatthiswillalso
becomeasignificantequityissueifsomestudentsremaininoneofthesebuildings
whileothersaregiventhegiftofalearningenvironmentthatisdesignedtohelpthem
succeed.
KeepingK6schoolshelpschildrengrowanddeveloprespectandadmirationofthose
studentsolderthanthemselvesandthencareandcompassionforthosestudents
youngerthanthemselves.Thiscriticalchilddevelopmenttaskismuchharderto
nurtureinmorestratifiedgradelevelschoolssuchasK1,then24,then56.
Honestly,noneofthesurveyquestions/responsesaddressedtheearlychildhoodissue
oftheneedofsecondgradetobeplacedwithKgtnandfirstgrade.Iseriouslyworry
about7/8sbeingplacedinaschoolwithupperelementarykidsandawayfromearly
childhoodenvironments.Secondgradersarestillveryyoung.Iamnotconvinced.
I'dlikemoreinformationonwhata750studentschoolwouldbelike.Specifically,
schedules,classsizes,lunchschedule,andwouldalsoliketoseeatrafficstudydone
beforethedecisionismade.Therehasn'tbeenenoughengagementofthegreater
communityaswellasallstaffinthisconversation.
Iunderstandthistobe,inlargepart,afinanciallydrivendecisionandIacknowledge
thatisimportant,butgiventhatwestillneedtomakethebestpossiblelearning
decisionforourstudents.Thenumberoftransitionsstudentswouldneedtomakeif
CFbecameaPreK2schoolwouldbeverytoughforkids,especiallyourmost
vulnerablekids.Havingcontinuityover7yearsissoimportantformanykids.Building
relationshipsbetweenguidance,ELL,administrationandteacherswithfamiliesand
kidstakestimeandthepayoffisinstudentlearningandstudentgrowth,bothsocial
andacademic.LeavingCFasiswouldminimizetosomeextent,theupheavalandmake
themegaschoolsomewhatsmaller.
HavingformerlyworkedinadistrictwheregradelevelswereseparatedintoPreK1
andthen24,Isawthatitcreatedproblemsinplanningforchildrenparticularly
thosewithspecialneedsorwhoareatriskforlearning.Resentmentandnegative
feelingswerefosteredbetweenteachersregularly.Parentswerejustgettingtoknow
oneschoolwhenitwastimetomovetothenextorhadchildreninbothschools.This
isnotconducivetogoodfamilyrelationshipsbetweentheschoolandhome.Ifgrade
levelsweredivided,Iwoulddivideatthetopput5thand6thinanotherbuilding!
Howwilllunchtimesandbussingsituations(dropoffandpickupatschool)be
affectedifthereisoneschool?
BothFortRiverandWildwoodschoolsareinverypoorcondition.Theenvironmentis
notgoodforlearning,teachingorworking.Whateverplanisselected,itneedstohave
thesupportofthetownsothatanewschoolisbuilttoreplacebothschools.Wecan't
letthisopportunitypass.

Comment
Number
40

41

42

43

Comment/Question
IthinkitisveryimportantthatFortRiverisnotleftthewaythatitis.Theenvironment
conditions,especiallynoisyquadsandpoorairqualitymustberectified.Therefore,
anyplanmustconsiderrenovationordemolitionofthatbuilding.
Doespotentialdistrictregionalizationwithneighboringtowns(e.g.Shutesbury,
Leverett,andPelhamareincludedattheelementarylevelaswellasthecurrent
middleandhighschoollevel)impactthedecision?IcouldseeissueswithAmherst
havingabrandnewschoolthatis26andneighboringtownscontinuingtohaveaK6
program.Wouldmanystudentsschoolchoiceintopreferredschools(ifthepreference
isforK6)ifthedistrictdoesn'tregionalizeANDreconfiguresthegrades?Isthe26
buildingaviablefinancialoptionforlongterm?WeweretoldMarksMeadowhadto
closeforfinancialconsiderationsandthatthesavingsovertimeweresubstantial,yet,
weareagainfacedwithfinancialconstraintsthatwillresultinsignificantchangesin
thedistrictbothintermsofactuallearningenvironmentsandpedagogy.
OnethingIvaluemostatmycurrentschoolisthesenseofcommunityandconnection
betweenstudentsofdifferentgradelevels.Itwouldbeadisservicetoisolatestudents
accordingtoage/gradelevel.
Ithinktheleastfavorableplansaretheonesthatincreasetransitionsforstudents..All
oftheotherfactorswevalueregardingimpactonlearningarediminishedbymultiple
transitionsincludingsuchthingsasstudentsfeelingandbeingknown,consistency,
staffcollaboration,belongingtoandidentifyingwithacommunityintheirschooland
neighborhood,beingknownandcommunicatedaboutwellfromgradeleveltograde
level,abilitytofollowupwithacademicandpersonalneeds,establishingenduringand
positiverelationshipsbetweenschoolandfamily...the"rebuildWildwoodonly"would
alsoresolvethisbutseemsunfairtooneschoolcommunitysonotreallyanoption,I
think.

44

IwouldliketoseeCrockerfarmbecomeprek2forteachercollaborationandhowthe
teacherlicensebreaksdown.Italsoallowsfortheretobeanextrayearofgrowthfor
thestudentbeforeaschoolbuildingtransition.

45

IagreethatWildwoodElementaryandFortRiverElementaryschoolsbothhave
seriousphysicalplantchallenges.Theopenclassroomsettingsinbothofthose
facilitiesaresubstandardtoefficientlearningenvironmentsanditwouldbebeneficial
toourschooldistricttoseethataltered.MydaughterwenttoschoolatFortRiverand
Itaughtinbothschoolbuildings.Teachersworkedhardtoeffectivelyusetheopen
roomconcept,butitindeedisNOTideal.Allstudentsperformbetterinaclosed
classroomsetup.Iunderstandfrompublicpresentationsthatheatingandcooling
systemsaredeficientintheseagingbuildings.Thenegativelearningenvironmentisof
biggestconcerntome.Costisahugeconcerntoourcommunity.Themostcost
effectiveplanismostdesirable,andIdohopetoseetheschoolpopulationincreasein
futureyears.Thankyou.

46

Havingworkedinadistrictthatwenttotwogradesperbuilding,Ifelttherewouldbea
greatnegativeimpactoncommunitybuildingandstudentbehavior,byputtinglarge
amountsofstudentsinasinglegradeintoawingoronly2or3gradesintoone
building.

Comment
Number
47

Comment/Question
HavingstudentstransitionTHREEtimesintheirelementaryyearsseemsliketheworst
possibleoptionforyounglearners.Andoffersmanyfeweropportunitiesforchildren
andteacherstocollaborateacrossgradelevelsandreallygettoknowallstudents.
Thiswouldbeespeciallydifficultforthespecialistsnamedbelow.Forourmostneedy
students,thesetransitionswouldbebrutal.Childrencontinuetoconnectwithand
visittheirprimarygradeteachersthroughouttheirelementaryschoolyears.Tohave
childrensnatchedfromtheadultstheyknowandtrustafter1stgradesoundsterrible
tome.Having2ndgradenotbeapartofPrimarySchool(EarlyChildhood)isridiculous.
Doesthismeanteachersofsecondandthirdgraderswouldnothaveaccesstoearly
childhoodreadingspecialists?Wouldmaterialsbelowgradelevel(particularlyin
reading)beunavailableforsecondandthirdgraders?WouldPreKthrough1st
gradersnothaveaccesstohigherlevelreadingmaterials?Whatwouldthelibraries
looklike?Howcouldaestheticsteachersreallygettoknowstudents?Iffamiliesof
childrenatdifferentgradelevelswerestretchedacrosstwoorthreeschools(justin
elementaryschool!),theirsenseofbelongingandopportunitiesforparticipation
wouldbediminished.Thesethingsdon'tseemtohavebeenthoughtthrough.

I'vereadtheboththe"draftpreliminarydesignprogramforschoolbuilding"andthe
"EducationalPlan"andseenorealbenefitsforOptionsCandD,beyondhavinganew
building.Theyaredisastrousmodels,inmyopinion,forstudents,forstaff,andfor
families.Theonepage"ImplicationsofEnrollmentOptions"isinaccurateinseveral
places.TheZoning("islands"ofapartmentcomplexes)couldbeaddressedwith
redistricting.TeacherCollaborationwouldnothave"highestlevelsforALLstaff"in
optionD;SPED,OT,PT,SLP,andaestheticsteacherswouldnothavegreatest
collaboration.

NogoodargumenthasbeenmadeforOptionsCorD,norhaveIheardanystaffor
familiesspeakfavorablyabouttheseoptions.The"opportunitiesforcollaboration"
argumentfromdistrictadministrationsoundsverydisingenuoustome.District
administrationhastimeandtimeagaintakenawayopportunitiesforcollaboration
overthepastseveralyears:eliminatingWednesdayafternooncollaborativetime,
cuttingparahours,anddictatingcurriculum.IfailtounderstandwhyOptionsCandD
areevenbeingconsidered,nowthatOptionBexists.

48

IsthereanypossibleoptiontoconsiderasmallernewbuildingandtheuseofTown
financialinputtoexpandCFandmakeitatrueEarlyEdCntrwithgradesPK2?The
currentC&Doptionshavethemajorityofouryoungestlearnerstransitioningafter
only2years(K/1).Inaddition,teachercertforEEspansPrek2sothereshouldbe
moreaccessforteachercollaborationwithinspecificneedsforrecert.

49

Whydoesthedistricthavesomanyadministratorsandsofeweducationalsupportsto
helpchildrenlearn?Willthenewconstructionhelpwiththisissue?

Comment
Number
50

Comment/Question
ISEESEVERALFACTORSWHICHCOULDMAKETHECOMBINEDSCHOOLPROJECT
UNTENABLE,ORATLEASTNEEDEDTOBESERIOUSLYCONSIDEREDBEFOREADECISION
ISSENTFORTHFORAPPROVAL.

1.APROJECTTHISLARGE,WHILEITMAYBEBETTERFORTHELONGTERMGOOD,
WILLPRESENTAMUCHLARGERBONDISSUETHANTHETOWNVOTERSAREWILLING
TOACCEPT.SCHOOLSARENOTASHIGHAPRIORITYFOREVERYONEASTHEYAREFOR
PARENTSANDSTAFF,INWHICHCASEWEMAYENDUPWITHNOTHING.THE
NUMBEROFCROCKERFARMPARENTSWHOOPPOSETHISMAYALSOPLAYAFACTOR,
ESPECIALLYIFTHEDECIDETOFILESUIT.

2.LONGTERMADDEDEXPENSESAROUNDTRANSPORTATIONREDUCETHEFISCAL
BENEFITSOFTHEPROJECT.THEREALSOMAYBECONTRACTUALOBLIGATIONSWITH
UNIONSANDOUTSIDEPROVIDERS(e.g.FOODSERVICE,HEATINGFUEL,ETC)THAT
COULDCOMPLICATETHINGS.

3.SHAREDFACILITIESFOR750KIDSISANICEIDEA,BUTITUSUALLYENDSUPWITH
LUNCHESSTARTINGAT10A.M.,RECESSESTOOBIGFORAVAILIABLESTAFFTOCOVER,
ANDGYMCLASSESSOLARGETHETEACHERSCAN'THEARTHEMSELVESTHINK,NEVER
MINDBEINGABLETOINSTRUCTTHESTUDENTS.

4.WEWOULDHOPETHATCREATINGTWOSEPERATEENTITIESINONEBUILDING
WOULDNOTRESULTINCLIQUESFORMINGWITHSTUDENTS(ANDPOTENTIALLY
STAFF),BUTHUMANNATUREISWHATITIS.WEAREATRIBALSPECIES,ANDNOT
EVERYONEHASTHESTRENGTHANDCONVICTIONTOOVERCOMETHAT.

51

IfCFisPreK1withspecializedprograms:1.Whatconsiderationandplanninghave
beendoneforbathroomfacilities?Currentquantityandlocationwouldappear
inadequateforyoungerstudents,andcouldresultin6thgradersand1stgraders
sharingfacilities,dependinguponclassroomlocations.2.SeemsisolatingforSE
programstudentsingrades26.3.Busroutescouldresultinlongridesfromthe
outlyingedgesoftowntoCF.Howhasthisbeenaddressedtoprovideappropriate
traveltimes?RE:all26insamebuildingwith2gradebasedgroupingsinanew
building:1.Wouldseemtoprovidethemostequityandintegrationforthemajorityof
students.2.Programstudentsingrades26wouldnotbewithgradepeers?

52

ItisimportantthatFortRiverisincludedinrenovationsitismuchneeded!

10