Region 14 schools set to transform - Changes planned in coming months
October 18, 2006
By SYDNEY SCHWARTZ
REPUBLICAN-AMERICAN
WOODBURY - Now that it has decided to reconfigure two schools, the Region 14 school board has a mountain of logistics ahead of it.It still has to reassign kindergarteners through fifth-graders and their teachers, create new bus routes, revamp start times, move materials and renovate facilities.
These changes must occur in the next 10 months, in time for school to start next September.
"There's still a lot of questions, legitimate questions, that need to be answered," said John Howard, chairman of the Board of Education. "Now comes the time of figuring out what are the logistics that go into making the moves. What are the concerns? What are the bus routes?"
Next September, Bethlehem Elementary School will become Bethlehem Primary School, housing all kindergarten, first- and second-graders from Bethlehem and Woodbury.
Woodbury's Mitchell Elementary School will become Mitchell Intermediate School, housing third- through fifth-graders, who will then graduate to the current Woodbury Middle School across the street.
"I think it's pretty exciting. I do think it's a tremendous opportunity for us," said Superintendent Robert D. Cronin, who arrived from Naugatuck in July and proposed the restructuring two weeks ago. "We have sort of started to do some of that work. I think we're on our way."
Cronin, who will begin by developing a timeline, said the change will improve curriculum and development, giving teachers of each grade regular contact, and allowing for new programs, such as a full-day kindergarten.
The plan will equalize the school populations. Bethlehem will have about 438 students, and Mitchell will have about 461. Currently, Mitchell has 477, and Bethlehem has 336.
Woodbury fifth-graders, who have been housed at the middle school since 2005 because of space concerns, will return to Mitchell.
Kindergarten classes will have 18 students, first- and second-grade classes will have 20, third-grade classes will have 22 and fourth- and fifth-grade classes will have 25. Teachers will be transferred to schools according to grade levels.
The plan means revamping some classrooms, but each school will retain a library, gymnasium, music room, art room, cafeteria and computer lab.
The school board also will look into renovating Mitchell Intermediate School. That requires feedback from the region's architectural firm and budgetary authorization by referendum, Howard said.
Cronin has said improvements could likely be scaled back from the $37 million proposal rejected at referendum last spring.
Administrators also will have to reconfigure school bus routes so students would spend less than 45 minutes traveling. From the farthest point in Woodbury to Bethlehem Elementary School, it takes 35 minutes by car.
Jay Hubelbank, director of fiscal services, has already discussed revamping school start times so buses could have three runs, and parents could drop off students at more than one school.
By SYDNEY SCHWARTZ
REPUBLICAN-AMERICAN
WOODBURY - Now that it has decided to reconfigure two schools, the Region 14 school board has a mountain of logistics ahead of it.It still has to reassign kindergarteners through fifth-graders and their teachers, create new bus routes, revamp start times, move materials and renovate facilities.
These changes must occur in the next 10 months, in time for school to start next September.
"There's still a lot of questions, legitimate questions, that need to be answered," said John Howard, chairman of the Board of Education. "Now comes the time of figuring out what are the logistics that go into making the moves. What are the concerns? What are the bus routes?"
Next September, Bethlehem Elementary School will become Bethlehem Primary School, housing all kindergarten, first- and second-graders from Bethlehem and Woodbury.
Woodbury's Mitchell Elementary School will become Mitchell Intermediate School, housing third- through fifth-graders, who will then graduate to the current Woodbury Middle School across the street.
"I think it's pretty exciting. I do think it's a tremendous opportunity for us," said Superintendent Robert D. Cronin, who arrived from Naugatuck in July and proposed the restructuring two weeks ago. "We have sort of started to do some of that work. I think we're on our way."
Cronin, who will begin by developing a timeline, said the change will improve curriculum and development, giving teachers of each grade regular contact, and allowing for new programs, such as a full-day kindergarten.
The plan will equalize the school populations. Bethlehem will have about 438 students, and Mitchell will have about 461. Currently, Mitchell has 477, and Bethlehem has 336.
Woodbury fifth-graders, who have been housed at the middle school since 2005 because of space concerns, will return to Mitchell.
Kindergarten classes will have 18 students, first- and second-grade classes will have 20, third-grade classes will have 22 and fourth- and fifth-grade classes will have 25. Teachers will be transferred to schools according to grade levels.
The plan means revamping some classrooms, but each school will retain a library, gymnasium, music room, art room, cafeteria and computer lab.
The school board also will look into renovating Mitchell Intermediate School. That requires feedback from the region's architectural firm and budgetary authorization by referendum, Howard said.
Cronin has said improvements could likely be scaled back from the $37 million proposal rejected at referendum last spring.
Administrators also will have to reconfigure school bus routes so students would spend less than 45 minutes traveling. From the farthest point in Woodbury to Bethlehem Elementary School, it takes 35 minutes by car.
Jay Hubelbank, director of fiscal services, has already discussed revamping school start times so buses could have three runs, and parents could drop off students at more than one school.
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