It's official - seventh and eighth graders are moving to Washington High School

The Washington School Board voted 7-2 Monday night to move seventh and eighth graders to the high school. It's a decision opposed by virtually all community members who spoke during public hearings. However, Superintendent Roberta DiLorenzo said it's the most efficient and effective use of district resources for a system the size of Washington.
The plan also calls for a $16 million renovation to the high school. The school administration says the building project will mean a three mill increase in property taxes.
What do you think of the decision?

Don't forget

The Washington School Board is expected to vote Monday night about whether to move seventh and eighth graders to the high school and whether to renovate the building. The meeting will start at 7 p.m. in the administrative offices.

Moving seventh and eighth graders to the high school

The Washington School Board held a public hearing Monday night about whether to move seventh and eighth graders to the high school and whether to renovate the high school. There was information presented at the meeting that I didn't have room for in the paper so I thought I would post it here. If you think there's other information that people need to know about the potential move, please post it here. The board is scheduled to vote on the issue Monday night.
Teen pregnancy
One issue that parents have asked about is teen pregnancy rates at schools for seventh through 12th graders. Are they higher? Mary Jo Podgurski, who runs Teen Outreach in Washington and works around the world with teen sexuality issues, said no studies have been done about that particular issue. However, she said, studies do show what issues, such as poverty and a history of abuse, can lead girls to get pregnant at a young age. None of those studies cite having seventh through 12th grade students in the same building as one of the issues that impact teen pregnancy rates, she said.
What about the Park School?
The discussion seems to focus on what will happen at the high school. Someone asked me last night about what would happen at the Park School. I've written about it before but thought I would post it again. Superintendent Roberta DiLorenzo originally proposed putting an alternative school at the Park School. However, in the past few months, she said the community reaction has been so negative that she has decided not to do that. Instead, pre-kindergarten classrooms could be expanded and day care may be offered. Also, the rooms on the lowest floors (without windows) could be turned into a centralized general supply warehouse for the district. DiLorenzo said that could save money by having one staff person responsible for ordering supplies.
When did the process start?
The board had reorganization discussions on May 21, 2007. There, members talked about a 7-9 middle school, 10-12 high school and a separate primary building. On April 14, 2008, DiLorenzo made the K-6, 7-12 recommendation after a year of analysis and response to public concerns. On April 21, 2008, the board approved the feasibility study of the high school and bought 3111 Allison Ave. for administrative offices. On May 19, the board voted to reconfigure the elementary school to kindergarten through sixth grade. In July 2008, DiLorenzo began public and small group presentations.
High school Principal Frank Rotunda and Middle School Principal Cyril Walther said they met with architects to determine how the renovation could work. They wanted to figure out how to keep the kids in different grades separated. They decided the best way to separate them was to keep the younger kids on the lowest floor, Rotunda said. They will also add a lunch period to keep them separated, he said. The design also includes separate junior high and high school dressing rooms for boys and girls, he said. The plan also reverts to the former circulation plan, which was in place before the last renovation. That allows for a continuous loop.
Finances
The bond counsel and business manager agreed that now would be the cheapest time to build because the construction costs are lower and interest rates are low. Washington can wait to renovate, but the consensus was the district would pay more.
Business Manager Rick Mancini said the district has $6 million in its capital reserve fund. He recommended that money be used for upgrades to the Park School and that the district borrow money to renovate the high school.
Board member Linda Clemons asked for a breakdown of the options the board could do and what the dollar figures could be. For example, the board could vote to move the seventh and eighth graders and renovate the high school, which is estimated to cost between $16 million and $20 million. It could just renovate the high school, which would cost $14 million, unless the board decides to add something because it removed the work necessary to renovate the space for the seventh and eighth graders.
Public comment
As I wrote in my story, there was some disagreement about whether to renovate the high school now. However, with the exception of one person who was undecided about moving seventh and eighth graders to the high school, everyone else said don't do it.
Mother and Community Advisory Committee member Michelle Hertig-Sperl, presented a petition opposing the move. She said it was signed by 28 seventh and eighth grade teachers.

Washington parents say no to seventh and eighth grade move

Once again, Washington residents told the school board not to move seventh and eighth graders to the high school. The conversation came up at Washington's school board meeting Monday night.
The board will have a public hearing about the matter Monday at 7 p.m. at Washington Park School.
The following Monday, June 15, the board is expected to vote on the proposal during its business meeting.

Answering questions about moving seventh and eighth graders to Washington High School

At Monday night's school board meeting, several parents said they don't want seventh and eighth graders moved to Washington High School. Many others felt the community needs more information before the board votes on whether to move the students. The Observer-Reporter is going to work on getting those answers and posting them here. If you have questions you would like answered, please post them on the blog. I will work on getting answers from the administration and school board as quickly as possible.

Should Washington move seventh and eighth graders to the high school.

Washington had a community meeting Monday to unveil schematic designs for the high school. The building needs renovated before seventh and eighth grade move there. The board is expected to make a decision in June.
What should Washington do?