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12/26/2017 11:00 PMAfter years of studies, discussions, and options, a version of the school utilization study finally made it to referendum this fall, but not without a few bumps and misinformation campaigns along the way.
In January, after settling on a project manager, the BOE undertakes a series of studies and puts forward rough numbers on the rebuild and renovation plans. The original five-school model includes closing Island Avenue Elementary School, renovations at Jeffery and Ryerson Elementary schools, and some improvements at Polson Middle School.
February delivers the harsh reality of the state’s dire fiscal position and in early March, the BOE school utilization study, as it stands now, might not be viable in light of the state’s fiscal woes. Not wanting to give up on the study altogether, the board decided to press on, but only considers renovating or rebuilding one elementary school rather than two—Ryerson Elementary School.
In April, however, after listening to concerns from the public that rebuilding Ryerson and putting Jeffrey into a 10-year plan for gradual improvements will lead to inequity between the schools, the BOE puts Jeffrey back in the mix for a more substantial renovation. On April 18, the board officially decides to move forward with a plan to address a total rebuild of Ryerson Elementary School and a renovation of Jeffrey Elementary School over the course of two referenda. Some parents, who hoped the BOE would address both schools in one referendum, oppose the decision.
In June, the BOS and BOF move the option to referendum in September. In the months leading up to the referendum, community members and town officials find themselves on opposite sides of the issues. Unsigned flyers with grossly inaccurate debt projections pop up in people’s mailboxes and a local PAC shares false project numbers and indirectly suggests voting down the option at referendum will keep Island Avenue School open.
The option fails at referendum on Sept. 26 by a significant margin. In October, BOE move forward with the plan to still go to a five-school model and unanimously votes to close Island Avenue Elementary School.
In November, with a new board assembled after the election, the BOE looks at models and options to move grade 4 up to the middle school and close Island Avenue. In December, the BOE settles on a plan to hold grades 4 and 5 at Brown Middle School and grades 6, 7, and 8 at Polson Middle School. Island Avenue is slated for closure in June 2019.