Possible Major Changes are Coming to Madison Public Schools

Drumney Rosane Anderson Inc. (DRA) conducted the second of three public workshops on Monday for the Development of a Comprehensive Assessment of the Madison Public Schools, according to an article from the New Haven Register.

This comprehensive assessment has been a topic of discussion this month because it has to do with the potential condensing and consolidating of schools in the public school system.

DRA presented Monday night what they called a “family of options,” which consists of the options the town has to condense the number of facilities currently in the school system, according to the article.

The “family of options” consisted of changing the three elementary schools from their current K-4 grade levels to the typical K-5 grade levels, installing a middle school that accepts students grades 6-8 and leaving the high school as is, grades 9-12, the article reported.

This would reduce the district by one school and will reportedly allow for fewer transitions for students as they move up in grade levels.

Another option Board of Education member Seth Klaskin provided included demolishing all three of the town’s elementary schools, building a new middle school for grades 6-8 and adjusting Polson to accommodate grades Pre-K through second grade, according to the article. The estimated cost for this project is between $25 million and $35 million.

The Board of Education stressed their overall purpose for these workshops is to get the students and community involved in updating the school district in the best way possible, for further advancement and to better prepare students for the world beyond the public school system, the article reported.

No changes are expected for at least a few years. A future workshop is likely to be scheduled for June.

Read the full New Haven Register story here.