McCarthy School Could Soon be Closed

As a way to cut costs and prepare for the economic challenges ahead, the Peabody Public Schools' Planning Committee has proposed closing the as a kindergarten through grade five school.

Business Manager and Planning Committee member David Keniston gave a presentation on behalf of the Planning Committee on their redistricting study, which proposes the closing of McCarthy. After investigating school closing models for all six elementary schools, Keniston said the report shows closing the McCarthy School was the most favorable and most conservative approach to the school consolidation.

The study showed an estimated savings of $471,000 in the first year and $635,000 in the second year, if the school was closed. The proposal also includes the estimated staff reduction of all employees and a reduction of seven teachers.

The McCarthy closing model would remain open as a pre-school with reduced energy costs, and less nursing staff and custodial services. However, the committee discussed using the unoccupied space in the McCarthy as part of the Higgins Project swing space, or as Central Administration space, closing the and returning it for city use.

The report presented by Keniston outlined how closing the McCarthy School would be the most effective and least disruptive of all the propositions. When looking at the criteria for redistricting the committee was trying to minimize disruption.

Out of all six schools, the McCarthy's 12 elementary classes could be the most easily absorbed into the Burke, West and Center schools. The option also provided the most balanced enrollment, approximately 20.8 students per class, with the fewest class sizes at or near contractual maximum.

Another contributing factor was the amount of students riding buses to the McCarthy school. Out of the 230 students in kindergarten through grade five, 79 percent ride the bus. Adding an additional bus for the 49 students in the McCarthy walk zone would cost an approximately $50,000.

Planning Committee Chairman Edward Charest made it clear the presentation was information for the School Committee and public to read through, digest, and then discuss. In the anticipation of many questions and concerns the Planning Committee appointed Keniston as the point contact person for the community.

Anyone from the community who has questions or concerns is urged to contact Keniston via e-mail at kenistond@peabody.k12.ma.us; all questions will be answered and also submitted for public knowledge at a later School Committee meeting, Charest said.

Chairman, ex-officio, Mayor Michael Bonfanti said the community should plan now for a tough budget season given Gov. Deval Patrick's announcement that Massachusetts is $1 billion in debt, a figure Bonfanti believes is on the conservative side.

"Start planning a five percent reduction from last year's budget, and it is going to be really tough in the next year when the stimulous money runs out," he said. "We are looking at ways to save money and do the least amount of harm is how I look at it. We need to keep in mind our overall goal is education of the child, not saving a building or jobs, providing an education."  

Charest stated the presentation was the first step in the process of developing the FY12 school department budget. He also stated that the planning committee and school committee would hold an open information and public imput session after the new year.

The entire report will be available on the school district website.