Why I Support a New 7/8 School In Windham

There has been some attention brought to the fact that I previously supported an addition to the existing middle school but now I support the bond for construction of a new 7/8 school.  I have tried to explain my reasoning through my blog posts, but perhaps it will make more sense to recap my position here. 

I publicly supported a new 5-8 middle school in January of 2010 when I stood before the School Board with two hundred signatures of town residents who also supported a new school. At the first Facilities Committee meeting I attended in the Fall of 2010 I said I supported a new school. However, after months of review and discussion, the Facilities Committee came to a consensus that an addition to the existing middle would be more advisable.  "The Committee recommended the renovation of Windham Middle School into a two-house structure for grades 5-8.  Grades 5/6 and 7/8 would be in separate wings of the building and share core facilities." (Windham School Are Significantly Overcapacity, 10/23/11) It is important to note that when we presented our findings to the School Board in June of 2011, we had NOT considered a 7/8 grade stand alone school as an option. 

I believe the School Board that was in place at that time did not act on the Facilities Committee recommendation because they were very concerned about the economy and the fact that we hadn't hit the high water mark (ie tax impact) of the high school build.  Also, I think some Board members felt we should be able to build a new school for the same cost as the proposed addition.  As I wrote October of 2011, "As a member of the Facilities Master Planning Committee, I supported a full scale addition to the Middle School that would solve capacity issues and allow the Middle School to function as a true Middle School.  The Committee chose this option over building a new Middle School (meaning a 5-8 structure) for many reasons, including the increased operating costs of adding another school, higher construction costs, and the concern of another school transition for students."

At the October 25, 2011 School Board Meeting, one of the Board members brought up the concept of a stand alone 7/8 structure. "At the School Board Meeting last night, the idea was brought up to explore building a new junior high for just grades 7 and 8. This was not an option the Facilities Committee had explored, and I have to admit it sparked my interest.  I still have concerns over costs and adding another school transition.  I also have grave concerns that we will make a significant investment in another new building, while Golden Brook sits virtually untouched after forty years.  But I have to wonder, could this be the middle ground?" (The Middle Ground, 10/25/11)

During this time, our Superintendent resigned and we saw a change in leadership.  We saw the Board explore how spending 10 million, 20 million, and 30 million might solve our capacity issues.  The Board remained unconvinced that an addition to the existing Middle School was the right answer.  We saw portables on the ballot voted down.  We saw funds to prepare for construction of a new 7/8 building voted down.  What I saw was no action that would actually solve our capacity issues. 

Part of the reason I ran for School Board last spring was to have a more powerful voice and represent what I believe the public would support. And yes, part of the reason I ran for School Board was personal and for my children.  "In the time my children have been in the District, I have seen enrichment at Golden Brook shift from a program for gifted children to a school wide program.  I have seen World Language and Enrichment disappear from Center School because of space issues.  I have seen children being tutored in hallways, libraries turned into make-shift classrooms, and playgrounds turned into parking lots. None of these things are critical to an adequate education.   Yet all of these things are part of the educational environment I want for my children." (A Portable Solution, 10/28/11)

I have been asked if I just support "a new school environment at any cost now?".  There is always a cost - of that there is not doubt.  But I have said before how I feel.  "I come from solid, humble beginnings.  Yet I want more for my children.  I really do.  Not material things, but opportunities.  One of the reasons we moved to Windham was to give our children the best education possible in the best conditions possible.  Yet how do we do this without spending our hard earned dollars on education?  We live in tax free New Hampshire, but the money has to come from somewhere.  Do we still trust the American dream and hope that our children’s future will be better than ours?  Tough to sweep floors in a factory oversees.  Do we hope that a volunteer who comes in to make birdhouses with the class in our small, overcrowded classrooms will prepare our children to compete in a global economy?  It was enough for me, but I am not convinced it will be enough for my kids." (Factory Floors, Birdhouses and the American Dream, 12/27/11)

The timing has to be right for change.  The time was not right to put an addition on the existing Middle School in 2011.  And as I said earlier, we had not yet fully considered the 7/8 school option.  Since then, the Board has changed, the potential tax impact has changed, the climate of what the community is willing to support has changed.  "Looking back over the last ten years I realize the timing was never right for the things I tried to accomplish." (It's About Time, 1/5/13) Despite what you may see as Heather supporting a new school at any cost, what I am really supporting - indeed have consistently supported - is a long overdue permanent solution to the issues facing our district.

Author's Note: All of the quotes in this article may be found in my previous blog entries.