Will Option 2 Meet the Educational Needs of Our Children?

Windham LINK attended the Citizens Facilities Committee Meeting on Monday, March 30, 2015. The majority of attendees were community members, many of whom expressed concern about Option 2 not meeting the educational needs of our children.

Option 2 calls for:

• An addition to Golden Brook School
• Moving Preschool, 3rd Grade and 4th Grade to Golden Brook
• Renovations to Center School
• Renovations to Middle School
  

There is not a concrete “price tag” associated with this option yet, as all of the work has been done by volunteers and funds have been unavailable to hire qualified Architects and Engineers to review Option 2.

Facilities Committee members stated that their job is to solve capacity issues. What remains unclear is whether or not this solution will meet the educational needs of our children. According to the Committee, it will be the responsibility of the School Board and the Administration to address these concerns.

The Facilities Committee has been moving forward with Option 2 using the best of their knowledge to address our significant overcrowding issue.

The following questions were raised by parents and community members who attended the Meeting:

• Are we essentially creating a “warehouse” based on square footage needs instead of based on that will best meet the educational needs of our children?
• Where will we relocate 600+ children and staff members during the 20 months it will take to renovate and add onto Golden Brook School?
• Will there be room for a standard size gym (like at Center School), two fields and two playgrounds?
• Will the site be able to handle the increased demands on septic, parking and traffic for 1000+ students and staff?
• How will parents and staff feel about 6th grade being moved out of Middle School and into Center School?

Windham LINK suggested that the Citizens Facilities Committee revisit the Facilities Master Plan that the District spent $300,000 to develop in 2011 and 2012. That Plan contains numerous options that were full vetted by staff, administration and community members. Furthermore, it is a Master Facilities Plan, one that looks at facility issues over the course of multiple years.

Next Facilities Meeting: Monday, April 6, 2015 at 5:00 PM at the SAU.

Please attend the School Board Meeting: Tuesday, April 7, 2015 at 7:00 PM at the Windham Town Hall.