“There must be another way to address current issues, temporarily, to avoid relocating students twice within a short, two- or three-year span,” said Vice Chairwoman Mary Beth Ogulewicz Sacco.
WESTFIELD – The School Committee will delay consideration of a possible partial redistricting of students pending additional review of elementary school resources and class sizes.
Vice Chairwoman Mary Beth Ogulewicz Sacco said she has instructed Superintendent of Schools Shirley Alvira and the School Department’s Building Equity Team to “explore other options to relocation of students to address large class sizes in some elementary buildings.”
"The team, along with other principals, have been asked to expand its review of student and school needs along with other resources, including teachers and counselors, and bring in other recommendations short of redistricting,” said Sacco.
“We want to avoid disrupting students,” Sacco said, explaining that a redistricting plan is anticipated within two years because of construction of a new elementary school.
“There must be another way to address current issues, temporarily, to avoid relocating students twice within a short, two- or three-year span,” she said.
The Equity Team, a group of principals and teachers, proposed the relocation of an estimated 55 students from Paper Mill School to Munger Hill School and the transfer of grade five students from several schools to South Middle School until a new elementary school is built.
That recommendation, presented last month, has drawn opposition from parents, primarily parents of Paper Mill School youngsters.
Principals Leslie Clark-Yvon and Margaret M. Adams, who led the equity team, have said changes are needed to provide even class sizes across the elementary school level. Currently many classrooms have between 27 and 31 students.
The higher class sizes, principals note, is not the result of increased enrollment but a decrease in staff in recent years.
Sacco said school officials have been asked to provide alternatives at the School Committee’s scheduled March 7 meeting.