The following letter to the editor about enrollment issues was submitted by Barbara Goodman, who served on the Arlington School Committee from 1993 to 2005. A version was sent to Dr. Kathleen Bodie, superintendent of schools, and all School Committee members:
The consultant report from HMFH Architects provides various options for addressing our serious space issues. However, the cost of these schemes does not add educational value. The expenditures do nothing to improve our educational program.
In addition, I believe it is a bad idea to move kids to a new school for just one year. While this may not harm most kids, it can destabilize our most vulnerable children.
Instead of moving fifth graders, the School Committee should consider relocating kindergarteners and create an early learning center with the addition of prekindergarten and preschool components.
An early learning center would be a cost-effective way to provide early identification and intervention services. It would allow for integration of special needs kids and an opportunity to provide targeted parent training programs.
Fees for preschool and prekindergarten could help offset some costs. Perhaps we could expand our high school program to offer a Certificate in Early Childhood Education and compete a bit with Minuteman.
Do we still provide child-care slots to our staff? We could certainly expand this perk.
An early education center can be part of the (new?) high school, as is the Menotomy Preschool, or the new Stratton, or in a renovated Gibbs, Parameter or the old May Center site.
There may be good reasons why an early education center has not been considered. But perhaps a feasibility study of this option is warranted.
This viewpoint was published Thursday, Oct. 8, 2015.
