UPDATED, May 27: More than 60 parents, School Committee members, administrators and teachers gathered at Town Hall auditorium Tuesday, May 24, to discuss the future middle-school configuration involving the former Gibbs School.
To the key question — should the administration support for an all-town sixth grade or a second sixth-through-eighth-grade middle school? — Superintendent Kathleen Bodie reiterated her choice described May 12: Go for one sixth grade at Gibbs.
Backing her up solidly were surveys of Ottoson teachers. Special-education teachers preferred two six-through-eighth middle schools.
Parents contributed a variety of questions. The School Committee plans to weigh all comments and is expected to vote on the middle-school configuration at its Thursday, May 26, meeting, which starts at 6:30 p.m., in the School Committee Room, sixth floor, Arlington High School.
Initial summary, Bodie’s reasoning
Jennifer Susse, chair of the School Committee, opened the Town Hall forum meeting by summarizing the two strong and competing visions of what to do with the former Gibbs School building: 1.) two smaller middle schools allowing more students to walk to school or 2.) a transitional all-town sixth grade.
Susse admitted some logistical and educational issues have yet to be worked out, such as transportation. However, a great deal of research and discussion has already taken place. Tonight, she continued, the Bodie would report on her recommendation and the rationales for it followed by Ottoson teachers presenting the results of their surveys. The last part of the meeting would be open to public comment and questions.
In recommending renovating the former Gibbs School for an all-town sixth grade, Bodie admitted that the practical matter of the lower cost of the sixth-grade option was important, but it was supported by the numerous educational advantages.
Smaller classes and clusters would allow for more personalized instruction plus help sixth graders adjust more quickly to a middle-school curriculum and the frequent changes of classes with different teachers. Now separated from the seventh and eighth graders, the Gibbs could develop a unique schedule tailored to the needs of sixth-grade students and instruction.
Bodie also argued that a school dedicated to sixth graders could better serve their social and emotional needs. She addressed the research on the detrimental effects of school transitions upon students by explaining these studies only followed individual students. By offering “an opportunity for class cohesion,” the students could better navigate the transition to middle school and high school.
She addressed the research on the detrimental effects of school transitions on students by explaining these studies followed only individual students. In addition, the all-town sixth grade would offer a larger pool of students for forging friendships based on common interests. Furthermore, the Needham all-town sixth-grade school, visited by Arlington school Committee members and teachers, reported all of these advantages with no significant disadvantages.
Other concerns voiced by Bodie include the potential for inequality in resources and program that could develop between two unevenly sized sixth-through-eighth-grade middle schools, which would be eliminated with the sixth-grade option. Making available to the sixth grader all programs at the Ottoson, including after-school programs, would need to be worked out but were achievable.
Ottoson surveys
Surveys of Ottoson teachers by Jenna Fernandes, Randi Flynn, Julianna Keys and Heather Mahoney supported Bodie’s recommendation for the sixth-grade option.
The sixth-, seventh- and eighth-grade teachers’ votes for the all-town sixth grade were 71.4 percent, 62.5 percent and 81.8 percent, respectively.
Out-of-cluster teachers (music, world languages, gym, shop, etc.) supported Bodie’s recommendation even more strongly, as 80.15 percent favored the sixth-grade option. The special-education teachers were the only group to prefer two six-through-eighth middle schools. They anticipated that the small number of students they serve in the sixth grade might receive inferior services. (See reports linked here >>)
Questions from the public
Following these reports, the floor was open to questions from the assembled audience. At least a dozen people presented questions, many sporting buttons “Vote Yes! Build Arlington’s Future.”
Many of the questions were quickly answered by school officials:
— What year will the former Gibbs open? (2018);
— What would Ottoson look like in the transition years? (Modulars at the Ottoson but not for cluster classes);
— What would leadership look like? (Gibbs would have its own principal);
— If there are two middle schools, how would elementary schools be assigned? (Right now, they might be filled by Thompson and Hardy);
— What about overcrowding in the elementary schools? (There will be a new addition to the Thompson – cannot hire more teachers to open more classroom until more space);
— If Gibbs is vacated early, is it possible to use some rooms to ease overcrowding? (Construction would make that impossible).
Some parents gave suggestions for the sixth-grade option. A Bishop parent recommended age-appropriate recreational facilities and recess. She also asked that there be “no more 10:30 lunches.”
Another parent asked about student voices. Savannah Curro, an Arlington High School student, spoke of the need from an all-town sixth grade because of the large number of students already at the Ottoson.
Melanie North, a parent, said she asked her two children what they thought. The older daughter already at the Ottoson answered that “the Ottoson was already too big,” while her son in elementary school wanted the sixth-grade option because “eighth graders are scary.”
A parent and current high school teacher spoke about the advantages of two middle schools. She noted the value of transitions in disrupting the social cast system and allowing a student to enter high school without a “preconceived self.”
Finally, a Brackett parent expressed an important question: “We are three weeks out from this vote, and does the town not yet appreciate its importance? What is Plan B?”
In response, Moriah Tryrrell, Thompson parent who is active supporter of Build Arlington’s Future, told those present, “Our job is to make sure the vote passes so our students have what they need.”
She then directed them to a literature and signup table. No official group opposing the June 14 ballot questions totaling %63 million has emerged.
Thanking all the participants, Susse adjourned the meeting at 8:30 p.m., 180 minutes after it began.
Links to relevant documents
Watch the foum on ACMi
Jo Anne Preston, a YourArlington volunteer, provided the notes and wrote this summary. It was published Wednesday, May 25, 2016, and updated May 27, to add a link.
