Present: C. Morrison, M. Morrison, W. Morrison and K. Powell
Excused: S. Heinrich and T. Koenig
Guests: Superintendent M Chiafery, Business Administrator M. Shevenell, Elementary School Principals: F. Hoell,
K. Custer, and L. Carter
The meeting was called to order at 7:10 PM by W. Morrison.
W. Morrison turned the meeting over to M. Chiafery to discuss kindergarten issues.
M. Chiafery noted this would be the first of several meetings to discuss a kindergarten grant proposal. Some of the kindergarten grant issues that the PBC will be working on include internal and external traffic patterns with regard to actual location of classrooms, drop-off and pick-up and the location of the kindergarten playground. She asked each principal to share individual building concerns.
L. Carter of Thorntons Ferry noted that Kindergarten could be added in one of three scenarios.
W. Morrison noted that construction in the courtyard would be difficult and would create potential fire and safety code issues. He felt this would be impractical. L. Carter also brought up whether a road around the back of the building for buses only was possible.
M. Chiafery noted that the current plan calls for 2 half day sessions at each school and the population projections result in Thorntons Ferry needing 5 dedicated classrooms + dedicated storage space, Reeds Ferry needing 4 dedicated classrooms + dedicated storage space and Mastricola Elementary needing 3 dedicated classrooms + dedicated storage space.
F. Hoell brought up the possibility of enlarging the third grade classrooms and adding bathrooms in those rooms. K. Custer suggested the possibility of enlarging five of the current first grade classrooms. L. Carter brought up the issue of the leach field at Thorntons Ferry and how this impacts any suggested construction until the school is on sewer. F.Hoell noted that in the past the school district has been penny wise and pound foolish. It was suggested that any discussion regarding starting times, scheduling and traffic needs to include Dick Dumont, the bussing coordinator even though the current plan is not to bus kindergarten students.
F. Hoell discussed kindergarten options at Reeds Ferry. He noted his building was a mirror image of Thorntons Ferry, but he is in a better situation as he does have some usable space and currently houses the district's special education pre-school program. He noted similar issues to Thorntons Ferry regarding traffic, transport times and lunch traffic in the halls. He noted that currently many students arrive in SpEd vans, but with the implementation of kindergarten, he would expect more cars and less SpEd vans. His present 1st grade playground is used by the pre-school program, but is on the opposite side of the building from the pre-school classrooms. The pre-school program used the main entrance to the school. The alternative entrance to these classrooms through the gymnasium entrance is not workable at present.
W. Morrison voiced concern regarding traffic flow issues. He felt that cars and buses need to be separated and that the committee needs to revisit the parking issue that had been discussed some years ago. M. Morrison brought up the possibility of a road around the building for bus use.
K. Custer offered some other thoughts on kindergarten: she felt that kindergarten is not a space solution and that implementing kindergarten should be looked at as making the system whole because it provides the necessary skills for the goal of having all students being able to read at grade level by third grade. She then discussed kindergarten issues for Mastricola Elementary. She has a concern about the impact on the core facilities, the compromised play area and traffic flow and parking issues. She would like to see a bus loop in the back parking lot to help alleviate the traffic issues.
W. Morrison asked about Mastricola Elementary School usage of and priority for O'Neill field. K.Powell asked about other alternatives.
M. Chiafery noted that the traffic patterns and safety were the major concerns to be addressed and that play play areas were the easiest. She also noted that the kindergarten committee is using 90 percent of a potential 440 students or 396 students for planning purposes. W. Morrison noted that past studies have indicated that only 80% of potential students actually attend. M. Chiafery replied she wanted to be sure that enough space would be available for future kindergarten needs.
M. Chiafery thanked the committee for its time.
W. Morrison reported that he and C. Morrison had attended meetings of all the PTO groups in town. The Mastricola meetings (both middle and elementary) had been lightly attended. However, the meetings at both Thorntons Ferry and Reeds Ferry had a good turnout, with Reeds having almost 40 parents present. W. Morrison noted that he and P. McGrath had also taped a program on the new middle school which would be on cable as soon as M. Chiafery approved. M. Morrison noted that they had had a good response when they set up an informational table in the hall during the Mastricola Elementary School parent conferences.
By consensus, it was decided to hold the next meeting on April 22, 2002 for re-organization, updates and discussion on kindergarten issues.
On a motion from M. Morrison, seconded by K. Powell, the committee unanimously voted to adjourn at 10 PM.
Last Updated: April 1, 2003 by Wayne Morrison