The closure of the three elementary schools in the proposal, which would follow the recent shuttering of Frank L. Meagher Elementary, would save the district $4.76 million per year, Padalino said.
While money may have been the initial inspiration for the plan, school officials have also touted the academic advantages of “rightsizing” a district build to serve a student population of around 10,000 which has seen its numbers decline to roughly 7,000. Additionally, Padalino said on Monday, the moves would enable the district to move closer to having equitable class sizes in both elementary and middle schools.
But the mere mention of money was too much for Maloney, who cautioned trustees to vote with Kingston’s students in mind on Thursday.
“This is your job, Board,” he said. “Not economics, but educationally sound decisions.”
The Rev. Dr. G. Modele Clarke, senior pastor of the New Progressive Baptist Church in Kingston said that it might make financial sense in the short term to close elementary schools and move the fifth-grade into middle school, but what might it mean to the long term financial future of the community as a whole?
“As a city that’s trying to attract new life, new vitality, would parents of young children be attracted to this city and this district knowing that their fifth-graders would have to be mixed in with older children?” Modele asked.
Others questioned the Board’s decision to vote before September, though school officials and trustees alike have said that they want to have the issue settled sooner than later to allow time for students, parents, teachers and other members of the district community to get as comfortable with the changes as possible. More time will also allow details of the plan, like bus routes, programmatic specifics and other elements to be worked out before next September. Still, some said they felt the vote was being rushed.
“Vote no or say we need more time,” said a speaker who declined to identify himself. “What’s the rush to vote August 30th? You’re affecting hundreds and thousands of people’s lives. Who is going to repeal your vote when you’re gone? We’re stuck with your decision.”
Board President Matt McCoy responded that the redistricting issue isn’t new.
“This has been discussed since 2010,” he said. “I don’t believe that this decision is being rushed. This has been an ongoing process that the Board has carried on for at least the last two years.”
Padalino, who joined the district as superintendent in January of this year following the departure of his predecessor, Gerard Gretzinger, also bristled at the notion that the process hasn’t been thoroughly thought out. One speaker on Monday evening criticized the district for moving forward without the input of a committee which included teachers, parents and other members of the community.
“We have gone through extensive public forums and public comment,” Padalino said. “This isn’t something that came out of the blue. This is something the district has been working on for years.”
