To Groton Dunstable School Committee, We the undersigned support an initiative to add one 4th grade unit to the Florence Roche School for school year 2008/2009 instead of adding the same unit to Swallow Union. This would allow current third grade Florence Roche students being re-assigned to Swallow Union to remain for their last year in their school with their current classmates and teachers. It would also allow more continuity for the handful of affected Prescott students, as they would also get to be with their classmates. Research has shown that interrupting primary school education at any point is detrimental in these crucial years and should be avoided. More importantly, in fourth grade with important MCAS testing to be followed by the transition to middle school, it is particularly disruptive. In all other districts* that function at our level or better this provision for older kids has been adhered to without fail. They all grandfather in older kids. We feel that Groton-Dunstable can serve our children better than the current plan. We look forward to working with the school committee and administration to serve our children at the highest possible level. This seems to us like a simple solution to help remedy what has become a difficult situation for families in our district. Sincerely, Reference Districts: Lexington Concord Acton/Boxborough Winchester to name a few

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