Dear Superintendent Bodie and the Arlington School Committee:
We are parents of current Stratton second graders. Our children will be fourth graders during the relocation year of 2016-17. We are very much looking forward to being a part of the renovated Stratton and being active in maintaining our vibrant school community during the relocation year. We are grateful for the hard work of the committee and the building committee in coming up with the best plan for the Stratton building.
However, we are very concerned with the plan to relocate our fourth grade children to the already over capacity Ottoson Middle School. Specifically, we request that you increase the number of modular classrooms at Bishop School to accommodate three Stratton grades and keep two grades at Hardy School. By increasing the number of modular classrooms at Bishop by two and using their computer lab space for the school year an additional grade can be accommodated.
The benefits of this alternative for the fourth grade students include:
· Greater parity with the relocation experiences of their Stratton counterparts and with other Arlington students who were relocated during rebuilding projects. No other school has been asked to use modular classrooms. No other younger grades or students have been asked to go to a middle school campus.
· Opportunity for outdoor physical activity, including a playstructure appropriate for nine and ten year olds
· Having an elementary school experience, with the look and feel of an elementary school building and age appropriate gym, library, art and music facilities
· Access to elementary school staff (social worker, nurse, principal, secretary) who specialize in their age group
· Connection with an elementary school community and community events
· The ability to enjoy the benefits of a school outside of their modular spaces. The Ottoston capacity issue would dictate that the Stratton students housed there would spend the vast majority of their time (including special classes, lunch time and indoor recess) in their classroom. The Ottoson gyms, cafeteria, art & music room will be at full capacity accommodating the 6th-8th graders. The middle school students will get scheduling priority meaning the younger grades would have compromised physical education time, especially during the winter months.
· Fourth grade teachers would have planning time in their classroom while students were at recess, lunch and in special classrooms
· Opportunities to mentor in younger grades (book buddies, etc)
In addition to being in the best interest of the fourth graders, this would also improve the situation at Ottoson for the sixth, seventh and eighth graders and the Stratton fifth graders.
Based on the enrollment projections from October 8, 2014 Ottoson will have 1,273 students in 2016-2017. This is an additional 166 students (a 15% increase) from the current school year population. The plan to add another approximately 136 Stratton 4th and 5th graders would bring the number of students sharing the facility to 1,409 a 27% increase from the 2014-2015 school population.
· Ottoson does not have the scheduling resources for another 136 children to have time in the cafeteria, specialist classrooms, gym, etc. By moving the fourth grade this would cut the burden in half. For example, at projected enrollment there will be twelve clusters rotating into the two gyms, with 7 periods per day that leaves them available for Stratton students for only one period per day.
· Ottoson would still have six modular classrooms, only three of which would be needed for Stratton's fifth grade. Three classrooms would be available to the already over-crowded Ottoson in fall 2016 or to give the 5th grade the additional space they will need for lunch, art, music.
· The already inevitable 15% enrollment jump will worsen an already poor traffic situation on Acton Street and other streets that surround the school. Cutting the number of additional Stratton students and the respective busses in half will reduce the traffic impact to the neighbors, nearby businesses, parents, and faculty. More importantly, it will reduce the dangers of this congestion to the hundreds of middle school walkers in the area each morning and afternoon.
We recognize that there are financial considerations when making a request of this nature. In the Stratton Final Feasibility Report (page 25) the line item for modular classrooms is $400,000. This represents 18 modular units at an average cost of ~ $22,000 per unit. Given that the Bishop and Hardy modulars are designed to be temporary they are likely lower cost compared to the Ottoson modulars. This means that, at most, adding two modulars to Bishop School would represent around $40,000 or less than 0.4% of the total rebuilding budget of $10.3 million. Given the considerations listed above we think this is well worth the increase in cost in a project of this scope and this impact on Stratton students, especially the fourth grade.
Updates
April 7, 2015
The momentum is undeniable. This level of support proves our community prioritizes keeping our children together.
26 Comments
I am also very concerned about plans to provide appropriate recess for 4th graders, and about accommodations for students who currently rely on Mrs. Condon's occupational therapy facilities at Stratton. Will Stratton 4th graders lose access to these services if housed at OMS for a year?
When the Thompson school was being renovated the Stratton School accepted Thompson children. Our rooms were full to capacity. The Thompson children were not turned away. The Thompson children were not relocated to modular classrooms. In fact, the Thompson children were provided a quality education at a quality elementary school. The Stratton children deserve the same opportunity to receive a quality education at a quality elementary school. Our children are under a lot of pressure to learn, and keep pace with all other 4th grade children. They do not need the additional stress of an unpleasant and quite frankly inferior learning environment. I urge Dr. Boddie find a place for our children in a quality elementary school.
When the Thompson school was being renovated the Stratton School accepted Thompson children. Our rooms were full to capacity. The Thompson children were not turned away. The Thompson children were not relocated to modular classrooms. In fact, the Thompson children were provided a quality education at a quality elementary school.
Speaking from 11 years as a Stratton parent, I urge the school committee to consider the accommodations offered to other schools during their rebuilds, which often caused a less than optimal situation at the Stratton. We have happily shared our space when asked. Our children deserve the same consideration. Being asked to use a school building that is designed for older children is not on par with the experience other schools' students have had when they've been relocated.
I agree strongly with everything written in this letter. The 4th grade students must remain at an elementary school in order to receive a quality education. I urge you to place them there and not at the middle school.
Just to clarify: no where in the district's plan does is say that the children at Ottoson would not have recess. The Superintendent said at the meeting that they would have use of the field as well as potentially some asphalt space weather permitting. There will not be a play structure. Physical education as a class and a special period happens in the gym and can happen year round. The gym space at OMS is very tight especially considering enrollment growth. The Superintendent said that middle school students would be scheduled for Physical Education first and then the elementary students would be able to use the gym during the remaining time. We are very concerned that there will be little to no remaining gym time precluding physical activity in a gym which is especially critical in winter months when outdoor recess isn't possible. However, the students at OMS will be allowed out for recess and will be given use of the field for that time.
In her email dated March 26 notifying parents of the relocation plan, Superintendent Bodie says that the classrooms planned for Ottoson will accommodate the expected increase in middle school enrollment in 2017. The choice to use Ottoson for two elementary school grades is based on future classroom needs rather than on providing a quality educational experience. It is outrageous that the district's logistical concerns are taking precedence over its students. Housing the Stratton fourth grade at Ottoson is completely inappropriate. Despite words to the contrary, Ottoson is not a comparable site to any of the six other elementary schools. Fourth graders need access to age-appropriate facilities and resources, such as an elementary library, art and music rooms, a playground, and professionals and educators trained in their age group. Classrooms at Ottoson would not fill the social, emotional, or wellness needs of fourth graders and would require nine- and ten-year-olds to spend the majority of their time in one room for an entire school year. They will be deprived of experiencing a school community and isolated from other elementary-aged students. This is NOT an acceptable learning environment and is clearly subpar to the experience that all other Arlington fourth graders will be given. Our children – who have warmly welcomed other students into our space and community – should not have to sacrifice their education and well-being because of the district’s enrollment issues. The location for the Stratton community must be reconsidered with our students as the top priority.
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Dear Superintendent Bodie and the Arlington School Committee:
We are parents of current Stratton second graders. Our children will be fourth graders during the relocation year of 2016-17. We are very much looking forward to being a part of the renovated Stratton and being active in maintaining our vibrant school community during the relocation year. We are grateful for the hard work of the committee and the building committee in coming up with the best plan for the Stratton building.
However, we are very concerned with the plan to relocate our fourth grade children to the already over capacity Ottoson Middle School. Specifically, we request that you increase the number of modular classrooms at Bishop School to accommodate three Stratton grades and keep two grades at Hardy School. By increasing the number of modular classrooms at Bishop by two and using their computer lab space for the school year an additional grade can be accommodated.
The benefits of this alternative for the fourth grade students include:
· Greater parity with the relocation experiences of their Stratton counterparts and with other Arlington students who were relocated during rebuilding projects. No other school has been asked to use modular classrooms. No other younger grades or students have been asked to go to a middle school campus.
· Opportunity for outdoor physical activity, including a playstructure appropriate for nine and ten year olds
· Having an elementary school experience, with the look and feel of an elementary school building and age appropriate gym, library, art and music facilities
· Access to elementary school staff (social worker, nurse, principal, secretary) who specialize in their age group
· Connection with an elementary school community and community events
· The ability to enjoy the benefits of a school outside of their modular spaces. The Ottoston capacity issue would dictate that the Stratton students housed there would spend the vast majority of their time (including special classes, lunch time and indoor recess) in their classroom. The Ottoson gyms, cafeteria, art & music room will be at full capacity accommodating the 6th-8th graders. The middle school students will get scheduling priority meaning the younger grades would have compromised physical education time, especially during the winter months.
· Fourth grade teachers would have planning time in their classroom while students were at recess, lunch and in special classrooms
· Opportunities to mentor in younger grades (book buddies, etc)
In addition to being in the best interest of the fourth graders, this would also improve the situation at Ottoson for the sixth, seventh and eighth graders and the Stratton fifth graders.
Based on the enrollment projections from October 8, 2014 Ottoson will have 1,273 students in 2016-2017. This is an additional 166 students (a 15% increase) from the current school year population. The plan to add another approximately 136 Stratton 4th and 5th graders would bring the number of students sharing the facility to 1,409 a 27% increase from the 2014-2015 school population.
· Ottoson does not have the scheduling resources for another 136 children to have time in the cafeteria, specialist classrooms, gym, etc. By moving the fourth grade this would cut the burden in half. For example, at projected enrollment there will be twelve clusters rotating into the two gyms, with 7 periods per day that leaves them available for Stratton students for only one period per day.
· Ottoson would still have six modular classrooms, only three of which would be needed for Stratton's fifth grade. Three classrooms would be available to the already over-crowded Ottoson in fall 2016 or to give the 5th grade the additional space they will need for lunch, art, music.
· The already inevitable 15% enrollment jump will worsen an already poor traffic situation on Acton Street and other streets that surround the school. Cutting the number of additional Stratton students and the respective busses in half will reduce the traffic impact to the neighbors, nearby businesses, parents, and faculty. More importantly, it will reduce the dangers of this congestion to the hundreds of middle school walkers in the area each morning and afternoon.
We recognize that there are financial considerations when making a request of this nature. In the Stratton Final Feasibility Report (page 25) the line item for modular classrooms is $400,000. This represents 18 modular units at an average cost of ~ $22,000 per unit. Given that the Bishop and Hardy modulars are designed to be temporary they are likely lower cost compared to the Ottoson modulars. This means that, at most, adding two modulars to Bishop School would represent around $40,000 or less than 0.4% of the total rebuilding budget of $10.3 million. Given the considerations listed above we think this is well worth the increase in cost in a project of this scope and this impact on Stratton students, especially the fourth grade.
Updates
April 7, 2015
The momentum is undeniable. This level of support proves our community prioritizes keeping our children together.
26 Comments
I am deeply concerned to put the fourth grade kids into Ottason Middle school. Those kids would lost not only recess time, but also the connection with their elementary peers. Please make a plan that's beneficial for those kids
I am also very concerned about plans to provide appropriate recess for 4th graders, and about accommodations for students who currently rely on Mrs. Condon's occupational therapy facilities at Stratton. Will Stratton 4th graders lose access to these services if housed at OMS for a year?
When the Thompson school was being renovated the Stratton School accepted Thompson children. Our rooms were full to capacity. The Thompson children were not turned away. The Thompson children were not relocated to modular classrooms. In fact, the Thompson children were provided a quality education at a quality elementary school. The Stratton children deserve the same opportunity to receive a quality education at a quality elementary school. Our children are under a lot of pressure to learn, and keep pace with all other 4th grade children. They do not need the additional stress of an unpleasant and quite frankly inferior learning environment. I urge Dr. Boddie find a place for our children in a quality elementary school.
When the Thompson school was being renovated the Stratton School accepted Thompson children. Our rooms were full to capacity. The Thompson children were not turned away. The Thompson children were not relocated to modular classrooms. In fact, the Thompson children were provided a quality education at a quality elementary school.
Speaking from 11 years as a Stratton parent, I urge the school committee to consider the accommodations offered to other schools during their rebuilds, which often caused a less than optimal situation at the Stratton. We have happily shared our space when asked. Our children deserve the same consideration. Being asked to use a school building that is designed for older children is not on par with the experience other schools' students have had when they've been relocated.
I agree strongly with everything written in this letter. The 4th grade students must remain at an elementary school in order to receive a quality education. I urge you to place them there and not at the middle school.
Just to clarify: no where in the district's plan does is say that the children at Ottoson would not have recess. The Superintendent said at the meeting that they would have use of the field as well as potentially some asphalt space weather permitting. There will not be a play structure. Physical education as a class and a special period happens in the gym and can happen year round. The gym space at OMS is very tight especially considering enrollment growth. The Superintendent said that middle school students would be scheduled for Physical Education first and then the elementary students would be able to use the gym during the remaining time. We are very concerned that there will be little to no remaining gym time precluding physical activity in a gym which is especially critical in winter months when outdoor recess isn't possible. However, the students at OMS will be allowed out for recess and will be given use of the field for that time.
In her email dated March 26 notifying parents of the relocation plan, Superintendent Bodie says that the classrooms planned for Ottoson will accommodate the expected increase in middle school enrollment in 2017. The choice to use Ottoson for two elementary school grades is based on future classroom needs rather than on providing a quality educational experience. It is outrageous that the district's logistical concerns are taking precedence over its students. Housing the Stratton fourth grade at Ottoson is completely inappropriate. Despite words to the contrary, Ottoson is not a comparable site to any of the six other elementary schools. Fourth graders need access to age-appropriate facilities and resources, such as an elementary library, art and music rooms, a playground, and professionals and educators trained in their age group. Classrooms at Ottoson would not fill the social, emotional, or wellness needs of fourth graders and would require nine- and ten-year-olds to spend the majority of their time in one room for an entire school year. They will be deprived of experiencing a school community and isolated from other elementary-aged students. This is NOT an acceptable learning environment and is clearly subpar to the experience that all other Arlington fourth graders will be given. Our children – who have warmly welcomed other students into our space and community – should not have to sacrifice their education and well-being because of the district’s enrollment issues. The location for the Stratton community must be reconsidered with our students as the top priority.
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I am deeply concerned to put the fourth grade kids into Ottason Middle school. Those kids would lost not only recess time, but also the connection with their elementary peers. Please make a plan that's beneficial for those kids