Parent of 1st grader at Narragansett plus two younger children
K
Kristen DuShane
8 years ago
I have a son at GF who will be in 3rd grade next year and a daughter entering Kindergarten. We moved just prior to my son entering kindergarten in 2015 to the GF district. Having them both be in different schools, with potential drop off and pick up time issues for both will be virtually impossible in terms of scheduling their activities after school. This is just one of the many issues I see with these 2 options.
A
Ashley Stiles
8 years ago
Imagine having to pick your kids up from separate schools that have the same dismissal time!
G
Gina Marianacci-Gray
8 years ago
A long term solution needs to be presented and commuted to. Stability and community are necessary for children to thrive.
R
Rebecca Coleman
8 years ago
I have one child in kindergarten and he goes to Narragansett. We live very close to the school. I want him to stay at that school until he is ready for the next level. I support the idea of portable class rooms for the growing numbers of students.
S
Susan Grygiel
8 years ago
The current configuation works best from my view point having been in the school system long enough to have been through other configurations. Lots of work has been done on this and we should go with the committee recommendation.
S
Susan Adolf
8 years ago
I do not believe that this is in the best interests of K-5 kids.
A
Anonymous
8 years ago
I support recommendations by Reconfiguration Committee!
L
Lacey Rollins
8 years ago
We purchased our home 2 years ago, specifically choosing the Great Falls area. We do not support any changes to zoning. Nor do I support the changing of start times, as a parent, and as a former first grade teacher. I do not feel this change would be in the best interest of children, or families.
L
Laura Fiorito
8 years ago
Featured
We purchased our home in Gorham so our daughters could attend Great Falls, not so they’d be required to change schools every two years. Bouncing between five different schools from K-12 is ridiculous. We have to come up with a better solution.
D
Dorene Mills
8 years ago
Featured
I support keeping the schools neighborhood based. My daughter will start kindergarten in the fall, but she would be separated from her brother who will be in 4th grade. Not only will she not have her big brother to support her, but with siblings at 2 different schools, that puts a strain on parents as well. Please keep the schools neighborhood based.
J
Joyce Donald
8 years ago
Only a thoughtful thorough exploration of options involving all stake holders will result in the best solution.
C
Catherine Paul
8 years ago
I support keeping things the way they are currently configured until a longer-term, creative solution is found.
L
Leigh sellick
8 years ago
I just feel that we should look who was on the committee who made the recommendation that we should add portables is the best solution then the school committee should make every attempt to try to make that happen. They are the principals, teachers and everyone with the children’s best interest in mind. I know we need to address the high school. That school has needed improvements for years and have been put off for the middle school and great falls. We do need to address the high school. It will take years before a new school or improvements can be implemented. It is important for that to start.
H
Heather Trahan
8 years ago
Featured
My daughter is a 1st grader at Narragansett this sounds awful to take 2nd and 3rd graders and break them up. She is scared she'll lose her friends. She is comfortable with her surroundings, fruends , faculty plus she recieves special help with multiple subjects aND speech. Would she be placed with new teachers for extra help . This would affect her IEP plan. Please keep our children where they are at the schools they are with the friends and faculty they are happy and thriving at.
A
Amey Lewin
8 years ago
I support the current configuration.
J
Jennifer scarborough
8 years ago
Students need continuity. The only solution should be one that is well thought out and slowly transitioned towards only affecting incoming kiddos, not those currently established in a school.
M
Michael Lewin
8 years ago
The plan favored by the committee completely abandons the subcommittee recommendation we maintain neighborhood schools. It's a naive attempt at marginal cost savings, while we consider spending 1/3 of the school budget on debt service to a new High School. From an educational perspective, in a town of this size, it is absurd to bus children aged 4-11 across town and transition them into 3 different schools over a 6 year period. From a financial standpoint, the plan to reorganize and bus our elementary children all over the district fails to consider increased bus maintenance and replacement costs, increased staffing costs, and increased fuel costs down the road. It is a short-sighted bandaid! Meanwhile, we have a middle school and high school with combined capacities capable of handling our growth -- yet a 60 million dollar capital project that will consume 1/3 of our school budget to finance is on the table. If our committee as a whole values educational excellence and fiscal responsibility, they should follow the guidance of our reorganization subcommittee and rethink their priorities as a whole.
R
Rebecca Carr
8 years ago
Petition to keep schools in current configuration until a more permanent fix.
S
Sarah Rimkunas
8 years ago
Featured
I am very unhappy with the lack of attention being paid to the efforts of the subcommittee of experts about our children's education. Scientific evidence does NOT support multiple transitions. Furthermore, changing the configuration does nothing to address the long term growth needs.
Parent of 1st grader at Narragansett plus two younger children
I have a son at GF who will be in 3rd grade next year and a daughter entering Kindergarten. We moved just prior to my son entering kindergarten in 2015 to the GF district. Having them both be in different schools, with potential drop off and pick up time issues for both will be virtually impossible in terms of scheduling their activities after school. This is just one of the many issues I see with these 2 options.
Imagine having to pick your kids up from separate schools that have the same dismissal time!
A long term solution needs to be presented and commuted to. Stability and community are necessary for children to thrive.
I have one child in kindergarten and he goes to Narragansett. We live very close to the school. I want him to stay at that school until he is ready for the next level. I support the idea of portable class rooms for the growing numbers of students.
The current configuation works best from my view point having been in the school system long enough to have been through other configurations. Lots of work has been done on this and we should go with the committee recommendation.
I do not believe that this is in the best interests of K-5 kids.
I support recommendations by Reconfiguration Committee!
We purchased our home 2 years ago, specifically choosing the Great Falls area. We do not support any changes to zoning. Nor do I support the changing of start times, as a parent, and as a former first grade teacher. I do not feel this change would be in the best interest of children, or families.
We purchased our home in Gorham so our daughters could attend Great Falls, not so they’d be required to change schools every two years. Bouncing between five different schools from K-12 is ridiculous. We have to come up with a better solution.
I support keeping the schools neighborhood based. My daughter will start kindergarten in the fall, but she would be separated from her brother who will be in 4th grade. Not only will she not have her big brother to support her, but with siblings at 2 different schools, that puts a strain on parents as well. Please keep the schools neighborhood based.
Only a thoughtful thorough exploration of options involving all stake holders will result in the best solution.
I support keeping things the way they are currently configured until a longer-term, creative solution is found.
I just feel that we should look who was on the committee who made the recommendation that we should add portables is the best solution then the school committee should make every attempt to try to make that happen. They are the principals, teachers and everyone with the children’s best interest in mind. I know we need to address the high school. That school has needed improvements for years and have been put off for the middle school and great falls. We do need to address the high school. It will take years before a new school or improvements can be implemented. It is important for that to start.
My daughter is a 1st grader at Narragansett this sounds awful to take 2nd and 3rd graders and break them up. She is scared she'll lose her friends. She is comfortable with her surroundings, fruends , faculty plus she recieves special help with multiple subjects aND speech. Would she be placed with new teachers for extra help . This would affect her IEP plan. Please keep our children where they are at the schools they are with the friends and faculty they are happy and thriving at.
I support the current configuration.
Students need continuity. The only solution should be one that is well thought out and slowly transitioned towards only affecting incoming kiddos, not those currently established in a school.
The plan favored by the committee completely abandons the subcommittee recommendation we maintain neighborhood schools. It's a naive attempt at marginal cost savings, while we consider spending 1/3 of the school budget on debt service to a new High School. From an educational perspective, in a town of this size, it is absurd to bus children aged 4-11 across town and transition them into 3 different schools over a 6 year period. From a financial standpoint, the plan to reorganize and bus our elementary children all over the district fails to consider increased bus maintenance and replacement costs, increased staffing costs, and increased fuel costs down the road. It is a short-sighted bandaid! Meanwhile, we have a middle school and high school with combined capacities capable of handling our growth -- yet a 60 million dollar capital project that will consume 1/3 of our school budget to finance is on the table. If our committee as a whole values educational excellence and fiscal responsibility, they should follow the guidance of our reorganization subcommittee and rethink their priorities as a whole.
Petition to keep schools in current configuration until a more permanent fix.
I am very unhappy with the lack of attention being paid to the efforts of the subcommittee of experts about our children's education. Scientific evidence does NOT support multiple transitions. Furthermore, changing the configuration does nothing to address the long term growth needs.