Published in the February 28, 2018 edition
By DAN TOMASELLO
LYNNFIELD — The Board of Selectmen and School Committee have come together to form a new committee tasked with gathering data on school enrollment and developing an action plan.
The selectmen voted unanimously to create the School Enrollment and Capacity Exploration Committee (SECEC) on Monday. The newly formed committee was proposed by selectmen Chairman Chris Barrett and supported by the School Committee. School Committee Chairman Tim Doyle and School Committeeman Rich Sjoberg attended the meeting to show their support for the new initiative.
The School Enrollment and Capacity Exploration Committee was formed in the wake of learning the School Department needing to add an additional first grade class at Summer Street School for 2018-2019 due to 91 kindergarteners already enrolled at the elementary school for next year. As a result, the School Department was forced to eliminate the Preschool Extended Day (PREDS) program next year. The decision to eliminate PREDS sparked a backlash from local parents.
Barrett noted school officials discussed “some of the challenges they are experiencing with space because of enrollment” when Superintendent Jane Tremblay presented the School Department’s proposed fiscal year 2019 budget to the selectmen at the end of January. After the presentation, Barrett reached out to Doyle about forming the new committee. Selectman Phil Crawford discussed the issue with Doyle as well.
“We thought it would be prudent for us to be proactive to make sure we provide the very best for our students in and out of the classroom,” said Barrett.
The School Enrollment and Capacity Exploration Committee will be comprised of Tremblay, Town Administrator Rob Dolan, DPW Director John Tomasz, one selectman, one School Committee member, one member of the Capital Facilities Advisory Committee (CFAC) and one member of the Finance Committee. The SECEC will also feature two parents and one community member, all three of whom will be appointed by the Board of Selectmen.
Barrett noted two new Main Street developments have been proposed, including the redevelopment of the Sagamore Spring Golf Course. He also said a new apartment building on Route 1 will be opening in the near future.
“This committee will take a look at this issue if space continues to be a challenge due to developments or other issues,” said Barrett. “We want to have the most effective education for our students and space should not be an issue. Hopefully this committee will help us work together as a team to meet the challenge.”
Selectman Dick Dalton expressed his support for the creation of the new committee, but proposed making a minor amendment to Barrett’s suggested mission statement.
“The School Committee, superintendent and (school) administration are the ones charged with the educational issues,” said Dalton. “I look at our charge on the town side as being prepared for future capital expenditures. There is nothing in the 10-year Capital Plan for the School Department whatsoever.”
Crawford expressed his support for the creation of the SECEC.
“I have been looking at this issue for the past couple of weeks now,” said Crawford. “It is certainly something known by the School Committee and School Department, and it’s a concern of theirs as well as ours. I think it’s a worthwhile endeavor to take a look at this, get ahead of it and be proactive instead of reactive.”
Doyle agreed.
“As I said to you folks at our budget presentation, I would say it’s an issue,” said Doyle. “I wouldn’t say we are in crisis mode yet, but it’s something we have to start to address.”
While the increase in enrollment has had an impact on Summer Street School, Doyle said the new apartment building opening on Route 1 South has the potential to increase enrollment at Huckleberry Hill School.
“Route 1 is the wild card,” said Doyle. “Although this started out as a Summer Street issue, I am pretty confident that we need to include both elementary schools in this analysis. The due diligence that this committee will do and bring back to both the School Department and the selectmen will provide us the necessary data to react. It may not be isolated to one school. It may be the addition of classrooms or it may be redistricting. There is a whole host of solutions out there that need to be considered before we go to the town and say we need money to do something for the schools.”
Doyle said he appreciated the selectmen working with the School Committee in forming the new committee.
“I look forward to seeing what comes about,” said Doyle. “If we have to hang on tight for one year, we will hang on tight for one year. I talked to Superintendent Tremblay about that and we have some ways to maneuver around it for one more year. But if it continues to grow, we are going to have to react pretty quickly the following year. As I said to folks at our last School Committee meeting, enrollment is wildly erratic. You can’t attach yourself to any trends except for one. If you have a kindergarten class moving to first grade, typically you get a 10 percent increase in enrollment from kindergarten to first grade. That includes both elementary schools.”
Doyle said the school board will work with the selectmen “to get the best group possible that represents this entire community.”
“As we have seen in the past, there are folks who will step up and come up with excellent solutions,” said Doyle. “Thank you for helping us out.”
Barrett concurred with Doyle’s viewpoint.
“I think this is a great committee to have up and running to meet those challenges for Lynnfield Public Schools and the town of Lynnfield,” said Barrett.