With overcrowding in many Newton elementary schools — and increased capacity soon to be developed in some of them (Angier, Zervas, Cabot) — the School Committee has created the Student Assignment Working Group to analyze elementary school districts and propose alternatives for revising district boundaries to better balance school populations. It’s never easy, and there are a lot of competing needs to consider.
At the March 26 School Committee meeting, the SAWG and its consultant presented four preliminary scenarios (PDF) for discussion. (See NewTV’s video of the meeting here.) The SAWG’s draft criteria for evaluating scenarios are listed here. The SAWG continues to develop additional scenarios, and the School Committee is seeking public feedback, including through a public hearing yet to be scheduled.
Slide 4 of the SAWG presentation shows how our elementary school populations have grown over the last ten years (highest to lowest):
Lincoln-Eliot: 47%, Burr: 35%, Mason-Rice: 31%, Horace Mann: 29%, Bowen: 27%, Underwood: 24%, Cabot: 17%, Ward: 16%, Angier: 11%, Williams: 11%, Zervas: 8%, Franklin: 7%, Peirce: 7%, Countryside: 4%, Memorial Spaulding: 2%
That’s a lot of north-side and east-side growth. Some question the rationale for the upcoming >50% expansion of Zervas on its small (but soon to be expanded) lot — in part because of the significant transportation issues and changes in school boundaries that must be addressed for Zervas to relieve overcrowding in other areas. Nevertheless, the School Committee has made it clear that with regard to the Zervas project, as we say in Newton, “that train has left the station.” Not like this, I hope.
Before they redistrict they should make sure that all the kids enrolled in the NPS live in Newton. They should make sure that all the kids that say they live in Newton so they can go to the NPS physically live in the city.
And regarding Metco – if there is such an increase in our school system than why are we not phasing out or freezing enrollment of the Metco Program? Or are we not allowed to ask that question?
And Lincoln Eliot – where did increase come from? Was a new development put in Nonantum? Or maybe the NPS should make sure that all those kids that say they live in Newton really do live in Newton.
For the past several months, three or four of my fellow Newton Highlands Area Council members have been raising concerns about some potentially adverse impacts of an enlarged Zervas on overcrowding and the redrawing of school districts. I don’t pretend to be an expert on this, but I’m glad Bruce posted this item because there’s a lot of talk going on about this off the blogs.
Nice link (“not like this”) Bruce. Love that image
@ Joanne,
Where’s your heart ?!!!!
Re north side population increase,.. Aint that where all this new ‘ affordable’ housing is being built?
Crescent Street ? And soon to come on the market Court Street, Rowe Street, Austin Street, Turtle Lane?
This is the housing advocates dumping ground for special permits, 40b projects etc. its also apart from Oak HilL Park the only place left for younger ( read poorer ) starters to settle !
Maybe I’m missing something, but I didn’t see anything in any of the 4 scenarios that would help the two schools with the highest growth, Lincoln-Elliot and Burr.
Tricia,
You are absolutely correct.
Zervas creates capacity. Adds ~180 new seats for ~$40M.
It’s a project which will create more problems than it will fix.
The added seats it creates cost about $220K each.
Puts capacity far from where the growth is so, multiple redistricting efforts have to be completed.
Much pain for kids and families.
Added buses – much money.
Expands the assistant principal model for elementary schools. Another $100K/year/school.
Imagine if instead of the Zervas juggernaut, we said: “Let’s simply expand our smaller schools: Zervas, Peirce, Ward, Williams, Lincoln-Eliot, Ward to 400-425 which is educationally sound and doesn’t require assistant principals.”
The cost per seat is about $100K. What a savings! 55% less than the Zervas project!
We could do 6 smaller scale expansions, expanding capacity by 660 for about the same amount of money as the Zervas project.
Because the added capacity is more spread out and closer to where the growth actually is, it would be much more effective. Even if population growth differs from current projects, it would handle variations with much greater ease..
Flexibility, lower cost per added seat, no redistricting effort needed, just buffer zone adjustments, no added busing, walkable schools, less bureaucracy.
Why not take this easier, better value route?
Can a better solution win over the Zervas juggernaut?
Seriously, is there anyone out there who still has confidence in this School Committee? In my opinion, they are a collection of incompetent, scofflaw liars. They are a crystal clear example of why we need a recall provision in the City Charter. Throw the bums out!!!
Geoff, don’t worry, the School Committee plans to expand Ward, Williams, Lincoln-Eliot and Pierce between 2019 and 2023, which will add nearly $120 Million to Newton’s outstanding debt.
Maybe I’m not thinking about this correctly, but wouldn’t one want to work out a redistricting plan before committing over $100 million on new buildings, particularly to dramatically increase the capacity of one of them? Seems like we are cutting before measuring.
Helloooo !
Where is all this pressure for expansion coming from ??
Is there an increase in the cities population ??
Why might that be ??
The north side will continue to see growth until the interest rates go up. Then everything changes dramatically as the economy slows.
Once the S.C. received the override approval there was nothing to hold them accountable for spending excesses.
Also we have a newly renovated Carr school which is a surplus facility used as a temporary swing space. That alone relieves future overcrowding on the north side.
The S.C. needs some new leadership. The present duo is living in never-never land. It is not too late to change course. Who is going to step up and turn us around. If Setti fails to see the flaws in their decisions he will never survive as our Mayor much longer.
Newton residents must realize they do have recourse when leaders go astray.
Joanne made a real good point about our out-of-district student programs (METCO, EDCO, Children of Staff etc).
On one hand, Newton will spend $515 Million (from 2014-2033) to add capacity to its school buildings to deal with growing enrollment and is redistricting its existing capacity to mitigate overcrowded classes.
http://www.newtonma.gov/civicax/filebank/blobdload.aspx?BlobID=47049
On the other hand, enrollment by out-of-district students continues to climb at a rate faster than the general student population growth, yet the School Committee refuses to consider phasing out these programs or asking Boston and other communities that send us their kids to pay us for educating their kids in our school system.