Letter: Does the school district have a communication issue?

Posted 9/13/17

To the editor:

Does anyone else think they school district/committee has a bit of a communication issue?  

The emails and newsletters flow fast and furious for the good (awards and …

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Letter: Does the school district have a communication issue?

Posted

To the editor:

Does anyone else think they school district/committee has a bit of a communication issue?  

The emails and newsletters flow fast and furious for the good (awards and rankings) or when the district needs community support (BMS project). But when the news could be perceived as controversial or bad, outreach is delayed, glossed over or under-explained.  

A prime example of this is the recent issue over class sizes at Primrose Hill. As of Aug. 7, the documentation shared with the school committee showed the third grade class budgeted at four classes for 76 students. Placement letters were mailed out on Aug. 18, but made no mention of the reduction in the number of classes. 

The class size reduction wasn’t mentioned explicitly until a letter from Mr. Messore was shared with parents one business day before classes. The district’s explanation was that 76 students doesn’t warrant a fourth teacher.  Understandable…except for the fact that last year, 76 students in second grade did warrant the addition of a fourth teacher.  

Put it simply: 2016-17—76 students = four classes; 2017-18—76 students = three classes.  

It is also worth mentioning that the latest enrollment data shared with the public shows the kindergarten population at 68, which warranted expansion to a fourth class. The district and committee owe parents a better explanation for the lack of consistency and the reasoning behind last year’s expansion and this year’s contraction.  

In last week’s Barrington Times, Mr. Messore is quoted as saying that how the data was presented “…should not have been taken as an indication to how classes would be organized.” While that may be true, nowhere was that disclaimer indicated—another example of how information communication can be improved. It is hard to see how presenting information in such a fashion would not lead someone to the conclusion that third grade would have four teachers, especially with the prior year's precedent setting addition of a fourth teacher for the same number of students.

And to say that the reduction was the result of shifting FTEs to allow for expansion of the kindergarten class shows a lack of planning and foresight on the part of the administration. It was known back in April that there were already 60 kindergarteners registered for the 2017-18 school year. And that was before prime moving season that typically bumps up Barrington’s student population. Barring a shocking change, expanding to four kindergarten classes was inevitable, and yet there was a failure to budget for the additional position. But clearly the district prefers to solve traffic problems (via the new access road) rather than pursue optimal student-teacher ratios.

Mr. Messore’s letter to parents stated that ratios at Primrose were “only slightly higher (1 or 2 students)…” than elsewhere in the district. First, that doesn’t appear to be correct at least according to the Aug. 7 enrollment information. Primrose third grade classrooms are 2-3 students higher than others, which have 22-23 students. Secondly, it comes across as harsh and terribly dismissive — it would be less so if class sizes were less than 20 kids. Harder to hear and stomach when you’re talking numbers of 25-26. If those numbers have changed dramatically since the Aug. 7 meeting, then by all means share that information with the public!

Perhaps 25-26 students per class is reasonable for acceptable learning (the science says otherwise — check out www.centerforpubliceducation.org — and as we know from the school start time debate, the district and committee believe that science should be implemented regardless of consequences or cost).  

I have complete faith that the quality of the Barrington teachers will provide an excellent education to students regardless of class size. A bigger question is whether it is safe and healthy (two primary issues for the committee according to public statements) to have 25 students plus staff in a room the size of those third grade class rooms. Animal welfare organizations have minimum space requirements for dog day cares and kenneling. It is unlikely they would allow 25 similar sized dogs in a space resembling the class rooms at Primrose.  

My challenge for the district and school committee — move the administration staff into one of those classrooms for a week and see how effectively they can do their job.

And it is worthwhile to remind the district and the school committee of the number one item in their Standards and Norms statement: Remember always that our first and greatest concern must be the educational welfare of all students attending the public schools.

While I do not expect the class size situation to change this academic year, it is worthwhile to encourage the district to look carefully at how it communicates less positive information and how it presents information shared with the public.  

The district and school committee owe it to the students, parents and taxpayers to increase the transparency of their decision-making process and to communicate that information in a detailed and timely fashion.

Jason Leigh

Barrington

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Jim McGaw

A lifelong Portsmouth resident, Jim graduated from Portsmouth High School in 1982 and earned a journalism degree from the University of Rhode Island in 1986. He's worked two different stints at East Bay Newspapers, for a total of 18 years with the company so far. When not running all over town bringing you the news from Portsmouth, Jim listens to lots and lots and lots of music, watches obscure silent films from the '20s and usually has three books going at once. He also loves to cook crazy New Orleans dishes for his wife of 25 years, Michelle, and their two sons, Jake and Max.