by Loumarie I. Rodriguez
BRIDGEWATER — Tensions were running high between the Region 12 Superintendent of Schools Dr. Patricia Cosentino and residents at an information session on Thursday, February 6, regarding designs for a consolidated Pre-K to Grade 5 elementary school.
Residents piled into the gymnasium at Burnham School to see a presentation from Fletcher-Thompson and ARCADIS about designs for a proposed consolidated elementary school for the region.
The companies’ representatives also did a presentation on repairs that need to be done at Shepaug Valley Middle High School.
Dr. Cosentino explained to residents that the region’s population is decreasing and its education costs per child is three times the state average.
“I will never dispute our elementary schools are excellent,” said Dr. Cosentino. “There is no doubt, but we are not cost-efficient.”
An earlier plan to address the region’s high costs was to make Booth Free School in Roxbury a kindergarten through Grade 2 facility and Burnham School a Grades 3 through 5 building.
Dr. Cosentino said that plan was set aside because it did not address the decreasing population issue.
When a few residents accused Dr. Cosentino of personally dismissing that plan, she clarified she does not have that kind of power.
The superintendent repeated that the earlier option did not meet the Region 12 goal of “maintaining a well-balanced classroom population…and efficient, appropriate and cost effective facilities and space usage…”
“You would still have all three buildings, all the staff and now you have an increase in buses; then you have to go back and forth in between towns,” said Dr. Cosentino. “That is why it was not an option.”
She explained a new consolidated elementary school will be state of the art and 15 minutes away from Bridgewater.
However, residents would not hear about the advantages the new school could bring, insisting they want to keep the doors open at Burnham School.
Residents kept asking for numbers and estimates for the cost of the new school.
Both Dr. Cosentino and board member Peter Tagley clarified the information session was only to show potential schemes and design plans for the consolidated school.
Dan Casinelli, a principal at Fletcher-Thompson, told residents the firm is currently trying to gather information to create a design that will satisfy everyone’s needs.
But residents wanted to see a side-by-side comparison of running one school versus three schools.
Others urged region officials not to fix a system that is not broken.
“What I’m trying to do is represent the Board of Education, share the facts and do what’s best for the kids,” said Dr. Cosentino. “We will have the numbers. We need to go through this process [the design information session].”
Julie Stuart, co-chair of Save Our Schools, said residents of Bridgewater were trying to be respectful, but they are not interested in the designs.
Ms. Stuart said Burnham School is a school of distinction and the community needs to talk more about how good the education is in the region in order to attract people.
“We are sweeping all of the good things under the rug because you want this,” said Ms. Stuart. “That is very upsetting.”
Many residents at the presentation made it clear to Dr. Cosentino and Board of Education members they are not interested in a new, consolidated elementary school for the region.
They accused the superintendent of attempting to push her own agenda for the region.
Dr. Cosentino defended herself, reminding there are only about 64 students at Burnham School, the smallest elementary school population in the region.
“My agenda is to do what’s best for the children of this region and the communities of this region,” said Dr. Cosentino. “I have no other agenda. I’m trying to help you for the next 40 to 50 years and that’s what I’m trying to do.”
She said when she originally started in Region 12 (in July, 2012), there were 860 students in the region. By 2014, the region has lost 60 students, showing the decreasing enrollment is happening fast.
“The way we are right now we are not attracting families to the region,” said Dr. Cosentino. “There is too much uncertainty. I can tell you families do not want to move in to schools with six to seven kids in a class.”
According to a study done for the region, projections for 2023 to 2024 report 26 students at Burnham, 56 at Booth Free, 78 at Washington Primary, 112 in the middle school and 161 in the high school.
The September 2014 kindergarten class shows 11 students registered at Booth Free, nine at Washington Primary and four at Burnham School.
Residents questioned Dr. Cosentino regarding the placement of the elementary school; they did not like the fact their children will be on buses for a longer period of time.
The superintendent explained the new school would be built on the Shepaug campus because the region already owns the property, which costs less than buying other property.
Another problem addressed was linking together the Shepaug repairs and the consolidation under one question for the ballot.
Dr. Cosentino said the idea behind that was to solve the goal for the region.
“If people just vote to fix the high school and not build a new school, then you now have increased your costs and have the same problems,” Dr. Cosentino said.
Board member Alan Brown asked if the subject could be discussed at the next Board of Education meeting. He is worried a link question could lead to trouble and the possibility of having two referendums to repair the high school.
Dr. Cosentino responded that the region is on a very tight schedule, but suggested bring up his concerns to the board.
She said the Board of Education is aiming to have the referendum on Tuesday, April 8.
Carolan Dwyer, co-chair of Save Our Schools, said SOS is confident that the people of Bridgewater are not going to change the regional plan. SOS would like to see creative solutions for the decreasing population.
In order to market the town better, Burnham School is starting an after-school program in order to bring kids in.
“It’s the heart of the town and it’s key to the town’s viability,” said Ms. Dwyer. “It’s very important as a draw for families to keep it in the center of the town.”
She said residents are concerned about their property values. She said the talk of the state stepping in is an idle threat. She wants to see other options and the group does not respond to threats.
Ms. Stuart said they have hired a videographer who could help market the town better and are looking into partnering with Booth Free School to make classes more equal.
“We have an outstanding, highly educated group of kids here,” said Ms. Stuart. “We don’t have a plan for re-purposing.
“We already have a senior center, town hall, so it would be another burden on taxpayers. It would cost too much to build a new school when we already have declining enrollment. It doesn’t make a lot of sense.”
The information session was to be on Tuesday, February 11, at Roxbury Town Hall.
Residents piled into the gymnasium at Burnham School to see a presentation from Fletcher-Thompson and ARCADIS about designs for a proposed consolidated elementary school for the region.
The companies’ representatives also did a presentation on repairs that need to be done at Shepaug Valley Middle High School.
Dr. Cosentino explained to residents that the region’s population is decreasing and its education costs per child is three times the state average.
An earlier plan to address the region’s high costs was to make Booth Free School in Roxbury a kindergarten through Grade 2 facility and Burnham School a Grades 3 through 5 building.
Dr. Cosentino said that plan was set aside because it did not address the decreasing population issue.
When a few residents accused Dr. Cosentino of personally dismissing that plan, she clarified she does not have that kind of power.
The superintendent repeated that the earlier option did not meet the Region 12 goal of “maintaining a well-balanced classroom population…and efficient, appropriate and cost effective facilities and space usage…”
“You would still have all three buildings, all the staff and now you have an increase in buses; then you have to go back and forth in between towns,” said Dr. Cosentino. “That is why it was not an option.”
She explained a new consolidated elementary school will be state of the art and 15 minutes away from Bridgewater.
However, residents would not hear about the advantages the new school could bring, insisting they want to keep the doors open at Burnham School.
Residents kept asking for numbers and estimates for the cost of the new school.
Both Dr. Cosentino and board member Peter Tagley clarified the information session was only to show potential schemes and design plans for the consolidated school.
Dan Casinelli, a principal at Fletcher-Thompson, told residents the firm is currently trying to gather information to create a design that will satisfy everyone’s needs.
But residents wanted to see a side-by-side comparison of running one school versus three schools.
Others urged region officials not to fix a system that is not broken.
“What I’m trying to do is represent the Board of Education, share the facts and do what’s best for the kids,” said Dr. Cosentino. “We will have the numbers. We need to go through this process [the design information session].”
Julie Stuart, co-chair of Save Our Schools, said residents of Bridgewater were trying to be respectful, but they are not interested in the designs.
Ms. Stuart said Burnham School is a school of distinction and the community needs to talk more about how good the education is in the region in order to attract people.
“We are sweeping all of the good things under the rug because you want this,” said Ms. Stuart. “That is very upsetting.”
Many residents at the presentation made it clear to Dr. Cosentino and Board of Education members they are not interested in a new, consolidated elementary school for the region.
They accused the superintendent of attempting to push her own agenda for the region.
Dr. Cosentino defended herself, reminding there are only about 64 students at Burnham School, the smallest elementary school population in the region.
“My agenda is to do what’s best for the children of this region and the communities of this region,” said Dr. Cosentino. “I have no other agenda. I’m trying to help you for the next 40 to 50 years and that’s what I’m trying to do.”
She said when she originally started in Region 12 (in July, 2012), there were 860 students in the region. By 2014, the region has lost 60 students, showing the decreasing enrollment is happening fast.
“The way we are right now we are not attracting families to the region,” said Dr. Cosentino. “There is too much uncertainty. I can tell you families do not want to move in to schools with six to seven kids in a class.”
According to a study done for the region, projections for 2023 to 2024 report 26 students at Burnham, 56 at Booth Free, 78 at Washington Primary, 112 in the middle school and 161 in the high school.
The September 2014 kindergarten class shows 11 students registered at Booth Free, nine at Washington Primary and four at Burnham School.
Residents questioned Dr. Cosentino regarding the placement of the elementary school; they did not like the fact their children will be on buses for a longer period of time.
The superintendent explained the new school would be built on the Shepaug campus because the region already owns the property, which costs less than buying other property.
Another problem addressed was linking together the Shepaug repairs and the consolidation under one question for the ballot.
Dr. Cosentino said the idea behind that was to solve the goal for the region.
“If people just vote to fix the high school and not build a new school, then you now have increased your costs and have the same problems,” Dr. Cosentino said.
Board member Alan Brown asked if the subject could be discussed at the next Board of Education meeting. He is worried a link question could lead to trouble and the possibility of having two referendums to repair the high school.
Dr. Cosentino responded that the region is on a very tight schedule, but suggested bring up his concerns to the board.
She said the Board of Education is aiming to have the referendum on Tuesday, April 8.
Carolan Dwyer, co-chair of Save Our Schools, said SOS is confident that the people of Bridgewater are not going to change the regional plan. SOS would like to see creative solutions for the decreasing population.
In order to market the town better, Burnham School is starting an after-school program in order to bring kids in.
“It’s the heart of the town and it’s key to the town’s viability,” said Ms. Dwyer. “It’s very important as a draw for families to keep it in the center of the town.”
She said residents are concerned about their property values. She said the talk of the state stepping in is an idle threat. She wants to see other options and the group does not respond to threats.
Ms. Stuart said they have hired a videographer who could help market the town better and are looking into partnering with Booth Free School to make classes more equal.
“We have an outstanding, highly educated group of kids here,” said Ms. Stuart. “We don’t have a plan for re-purposing.
“We already have a senior center, town hall, so it would be another burden on taxpayers. It would cost too much to build a new school when we already have declining enrollment. It doesn’t make a lot of sense.”
The information session was to be on Tuesday, February 11, at Roxbury Town Hall.
