At last night’s school committee meeting Citizens Speak was dominated by parents voicing their displeasure with the lottery system as implemented by the schools. At the heart of the problem is a significantly high number of kindergarten students entering the first grade this coming fall. Most of those students attend the Colicott school and more of them want to enroll in the French program than the school can accommodate. Hence if they want to be in the French Program they will need to go to another school. Their home school is not an option.

In fact, French is over enrolled in all the schools but Colicott has the most acute problem. Altogether there are 28 students in the district who want French but cannot attend their home school. This breaks down as follows: 15 from Collicot, 6 from Cunningham, 4 from Glover, and 3 from Tucker.

The administration will accommodate this overflow by creating an auxiliary class which will be at Tucker School because that is where classroom space exists.

Michael Renaud, a parent, presented a proposal that would put the auxiliary class at Cunningham/Collicot in an effort to reduce the disruption to the greatest number of families. He presented two options; one that would put class size at 28 and one at 26 (but require more families to volunteer to go to Cunningham / Collicot).

With the exception of one parent, all who spoke were in favor of the proposal. They also voiced their displeasure with the “fairness” of the lottery. Regarding enrollment, preference was given to students with siblings already in attendance at the home school, second to students who attended kindergarten, and third to students new to the district. Parents took issue with the preference given to siblings. They felt everyone should have been in the lottery.

Superintendent Gormley in addressing the process and decision said that she “never considered putting [siblings] in the lottery.” She said the decision was hers and was based on the options that were presented from the work done by the World Language Committee.

Assistant Superintendent Phelan referred the previous public sessions that were held discussing these options and reminded the group assembled that, “We said there would be a lottery and people would face a choice   .  .  .7% of families need to make that choice”. The choice being whether to attend your home school and enroll in English or go to a different school and enroll in French. The 7% is the percentage affected out of the entire class entering first grade.

School Committee member Mary Kelly voiced her objection to having a choice available at all for entering first grade students. She believes any teaching of a foreign language should be deferred until the end of the 2nd grade. She said that every year people are “asked to move because we have two programs. It is not conducive to building neighborhoods”.

In response to a concern voiced about the transparency of the process, Ms. Gormley stated that all information would be posted online. Students initials would be used and their corresponding lottery number. Parents can call the school with any questions regarding how the lottery was conducted.

In other School Committee business:

• Superintendent Gormley introduced Stephanie Nephew, who will be the new principal at the Glover Elementary School, and Michele Kreuzer, the new department head at the high school for Mathematics, Business, and Technology. Gormley said she couldn’t be more pleased with the appointments. “Your success is our success.” When asked by member Mr. Huban what she believed would be her biggest challenge, Ms. Nephew replied, “Growing relationships with the people. Getting to know that community.” Ms. Nephew cited the strong support she received in Milton, especially from Ms. Gormley and Mr. Phelan, as a big factor in her desire to “continue grow” in Milton. Ms. Kreuzer replaces the retiring Mr. Ajamian. Kreuzer, coach of the girls varsity hockey team, is going to step back from that to focus on her new role. “I’m excited,” and she genuinely appeared to be.
• Bill Ritchie, Director of Facilities, gave an update on the installation of solar panels at the Cunningham Collicot schools. There will be a total of 250 panels on three different sections of roof that will generate 270 watts and an estimated savings of ~$15,000 per year. The energy will be used directly by the schools (as opposed to being sold back to Nstar). They incorporate a ballast system which will make repairs to the roof, if needed, possible.
• Alan Cron, Assistant Principal of Milton High School, discussed the recently completed policy on bullying. Mr. Cron was part of a committee that began in 2009. It was prescient in light of recent incidents and the resultant legislation that was passed a couple of weeks ago. What is significant about the policy according to Cron is a corresponding effort to also flesh out the process and procedures. Cron said the committee was concerned about “what this would mean for teachers.” The goal is for a consistent policy that is consistently applied across grades and school with a common vocabulary and becomes “another part of the school culture.” Cron noted that respect is not just a word in a policy manual in Milton but “really is an expectation.”