Brunswick school plan hits a snag

Portland Press Herald, May 1, 2007

(excerpt) A recommendation calling for Brunswick to reconfigure its elementary grades to accommodate a new school encountered strong opposition from parents Monday night.

An overwhelming majority of speakers at a public hearing -- about 75 people attended -- urged the School Board to reject the Educational Specifications Committee report, which recommends that the town abandon K-5 schools and have separate schools for students in grades 2 and below and those in grades 3 through 5.

Speakers said the School Department needs to consider more options and involve people in the planning process if it hopes to change its longstanding tradition of operating four K-5 schools.

The opposition that surfaced Monday gives the School Board a lot to think about as it approaches a May 9 vote on the committee's recommendation. The board needs to move forward on the issue because it must also select a site for a new school this spring to receive state aid.

"In order to win public support, we need a new school that reflects our values, yet the Educational Specification Committee report spent many more pages on building specifications than on educational values," said Sarah Laurence of Longfellow Avenue.

Laurence, like most of those who spoke, urged the School Board to find a solution that keeps the K-5 system intact