Newton Public Schools Long Range Facilities Plan What is a neighborhood without a neighborhood school???

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Historical Background z z

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In the 1970s Newton experienced a post-war “bubble” in school enrollment In the 1980s as this bubble passed and in the face of declining revenues, the decision was taken to close six elementary and two middle schools Since then one middle school has been added at the site of a former elementary school (Oak Hill)

Results of Past Decisions 1978 – 2008 Distance to Elementary Schools (6 of 21 closed) 1978 2008 % change Maximum 1.79 1.95 Minimum 0.00 0.00 Mean 0.35 0.43 22% Median 0.33 0.40 21% StdDev 0.19 0.22 Count Transportation 425.00 709.00 67%

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Distance to Middle Schools (2 of 5 closed, 1 added) 1978 2008 % change Maximum 2.38 3.42 Minimum 0.00 0.01 Mean 0.76 1.13 49% Median 0.72 1.03 42% StdDev 2.38 3.42 Count Transportation 7199.00 14902.00 107%

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Averagedistance distanceto to Average ElementarySchool School Elementary increased22% 22% increased Averagedistance distanceto to Average MiddleSchool School Middle increasednearly nearly50% 50% increased Elementaryschool school Elementary busingincreased increased busing 67% 67% Middleschool schoolbusing busing Middle doubled doubled

Distances calculated using address GeoCoding "as the crow flies"

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Transportation counts are by addresses eligible, not actual students

Why is this Relevant Now? z

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We are at an inflection point – our elementary schools are in dire need of attention and we are about to spend a pile of money on them Enrollments have been creeping back up and most elementary schools are over capacity Our own principals quoted ~350 as the maximum size for an optimal elementary school Do we continue the trend of fewer, farther away, larger schools or return to our legacy of neighborhood schools?

Approved Long Range Facilities Plan z z z

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Our first official 500 student mega school (Countryside) 60% of schools with 400 students or more Three schools growing by more than 30% (Ward, Williams, Zervas) Only four schools under the 350 student cap (Underwood, Horace Mann, Burr, Carr)

Alternatives exist… z

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Can we reclaim one or more of our village schools where need is greatest? Emerson? Hyde? Warren? Parcels of city-owned property exist that could accommodate a new elementary school where one is needed (Braceland park, Eliot St. DPW yard)

But How Do We Pay For It? z z

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Our current Long Range Facilities plan has no funding proposal either so what’s the difference? The approved plan assumes we need to increase capacity of most schools which makes renovation less attractive If we decided to add more schools instead of making others larger, renovation could become a cost effective option The combined savings of multiple renovations could potentially cover the cost of constructing new schools Also we could not hire Graham Gund…

Middle Schools Today

Closed school

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Elementary Schools Today

Closed school

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