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Ridgefield News
December 12, 1998

Pros And Cons Of School Plans

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Pros And Cons Of School Plans

Informal Assessment Of Alternative School Plans

[Note: During the Ridgefield Board of Education's Special Meeting on Saturday, Dec. 12, there was an informal "brainstorming session" about various alternatives to the just-defeated plan for a large new Grade 5-6 middle school on the Ippoliti site. The school board, joined by Supt. Wallace, First Selectman Morelli, and other elected officials, offered top-of-mind reactions to the various alternates. The comments were transcribed by Nick Caruso, a facilitator from the Ct. Association of Boards of Education (CABE). What follows is our unofficial rendering of the transcribed comments. It should be repeated that this was an informal session, and the comments do not represent the considered opinion of the Board in any way. They are however, interesting and instructive, in that they permit Ridgefielders to think about the various possible plans to solve the school overcrowding problem.]

Configuration Pros Cons
1. New 6-8 , add to existing elementary
  • Smaller current project;
  • Potential to improve elem.;
  • 1 site needed
  • Elem. needs extra room;
  • Cost of renovating elem. - new project;
  • Major renovation during school year;
  • 2 referenda
2. New 6-8, new elementary
  • Smaller school;
  • More flexible;
  • Better long-term solution;
  • Falls under current project
  • 2 sites;
  • Assumed operational costs;
  • 2 referenda;
  • Equity with East Ridge
3. New 5-6 on different site
  • Approved;
  • 1 bldg. project;
  • Meets needs;
  • <50% renovations on elem. schools;
  • Enhanced program for 5-6 graders;
  • Best financial position (reimbursement)
  • Still have future needs;
  • Site already failed once;
  • Large school needs large site;
  • Change from current system
4. New K-8
  • New & different:
  • Current project (?)
  • New & different;
  • Equity?
  • Transportation;
  • Site
5. New K-6
  • Eliminate crowding at East Ridge;
  • Neighborhood school for (illegible);
  • (illegible)
  • Renovation during school;
  • Code compliance;
  • Need an updated ed. program in each elem. school;
  • Very dependent on (illegible);
  • 6th graders "down" to elem.;
  • (illegible)
6. New 7-8
  • Potential to move 9th graders;
  • New bldg. for older kids;
  • 1 bldg. Project to solve problem;
  • Current project
  • Need to renovate East Ridge;
  • Need large site;
  • Revisiting old wounds
7. New 5-8, renovate ERMS
  • Extra space in both elem. And middle;
  • Less (messy - ?);
  • All middle school under single roof;
  • Current project;
  • Only need 1 site;
  • Enhance educational pgm.
  • Renovate East Ridge;
  • Site? Size;
  • Code compliance;
  • Parental buy-in

Complete story, photos, of Dec. 12 Board of Ed. Special Meeting

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