Democrats urge Board of Ed to "Do the right thing."
In a unanimous vote taken at its meeting Monday night, the Democratic Town Committee of Ridgefield took a formal position to ask the Board of Education to revisit and reconsider a 5-6 grade configuration for a new lower middle school.
Expressing its strong support for the continued improvement of Ridgefield public schools, the Committee decried last week's tortured decision by the Board of Education to construct a middle school using the 6-7-8 grade configuration.
Given the current level of overcrowding in our schools, the Democratic Town Committee strongly urges the Board of Education to adopt the 5-6 grade configuration of a "lower middle school" for the following reasons:
• A 5-6 configuration is cheaper to build and cheaper to operate than any other option being considered.
• A 5-6 configuration is widely considered to be the superior educational approach.
• This option will be substantially less disruptive to student life by avoiding major construction work at each of the elementary schools.
• This option enables Ridgefield to reap the benefits of a new school sooner.
• This option offers the greatest adaptability to the town's long term school needs.
"The closeness of last week's 5 to 4 Board of Education vote shows the dissension and concern within the Board itself," said Democratic chairman, Rudy Marconi, noting the Board's long-standing prior support of the 5-6 configuration. "We urge the Board of Education not to suborn itself to pressures from neighborhood special interests, but instead should make the best decision, the cheapest and most fiscally responsible decision, and the decision which serves the best interests of the children and the taxpayers of Ridgefield."
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Democratic Town Committee, Rudy Marconi, Chairman
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