Committee backs Riverside early learning, elementary school level reorganization plan

Plan calls for all Pre-K in the area moving to Oldham, K-5 classes to Waddington

By Mike Rego
Posted 3/20/19

EAST PROVIDENCE — During the course of two meetings over the last week, including a special session Tuesday night, March 19, at Riverside Middle School, the School Committee debated and eventually …

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Committee backs Riverside early learning, elementary school level reorganization plan

Plan calls for all Pre-K in the area moving to Oldham, K-5 classes to Waddington

Posted

EAST PROVIDENCE — During the course of two meetings over the last week, including a special session Tuesday night, March 19, at Riverside Middle School, the School Committee debated and eventually approved a plan proposed by Superintendent Kathryn Crowley to reorganize the Oldham and Waddington Elementary Schools.

The committee by a 4-1 vote Tuesday authorized the administration to convert Oldham into an early learning center, focused on increasing the district’s Pre-Kindergarten program, while at same time moving single classes in grades Kindergarten through fifth from Oldham to Waddington for the start of the 2019-20 term.

The changes, according to the superintendent, will allow Oldham to house as many as three new state-funded Pre-K classes beginning next term. Assistant Superintendent Celeste Bowler, the district’s lead administrator for elementary schools, is in the midst of writing a grant seeking state support for the additional Pre-K classrooms. At the March 12 regular committee meeting, she inferred the changed use of Oldham is seen as boon to the district’s chances of getting more state funding, though not a necessity. The deadline for submitting the grant paperwork to the state is March 25. The district currently offers seven Pre-K classes spread across rooms at Oldham and Martin Middle School.

Waddington’s population is expected to increase by approximately 144 students to some 562 total with the change. The six grade level teachers, math and reading specialists, social worker, psychologists and aides will move with the Oldham classes to Waddington, a key component of the superintendent’s plan. Also as part of the transition, some 91 Special Needs Pre-K pupils currently attending Waddington will move to Oldham.

At both meetings, Superintendent Crowley stressed the collaborative teaching method being employed by the district was a significant factor in the decision to reorganize.

“The (staff) collaboration is just so important and it not happening at Oldham because we only have level of each grade,” she said at the regular committee meeting on March 12. She added on the pupils who would move to Waddington, “We’re not dumping students there. We’re sending them with all the resources needed… So you would double-up on those resources. We are sending them with the resources to support the increase in enrollment.”

Also last week, Superintendent Crowley said, "I think it is educationally sound to move the Oldham students to Waddington for the purpose of allowing for more teacher collaboration on curriculum…I’m looking at it as in the best interest of all students.”

Another notable element of the proposal was future state support. Superintendent Crowley said the district has been informed by the Rhode Island Department of Education that the state agency would not assist with any future infrastructure improvements at Oldham if only one level for each grade were housed there. However, if it became a Pre-K only building, it would qualify under state reimbursement mandates. Similarly, planned improvements at Waddington, such as the possible construction of a new cafeteria/gymnasium and entry foyer, would also qualify for state aid under the current criteria.

“RIDE has told us they would not support any future investment in the Oldham building due to single-level format," Superintendent Crowley said.

Issues of overcrowding at Waddington, parking and safety at arrival and dismissal times there and academic performance of K-5 pupils going forward were among the concerns expressed by several parents during the public comment period at the March 19 meeting at RMS. Like worries were noted by Ward 4 representative Jessica Beauchaine, in whose patch both schools are situated, for her casting the lone dissenting vote on the plan.

“I have some concerns,” Ms. Beauchained relayed at the March 12 meeting. “I believe the plan is educationally sound, I agree with (the superintendent) on that… I do not believe Waddington is big enough…I’m just very scared to do this and have this jump (in enrollment).”

In approving the proposal the committee, with an amendment proposed by At-Large member Joel Monteiro, backed the creation of a transition team comprised of parents, administrators, teachers and elected officials to support the implementation of the plan.

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A lifelong Portsmouth resident, Jim graduated from Portsmouth High School in 1982 and earned a journalism degree from the University of Rhode Island in 1986. He's worked two different stints at East Bay Newspapers, for a total of 18 years with the company so far. When not running all over town bringing you the news from Portsmouth, Jim listens to lots and lots and lots of music, watches obscure silent films from the '20s and usually has three books going at once. He also loves to cook crazy New Orleans dishes for his wife of 25 years, Michelle, and their two sons, Jake and Max.