East Providence School Committee asked to examine consolidation/expansion plan

Super's proposal would condense Pre-K and K programs at Oldman, Grades 1-5 at Waddington

By Mike Rego
Posted 1/16/19

EAST PROVIDENCE — As the student population grows and teaching moves to a more collective effort, East Providence Superintendent Kathryn Crowley asked the School Committee, at its January 15 …

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East Providence School Committee asked to examine consolidation/expansion plan

Super's proposal would condense Pre-K and K programs at Oldman, Grades 1-5 at Waddington

Posted

EAST PROVIDENCE — As the student population grows and teaching moves to a more collective effort, East Providence Superintendent Kathryn Crowley asked the School Committee, at its January 15 meeting, to consider the possibility of consolidating the district’s Pre-Kindergarten and K programs in the Riverside section of the city while at the same time potentially expand Waddington Elementary to house more students in grades 1-5.
Mrs. Crowley, with input from the district’s Director of Operations Diana Clarkin, broached the subject though she emphasized “nothing has been decided. I want to make it quite clear.” The super said she was initiating the discussion with the committee first, having not engaged with the staffs at either school previously.
In bringing forth the topic, the superintendent said she and members of her administration have been considering such a proposal for a “long time.” She continued, at the moment Oldham Elementary, where one of the district’s Pre-K classrooms is situated, has only one grouping in each of its grades K-5. She called the emerging teaching philosophy of collaboration there “non-existent.”
“The teachers can’t bang things off one another with their colleagues like they do at other schools,” Superintendent Crowley said. “It’s not an educationally sound way to go about things under the new philosophy.”
With that in mind, the superintendent requested the committee consider a proposal where Pre-K and Kindergarten classes at Oldham and Waddington be consolidated at the former while pupils in grades 1-5 would move to the latter. Of interest, the “buddy program,” with youngsters ages three and four attending Pre-K, would continue.
The change at Oldham would allow students to be more integrated between Pre-K and K while the proposal would have four sections in each of the grade levels at Waddington, which the superintendent said was a “good educational change for our students and our teachers.” She noted as well “it would be good for collaboration” and it would also “help with departmentalization” for instructors grades 1-5.
To initiate the proposal, Superintendent Crowley said Waddington would need to be renovated, though space would be limited at the current Oldham on Bart Drive to perform needed modifications. With that in mind, the superintendent said she has tasked the district’s architectural firm Ai3 with estimating the cost of a feasibility study on the former Oldham building located off Bullocks Point Avenue to see if it would be economically sound to rehabilitate that structure, which has sat vacant since it was closed by the then-seated state-appointed Budget Commission some five years ago because of its dilapidated roof.
Superintendent Crowley said she will provide the committee with an update on many aspects of her proposal at its February meeting.
“I want to give you a month to review…to think about it,” the superintendent added.
Recess policy
At-Large Committee member Joel Monteiro, during a broader talk on district’s methods, requested the administration have Assistant Superintendent Celeste Bowler amend its recess policy to more precisely set acceptable minimum and maximum temperature standards. The policy would be initiated across the board for each of the district’s elementary schools.
Meeting time change
The committee discussed the possibility of changing the start time of its meetings by a half hour. The item was brought up for consideration by Ward 1 member and board chairman Charlie Tsonos.
Mr. Tsonos asked whether with former Ward 3 member Nate Cahoon, who traveled daily professionally to and from Boston, no longer on the committee would it make sense for the body to begin its proceedings with executive session at 6 p.m. followed by a scheduled start of its open session at 6:30. The group eventually unanimously agreed to the time change by voice consent.
Acknowledgements
Superintendent Crowley acknowledged two of the district’s employees for recent distinctions each received.
The super lauded Martin Middle School Principal Bill Black receipt of a scholarship to attend the upcoming session of the “very prestigious” McKinsey Management Program for School Leaders.
As well, the superintendent praised the selection of East Providence High School head coach Jay Monteiro for enshrinement into the Rhode Island Football Hall of Fame “very, very deserved.” Mr. Monteiro is an EPHS alum, former football player and assistant coach who last fall completed his fifth season at the helm of the Townies’ program and 30th year overall as a coach.

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Mike Rego

Mike Rego has worked at East Bay Newspapers since 2001, helping the company launch The Westport Shorelines. He soon after became a Sports Editor, spending the next 10-plus years in that role before taking over as editor of The East Providence Post in February of 2012. To contact Mike about The Post or to submit information, suggest story ideas or photo opportunities, etc. in East Providence, email mrego@eastbaymediagroup.com.