In 2009, my daughter graduated from Scarborough High having come up through Eight Corners, Wentworth, the middle school, and the high school. Throughout her tenure there were portables throughout the system and a failing Wentworth building. Wentworth was finally replaced when it became dangerous to teach children in that building. Yet here we are 14 years later. Not much else has changed. We keep on building portables. We keep on delaying the inevitable.
Since my first election to Council in 2013, there has been planning and studies addressing our elementary level deficiencies. In October 2017, a thorough study was done to determine if the neighborhood schools could be updated and expanded. It concluded that the cost and disruption were prohibitive. It was determined that a consolidated school might be the best fit.
Fast forward to 2023. In the aftermath of a recall of the most experienced members of the School Board, turnover of the superintendent position, and COVID interruptions, Scarborough has been in a stall regarding the future of school facilities in this town. We are now hearing from the School Board that they have determined that a consolidated school for grades K to 3 will help to solve for the overcrowded and inferior condition elementary schools as well as the middle school overcrowding through shifting sixth grade to Wentworth. Duplication of staffing, resources, and overhead will be eliminated. Bussing students will be simplified. Our children will have the benefit of safe and healthy environments in which to learn at all levels. This is a worthy pursuit.
As with all matters affecting the taxpayers of Scarborough, the devil is in the details. Personally, I look forward to updated data regarding why it makes no sense to stay with the smaller schools, why a consolidated school will serve the children of the town for years to come, and what the school enrollment projections are, given the development of more diverse housing options for families. I look forward to learning that we have secured land for this project and can confidently project costs. I need to see the numbers and the data.
To ignore the fact that our elementary school facilities are deficient and will be replaced is foolhardy. That fact will not change. The longer the delay, the greater the cost. I prefer to make the decision now before it becomes an emergency. Now is the time to work together as a town to put forward a sensible and well thought out plan to educate our children. We can do no less for them. I encourage you to join me in learning more about this important project.
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